Spring Break

by Tina Martin

  “Yeah, well, I saw a video of a bear actually turning a doorknob to get into somebody’s house, so if you don’t want your friend Mr. Grizzly chillin’ in the living room waiting to make a snack out of you, I suggest you lock that door.”

  Cecily laughed. “Chile, the only bear I have to worry about jumping on me is your daddy.”

  “Oh, jeez. The visual…”

  Cecily laughed more. “You’ll have your own bear soon enough.”

  “If you say so…” The words slipped out before she was aware of what she’d said.

  “What do you mean by that?” Cecily asked, her radar going off already.

  Haven dodged the question by asking one of her own. “Why are you picking out dresses?”

  “Your father is taking me out Friday night…wanted to woo him. You gotta show your man you still got it.”

  Haven smiled. She hoped she’d be in love like that when she was her mother’s age. First, though, she had to find a man. She wanted Titus to be that man, but after last weekend, she wasn’t sure.

  Cecily placed a shimmery, emerald green dress on the bed and asked, “When did Titus leave?”

  “Sunday night.”

  “I thought you two were going to come by here before he left.”

  “We were supposed to, but things didn’t go as planned.”

  “What happened?”

  Haven shook her head. “Let’s just say spring break has taken on a whole new meaning.”

  “You two didn’t break up did you?”

  “Well, sort of.”

  “Oh, no,” Cecily said, looking distraught. “What happened?”

  “I don’t know, Ma. I just—”

  “Here, come sit down,” she said patting the area on the bed next to her.

  Haven sat down and thought for a moment, not knowing where to begin. “Um—” she shook her head. Lips trembled. “It’s all my fault.”

  “What’s your fault?”

  “I told him I needed time to think because I feel like I’m so far behind him in life. I’m constantly playing catch up and he needs to be with someone he can grow with. I need to be with someone I can grow with. Someone who’s on the same page as me.”

  “Let me tell you something, honey. If we all waited for that, nobody would be together. That’s the beauty of relationships. You meet someone and learn each other. You grow together.”

  “But he’s so far ahead of the curve. I feel like I’m in my early twenties when I’m with him.”

  “Then for goodness sakes, if the man makes you feel younger, he’s a keeper!”

  Haven laughed through her sadness.

  “Haven, I want you to be happy. If you need a few days to think it through, then you take that time, but if you come to the conclusion you want that man, you better reclaim him, honey.”

  Haven chuckled.

  “He’s a catch and so are you. You two are perfect for each other.”

  “He told me he loved me.”

  Cecily brought her hands to her face in sheer elation. “Aw, Haven—”

  “He told me he loved me and I broke his heart,” Haven said with tears in her eyes. “You should’ve seen the look on his face when he left. He didn’t do anything to deserve that.”

  Cecily took her daughter’s hand and said, “It’s going to be okay, Haven. It is. Trust me.”

  “How can you be so confident about that?”

  “Because I know how these things work. Do you love him?”

  “Yes. I do love him.”

  “Then nothing else matters. Let me tell you something—did you know I broke up with your father when we were dating?”

  “You mean way, waaay back in the stone ages?” Haven joked, then laughed while brushing tears from her face.

  Cecily bumped her with her shoulder. “Yeah, waaay back when—we broke up after we were a good…um…I wanna say four months in.”

  “Why? What happened?”

  “I guess I was feeling like you—like we weren’t compatible. I think all relationships go through this phase, but keep in mind that this is a confusing time for you as well. You’re starting a new life outside the Bed & Breakfast. I know that’s going to be a challenge for you, but honey, don’t let Titus go because of a challenge. If you know in your heart he’s not right for you, that’s a different story. If that’s the case, you should let him go. If you know he’s right for you and you’re just in a difficult place right now, that’s fine but it doesn’t mean you end the relationship. It means you find ways to work through it.”

  Haven nodded. “Thank you, Ma. I always appreciate your advice.”

  “And I appreciate you for coming to me with this.”

  Downcast, Haven confessed, “I probably should’ve come to you sooner.”

  “You don’t think it’s too late to fix things with Titus, do you?”

  “No, but first I have to fix myself. You’re right about the Bed & Breakfast being my life. I grew up there. It’s been my home for a very long time. Now, I have to find a new home and a new job. I have enough in savings to hold me over until I get a steady job but I don’t know where to go at this point. Titus asked me if I had any ideas. I think he was upset when I didn’t mention anything about moving closer to him.”

  “I think you should move close to him. You two are going to make it. I can feel it in my soul. Your father and I were considering moving to Florida, but we found a nice condo on Myrtle Beach instead.”

  “Are you serious, Ma?” she asked, her face brightening.

  “Yes. Myrtle Beach. We figured you and Titus were going to settle down somewhere in North Carolina and I didn’t want to live far away, especially when the grandbabies start rolling in.”

  Grandbabies…

  Haven could only shake her head.

  “So, you go on and straighten things out with Titus. Ain’t no need in letting little problems go unresolved.”

  Haven gave her mother a quick side-hug. “Love you, Ma.”

  “Love you, too, Haven.”

  Chapter 10

  On Wednesday, Titus was sitting at the kitchen table staring at a blank computer screen. It was the first time he felt his writing mojo this week. First time since Haven had broken up with him. Today, he still wasn’t himself but he was okay enough to write:

  Cherokee Grill Gatlinburg: A Gem in the Mountains

  With its upscale interior, delicious mouth-watering food and friendly, eager waitstaff, Cherokee Grill is a must for your mountain vacation! Whether you’re a family of six looking for a great place to have dinner or a couple seeking a romantic meal for two, Cherokee Grill is the perfect destination to feed your hunger. Some menu favorites are the crab cakes, steaks, rotisserie chicken and calamari. Cherokee also has a bar if you’re in the mood for wine or mixed drinks.

  I had the pleasure of dining here recently with my girlfriend and her parents. What better way to get to know someone than over good food and pleasant conversation? We ate and talked and talked some more, all the while sipping on Raeburn Chardonnay and appetizers. We opted for the crab cakes and charbroiled shrimp. For our main courses, I ordered the heavenly baby back ribs and macaroni and spinach. (Side note: If you’ve never tried the macaroni and spinach, you have no idea what you’re missing. It’s a great flavor explosion you’ll want more of!) My girlfriend ordered the grilled chicken salad and her parents chose the southern-fried catfish. Everything was cooked to perfection, and no one had any complaints about their food.

  Cherokee is the kind of restaurant that instantly calms the soul and satisfies the senses, welcoming openness and togetherness. I certainly felt this with my ‘new’ family – people who are down to earth, genuine and hard workers. The only thing better than the food here is the people you share it with. If you’re lucky enough to have those kinds of people, it only makes sense to dine at a lovely place like this.

  He paused, unsure of which direction to take the article from here. Instead, he relived that night at Cherokee Grill. He wanted to propose
to her with her parents as witnesses, but when he felt her vibe was off, he knew the timing was all wrong which sucked because he was certain of what he wanted. She wasn’t. And sure two-and-a-half months was a relatively short time to date before getting engaged but he was ready to take the leap with her.

  He hadn’t heard from her on Monday or Tuesday and it didn’t look like he’d hear from her today either. He wanted to call, but he wanted her to have all the time she needed to think without him interrupting. If she was going to be with him, she needed to make that decision with a clear head.

  * * *

  Later that evening, he attended Adina’s rehearsal dinner. She wasn’t going to have one until their mother insisted and so there they sat in a private room in one of Greensboro’s fanciest restaurants.

  On a Wednesday night…

  Who has a rehearsal dinner on a Wednesday night?

  Adina Cassidy. That’s who.

  Titus looked over at his sister. She was all smiles. Happiness radiated from her. She was ready for marriage. He glanced around the table at the rest of the family. His parents. Vance’s parents. The bridesmaids and groomsmen. The joining together of two lives was a celebration that brought families together in a most joyful way. He thought his relationship with Haven was on that same path, but somehow they’d fallen off track.

  After forcing himself to sit through dinner, he was on the way to his car when he heard Adina say, “Now, I know something’s wrong.”

  Keys in hand, he turned to look at her. “You’re getting married in a few days. That’s the only thing that should be on your mind.”

  “And it is on my mind, but so are you. I’ve been watching you tonight and you’re not yourself, Titus. What’s wrong? Is it Haven? Did you two get in an argument or something?”

  He was hesitant, but Adina knew him too well for him to be elusive especially now that they were face-to-face. So, he told her, “She said she needed space to sort through some things.”

  “Why?” Adina asked, concern showing in her worried gaze. “What happened?”

  “I’m not sure. She said something about us not being compatible—”

  “You two are beyond compatible. What in the world is going on? I have to talk to her.”

  “No, Adina.”

  “Why not? I can’t stand by and let this happen. Are you kidding me?”

  “This isn’t your problem, sis.”

  “But—but Haven’s supposed to be your date for my wedding and she’s supposed to be decorating the B&B for us. What’s going to happen now?”

  “You’re panicking. Let me handle this. Everything will be fine.”

  “She’s not coming to the wedding, is she? Are you even coming?”

  “What kind of question is that? I wouldn’t miss your wedding for anything. You know that.”

  “I know.” Adina closed her arms around her brother. “I love you and I’m worried.”

  “That’s why I didn’t want to tell you—didn’t want you to worry.”

  She released him and said, “Let me talk to her.”

  “No. I got this. You know how relationships work. There are ups and downs. You broke up with Vance so many times, we knew y’all weren’t going to make it but now look at you two—about to be married in a few days. I’m proud of you, sis.”

  “Thank you.”

  “And don’t worry about me and Haven. We’ll be okay. She just needed a pause to think some things through. I’m being a gentleman and giving her that, but it won’t last long. I love her. I won’t let our relationship fall apart.”

  “Aw…you love her.”

  “I do. Now, you go and get ready for your big day.”

  “Are you still heading up on Friday?” she asked. She was having a mountain wedding in Gatlinburg at a venue called, The Magnolia.

  “Yes. I’m leaving Friday,” he responded, thinking about where he might stay. Nine times out of ten, it wouldn’t be with Haven which would be odd since the entire family was checking into the Bed & Breakfast after the reception was over.

  Chapter 11

  Haven used the week of space from Titus wisely to think about what she wanted. She wanted Titus – wanted to be with him and she wanted to make it work. In the process of figuring that out, she determined Titus wasn’t the problem.

  She was.

  And it was only because of what was happening in her life – the move she’d have to make. The job she’d have to find. Once she got those details squared away, she’d feel more like an equal in the relationship. So, she contemplated what she wanted to do with her business degree and as she was putting the finishing touches on the decorations in preparation for the wedding party, she figured out what she wanted to do.

  She’d jumped into the family business immediately after graduating college and while it kept her hostage most days, she loved interacting with people and making them feel comfortable in their home away from home. So, after deciding to remain in the tourism industry, she applied at a few travel agencies with the goal of learning everything she could about the industry so she could open up her own travel agency one day.

  Right now, she was focused on making the Bed & Breakfast as inviting as she could for Adina. She bought gold chair ribbons and tied them on all the chairs in the food lounge. She decorated the suite Adina and Vance would be sharing with a fancy ‘Just Married’ sign on the door. Gold and white balloons were next to all the doorframes, with the names of the guests assigned to the room written on them with a black Sharpie. For all the rooms, she prepared treat baskets – filling them with fudge, apples, cheese, graham crackers, cinnamon candy and four-ounce water bottles.

  She reached for her phone, smiling when she saw Adina’s name pop up on the display and answered, “Hey. It’s almost that time! Are you ready?”

  “Girl, I’m so ready. I’m ‘bout to drive Vance crazy. If I make any more requests, he’s going to run away.”

  Haven laughed. “I’m sure it’s not that bad.”

  “Ask him when you see him. He’ll tell you otherwise.”

  The women laughed then Haven said, “It’s funny you called. I was just finishing up with the decorations. This place is all ready for you guys.”

  “That’s so awesome! I appreciate everything, Haven.”

  “You’re very welcome. It’s been fun planning and decorating. I’m so excited for you and Vance.”

  “Yeah. I can’t wait to return the favor for you and my brother someday.”

  Haven smiled. Titus must’ve said something to her about their break, but still the thought of her returning the favor made her feel warm all over. “Titus talked to you, huh?”

  “He didn’t want to say anything but I know my brother…knew something was wrong with him. I pretty much yanked it out of him. So, woman-to-woman—what did he really do?”

  “He didn’t do anything. It’s all me. I’m the reason there’s a rift between us.”

  “Why? Is he too much? Are you not ready?”

  “I think a lot of the problem is he’s had more life experiences than I have. I like that about him, but adversely it affects our relationship because he’s so much further along in life than I am. Does that make sense?”

  “I get it, but that doesn’t matter. Titus is one of the most loyal men you’d ever meet and I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother.”

  “I know. He’s—he’s a good man, and—”

  “I’ve watched him get his heart broken before and that was devastating because I know how good of a man he is. If you love him, Haven, please try to make it work.”

  “Somewhere in my mind, I’ve rationalized I’d be doing him a favor by letting him go.”

  “You’d be doing more harm than good. That certainly won’t be a favor. My brother loves you. Our family loves you. We’ve already accepted the fact that one day you’ll actually be a part of the family because we see how much Titus loves you. I’m not telling you what to do. I’m just saying—don’t feel like you’re behind the cur
ve when it comes to him. It’ll give him the chance to teach you some things. It’ll give you both the opportunity to grow together.”

  “You’re right, and I would love to grow with him. I’m just so—so…”

  “Scared. Lost. Don’t know how things will turn out?” Adina said.

  “Yes.”

  “Join the club. I had those same anxieties dating Vance. Shoot—sometimes I still have them and I’ll probably have them after we get married. But guess what, Haven? It’s gon’ be alright. You know why?”

  “Why?”

  “Because Vance and I…we love each other.”

  Haven smiled, took a deep breath and felt relaxation take over her being.

  “Now, please tell me you’re going to be at the wedding.”

  “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “Yay! Awesome. Then I’ll see you on Saturday if I don’t get a chance to see you Friday night.”

  “Okay. See you later.”

  Chapter 12

  The minister stood before Vance and Adina with the majestic mountain scenery behind them. It was surreal – a dream wedding for any woman who wanted her ceremony to take place in the mountains. Titus couldn’t get enough of the view. The Magnolia proved to be ten times more spectacular than the photos he’d seen online and to make it even more special, he saw his sister at her happiest. He loved seeing her that way. She and Vance had their ups and downs, but Vance was a good guy and he knew his sister was in good, capable hands. They’d made it.

  “Wasn’t that just beautiful?” his mother whispered to him.

  “It was,” Titus replied.

  “I have a feeling you’re not far behind.”

  Titus smiled. “I’m not, but if you’re always on my case about it, I’m going to drag it out for as long as I can.” He wiped the happy tears from his mother’s face.