“That sounds good, bear, but what about after the fireworks when everyone goes back and hangs out for hours on the porch?” Aria asked.
“Well, we can go up on the beach with everyone to watch the fireworks, but when it’s over, we’ll walk back to our beach house, just you and me. You can tell your mom about our plan before we go up for the fireworks; I’m sure she’ll understand. Sound like a plan?” I asked.
She just nodded her head and placed her face on my chest as I held her in my arms.
“Thank you for taking care of me. I love you for that,” she said.
“Oh, baby, never thank me for that. I love taking care of you, and I know you’d do the same for me,” I said as I wiped away the remainder of her tears. “Now, your dessert is cold,” I teased and smiled at her. “Let’s get a fresh cup.”
The Fourth of July at the beach was the busiest time of the season. Thousands of people flocked to the seaside resorts, and ours was no exception. The Boardwalk and streets were filled with crowds. This was evident as Aria and I tried to walk to The Blackjack.
Once we arrived I realized that she didn’t exaggerate; she did have a huge family. Aria took me around and introduced me to one person, then another, then another, and so on. I think the introductions lasted for two hours. I was picking up toddlers, holding babies, getting kisses from aunts, and handshakes from uncles. This was completely foreign to me in a familial setting as it had always been just Carter, my mom, and I.
Aria’s Aunt Thelma made certain to have me try all of the dishes that were prepared, and I’m glad she did because each and every one was absolutely delicious. I teased her by telling her it was a good thing that I worked out regularly or I’d be out of a job with all the weight I’d gained tonight.
Her family was more than hospitable. Each person made you feel as if they had known you for years, and you were never made to feel as if you were a stranger or a guest; they made you feel like family.
I sat with her, listening to the latest stories and antics of the families involved, and Aria and Jeannie giggled and smiled throughout most of the night.
When dinner was over and I helped her with the clean-up, I could see that she was mentally bracing herself to step out onto the porch—the same front porch where I had first kissed her.
I reached down to hold her hand as she made her way to the screen door, and squeezed it when she stepped through. I saw her sad gaze go to a green Adirondack chair all the way to the left of the porch. Instantly I knew who the occupant had been on many Fourth of July celebrations.
She took in a deep breath as she stared at the chair, then slowly exhaled the breath she had just taken in. Something about her demeanor was…different. She was still shaky but her apprehension lifted a bit…and then she was smiling. It was slight smile, but I detected it. Her eyes were still misty when she looked at the chair, which I noticed was now occupied. Something had changed when she saw the chair.
“Are you okay?” I asked her, placing my arms around her waist and looking down to her.
“Surprisingly, yes,” she said, looking up at me. She whispered to me to clarify, “It’s because it’s Uncle Bill”—she smiled through her tears—“he’s Dad’s best friend. Do you understand?”
Aria turned her head back around to indicate where her uncle was sitting. It was “her dad’s” chair. Uncle Bill was looking at her. When he caught her eye, he winked at her as if he had known the inner struggle she’d be going through tonight; then Uncle Bill looked at me and gave me a nod. It seemed to indicate his approval of my looking out for her. I felt a sense of satisfaction by receiving his approval. It was the next best thing to receiving an approval from Aria’s father. What mattered most to me was that my beautiful girl seemed peaceful and was wearing a smile.
The sky became dark, and it was almost time for the fireworks display to begin. All of the family began to walk up to the beach to get the best seating possible for the show. TT
True to Aria’s stories, the children were allowed to go straight ahead and all knew their designated boundaries. Some of the family brought sand chairs, while others had blankets, but they all brought their easy demeanor.
Aria and I had a blanket, so we ventured just a bit further from the family crowd for a little more privacy. Once we had the blanket spread out on the ground, I sat back and pulled her against me, with her back and head resting against my chest.
“How are you doing, beautiful?”
“Better than I thought I’d be.”
She snuggled back against me and pulled her hair to one side, running her fingers through it. I lightly kissed the top of her head as she leaned her head over to my arm.
“I’m glad you were with me today, and having you there made it a happy day. I was afraid it was going to be terribly sad,” she said softly.
“How about the porch and the chair where your dad always sat; how did you feel about that?”
“Walking out on the porch made me feel like my feet were in quicksand and that I could only move forward in slow motion, but knowing you were there helped me to take each step.” She paused for a moment, sighing heavily; then she continued. “I kept looking down at the floor of the porch because I knew someone was sitting in Dad’s chair. I know it isn’t really his chair, but for that one week each summer, it always was. I knew a person would be sitting there tonight, and it almost seemed sacrilegious that they would be.”
Aria was trembling a bit, though I doubt she realized as she continued to share her feelings, “Once I gathered the courage to see who ‘took’ Dad’s chair, I almost cried when I saw Uncle Bill. Not because I was sad, but because I was happy that it was him rather than someone else. If I could have handpicked anyone else to sit in that chair, it would have been Uncle Bill. It’s funny, you know? You don’t think about things like this when you’re a kid growing up. Things just are the way they are. Every year, you go on vacation and your dad sits in the same chair. That’s where you go when you want to find him to ask him a question, and when you’re a teenager, you go there to ask him for money,” she laughed. “When you get older, it’s where he brings you your first cup of coffee, and you sit together to watch the traffic go by. It’s where dad, mom, and I watched people walk by, and they would do some of the silliest things. We’d talk about the most foolish topics…”
Her voice started to tremble with emotion, “When Dad felt pain, real pain, he never complained to anyone while we were on vacation. He’d never say a word about it to me, Mom, or the rest of the family. We knew it though. That’s when I started bringing him coffee. He also needed a pillow for his favorite Adirondack chair by then. He had lost weight and muscle mass, having gotten a little boney and sitting in the chair made him sore without a pillow. They were his favorite chairs, and now they’re mine. Seeing Uncle Bill in Dad’s chair made it all right. It gave me peace to see him there.” She paused to take a few breaths but her next words came out as a slight whisper. “Thank you for being there for me tonight.”
As Aria finished, I felt her completely relax into my chest. I knew today was important to her, and I felt content knowing that I helped her get through it. Having her resting here, leaning into me somehow symbolically confirmed that she was relying on me, and I wanted that.
As the fireworks began to light up the sky, I wrapped my arms around my sweet, beautiful girl. I placed my lips against her ear to ensure that she could hear me against the fireworks and the crowds on the beach.
“I will always be here for you, Aria. I love you.”
She placed her hands on my arms and leaned her head back to look into my eyes. She smiled and said, “With all my heart, I love you, too, bear.”
…and I knew she did.
…and from the Penthouse condominium, the sparkles in the sky could not compare with the internal fireworks that erupted as Marisol watched the intimate exchange of the couple sitting cozily on the beach…
T Crazy Dreams – Carrie Underwood
It was a large cor
ner lot with the grand square shaped building—the perfect location. I was standing with my friend, Paige Kasey, a premier realtor, in the middle of a building that formerly housed a gym.
The building was located on the corner of Coastal Highway and one of the major bridges leading into town. If you drove any mode of transportation on either of these roads, you had to pass this particular building. It had just come up on the market, but Paige was giving me first option to purchase.
This building was exactly what Declan had described to me when he laid out his plans for a studio, but he was away on business in Tokyo, and wouldn’t be returning for two days. I wasn’t sure that a space like this, at such a reasonable price, would last very long on the market. Paige was the listing agent, and being a friend, she ensured that the property hadn’t gone public yet. I had mentioned Declan’s plan and his desired space requirements to her over lunch about a month ago. She and I had met so that she could show me some potential renovation properties, and I had asked her to keep an eye out for any commercial buildings that might meet what he was searching for.
“At first glance, it looks like it needs a lot of work, but it does look like a great spot for a photo studio. I think the location would pique interest with proper signage, and it would attract a lot of young people. That’s the market Declan’s targeting. What do you think, Paige?” I asked.
She was someone I could trust for her total honesty. She wasn’t an unprincipled realtor who’d just throw a sales pitch with collecting the commission as her ultimate goal. That wasn’t remotely her style. Paige took the time to pre-qualify her buyers and refused to show them any properties that were out of their price range.
I had known her since we were teenagers; we met when both of our families were on vacation. We spent time on the beach, the Boardwalk, and the amusement rides with my cousins for an entire week. Paige was an only child, and we took her into our group. She had a taste of what it felt like to be part of a big family during that time. When vacation had ended, she and I continued to correspond.
We met again at the beach when we were in college. It was then, while we were on vacation, that she’d look at the different properties for sale and speculate their approximate value. She had aspirations of becoming her own boss, and she opened a business that was being built on a reputation of integrity. Having been in the industry quite a while as an agent, her agency was less than ten years old, and she was doing exceptionally well.
What I admired about Paige, and why I continued to do business with her, was that she refused to play by the rules of others. Over the years, she’d seen unscrupulous realtors sell and refinance to those who couldn’t possibly meet the long term requirements, and as a result, they were now losing their homes and filing for bankruptcy.
Having discussed this over lunch, I could tell that it broke her heart. We both knew some of the families that this tragedy was happening to. What made it more deplorable was that it all was generated by greed and the love of money. There were unconscionable realtors who didn’t care what the long term consequences would be to the families they affected as long as the commissions were in their pockets. She wasn’t like that at all, and I knew I could trust her.
“Declan said he needs a lot of room for photography studio space as well as space to conduct business,” I said. “You know what’s on the market, Paige. What’s your professional opinion compared to what you know is out there and available?”
She looked around. It was a pretty empty shell. All of the gym equipment had been removed, and to the untrained eye or someone without vision, it looked like a big, hollow box with holes in the walls and floor.
“I think it has fantastic potential to be whatever he’d want it to be. The ceilings are high, so he could adjust the lighting however he’d like. Same goes with setting up the structure seeing as there are no interior walls to remove. For studio space, it looks good to me, but only Declan would know what he’s specifically looking for.”
“Let me try to call him. I really need his input,” I said.
“You go ahead,” she replied. “I’m going to look around some more.”
I walked to the outside of the building to call Declan on my cell. “Please pick up,” I said out loud.
No such luck. Voicemail: “Declan Sinclair here. Leave your message at the tone.”
That’s Declan—a man of few words and straight to the point.
I truly needed to talk to him, and I wasn’t certain of the time difference, so I left a message.
“Hi, babe. Please call me when you get this message. I may have a wonderful surprise for you. Talk to you soon!”
I disconnected the call as I walked back into the building to find Paige.
After a few minutes of walking around the expansive property, I saw her. “Tell me the truth. Once this goes on the market, how long do you think it’ll last before it’s under contract.”
“Honestly, Aria, I don’t think it is going to last a day.”
I know my face registered a great amount of shock. I thought that it would sell fast, but a day?!
“You have to be kidding! Money isn’t flowing that well in this economy.”
“I know, but let me play out a scenario for you, Aria”—she waved her arms around the big room—“This is a big box; a blank canvas of a building. Although it’s a resort town and most of the revenue here comes in during the summer months, resort towns are becoming popular through more seasons. You and Declan have been here through the seasons. Haven’t you observed how many of the businesses are open on the weekends? You must have noticed. Haven’t you seen more people walking on the beach in front of the house on the weekends? Like it or not, the resort’s becoming a four season one. A lot of people are moving down here to retire as well, so more and more businesses are looking to cater to those needs,” Paige pointed out.
I could see where she was going with this, and I knew she was right.
“Yes, I have noticed more people.”
“Sure you have. You only have eyes for Declan,” she said mockingly and rolled her eyes. It caused us both to laugh; then she continued. “Truly, Aria, real estate is at its prime in resort towns, especially commercial real estate. Look at what we’re standing in! Can you see the possibilities? T-shirt shops, bathing suit stores, a night club, a restaurant, even a twenty-four hour emergency center. The potential is there. Any investor could see that as well. Not to mention the location; you can’t find a better spot! It would be seen by everyone coming into, and going out of, the city. Even if they weren’t specifically looking for whatever this building will become, subliminally it will be ingrained in their memory. Do you follow my reasoning?” Paige was making her case.
“What if I can’t contact Declan? I know what his business plan is. He’s shared it with me many times, but I really want his input. This is his goal; his baby. I just don’t want to presume what he wants to do now, at this minute.”
Paige just smiled and cocked her head at me. A moment later, she said, “You’ve heard it said before. There’s no time like the present.”
“Hell, Paige!!! I don’t know what to do! I really need to talk to him, but he’s at a damn photo shoot!” I said in frustration. “Let me go outside and try to call him one more time.”
As I exited the door, I telephoned Declan’s cell for the second time, and again I received voicemail. I left another message, but I wasn’t hopeful that I’d speak to him before my meeting with Paige was finished. T
It was then that my brain began to go into overdrive, and I started to pace. I always did that when I was deep in thought, or terrified and I was definitely a bit of both now. Declan constantly spoke to me about his plans for a studio. I knew it was his dream for the future, so I listened to his business strategy the way my dad had always listened to mine. I asked him the hard questions the way my dad had asked me. As our relationship grew, Declan’s plan for this studio had become more and more solid—on paper. He said that he was just waiting for the right prop
erty and the right opportunity to come along. This could be it!
I walked out of the building and a bit further away from it than I had before as I needed to get a better vantage point of the location and the traffic pattern passing by. I had to garner a perspective from a consumer point of view of the landscape and appeal the structure would have.
Paige was right; it was such a busy intersection that it couldn’t be missed by anyone. There would never be a way to change this particular traffic pattern in the city. Every car, truck, van, bus, and bicyclist had to go by this building to enter or exit the resort town. In my opinion, it was the ideal place for the business he was planning and the space he was looking for. He had described to me, in detail, over and over again.
Standing inside the building, I could see it completed. My mom told me that was my gift; my “artist’s eye”, the ability to see a project completed in my head. That was my vision, and that’s what made my company successful. More importantly, this was Declan’s vision and I wanted to see it come true for him! In my head I could see the studio space with more than enough room for make-up artists, hair stylists, dressers, and photographers. There was ample space to have three studios going at the same time, with dedicated areas for each studio to have separate teams of their own.
The individual spaces could be made sound-proof so that state-of-the-art equipment could be installed and the studios could each play their particularly desired genre of music without disturbing another space.
Each area could be designed with enough natural lighting that the photographers could choose whether or not to use it, and the windows could be designed so they could be closed off to use whatever choice of lighting the photographer might desire.
Declan had many trusted associates in his line of business, so he could be selective in bringing in the most respected colleagues to get their perspective and input on what their desired preferences were, insuring the best work product.
Positive/Negativity Page 10
