Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
W illa was climbing back onto the swim platform as Harper, Mitch, Frankie, Lucas, and the dogs arrived on the small beach. Harper led Archie into the water and everyone followed.
Willa pulled the snorkel mask off the top of her head and looked at them slogging toward her. “Are we going to eat now? Because I’m starving.”
Harper nodded. “Definitely. First, we need to dry the dogs off so they don’t shake water all over everything.”
“On it,” Willa said. She dug into Harper’s bag and got Archie’s towel out, then helped get the dogs back onto the boat. She immediately went to work drying Archie off with his towel. “Scout, you’re next.”
“Thanks,” Harper said. “You’re like the big sister Archie never knew he needed.”
Willa laughed. “Anything to speed up lunch.”
“I hear that,” Frankie said. “My stomach is rumbling. How was the snorkeling?” She’d taken a towel from Lucas and started drying Scout.
“It was so cool. I found a pair of sunglasses and a key.”
“What?” Frankie laughed. “All we found was old bricks.”
Mitch nodded. “Doesn’t surprise me that you found stuff. This is a popular island to visit. I’m sure all kinds of things get lost out here.”
“The sunglasses are in pretty good shape,” Willa said. “And they’re Maui Jims, which I think is a moderately expensive brand. The key looks sort of generic. Maybe it’s old. I don’t know. I might put it on a necklace.”
Mitch called to Lucas. “Help me bring the food and drinks up?”
“Right behind you,” Lucas said.
As Lucas and Mitch went into the cabin, Harper took the towel from Willa. “I’ll finish drying him off. Show me the key.”
Willa went over to the padded bench where her stuff was. She came back with the sunglasses and the key. The sunglasses were in surprisingly good shape. The lenses weren’t even scratched. The key was far more interesting. It was an old skeleton type, weathered and patinaed with age and time in the water. The top looked like an ornate clover with three leaves.
“That is really neat,” Harper said. “I wonder if there’s any way to find out how old it really is.”
Frankie came over to see it. “It probably opens the treasure chest that holds the gold and diamonds.”
Willa’s brow furrowed. “There’s gold and diamonds?”
Harper laughed. “Your mom is teasing you. Mitch told us a made-up story about there being treasure on the island.”
“Oh.” Willa shrugged one shoulder but didn’t seem disappointed. “Well, I think it’s cool, so that’s all that matters. And it’s a nice souvenir of the day.”
Lucas and Mitch came back onto the main deck. Lucas had a tub filled with ice and drinks, Mitch had the soft-sided cooler with the food. He set the cooler down and started moving cushions. “I’m going to set up the main table so we can eat like proper humans.”
“Now you sound like Joyce,” Harper said. He’d really gotten into the whole boating adventure, and she was glad. It seemed like whatever concerns he’d had about doing this were no longer an issue. Maybe that was why he was throwing himself into the role of host. To keep himself distracted.
Whatever the reason, he was giving them a wonderful day.
She kissed Archie on the nose. “There you go, baby dog. Dry enough. The sun will do the rest.”
She went over to help. The table was already set up. “What can I do?”
Lucas opened his cooler. “I think we should just get everything out and let people fill their plates.”
“That works. I’ll grab the plates, utensils, and napkins. What do we have for drinks?”
Mitch gestured toward the tub. “Water, flavored and unflavored, cans of soda, and bottles of iced tea. What does everyone want?”
“Water,” Frankie said as she let Scout go. “I need to rehydrate.”
“Same,” Harper said.
“I want a Coke,” Willa called out.
The table was a pretty good size, but once it was covered with food, it didn’t seem nearly big enough. Thankfully, it was in the shade, as was the seating. It was nice to be out of the sun for a bit.
They all settled in, except for Mitch, who filled his plate and sat in the captain’s chair, which he’d turned around to face them.
They went quiet, too busy eating to talk much. After a few minutes, the most insidious hunger pangs had been assuaged, and conversation resumed.
“What is it about being out in the sun and near water that makes everything taste so good?” Harper took another bite of her chicken salad sandwich but was already eyeing up the ginger shrimp salad Lucas had brought. She was definitely having some of that and his fruit salad.
“It’s a special kind of magic,” Mitch said, going for a big forkful of the ginger shrimp. “Thanks for adding to the meal, Lucas.”
“My pleasure,” Lucas said. “And the least I could do in exchange for the invite. Really appreciate it, man.”
“No problem. Happy to have you along,” Mitch said.
Lucas scooped more fruit salad onto his plate. “You ever play racquetball at the community center?”
“Not in a long time. You?”
“Once in a while. We should play a game. See if the old bones can still move.”
Mitch snorted. “I’m afraid to find out. But it’s not a bad idea. I try to get out for a run four or five days a week, but a game of racquetball now and then might be good.”
Harper smiled as she ate. It was nice to see Mitch putting himself out there. Even nicer of Lucas to ask. He probably had no idea how much Mitch needed a friend.
“I’m holding you to that,” Lucas said. “Give me a day next week and we’ll make it happen.”
“Um…” Mitch shrugged. “Tuesday maybe?”
“You have a racquet?”
Mitch nodded.
“Then I’m reserving a court. Early. Eight or nine. You good with that?”
Mitch laughed softly. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I. Yeah, I’m good with that.”
Harper kept quiet and ate, but it warmed her heart to see the interaction between the two men. Mitch was a good guy and despite doing his best to retreat from the world, having a buddy could be really good for him.
Arlington had probably filled that role for him. But since Arlington’s passing, she doubted Mitch had found another friend of that caliber. Or any friend, really.
He’d been too busy grieving Jeanie and Arlington. Now, however, he seemed to be doing all right back in the land of the living.
She could not have been happier for him.
He got off the captain’s chair and set his mostly empty plate aside. “I’m going to grab another drink. Anyone else want anything?”
“Any diet soda in there?” Frankie asked.
“Yep.” Mitch dug into the ice. “One Diet Coke, coming up.”
Willa lifted her hand. “Another regular Coke, please.”
“You got it.” He pointed at Harper. “Another water? Or something else?”
“Water’s good.” She smiled. “Thanks.”
“Lucas?”
“I’m all right.”
Mitch got Harper a water, then passed the other drinks out.
Willa looked around the table. “What’s for dessert?”
“There’s the fruit salad Lucas made,” Frankie offered.
Mitch opened up the first cooler. “Also, we have oatmeal raspberry bars and chocolate chip toffee cookies.”
“Made by Joyce?” Willa asked.
“Who else?” Smiling, Mitch put the cookies and bars on the table. He looked at Lucas. “Considering the fact that Joyce’s sister, who is apparently a better baker than she is, will be here in a day or so, that racquetball game can’t come at a better time. I’m going to need a way to burn off all the extra food they’ll be making.”
Lucas nodded. “I heard. I really want to get the two of them on an episode of my show. You think they’d go for it?”
Mitch laughed. “Oh, I’m sure. But if Joyce gets famous and I lose her to the Big Time, you and I will have a serious problem.”
Willa unwrapped an oatmeal bar. “I could totally see Joyce going viral.”
Lucas held his hands up. “Hey, now. I can’t be held responsible if that happens.”
Mitch clapped Lucas on the back. “Wouldn’t that be something?”
Harper just smiled and watched and reveled in the friendly banter and good spirits. Could she really leave all of this to return to California?
The answer wasn’t that simple. Her clients were in California. But more and more, her heart and head wanted to be here.