Summer by the Sea (32 page)

“Nope.”

He looked over at her and then back at the road. “Then why do you want to go?”

“Because music at the beach is amazing.”

“What if it’s a heavy metal band?” he teased, the corners of his mouth going up and that playful affection in his eyes.

“Sunset Grille would not have a heavy metal band.”

“Okay. You got me. Promise me you won’t get the fishbowl drink.”

“I’m going to get us both one, and you’re going to hold mine while we dance together.”

Jake laughed and shook his head.

The sun was setting, and, even though Faith had had a very full day, and she was nearly exhausted, the sight of the pink and blue sky with a blaze of orange slashed through it, the colors dancing on the water below making the pier and gazebo nothing but a black silhouette—they made her feel alive. She was so happy to be there. She could hear the band already—steel drums and maracas, not heavy metal—as they walked up, and she grabbed Jake’s arm. He looked down at her hand but then looked back toward Sunset Grille, not saying a word.

He told the hostess they were there for the band, and she sat them outside, close enough that the music penetrated the air all around them but far enough away for them to have a conversation.

“This is nice,” he said with a smile, leaning back in his chair a little.

“I thought it would be.”

A few couples had gotten up to dance. The breeze of the Sound blew through Faith’s hair.

“I’ll be back,” Jake said, getting up. “You okay for a sec?”

“I’m just fine,” she smiled. She watched him go but then turned back around to see the band. The music filled her chest, danced in her ears, and made her tap her foot against the wooden deck. She wanted to get up and sway to the music. She wanted Jake behind her, his arms around her, as they stood with the water and the fiery sunset all around them.

It was so nice to experience the Outer Banks as an adult. There were so many more places to explore, so many things to do that she’d never even considered as a kid. But her thoughts didn’t stop there. She wanted to travel. She decided she was going to see Key West. If anything, out of principle. She should get out more, enjoy life, meet people. Life was bigger than her work, and while her job was very important to her, finding a balance was also important.

One song bled into another, until she started to notice that Jake hadn’t returned. The waitress had been by several times, bringing water and topping it off, but Faith kept saying she was waiting for him. Now, she wondered what was going on. Was he sick? She scanned the bar—it was full of people—but she couldn’t find his familiar frame. She eyed the outdoor hostess station, trying to see if he’d gotten caught talking or something. He wasn’t there. She wanted to continue to enjoy the music, but the more she sat, the more she worried. When he finally showed, she was sitting on the edge of her seat.

“I’m so sorry. I had to check my phone—I didn’t want to be rude and do it at the table, and then I had an unexpected business call. I had to take it.”

He was apologizing, and she knew he was probably very sorry, but sitting there on that deck with no one to enjoy the music with her had made her think. She thought about her ex-boyfriend, Patrick and how he’d always told her she worked too long. And then she thought about Scott, and how he must feel all by himself when he should be here with the family. This trip had taught her that life wasn’t about working.

“I’ve learned that work doesn’t make someone successful, being happy does.” She eyed the phone in his hand, trying to drive home the message.

“What if work is what makes me happy?” he challenged her.

“When we first met, I confided in you that I felt like I had to prove to people that I’m happy. Do you remember that? If I recall correctly, you’d said that you knew exactly how I felt.”

“And your point?” He looked down at his phone again to check it, and she wanted to grab it and throw it into the ocean.

“Building your big hotels doesn’t convince me that you’re happy.” She only felt happy when she could be with people she enjoyed, making memories, and having fun. She looked up at him, and he was looking at his phone again.

“Well, it does make me happy. And, I’ve said before, I don’t have to prove to you that I am.”

She wasn’t convinced.

“But just because my business makes me happy, doesn’t mean that I need to be on the phone tonight. If you can sit tight one more sec…” he said. He dropped his phone into his pocket. “I’ll be right back, I promise.”

She thought again about Scott and Casey. Jake had only taken one work call tonight and had apologized for that, but it had already unsettled Faith. Where had he gone now? Is he sneaking in another business call? What must Scott feel about Casey? No wonder he hadn’t responded. If Casey could just make him see that she was serious. She looked around for Jake, and took in a deep breath as she realized she’d lost him again in the crowd. She looked up at the sky to try and calm herself.
Please let him redeem himself after all this
, she prayed. Was it too much to ask him to switch off from work and have a little down time?

The music was fast—a Bob Marley cover—and she wanted so badly to be able to just relax and enjoy herself. She scanned the bar again but stopped when she saw him, and then she smiled, her heart nearly ready to explode. Sloshing in his arms—straws and fruit skewers bouncing everywhere—were two enormous fishbowls of green liquid. He smiled at her as he wobbled toward her.

Gingerly, he set them down. He kneeled in front of her, his eyes meeting hers. “I’m sorry that I left you here,” he said. “I put my phone in the car.” Right then, she knew that actions spoke so much louder than words, and with that one gesture, he’d made her feel better.

“Thank you for this,” she said, still smiling and pointing to her fishbowl.

“You’re welcome.” He stood up. “Want to dance?”

“Yes,” she said, excited.

The band had slowed to gentle rhythm, as Jake led her to the area of deck where the tables had been cleared. He put his arms around her, holding her waist, and she wrapped hers around his neck. He looked down at her, and she wondered what had made him so happy all of a sudden. He seemed so content and comfortable there with her. She put her head on his shoulder, and she could feel his lips against the top of her head. She wanted to feel this way all night; it was simply perfect.

She looked at him. “Thank you for bringing me tonight,” she said.

“You’re welcome.” He locked eyes with her, his face showing deliberation. Then, without warning, he leaned toward her and gently pressed his lips to hers. It was as if they were the only two people there. The music, the breeze, the taste of rum on his lips—it all made her lightheaded and she was glad to be holding onto him because she didn’t trust herself to stand on her own. It felt like the perfect moment and nothing could ruin it.

“I wanted to kiss you at my party,” he admitted in her ear after he’d left her lips.

“Why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t want to get involved again. It’s too complicated. You know how I feel about what I do for a living and my plans for the Outer Banks. That’s a big deal when it comes to my life. And yet you’re here with me, knowing that. As much as I’d like to be friends—it would be easier—I can’t help how I feel. I love spending time with you and your family and this afternoon with your nan just brought home to me how important it is to find someone to share life with. I know we have our differences but I hope in time I can get you to understand the way I see things.”

Funny, she was hoping the same, but she was hoping to get him to see her side of things. “I wasn’t terribly happy about being left during the phone call,” she said honestly. If he was being honest, then she should be too.

“I’d never have done that, but it was an important call.”

More important than being with me?
she wanted to ask, but was afraid to hear the answer. “What was it?”

“The restaurant owners on Beach Road are ready to sell.”

She pulled back and moved off to the side of the deck. “What?” So much for nothing being able to ruin the moment. He just had. As quick as a flash.

“Yep.” He smiled.

“That’s why you’re so happy tonight?”

“Yep,” he said again. So it had nothing to do with being with her, enjoying their time together. He was just on a high from having gotten what he wanted.

“I’m sorry,” she said turning and heading back to their table. Their drinks sat, still full. “I can’t be happy about this.” She sat down and stared at the pineapple wedge and maraschino cherry on the skewer in her drink. “I’m never going to agree with you on this, and it’s always going to come between us. Your job defines who you are, and I’m just going to say it: I am wholeheartedly against your decisions.”

“I can change your mind.”

“So, if I want to change and do what you’d like me to do, it’s fine, but you aren’t even willing to entertain my point of view? You only want things to work when they’re on
your
terms. That’s not fair, Jake.”

The truth was that, while they had a ton of fun together, when it came down to it, she could see that they were just two very different people. She was never going to change his mind, and he was certainly not going to change hers. She’d better just end things now before they got worse. She didn’t want to spend her vacation arguing, and Jake didn’t need her nagging him. They’d hit a wall.

“Maybe we should call it a night,” Faith suggested. She stood up. Before it had even begun, their night was over.

“Why?”

“I just think it would be better.”

“You’re avoiding the situation.”

“I’d rather not discuss it any further. You aren’t going to change my mind.”

“You’re being stubborn,” he said. Why can
you
change
my
mind but I can’t change yours?”

She looked out at the ocean. “You know, you’re just as stubborn. Casey mentioned that your ex-wife said you didn’t communicate. Maybe she was on to something.”

NINETEEN

“Want some coffee?” Faith asked Casey, knowing the answer. Both she and her sister were exhausted having been up with Isabella all night. It had been a long day, and, even though she’d cut the night short with Jake, Faith hadn’t gotten settled until late. Isabella had a nightmare that her daddy was missing and she couldn’t find him, and she’d gotten them both up in the early hours of the morning. She’d cried for ages, it had seemed. Faith had suggested calling Scott to have him talk to her, but Casey insisted on handling it on her own. She’d said that Scott would be out of the state most of the time, and she’d have to get used to handling Isabella’s fears by herself anyway. Plus, Faith wondered if Scott’s silence played a part in Casey’s decision as well. How dare he get to soothe his little girl when he wouldn’t even pick up the phone? Faith was willing to bet that thought had gone through Casey’s head.

“Yes please,” Casey sat down at the table and rubbed her face. She looked tired, but not just from last night. She looked overwhelmed.

“Good morning!” their mom said, almost singing the words as she sat down. She was already dressed and ready for the day. Their mom smiled at both of them before realizing that she was the only one smiling. Then, she said more seriously, “How are we this morning?”

“Drained,” Casey said. Faith filled the coffee pot and clicked it on. “Isabella kept us up last night. She misses her daddy.”

Their mom looked thoughtful, an undecipherable expression lurking below her features. “It’ll all work itself out.”

Faith poured a cup of coffee for Casey and set it in front of her. “I’m sure it will be okay eventually, but last night was pretty rough.” She opened the fridge and pulled out the cream. “Isabella’s holding in more than we think.”

Their mom stayed quiet. There really wasn’t much to say about it.

Faith poured two more cups of coffee and brought them to the table with a few spoons. Without saying a word, the three women stirred their drinks. Faith’s eyes burned from lack of sleep, her head heavy with exhaustion. She hadn’t slept well after they’d finally settled Isabella back down. She’d been worried about her niece. What would her little life be like now that her daddy would be living so far away? She couldn’t believe Scott hadn’t even texted Casey. That was so out of character. Were things that bad between them? And she kept relaying last night with Jake. The journey back had been silent and she’d given him the briefest of goodbyes when she’d left. She didn’t know what else to do or say. All these thoughts had been swimming around in her mind all night, making her restless.

Before she could ponder any further, Isabella came walking in, her hair wild and bunched up, and her blanket in her hands. She’d slept hard it looked like.

“Good morning, Isabella,” Casey said gently. “I can’t believe you’re up.” She stood and offered her chair to her daughter. “Do you want some breakfast?”

Isabella nodded.

“What are we going to do with Jake today, Mom?” Casey asked, probably trying to steer the conversation away from her and Scott.

Faith felt her shoulders slump. She’d forgotten they were supposed to do something nice for Jake. It had seemed like such a good idea when they’d discussed it yesterday, but now she was hoping she wouldn’t have to see him again. It was just too hard. She liked him so much, but they just couldn’t make things work. Neither of them would budge.

“I think we should cook for him tonight—make a big seafood dinner,” their mom said.

“We’ve already made him breakfast. Why don’t we go out and get drinks or something?” Casey suggested.

Their mom shook her head. “I don’t know if Nan wants to do that. I’d like to include her.”

“If there’s a chair, I’ll have drinks,” Nan said, coming in. She walked slowly, taking each step with great care. “Good morning,” she said, taking a seat.

“Why don’t we decide after we all get ready for the day?” their mom said. “Getting freshened up might make everyone feel a little better. I’ll make Isabella her breakfast. You two go get yourselves together.”

Nan watched her daughter carefully. Mom was up to something, and Nan—ever the observer—could tell. Mom didn’t want to go anywhere, she wanted them to get ready… Faith couldn’t help the fizzle of excitement that was rising up. It reminded her of the very last time they’d come to their cottage as kids. Her mom, who could always keep a secret, but allowed little clues to leak out all over the place, had told the girls they were going to have a girls’ day out. They’d expected to go to the movies or something, but when they got in the car, it was full of car games, snacks, and toys. Their bags already packed, they were headed to the Outer Banks. They hadn’t even known they were going. The cottage was destroyed the next year. Faith couldn’t help but think how Nan’s advice to take a chance rang true that time. Had her mom not decided to take them there that day, they wouldn’t have had that last memory—that memory of a time when the real world hadn’t begun yet. It had been a good summer—before they’d all gone their separate ways.