3. Chapter Three
Chapter 3
Linda put her feet up on the lowest bar of the railing and scooted lower in her chair. Sorcha was still asleep, and by Linda’s reasoning, would be for a couple of hours. They had partied it up the night before, but while Linda had switched to nonalcoholic beverages once they got to Crabbie’s, one of their favorite local dive bars two blocks from the beach, Sorcha had carried on and was drunk with a capital “D” by the time they got home.
A loud squawk caught Linda’s attention, and she looked up, watching the lift and dive of two large birds who appeared to be hunting for their breakfast.
Ruckus over, Linda turned back to the paperback novel in her hand. Her favorite thing to do in the morning was to read on the balcony while she watched the early morning shell seekers on the beach.
She loved to stroll to the beach and walk for miles, kicking the sand and looking for unique shells. It made her feel like a kid again. Carefree, safe, curious, and on an adventure. All those wonderful things that are lost with growing up.
As a kid, she and her twin sister, Laurel, would compete to see who could find the prettiest shells. Her whole life was a competition with her twin. Laurel had been born three minutes earlier than Linda and never let her forget who was older.
Or more driven.
Or more outgoing.
It was challenging playing second fiddle to her identical twin. At least there was no question who was prettier. That was a clear tie.
Laurel had even followed in the footsteps of their parents and become an educator, which sometimes made Linda feel like an outsider in her own family.
That was okay. Linda took her outsider role seriously. She loved forging her own path, standing out in her own way. Whether that was working in a company of two people versus an organization with hundreds or wearing unusual and vintage clothes, sshe was happy being her own person.
She turned the page and heard the unmistakable sound of a balcony door sliding open. She turned, thinking maybe Sorcha had fallen out of bed and was making her way outside. Instead, movement on the balcony next door caught her attention.
A moment later, two large coffee mugs advanced onto the balcony, followed by the muscular arms of the man next door. Mason.
There was no time to make an escape inside. Shoot! I’m stuck!
Looking at the two mugs in his hands, she wondered if he had a visitor. If another woman walked out onto the balcony behind Mason, Linda would book a flight home with Sorcha on Sunday and forgo the two additional weeks of planned “vacation”.
Unable to look away, Linda blushed when Mason’s eyes met hers. He smiled, that twisted half smile of his that always took her breath away. Strange that he still had that effect on her after all this time.
“Good morning, Lindy!” he called.
She groaned inwardly. She hoped Sorcha wouldn’t hear the nickname and pick it up. “Morning.”
“I brought you a cappuccino.” Linda was stunned as he advanced towards her. There was a two-foot gap between their balconies. Mason had been brave enough to climb across it once when they were sixteen, but decided as he grew older that it was a silly stunt, four floors above the concrete sidewalk below. Too far to climb safely but not too far to hand something over.
“Really?” She stood and advanced towards him. She could take his coffee. She could pretend that the last time they’d seen each other he hadn’t broken her heart.
“Yes. I talked Dad into getting one of those fancy coffee stations. It’s a work of art. I need to get a few more supplies at the grocery store and I can make whatever fancy drink you desire. For today, I started with a regular cappuccino with a light foam, dusted with cinnamon sugar.”
“Sounds divine. Thank you.” She took the offered mug and leaned against the wall as she took a sip. “Yum. Delicious.”
“Thank you!” He lifted his mug in a “cheers”-type salute and took a drink.
Linda studied him as he turned towards the water. He was more muscular than he’d been in college. He must have put on twenty pounds, all muscle. Sorcha wasn’t kidding when she said he had a muscular physique. She was right, he is hot. No wonder Sorcha went on and on about him.
His hair was shorter. He’d begun wearing it past his shoulders in college, but now it was trimmed. The front was longer, and she imagined he probably kept it slicked back with a little gel. This morning, it was loose and being tossed with the breeze. She imagined running her hand through his hair and shook her head. It was not smart to let her mind wander there.
Keep it together! You will not fall for him again. You’re not! Third time is never the charm, no matter what they say. I’m not. Falling. For him. Ever again! Wait, is that a Taylor Swift song? Sip your coffee. Act normal. Whatever that is.
Thirty seconds ticked by, and neither of them spoke. Linda studied his profile, searching for other changes in attitude or appearance. He seemed calmer. No longer a boy, but a man, comfortable and confident. She noticed a few fine lines around his eyes. A man who smiled a lot. She imagined he used that wonderful smile to cheer up his patients.
She’d known he’d be an excellent nurse. He was caring and charming. While his dad and sister were in an uproar when he’d pursued nursing instead of pre-med, Linda felt nursing fit him better and was proud when he’d bucked his dad’s expectations.
She remembered countless nights studying with him, discussing their futures, their careers, their dreams and fears. They’d been such great friends, and when they tried the relationship thing for the second time in college, she’d felt it was the right time.
At twenty-two, she’d thought they were mature enough to finally commit to one another. They’d tried dating when they were sixteen, but quickly found they were too young and immature. Besides, they were always around their families, and the teasing from both sides ended up pushing them apart.
They’d entered college as friends, close friends, and Linda had been content with that. But when Mason’s mom got sick, he needed Linda in a new way. She’d been there when he needed a shoulder to cry on when his mom took a turn for the worse. Several times.
“Well—” He finally broke the silence and turned towards her. “I hope we have time to catch up. How long are you staying for?”
“Two more weeks.” Shoot! Now that I’ve said it, I can’t leave early. At least a woman hadn’t followed him out. He’d obviously made the coffee for her. “Did you see me out here?” Dumb question. He must have. He’d brought out two mugs.
“Yes.” He nodded. “I met your friend yesterday and figured out you were here. This morning when I got up, I peeked out and saw you sitting here. Is your friend up?”
Linda sat back down and took another sip of the hot drink. “No, she won’t be for a while.”
“Late night?” Mason sat in the seat closest to her balcony so they wouldn't have to shout.
“Yes. Most of them are when Sorcha’s around. My liver will appreciate it when she heads home on Sunday.”
This was normal conversation. They could be friendly. Maybe he didn’t remember the last time they’d spoken like she did. Maybe it was a bad memory he’d left in Illinois when he’d made his escape.
Mason turned towards her and laughed. “Yikes. I bet you two have been breaking hearts all around Seaside Bay.”
Linda smiled but didn’t answer. She didn’t owe him any answers about dating. She ran through and quickly dismissed several topics—his family’s health and news. She heard about that from her mom. The weather, too mundane; her career, too boring.
Mason didn’t wait for her. “Wow. I can’t believe we’re here at the same time. It’s been almost six years. Can you believe how fast it’s gone by?”
“Six years in May,” she responded.
“Right. Feels like yesterday.”
“Really? I don’t think so. It feels like a lifetime ago to me.”
He nodded and took a sip from his mug. If it felt like yesterday to him, maybe he did remember the last time they were together. When she had embarrassed herself thoroughly, thinking they were ready to commit. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the chair cushion. She really wished she was leaving on Sunday.
Mason was feeling unmoored. He thought the ten hours of sleep he’d gotten would have given him a clear head and the ability to talk to Linda without it getting weird. He’d been very wrong.
She was acting civil enough, but he could tell the walls were there. Her smile didn’t reach her eyes, and she spoke more softly than he remembered. Had it been a mistake approaching her this morning? Maybe he should have waited for her to approach him, if she wanted to.
But he couldn’t. He’d been yearning to mend their friendship for years. And, if he was honest with himself, he’d dreamed of renewing their romantic relationship over the years, too.
He didn’t think she was seeing anyone; he would have heard about it from his sister Erin if she was. Erin and Linda’s sister, Laurel, were best friends and talked constantly. Erin usually told him when anyone in the Brees family had a cold, and he’d heard frequently about Laurel’s wedding plans. She was getting married in June. He was told his invitation had arrived at his dad’s home last month.
He wondered how Linda was feeling about Laurel’s wedding. He hoped he’d have time to talk to her about it.
He cleared his throat. “What do you ladies have planned for today?”
“Well, it’s Sorcha’s last day and night here. If she’s feeling like it when she gets up, we plan to drive to Clearwater for the day. See a different beach. She has an early flight and wants to pack before we go to dinner and go out.”
“If she’s flying in the morning,” he said, “I recommend taking it easy on the drinking tonight.”
“Yes, Nurse Mason,” Linda answered dryly.
“Yeah, I deserve that. It’s hard to step away from the job.”
“Do you still like it?” Her voice was soft and hesitant.
“Love it.”
“That’s good.” She looked down at the coffee cup in her hand.
He looked out at the water, and his eyes followed a boat on the horizon, traveling south. He wondered if they were sightseeing, or fishing, or doing something else.
It was good that he loved his job. It wasn’t good that the constant uprooting and moving on were getting old. He thought more and more that it was time to unpack for good. Maybe buy a TV or get a pet.
“It is and it isn’t,” he finally responded. “I still love nursing, but I think it might be time to find a permanent position. Living out of a couple of suitcases no longer holds the appeal that it once did.”
“I guess you’ve traveled a lot.”
“I’ll have to show you the printout that I carry. I’ve highlighted every city and state that I’ve lived in. It’s an impressive map.”
“I bet it is.” Her voice was sad, and he had to strain to hear her over the sound of the surf.
Her head turned away from him. He appreciated the opportunity to gaze at her without her pretty, light blue eyes studying him. She was in a pale pink T-shirt and pink plaid pajama pants. They were a nice compliment to her bright pink hair that was pulled up in a messy bun.
She still took his breath away. Blond hair, purple hair, green hair, or pink hair, it wouldn’t matter to him. She had been his first crush at twelve, and though the feelings had escalated and deescalated like a roller coaster over the years, a smile from her would still send his heart rate into overdrive. He hoped to see a genuine smile from her, preferably one he’d caused, soon.
Seeing her with bright pink hair didn’t surprise him. She’d been experimenting with hair and makeup and clothes since she was fifteen. He always wondered if it derived from being an identical twin.
He admired her bold, creative personality. Erin told him that Linda’s vivid hair color was driving Laurel crazy. She hated that they’d become the “wild twin” and the “conservative twin”.
Linda always strove to be her own person and set herself apart from Laurel. He and Linda had spent hours over many nights complaining about their older sisters. His by two years, Linda’s by a few minutes. Normal sibling rivalry stuff.
Ever since he’d learned that Linda was here, he’d played potential scenarios in his head. How would he approach her? Would he need to apologize right away? Should he act like the last six years were weeks, not years? So many potential outcomes, and no way to know how Linda would react to seeing him.
So far, things seemed all right. She hadn’t left immediately, and she was drinking his coffee. Good signs. But she seemed reserved, distant.
He was sure it was because of how he’d left things six years ago, and he never had figured out a way to approach her again. He didn’t deserve her friendship again yet, but he hoped he could show her he’d changed, matured. Perhaps they could find a way forward that wouldn’t be awkward.
“Sounds like Sorcha’s moving around,” she said, turning back to him. She drank from the cup again, tilting her head back. He watched her swallow and admired her long neck. “I’d better get in there and see if she needs some aspirin.”
She reached across the gap between their balconies to hand him the mug.
“Tylenol,” he said.
She smirked. “Yes, Nurse Mason.”
“Enjoy your day,” he said. “Maybe we can go to dinner after your friend leaves, then we could catch up.”
A cloud seemed to roll across her face. He could tell the suggestion made her uncomfortable.
“Yeah, sure,” she said, but the shrug of her shoulders told him she wasn’t excited about the prospect.