Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
Per her usual routine, Lizzie stopped in at Sea Coast for a warm beverage before going to the paper. Depending on what she’d had at home, one or two cups of coffee, she’d either have her second cup there, or a decaf green tea. She tried hard to manage her caffeine intake lest she get too wired which made it very hard to focus.
When she’d been working at the Sentinel in Boston she had gotten into some very unhealthy habits - too much caffeine, too much sugar, and way too much stress. When she was in the middle of it she didn’t see how completely unbalanced her life was. Little time for exercise, friends, or just relaxing. Since she’d been home, Dr. Gabby Martin, aka, Mom, had been subtly and not always so subtly, working on Lizzie’s choices, and quietly instilling some changes. Like the caffeine, and sugar was down to a rare treat, there was of course the thrice weekly yoga classes, and Gabby had even sneaked a mindfulness app onto her phone. All these small steps added up to big changes, and Lizzie felt better than she had in a long time. Of course, Hope’s cookies at Sea Coast were a constant temptation, but she (mostly) resisted them.
When she walked into the only slightly crowded coffee shop, she was excited to see Alexis, childhood and present best friend seated at a table, laptop open, and a notebook covered in sticky notes.
“Hey friend, would I ruin your flow if I grabbed a tea and sat for a moment?” Lizzie asks, not wanting to intrude.
“Oh my gosh, no, you’d be saving me from the writer’s block I am currently experiencing, please! Save me from my brain not cooperating with my deadline!” Alexis pleads.
Lizzie orders her tea and is back in a flash. She pulls out a chair, takes off her coat and sits down. “What are you working on?”
“Jack asked me to have something prepared for tonight, just in case I need to make the argument for the project from a community well-being point of view. And it’s not like we don’t all talk about all this stuff all the time, but the thought of having to get up in front of the whole town and talk is freaking me out, I don’t want to freeze and screw this up for Jack, and everyone else involved,” Alexis says, sitting back with the rest of her freshly baked spinach and cheddar scone.
“First of all, you won’t because I’ve heard you at all these other meetings and you are always amazing. You are smart, focused, succinct and articulate. So stop with that dialogue.” She sits back too. “Take a deep breath,” she takes a breath along with Alexis. “Now let it out slowly…” They both exhale and relax their bodies. “Feel better?”
“Yeah, surprisingly I do!” Alexis moves her head around a little, relaxing her shoulders. “Thank you. It’s always amazing how when we’re stressed we forget to breathe, huh?”
“Totally! I’ve actually caught myself basically holding my breath sometimes! My shoulders scrunched up to my ears, heart racing. Now, when I feel that way I just close my eyes and breathe. I have my mom to thank for that. She used all sorts of tools like that with her patients, she even went to training to learn how to help her patients with heart issues and how to use mindfulness based stress reduction to change their lifestyles.”
“Your mom is just the coolest,” Alexis says.
“She definitely is, way cooler than me,” Lizzie says. “So what is it that you think is the most important message to get across to voters tonight about why we need both the high school renovation and Terra Marique?” She takes a sip of her tea and looks at Alexis, hoping to instill some confidence in her.
“I think we are at a crossroads as a community. There is a future where Cranberry Harbor is all about the summer visitors, the second home owners, and older retirees. The other is, making the families, young adults, the farmers, artists and those who make a living from the sea a priority, because without them, we cease to exist as a viable, healthy year-round community and there’s nothing for tourists to come here for. No stores, no restaurants, nothing. In order to thrive we need balance. Balance economically and balance in our population.With no families, no children, no young adults starting and maintaining businesses, we will become a mere shell of what we used to be. We have to find a way to stop catering to the wealthy, and embrace who we are at our core - a small town that cares about its members. Remember our history, our legacy.”
“Bingo. You nailed it, my friend,” Lizzie says, choking back some tears. “Wow,” she says, wiping her eyes.
“Really?” Alexis isn’t so sure. “I figured it probably wasn’t good to say something about how there is no one to date here because everyone is old, married or I dated them in high school,” Alexis jokes.
“Yeah, probably best to leave that out,” Lizzie laughs too. “But oh my gosh, it’s so true! If we don’t get some younger people moving here we’ll have to host a reality show or something. ‘Bachelors and Bachelorettes By the Sea,’ I can see it now, dates where you learn to surf, or go clamming-”
“Oh! Or cranberry picking!” Alexis jokes. “Seriously, I cannot remember the last time I went on a date. Like an actual, someone called me up and asked me out, picked me up and took me someplace date. And hey, I am totally willing to ask a guy out, but there’s no one to ask!”
“Ugh, I hear you. I see it with all my single friends here,” Lizzie looks down at her tea, “It makes me feel guilty that I have Jack, because I want everyone who wants to meet someone to have that chance.”
“Do not feel guilty!” Alexis insists. “You two give me hope, so stop feeling bad!”
“Have you gone to any events in other towns? Like Wellfleet or Brewster? Do they have more going on?” Lizzie asks.
“Oh, I’m totally willing to travel for a social life, but they don’t seem to have a whole lot more going on than we do here,” Alexis laments. She shakes her head. “This is not what we need to be focused on today. Today we need to think about Town Meeting and getting these projects passed.”
“Okay, but I know there’s more we can be doing. Let’s stick a pin in this and we will circle back once we can relax about these projects,” Lizzie says.
“Well, speaking of coupledom, here comes your guy,” Alexis says, looking toward the door. “Hey Jack! And yes, I am working on what I’m going to say tonight. Lizzie is actually helping me. I’m not goofing off talking about the lack of eligible men around here to date. Not at all.” She goes back to looking at her computer screen, looks up at him and smiles.
Jack laughs. “Oh my god, am I that horrible a taskmaster that I make people feel guilty and nervous when I show up?” He smacks his forehead with his hand. “I’m so sorry!”
“I’m totally teasing you, not to worry, it’s all good,” Alexis says. “Though this better pass or I’m going to have to seriously consider moving to a place where the median age is not 65, and the closest I’ve come to holding a man’s hand isn’t helping 91-year-old Mr. Farnham across the street last week.”
Both Lizzie and Jack laugh. “Well that’s just tragic, helpful and kind, but tragic,” Jack says. “We must know someone who would be worthy of Alexis, don’t we?” he asks, looking at Lizzie.
“Um, we know all the same people I think. Unless you’ve been hiding a few people from me that I don’t know about. Cranberry Harbor is in desperate need of new and young blood,” Lizzie says.
“Once this passes we are going to be seeing a whole bunch of new people coming here, I can almost guarantee it,” Jack says.
“Hey, I don’t know if I'm going to get up at Town Meeting for ‘almost,’ Alexis says, laughing. “Look, I am having fun kidding about my social life, or rather lack of a social life, but I am well aware that we have a lot more at stake here than me getting a date. So let’s stop talking about my dating situation and get pumped to crush these folks tonight who don’t want to let this happen. Alright?!”
Lizzie and Jack both nod in agreement, and they all high five.
“Wow, so that was a little lame, let’s not do that tonight. We need to look a little cool, right?” Jack says, laughing. “Not that I’ve ever been cool.”
“Yeah, let’s make a pact - tonight will be a high-five-free zone, okay?” Lizzie says.
“Yes!” They all concur.
“I’m typing that into my notes - ‘no matter how excited do not high five.’” Alexis says.
“Okay, well with that decided, I am going to get going to the office and see what kind of trouble my dad has gotten himself into with the new program we’re using,” Lizzie says, standing up. She puts on her coat, picks up her tea and is ready to go. “I will see you two later. We’ve got this.”
Jack stands up too. “Mind if I walk you to the office?” Not waiting for an answer he puts on his jacket and wraps a scarf around his neck. “Sorry? Am I being a pushy jerk? You okay with me walking with you?”
“Of course, I’d love it. But I do have to actually get to work, so no attempts to distract me, okay?” She smiles at him. “Because you are very distracting.”
“Ugh, would you two leave? Seriously, I do not need to be reminded how much my love life stinks. Shoo! Get out of here with all your moony-eyes mushiness!” Alexis feigns disgust and waves them off.
“I do believe we made our friend feel ill with our display of affection,” Lizzie teases. “Fine, we will not offend you anymore with our shenanigans.”
“We seriously need to find her a date, and soon,” Jack says, loud enough for Alexis to hear as they walk to the door. “She is seriously getting crabby!” He turns to her, waves and smiles, while Alexis pretends to be annoyed, shaking her head and then laughing.
It had gotten a little chillier since Lizzie had walked into Sea Coast, she wasn’t prepared for the briskness. “So wait a minute,” she says, looking at her parked car. “I drove here from home, I need to get my car to the office so it’s there when I leave.”
“I want to walk with you,” Jack insists, “I tell you what, I'll walk back and get your car and drive it to the office and walk back to get mine.”
“That seems like an awful lot of work just to walk me to the office,” Lizzie says.
“I just want to walk with you, okay?” Jack is sounding a little testy. “Sorry, I didn’t mean for that to come out that way. I’m a little stressed.”
“I know you are, we all are, it’s okay, I get it,” she takes his hand and squeezes it. “So let’s walk.”
They walk along, side by side in complete silence in the slushy snow for a block. Lizzie is confused, he wanted to do this? To walk in silence? And she’s very glad that she had decided to go with boots, not sneakers today. She pulls her coat tighter around her, it’s cold , gray and damp, not exactly the walking weather she enjoys. She’s not sure what’s going on, but given Jack’s mood she decides to leave well enough alone. As they get near the Gazette building Jack puts his hand on her arm to get her to stop walking.
“Yes?” she says.
He clears his throat. “I just wanted to say I know I’ve been really preoccupied and not the best boyfriend in the world these last few weeks, well months actually. I just wanted to say I’m sorry for being neglectful and if, no, when this passes I promise to do better.”
“Jack, you don’t owe me an apology, I work all the time too. I understand. We’re not 17, we both have busy careers that are demanding a whole lot from us right now, it won’t always be like this.” She looks at him, and kisses him. “It won’t, right?” she teases.
“No, it won’t. And I promise you, I am thinking about the future, our future, not just the town’s. I just want you to know that,” he says, looking incredibly serious and earnest. “There is a future here. At least for me, anyway.”
“Really? Because I thought this was just a summer fling, oh wait, it’s March, it’s a pre-spring fling,” she laughs at how silly that sounds. “Jack, I understand what you’re trying to do here, because in a very different way, in different fields we’re both building something for the future with our work. I’m here, I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay, because I was even thinking of getting a placeholder ring or something,” he says, looking at the ground.
“A placeholder ring? I’ve never heard of such a thing,” she says, trying not to laugh because he looks so serious.
“You know, like I’m not proposing right now, but I will be in the not-too-distant future, but this isn’t the best time, so hold on to this, and we will circle back. And when I do it will be so much better than whatever I’m doing here, right now,” he looks incredibly uncomfortable and even squats down, and jumps up quickly, startling Lizzie. “Arrgghh!” he says.
“Wow, honey, this isn’t a big deal. And really, that's a whole lot for a ‘placeholder ring’ to say,” she says, still trying not to laugh and hurt his feelings, and thinking how not romantic ‘circle back’ sounds, but it was all still very endearing. This apparently was a pre-proposal proposal. Not that there was such a thing, but she was certainly touched. “Jack, we’re good. I don’t need a ‘placeholder ring’, there’s nothing to worry about. When it’s the right time, it will be the right time. Until then it’s all good. Okay?”
She can see he looks visibly relieved. “Okay.” He nods. “I’ve gotten myself so twisted up, it’s hard to relax about anything. I’m sorry for being a nut.”
She hugs him, and pats his back. “Oh, it’s fine. You’re my little nut and I’m grateful for you. Now I have to get in there and do some work and I’m sure you have a lot to do today too. Are you going to be okay?” She digs her keys out of her pocket and hands them to him. “I think a little more walking will do you good,” she says.
Jack nods, kisses her, and shakes the keys. “I shall return,” he says, heading back to Sea Coast.
“You better be, I’m going to need that car. I love you, you nut!”
“I love you too,” he calls out as he walks away and she can see he’s shaking his head.
As strange as that whole exchange was, it was still pretty sweet. He truly did love her, she knew that. And they were going to get married. She knew that too. Someday, when he circled back to it. She laughed to herself and headed inside.