Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Marshall
W e fell into an easy routine. I woke early and went for a run on the beach. Sometimes when I returned, I'd find Saylor hunting for seashells. I'd stop and talk to her for a few minutes, then head home to start breakfast.
We'd eat on the patio by the pool where we could hear the waves and breathe in the salt air.
I swear being here had special healing qualities.
I had left the military, but it hadn't quite left me yet.
I was trying to acclimate to being a civilian again, and it was tough, especially when I didn't have a job.
I wasn't in a hurry to go back to work because I wanted this time with Hayden.
But I had to talk to the family about it soon.
If they didn't take me back, I'd have to figure something else out.
There weren't many job opportunities on the island, especially not for construction. My family had a monopoly on the business.”
Breakfast with Saylor was nice. She'd talk about whatever project she was working on, and which seashells she'd found that morning. Then she'd get to work on her computer by the pool, and I'd jump in the shower.
She started leaving her seashell finds on the table beside a book on shells, and she'd talk to Hayden about the various shells in the afternoon.
We didn't speak about the night we'd talked on the deck and fallen asleep together. I’d known the moment she’d slipped out of my hold, but I'd forced myself to pretend to be asleep. I didn't want to ask her to stay, and I knew if I opened my eyes, I would.
Hayden usually wandered into the kitchen around ten or eleven, ate, and then spent some of the afternoon talking to Saylor about graphic design.
I'd taken the cabinets apart and started to paint them. It was the least I could do since Blaire let me stay here with her granddaughter. I'd talked to Blaire about it, and she supported any changes we thought needed to be done.
While Saylor and Hayden worked at the table by the pool, I painted the cabinet doors on drop cloths in the sun. Close enough I could hear the murmur of their conversation and the occasional laugh, but not enough that I could hear what they were saying.
I was pleased that Hayden had found something she was interested in and got her out of her room.
On my way inside to clean off the brushes for the day, Saylor said, "My grandmother mentioned an opportunity for Hayden."
I paused, covering the wet brushes with a paper towel. "What is it?"
"A few of the kids are volunteering this summer at the senior center, doing various projects in and outside of the building. They need volunteer hours to graduate."
"I need volunteer hours too," Hayden said.
"Would you be interested in doing something like that?" I asked her, careful not to inject any pressure into my words. It was also an opportunity for her to meet other teens her age.
Hayden bit her lip. "Maybe."
Saylor stood and started packing her things. "My grandmother said there's a meeting this Saturday morning at the center for those who are interested."
I figured it was best to let Hayden think about it on her own, so I continued to the laundry room where there was a utility sink to rinse out the brushes.
Saylor paused in the doorway. "Hayden went to her room."
I was used to Hayden's need to hide out for a few hours, especially after being social. "I hope she decides to sign up for the volunteer work."
"I thought you should know that my grandmother created this project when you asked about Hayden meeting other kids her age."
I paused and looked at her. "She didn't have to do that."
Saylor rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding? This is her favorite thing to do, plan elaborate ways to force people to be together. Just don't tell Hayden that."
"Don't worry. I won't. I want this for her."
She moved farther into the room. "I think she'll agree to go."
I met her gaze. "As long as we don't put any pressure on her."
"Or bring it up again." Saylor smiled, and I felt connected to her.
"I can put it on the shared calendar so she can see it." I'd bought this calendar system that went on our phones and synced with a tablet on the kitchen counter. I encouraged everyone in the house to add their things to it, but so far, we didn't really have any pressing engagements.
"That's a good idea. That way she can go if she wants to. There's an art class at the community center I told her about too. I hope you're not upset that I talked to her about it before I mentioned it to you. I thought it would be better coming from me."
"I don't mind." I was pleased that Saylor had thought of Hayden.
"It's for kids interested in art and creating things on a graphic-design program. So it's perfect for her."
"That would be nice if she'd do it. She could meet people there too, and it would get her out of the house.
" That was my main goal in life, to coax my thirteen-year-old daughter out of her room.
The dream of connecting with her seemed far off in the future.
I just hoped I made some progress with her over the summer.
Because she'd be living with her mother by the end of August and the distance between us would only grow.
"Maybe she'll fall in love with the island and want to live with you."
My jaw tightened. "I try not to think about things like that. She's always lived with her mother. I'm sure that's where she'd rather stay."
Her forehead creased. "What happened between you and her mother? You couldn't make it work?"
The space in the laundry room was small, and I was tucked between the sink and the washing machine.
"Our relationship wasn't like that. When she had Hayden, I was deployed all the time or working in another location from them.
We didn't even try to maintain a relationship.
She wasn't interested in being with someone who was only around some of the time. "
"That's tough," Saylor said.
"I hope this summer means something to Hayden, and she doesn't view it as a way to torture her," I said, turning off the water.
"There's no way around that with a teenager," Saylor teased.
"This parenting gig is harder than I ever thought it would be. I regret missing so much time with her."
Saylor was quiet for a few seconds, and then she said, "Why don't you tell her that?"
I thought about it. "I'm sure I have."
"I bet you haven't. I'd make sure she knows that before she leaves at the end of the summer. There are always ways we can repair our relationships with our loved ones. We just have to take the time and the effort."
"You sound like you're speaking from experience."
"There's nothing left to repair of my relationship with Flynn, and things are fine with my parents. They worry about me since they moved to Maine but know I'll be okay."
"You're lucky you have Blaire and this house to escape to."
"I might not want to leave at the end of the summer," Saylor said breezily as she walked out of the laundry room with a smile on her face.
She'd said that flippantly, making me think she had no intention of considering that idea. Not that it mattered. We were roommates for the summer. Reconnecting with an old flame wasn't realistic.
The calendar had the senior center's volunteer meeting on the schedule for Saturday morning, and I was careful not to mention it otherwise. Hayden had to be the one who wanted to go. It was earlier than she normally woke up, so I assumed she wouldn’t get up in time to to leave.
I'd already gone for my run, showered, and made breakfast. I was sitting down to eat when Hayden's door opened, and she appeared in the kitchen already showered, wearing a T-shirt and jean shorts.
Surprised, I asked, "Do you want breakfast?"
"I'll just eat a granola bar." She grabbed one from the pantry, and I refrained from telling her that breakfast was the most important meal of the day, and she shouldn't be eating processed foods, but even I knew that made me sound annoying.
She stood at the counter, eating her bar while I ate my egg and avocado toast. When she was finished, she grabbed a bottled water and drank from it. "Can we go to that thing?"
I blinked. "What thing?"
She nodded toward the calendar. "The volunteer thing at the senior center."
"Oh, that?" I asked, glancing at the tablet where our schedule was illuminated. The only thing on there was the senior center, so I couldn't pretend I didn't know what she was talking about. "Do you want me to drive you?"
She glanced at the ticking clock hanging on the wall in the kitchen, pursing her lips. "I don't have time to walk."
I shoveled in the last of my eggs. "Let me clear my plate, and then we'll go." As I rinsed off the dish, Hayden asked, "Is Saylor going?"
"She didn't say anything about her plans for the day." She'd gone shell hunting early this morning and then disappeared into her room.
We made our way to the door when Saylor jogged downstairs. "Are you going to the senior center? Can I ride with you?"
"Of course," I said as I opened the door for them. "Did you want something to eat? I can put the eggs in a wrap for you."
Saylor smiled. "That would be great. Thank you."
I handed Saylor the truck keys and hurried into the kitchen to wrap the still-warm eggs in a tortilla. Outside, I handed Saylor the burrito and started the truck.
I didn't comment on our plans for the morning. I was afraid to do or say anything that would change Hayden's mind about going to the center. I hoped she'd meet some friends on the island, and it would lessen the frustration with being away from home.
If she had friends here, she might be more willing to visit me here too. So much was riding on this summer; it had my stomach tied up in knots.
Hayden had her earbuds in, and music playing that only she could hear. I was too tense to start up any conversation with Saylor.
I parked in the lot and walked inside, relying on Saylor to lead us to the right location.