Nancy, he had found out was the name of Betty’s daughter-in-law. She was just as charming and friendly as Betty. She had asked him what he was doing about town and he had told her he was staying on an island out in the bay. Telling her he had visited every summer when he was growing up.
“You must know Betty then,” she remarked.
“Oh yes, I have great memories here. Betty was a lovely woman. How is she doing these days?”
“Betty is doing real well. She’s still at home, health is pretty good, just the eyesight is not what it used to be. She has some heart stuff, but her mind is as quick as a whip. She’d probably like it if you stopped by. Especially if you had photographs. Nothing brightens her day more than to see photographs from back in the day. She can remember everything if she sees it from that photo.”
“I have lots back on the island, but I’m afraid today is an emergency trip rather than a pleasurable one. Boat got destroyed in the storm and I ran out of some supplies a bit earlier than I had expected. I’m here all summer into fall, so I’d definitely love to stop by and visit with her. What’s her address?”
“She lives just in the blue house out back farther down by the shore. Next time your in town, just pop in and I’ll take you out to her.”
He left the diner around three. It was a nice cool afternoon now, some clouds had rolled in and it looked like it could rain at some point. It was still warm enough that folks were walking around in shorts and Tshirts, but the real summer hadn’t hit just yet. Those hot summer days, where you listened for crickets and waited for the time when you could get an ice lolly to cool yourself down with. His mom was always so careful the kids never got sunburnt. They always had sun hats on and long Tshirts, but of course kids being kids, as soon as they got outside it was much too hot and sticky for clothes, so they would tear off their tops and run around chasing each other with water balloons and water pistols. Of course the toplessness ended as soon as each one in turn hit puberty and developed a sense of decorum. His poor sister, him and his brother would tease them endlessly about getting brassieres, although to this day he doesn’t know why they did that. Kids can be so cruel when they don’t understand something.
He walked up and down both sides of Main Street, just to see who was about and what stores were new. A lot of the stores were still there from his time as a child, although mostly with new owners. A lot of urban out-of-towners had bought the local stores and refurbished them in the original styles, focusing on local goods, which he thought was great. There were organic food stores selling local honey and candles made from the bees wax. A couple of local beers and even a cider, which he reminded himself to pop in and try next time he was in town.
One of the stores that surprised him the most was a small stationery store. He ventured inside and discovered it was the store of his dreams. They sold all the best kind of writing paper, pens, and notebooks. It was the kind of store he could see himself dropping a lot of money in and stocking up on drawers full of items. As he was flicking through the pages of a small pocket notebook, admiring the gold lined edges, he felt somebody pass him closely. He turned around and there was a young woman standing to his left.
“Can I help you?” she asked, smiling.
“Oh, I’m just looking.”
“Not interested in anything, Sir?”
“Oh, I’m definitely interested, but not today, I’ve other things to pick up today, but I will be back over the summer. These notebooks are perfect.”
“I’m sorry, but are you a celebrity, or something? You look kind of familiar,” she stood with her head tilted slightly to the right looking at him.
“I wouldn’t say I’m a celebrity at all. I am a writer, you could have read, or seen one of my books? My photo is on the back.”
“What’s your name?”
“Guy Murtagh.”
“…” The woman took a deep breath and then ran to the counter, reaching behind it and bringing up a book. She flicked to the back page and glanced down at it, then back to his face again.
“OH MY GOD!”, she exclaimed, “You ARE GUY MURTAGH! I love your book. I just read it for the third time. Are you here in town writing? Are you staying here for the summer. Oh my if you are you have to tell me wether your next book is a sequel, oh my it HAS to be a sequel, you can’t just leave it like that with the ending of the first book!!!!”
Guy had a smile plastered on his face, at least to him he thought he was smiling, it was a strange kind of grimace, smile thing. This always happened to him when he had people gush about him in person. It was pretty embarrassing. It was greatly appreciated of course, to have fans and great fans at that, but still pretty embarrassing. He realised she was waiting for him to say something.
“Yes, thats me alright. I’m here to write another book that’s true, although I can’t give anything away, the publishers would kill me,” he gave her a wink and a laugh.
“Oh of course, wouldn’t want any spoilers getting out there. So where are you staying? Somewhere nearby?”
“I’m out on the islands.”
“Oh, very nice. I can’t believe I didn’t know you were here. I am a huge fan of your work and follow all the news about you. Why wasn’t this in the news?”
“Well, those things only really get out if you want them too, and I don’t want anyone to know I’m here. I need the peace and quiet to work you see.”
“Oh of course,” she did the zipping up her lip and throwing away the key motions.
“Okay, well as I said, not looking to buy anything today, lots to do, but I’ll be back over the summer.”
“Oh that would be marvellous. Oh but please, could you sign my book for me?”
“Of course. What’s your name?”
“Jocelyn,” she handed him the book and a sharpie to sign with.
He wrote, To Jocelyn, mums the word, Guy xxx.
She looked pretty happy with it, hugged the book to her chest and walked back behind the counter and started to read the book again.
Guy left the store and decided he best get about hiring a new boat. He walked towards the harbour area, near where he’d picked up his car and knocked on the office door of the boat rental company. After an hour of discussion and calls to his insurance company he could rent the boat for the time it took to order his new one and the insurance would pay for 80% of all costs. He was told as they could not confirm his boat had been tied to the dock at the time, he lost that 20% security. The fact that the dock itself had been destroyed didn’t seem to matter.
He got the keys and some gas for the boat he would be renting and went back into town going back to his car and driving to the big market just outside town. He walked the aisles and threw the things he needed into the cart. When he came to the snack aisle and found the fig newtons he thought of Darla. Her big silly grin after he’d eaten the dunked cookie. Maybe I should call her up for dinner tonight, or for an after work coffee before I head back to the island, he thought to himself. He didn’t think he’d get back into town for another month now that he’d just been here so soon after arriving.
He picked up a lot of snack food, and frozen stuff too, he had a feeling if was going to hire somebody to come out and help him clean up the island then he’d better get some food in.
Sitting in his car, he pulled out the piece of paper with Darla’s number on it and called her. It was after six now, she was probably at home. He quickly regretted his decision, as he remembered this would be her first night back with her kid. Damn, don’t pick up, don’t pick up, he thought to himself.
“Hello, Darla speaking.”
“Eh, hi Darla, it’s Guy. Em.. I was just thinking maybe you would like to get a coffee, but then as I was calling I thought that was a bad idea as you are just back with your kid and your family, so we can just say for next time I’m in town, if you like?”, even over the phone he could see her smiling, as his own face reddened in embarrassment.
“You are so funny. I would love to have a coffee with you
, but as you say, I am with my kid tonight, she hasn’t let go of me since I got home. Hold on just a sec” she said.
Guy could hear a higher pitched voice he guessed was one of the kids speaking to her as she held her hand over the phone.
“Guy, that was my daughter, she wants me to ask you if you would like to come over for dinner, since, as in her words, you saved my life in the storm.”
“Em.. Are you sure? I wouldn’t be intruding? Oh actually I just bought a lot of groceries they need to get into the freezer pretty soon.”
“We have a freezer out in the garage, you could dump them in there for the evening if you wish? It’s 6:30 now, we wont keep you later than eight, and you can sail home while it’s still fairly bright out. What do you say?”
“Sure, I’ll be over in a few minutes. Thanks Darla.”
CHAPTER NINE
Darla was frantic. Her daughter stood staring at her as she rushed from place to place, picking up an ornament, putting it where it should be, finding another object out of place and returning that and so on.
“Mom, you are going crazy. The place is fine.”
“Honey, we are having a guest for dinner, this place is not ‘fine’.”
“What is he a king? You said his island was trashed and the house was all dusty.”
“Yes, honey, but that was because he had just moved back in after a year or two of nobody being there, we live here every day.”
Her sister Monika walked over and sat beside Adeen.
“Whats your mom doing?”
“She’s tidying for the Kings arrival.” Adeen laughed so hard at her joke that her mom had to laugh too.
“Look you two kidders. Guy is really nice, I just want him to not feel uncomfortable if the place is so untidy.”
“I’m sure he understands a house with three young, very messy kids will be a bit untidy, plus we both work full time.”
“Oh, I know,” she said sighing and sank into the sofa alongside them. Darla had had a busy afternoon at work, filling out the paperwork of the call out, which had been quite tricky as it included a destroyed or missing boat. Brenda had said they had a few other calls about seals washing up alive, but most had made their back out to sea after a few hours rest on whomever’s island they landed on.
“Right, I’m just gonna change out of my work clothes, can you make sure the table is laid, Adeen? Please?”
“Of course momma, anything for you,” she gave her mother a full body hug and squeezed her so tight, well tight for a nine year old girl.
Her sisters daughters were off at their fathers house for two weeks so the house would be a little quieter than normal, which she was thankful for.
CHAPTER TEN
Guy ran into the liquor store and grabbed a bottle of red wine. He also picked up a large bottle of american soda, thinking about Darla’s daughter and her cousins. As he drove, he thought, maybe I should pick up something sweet too, so he pulled into the gas station and bought a tub of double choc chip ice cream. Guessing everyone loves that flavour, right?
He finally made it to their house and with his bags in tow walked up the driveway and rang the doorbell. He heard some noise from inside and then the door opened. He looked down and there was a small child, a girl, skinny and with her hair in two braids, one on each side of her head.
“Are you Guy?” she asked, raising her right eyebrow.
“I am, are you Adeen?”
“Yes,” she stuck out her hand, “nice to meet you. Thanks for saving my mom.”
“I didn’t save her, it was actually my fault she got stuck out in the storm in the first place…”
Darla rushed out.
“Guy, wont you come in? Adeen, you don’t just leave guests standing at the door.”
“I had to make sure it was him mom.”
Guy just laughed.
“It’s fine, nice to meet you Adeen.”
“oh mom look, he brought stuff.”
“Yes, I brought some soda for the kids and some ice cream, I wasn’t sure if you wanted me to bring dessert, I forgot to ask. And some wine, if you want to drink something, we don’t have to drink it now, though, thats fine. I’m driving anyway. I don’t know why I bought it.”
They just stood staring at him as he rambled on yet again. Darlas lips moved into a smile though and that eased his awkwardness.
He followed them into the kitchen and put the ice cream in the freezer.
“My shopping, I forgot to bring it in. Do you mind helping me in with a couple of bags, Adeen? Maybe your cousins can help too?”
“Oh, they’re not here, they are visiting with their father for a couple weeks. I’ll help you though. Also, I’d just like to add, thats my favourite flavour of ice cream in the whole world.”
Guy smiled, he knew everyone loved that flavour!
Adeen helped him taking in the two bags of freezer food, and the three bags of stuff for the refrigerator.
“Wow, you certainly are planning ahead there Guy.” It was Darla’s sister, “Hi, I’m Monika, Darlas older sister. Nice to meet you,” she put out her hand to shake his and gave a very good handshake.
“Nice to meet you too Monika. Well, Darla and I did get through a lot of snacks while we there and when I got to the mart I realised I should stock up for potential guests too. You just never know who’ll stop by!” he said with a wink.
After all his food was put away, he was told to sit at the table with the others while Darla finished plating up dinner, she served fish tacos.
“I hope you like spicy, as I make my fish tacos spicy.”
“Yes, I love it. Only one in my family who does. So I always had my own bottle of hot sauce at home, and took to carrying one with me through college, as I found things mostly under spiced, or not hot enough rather.”
“A man after our own hearts then. We love hot food in this house, even the kids.”
“So, you have two girls Monika?” Guy asked.
“Yes, they are spending time with their father at his families cabin out by Lake Winstead. They love it there, there’s so much to do on the lake and there is a sports field nearby where they play games and things. I just hope they stay away from the poison ivy!”
“I went with them last year, but I decided to stay here with momma this year.” Adeen said.
“Are you going to any summer camps this year” Guy asked her.
“I’m going to a camp in the end of June for two weeks. It’s a reading and writing camp. We read books together and by ourselves and we learn how to make good book reports and we will write our own short story by the end of it.”
“Wow that sounds really exciting. Your mom told me you love to read, but that’s great you want to write too.”
“Guy is a writer, did I tell you that?” Darla said.
“What have you written? Are you well known? Have you been on the New York Times Best Seller list?”
Guy laughed, “I have written a lot over the years, but have one published novel. I’m out on the island to write the follow-up to that now. I’m known by people who have read my books, which is not a whole lot, I wouldn’t be in any of the supermarket magazines. I was number three on the list for a month, which is fine”
“Okay enough with the interrogation, time to eat!”
Darla brought the food to them and they tucked in. Guy enjoyed the meal, the spice was just right and the fish itself was delicious. Darla had given them all some homemade lemonade along with their meals, which she told him Adeen had made, so to blame her if it was too bitter.
Guy spoke with Monika about her job as assistant to a special needs child in junior high.
“So you are basically attending school again?”
“Yeah it feels like that sometimes. I am studying social work at community college, so I get to do my studying while he is taking the class. I’m right at the back, so if he needs anything I’m right there.”
“Will you go with him to High school, or take on a new person in junior high? I fi
nd it so fascinating and great that there is someone like you doing this job, so all kids can get an education.”
“I will go to the high school, if I haven’t found a social work job by then. That I’m dreading, at least they are just little kids in junior high, but high school?” she shuddered, then laughed as she looked at the face of her young niece.
“It’s not that bad, I promise,” her mom told her.
After dinner, Adeen offered herself and Guy up for washing and drying the dishes. Her mother chastised her, but Guy said it was no problem, he could pick Adeens brain about her favourites authors.
“So,” he said, as he picked up his first dish to dry, with a slight smile, then, he said “Whats your ulterior motive here? You pin me outside the front door and question me and interrogate me over dinner, what you playing at young’en.”
“Well, I just want to make sure that you are a good guy for my mom, that’s all.”
“But, Adeen, your mom and I are not dating. We hardly know each other. I know, to you it probably felt like forever that your mom was gone, but it was only two days, that’s not long enough to start dating someone.” Although, he has done that before, but it didn’t go well at all.
“That may be so that you are not dating now, but I saw how my moms face went all weird and smiley when you called her earlier, it’s the same face she makes when Chris Rock is on t.v, and she looooves him.”
He didn’t know what to say, kids do see things for what they are sometimes, as the silly adults try to hide their feelings. Then he remembered what Darla had told him earlier that day even, she waits months when she is dating a guy to introduce him to her daughter, there is no way this is a date, or a pre-date.
Love Revealed: A BWWM Sweet Romance Novel Page 5
