Flames & Honey
1. Cora
one
cora
“C ome on, you beauty. Just a few more miles and we’re home free.”
Running my hand lovingly along the worn leather steering wheel, I hope and pray that my car, Lola, can finish our journey before breaking down. My poor cherry red 1960s Corvette has given it her all on our impromptu road trip to visit my cousin Jack in his small coastal town.
Impromptu road trip probably isn’t the best way to describe what Lola and I have been through over the last forty-eight hours. Fleeing in the middle of the night is more accurate. My fingers grip the steering wheel tighter as I glance in my rearview mirror for the millionth time. My chest constricts.
I take a shaky deep breath, releasing it loudly. Lola’s gentle rumblings calm my nerves. In this moment, I’d give anything to have my dad back, for even just a few minutes. That’s the funny thing about grief. It sneaks up on you in ways you’d never imagine. It was a really shady bitch when it convinced me that I deserved an asshole like Ryan. On paper, Ryan was the perfect guy. I should’ve known that he was too good to be true. That underneath that flawless exterior was a hidden darkness that would consume every ounce of light in my life.
The Maine sun is blinding today, which normally wouldn’t bother me, but hours of crying on and off had left my poor eyes irritated.
“Could it be any brighter?” I squint, pulling my prescription sunglasses from my bag next to me and switching out my glasses like a chic grandma. Thank God that I remembered to grab them before I left. I’m blind as hell.
“Much better.” I release a sigh of relief as the tension behind my eyes dissipates.
My glasses were another issue that Ryan had with me. He’d always comment that contacts would be more attractive, but the idea of touching my eyeballs freaks me out. Just then, my phone rings, and it’s like the douchebag knows I’m thinking about him.
“Oh, hell no,” I mutter, reaching over onto the passenger seat to silence the call.
Moments later the sound of my phone ringing again echoes throughout the cab.
“Leave me alone!” I bang my fists against the steering wheel in frustration. Lola honks.
Finally daring to glance at the screen, it’s thankfully just Jack’s smiling face. Reaching over again, I answer and put him on speaker, his voice reminding me why I’m on my way to Maine to begin with. His safety and security will help me with my fresh start. It has to.
“Hey, Cora! How’s the drive going?” Jack asks cheerfully. He’s always been a happy go lucky person, which I admire. We’ve been close since we were in diapers, crawling around getting into trouble together. His happiness always balanced out my sass, or at least that’s what our mothers always used to say.
“Lola’s giving it everything she’s got. I should be at your place in about twenty minutes.”
Just then, I pull onto the coastal road that’s always taken my breath away. The ocean reveals itself, waves crashing against the weathered stone barrier lining the road. The sun reflecting off of the water makes it seem like diamonds dance on the surface.
“Wow. I forgot how beautiful this place is,” I murmur, taking in the natural beauty. I crank the window down, letting the familiar ocean breeze engulf me and I greedily inhale the scent of the salty water.
“Earth to Cora,” Jack says, his chuckles bringing me back to reality. “You still there?”
“Sorry, a bit distracted. I just can’t believe you get to live here.” Jack’s family has always lived in this little slice of heaven, while mine only visited one month a year for vacation.
“It’s your home now, too. For however long you want it to be. Anyway, the reason I called is that I won’t be there when you get to the house. The firehouse called and they need me to cover someone’s shift tonight. I hate not being there to welcome you.”
I’m disappointed that he won’t be there, but his job as a firefighter can be unpredictable. “Jack, don’t worry about it. I want you to know how thankful I am for letting me stay with you while I figure out my dumpster fire of a life.”
“You’re away from your asshole ex, and that’s all that matters. We’re family, and I’ll always be here for you. You can also count on me kicking his ass if he ever shows his face around here.” Anger seeps into each word. Jack always hated Ryan, and for good reason.
“Well, you’ll have to wait your turn, because I’m kicking his ass first.” We laugh, which feels incredible after what I’ve been through. “Do you still keep a key under that creepy ass gnome in the backyard?”
“Mr. Gnomington isn’t creepy, but yeah it’s still there. I gotta head to work now, but make yourself at home. And I owe you a welcome dinner tomorrow.”
“Sounds perfect. See you then. Stay safe!” We hang up just as the welcome sign for Abalone Bay emerges within overgrown thickets. The faded wood has a rush of memories flooding back. Of mom and dad taking me to one of the many local beaches, hunting for seashells that seemed like rare treasures, and roaring bonfires under the stars.
Cranking the stereo as loud as it will go, I sing along to one of my dad’s old country music CDs, enjoying the gorgeous day. The sun beating down on my skin now brightens my mood. I could get used to this, but it’s important to remember that this is only temporary until I find a place of my own and start my new life. A life where I make the rules and do what brings me bliss.
Jack’s two bedroom cottage comes into view, and my shoulders finally relax. Its pale gray exterior, wide front porch, and large double hung windows are a beacon of safety. The vibrant blue hydrangea bushes lining the yard are in full bloom.
“Lola girl, we’ve made it.” The tires crunch over the gravel drive and I park in Jack’s garage, which he gave me the code for. Unpacking my car can wait until later when I have more motivation. Right now, I need to find a certain gnome.
Walking around the house, my shoes sinking into the lush grass, I find Mr. Gnomington. Pushing a colorful wheelbarrow of fake flowers, his ceramic grin sends chills down my spine.
“Fuck, you’re still as disturbing as ever.” I shutter, lifting him up and pulling the taped key off his feet. I make quick work of unlocking the front door and returning the key.
Heading inside, I close the door behind me and triple check that the deadbolt is secure. Only then do I feel comfortable enough to take in the adorable cottage that’s clearly not had a woman living here for a very long time. I tidy the living room a bit, folding a large knit blanket and placing pillows back where they belong. Looks like someone fell asleep playing video games on the couch again. Some things never change. I shake my head, grinning.
The guest room is another story entirely. He’s clearly spent some time making it look welcoming and comfortable. The plush bed and multitude of pillows let me know that my Aunt Dee, Jack’s mom, had something to do with it.
After the long drive and stress from ending a toxic relationship, my body is exhausted. Heading to the kitchen, I gulp down multiple glasses of ice cold water and a hearty sandwich before ensuring every sliding glass door and window is locked. Then, I head back into the guest room for a nap.
The window in the bedroom glides open smoothly. The scent of the ocean drifts into the room. I enjoy the comforting smell of salt water for a few minutes before locking that window as well. Snuggling into the soft covers, I tell myself that this will be a quick nap, and then I will get to work on unpacking and job hunting. Within seconds of my head hitting the pillow, I drift into a peaceful sleep, the tension that I’ve been holding onto dissolving like the sea foam beyond my window.