Lost In Rewind (Audio Fools #3) (34 page)

“
Hunting High and Low
” by a-ha

I
can’t remember the last time I’ve been this happy. I look at the motley crew that clearly cares for me and has my back as we sail the Mediterranean waters on Louis and Emily’s yacht “
La Vie en Rose”
headed toward the provincial seaside commune of Cassis. I don’t let myself get too hopeful about the prospect of seeing Kali again, since nothing ever works out the way I imagine it. Right now I’m just going with the flow and allowing the hope and promise of tomorrow guide me.

Sara hasn’t stopped smiling since we bordered this magnificent ship, while Will, Louis, and Eddie haven’t ceased plotting like pirates. Whatever happens and whether or not we find the elusive Kali, which I still don’t know her last name, the happiness I’ve already found will last me eternally.

Louis has informed us that he may have intelligence of Kali’s whereabouts. Mr. Bruel has been able to track her down using the pictures I had saved on my phone. Louis, more so than anyone else, has been enthralled with her grandmother, Joella Gitanos, ever since he learned that she was one of the wealthiest inhabitants of Rhode Island, rivaling even the Newport royalty. He has been captivated by her anonymity and hasn’t stopped telling us all the stories he’s been able to find about her.

All I know from my conversations with Kali is that she was born and raised somewhere in Cassis, France, and therefore, we’ve decided to make that our first stop. I plan to go visit the Château de LeBlanc vineyard that Lauren so graciously pointed out to me, hoping perhaps they may know who Kali is. My quest for a girl that left her footprints on my soul has prompted a spur of the moment reunion that never in a million years would I have seen coming. I don’t feel like the most hated man in the world by these people who’ve welcomed my kids and me with open arms and have made us feel loved. I see Sara and Will together and I’m no fool—she and I never shared what they have, and I long to one day be lucky enough to find that, too. Finally, I believe that faith has delivered Sara in the right hands. Watching all our kids play and interact is my greatest happiness, and I hope Jacky is looking down on us and can see the smiles on her children’s faces.

“You nervous?” I look behind me to see Sara, wrapped in a blanket, approaching.

“Nope, not nervous. Ready.” It’s the truth.

“Tell me, what are you thinking?” Sara comes to stand by my side, with the wind blowing her hair off her face.

“I always trusted in what that fortuneteller told me. She waited for me at the top of those stairs because I was somehow a part of her path. Maybe she knew exactly when to tell me what she did. She could’ve spoken to me years before that, but she didn’t. This is her doing—it was her job to implant a future in my mind in which both you and Jacky were part of. I get it now. You and I were never meant to stay together, we were just meant to collide and cause an explosion in order to bring about our true destiny. We all have roles in this world, and you and I created Juliet and Jacob. That was our purpose. You and Will are clearly perfect, and perhaps, I was destined to meet Kali.” I look into the eyes that I love and realize that there are so many loves that make up a person, and each love is different, never the same love twice.

Sara smiles and laces her arm in mine. “Liam and I got married,” she tells me.

I look at her and open my mouth in shock. She nods her head and I swear I can see the low perched moon illuminating with happiness in her bright eyes.

“Does everybody know?” I question with the biggest, most genuine smile plastered on my lips.

“No, I don’t want to say anything to anyone until we get back home. We’ll have a big party and announce it officially.”

I engulf her in a hug and kiss the top of her head.

“Liam was going to tell you but I wanted it to be me. I hope you can be happy for us, despite our past or perhaps because of it,” she explains with caution.

My heart beats out of my chest with happiness that feels like my own. Those two deserve every last drop of magic left in the world. I can actually feel my heart swell with pride and gratitude at having her tell me herself. I guess you never stop loving people. You just adjust your perspective and love them in different ways.

“I’m happy for you, you know that, right?”

She nods. “I know. I just want you to stop blaming yourself and feeling responsible for me. I’m not that fifteen-year-old girl you met on the dance floor. I’m not the eighteen-year-old you found shaking and crying in the backseat of that cab. I have made choices and you are not to be held accountable any longer. I’m lucky to have every single person on this boat shape my life—especially you and JJ. I wouldn’t be here without you guys. If this Kali girl gives you a hard time, I’ll beat some sense into her.” She makes a fist and winks. “I have no doubt that if you care about her to come this far, she must be special. Now, tell me your plan, because if you listen to Louis, my brother, or especially Liam, you may be charged with kidnapping.”

We both laugh at her accurate assessment of “Operation Find Kali.”

“I’m the lucky one. What would I do without you?” The thought of a world devoid of Sara squeezes my insides.

“You’ll never have to find out.”

She gives me a tight hug before leaving me standing by myself on a dark deck to watch the waves bring me closer to the girl I can’t stop hallucinating about. I feel invincible with this bunch adamant on me finding the woman I’ve somehow convinced my heart should be mine, the old gypsy’s alluring granddaughter, of all people. I think, in a way, each and every one on this boat has found their other half and they want me to have what they have. I had that once with Jacqueline but it was tainted by constant fear, pain, and our lies. I hope I get another chance at happiness—a chance to do it right.

I continue to stand on deck and inhale the crisp night air, allowing the Mediterranean Sea to remind me of Kali and her sweet scent. I take out my phone and find her picture. Her features have become incredibly comforting and more familiar than my own. I sometimes think I’d probably be able to find her based on touch alone.

Lauren gave me back the key I’d left that night for Kali under her pillow all those months ago. I’ve carried it around with me at all times until we meet again and she becomes my talisman.

Tomorrow morning I will be in Cassis, her Cassis, onboard the fucking Love Boat. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough.

I
wake up to Juliet and Jacob both jumping on my bed like the little monkeys they are. They’re excited that the boat has stopped, screaming and shouting for me to look out the window. I grab them in each hand and lift them in my arms to go look outside. The picturesque scenery sooths me as dozens upon dozens of little fishing boats all around us dance on the crystal blue waters. I gasp at the proximity of the hills and the cascading buildings surrounding the harbor; it all looks painted, surreal. I put my kids down and walk out on the balcony to inhale the fruity aroma in the air. It’s as if she’s standing right there. It’s early, but the city up ahead in the distance seems alive with movement, making my heart drum with purpose once again.

The kids run off to play with their friends—they’re all calling each other cousins, which the women find adorable. Emily and Sara have already married Jacob off to Rose and Juliet to Eric, which is quite amusing but a bit premature. I stand stone-like, not fully trusting where I am, who I’m with, and who I’m here to find. Perhaps this is just a dream,
a beautiful dream.

I turn when I hear a knock on my door and see Will pop his head inside my cabin.

He looks worried, as if he hasn’t slept all night—a bit jitterier than his usually calm, carefree self. “You’re okay? You look seasick.” I’m hoping Sara is feeling fine, I don’t want her or anyone else to suffer while on this boat because of me.

He shakes his head and tries to avoid looking me straight on. “Bad news, mate, I don’t think she’s here,” he announces stoically. “My dad rang earlier and a reputable source of his confirmed that there’s a good probability we won’t find her … I mean here—we won’t find her here. I’m sorry,” he adds with panicked red-rimmed eyes that divulge him probably keeping something away from me.

And the bad news begins. I sigh and roll my eyes. Did I really expect this to be a smooth sailing kind of trip?

“Don’t be cross, we’ll still spend the day here and then continue sailing,” he declares with a hint of defeat. In an attempt to keep the morale up he then offers, “The kids are having a blast, this holiday was exactly what we all needed.”

I nod,
yeah, no big deal, just a minor setback
. “Sounds good. Can you and Sara handle Juliet and Jacob today? I’d like to go into town on my own and visit a local vineyard, maybe find someone who knows her.” I can’t let this curveball discourage me.

“Sure thing. Take your time. We’ll go walk around the village and see what Cassis has to offer. Maybe we’ll take the kids fishing or to the beach.” I can tell he’s trying hard to sound excited.

I thank Will and begin my day getting better acquainted with Kali’s hometown. I recall her telling me she hated the sea, which must’ve been hard for her growing up around here, since everything seems to be centered around water.

The Bruels’ massive yacht is anchored ten minutes’ boat ride away from the harbor of Cassis. I disembark the yacht into a small boat waiting to taxi me to Port Miou. The long-winding port is encompassed with white limestone cliffs that are overgrown with emerald-colored pine trees and the clear turquoise waters glisten around me like glass. I can’t get over how breathtaking this town is.

I thank my skipper as I’m immediately greeted at the port by my driver for the day. Louis has arranged for him to bring me to the address I was able to find printed on the wine bottle Lauren so graciously gifted me. I look around as we drive through town, leaving the sea and climbing the hills inland. Everything that meets my eyes is vivid and alive with this town’s infamous black currents sold and depicted everywhere.

I’m peacefully withdrawn when I realize the driver stopped the vehicle, bringing us to the gates of what looks to be a grand estate. I slowly get out of the car and soak in the indescribable landscape. If I’d grown up here, I’d never leave.

White limestone amphitheater cliffs surround the vineyard in front of me, which leads my eyes right down to the clear azure waters of the bay below. The name ‘Château Kali de LeBlanc’ is beautifully written on one of the stone pillars, which hold the slightly ajar wrought iron gates, lined on both sides with olive trees.

My eyes are transfixed on her name printed on stone confirming her existence. This is where Kali is from. Lauren didn’t just direct me to some vineyard in Cassis; she led me right to the place Kali was born. I have no doubt that this is the place where she grew up and spent her whole life until she moved to Providence, Rhode Island five years ago when she decided to go live and get to know Joella Gitanos. The knowledge that I’m standing at the gates of her home, the place where she was raised, affects me in an indescribable way. I feel as if I belong here.

I touch her name on the metal plaque, pretending for a minute it’s her my fingers are caressing. I push open the gates and walk down a pebbled road leading to a white Mediterranean style estate. An older man stands at the door with his hands in his pockets, assessing me as I approach.

“Bonjour,” I offer in my best French accent.

“Hello,” he answers.

“Do you speak English?” I’m hoping he does because my French sucks.

“I speak English, not worse than you speak French,” he retorts with a slight French accent.

I smile and nod. Just as I’m about to come closer and properly introduce myself, he raises his hand in the air for me to halt.

“This is not one of the tasting vineyards open to tourists, and I’m afraid I won’t sell you any of our wine, so please don’t misuse your time.” His words clearly tell me to leave.

I nod, a bit surprised by his unwelcoming comment. I ignore his warning and proceed to try and reason with him. I remove my glasses and state, “I’m here to find a girl—I mean, I’m here for Kali,” I correct myself, but I’ve already messed up. I can see the way he reacted to me saying her name. His face pales and his eyes enlarge. It’s clear I just fucked up and dug my own grave. I may as well hand him the gun.

I apologize, not sure for what, but if this man, who I suspect may be Kali’s father, wanted to throw me out before, he’s most definitely about to kick me off his property for coming looking after his daughter.

“Are you a friend of Kali’s from America?”

I nod. Yeah, one could say we’re friends, in an overly friendly kind of way.

“She’s gone. It’s best if you leave.” He turns around and begins to walk away, forsaking me to stand outside like a stray dog.

I wonder how he would feel if I told him how much I care for his daughter and that I can’t think about anything but her. What if I told him that I once met his mother-in-law and that I think it’s his daughter I’m destined to be with?