Chapter 33
Summer
Bay stops in after work a few days later, asking me to join him for a drive. Intrigued, I agree, letting Zander know where I’ll be. As he pulls out of the Finn parking lot, I glance over at him. I haven’t really talked to him since the courthouse. “Everything okay?”
Bay looks over and gives me a closed lip smile. “Not really.”
Before I can respond, he pulls into a florist shop.
He gets out and goes inside, so I follow silently behind him.
Bay goes straight to the counter, where an older woman has a beautiful bouquet of carnations ready for him.
“Hello dear boy. Tell your mom I said hello.” She smiles sadly at him as she hands over the flowers.
Oh my. It must be his mom’s birthday or the anniversary of her death.
I’m touched he asked me to join him today.
I follow him out to the car and get in the passenger seat.
When he pulls back onto the road, I reach over and intertwine our fingers.
He squeezes my hand tightly and drives us to a cemetery about 15 minutes away.
It’s at the north end of Mt. Pleasant, adjacent to a beautiful church.
We walk hand in hand through a gate, past many older tombstones until we reach a newer area. Bay stops at a well-maintained headstone near a pine tree with an azalea planted beside it. His mom’s name was Elizabeth, and she passed away five years ago today.
Bay pulls me down beside him, placing the bouquet against the base of the stone.
Leaning my head on his shoulder, I sit quietly.
After a while, Bay begins to speak. “She was the best mom, always planning adventures for us or creating fun at home. Mom was always smiling. She and Dad loved each other so much I was grossed out all the time as a kid,” he chuckles.
“You know, Mom and Dad were so excited when they found out they were going to have Olivia, even though they hadn’t planned on it.
They were high school sweethearts and married right after high school graduation.
They tried for 3 years to get pregnant with me, and the doctor told them she wasn’t likely to get pregnant again, but she did.
As a kid, I didn’t know how to feel about having a little sister, but as soon as she was placed in my arms, I was lost.
“She was a stay at home mom. Well, mostly. She did some of the paperwork for the garage. Everyone loved her. You remind me a little of her with your baking. She was always making treats for us and the mechanics at work. Everything was homemade, including Halloween costumes, lunches, Christmas ornaments, birthday presents, and cakes. We used to have a vegetable garden in our backyard, too. She preserved food for the winter, and I always looked forward to her homemade strawberry jam every summer.”
I wrap my arm around his waist for support. He tells me a few more stories about growing up with his mom before he quiets again, so I decide to share stories about Mom and Lily bee.
We end up talking for over an hour about both of our moms. It’s therapeutic, and we’re both smiling by the end. “Do your dad and Olivia visit?”
“Dad will be by later today. We visited together for the first 3 years, but Olivia doesn’t really remember her, so Dad didn’t want to force her to come anymore. We came separately last year for the first time, but I didn’t want to be alone this year.” Bay looks at me with glassy eyes.
“You never have to come here alone again, Bay. I promise. Anytime day or night, call and I’ll join you.”
Bay leans closer and kisses my forehead. He wraps an arm over my shoulder as I lean into him, and we stay until the sun begins to set. Bay drives me home, and I give him a tight hug before walking inside. I find Zander on the couch. “Hi.”
“Hello darling. There's pizza in the fridge if you're hungry.”
“Thanks,” I smile. Grabbing two slices, I place them in the microwave to reheat. “It was the anniversary of his mom’s passing today. We went to the cemetery.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, but I'm happy you joined him.”
“He mentioned his mom made homemade strawberry jam every summer, and since it’s his birthday soon, would you be interested in going to a berry farm after work tomorrow with me?”
“I would love to,” Zander smiles.
By the 4th of July, I’m getting into the swing of things at work.
It’s Bay’s birthday today, but we aren’t celebrating until the weekend.
Bay wanted the higher wages that he gets for working on a holiday.
Most of the Finn employees are working security today at various venues around Charleston and Mt.
Pleasant. I’m at the office fielding calls and emails and acting as a go-between for the supervisors.
It’s keeping me busy, and when I have time, I’m working on the never-ending schedule.
I bring lunch to Nick, who is in the secure room out back working today.
I get a thanks, but he doesn’t take his eyes off the security screens he’s monitoring.
Zander brings me dinner and eats with me in his office before leaving again.
Although I technically don’t have to work after 5pm, I choose to stay until Nick and Bay are done around 7pm.
Alex, Seb, and E are working until midnight.
Employees trickle in around 6pm. Most say hello as they pass by. Bay shows up a little before 7pm, so I check on Nick and he’s already packing up. The guys are taking me to a park by the water to watch the fireworks tonight. Since Bay hasn’t eaten, we stop at a fast food joint on the way.
The park is right beside the huge bridge that goes to Charleston.
Nick and I carry a cooler and blankets to search for a spot to relax.
People are scattered around, but most of them are on blankets themselves.
Nick chooses a large tree for us to set up under.
“Is this where you guys usually come for the fireworks?” I ask.
“We often went to Alex’s house, until we started working last year, but I’ve come here with Dad and Olivia before. It stays pretty low-key since you can’t swim and there are no facilities,” Bay tells me. “It seemed like a good bet for fewer crowds.”
“Thanks, Bay,” I smile.
We decompress and chat until dusk. I stand when the fireworks start.
It’s a much bigger and longer display than we had in Virginia, and it’s beautiful.
Nick has music playing on his phone from Charleston that coordinates with the fireworks, and Bay snaps a photo of us while they’re still going.
After the crowd disperses, we pack up. Nick drops Bay off at Finn to pick up his car, and I get out to grab the case of strawberry jam from the trunk.
I spent the last few nights cooking and canning the strawberry jam.
“I know we're celebrating your birthday this weekend, but I wanted you to have a gift on your actual birthday. Hopefully, it brings back fond memories.” I hold out the case to him as he gently takes it from me.
He picks up one jar, and his eyes go wide. “Homemade strawberry jam?”
“Yup. I have no idea if it's similar to your mom’s recipe, but I hope you enjoy it.”
Bay places the case in the back seat of his car, then envelopes me in a hug. “Thank you.”
Smiling, I hug him back. “You’re welcome, Bay.”
He smiles at me, hops into the driver’s seat and drives away. I get back into the passenger seat, and Nick drives me home. He’s staying in the guest room tonight since Zander doesn’t expect to get home until well after midnight. “You did good, Shortie,” Nick tells me.
Once we’re showered, we eat ice cream and watch tv until bed. I’m not sleeping great without my pills, but enough for now.
Bay’s birthday party is at his house Saturday afternoon.
Zander drives us over in his truck to the celebration.
There are balloons tied to a tree at the end of the driveway, and it looks like the other guys are already here, along with several other cars I don’t recognize.
I follow the sounds of chatter to the backyard.
There are more clusters of balloons tied to the deck and a large crowd of people.
“Sunshine,” Seb yells over the din of conversation.
I look around and see him jogging over from the yard, followed by Olivia. Waving, Zander squeezes my shoulder and walks onto the deck towards David. Olivia crashes into my legs before Seb wraps his arms around me, trapping Olivia between us. “Seb,” Olivia sighs, “I can’t breathe.”
Chuckling, we separate. I see Olivia has a pretty blue tulle dress on today. “You look so pretty, Olivia.”
“Thanks. I always wear blue for Bay’s birthday cause it’s his favorite color. Come meet everyone.”
She drags me towards the deck as Seb follows. I’m introduced to the mechanics and their families, then I’m quickly dragged back down to the grass to visit Ellie, her best friend. I tell Olivia I would like to wish her brother a happy birthday, so she happily grabs Ellie’s hand and skips off.
Smiling at her, Seb grabs my hand as we walk over to the guys. I get hugs from E and Bay, and then we take seats on the grass. Bay tells me the strawberry jam was a huge hit with his dad and Olivia. It differed from what his mom made, but he said it was really good.
Bay gets called away to visit family, so I hang with the guys.
David grills burgers and hot dogs for the crowd, and I follow Nick and Alex to grab a plate of food.
David and Olivia carry out a large sheet cake after we eat, and we gather around the deck to sing happy birthday to Bay.
Nick has me standing with my back to his chest while Alex and Seb stand on either side of me so I don’t get bumped.
Bay is blushing a dark rose color, but is smiling at the crowd.
Slices of cake are passed out, a bonfire is lit, and several people take out instruments.
Seems there’s a bunch of musical talent in the crowd.
Seb pulls me onto the grass, where people have begun dancing.
I meet several family members as the evening goes on.
It’s a lovely, easygoing night. When it’s time to leave, I give Bay a hug. David walks over and hands me a piece of paper. “This is Elizabeth’s strawberry jam recipe. Thank you for your gift. It means a lot to our family.”
Unfolding the paper, I see a photocopy of a recipe card with loopy handwriting. Holding it to my chest, I smile at him. “I’m honored you’re sharing this with me.”
David smiles with a nod before stepping away. I’ll definitely make this recipe next time. Waving goodbye, I follow Zander around the house to his truck. Most of the guys are working tomorrow at a wedding.