Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I stand in my living room, mouth agape, truly not understanding what Bohdi told me. I can buy the store. He’s letting me buy the store. Tears fill my eyes from excitement and fear. Fear of failing, but excitement of finally doing what I wanted to do.
My hands shake as I push Baylee’s contact. Waiting with bated breath for her to answer. It’s early, but it’s fine.
“Hello?” Her sleepy voice answers.
“You don’t have to say anything right now, but I needed to tell someone, and you’re my someone. Bohdi just showed up at the cottage and said I could buy the storefront. Bay, he said I can buy it!” I scream.
I can hear sheets ruffling with her movement, knowing she’s sitting up in her bed now. “Back up. What the hell. How’d that happen?”
“I don’t know; he literally showed up on my doorstep this morning.”
“When do you meet him?”
Sighing, “Tomorrow morning. I have to run to the city and get the money. Bay, I’m scared he’ll change his mind.”
“Listen, come get me and I’ll ride with you to go get it. No thinking negatively. Only good thoughts. Thoughts on how you’re going to decorate it, what your signature dessert will be. Oh! And the name of it!” She pierces my ears on that last sentence. Her sleepy voice no longer.
I jump up and down like a maniac. “I’m going to throw something on really quick and I’ll come get you. Bay, I’m really doing this.” A tear slides down my cheek.
“You’re really doing this.” I can hear the smile in her voice.
In minutes I have my clothes thrown on and am jogging out the door. My body is flowing with excitement. It’s a weird feeling. I haven't felt this way in so long.
The town is still asleep when I drive through it, stopping in front of Baylee’s. Texting her to let her know I’m here, I only wait a few minutes, and here she comes. Red hair swishing side to side as she walks to the car.
Falling into my passenger seat, she says, “I need coffee.”
No hello or good morning. I laugh. “I second that.”
Hitting Sippy’s, I get us two iced coffees and blueberry muffins.
The wait for the ferry doesn’t take long and soon we're on our way to the city. Baylee looks at me when I do my normal routine as soon as I get on the ferry.
I smile sadly at her. I know she will not ask me what I was doing, so I tell her.
“Since my mom died, I’ve feared the ferry and have to park with my windows down and seatbelt off. Scared if I plummet into the ocean, like here, at least I’ll be able to get out.” I take a sip of my coffee.
“Oh, August. Did you feel that way before you left, too?” I know she’s thinking back to the times I’d go with her across the ferry.
Nodding, “I did. But, Bay, it’s my own trauma. I wasn’t going to make it everyone else's, too. Also, it's why I hate confined places now. Like the elevator.” I widen my eyes, shivering at the thought of it.
“I’m sorry, August. I hate that.” Her eyes reflect that she really does.
“Maybe one day I’ll be okay. Hey, at least I still ride the ferry. How horrible would that be if I couldn’t?” I try to make a joke, but it falls short. Bay isn't thinking it’s funny.
Since I’m revealing my little secrets, I keep going. “I also haven’t been in the ocean since the night on the beach.”
Red hair flies as her head turns toward me. “Are you serious?” Her face shocked.
Furrowing my eyebrows, “Yep.”
Setting her coffee down, “You now live on the beach. Aug, that is something you need to overcome. You live at the beach!”
I laugh because it is kind of funny. Bay squints her eyes at me. Holding up my hands, “Sorry. Okay, maybe I can start trying a little at a time?”
“You loved the beach so much. In that water, you always felt free. I hate that for you, August.” Her eyes tear up.
“Don’t you dare cry.”
Wiping them hastily, she says, “It’s the damn pregnancy hormones.”
We both laugh, easing the seriousness of our conversation.
This was the first ferry ride since losing my mom that I could actually relax, and it was all thanks to Baylee.
We waste no time in the city, heading straight to the bank.
I have to go into a private room to speak to them. It’s like being interrogated for withdrawing my own money, which didn’t sit well with me.
Finally, with the cashier's check in hand, made out to Bohdi, I feel like I can’t swallow. That my throat is closing. Fright. Fright is taking over me.
I scare Bay as I jump back in the car. “Sorry,” I tell her.
I can see Bay out of the corner of my eye, watching me. “What’s wrong?” she asks.
“What if I’m making a big mistake?” I let my fear seep out.
“And if it is, oh well. At least you tried.” I look at her as she shrugs.
I hold up the cashier's check. “This is an expensive mistake.”
“We only live once. Might as well do it well.” We both laugh because this is so much money. I feel absolutely insane at this moment.
“Shit, okay.” I reverse, driving us back to the ferry. My mind is spinning.
“Get out of your damn head, August. You’re doing this.” Bay slaps my arm.
The sting shakes me out of my thought. “Owe, that hurt,” I tell her while rubbing my arm.
“Hand on the wheel. There is precious cargo in here.” Bay rubs her belly.
“My cashier's check, I know.” I widen my eyes at her, letting out an obnoxious laugh.
Bay looks out the window. “Har, Har. You’re funny. I guess you found a sense of humor while you were gone.”
“Touche.” That one was good; I have to give it to her. We both giggle.
As we're driving onto the ferry after our wait, I hear Baylee snicker before typing on her phone.
I don’t ask her what’s going on; I know she’ll tell me.
Parking the car, unbuckling and rolling down the windows, we sit in silence as I pull out my seashell, rubbing it.
I watch Bay put down her phone. “You’ll never believe…” She stops talking when she sees what I’m holding. “You still have it,” she says in disbelief.
Still rubbing the white, now shiny shell, “I couldn’t do away with it, and it’s become my own little fidget toy.” My memory flowing back like the sea to the night Bohdi proposed to me, the ring laying cocooned in this shell.
I look at her, and she’s giving me a small smile.
Changing the subject, “What won’t I believe?”
“Ha! Guess who came by the house.” Baylee’s eyes widen at me.
I mimic her. “Who?”
“Bohdi! He came by to apologize to Kai.”
I sit there, shocked, looking at Baylee, wondering what had gotten into him, because this is a total one eighty from the Bohdi who I’ve been talking to.
Baylee sits up straighter. “He must be dying, right?”
“Don’t say that, Bay!”
“That’s the only damn reason he’s letting you buy the store and apologizing to Kai. AND! He told Kai he’ll be staying at the bed-and-breakfast.” Her raised hands fall to her thighs, slapping them. “I’m confused.”
“You’re confused, I’m confused. I bet Kai is confused,” I huff out as we sit there looking at the other, not knowing what to think now.
Watching Driftwood Bay come closer, remembering the day I arrived not that long ago and the pit that was in my stomach.
Now, there is excitement sitting in it. Excitement for what’s coming and, honestly, for the unknown.
If I was to tell that August about what would happen by coming back here, she’d never believe me.
And honestly, I don’t believe myself half the time.
Driving to Seaside Manor, Baylee invites me in to eat Chinese food with her and Kai, who’s already waiting with it. My stomach grumbles, letting me know, yes, we want to eat Chinese food. And I can take a shower before I leave; two birds, one stone.
Baylee was smart and let me leave fresh clothes here along with other stuff I’d need.
Kai is already sitting in the living room, takeout containers placed all around the table. I saddle up to the table, sitting on the floor in front of them, so I can see and talk to them.
We all start eating, the sweet-and-sour sauce coating my mouth as I take a bite of my chicken egg roll. “Mmm,” I moan with approval, remembering how much I loved Chang’s Gourmet.
I watch as Kai drops his chopsticks into his box, setting it on the table. “So, what the fuck do we think is going on? This is truly stressing me out. Did they break up and he’s seeing his ways?” Kai’s face is confused, his green eyes jumping from me to Baylee.
Swallowing my bite, I say, “I don’t know.
I don’t know who Bohdi is anymore, so I can’t voice anything.
” Because I don’t. I knew the Bohdi that was twenty-three when I left.
I don't know the thirty-one-year-old who is Bodhi now.
I tell them before taking a sip of my Diet Coke, the cold can clutched in my fingers, leaving them damp when I set it back down.
“Something has to be up.” Baylee fixes herself on the sofa. “You’re meeting him tomorrow; maybe you can get some insight.”
I slap the table, stinging my palm. “No. Absolutely not. I want to give him the cashier’s check and sign the papers. That’s it, that’s all.” Because what’s going on with Bohdi isn’t my worry anymore.
Her head whips to Kai. “Maybe you can go with her tomorrow.”
“That’s weird, Bay,” he tells her.
“No, it isn’t. You’re her contractor; you need to see what has to be fixed and updated. So, it’s not weird. You’re doing it.” She glares at him.
I choke on the fried rice in my mouth, seeing her look at him like that. Because it’s anything but menacing.
“Red. Come on now.” He looks at Bay.
“You help us, I help you,” she singsongs, and I don’t need the context; I already know.
“You don’t play fair; you know that, right?” Kai stands. “Want a beer, August?”
“That’s perfect, thanks.” I smile at him. “Bay, really.” I laugh at her.
“There is something going on, and we have to find out what. And if I have to withhold sex from him as a threat, so be it.” She says before diving into her beef and broccoli.
“Evil woman.”
She lets out a fake evil laugh, and we both die.
The shower is so inviting; I miss having my own I can jump into whenever I want. You never know what you have until it’s gone.
Washing my hair, the hot water pounds on my back, easing the tension that’s crawling through it.