by Tina Scott
Regardless, there was no doubt I was an idiot. I would live a long and loveless life. “I’ve changed my mind on the ice cream,” I told the gal ringing up my order. One wasn’t enough, and if I bought more they’d melt before I could eat them all. I paid and then clutched the bag to my chest like a homeless woman with her treasure and ambled outside.
Storm and Traci were twenty yards in front of me, walking back toward the ship. I didn’t call to them to let them know I was okay. Clearly, I wasn’t. Who in their right mind behaved like that? I wasn’t ready to face them or to learn the truth of his relationship, and so I walked toward a couple of totem poles. They were carved as seals that set apart a pathway that wound up the hill.
Half way up the hill, my phone chimed. I looked at the caller ID to make sure it wasn’t Traci or Storm. It was the State. My heart skipped. I was in no mood to talk professionally, but I’d been waiting for this call all week and couldn’t let it go to voice mail. I took several large breaths and answered.
“Hello, this is Marcia Williams,” I said with a cheerfulness I didn’t feel.
As soon as I spoke, the woman on the other end—I didn’t even remember her name but was sure we’d probably end up working together—congratulated me. “There were other strong contenders for the position, but we’d like to offer you the job to represent students at the elementary school level. When can you come in? We’ll go over the job description more thoroughly and have you sign the paperwork”
“I’m still in Alaska. Can I come in first thing next week?”
“I’ve sent you an email. Print it off if you can. It’s the legalities as well as your pay grade. Bring that in with you on Monday.”
“Monday would be great.” I thanked her for the opportunity and hung up. I’d be home and have my laundry done by then. Storm would still be here and all I’d have is memories. My knees took me to the ground and I sat on a rock and wept. What good did a new job do me if I was all alone?
I was such a fool with men, but I had honestly and truly fallen for Storm. How could I not have realized he had a special girl already?
Even worse, day after tomorrow I would leave my best friend in the world and go back to Fresno. Alone. I would go back to my same old apartment complex where, by the time I got there, ninety percent of the residents would be new move-ins. Strangers. I would pack up my life’s belongings in a rental truck and drive myself to Sacramento. Alone. Start a new job. Alone. I had no brothers. I was estranged from my only sister, and my parents had died in an auto accident ten years ago. I had no one.
Maybe I would stay in Seldovia and live because there was no way I was facing Traci or Storm ever again. I’d live on this hill and be a hermit. I wiped my eyes with a smirk. That was ridiculous. No one was a hermit anymore. I had skills. I could teach the children on this island. If they needed a teacher that is.
After a good half hour of indulging in self-pity, I looked down toward the ocean. Our tour ship was still there, and Traci and Storm were walking back. It was time for me to face them.
Fourteen
When I appeared from around the corner of the totem pole, Traci ran forward and put her arms around me. “Thank goodness you’re okay. We’ve been so worried.” She pulled away. “What’s going on? Where have you been? Why did you get all crazy with Storm’s sister?”
Storm’s sister? As if I didn’t feel bad enough. I blinked back, biting against my lips, and then bawled out, “I got the job! But, I don’t want to go. I’m so sorry, I’ve made a mess of everything. You’re my only friend in the whole world.” I hung my head in shame. Traci put her arms around me, consoling me. “I don’t want to move to Sacramento and start over by myself.” Traci was the only family I had.
When I said that, Traci stepped away and two well-worn, size 12 fishing boots stepped beside me. Storm had heard. I bit my lip, worrying it and trying not to cry or embarrass myself any further.
Storm placed his hand on my shoulder. I looked up into his soulful brown eyes. He wiped moisture from my cheek. “Can we talk?”
I glanced up at him. He wanted an apology. He deserved one. “Do you mind?” I asked Traci.
“I’ll be over by the restaurant,” she said.
Storm began walking back toward his ship. I quickly stepped up beside him and started to apologize when the blue-haired young woman approached.
The corner of Storm’s lip twitched. “Marcia,” he rested his hand lightly on my shoulder, “I’d like you to meet my baby sister, Rain.”
I smiled weakly. “Oh, hi.” I stared down at my hands and then at Rain. “I mean, hello. I’m pleased to meet you.” I was an idiot. How big a fool would I make of myself? I looked at Storm and breathed a deep sigh of what might have been. “I’m sorry for my outburst at the restaurant. If you let me back on the ship so that I can get back to Homer with Traci, I promise I won’t bother you or embarrass you anymore.” I looked away, unwilling to see his disgust toward me. “My flight leaves in two days. After that, we never have to see each other again.”
Traci stepped beside me. “We got hamburgers to go.” She lifted a paper bag. “We can go someplace and have a picnic. I bet there are some really good views of the ocean here.”
“Yes, there are a lot of really great spots for a picnic.” Storm turned to me. “What do you say, will you go with us?”
“Sure,” I replied nervously. He hadn’t answered my question. If he was trying to let me down easy, he needn’t bother. After all, this was just my vacation, and a dream one at that. But, he had to be nice because of his friendship with Traci.
Rain’s eyes widened. “You know, I forgot the drinks. Left them on the counter.”
“I’ll go get them,” Storm said.
“No, I should get them. The new manager doesn’t know you, and our drinks are still in the kitchen. Marcia can go with me.” She turned to me with a sweet smile that appeared anything but innocent. This gal had an ulterior motive.
“Okay,” I said. Then, leaning toward Traci, I whispered, “If I’m not out in ten minutes, come in and get me.”
Traci smiled.
“I mean it,” I hissed, and followed Rain across the street.
As soon as we got behind the closed door of the kitchen, Rain whirled on me. “Okay, so what’s your problem?”
“I don’t have a problem.” Nothing that a year of therapy wouldn’t cure. I stepped back.
“My brother likes you, and he’s been through a lot. You’re the first girl he’s shown interest in, in a year.” Rain shook her head with a scowl and shoved a two-liter jug of soda into my hands. “You can carry that one.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I just got over a bad breakup myself.” I shrugged. “I saw him talking to you, and it reminded me of a past situation. I’m sorry,” I repeated.
“I’ll forgive you for embarrassing me in front of my boss and the other guests,” Rain said. “But don’t mess with my brother.”
“I wouldn’t. Your brother seems very nice.” Not at all the kind of person who would have a different woman at every port. I should have remembered that before making a fool of myself. “Friends, or rather, truce?” I extended my hand.
Rain looked at my hand and then me with a smirk. Would she not accept my apology? “Please,” she said. “We give hugs around here.” She pulled me into a quick embrace. “Friends,” she said, “as long as there’s no more drama. We like to keep it easy around here.” She turned and walked outside and across the street while I hurried to keep up. What did she mean by, keep it easy?
When we reached the others, I still felt awkward. It was hard for me to get over my embarrassment when I didn’t know what the others were thinking. Traci had an unreadable expression, and Storm stirred the dirt with the toe of his boot. I was glad that all of the passengers hadn’t been inside the restaurant to witness my breakdown. Yeah, that would’ve been awkward, but no more so than eating lunch in the silence of my shame.
“Look,” I finally said. “I’m sorry for my
outburst.” Oh, how I hated eating crow. “I’m not sure if Traci mentioned it, but I had a bad breakup several months ago.”
No one stepped into the conversation, so I continued, speaking more directly to Storm. “Seeing you talking to Rain, it reminded me of my ex. He was always flirting with the waitresses when we went out and then accusing me of overreacting. And, I guess I did overreact. This time.” I smiled sheepishly and shrugged. “I’m so sorry.”
Storm still remained silent, and I worried that he wouldn’t accept my apology. But then he looked up, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “We were in a fancy restaurant in Anchorage when I confronted Lana. Good times,” he said. “We were asked to leave.”
That helped me feel a little better.
Rain glanced from one to the other of us, and then said, “You know, it’s a nice sunny day, and there are picnic tables on the back patio of the restaurant. Why don’t we eat there?”
“Rain, you need to get back and finish your shift,” Storm said, and then glanced down at his hands. “We have another hour before the ship heads back to Homer, and Marcia and I need to talk. Would the two of you mind if I took her out, just the two of us, alone? I’d like to take her out four-wheeling and we’ll have our picnic together.” He looked up, waiting for their answer.
“I don’t mind staying behind,” Traci said, but she didn’t sound happy about it.
I didn’t know how to feel other than nervous. I’d already apologized.
Rain smiled. “My shift ends in fifteen minutes,” she told Traci. “Maybe we can hang out together until they get back.”
“Oh, okay. Sounds great.” Traci winked at Storm.
If I hadn’t just had that weird outburst, I might think it was a setup. This had to be awkward for Storm. It was for me. I opened my mouth to say something, but Storm spoke first.
“Time’s a wasting,” he said. “The ship leaves at three-thirty whether we do anything or not.” He smiled down at me. “Shall we?” He wiggled the key.
Unsure if I should leave my friend, I looked to Traci for approval.
She smiled and nodded. “Go for it.”
I decided that I would. I’d throw my inhibitions and hang-ups out the window and try to repair this mini-relationship while I could.
“I can’t wait,” I said. “I’ve never ridden a quad before.” So what if I was leaving town in two days? I could still relax and have fun today, with Storm. It was good practice for all of my tomorrows back in Sacramento.
“You’re in for a treat.” Storm handed me the helmet and helped adjust the strap so it fit snugly, then straddled the quad. “Do you prefer sitting in the front or the back?”
“The back.” I climbed on behind him, leaned forward and wrapped my arms around his waist. His muscles tightened. Yeah, the back was a good choice. “I’m ready,” I said. He peeled down the road and I squealed with delight.
The quad was loud and talking was difficult. Finally, I held on and just smiled. The view was amazing, and the landscape wasn’t bad either. He took me on a dirt road that followed the shoreline and we kept on going after the road ended. I snuggled forward, enjoying our close contact and the wind blowing through my hair.
After a moment, he stopped. “Let’s eat over there.” He pointed toward the edge of the cliff, then took off his helmet and laid it on the seat. “We can get a great view of the ocean.”
He seemed subdued, and I hoped he wouldn’t mention my outburst. I’d already had more drama than one lifetime deserved. Regardless, I set my helmet down and followed him through some low-laying shrubs and pine trees. There was no one here, no sign of life, no view of the ship, and it was as though only the two of us existed.
The trees opened up to a full view of the ocean and our dirt path became rock and boulders. He took my hand in his. “I don’t want you to fall,” he said. And that was double okay. His hand was warm and strong. I felt safe as we stood at the cliff’s edge peering out over the vast blue ocean sparkling in the sunlight.
He kept my hand in his, and we stared silently for a time, but I felt the friction of our silence and itched to know if he had really forgiven me that easily.
I opened my mouth to speak, to let him know again, that I was sorry. But, before I had a chance to say anything, Storm turned to me, clasping both of my hands. “Do I remind you of your ex?” He gazed at me worriedly, his jaw clenching.
My eyebrows dipped down as I contemplated the question. I shook my head. “No. You’re nothing like my ex.” That was a thankful relief.
“I have a job that necessitates my being around people—even in the winter. Some of them are women—some of those women are very attractive and flirtatious.” He raised his eyebrows.
“I noticed.” But this wasn’t really helping.
“Flirting back is part of the tour business, but there’s a line of professionalism that I never cross.” He took a deep breath. “I want to assure you that I am not your ex. I’ve never cheated in any of my relationships and I never will.”
I nodded. “I haven’t either.”
“I’m a simple guy, or rather I enjoy the simpler things of life. I don’t need a Ferrari or Italian leather shoes. One thing I do need is trust. It’s essential in a relationship, and it’s essential that I have trust in order to do my jobs.”
“I can see that now. I’m sorry I didn’t trust you—it was just the situation hit too close to past experience. Before Brad, I was very trusting. I know that I can be again.”
“That’s good enough for me.” He wrapped me in his arms and kissed the top of my head. “Can we eat? I’m famished.”
“Me too.”
He opened the bag—it was the bag of my things—and he pulled something out. “Canned cheese?” He showed it to me, his eyebrows wrinkled in disbelief.
“There’s not many things simpler than that.” I grinned.
He chuckled, and I joined in. “So, we’re good then? You’ve forgiven me for being a complete idiot and for embarrassing you while you were at work?”
It seemed impossible, but I also had no words for what I was feeling other than I felt whole for the first time. The simple touch of his hand on mine—it was as if some missing part of me had found its—his way home to my heart.
“As far as I’m concerned, we’re good,” he said, tickling my cheek with his fingertips. “You know, I haven’t brought anyone here since high school.”
Another first. “But you brought me.” I hugged against his arm, hiding from a cool breeze. “Why?”
“You’re different than other women,” he said.
That wasn’t necessarily good, and I didn’t know what to think. Was it a compliment?
“Since Lana broke my heart, I thought maybe I’d never find someone who made me feel the way she did—before we grew apart, anyway.” He turned toward me, searching my eyes as though reading my soul. “You’re funny, you’re smart. You like the outdoors. You even like picnics in the rain.” His gaze seemed to stop at my lips. He drew near as though he would kiss me. I was okay with that, and waited, barely daring to breathe.
He pulled back, touching a strand of my hair, his hand easing to my shoulder and gently resting there. “Have you ever felt like you knew someone even before you were born?”
I nodded. I felt that way now. Did he? I searched his eyes for the answer.
“I thought that we could have a good time and that I’d still be okay when you left.”
What was he saying? I frowned.
He shook his head. “You can’t leave me and fly back to California. I can’t never see you again. I want—no, I need you in my life.”
I crossed my arms and stared unseeing into the sky, contemplating the implications of his words. Then, I gazed into his fierce eyes, lit with emotion, and asked, “Are you saying you love me?”
He caressed my cheek. “Yes. I love you more than anything or anyone.”
“More than Lana and more than Traci?” I was enjoying this conversation.
“Def
initely more than Lana and absolutely more than Traci.” He cupped my face. “I feel like—” He started and then dropped his hands, returning his gaze to the ocean.
“Like what?” I whispered, turning his attention back to me.
He took a deep sighing breath. “I feel like I might kiss you,” he said, watching my eyes.
I leaned toward him, this big strong teddy bear. We’d kissed before. A lot. I put my hand on his neck, playing with his hair and pulling him toward me, my senses awakening. “Like this?” I brushed my lips against his in a sweet kiss, inhaling the woodsy scent of him as though taking my first breath.
He pulled away, startling me. “No,” he said grinning crookedly. “Like this.” He put his hand on my back, pressing us together. His lips, soft at first, warmed with mine in a passionate kiss of newfound love. The warmth, as if the first light of spring, spread through every part of me.
When Storm released me, a giggle bubbled from me before I bit my lips together.
“What?” He tipped his head, searching my expression for answers.
“I don’t know,” I said. After all, how could I tell him he was my rainbow after a lifetime of gray? It seemed a shame to find love, only to leave.
He pulled me to my feet and kissed me again, our bodies melding together. “If I don’t stop kissing you, we might miss our only ride home,” he said and kissed me again.
We gazed toward the ocean. I sighed with a contentment I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Storm turned me toward him, his hands on my arms. “There’s something I need to tell you.” He gave a worried frown.
His expression was so serious, my heart flipped in concern. “What?” Was he not willing to give a long-distance relationship a chance? Was I? Social media was great, but it could never match what I felt when he kissed me.
He touched his forehead to mine. “We have a position available at the school.”
“What?” I couldn’t stop the smile on my face. “What grade?”
“That’s negotiable,” he said and leaned in for another kiss.
