by Natalie Ann
“Stop right there. Don’t even judge her. She’s educated. She went to college and studied English and Art. She just didn’t know what to do with it and she is bartending now on the island.”
“So she’s young and frivolous?” his mother asked. “That isn’t anything like you.”
“No, she’s not,” he said not realizing he was going to have to defend Sidney like this.
“She’s younger than you,” Alex said.
“She’s twenty-seven if you must know and she’s smart and nice and she knows a bullshitter when she sees one. She’s not loose or she would have gone home with Alex that night.”
He was getting ready to walk out the door when his father said, “Mac. No one is judging. Can’t you tell your mother is trying to feel your thoughts out? Not judge Sidney.”
He looked at his mother and saw her smiling. “Are you?”
“Of course I am. I don’t judge anyone. I don’t know her. But if you like her that is enough for me. I just wanted to see how much you liked her.”
Jarrett started to laugh. “Mac, I thought you were smarter than that. But then I guess you don’t date enough for Mom to even pull that crap with you like she has with me.”
“She never does with me,” Alex said.
“Because you don’t have relationships,” his mother said. “I don’t want to know what you do. Mac, I’m happy for you and I hope it works out. At the very least maybe she’ll loosen you up.”
He was ready to get the attention off of him now. “Dad, I thought this dinner was to get us guys on your side when you told Mom you were bored and wanted to start a hobby in the garage out back.”
His father started to narrow his eyes just like Mac had done earlier. The two of them had the same temperament. He knew his father would understand what he’d just done even if he didn’t want it brought out quite like this.
“Now what are you going to do?” his mother asked.
“You’re the sneaky one,” Alex said. “Throwing Dad under the bus that way.”
“Mac wouldn’t have had to take the spotlight off of him if you didn’t flash it so bright the minute he walked in the door,” Jarrett said.
“Since when do you side with Mac?” Alex asked.
“Bill,” his mother said. “This is why you asked everyone over? Maybe it would have been better if you just told me your plans rather than try to get the boys on your side. As you can see, they’d rather go after each other today.”
“No,” Mac said. “I’m with Dad on this.”
“Me too,” both Alex and Jarrett said.
“I can already tell I’m outnumbered. What is it you want to do now?” his mother asked again. “As long as it’s not dangerous, I’m fine. My heart can’t take it anymore. Having the three of you boys in danger in your jobs is enough. At least I know your dad is safe.”
He’d never thought much about his mother’s feelings on this before. That all the men in her life put themselves in danger when they walked out the door daily. He’d always thought she was the one that held them together and now he knew it.
“You know I always liked tinkering on cars. I’m just bored. I thought maybe I could turn the garage in the back into a little shop,” his father said.
His mother rolled her eyes. “And you thought I’d have a problem with that? I don’t, as long as you don’t make our property look like a junkyard. I work hard on those gardens.”
“See, Dad,” Mac said. “You worried for nothing.”
“Are you going to give Carter a run for his money?” Jarrett asked of their first cousin. “He might not appreciate it.”
“I’m not,” he said. “I talked to Carter earlier this week about it. He said he could use some help and offered me a part-time job. The problem is, I just don’t want to commit like that. But he said he’d push some people my way when he got backed up.”
“Sounds like it’s all going to work out just fine once you are up and running,” Jarrett said.
“I just need to get the garage set up better. Plenty of time, but it gives me a purpose.”
“You’ve got a purpose,” his mother said. “Keeping me happy and being the head of this family.”
Now came the romance his mother always slipped in. His father did what Mac expected. “Being married to me should make you happy enough.”
His mother laughed and walked into the kitchen, then yelled out, “I hope you boys have a little bit more romance than your father...but not as much as Alex so that it comes off as fake.”
He looked at his younger brother. “She put you in your place.”
“I think it was more a shot at you,” Jarrett said, looking at him. “You’re the one most like Dad.”
“Yeah, sorry, Mac,” his father said. “Try to do better than me. At least remember anniversaries when the time comes. I’ve spent a lot of time in that garage trying to figure out how to make it up to your mom.”
Again, somehow this got turned back to him. “Whatever,” he said. “I’m nowhere near that and it’s not even on my radar.”
Though he found he might be lying a touch when he never did that either.
10
A Slow Tango
The following Tuesday Sidney was in the living room working on her sketches for her book. She had an idea of where she was going with it, but wanted the pictures done first. She’d learned that sometimes she got the words from what she drew, not the other way around.
Amanda had left a few hours ago to go over some baby plans with Kayla and since Amanda knew that Sidney liked to draw she didn’t feel like she had to hide it so much to the point that she’d stay in her room in case one of her roommates returned.
Of course when Amanda did return she’d run upstairs and put her sketchbook away anyway. Still, she was relaxing a bit more around the house.
She supposed she had Mac to thank for that.
They’d gone to dinner again last night. She really didn’t want to attempt to cook dinner a second time since she was pretty distracted in wanting to get her hands on Mac.
They hadn’t even talked about taking it to the next level, but it was pretty obvious he wanted it as much as her even if they were dancing a slow tango. Or a fast one when they were together today. Slow apart with flirty texting. That’s what it was.
Not that Mac was good at flirting. Or even talking. But she felt she was getting him to dip his toe into the cold water to give it a try.
But she was getting ready to see more than that toe.
A little over an hour later she heard Amanda’s car in the driveway and flipped her book shut, grabbed her pencils, and ran upstairs to stash it away.
Once she came back downstairs, Amanda was in her room with the door shut and Sidney went back to the living room to watch TV.
Her phone went off with a text and she thought for sure it was Mac. Nope, it was Kayla saying Amanda was really upset and if Sidney could look in on her.
She got up and went to the bedroom door and heard water running and waited. She went into the kitchen to get some dinner on the stove, then back and knocked on her door.
Amanda opened it, standing there in sweats, her face red from being scrubbed clean, her eyes matching. “Kayla texted me to check on you. Are you okay?”
“I’m getting there. Did she tell you what happened?”
“No. She didn’t. She wouldn’t. She understands we all have things in our lives. I’m here if you want to talk though.”
“Not right now. I appreciate the offer,” Amanda said. “I’m hungry. How about some dinner?”
“I’ve got it covered,” she said.
“You never cook.”
Sidney laughed. “I’m not sure this is really cooking but it’s comfort food. I figured you could use it. You always take care of everyone else and it’s time someone took care of you.” Tomato soup and grilled cheese were right up there with her tacos in terms of culinary talents.
Amanda hugged her and said, “Thank you. I’ve got it pretty lucky here with you and
Kayla.”
The next morning Sidney came down to breakfast to find Amanda sitting at the table drinking her coffee. Bri had gone to work already. Though Sidney didn’t work last night and was in bed by ten, she didn’t get up until Bri was gone, letting her have the bathroom to get ready.
When Kayla lived here there had been some times where Bri and Kayla were fighting for time to get in when Kayla started working days. Then when she went to nights, Kayla let Sidney get ready first, then went in after. They had a good routine, but now it didn’t matter much.
“No appointments this morning?” Sidney asked Amanda. Amanda was a stylist on the island but made her own schedule.
“Not for a few hours. Have a seat. I want to talk to you if you’ve got time.”
“I always have time for you. But don’t feel like you need to tell me what happened yesterday if that is what this is about.”
“I know. But I want to. I know it won’t go much further. When I was young I was in love,” Amanda said. “And I got pregnant. I didn’t tell anyone since we were still in high school, but it was the end of our senior year and Randall went on to Harvard and I stayed home.”
“I don’t know what to say.” She wanted to know where the child was, but knew Amanda would tell it in her own way.
“It was a shock. Randall came from money. Old money in Philly. That’s where I’m from. His parents hated me and made it known. My parents were embarrassed and made me feel horrible. Everyone wanted me to get an abortion.”
“Even Randall?”
“No. We had plans to raise the baby. I had plans, that is. I thought he was on board with me. But he went to college and I only heard from him once. The day I called to say it was a girl.”
“You had a daughter?” All of this made sense on why Amanda was so motherly. But of course that didn’t explain where the child was.
“I did. I went into premature labor and the baby died. A stillborn.”
Her hand came out and lay on Amanda’s. “I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Thank you. As if that wasn’t bad enough, my parents’ lack of support of it all pushed me away. I left as soon as I could and never looked back. But yesterday, Randall was at The Retreat and ran into me.”
“Talk about a small world.”
“You don’t know the half of it. His fiancée works for Drew in Plymouth and was here for the convention. They were checking The Retreat out for their wedding. I’m not going into details, but it wasn’t pretty. Come to find out, Randall thought I terminated the pregnancy and hated me for it. I guess after I left home he went to talk to me during winter break, but I’d moved out. He wanted to meet his daughter.”
“What? He waited all that time to finally come talk to you? To meet his kid? I hope someone put their foot in his balls.”
Amanda laughed. “No. My mother told him there was no child, that there hadn’t been. She led Randall to believe I did have that abortion and he hated me for it.”
“Hated you? You should have hated him for abandoning you!”
“I did. There was a lot of hate. But in the end I realized that maybe it was fate to run into him and realize how much I really loved Drew. That maybe it was a sign for me to tell him too. To tell those closest to me. I shouldn’t be ashamed over being a teenage mother.”
“No, you shouldn’t,” she said.
“There is more to it, but it’s for another time. I just wanted you to know what happened and why I was upset. I’m going to be honest and tell Drew about my daughter too. She would have been thirteen now. Her name was Bethany Ann.”
“It’s a pretty name.” And it made Sidney realize that if Amanda could tell her something this deep that maybe it was time Sidney shared it too.
“You know. I always knew we had a connection between us, but I never realized how much until now. Thirteen years ago huh?”
“What?” Amanda asked.
“I’m going to share something with you too. I can understand some of your pain. Thirteen years ago my sister died. My twin.”
“Oh, Sidney,” Amanda said, standing up and pulling Sidney into her arms. “I had no idea. It had to feel like losing a part of yourself.”
“No different than losing a child. Or maybe it’s worse for you. Yeah, it had to be.”
“I don’t think it’s worse for either of us. Only different. I never had any time with my child. I held her lifeless body before they took her away. You had how many years with your sister? What was her name?”
“Anne. Sidney and Anne. ‘The girls’ we were called. She was fourteen. She had asthma pretty bad. I was the healthy one. She had the flu and everyone thought she was getting better when the fever broke, but it turned into pneumonia. She was home alone when she died. I never knew. I never felt it. They said a twin should feel it, I didn’t.”
“You can’t let what other people say and think bring you down. I did for so many years and I’m done with it now. It’s time to let go of my guilt. It might be time for you too.”
She gave Amanda another hug. “Maybe. I’ve opened up to you more than I have to anyone else in years.” Not that she’d say what happened with Rod. That was staying locked up forever. It was in the past and no worries.
“Because of Mac, do you think?”
She laughed. “Maybe. What is it about these Bond men that makes us want to open up?”
“I don’t know,” Amanda said. “It’s early yet for you, but me—I think Drew is the one. I haven’t thought anyone could ever be the one, but I was wrong.”
“If you say this to Bri she is going to tell you it’s the island that made it happen.”
“I don’t believe that any more than you. Do you believe it?” Amanda asked slyly.
“No,” she said firmly. “We’ve lived here for a year or more. Our guys have their whole life. Just a happy coincidence if we stay here we will find someone. I never thought I’d be alone my whole life.”
“I don’t know what I really thought,” Amanda said. “But I’m glad I’ve got Drew and you need to wish me luck when I tell him everything tomorrow. I’m scared he is going to hate me.”
“He won’t. But if he does, he wasn’t for you and anyone who sees you two knows how much you love each other.”
“You and Mac make a pretty good-looking couple yourself. Let’s talk about you. What’s going on there?”
She let Amanda change the subject. “I’m just trying to figure out a way to get in his pants.”
“That’s my girl. Don’t say that to Bri, she’ll have a long list of ways.”
“God no. Right now our problem seems to be finding time together.”
“Why weren’t you together last night since you were off?”
“We went out Monday. I think it’s a bit early to do it nightly,” she argued.
“It’s only two nights a week, but I get it. Well, keep me posted. What’s your next step?”
“I’m not sure. I might suggest he come in for a drink on Saturday night...maybe a late drink. I’m dropping my car off Friday to be repaired so...I could use a ride home.”
“Oh, then the whole ‘why don’t we go back to your place?’”
“You know me well. That’s my plan today. We’ll see if it changes in a few days though.” She had a few days to work herself up to it.
“It won’t. Trust me. He’s a Bond. He can take a hint. You’ll be messing up the sheets by the end of the week and then you’ll know how I felt after so long when I finally let loose with Drew.”
“No details,” she said. “But if I do say any, it will only be to you.”
“I’m going to hold you to it. Now I’m going to get ready for work. Thanks for the talk. I feel like this huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can breathe now.”
“Me too,” Sidney said. “Me too.”
11
Personal Preference
Mac didn’t make it a habit of frequenting bars, least of all on a Saturday night. Some of it had to do with his job and appearance
and the other was just personal preference.
But Sidney texted and said her car was in the shop getting fixed and Amanda was dropping her off if he could come in and keep her company. He read between the lines, she needed a ride home and the big question was—what home she was going to?
There was no way he was going to sit at the bar her entire shift and said he’d be down later on.
Later on to him was after nine. Her shift ended at midnight.
He opened up the door and saw the place was a lot busier than it was a few weeks ago when he was here midweek, but not packed. The dinner crowd took up at least half the tables, the bar had a few open spots and he found one on the end and nodded his head to Sidney when she caught his eye.
She made her way down, another bartender staying where he was. Sidney was the only one working last time, but he suspected Friday and Saturday they had two on. In the summer there were two every night, three on the weekends. He knew because it was always packed with tourists.
And even though most of the hotels had a good flow of guests on the island currently, no one was full, he was guessing. Next weekend though, with Valentine’s Day being on Thursday, he was betting that would be a different story.
Amore Island...the love island. Where people come for romance and love at first sight. Or so many wanted to believe.
Not him. Cupid’s arrow hadn’t even come close to landing near his heart since he’d been back.
“What are you having tonight?” Sidney asked.
Since he’d be here for a few hours, he said, “Beer. Whatever craft is on tap is good.”
“Not a fussy man. I like that.”
She moved a few steps over and picked up a glass, pulled the handle back, the amber liquid filling to the rim.
“Thanks. Busy tonight.”
“A quiet Saturday but better than during the week. Thanks for coming.”
“No problem. I couldn’t let you walk home.”
“Please,” she said. “You know as well as I do that wouldn’t happen. Amanda offered me her car since she is with Drew, but once you said you’d be here, I declined. Hope that was fine.”