Chapter 24
Lindsey
Of all days to feel sick, why today?
Because now I can't hide behind routine. Everything feels brighter, louder, harder to fake, and I'm running out of ways to pretend this is manageable.
The girls are happy. Dani is talking a mile a minute, and Madi is taking photos and videos nonstop. She has me take pictures of her behind the wheel of the golf cart with no one else on board. Then some with Dani beside her and her uncle in the backseat, looking far too handsome.
I'm behind the wheel of the fancy cart, and we're on our way to explore the beautiful island.
The older lady, Rayna, mentioned a small grocery and shops and the girls immediately wanted to go, so we head that way first.
My stomach is rolling and pitching like a storm-tossed sea as I follow the signs and find a parking spot beneath one of the large trees sprawling its limbs upward and out like open arms.
The girls hop out, Dani chattering nonstop about what the store might have inside. I grab my backpack but look at the stuff we brought with us now stored in the rear compartment of the cart. "You know what? I'll stay here. Keep an eye on things."
And maybe use that tree trunk to brace myself as I hurl.
"It'll be fine. There's nothing all that valuable, and if they need it that badly, they can have it," Kace says. "Just make sure you have your wallets and phones and ear buds. Things like that."
"I do," Madi says quickly.
"I don't have anything," Dani says in a disgruntled voice.
Kace chuckles and tugs at her ponytail. "You have me, birthday girl. That's all you need today."
My heart squeezes at his words, but it's the look of sheer longing on Madi's face that really gets me. That poor girl craves love. Security. But don't we all?
"Come on, let's go see what's inside," Kace says.
I swallow back the nausea, sucking up all the air around me, and fall into step beside Kace. The AC feels glorious, and I take a second to let it coat my skin, hoping against hope it'll also help my ickiness.
Dani immediately zeros in on the kid section with candy and toys. The three of them head in that direction while I move toward a frozen-food case. I sneak a look around before opening the door, holding my breath against whatever scents I might find but basking in the ice-cold goodness from within.
I feel marginally better in seconds, but I don't allow myself to linger too long. From there I wander, allowing Kace to spend time with his girls while reminding myself that I am, technically, the hired help. Friend or not.
I move through the little store, never really all that far from them. Usually able to hear them and Dani's desire to buy all the stuffies and all the candy and all the things.
Kace reins her in and tells her to take a good look. She can pick two candies, a drink, one toy from the beach items and one keepsake. Madi sees me watching and listening and moves toward me.
"Hey, you okay? You look a little green."
"Again? Maybe I'm turning into Fiona," I say, referencing last night's Shrek-fest.
Madi smiles as I intended, but she still looks concerned.
"I'm good. Same ick, different day," I tell her, waving a dismissive hand between us. "What do you think Dani will pick? What are you going to pick?"
"I'm good. I got the Vespa," the girl says.
I link my arm in hers and pull her over to a display of shells and postcards and mugs. But beyond that, I spy Madi's name on a display of sparkling, fancy key rings. "Oooh. These are pretty. Come look."
I tug the girl with me as I approach the display and quickly grab the last Madison keyring.
It's silver metal with a slim wallet, wristlet and a lanyard made from rose-gold glittered material.
Dangling from the silver rings is an assortment of charms and gems in the colors Madison loves so much.
"Mermaid, sand dollar, dolphin, sandcastle, seashells.
What do you think? My treat," I quickly add when I see her glance at the price tag.
Mads has been working steadily at the bookstore, but I know she's saving up. She hasn't said for what, only that she should probably save her money.
"My treat," Kace's deep voice says from behind us.
I'm not sure how he managed to sneak up on us on those crutches, but he has, and the look in his gaze creates a different kind of flutter in my stomach. With a single glance at me, I feel his gratefulness at offering to buy Madi a treat, even if he won't allow it.
"Mads, you have to get it. It's perfect for your new ride," he says. "And a memento from our day today."
Madi points to the price tag. "It's a lot for a key ring, though. And you got me the Vespa. And the helmet," she says to me.
"Give me that," Kace says, plucking it from my fingers.
Madison looks between us, her expression ranging from cautious hope to excitement.
"Really? I can have it?"
Kace shifts closer to his niece and drops a kiss atop her head. "Your new ride needs a special key ring, don't you think?"
My heart tugs when I see Madison look up at her uncle, happiness and love shining in her sparkling eyes before she seems to catch herself and draw it back in.
"Thanks. I do really like it. It's perfect."
"And what about you?" Kace asks me. "What do you want to get to remember our trip?"
I press a hand to my belly and manage a weak smile as it rolls and I get a bit lightheaded. "Antacids."
Madi and Kace laugh, but I'm already heading to get the biggest bottle I can find…
An hour later, we leave Old Baldy, the lighthouse, and head to East Beach to watch the surfers and boogie boarders. When questioned, Dani stated her desire to build sandcastles over swimming, much to Kace's relief, but that she liked to see the surfers riding the waves.
I drive us where directed, every breath, every bounce of the cart, jarring my tumultuous insides.
We make more than a few stops along the maritime pathways, getting off and wandering down the wooden planks to take in the views and reading the facts on display about the island's inhabitants and plants.
Dani yells for me to stop again, and this time I urge them to go without me, just so I could take a moment to hurl over the railing. How sad is it that I'm so used to hurling now I just do it and move on?
By the time they come back, I'm sitting in the cart, sipping water and munching on more antacids.
"You okay?" Kace asks with a look of concern as he climbs into the passenger seat.
"All good," I say with way more enthusiasm than I feel.
"The beach is just up ahead. Barring any more stops from the peanut gallery," he says with a head tilt toward his daughter, "we'll be there soon."
"This is so much fun!" Dani says from the back of the golf cart.
"Best birthday present ever?" Madi asks.
"Yes!" Dani screams, and we laugh as birds take flight.
I get us going again, and this time Dani just takes it all in as we travel along. After a few minutes though… "Madi, you want to drive?" I ask, my head really beginning to whirl.
I sense Kace looking at me with a frown, but I force a smile. "I know she doesn't have her license yet, but she'll go slow and steady and do everything you say. Right, Madi?"
"Yes, I promise."
I avoid Kace's worried gaze as the teen jumps out of the cart and waits patiently while I unsteadily climb out from behind the wheel.
I keep a firm grip on the golf cart as I move the few steps to get into the back, grateful Madi and I were sitting on the same side and I don't have to walk around.
My heart is racing, and I feel shaky all over.
I catch Kace repeatedly checking on me after I settle in, but I ignore him and focus on not hurling or passing out and ruining Dani's birthday trip.
Because who wants to be the party-pooper? Not this girl.
Still, if I don't get horizontal fast, Bald Head Island is about to witness a whole lot more than a birthday outing gone sideways.