“Hey you two, I was looking for you everywhere,” she said to them.
They were both sitting on the swing chair drinking their morning coffee. Guy’s arm was around Darla’s neck and her mother was holding his hand.
“Good morning sweetheart, how did you sleep?” her mom asked, as she kissed her on the forehead.
“I slept great, you didn’t wake me up with your snoring. Can I have breakfast now?”
“Sure do you want me to make you some toast?” Darla asked.
“No, I’ll just have cereal. Morning Guy.”
“Good morning, are you prepared for your task ahead?”
“I’m ready, I’ve got a great idea for my story.”
Adeen whipped herself up a bowl of cereal and ate it sitting out on the porch with Guy and her mom.
“I think I may take the boat out and have a look around at the other islands today, while you two are being scholarly.”
“That’s a great idea. Take the spare radio with you just incase there is a storm warning, you never know out here.” Guy said.
“Good idea. You need help picking out your clothes, or are you okay? I’m just gonna go in and shower.” Darla said to Adeen.
“No, I’m fine, thanks mom. I’m coming in now too, hang on.”
Guy sat alone thinking about the night before, Darla was a beautiful woman, could it be that they were now a couple? He was already very fond of Adeen, he felt that he was growing to love the two of them in different ways, but so strongly that it would break his heart this time if something didn’t work out.
Adeen used the bathroom and got ready before her mom used the shower. Darla came outside and gave Guy a sneaky kiss and embrace.
“You know, Adeen won’t have a problem with us being a couple, if you are worried about that. She near enough harassed me the night I came to dinner, she was wondering what was wrong with me that we weren’t already in love after our few days together here. At that time I knew I liked you and found you attractive, but it wasn’t until Adeen brought up dating you that I thought it was something I should even think was possible.”
“Oh, I know, she is a little matchmaker. You were all she would talk about when I could get her to talk, when my mother was sick. Kept asking when we were gonna see you again.” Darla laughed.
“Kids can sense a secure, responsible adult I guess,” he said smiling.
“I’m done mom.” Adeen shouted from the hall.
“Okay, I’m coming. I’m gonna go shower, then you can show me where this spare radio is and set me up with some fishing gear, just incase I get the urge.”
“Sure,” and he kissed her again.
Guy sorted everything out for Darla while she showered, even making her up a flask of coffee and a sandwich. Adeen came into the kitchen as Guy was putting the sandwich in a tupperware box and asked him should she get her writing things ready.
“Yes, we are gonna start now in a few minutes when your mother leaves. You can get set up if you like, we’ll sit at the dining table.”
“Yippee.” Adeen shouted and ran up the stairs to gather her things.
Darla emerged from the bathroom clean and smelling fragrantly.
“I’m just gonna go grab my rain jacket, don’t wanna get soaked out there.”
“There’s not a cloud in the sky!”
“You know how it goes out here, better to be prepared as you said.”
Guy walked Darla out to the boat, making sure she remembered the radio frequency they were on, if she needed to use it. Darla was an old hand at sailing a small boat with an engine and just needed a minute to familiarise herself with this model and she took off, waving goodbye to Adeen and Guy.
“Okay, now can we start?”
“Yes, class is now in session.”
Adeen ran all the way back to the cabin and was sitting with her notepad open and pencil ready when he walked in. Guy fetched his laptop and notebook and sat across the table from her.
“Okay, so on your summer course you were going to take, what was the work plan going to be?”
“We were supposed to come up with a story idea and over the two weeks we had to write a story. It could be however long we wanted, once it had a beginning, middle and end. Also, we were going to read a book together and write our review of it, then the teachers were going to help us with them too, to understand the books.”
“All right, so have you come up with your story idea?”
“Yes, I’ve had it a while now.”
“Okay then, well I think you should just start to write it. One tip I will give you, if you tear a separate page out of your pad, then use that for noting down characters names and things that go along with them, just so you don’t have to keep flicking back all the time.”
“Thanks Guy, thats a great tip. I’m starting now.”
She started writing with a fury, after a few minutes she stopped and was chewing on her pencil top, looking contemplatively out the window.
“How do you spell tyrannasaur?”
Guy told her and then started to get on with his own work. First he had a few work emails to reply to and then he noticed one from an unknown address. It was [email protected]. It was a new fan club that had started up, he wondered how they had gotten his email, it wasn’t one he used for public reasons. The email was inviting him to do a reading of his work in the local stationery store. Ah, that woman Jocelyn. It had to be.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Darla was enjoying her boat ride. She was only ever really alone when she was at work, or out on a drive to rescue some animal. It was so nice and peaceful out on the sea, she was happy she had decided to come out. She stopped the engine and gathered her fishing gear, setting up the bait on the fishing line. She didn’t have to wait long for her first catch. Her second took a bit longer, which gave her time to think about where she saw things going with Guy. He seemed like a stable man, he had a good career, didn’t seem bothered to start something with her knowing that she had a daughter. Part of her felt crazy for introducing Adeen to him before they’d even kissed! But she felt like this was different, that it could actually be a relationship. He instantly knew how to talk to her daughter, a lot of people, family included don’t know how to talk to a smart kid, they get all put out by the many questions and think this nine year old is too big for her boots, or something and give her the brush off.
She didn’t want to push him on the subject of if they were dating or not, she had been burned that way before, but she did want it to be serious. The only problem she could see, was that he wasn’t from this area. He was only here for the summer, or until September at the latest. What would they do then? Sure, she doesn’t want to live with her sister forever, but would she move all the way to him? Would he stay here and rent a house with her? It seems like a bit too soon to be talking about moving in after one night. She decided she would talk to him at the weekend after she saw how the week went. She would be able to figure out how to approach him and how he would take it.
Guy and Adeen were taking a coffee break, well Guy was, Adeen was having a coke. They had some cookies too and talked about what they were thinking of eating for lunch. Adeen hoped her mom caught a couple of fish, she had really loved the fish from the barbecue the other night. Just as they were about to get back to work a phone rang from somewhere. Adeen recognised it as her moms ringtone. She found the phone on the sofa and saw it was her aunt Monika calling.
“Hey Moni, whats up? No, moms out on the boat fishing she wont be back until around lunch time I think. Okay, heres Guy.”
Adeen handed the phone to Guy.
“Hi, Monika, everything okay?”
Monika told him that their mother had been taken ill again, just that morning. The doctors had told her that there wasn’t anything more they could do for her and to prepare for the worst. He said he would contact her on the radio right away and they would get to the mainland as soon as they could.
“Is grandma sick again?” Adeen asked.
Taking her by the hand and kneeling down, Guy told her that yes, her grandma was ill and in hospital again and that it would be a good idea to get out there to see her. So he grabbed the radio and called Darla.
“Darla, come in, this is Guy, over.”
“This is Darla, over.”
“Darla, Monika called,” he didn’t want to drag it out, so he just told her straight, “your mom is in the hospital again, we need to get over there as soon as we can, over.”
“Oh, okay. I’m starting the engine now. I’m on my way. Over and out.”
By the time Darla got back to the island, Adeen and Guy were packed and ready.
“What are you two doing packed? I’ll go back to the mainland myself. No sense you two coming along with me.”
“But mom..” Adeen said, but Guy cut her off.
“Darla can I talk to you for a minute.”
He took Darla down towards the dock. Holding her hands he brought her in close.
“Darla, I’m afraid it sounds like its much more serious this time. Monika said the doctors have done everything they can this time and that they don’t believe she has long left. They said it would be best for everyone to get there now.”
“Oh. So, it’s actually time. Okay, you two should come along then.”
“Adeen put most of your things in your bags and she took most of her clothes, I’ll take a small bag with me too. You get yourself back in the boat and we’ll be down to you in a minute.”
He walked away from her and Darla felt like the world was coming apart. She felt light as a feather and before she knew it she had fainted. Guy had just been turning with his hands full when he saw her collapse.
“Moma!” Adeen shouted.
They both ran down to her and Guy lifted her head onto his lap as he sank to the ground beside her.
“Adeen, run to the kitchen and get your mom a glass of water. Walk back now, be careful, she will be okay, she just had a little fright thats all.”
“Okay. Moma I’ll be right back.”
“Darla, Darla, are you awake?” Guy gently stroked her face, her forehead was clammy as was the back of her neck. She started moving her jaw and then licking her lips, she was coming around.
Darla mumbled under her breath words Guy couldn’t understand. She began to fidget and guy helped her sit up. Adeen was coming towards them with the water.
“Here moma, here’s some water to drink.”
“Baby?”
“Yes, it’s Adeeen moma, you fainted. Here, have some water.”
Darla’s hands were all shaky and Adeen helped the glass to her mouth, she supped a bit of water and then some more. She turned her head slightly and seeing Guy there, a smile began to form.
“You doing okay now?” Guy asked her.
“Hmm, yeah, I just suddenly felt like my legs had been pulled out from underneath me, my hands got all stiff and my skin got all prickly and that was it.”
“Ah yes, it was just the sudden stress from hearing about your mom. Nothing more to worry about, do you want to wait a while to sail on the boat?”
“No, I’m fine now. We should get going, Monika and Chuck will be worrying. Thanks for getting me back on my feet you two.”
Darla stood up and gave the two of them a joint hug. Guy went back up the yard and locked the cabin, he took the luggage down to the boat and they departed.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
They arrived at the mainland around two in the afternoon. They picked up his car and drove straight to the hospital. Darla had called Monika to let them know they were on their way. Their mother was still the same, unconscious, but still breathing. They made it to the hospital after an hour and a half and everyone was happy to see each other again. Darla’s mother was lying in the bed, her hands above the blanket down by her sides. Her mother had not wanted any life saving measures, so there were no breathing machines or anything else, just fluids and a heart monitor.
Monika sat down with Guy and Darla in the corridor while Chuck took Adeen to get something to drink in the cafeteria.
“So, they say she could pass away at any moment. Or it could take a week. I’ve called the others but they wont get here until tomorrow, it’s hard for them, I know, coming from so far, the expense involved, but they want to be here.”
Darla’s mind was a flurry, she was thinking of her daughter. Should she be here at this time when they knew her mothers death was imminent? It’s nothing gruesome for her to see, it’s just part of life. Darla decided to talk with her sister.
“Hey Monika, do you think I should get Guy to take Adeen back to the house? I don’t know if its right her being here?”
“No, I think it’s fine she’s here. She can comfort mom by her bedside, if she can hear or feel, it would be nice for her to know her granddaughter is here. My kids aren’t coming back yet. We called them just before they left, so their dad will keep them until the weekend. We’ll just have to play it by ear. I don’t think they should be separated from it just because they are kids.”
“Okay, thanks sis. That helps a lot.”
Darla turned to Guy. She gave him a hug.
“I’m glad you are here you know. I know you didn’t get to meet my mother, I’m going to be sad about that. I think she would have really liked you. But it’s nice to have you here now.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet her either. We have time, you can tell me all about her and what she was like as a mother.”
“Oh, we’ve got some stories.” Monika said laughing.
“What you laughing about Moni?” Chuck asked as he walked back with Adeen.
“Oh, just telling Guy he’s in for a bellyful of laughs when we get going on the mama stories.”
Chuck gave a hearty laugh in response and sat Adeen down beside them all.
“Can I go in and see her?” Adeen asked.
“Sure, sweetheart. She can’t see you and we don’t know if she can hear you, but you could talk to her if you like.” Darla said.
The others stayed outside while Adeen went in to the room. She placed her bottle of soda on the back table and walked towards her grandma. She loved her grandma, she was always around as she was growing up, always taking out the hairstyle that her mom had done and redoing it. Her grandma always said Darla never did the braids tight enough. She had taught adeen and her cousins how to braid each others hair and they had practised a lot, finally winning her approval and receiving a cake as a special treat. That was another bonus of having a grandma around, she was always baking. She baked the best chocolate cakes, chocolate inside, chocolate in the middle and chocolate on top. The best. Her mom could bake too, but it was never as good as grandmas. She had her grandmas recipe and she thought to herself, if grandma dies, she will learn how to bake it as good as she did and then she will teach her children and her grandchildren.
Adeen, sat on the chair beside the bed and reached for her grandmothers hand, it was warm like always. She wore perfume, Adeen didn’t know the name, but it smelt like flowers and she loved the scent. She leant forward and ran her fingers through her grandmas hair.
“Hey grandma. It’s Adeen. We are here because the doctors say you are very sick. I hope you can hear me. I just wanted to come in and sit with you and let you know we all love you. Mom has met a man called Guy, he’s a writer. He is staying on his parents island out in the bay for the summer. I think they are dating now, I’m not sure, but they seem happy together. I really like him anyhow. He is going to help me write my summer story. I hope I can be a great writer like him someday and tell good stories. You always had good stories grandma. I wish you could tell me one now. Okay, I’m just going to sit here and hold your hand for a while. I love you.”
Adeen had been standing by the door as she heard her daughters words. They moved her to tears, she was such a sweet kid. Darla didn’t think she could have sat in the room with her dying grandma at that age. It was also nice to hear that she liked Guy, she hadn’t really approached the subject w
ith her yet, so to hear her say she liked him lifted an unknown weight from her shoulders.
Darla spoke with the nurse and she allowed two of them to stay overnight with their mother. Chuck said Monika should stay with Darla. Darla took Guy aside and told him she was going to stay the night and that if he wanted he could go back to her place and stay with Adeen and her brother.
“Yes, I’ll stay with them, is there anything from the car you want? Your toiletry bag? A change of clothes?”
“Sure that would be great. I’ll get the keys for you guys.”
Guy went out to the car and came back with Darlas things. He gave her a big hug before he left and Adeen gave her grandmother a kiss on the forehead and received a huge hug from her mother and sister. Chuck drove off to the house in his car and Guy and Adeen left in his.
“So, are you going to be okay with just me and your uncle Chuck tonight?”
“Yeah, we can have some pizza and some ice cream. Maybe watch a few movies?”
“Sure, why not!”
They drove on and Guy was remembering his own grandparents. They seemed like nice people and neither of his parents had had too many bad things to say about their childhoods, but they were not the involved grandparent like Adeen was lucky to have. When his grandparents died, although he had been sad, especially when seeing how upset his parents had been, but his grandparents were these distant people so he hadn’t felt their loss and his understanding of death was different then as a child.
When they got to the house Chuck came out to help them carry the luggage in.
“So, I guess you could sleep in Darla’s room, that’d make the most sense. I’m on the pull out sofa. You wanna take Darlas things upstairs and I’ll put Adeen’s stuff away.”
“That sounds good.”
“No snooping.” Adeen said with a smile.
“I’d never!” he replied back.
Walking into Darla’s room it did feel like he was snooping though. He left her suitcase on the floor by her closet. He looked around. It was a simply decorated room, white walls, a wooden dresser with various make up and beauty and hair products. Lots of photos on top of the chest of drawers. He walked over to have a look. Photo’s of Adeen as a tiny baby, he could hardly believe she had been so tiny at one point. Photos of Darla and her siblings playing in a paddling pool being sprayed by a hose by their father. Lots of photos of someone with a loving family and friends. It made him happy to see these intimate moments of hers. Adeen came into the room.
Love Revealed: A BWWM Sweet Romance Novel Page 9
