Chapter 19
CHAPTER 19
Still floating on air Monday morning, Lizzie stopped by Sea Coast on her way to the paper hoping to catch Alexis who’s been showing up there every morning, using it as her de facto office for the time being. Maybe it’s because she’s viewing the town through her newly engaged rose-colored glasses, but she smiles as she sees crocuses popping through the ground in the beds by the shop, and notices some daffodils inching their way up as well. Spring is finally coming.
As soon as she walks in she’s happy to see Alexis already encamped at a round table for two, laptop open, papers spread about and deep in thought.
“Good morning!” Lizzie says, not meaning to startle her friend.
“Oh! Hey!”
“I don’t want to interrupt your flow if you’re in a groove,” Lizzie says, hoping she will ask her to join her.
“No, please, I’m just answering some emails, please, sit!” Alexis says, closing her laptop and gathering her papers.
“I promise not to stay long, but I haven’t had a chance to catch up with you since–”
“Since the big proposal? No you have not!” Alexis leans forward, excited to hear all the details.
“Cool, let me get my coffee and I’ll be right back!” Lizzie takes her wallet out of her purse, and puts it on the chair. “Do you need a refill?”
Alexis, taking a sip, shakes her head no. “This is already cup number two, so I’m going to cut myself off for a while, thanks.”
Lizzie is back quickly and sits down with her tea. “Are you still getting lots of press inquiries?”
“Not as many, I think most people were into the drama, now that Billy is no longer chained to a tree they’ve backed off,” she says.
Lizzie shakes her head. “I really hate that that was what they were excited about, not the project itself. It says a lot about the state of the media in this country. It’s all about clicks and getting people angry or outraged.”
“Yup, it sure seems that way,” Alexis agrees. “So enough about that, I want to hear about this,” she says, taking Lizzie’s hand and looking at her ring. “This is so beautiful! Where did he get it?”
“He actually got it at Jess’s Bridal Shop, apparently she’s starting to carry some vintage jewelry.” She admires it herself, still getting used to seeing it on her hand. “This is from the 1920s. He had it sized for me and everything.”
“So he’s obviously been planning this for a while,” Alexis says. “Was it all romantic and dreamy?”
“It was! The snowstorm kept us at the Cape’s End Inn, but he and Rusty, an amazing guy who works there, made us this beautiful picnic in front of the fire. It was perfect, Alexis. Like out of a movie.”
Alexis puts her hand on her heart. “Aw, I’m so happy for you, for the both of you. Like I’ve said, you give me hope that on this little sandbar, with hardly anyone our age around, you can find love.”
“You most certainly can,” she says. “So...speaking of cute guys-”
“No one said anything about cute guys,” Alexis says, laughing.
“Fine, I’m bringing up cute guys, how was coffee with Ian after we left?” Lizzie takes a sip of her coffee and looks intently at Alexis.
By the way Alexis casts her eyes down, touches her brow and smiles, Lizzie immediately knows she enjoyed herself.
“He’s a really interesting guy,” she says.
“You’re going to have to give me a lot more than ‘interesting’, my friend.”
Alexis laughs. “Okay, he’s smart, funny, creative and doing good things in the world. How’s that?”
“Much better, though you did not say handsome. He looks like he could be Brad Pitt’s stand in! He’s gorgeous!” Lizzie says, pausing to take a sip of her coffee. “And yeah, he seemed really nice, like a good guy.”
“He does. Of course I don’t know him well at this point, but he certainly is someone I’d, um…”
Lizzie leans forward. “Someone you’d...want to get to know better?”
She’s very squirmy which Lizzie finds adorable. “Um, yeah, sure.”
“‘Um, yeah, sure’? Lizzie laughs. “The guy is an award winning filmmaker who is handsome, and is also an environmentalist, and you yourself said, is nice, and funny. Could it be we’ve set the bar a little too high if you’re not completely convinced he would be at the very least someone worth getting to know a little bit better?”
Alexis laughs too. “It could be I’ve just gotten so used to saying no to everyone that asks me out that the idea of a possible yes is a little scary. You know?”
“Oh I totally know,” Lizzie says. “In those three years Jack and I were apart I dated a few people, most notably Ed, in Boston before I moved back here, but no one really struck my fancy. And I was terrified of getting hurt again, so I hear you about the fear of saying yes.”
“Yup, and he didn’t ask if I wanted to get together sometime, so there’s also that,” Alexis says, sounding a little disappointed.
“He may not have been sure of your relationship status, or was worried about overstepping since you may be working together a bit if he decides to film some of the project. It gets complicated for people to know what’s the right thing to do and what’s not, you know? But it was clear to me he liked you.” Lizzie counters.
“Yeah? But he may have a girlfriend or fiance’…”
“I didn’t get that feeling, he really seemed to want to spend time with you,” Lizzie says.
“It is the twenty-first century, I could have asked him out too. Ugh, maybe I completely blew it!” Alexis shakes her head.
“Stop, you did not blow it. What are we? Seventh graders? He’s a grown adult man, I doubt he’s thinking anything other than perhaps, damn I blew it, I should have asked her out to dinner, or lunch, or a movie.”
“True, he didn’t seem like a delicate flower,” they both laugh.
“Hardly, the guy is the son of one of the most successful women directors in the world. She’s won Oscars, heck, he’s won an Oscar. And they both survived the world of Hollywood, which, from what I’ve gathered in all my magazine reading, isn’t exactly an easy place to make a go of it. So I’d say meeting you, my dear, dear friend would not terrify him.” She's quiet for a second. “Unless of course he has already fallen madly in love with you, knows you are his true soul mate and can’t live without you...that could be intimidating,” she says, laughing.
“Alright, well now you’re terrifying me ! If any guy felt that way after meeting me once and having a cup of coffee, I would run, sprint, bolt to the highest peak possible,” Alexis says, looking more relaxed.
“See? Playing out the most ridiculous, fantastical possibility kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? My diabolical plan worked!”
“You are evil! Pure evil,” Alexis jokes. “And thank you for that. You’re right, it’s all good. I just need to calm down, and focus on the job at hand. Getting Terra Marique off the ground and that is not going to be any small feat.”
“It is not. But if anyone can do it, Jack can, and with you, and all the other people he has lined up, it’s all going to happen,” Lizzie says in her best pep talk-speak. “You’ve got this.”
Alexis looks at her a bit skeptically. “If you say, ‘you go girl,’ I am out of here,” she laughs.
“Okay, you’ve stopped me just in time,” Lizzie smiles at her.
“Phew, our friendship was hanging in the balance.”
Lizzie finishes her coffee, “Okay, I am out of here,” she says standing up.
“Wait, so you really think we’ve got this? I’m not going to fall flat on my face on my first job in my field?” Alexis asks, looking scared as she opens up her computer.
Lizzie stands tall and confidently, and looks her right in the eye. “It’s going to be amazing. You’re going to be amazing. You’ve definitely got this. I know it. ”
Alexis relaxes a little.
“You okay if I leave? I’m only a text away.” Lizzie says.
Alexis nods and even smiles a little.
“Good,” Lizzie turns to go, “Alright, and hey, never forget, you go girl!” She laughs and heads to the door. “Oh! Save May 21, it’s our wedding date!”
“Wow! Soon! Of course I’m there!”
“Yup, why wait when you know it’s meant to be?” Lizzie smiles and after holding the door for a mom and toddler coming in, leaves.