Chapter 2 #2
“Wow.” He studied them even further. He picked up one with a design of pink beach roses and bright neon-green leaves. “They remind me of the painting.”
She lifted her hands up. “Guilty.”
“You’re Thea?” he said, remembering the single name on the painting’s signature: Thea, Isabel Island, Sunrise Magic.
She nodded. “You’re the first to buy either.”
“Either what?”
“My surfboards or my paintings.” She laughed and her cheeks flushed into a dark pink.
He held the board up, studying the details. He was impressed by it all. “This is really fantastic. You really did all these designs?”
She looked over at him. “I just thought it’d look cool.”
She turned around and headed back to her car. “A lot of the people who rent my boards end up resting on top of them instead of being out in the water. So I thought I’d make them colorful and bright while they’re warming up before hitting the cold Atlantic water.”
“That’s definitely why I liked them.” He looked out at the water hoping he’d get enough nerve to go in.
It was the end of June, and he hadn’t gone farther into the water than his ankles.
The temperature hadn’t yet gotten out of the sixties.
He didn’t remember the frigidness of the island’s waters from when he was a kid. What kid pays attention to that?
Good thing there was a heated pool, otherwise he wasn’t sure if Ainsley would even consider staying.
She already complained that it was too chilly outside on the beach.
Even sitting at the pool, unless the sun was completely out, she felt cold and went inside and sat on her phone.
He doubted he’d get her out on a surfboard.
Never say never, he thought to himself.
“Thanks again for dropping these off,” he said, reaching the back of her Jeep as she pulled out the last board and handed it to him.
“Thank you for your generous business,” she said, with her hand on her heart.
He looked down at the new board in his hands. It resembled waves crashing together, creating foamy whitecaps and bubbles and spray as if sitting on the water.
He pulled out his wallet. “Let me give you a tip.”
But she held out her hands, refusing to take the cash. “No, that’s okay. But thanks.”
With that, she backed up and walked to her Jeep. “Come to the store if you need some wet suits.”
His eyes lit up at the idea. “Are they always black?”
Maybe he could get Ainsley out on one if she was in pink?
She nodded. “They come in all different colors, but the sun warms the black ones better.”
“Ah…” Now the color of choice makes sense. Although, he didn’t really like the idea of resembling a large seal. “Any sharks out there?”
He gestured his head out at the water.
“Not that I’ve seen, but never say never,” she replied.
He smiled at the coincidence of the phrase that he lived by. Never say never.
Did he think he’d get off the bench in high school?
Ryan had been one of the smallest guys on the field until the summer before senior year.
With a huge growth spurt, he suddenly became one of the biggest and strongest on the field.
By the end of the season, he’d had three offers from division one universities.
He’d never thought he’d play, much less start, in college.
And to then be drafted by his hometown team? Never say never.
“Ryan?” Ainsley’s voice called out from behind him. “Who’s going out on these things?”
Ainsley held on to a large water bottle and sipped on its straw as she looked down at the boards on the porch.
His mother stepped out next, and he winced as she stood next to Ainsley, waiting for their interaction. Both women pretended the other wasn’t there.
“Did you buy these surfboards?” Cece asked.
“Cece?” Thea stopped mid-stride and turned back from her Jeep.
Ryan stood as his mother’s face went from complete annoyance to absolute delight.
“Don’t even tell me it’s you, Thea!” Cece rushed down the steps of the porch.
Ainsley’s face twisted as she watched his mother embrace the gift shop owner like a long-lost daughter.
“How are your parents?” Cece asked.
“Good.”
Ryan watched, surprised that his mother knew the gift shop owner, painter, surfboard designer. Who was this woman?
“You two know each other?” Ryan asked, amused by their greeting.
“You remember, Thea, right?” His mother shot him a another eyebrow. “When was the last time we saw each other?”
“I was sixteen at the inn when we worked together.” Thea smiled at his mother and hugged her again. “I can’t believe you’re back.”
Cece lifted her shoulders. “Well, Ryan thought I’d like to come back.”
“Well, I’m glad he did. It’s so good to see you!” Then the women embraced again.
“Geez, your mom’s like obsessed with her or something,” Ainsley whispered as she snickered something else beside him.
But just like always, the spark that had once shone so brightly with Ainsley now suddenly dulled. Just like every other woman when compared to his mom and suddenly he wasn’t as into Ainsley as he had been a moment ago.
Maybe it was his mother’s subliminal hints, or maybe she’d become slightly unattractive with the way she handled herself with his mother, or maybe it was just her time, like with the rest of the women Ryan had dated. He never could keep his interest long term.
“How long are you on the island?” Thea asked his mother.
“A couple days, maybe.” His mother gave him the side-eye.
“Ma, stay the summer,” he said, stepping off the porch and away from Ainsley. “We have the place all summer, at least. It’s time you enjoy the island for once.”
Cece smiled at her son, but didn’t change her answer. Once he got close enough to her, she pulled his arm to move toward her. “Thea, this is my wonderful son, Ryan. You remember meeting as kids, right?”
The gift shop owner nodded. “Yeah, a little.”
Cece scooted Ryan with her hand on his back to get closer to Thea.
“I worked at her parents’ restaurant, the pizza place, you remember the pizza?” his mother asked.
He did. “Oh, yeah!” Suddenly, an image of a teenage girl with braces and frizzy brown hair popped in his mind. Thea no longer looked like the teenager he remembered. She looked, well, like a woman. A beautiful, luscious—whoa. What was he doing checking out the gift shop owner?
“And she worked at the inn with me,” Cece explained, but she didn’t remove her hand from his back, keeping him in place.
Thea paid no attention to him, instead, she continued to give it all to Cece. “Have you not been back since I worked at the inn?”
Cece looked up to the sky. “I hoped I’d never have to step foot on this island again.”
“What?” This was complete news to Ryan. “I thought you loved this island.”
“For you,” Cece said quickly. She folded her arms together. “But once you were old enough to take care of yourself, I started working in the city.”
Then Cece poked her finger at Ryan’s chest. “He got to pretend to be an inn kid.”
“I didn’t pretend to be an inn kid,” Ryan said defensively.
He knew between the two women that had been an insult.
Only the very wealthy could afford to stay at the inn, and only the very, very wealthy could afford a day camp for their children, to keep them out of their hair while on vacation.
One of the perks of being a housekeeper at the inn had been for Ryan to be able to be a day camper like the rest of the children.
Ryan had no trouble finding friends either.
The luck of being a very athletic person.
He was naturally good at everything he did.
He was the fastest swimming over the waves.
The fastest at running through the sand.
He’d out run even the older boys. He was best at riding bikes, tennis, basketball, playing catch—all of it, Ryan excelled much more than the other kids.
Which always made him very popular. Everyone wanted him on their team or tried to see if they could beat him.
There was a different level of respect that came with being better than the others.
Even as a professional athlete, he had the advantages and the privileges that came with it, but he wasn’t a camp kid.
“Everyone knew I was the maid’s kid.” He didn’t know why he wanted to distinguish that in front of this woman, but he really wanted her to know he didn’t pretend to be an inn kid.
“Nothing wrong with that.” Cece put her hand to her mouth and pretend whispered, “I think that’s why we’re here for the summer in the biggest house.”
“You know I’m proud of where I came from,” Ryan reminded his mother. There was no way around it. And the heart of the matter—he couldn’t find a woman as great as Cece.
He was a true momma’s boy.
Thea smiled at Cece, then gave a nod to Ryan. “It was nice meeting you—again. I hope you enjoy your stay on the island.” She turned to Cece. “Come by my shop, and you can have a coffee with me.”
Ryan watched as his mother’s face brightened up. “You got your own shop! Just like you talked about.”
“Well…” Thea shrugged her shoulders. “Not really an art boutique, but a gift shop.”
“She’s the most amazing artist,” Cece said.
“Yes,” Ryan said, noticing her tattoo again. “Is your tattoo the Greek goddess Thea?”
He had loved studying mythology in school.
She nodded and caressed the tattoo with the thumb of her other hand. “Yes, good eye.”
He nodded, impressed he’d recognized it. The goddess was a bit obscure compared to the other gods and goddesses, but he’d always liked the Titan goddess of shimmering light. Known for being divine and the mother of the moon, sun, and dawn, she’s also credited for the shimmering of gold and silver.
The shop owner suddenly appeared as divine as her name.
He shook his head, pulling his thoughts away from the beautiful surfer artist as his girlfriend stood behind him.