Driftwood Dreams

by T. I. Lowe

  “It wasn’t my knee, though. It was my hand.”

  Bellowing in laughter, August placed the boy on his feet and opened the office door to lead them out. “It’s just an expression.”

  They shuffled into the kitchen, both looking a little worse for wear, on a search for iced tea.

  “Why is your cheek all red?” Nan asked. She sat the clipboard down and walked over to where August was pouring two glasses of tea.

  “Just a slight misunderstanding.” He shrugged and handed his little brother a glass before taking a long swig from his own.

  “And that would be?” Nan’s attention was zeroed in on August’s sore cheek.

  “Zachary thought smacking me was part of the tooth-pulling ritual.”

  August’s cheek seemed to be instantly forgotten as Nan knelt in front of her little boy. “Y’all pulled it?”

  Zachary grinned wide, showing the new space between his teeth.

  Nan clapped her hands. “Aww! Ain’t he so cute?” She glanced over her shoulder where August was swiping a few fried shrimp from the basket one of the cooks just placed on the prep table. It was the way of the kitchen. If a plate or basket was placed on the prep table and not the order-up counter, it was considered a treat for the taking. “I knew you were on a mission when you showed up here earlier. Where’s my baby’s tooth?”

  “On your desk.”

  Nan headed that way with August following. He watched her get teary-eyed over the tiny tooth, wishing he had a sketch pad with him to capture the sentimental moment. He picked up a surfboard that he and Zachary had knocked over during their tooth-pulling scuffle and leaned it against the wall. Once he was satisfied the board wouldn’t fall over again, August released it and took a seat. “Your message earlier said you had something to talk to me about?”

  Nan sat behind her desk. “Yes. Jasper Slater came by here last week and we had an interesting conversation. I wanted to get your opinion on it.”

  August’s smile faltered. “Why’s that?”

  “Well, it’s something we’ve not wanted to see happen, but as it is, the time has come.”

  Two hours later, August felt an odd mixture of relief and apprehension. Relieved because Nan and Jasper had actually come together to work on something, but apprehensive about how Josie was going to take it. His gut told him it wasn’t going to be so simple. Nothing so far had been with the beautiful blonde.

  He sat on the deck at Driftwood Diner and watched through the window as Josie led a meeting with the staff, probably about the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. He knew from past years at his own family’s restaurant that they would need to have a game plan laid out to get through the hustle and bustle of the holiday. He longed to go inside and steal her away from the stress of it, but he stayed hunkered down in the Adirondack chair and tried to be content with only watching her from afar. It’s what he’d promised after all—to give her space—but the promise was testing his patience.

  “You just gonna sit out here and stare at my girl?” Jasper asked as he shuffled up the steps and plopped down in a chair beside him.

  “I promised to leave her alone for a while.” August brushed some sand off the arm of his chair, trying to focus on something besides what he couldn’t have.

  “Why would you go and promise something dumb like that?” Jasper kicked the side of August’s leg with his bare foot.

  August moved his leg out of reach. “She was getting a little twitchy on me again.”

  “It’s my fault.” Jasper released a pensive sigh and slumped in his chair. “I knew she used to be interested in art, but I thought she was like most teenagers with a fleeting hobby and she’d lose interest in it . . . I didn’t realize just how much my daughter gave up for me until you showed me those pictures of her painting that bus.” He paused and shook his head. “But that’s Jo-Jo for ya. Always putting everyone else before herself. She’s even doing it with you now too. Adding you to the list and sending herself further down it . . . I’ve been trying to make things easier and lightening her load around here, but she’s too dang loyal and I think I gotta fire her.”

  “From what Nan told me earlier, that’s the plan.”

  “Yeah.” Jasper looked at him from the corner of his eye.

  “Sir, no offense, but I think you’re going about this the wrong way. You need to have a talk with Josie instead of leaving her in the dark. She’s a grown woman.”

  “She’ll just convince me she’s fine and can handle it and then she’ll brush off your offer and . . . it’s the best answer I could come up with to solve all our problems.”

  The two men sat on the deck and rehashed the entire conversation August had earlier with Nan. They both seemed to have everyone’s best interest in mind, but he felt a little incredulous over their plan. He hoped Josie would still be on talking terms with them once she found out.

  Jasper stood. “Come on with me to the docks.”

  “What’s at the docks? You’re not planning on feeding me to the fishes, are ya?” August tried for a mobster impersonation, sending Jasper’s eyes to roll.

  “We ain’t got time for your goofiness. Now get the lead out.”

  August followed the older guy down the steps and over to his pickup truck. “You didn’t answer me.”

  They settled into the truck that smelled like an unappealing mixture of fishing bait and peppermints. “The fishing boats are coming in. I want to beat your momma to the draw.”

  “Ah, man. You’re trying to get me in trouble with both women in my life.” Before August could climb out, Jasper took off, causing the pickup truck to backfire in protest.

  “Nan always beats me. That stingy woman takes the best-looking shrimp and fish every time, but not this time. A buddy of mine gave me the heads-up that one of the boats is making its way up the waterway. That seafood is mine this time.”

  “You know it’s dirty of you to pit me against my own momma.” August crossed his arms, thinking he’d thumb a ride back as soon as they made it to the docks. “I’m beginning to think you really don’t like me.”

  Jasper’s only response was a loud cackle.

  August settled in. The tongue-lashing he was sure to receive from Nan as soon as she got wind of him aiding and abetting her competitor had better be worth it in the end. He knew it would be if he ended up with Josie by his side, but boy, was he going to get it over that seafood swiping. “You know I’ll probably end up being banned from my family’s restaurant because of this.”

  “Yeah. So? Ain’t like you don’t know of another good one to eat at.” Jasper parked the rusted truck, slid on a hat and shades, and started booking it to the dock.

  “You don’t have another hat and a pair of shades, do ya?” August called out while plundering around inside the cab.

  Jasper barked out in laughter but didn’t slow. “Come on! The boat’s here!”

  Letting out a defeated sigh, August turned and noticed a familiar SUV pulling up. His stomach did a flip as a shot of adrenaline overtook him. “Ah, shoot! Jasper, hurry up! She’s here! She’s here!” His deep voice rumbled out in warning, sending a flock of seagulls scurrying off the dock.

  August sprinted down the dock, actually passing the portly man to get to the goods first. If August was going to help the guy, they were going to do it at lightning speed. He managed to swipe the seafood and dodge his mom from snatching it away from him, but he didn’t walk away unscathed.

  Drenched in sweat and smelling strongly of ripening seafood from where some was spilled down the front of his shirt, August slumped in the old truck and took in a few jagged breaths as Jasper made their getaway.

  “You managed that pretty good, boy.” Jasper let out one of those hee-hee laughs.

  “I can’t believe I just got into a scrap with my own momma over seafood.” August frowned and focused his annoyance out the window as they passed by rows of colorful beach houses. His hand moved over the tender spot on his neck, remembering how Nan got her claws in him at one poi
nt of the scuffle.

  “Ah, you’re just a young whippersnapper. It’s your own fault if you let a woman get ahold of you like that.” Jasper pointed to August’s stinging neck.

  “I’m never going to live this one down,” August mumbled to himself, knowing he’d just secured his place as Jasper’s accomplice while getting on Nan’s bad side, neither of which he was comfortable with.

  23

  The diner was abuzz with a bountiful mix of patrons and tourists, and if it was any indication for the season ahead, it was going to be one of their busiest to date. With three order slips in hand, Josie wove between the packed tables, promising more tea and hush puppies as she went. She practically ran into her dad in the kitchen.

  “Oops.” She laughed, pretending to dance a jig around him. “Didn’t see you there.”

  “I ain’t got time to deal with you being distracted,” Jasper said, taking the order slips out of her hand. “Take the rest of the day off.”

  “That makes absolutely no sense.” Josie huffed, thinking he was the one acting distracted. “We’re slammed.” She pointed out the kitchen door but Jasper pointed to the time clock.

  A mood crawled up Josie’s back and began pinching her neck. She rolled her head this way and then that way, but nothing would alleviate it. Not even taking the time to clock out, she untied her apron and stormed out the side door. She left the truck in its spot behind the diner and took off on her bike.

  After riding around aimlessly for a while, Josie decided to go check on Theo’s mother. There were things they needed to discuss now that Deandrea had finally agreed to let Theo stay at the camp and work there for the summer. Carter and Dominica gave him the title of campgrounds manager, and Josie couldn’t recall a time she’d seen the young man beam so brightly. Theo needed purpose and some guidance from some good people, and she was relieved he was finally getting the opportunity for both.

  “Knock, knock!” Josie called out as she let herself in, knowing Carter was giving Theo a tour of the camp at the moment. She found Deandrea balled up on the couch, staring at the blank screen of the TV.

  Deandrea blinked a few times before looking at Josie. “Did Jasper kick you out of the diner again?”

  Josie sat on the opposite end of the couch as Deandrea sat up. “Yes. I don’t know what’s wrong with that man lately, but I’ve about had my fill of it.” She chanced asking, “Did Doc Nelson and his wife come by yet?”

  “Yesterday.” Deandrea focused on her nails, her bottom lip quivering. “Y’all think I’m crazy?”

  Josie reached for her hand. “Not at all. You’re going through a rough patch, is all, and this facility will help you overcome it and get healthy again.”

  “Doc mentioned chronic depression. That doesn’t sound like a rough patch.” Deandrea wiped under her nose and sniffed. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  “There’s no reason for that.” Josie plowed on before Deandrea could rebuke her. “After my mother died, I was put on antidepressants and went to counseling for a while. Sometimes I still have milder bouts of depression. Should I be embarrassed by that?”

  Deandrea shook her head but said nothing.

  “Then neither should you.”

  “I just . . .” With her shoulders slouched, Deandrea looked close to giving underneath the weight of her burdens.

  “You check yourself in, and if it doesn’t suit you, you are free to check yourself out. You owe it to yourself to get some help, and you owe it to Theo. That young man adores you so much that he’s willing to rob me at gunpoint!” Josie joked. Deandrea cracked a small smile.

  After discussing the details and Josie reassuring her friend that Theo would have the best summer of his life, Deandrea agreed to give it a chance.

  Josie phoned Doc to let him know. “Doc and his wife are on the way to pick you up,” she told Deandrea as she hung up the phone. “They’ll take you by the camp so you can see for yourself how great it is and say goodbye to Theo. Okay?”

  Deandrea nodded and gave Josie a hug. “Thank you for being our angel all these years.”

  Josie embraced her tightly. “We both know I’m no angel, but I do care deeply for you and Theo and have always been honored to be your friend.”

  Josie helped Deandrea pack and then stayed until she was picked up before taking the long way back to the diner, choosing to bike along the seashore instead of the road. She rounded the bend of the beach just before reaching the diner and immediately spotted the big black truck parked beside it.

  “What’s going on?” she mumbled while slowing the bike and hopping off to walk it the rest of the way. She came to a screeching halt as the screen door swung open with August walking out with his arm draped over the shoulder of a beautiful woman.

  “See, I told you there was nothing to worry about. Problem solved.” He gave the woman a quick squeeze before releasing her to open the driver’s door of a van and helping her inside.

  The woman said something to make August’s handsome face light up, but the sudden roar of a crashing wave drowned it out.

  As a knot formed in her throat, Josie hurried inside the diner at a clipped pace and found her dad walking out of the office. “Just what are y’all up to?” Her scold came out sharp enough to startle him and send his hand to clutch his chest.

  “You can’t scare an old geezer like that!” Jasper sucked in a stuttered breath.

  Josie placed her hands on her hips. “And you don’t need to be messing behind my back!” She jabbed a finger toward the back door. “Who was that with August?”

  “I ain’t got time for this.” He reached around to lock the office door, but Josie wedged herself in the way.

  “Then make time.” The irritated mood from earlier had escalated into a full-blown hissy fit with foot stamping and finger jabbing to drive the point home.

  Huffing, he muttered, “That was our new manager.”

  “What?”

  “Her name is Marta. I just hired her.” He gave Josie a don’t-mess-with-me look.

  Squaring her shoulders, she gave the look right back to him, resembling the Slater she was. “That’s my job!”

  “Not anymore. I’ve trapped you around here long enough.”

  “But—”

  “I got somewhere to be.” Jasper gave up on locking the door and hurried through the dining area. “We’ll talk about this later. Be sure to lock up!”

  “Dad!” Her protest did nothing to slow his escape; if anything, it put a shot of vigor into his stride. Giving up, Josie let him get away for the time being while she headed into the office to figure out what was going on.

  Sitting on top of the desk was a résumé. Josie settled into the chair and skimmed it. Marta Holmes. Forty-three years old. Listed as her last employer was Sunset Seafood House, where she’d been the night manager for the past thirteen years.

  “Why on earth would August help such a devoted employee jump ship to come work at Driftwood Diner?” Josie shook her head and pushed the paper to the side. She sat there, arms crossed, and stewed on it until she heard the screen door creak open.

  Springing up from the chair, she rushed out front and found August walking toward her, a warm expression on his face.

  “You have a lot of nerve,” she snapped and sidestepped him when he leaned forward for a hug.

  “Something wrong?”

  “Seriously?” She let out a huff. “I should have seen it, but I’ve been too blinded by you in these last two months.”

  “Seen what?” He stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and lifted an eyebrow.

  She flicked her hand between them. “What this was really all about. The painting and the wooing . . . all of it just to secure Marta a job!”

  The neutral calm of his features began to sharpen with irritation as he tossed his palms up in surrender and let out a growl. “I told Jasper he needed to tell you first. This was your dad and my mom’s idea. Not mine.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because
I encouraged your dad to. Seriously, Jo, you and Jasper suck at communicating. I don’t think he went about it the right way, but I’m honestly glad he finally did something with your best interest in mind.”

  She batted a sweaty lock of hair off her forehead. “How would you feel if you were in my position?”

  “Relieved!”

  “Since Daddy won’t talk to me . . .” A whine slipped into her tone without permission, so Josie paused to clear it away on a hasty cough. “So you need to explain what’s going on.”

  “Marta is a single mom. Her daughter starts school next year, so she needed to switch to a day shift. One Nan couldn’t offer her, considering they already have a stand-up day manager. Jasper got wind of it and talked to Nan about Marta working here. It’s a win-win.”

  They stood staring at each other with all the hurt they were feeling reflecting between them.

  August pushed off the counter, seeming ready to leave. “Your dream isn’t inside this place. I’ve watched you over the last two months while you’re here, and not once have you shone while doing it . . .”

  “I’ve done what I’ve had to do. Dad needs me here. And Miss Dalma . . . Theo and Deandrea—”

  August shook his head. “No one asked you to take all that on!” A huff escaped in a haggard grunt as he raked his fingers through his hair, tugging at the ends before dropping his hand. “I think you’re being a martyr when it’s not really called for. You’re setting your dreams aside to make sure your dad and everyone else in this town is taken care of.” He took a step forward and leaned close to her ear. “News flash, Miss Slater: Jasper is doing just fine. Everyone else will survive too.”

  “Why is it so bad to want the best for others?” She tossed her hands in the air.

  “You’re all about helping someone out but won’t allow anyone to do the same for you. How messed up is that, Jo?” He looked so defeated that Josie reached for him, but he took a step away before her hand made contact with his arm.

  “August . . .”