Chapter 10
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“Please tell me you remembered the apricot brandy this time. Sangria Saturday will suck donkey balls with no actual sangria in it,” Lauren announces as she steps into the cabin.
“I’ve got everything for Margarita Friday, Sangria Saturday, and Hangover Sunday,” Tina replies as the three of us meet in the middle of the cabin for a big hug.
I’ve missed these two so much. Growing up, I had some friends here and there, but nothing stuck for me. We lived close to a military base, so the families–and my friends–came and went.
The year following my dad’s death was rough, and I kept myself from reaching out to new connections. Evelyn was nonexistent during that time, as she was out looking for her next sucker to settle down with.
I met Lauren at a beach bar near this cabin. She was staying in a cabin close to the beach with her boyfriend at the time. That guy was a real piece of work. They began to fight at the table beside me, and he held the fact that she had no way back into town over her head. When he got up to use the washroom, I quickly introduced myself. Then I told her I had a cabin, and she was welcome to crash with me and I’d drive her back in the morning when I left for home. When he came back, she stood her ground, and, sure enough, the little shit stood up and left her there.
We’ve been friends ever since.
Tina lived in my building, a few doors down, with her boyfriend, Will, at the time. He’s now her husband, and he is so good for her. I met Will at our building’s mailbox one day, and we got to talking. He told me they were new to the city, that he was working but she wasn’t, and he was hoping she could meet some local friends. I bumped into her a couple of days after and invited her out for coffee, which turned into a late–night wine fest at my place. Just over a year later, they’d saved up enough money to open their own deli, and they moved into the building above it to start their family. She’s become so busy, but every time we meet up again, it’s like no time has passed.
“Dinner’s almost ready, and I’ll get the fire started so we can eat on the beach,” I call over my shoulder, heading toward the door that leads out to the trail through the trees.
I absolutely love it here.
Dinner was a quiet affair. Whenever Tina cooks, it is always amazing, and it’s tough to use your mouth for talking when you’re shoveling food into your face. This is why their deli is doing so well.
The fire is dying down as I place my plate on the blanket in front of me and pull my sweater on before finishing my second margarita.
“How much longer until this place is yours?” Lauren breaks our silence. Lauren and Tina are the only people who know about my struggles with this beach house.
“Five weeks,” I answer as I look out over the water. “About thirty–five days, and the worst part is finally over.”
It all comes down to five more weeks.
9:39 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 10
The day I turn twenty–five is the day the beach house becomes mine and only mine.
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Due to an oversight with my father’s most recent will, my mother was able to challenge it in court. That will stated that everything was to be given to me. Everything. Since she won the challenge, it was rendered null, and the previous will took its place.
That will was written when they were still happily married. He awarded her all of his money and assets, with the exception of the beach house and land. That was to be put in a trust for me and released when I turned twenty–five years old.
My mother has control over the trust right now, but the will stipulates she make no money off of it. If she deems the property to be falling apart, she can sell it. Then that money will go into the trust for me and be released on my twenty–fifth birthday.
This is what she holds over my head. I believe without a doubt this is the only reason she hasn’t sold it yet.
She gets nothing from selling it, but if she keeps it, she gets to hold it over me like a carrot to a mule. Then when she says jump, I jump, or she threatens to sell the property. She knows it isn’t about the money. I never cared that she gladly took all of his. I made enough on my own, and I have everything if I have our cabin. I will never sell my home. My dad bought it for twenty–five thousand dollars twenty–two years ago. The land alone is worth one hundred times that amount now.
To me, it’s priceless.
“So five weeks left of dancing for the bitch then?” Tina’s bluntness always makes me smile.
“I say cheers to that.” Lauren raises her margarita to toast, and we all giggle.
As the sun sets, our conversation moves from Tina’s business to Lauren’s life in the city, and as the drinks flow more freely, the conversation turns more candid. Tina is just done telling us about the day her two–year–old found her vibrator and brought it out to show everyone during Easter dinner when Lauren asks me about my new job.
The memory of my last conversation with my bosses surges into my mind, and I visually shudder at the reminder of my week.
“Something tells me there is a story here, Jay–neeee.” Lauren squares herself in my direction, and I know I’m not getting out of this without sharing.
“Sorry, I just wasn’t ready for the question. My first week went really well. I work closely with one other person, Janice. She’s the secretary for the two guys who own the company. I work on any additional tasks that need to be done.” I know I’m holding back, but I haven’t given myself enough time to really think about my
bosses.
“And these owners. What are they like?” There it is. Lauren is asking the question like she already knows the
answer.
“They are good at what they do. I see where they want to take their company, and it is a great vision. They’re wonderful to work for. They made my first week feel comfortable.” I shrug, trying to decide how I want to describe them, when Lauren cuts me off.
“Oh shut up, Jayne! I Google–stalked them. They are gorgeous!”
9:40 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 10
I hang my head as Tina laughs.
Busted.
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“I know, right?” Raising my gaze back up, I put my hands to the sides of my face in false
agony. “Do you know how hard it has been to concentrate this week? But I’m legit serious: I don’t want to think about them like that. They’re my bosses, and this job is everything I need right now. Evelyn’s boyfriend recommended me for it, and I can’t mess it up.”
“Oh, come on, Jayne. Everyone deserves happiness where they can find it. Which one do you like?” I get the feeling that Tina is trying to live a little vicariously through me.
“I’m not picking.” I try to shut the conversation down and fail miserably as my two closest friends giggle like schoolgirls.
“You can tell us,” Tina taunts.
“No, I don’t mean I’m not telling you which one I want; it’s that I don’t think I could choose. I’d be happy with either one if I didn’t work for them. You’ve seen them, Lauren. What else can I say about the physical attraction?” Lauren nods in agreement and motions for me to continue. “But working with them this week made me realize there’s more to both of them than their looks. Declan has a way of making me feel calm and secure in my choices at work. I respond to the authority in his management style. Lucas has a way of challenging me and making me vulnerable. I feel like I need to confess to him that I took some Post–it notes from the office on Thursday,” I say to giggles from the peanut gallery. Then I try to change the subject. “Anyway, I’m going to mention the deli to them for lunch soon.”
Tina’s eyes light up, and she smiles in appreciation. “Thanks. I’ll even deliver, but only because I love you, Jayne.”
“Please.” Lauren rolls her eyes. “She just wants to get a closer look at your bosses.”
“That’s exactly right,” Tina slurs, and with the dying fire, we call it a night and head back inside the cabin.
***
The rest of the weekend flies by too quickly. All of a sudden, we are packing up on Sunday afternoon.
As I drive away from the cabin this time, I expect to feel a rush of sadness. There’s a little there, but it isn’t as powerful as it has been in the past.
Maybe it’s because I am so close to owning the place completely.
Or maybe not.
As I get closer to the city, I realize I don’t feel sadness about leaving the cabin as much as I am eager about getting to work on Monday morning.
9:40 Mon, Sep 22
Chapter 11
