Snowbird Season

by B J Phillips

  “All right, then. I hope we’ll talk again soon.” Andi turned away slowly and almost trudged to the door.

  Nearly at the door, Andi suddenly turned around and ran back to Kelly. She wrapped her arms around her and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek scarcely before the tears started. She let go of Kelly and was out the door in seconds. A few seconds more, and the only indication Andi had ever been there was the second empty coffee mug on the kitchen table.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  “WHAT HAPPENED?” SHAWN ASKED as Kelly came through the door. “You didn’t sound like yourself when you called. Are you alright?”

  “I’m not sure.” Kelly looked around. “Carrie’s at work, right?”

  “Yes, she’s working a little late today. Why? Did you want to talk to her?”

  “Actually, no. This is something I’d rather talk to you alone about.”

  “No problem. Would you like some iced tea or a soda? Or I could make some coffee, if you’d rather have that.”

  “I wouldn’t mind a soda.”

  “Okay, then, come on back to the kitchen and let’s hear what’s going on. What happened?”

  Kelly took a deep breath as she followed Shawn to the kitchen. “Well, Andi came back.”

  Shawn nodded slowly. “Oh…”

  “Yeah, and you won’t believe the story she told me.”

  “Well, sit down and let’s hear it, then.” Shawn reached into the fridge for two cans of Pepsi and handed one to Kelly as they sat down at the kitchen table.

  “I told you I was going over to Elise’s to help her unpack and put up the books and stuff on her bookcases, right?” Kelly popped open the can and took a sip.

  “Right.”

  “Well, I got there, rang the doorbell, and guess who answered the door.”

  “No…”

  “Yep, Andi.”

  “That must’ve been a shocker.”

  “It was, believe me. Elise knew Andi had ignored me all this time, and it’d be awkward for me to be there at the same time she was. Despite that, she didn’t mention that Andi was coming at all.”

  Shawn shook her head and mouthed wow.

  “Anyway, we got through that whole thing, since it was mostly me and Elise doing the work. Andi came in to say she was making lunch and Elise asked me to stay. I tried to come up with some excuse to leave. I couldn’t think of any way out that wouldn’t hurt Elise’s feelings. During lunch with them, I made sure I kept the conversation moving about Elise’s office and her books and awards and all that.”

  “That sounds like a good idea. Then what?”

  “As soon as I could without being too obvious, I got out of there. Seriously, I didn’t want to see Andi. She was pleasant and all that, acting as if nothing ever happened between us. She just made small talk and chitchat. I could barely look at her.”

  “Oh, Kelly, I thought maybe you were over her.”

  “I thought so, too, until I saw her standing there in the doorway.”

  “When did you hear that story you were talking about?”

  “A while after I got home, she called me. I was surprised she still had my number, since she hadn’t called or texted in months. I assumed she deleted me as a contact. Who knows, she might have gotten it from Elise. Anyway, she wanted to talk.”

  “Talk? About what?” Shawn sat back in her chair.

  “She said she wanted to meet somewhere so she could explain what happened. She didn’t want to tell me over the phone.”

  “And?”

  “I invited her over to my house. I made coffee and we sat in the kitchen nook. It was then she dropped the bomb.”

  “Which was…”

  “She said when we first met she was married.”

  “What?” Shawn sat upright. “Wow!”

  “Yeah, that was my reaction. She said she had married her partner somewhere in Pennsylvania while they were there on vacation. It was a spur of the moment thing. Anyway, she had never told Elise about it, so she said she couldn’t tell me. While she was here that first time I met her, her wife texted her saying she wanted a divorce.”

  “That’s one of the crappiest things I’ve heard of lately. Texting to tell your wife you want a divorce. Wow. Really poor form. I wouldn’t even do that to one of my fictional characters.” Shawn sat back again.

  “I know. Andi was apparently thinking Jo would want her to come back or something if she came down here and got away. After a while she realized that wasn’t happening. That text let her know it was finally over. Elise only knew it was a relationship breakup, although that was bad enough. She had no idea, apparently, what was really going on.”

  “Definitely stinks. Still, why did she run off and ignore you all that time?”

  “That’s what I asked her. She said she wanted to tell me, however she felt that if she did, she had to tell Elise first. She said she was starting to really care for me, more than as a friend, and was scared. She said she wanted to get her life straightened around first.”

  “Right, I get that. Yet…”

  “Exactly. She could’ve told me that without going into more detail. She could’ve done a lot of things that she didn’t. Just because Jo was mean to her didn’t give her the right to do what she did to me. You don’t treat a friend that way, let alone someone you’re interested in having something more with.”

  “And you told her all of that, I assume.”

  “I did. Almost word for word. Geez, she looked all sorry and all that. She said she was sorry several times. Part of me thinks she merely wants forgiveness so she can move on with her life. Even now, I’m not completely sure what she wants.”

  “I bet.” A slow grin spread from Shawn’s lips to her eyes.

  “What? What’s so funny?” Kelly stood up, crossed her arms, and glared.

  “Hey, this time it isn’t me. How much time have we spent talking out my woman-problems? It dawned on me that I was glad it wasn’t me this time and it won’t be me ever again. I’m sorry…I couldn’t help myself.”

  “Oh.” Kelly sat back down. “Well, okay, then. Still…”

  “I’m sorry. Keep talking.”

  “I don’t know what to do about this situation. I’d like to forgive her, if I can convince myself that she means it. How can I know?”

  “I guess I got lucky with Carrie. She didn’t make me beg. Then again, I didn’t spend several months away without speaking, either.”

  “Right. There’s that. I’d like to believe that she wants to start over and give her another chance. I’m not sure she genuinely wants me. She’s still that New York girl who doesn’t live here. She could easily meet someone there that’s more up her alley.”

  “What do you mean? You two seem perfect for each other. Plus, her aunt likes you.”

  “Yes, Elise does like me. Andi made a point of saying how much Elise likes me and how much she didn’t like Jo. What I mean is that she could meet someone else in the art world or in her social circle.”

  “Kelly, I know you don’t think of what you do as art. You don’t just renovate houses. Believe me, some of your work, especially your woodworking, is as much art as a painting or sculpture. I think that’s one of your attractions for her…besides your obvious charms, of course.” Shawn chuckled.

  “There’s that.” A little grin caught the edges of Kelly’s mouth. “I finally understand how you felt at the time you were trying to deal with your attraction to Carrie after Jen stomped on your heart. Only this time, it’s the same woman. I’m not sure that she won’t do it again.”

  “Okay, I’ll give you a little advice. Take it slowly. Ask her out for something non-romantic. Lunch would work. Take her someplace that if this doesn’t work out it won’t be a place you’ll go and get a constant reminder of her.”

  “Like where?”

  “Well, first off, don’t go someplace you’ve already been. And don’t go someplace you go to a lot on your own, either.”

  “That makes sense…I know. Cockatoo Cove
over on Sanibel. It’s a fun place to have lunch and I don’t have any connection to it. I’ve only been there a couple of times and never with a date.”

  “Good idea. I think I remember that place. It looks kind of like something from a fifties Florida postcard, right?”

  “That’s the place. I recall it being fun and definitely unromantic.”

  “Then it sounds perfect. You can eat a pleasant lunch and laugh a bit. Nothing heavy duty at all. It might be a good idea to avoid anything that seems like a real date until you’re convinced she’s going to be around for more than a few days…at least communication-wise.”

  “I don’t know why I couldn’t think of this myself. My brain seems to get a little fogged up whenever I even think about her. Sad, isn’t it?”

  “Not really. I felt the same way about Carrie. I’m not saying that means that Andi’s ‘the one.’ She could be. There’s only one way to find out.”

  “Yeah, and it could lead to a world of hurt.”

  “Or…”

  “I know.”

  Chapter Twenty-five

  “I THINK YOU’LL LIKE this place,” Kelly said to Andi as they pulled into the driveway of Cockatoo Cove.

  “I’m sure I will,” Andi grinned as she took in the huge white bird on the front of the restaurant.

  “I’ve been here once or twice before. It’s a bit kitschy, which is part of its charm.”

  As they got out of the Durango, they could hear what sounded like parrots in the trees. There weren’t any, of course, but the well-hidden speakers made you look up to see if they were there. The building itself was brightly painted in shades of red, blue, yellow, white, and green featuring their namesake cockatoos, along with parrots and pirates. An almost-real looking motion activated cockatoo greeted them as they walked through the door with a squawk and, “Aye, Maties! Welcome to Cockatoo Cove!”

  Andi’s face lit up and she giggled. Kelly wanted to grab her and hug her tight. Instead, she looked for the hostess and held up two fingers. They were led into the dining area, which had so much stuff hanging from above that you couldn’t see the dark-painted ceiling. It gave the impression of being in a jungle, with the noises and vines.

  After they were seated and handed menus, they studied the decorations. There were tree trunks to the ceiling, looking for all the world like the building had grown up around them. Looking up, all they could see were vines, fake lizards, stuffed monkeys, along with parrots and cockatoos. The darkened room had a bit of a breeze blowing through it from somewhere, making the vines and leaves rustle and move. The overall feeling was of being outdoors in a jungle at twilight, except with air conditioning.

  “This place is delightful,” Andi said over her menu. “I had no idea something like this existed. The pirate cove theme is cute and fun, just a little over the top, and I like it.”

  “Good. The menu items have funny names, too.”

  “I see that. There’s the Pirate’s Gold grilled cheese and it goes downhill from there. Hilarious!”

  “I thought this would give you a laugh. Try to order your lunch with a straight face, if you can. The waiters probably hear this stuff all day long.”

  “You mean, I shouldn’t say ‘argh’ like a pirate?” Andi began giggling.

  Their waiter arrived, dressed in long, black zig-zagged cut shorts and a red shirt, with a red bandana tied around his head. Oh, and then there was that obviously fake parrot perched on his left shoulder.

  “Ahoy there, maties. You can say ‘argh’ like a pirate if you like, no problem.” The waiter’s banter made Andi giggle again. “And what can I bring you to eat and drink? Octopus? Grog? Or would you prefer something a bit less adventurous?” He was laughing, obviously enjoying his job.

  “Well, I’m not quite that adventurous. Let’s see…I think I’ll have the Treasure Chest, the club sandwich. What’re you having, Kelly?”

  “I’ll have the Pirate’s Gold. I love grilled cheese, and this one has ham and other stuff in it, too. That sounds fun and edible.”

  The waiter grinned. “Everything on the menu is edible, believe me. I’ve eaten every item several times over since I started working here. And what can I bring you to drink with those fine choices? We have a good selection of beer and soda, in addition to iced tea and lemonade.”

  “I’m going with a Pepsi.” Andi handed back her menu.

  “Me, too.” Kelly handed hers back, as well. “What if I had wanted the Grog? What’s that?”

  “Oh, it’s a secret recipe. Want to try it?” He winked at Kelly.

  “Um…okay. We’ll take one and we can both taste it.”

  “I’ll be right back with one Grog and two Pepsi Colas while your lunch is being prepared.” The waiter disappeared and it appeared he might be chuckling.

  “It’s going to be something gross, isn’t it?” Andi asked.

  “Probably. I bet they don’t get many people asking for it.”

  “But you did. Aren’t you the adventurous one! What made you do that?” Andi leaned forward with her arms on the table.

  “I’ve no idea. Maybe you bring out the playful side of me.”

  “Then that’s good, right?”

  “Could be. What are you planning to do with the rest of the time you’re here?”

  “Actually, I was hoping to be able to spend a lot of it with you. I know you’re working, but when you aren’t…I want to show you that I do care about you.”

  “Well, lunch is a start. I’m still feeling skittish about this whole thing. I mean, last time it felt very comfortable hanging out with you and talking and all…then it all fell apart. I don’t want to go through that again.”

  “I don’t blame you. I don’t want to go through that again, either.”

  The waiter brought what looked like a pewter drinking mug with a bubbly orangish-brownish looking concoction in it, along with their two sodas. He set the mug in front of Kelly. “Take a sip of the Grog and tell me what you think.”

  Kelly took the handle of the mug and gingerly brought it to her nose. She sniffed the liquid inside then shrugged. “It doesn’t smell gross. Here goes.”

  She raised the mug to her lips and took a sip. It tasted of root beer and orange soda mixed together. Not nasty, not great, either. She took another sip with Andi and the waiter still looking on expectantly.

  “Well?” Andi and the waiter asked simultaneously.

  “It’s drinkable, although I don’t think I’ll order it again. Want a sip?” She put the mug down and scooted it toward Andi.

  “I’m not sure.” She looked into the mug at the liquid inside. “What the heck, you only live once. You’re not showing signs of poisoning.” Andi laughed and reached for the mug. She took a sip. “Hey, this stuff isn’t half bad," she said, taking another sip.

  The waiter laughed. “Usually the kids think it’s great and drink it right down. The adults are not usually quite as sure about it. Maybe you two are just overgrown kids. Enjoy. I’ll be back in a few more minutes with your food.”

  Andi moved to hand the mug back to Kelly.

  “Tell you what, you can keep that Grog stuff if you like. It seemed awfully sweet to me.”

  Andi shrugged and kept sipping on it.

  “How’s your gallery doing?” Kelly asked.

  “Ah…changing the subject to something else safe. Okay. My gallery’s thriving. We had a showing for G. K. Charles, who’s a local up and coming photographer. She wasn’t known much outside New York, previously. I think her showing in our gallery gave her a beneficial push. She’s very talented and she deserves it. On top of that, she has a great personality. She’ll do well.”

  “She’s a new friend now?”

  “Yes, I think so. We’ve stayed in touch since her showing ended a couple of weeks ago. I believe she’ll get showings in larger galleries soon. I saw some of the acquisitions people for big collectors at our show and they bought a few prints. That will start the ball rolling for her, for sure.”

  “I d
idn’t know you handled photography. I guess I thought of your gallery having only paintings and sculpture and the like.”

  “I’ll have you know we handle all kinds of art. I like to think that we have an open mind to what can constitute a piece of artwork. You might be especially interested in our woodworking items.” She reached into her bag and retrieved her cell. “Here, let me show you. I have a few pictures on my phone.” She did several quick taps and flicks on her screen before handing it to Kelly. “If you wave over it from right to left, it will take you to the next one. There should be four or five photos.”

  Kelly took the phone and looked at the first picture. It was of a modern art type sculpture made from wood. The next one showed a beautiful small chest with a carved lid in the shape of a peacock with the tail feathers all splayed out. The detail was amazing. Next there was a small tripod table. “What made this piece something you would have in your gallery?” She turned the phone around to show Andi.

  “That little table is all of one piece of wood. It’s basically a useable sculpture. I thought it was something amazing, so we have it. What do you think so far?”

  “Interesting.” Kelly turned to the last picture. It was of the top of her kitchen table. “What’s this? It looks like the table in my kitchen.”

  “It is. It’s not in my gallery, however it would fit right in since it’s a real work of art. I took the picture the first time I was at your house. I probably should’ve asked your permission first, and for that I apologize. I confess I thought it was beautiful and I wanted to remember it.”

  “I see. And now what do you want?” Kelly handed the phone back to Andi.

  “I don’t understand.” Andi tilted her head, brows furrowed in question.

  “Yes, you do. You want something from me and I’m still not sure what it is.”

  Andi took a deep breath. “Kelly, I want you.”

  “You want me for what?” She leaned back in her seat, her arms crossed, words soft and measured. “You want me to make another table for your gallery? You want me to make one for you? What? I assume you showed me those pictures for a reason.” She shrugged.