Chapter 8
Jenna was going to feel this tomorrow. Her quads strained from the weight as she pulled the last kayak from the water. She’d
done four tours today. But sore muscles aside, she was joyful and energized by the conversations and physical activity.
This sure hadn’t turned out to be the day she’d expected. She hadn’t had time alone and she hadn’t spied Dream among the grazing
bands of ponies. Jenna was tired, but it was the good kind of tired. The kind she hadn’t experienced in a while.
The afternoon tours were still out, leaving the dock empty and quiet. She found Miss Molly inside the building, hanging life
jackets to dry. Jenna joined her, grabbing vests and hooking them on the pegs.
“How was your last tour? They seemed like a lively group.”
“They were fun. A girls’ trip, Pennsylvanians who take a short vacation without their kids and husbands every May. One of
their grandmas had read Misty of Chincoteague to her when she was a child, and she’d always wanted to see our wild ponies. She talked her friends into it.” The book by Marguerite
Henry, published in the forties, had made the ponies famous.
“I had a friend group like that back in the day. We still keep in touch, but everyone’s moved away.”
“It’s good that you stay connected, though.” Jenna had kept in touch with a few girlfriends from high school, but most of them had moved off island except Sofia. Since this trip was turning into quite a bit more than a weekend, Jenna should reach out and see if they could get together.
It had been five days and Jenna still couldn’t figure Gordon out. His life back home sounded rather boring. He was retired
from a career in forensic accounting with an insurance company. He’d been married twice. The first wife divorced him after
seventeen years, and the second wife passed away unexpectedly after two years. He’d been single for a few years and had gone
on the cruise because he’d always wanted to and neither wife had enjoyed traveling.
He seemed like the perfect gentleman, pulling out Mom’s chair and helping around the house. Mom was eating it up, gazing at
him with sparkling eyes, lighting up when he entered the room. It all seemed too fast and a little too good to be true.
Miss Molly hung the last vest, then turned her way. “The boy who didn’t show up to work wouldn’t answer my calls all morning.
Then this afternoon he quit via text after working for me for only two weeks.”
“Sheesh.”
“Don’t suppose you’d like to fill in till I can find a replacement? I’d take the tours, but there really have to be two of
us working the office and dock.”
Jenna hadn’t imagined working on Chincoteague during this break, but then, she hadn’t known this would turn into an extended
stay. With Gordon showing no signs of leaving and with him and Mom gallivanting all over the island, Jenna might as well stay
busy. She shrugged. “I guess I could fill in for a bit. I really enjoyed the tours today, but I’m not sure how long I’ll be
on the island.”
“I’ll take whatever I can get. Thank you. You’re a godsend. I’ll get right on finding a replacement.”
“It’ll be nice to have a purpose while I’m here.” Other than making sure her mom was safe. Though unfortunately there was
no way to protect her heart.
Miss Molly gave her a side hug. “It’ll be like old times.”
Jenna dropped her clothes into the washer and added detergent. She needed to make a trip back home for more of her things.
The little bits she’d brought weren’t going to cut it. After starting the load she was grabbing two used fabric softeners
off the floor when she saw a piece of folded paper next to the dryer.
It was a piece of her mom’s lined stationery. Before tossing it, Jenna opened it to see a list written in small, fine print.
Wildlife Refuge $10.00
AmaRin Coffee $17.23
Mister Whippy $9.52
Ropewalk $62.48
The list went on. Since the handwriting wasn’t Mom’s, she could only presume it was Gordon’s.
Jenna frowned as she entered the living room where her mom was eating a bowl of cereal for her evening snack. Gordon had already
turned in, saying he hadn’t slept well the night before.
“Is this yours, Mom?” She handed over the paper.
Mom took the sheet and gave an indulgent smile. “It’s Gordon’s. He’s so cute. He’s keeping track of what I spend so he can pay me back.”
A red flag waved, bold and foreboding. “Pay you back?”
“He didn’t bring enough cash for an extended time away, so I’m covering for him. He uses a local bank.” She smiled adoringly
at the list. “Right down to the penny. It’s such an accountant thing to do.”
Even if Gordon did bank locally, what about credit cards? And surely the bank gave him access to ATM machines. She wanted
to ask more questions but risked alienating her mom.
“Thanks, honey.” Mom set down the list and returned to her cereal and the reality TV show featuring newly married couples.
Taking that as a dismissal, Jenna went out to the porch and settled on the swing. Maybe the rhythmic motion would soothe her
nerves. She glanced up at the garage attic where the one window was darkened. Who was this guy who’d followed her mom home
from a cruise, stayed at her place for free, and mooched off her day after day?
An itemized list didn’t prove he intended to pay her back.
Movement across the street caught her eye. A family was returning to the Parkers’ B and B, their laughter carrying across
the yard. She spied Tyson’s truck in the lot and opened her phone.
Guess what? I got a job. He’d assume she meant back home, of course.
He responded seconds later. That’s great! Where at?
Coastal Currents. She smiled as she sent the text.
Her phone buzzed as a call came in. “I’m confused,” Tyson said in lieu of a greeting.
“That makes two of us.”
“Are you staying for good then?”
“No, the job’s only temporary.” She told him about her unexpected day and Miss Molly’s predicament.
“That’s really nice of you to help out. I’m sure she appreciates it.”
“It’s hardly a chore. I enjoyed my day. I miss working outside—you were right about that.”
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not saying it again.”
“That’s okay, I heard you the first time. So are you thinking you’ll be here awhile?”
Jenna sighed and told him about finding the list and what her mom had said. “I don’t understand how he wouldn’t even have
a credit card.”
“That doesn’t make sense. You have to use a credit card to open an account on a cruise, don’t you?”
“Maybe they can work around that,” Jenna said. “But really, who doesn’t have a credit card these days?”
“Or access to a cash machine.”
“Exactly. I might question Mom about it later. But she seems so enamored with him. I’m afraid he’s just using her and she’s
going to wind up hurt.”
“Hurt and ripped off,” Ty said. “But if he managed to pay for a cruise, he can’t be dirt poor.”
“Unless he does that kind of thing to find single women to take advantage of. Don’t forget, he went on that cruise alone.”
“That does seem kind of strange.”
“Not if you’re looking for an affluent woman to support you. Not that Mom’s well-to-do, but she’s certainly comfortable. And probably lonely. Her girlfriends are busy with their kids and grandkids. Other than that cruise, she mostly just works and hangs out at the house.”
“She’s always been more of a homebody. But she probably misses being in a relationship. It’s been a long time, and the one
she had with your dad was obviously fulfilling.”
Jenna gave a wistful smile. “They were great together. So in love and easy with each other. I wish you could’ve known my dad
better.”
“I feel like I knew him pretty well just from all the stories. He’s got a great reputation at the firehouse.”
“We were both blessed in the dad department.” Ty’s dad was actually his stepdad, though neither he nor his brothers viewed
Rick that way. According to Ty, their biological father left when Ronda was pregnant with Alex and never looked back. Years
ago he’d confessed the whole thing had left him feeling rejected. She couldn’t even imagine feeling unwanted by a parent.
“Has your mom done any baking since she got home?” Ty asked.
“That’s a random question.”
“I’m craving something sweet.”
“Lucky for you she’s got a fresh batch of brownies in the kitchen.”
“I’ll be right over.”