Romancing the Storm: Second Chances (3 page)

Judah is my lifesaver. He comes by on his days off, and we head back to the lake and jump in the cool water together. He keeps my mind from going crazy with missing Blaine. However, Judah is working the next two weeks, and I become mired in missing Blaine. If I were honest with myself, I would realize I miss Judah as much as I miss Blaine.

I decide to go see Cara and find out if she or her mother has heard from Blaine or his father. It's been a month since they left, and I hadn't heard a word from them. I figured if he wrote to his aunt or cousin, he’d write to me.

"We received a letter yesterday from Blaine. You didn't?" Cara says while looking at me. Immediately my heart drops. He took the time to write to his aunt and cousin and not his girlfriend. I feel like crying.

"No," I say staring at her and biting my lower lip.

"Oh, it's probably in the mail," Cara says and rubs my arm in an attempt to make me feel better. I wear my emotions well, everyone knows how I feel at all times.

"Well, what did he say?" I ask trying to hide my extreme disappointment.

"Just that they are settling in, and it's going a little slower than they thought it would due to their location and lack of good roads to transport the equipment." I nod.

"Okay, well thanks. I'll check in later again. Have a good day Cara," I say and turn to leave before the tears fall.

I feel dejected as I walk home. I go past the school and wonder if they will hire me for the fall. I need to apply to schools outside of my area; however I hope to stay right here in Cullfield, so I haven’t applied elsewhere yet.

The mail just ran so I run up to my box, and sure enough there's a letter from Blaine. Elation washes over me as my heart beats fast and hard. I rush to the house and throw the other envelopes down as I rip into his letter. With shaky hands I read:

Hi ya Gracie,

I'm writing real fast from my mosquito net bed in the little hut my father and I call home. And believe it or not, this is one of the better places to stay. We have no electricity and ice, and cold drinks are a vague memory. Thankfully we brought in plenty of drinking water otherwise it would be bad. Forget about showers. We rely on quick spit baths using as little water as possible.

Neesha is running to the city today with parcels, so I'm trying to write to you and Aunt Pepper. Please stay cool. Remember your hot (haha) boyfriend over here in Africa while you bask in the cool of your air conditioner.

Love,

Blaine

P.S. Don't know when I'll have a chance to write again, so don't wait up for me. ;)

I reread it hoping it develops into more romance, but it doesn't. He doesn't say he misses me. And who is this Neesha? I fume over the letter. He doesn't ask me to write. He doesn't pine for me. It's as if he's throwing me a nugget of hope but then ends it the the
don't wait up for me
. I'm not sure what to think. I miss him and now I realize how much I miss Judah as well. At least he'll be back in a couple of weeks. Judah’s friendship and presence are steadfast.

My phone rings later in the night. Outside the crickets are in high song, the sound almost deafening. It’s the song of summer nights. "Hey girl, how's it going?" Judah says into the phone.

I smile. "It's going. How are you?" I’m happy he’s called.

"Oh, same ole same ole. We kicked off a little early tonight due to torrential rains in our area, but we'll be back to it before dawn in the morning. You have been swimming without me?"

"No, I don't like to swim alone. That place scares me without you there," I say. “It’s clear here.”

Judah sighs. "We'll go swimming when I return. I just wanted to hear your voice," he says. “Better batten down the hatches because this storm is headed your way a little later.”

"Oh, okay. Hey, I got a letter from Blaine today." I pace my floor.

Silence. "Really?" He does not sound enthused which is no surprise.

"Yeah, it's short and sweet," I say flatly, the disappointment evident in my voice.

"Sweet's better than sour, huh?" he says with a chuckle. I love his sense of humor.

"I guess. He didn't say he misses me. He just described his
hut
and let me read this to you. What do you think of this? It's the PS.
Don't know when I'll have a chance to write again, so don't wait up for me.
" I hold my breath waiting for his reply.

Silence again, then a sigh. "Do you want him to say move on? Is that is?" I can hear him breathing into the phone.

"I don't know. I don't get the
don't wait up for me
part," I say with a tremble if my voice. I hate how much of a baby I am about this.

"Listen, I think it's cruel of him to expect you to wait God-knows-how-long for him to return anyway..."

"But I love him, Judah. We had discussed having a future before this."

"Well, looks to me like you have a choice. Either you wait it out for however long it takes and hope to pick up the pieces once he returns, or drop it now and move on with your life. Your choice, chickie." Judah has a way of being pragmatic. I have a feeling I know what he wishes I'd do. It's not fair to him for me to cry on his shoulder about it.

"I'm sorry, Judah. For now I'm just going to wait. At least I know I'm true here," I say.

"Okay, doll. Uncle Judah is here whenever you need more advice." He chuckles and it puts a smile on my face as well.

It's almost as if he's my boyfriend. I feel a twinge in my belly at the thought followed by a massive amount of guilt at the thought of Blaine in Africa. I look down at my shaking hand as I try to calm the panic attack I feel coming on. "I am glad you called," I manage to say. I miss Judah tremendously I realize as we hang up.

Judah and I have been best friends since middle school. He lived up the road from us growing up, and he, and I always got into all sorts of shenanigans. He was more like my little brother, though. I distinctly remember when he was twelve, and he developed a big crush on me. I didn't egg it on, but we never parted company with it. Eventually, he moved on to other girlfriends, but they never lasted, and it would end up him and me every single time.

"I have another surprise for you only this one is bigger," Judah says, his brown eyes shining. He stepped inside my house as a big smile formed on his face.

"What?" I ask shaking my head.

"No, this is a surprise. You aren't set to teach until September, right?"

"Right," I say with a smile.

"Okay, so pack enough clothes for say a week."

"A week? Are we camping at the bluffs?" I ask.

"No way. Not there. Not camping. This is going to be fun, though. I don't want you moping around here wishing pretty boy would write or call. This is going to be a great adventure. You'll see," he says with a wicked grin.

"Okay then, how do I pack? Like do I need my ski boots or my bikini?" I ask while raising my eyebrows.

"Oh you'll need your bikini, baby," Judah says as he wags his eyebrows up and down.

I giggle and head to my bedroom. "For a week?" I ask again over my shoulder. He pops up behind me, encircling his arms about me. It feels so natural like this is what he’s supposed to do. He gives me a big hug and lifts me from the floor.

I squeal. “Judah!” I wiggle trying to escape. He releases me while laughing at my silly protest.

"Yes, at least. Better tell the post office to hold your mail until you come pick it up. Your bills are on auto pay, right?" He leans against the door frame watching me pack.

"Well yeah. My dad helped me set that up two years ago before he and my mother took off for Japan," I say. My parents live in Tokyo where they work for a computer industries company. My father bought this little home so I'd have a place to come to on the weekends, and I moved in once I graduated.

We load my bags onto Judah's Jeep along with his and after I stop and take care of a few last-minute errands we are off on our adventure. He grins at me as he steers the vehicle onto the highway and we head to the interstate and travel south.

"So how long will we be traveling," I ask curiously as to where we're heading.

Judah raises his eyebrows. "Put it to you this way, we will arrive at our destination tomorrow afternoon. We will stop at the half way point for the night at a quaint little bed and breakfast that I've reserved for us."

"You're not going to tell me, are you?" I ask feeling impatient.

"Just enjoy the journey would ya," he says and chuckles.

We turn full south and head down to Virginia and we keep driving through North Carolina, South Carolina, and when we roll over the border at Georgia realization strikes me. "We're heading to Florida?"

Judah just grins. "I said we'd stop for the night at the halfway point."

Eight hours after driving we slowdown in Savannah, Georgia. I nod. "Yep, we're heading to Florida. Where? Disney World? Miami?" I laugh, still no comment from Judah.

We unload and settle in for the evening in our rooms after we grab a bite to eat in downtown Savannah. "This town is beautiful," I say looking around. Giant trees with moss line the streets creating a natural archway as we travel.

"It is. I thought about stopping at Tybee Island, but then I thought that wasn't enough adventure for us. So I came up with a better plan," he says. "Besides, I have the next three weeks off, might as well take advantage and go on a cool vacation."

“Oh! Ghost tours! Let’s go on one, tonight before we go to bed,” I say as I practically jump up and down in my seat.

Judah parks the Jeep and we exit to the building. Judah’s up for the adventure even one I suggest. I giggle like a school girl as the tour guide talks about the area and the supposed ghosts that haunt it. The sun sets and its dark. I scoot closer to Judah, as I’m spooked about the tour. He smiles and grabs my hand while we walk through the path and climb the stairs to visit an old plantation home. I squeeze his hand when the tour guide talks about the recent sighting of the ghost that haunts the home. It’s times like these that I actually wonder why I hang onto Blaine as I do. Judah is an easy man to love and I do love him. I struggle with thoughts of Blaine and in staying true to him. It’s a constant battle in my mind.

We made it back to the bed and breakfast and Judah turns to me in the hall. “Gracelyn, I hope you’re not disappointed in this adventure. I promise it will get better.” He smiles down at me, his eyes warm.

"Well, you've never disappointed me, Judah," I say. I realize the words were prophetic too. Who has disappointed me more than anyone else in the world? Blaine Kendall. It's something I go to bed considering. There's an old song that says to love the one you're with instead of pining for the one that walked away.

We take off early the next morning right after a quaint breakfast of Belgian waffles and sausage links. I roll the window down to catch the briny air coming from the ocean as we drive south. I reach over and grab Judah's hand and smile at him. His eyes snap my way as I take him by surprise.

"Thank you, dear friend, for keeping me grounded. I'd be a mess if it weren't for you," I say and give his hand a squeeze before releasing it. He smiles and nods but for a split second he looks disappointed too.

We travel all day for another eight hours down the length of Florida and beyond Miami. "Just where are we going?"

Judah grins as he maneuvers the Jeep onto a road that leads to a parking lot alongside the seawall. "How about a deserted island?" Judah asks as we park.

"Deserted? Are we camping?"

"Sort of. Just wait, you'll see." He tells the Captain we've arrived, and we load up on the boat for a ride out to our very own deserted island.

The warm ocean breeze blows through my hair as we travel across the gentle waves in the Caribbean Sea toward our destination. The sun is setting in the west back toward the mainland that appears farther away. Judah comes up and puts his arm around my back. "We won't be able to see land once we arrive," he says in my ear. I squirm as gooseflesh prickles down my neck.

I turn to him and smile. "This is lovely. Thank you for bringing me here," I say and turn to watch the waves of the vast ocean. I should be on vacation with Blaine and not Judah, but yet here I am.

"There it is," the captain says and points to a small plot of land that appears in front of the boat. It looms larger as we race towards it. I shudder with excitement as we pull alongside the long dock. The captain helps Judah unload our bags and leaves us on the dock as he races back to the mainland with instructions he'll return to check on us in a week.

"Welcome home," Judah says as he opens the door to the little hut. The one room hut had a small kitchen, a wicker sofa and chair, andd a small dining table. The bedroom consists of what looks like little cubicles a couple of double beds with barely enough room to walk around the edges. The whole room is decorated with corals and greens, very rustic. Whoever owns the island built the little hut for guests. There isn't glass on the windows; they just have wooden shutters. A generator sits out of the back and runs enough electricity for the few lamps and the stove. A small refrigerator hums in the corner of the kitchen. The cupboards have enough food for a week or longer. The bathroom consists of a toilet and a tiny sink. The outdoor shower is behind the hut.

"Wow," I say as I turn around taking in my surroundings. "You did all this?"

"Honey, I wanted to have some fun adventures with you. We use to talk about running away to a deserted island, and I thought this would be fun. Did I do well?"

"You did," I say and throw my arms around his neck. It never feels uncomfortable to hug my best friend, but the hug lingers, I feel his breathing and before I turn my face to his, I step back. He clears his throat.

"Good, I just want to make you happy," he says and proceeds to unpack. I follow suit, and we happily prepare for our first night in the little hut.

"Good morning beautiful, did you sleep well?" Judah asks.

I rise in my bed, the curtain that separates us pulled back. I smile. "I guess I did. I don't remember much once my head hit the pillow. I did enjoy the constant sound of the surf. That is a great sleep aid," I say and yawn.

"Hop up and dress for exploration after breakfast," Judah says.

"Oh, we can explore the island! How big is it?" I ask.

"Not too big. We can explore the whole thing within a couple of hours. There's a small mountain in the center, waterfalls, streams, wildlife, and beautiful beaches all the way around. We're the only ones here. That's the beauty of it," he says as he proceeds to whip eggs in a bowl.

After a delicious breakfast, we head outside in the fresh air with the sound of surf booming from every side. We decide to travel to the beaches, the exterior of the island to map it. We stroll along the surf's edge with the warm sun bearing down on our head. I take a deep breath and feel all the worries of the world leave.

"We should have carried a picnic lunch," Judah says.

"So, we'll just travel for about an hour and then come back. Tomorrow we can do a picnic lunch on a deserted beach," I say as I skip along kicking the dry sand ahead of me. I can't help but feel like a little girl set free. I just want to run and play.

Judah walks into the surf and grins at me. Before I can react, he swoops down and splashes the cool water on me. I squeal and run away, but he's in pursuit. I turn and head into the surf and reach down to splash him back.

"Oh yeah?" he says and lunges at me. I try to run, but he grabs me and pulls me down, we topple into the wave as it crashes to shore going completely underwater. I giggle and try to run farther out into the water, I may as well now that I'm wet. He grabs me again, and we topple, this time swimming because the waves are coming in splashes over our heads. As fast as it swishes by the undertow pulls us out. I laugh uncontrollably at the force of the water.

"This is better than an amusement park," I say over the crashing waves.

Judah laughs. "Yes, I thought you'd like it."

He knows me so well. We eventually crawl out of the water and collapse on the warm sand to dry ourselves. Judah looks at me. "You hungry?"

"Famished," I say as I close my eyes feeling the warmth of the sun. "What's for lunch?"

"I believe there are sandwich makings at the hut. I asked for cold cuts and bread and chips. We can grill out later," Judah says as we walk along back to the hut.

After lunch, we head to the beach in front of us and enjoy another swim. It feels so good being carefree. I relax on a lounger on the beach basking in the afternoon sun. Judah hands me a drink, a tall glass of lemonade.

"Well thank you, sir," I say sitting up. "You know you're spoiling me, right?"

He beams a big smile my way. "I hope so. You deserve it."

"I don't think I do," I say as I relax back on the lounger.

He relaxes on the lounger and turns to the side, head propped on his arm and hand. "But you've done so well. You have your degree. You've been faithful. And now you're hurt too. It's not fair to you. You deserve so much better than that," Judah says.

I sigh. It's like Blaine is the elephant in the room, the bad apple in the cart. But I love Blaine, and I can't see abandoning him at this point. I question why I'm here with Judah and the fact that he makes me much happier than Blaine ever did.

"You know, we all have the life we choose to have. Right now I'm happy, and it's not a question of deserving it or not. I can't blame Blaine for what he's choosing to do right now. He's doing something good and worthwhile with his father. I can't begrudge him that," I say. Judah shakes his head and rolls overlying on his hands.