Chapter 6
Kadence
The bickering only gets worse when we arrive back at the beach house. Apparently Davina and Steph wanted to stop by the local liquor store to stock up on Cristal. Unfortunately, they don’t carry it. In fact, after going around the island we discovered no one even has it. She was so pissed she wanted to cancel the rest of our trip and drive back to the city.
I spend the rest of my afternoon out on the balcony watching the horizon and the beautiful sun setting. I swear time stands still in this relaxing place. No matter what’s going on inside of the house, I feel peace and comfort. I still can’t believe a bunch of grown ass women would rather spend their vacation complaining than enjoying it.
Making a call to my parents isn’t necessary, but I’m the type of daughter who always wants the people who love me to know where I am, just in case something happens. Mom always worries, even though she doesn’t admit it.
I decide to Facetime them so they can see the beauty of the island. Mom answers after the third ring and smiles when she sees my face. “Hi, Mom. I’m checking in.”
“I was just thinking about you. How’s the weather?”
I point to my lightweight jacket. “It’s breezy, but not too cold. It’s beautiful here, so tranquil. You’d love it.”
“Have you been doing much?”
“We went kayaking this afternoon. Yesterday we were going to go to the beach, but Mandy had cramps, so we stayed in. We did a little shopping at some local shops, but that’s about it.” I turn my phone around to show her the horizon. “This is my view.”
“It’s wonderful.”
"I hope you have a great time and don't worry about anything here at home or school. Unwind, Kadence. You've worked hard and deserve the break. Live a little. If you don't you'll regret it when you're older."
"I promise I'm having fun, Mom. No worries."
"I'll tell Dad you called. We're getting ready to have dinner. Love you."
"Love you too."
When the call ends my focus goes back to the screaming people in the house. Deciding to avoid them at all costs, I head down the back steps and grab my wristlet from the car as I walk past. Who knows what they plan on doing for the rest of the night? I'm not interested in finding out. All I plan on doing is finding a nice place I can have some dinner and maybe a couple glasses of wine while listening to the sounds of the island.
My walk takes me through a residential neighborhood. Every neighbor I pass waves or offers a hello. One older woman asked if I wanted to borrow her bicycle, though I declined and thanked her for the offer.
This island makes me feel like I'm back in time. There's no hustle or bustle. People walk or ride bikes. They sell seashells on tables in their front yards. Everyone seems to know everyone. They're friendly and welcoming. The air is clean, and while taking my walk I appreciate the quiet. No traffic, sirens or horns.
While sitting on the porch I researched my dining options for the evening. Unlike my companions, I'm open to try new things, like a local diner who is known for its fresh seafood and friendly service. Afterwards, the bar is a short walk upstairs. Apparently the same family owns them. As long as they serve Chardonnay or can make a martini, I'm happy.
Dining alone is strange. There's no wait for me to be seated. I'm given a corner booth looking out at the Main Street. Local stores line the road, all housed in historic buildings. I make a promise to visit every one of them before the week is over.
After ordering from the menu, I sip a fresh iced tea and read about the annual pony swim that takes place every July. From what I understand, it's an unforgettable experience to watch.
My waitress is in her twenties. She walks around with a smile, greeting locals as they enjoy their meals amongst friendly faces. We don't have places like this, well none that my family has ever gone to. This saddens me.
I have to admit, there's a lot about this place my friends would complain about. Take the decor for starters. It's charming with photographs of the town and its people. There are fresh flowers in little vases at every table. The menus are laminated and they use paper napkins. Davina would go ballistic about it being too cheap, but after my first taste of tea, and bites of my meal, I know better than to judge a book by its cover. My meal is scrumptious. It's not about the arrangement of food. Where I'm used to smaller portions being served on big fancy plates lined with both edible and non-edible decor, this plate is overflowing with yummy goodness. The shrimp are cooked perfectly and seasoned with a local made rub. I know, because a jar of it is on every table with the salt and pepper shakers.
My mashed potatoes are fresh, as are the stewed tomatoes I piled on top of them. It feels like Thanksgiving, and by the time I clear half the plate I'm so stuffed I can barely move. As much as I want to try the homemade desserts, I know I’ll combust if I do, so I make a promise to return again before we have to leave.
It takes all of my energy to make it upstairs to the lounge. Several tables fill the space surrounding a full wall of bar. I take the furthest stool and order a glass of wine. Soft music plays from a nearby jukebox, while a few patrons talk loudly amongst themselves. A couple is standing playing darts. Each time they take a turn they high-five each other. I smile, thinking of the simple things in life, the things I’ve gone without in order to achieve a dream. One day I’ll have time for a relationship. Probably by then, I’ll regret all the guys I turned down along the way.
I spot him before he’s able to recognize me. He’s changed his clothes, wearing a pair of dark washed jeans that are complimented by long-sleeved printed shirt. I hadn’t noticed it before, but his hair is longer than I first noticed. When our eyes meet he walks right up to me, as if there are no other seats in the bar. “This seat taken?”
I shrug. “It’s a public place.”
He taps on the counter and is immediately handed a beer, as if he’s here entirely too much. “Sorry about earlier.”
When he turns his attention back to me it’s like he’s confused. “Come again?”
“The kayak tour. I’m sorry for how my friends treated you.”
His smirk says he understands, but what comes out of his mouth is shocking. “I’m sorry, I’ve never met you before. The name’s Coop though, in case you were wondering.”
He holds out his hand, but I’m still too confused to take it. “No. I’m quite sure. You were our tour guide.”
“Must not have been that memorable. I think I’d remember meeting someone who looked like you.”
Was this guy for real?
"Wait. My tour guide's name was Caleb."
"Yeah, it's not ringing any bells and I've been here my whole life. You sure you didn't dream this Caleb guy up?"
I snicker. This guy has to be pulling my chain. "I'm sure."
He keeps drinking his beer, and eventually walks away to chat with some other people. When I know the coast is clear, I decide to ask the bartender. "Excuse me, but what's that guy's name?"
She points to make sure I'm talking about the right person and I nod. "Cooper, why? You into him or something?"
My response is so quick it could be misconstrued as downright offensive. "Oh no. Definitely not."
"Yeah, that's what they all say."
I'm either losing my mind, or someone is seriously messing with me. The longer I sit and watch his body language, the more I'm unsure of myself. Maybe I'm bored and need to keep occupied. I spent two hours with the guy while in a kayak. I could be mistaken. It's not like I memorized his face. Putting too much energy into something ridiculous causes me to laugh at myself. Just when I'm ready to forget about it, the guy returns for another beer.
"Have we met?"
An air-filled laugh escapes me. "Are you freaking serious?"
He tosses his hands up as if to surrender. "Geesh, woman. I was only trying to converse with you."
I watch him take his beer off the counter and walk away again. I've never felt so small in my life, but instead of cowering in my corner, I wave the bartender down for another drink.
Then, right when I’m focused on downing my cocktail, I hear his familiar voice on the opposite side of me. Wondering how he got away from me so fast, I have to do a double take. I swear it’s the same guy, but he’s wearing different clothes, and his hair is shorter. “I hear you were looking for me.”
My eyes scan the bar until I see the original guy I’d been talking to, and then come back to this one. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“What’s wrong? Coop give ya a hard time?”
Covering my mouth with my hands, I giggle. “I thought I was going crazy.”
He picks up a fresh beer and takes a swig, raising his brows with amusement. “Surprise, twins!”