Summer by the Sea (10 page)

“Can we be up here?”

He chuckled as if her question was silly, but his face was affectionate. “Yes. Just be careful.” He walked her to the bow of the boat and sat, motioning for her to sit with him. She stretched her legs out in front of her and crossed them at the ankle while leaning back on her hands. The only thing between her and the ocean was a thin, silver railing. He’d been right: It was like flying. The wind in her hair, the sound of the waves and the rushing air over her ears so loud that she couldn’t get a single thought to process. Her senses were so overwhelmed by what was in front of her. When she finally managed to pull her gaze away from the incredible view in front of her, she looked over at Jake to find he was looking back at her, that smile on his lips.

“Not feeling ill anymore?” he asked loudly over the noise.

She wasn’t. It really was like magic. Right there with him, she was fine. And he’d just known how to make her okay. Faith shook her head, that affection for him swelling in her chest. What was happening? She wasn’t supposed to feel this way about a person she’d only just met. But there was no denying it.

“I’m glad,” he said. “I love sailing. No matter what happens in a day’s work, it all fades away out here.” He looked out at the ocean.

“I always wanted to go sailing as a kid. This is the first time I’ve ever been on a sailboat.” She didn’t know where this confession had come from, but, once again, she just felt able to share everything with Jake.

“Really?” He looked over at her. “I can’t say I did a lot of sailing as a kid either, but I do now. I need it. It calms me. And it gives me time to hang out with great people like Rich,” he said as she noticed the crew begin to bring the boat to a stop.

Slowly, it glided along the water, cutting through the surface until it was but a bobbing vessel in the gentle swells of the ocean. They lowered the anchor.

“You have your swimsuit underneath your clothes, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Feel like swimming?”

He stood up, and as he raised his shirt, she realized his shorts were swimming trunks. He slipped his T-shirt over his head, and she quickly turned to look out at the water, although her eyes slid back over to him as if they were under some sort of magnetic pull. Every muscle was perfectly shaped, his wide chest tapering to a fit waist. She took in the curve of his biceps, the flawless square of his shoulders, the ripple of muscle along his stomach.

“Hop up! The water is considerably refreshing when you get out this far. It’s a great escape from this North Carolina heat.”

She’d never been so glad that Casey was below deck. There was no way she wanted to stand next to her sister, wearing a bikini. She got up slowly, shimmied off her shorts and suddenly felt nervous standing in front of him in her swimsuit. It was the new one she’d bought before the trip—a black two-piece that tied at the hips. He was taking her in, and it made her feel nervous. She turned around and set the shorts down, checking under her shirt quickly to ensure that everything was where it should be. She adjusted her top. Then, there was nothing else to do but take her shirt off. As she put her shirt beside her shorts, she surveyed the deck floor. She didn’t want to look up for some reason. She was right at the edge of the boat, and he was now behind her on deck. She could see him in her peripheral vision if she turned her head just slightly.

She didn’t stand there long before there was an enormous splash, water spraying up against her skin. She spun around to find a gurgling circular spray of bubbles, and then Jake’s head popped up in the center of it.

“Come in!” He flicked water up in her direction and she dodged it. He was smiling, baiting her. “Come in or I’ll come get you,” he teased. He didn’t stop his eyes this time from moving along her body. The way he was looking at her took away any remaining self-consciousness. She felt pretty. “Stand on the edge right there,” he lifted a dripping finger toward the back corner of the boat.

Carefully, Faith stepped over the railing until she was standing precariously on the edge of the boat. “How cold is the water?” she called down to him.

He went under and back up, shaking the water from his hair. “It’s perfect.”

She debated how to jump in. Feet first? That might take her top off. Should she dive? What if she belly-flopped? That would hardly be the picture of elegance she wanted to paint. Who knew it could be so difficult just getting in the water!

“If you jump, I’ll catch you,” he called up.

His offer tempted her enough that, without thinking any further, she jumped. The water was startlingly cold as it hit her skin, her whole body sailing right under the water, but almost immediately, she felt the strong warmth of Jake’s arms around her. It took what little breath she’d stored in her lungs right away. When she surfaced, she was face to face with him, her body up next to his. They were tangled together, their arms and legs moving to keep them afloat, bumping into each other, their skin touching in all kinds of places. He still had one arm wrapped around her as he looked straight at her, barely blinking. Her wet hair had wrapped around her neck like seaweed and he reached up and slid it over her shoulder, exposing her bare neck. Her skin tingled from his touch. His eyes moved across the surface of her shoulder, up her neck, and to her face, finally meeting her eyes again. Was he going to kiss her?

“How’s the water?” she heard from behind her. Faith lurched away from Jake like a teenager caught in a compromising position. She turned around, shielding her eyes with one hand and keeping herself afloat with the other. Casey and her mom were standing at the edge, Isabella already stripping off her cover-up and unbuckling her sandals.

“It’s great!” Jake called up to them.

Faith could feel the irritation slithering around inside her. Casey had ruined the moment. Faith knew that Casey had no idea, but it didn’t do anything to ease the feeling. She watched as her sister stripped off her clothes confidently, revealing her toned body and shimmery bikini. She swung her long leg over the boat and dipped her toe in the water. “It is nice,” she said. Faith kept her eyes on her sister. She didn’t dare look at Jake. She didn’t want to see him looking at Casey the way he’d looked at her, because with Casey’s figure, he certainly would be. Faith wanted that look to be hers only. With a little hop, Casey dove into the water without a splash, her thin body gliding effortlessly below the surface. Faith finally turned to look at Jake but he, too, was underwater, swimming away from them. She couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Her mom helped Isabella put her floats on, and with some hesitancy, she jumped in. “Are there any sharks?” she asked, quickly paddling over to her mother.

“You’ve scared them away,” Jake said with a smile. He’d made his way back to them and took Isabella’s hands. Kicking his legs, he began to spin her, dragging her little body in circles like a whirlpool. She giggled uncontrollably, and, whenever he stopped, she asked him to do it again. Casey offered to take turns, and Faith had to look away so as not to allow the feelings of annoyance to return, looking at the three of them as they laughed and played together.

When they’d gotten tired of swimming, everyone settled down at the back of the boat on their towels to rest, but Faith sat at the ladder, her legs dangling down over the edge. Jake was still in the water, holding on to the handrail. She slid down a step to lower her legs down beside him.

“The water feels like bathwater now,” she said.

Jake nodded. “I’m glad you came,” he said almost a little too quickly.

“Me too.” And she meant it.

“How’s your stomach? All better?”

“Yes.” But being in close proximity to him in just a swimsuit was making it do somersaults.

He pulled his weight up using the handrail and Faith had to scoot backwards to allow him some space. He was standing on the bottom step, his arms on either side of her, looking down at her. “Hungry?” he asked.

“Actually, now that you say so, I am.”

“Let’s grab a towel and get a bite to eat then.”

The cabin was cool down below deck as Faith shivered in her towel. Without her asking, Jake took a large beach towel from the shelf and switched it out for her damp one. It was shockingly warm against her skin. As he rummaged around in the small fridge, Faith thought about how well he must know Rich. He seemed so relaxed on Rich’s boat, and Rich let him have free rein. But then again, it was typical of the relaxed way of life at the coast. She liked how quickly they had befriended Jake, but his relaxed demeanor and friendly nature made it so easy.

He put out crackers and cheese, fruit, and a small platter of assorted vegetables. It all looked delicious after swimming and being in the sun. She felt like she could eat the whole bowl of fruit herself.

“So, your mother had mentioned something about teaching,” he said, slicing the leaves off the strawberries and filling a plate. “Is that what you do for a living?”

“Yes. I teach kindergarten.”

He grinned.

“What?”

“You look like a kindergarten teacher.”

“And what does a kindergarten teacher look like? I didn’t know we were a ‘type’.”

He smiled again, bigger, if that was possible. He was quiet for a second, and, until then, she hadn’t seen him at a loss for words. Then, finally, he said, “You have a gentle way about you, you seem very patient and kind. And when you smile, I can tell you mean it.”

She smiled. She couldn’t help it.

“See? You mean it right now.” He handed her a plate with a little bit of everything on it.

She picked up a cracker and topped it with a tiny rectangle of cheese. “Well, thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Good. Because I meant it as such.”

His eyes didn’t leave her face, as if he wanted to say something else, but he’d fallen silent again. Finally, he looked away and busied himself with his own plate of food. She wondered what he’d wanted to say to her, if anything. She wanted to tell him that she thought he was just the same—kind, genuine—but she too stayed silent. They fell into an easy quiet as they ate.

They spent the rest of the day swimming and lounging on the boat until it was clear that Isabella was getting tired, and they’d all probably had enough sun. As the crew pulled up the anchor, Jake offered everyone another deliciously fluffy white towel. Her mom was helping Isabella dry off, and Casey was below deck getting them some wine. Jake walked up to Faith and rubbed the tops of her arms through the towel.

“I had fun,” he said, leaning down to say it into her ear.

“Me too,” she said, tipping her head back to make eye contact. When she did, she was too close, his lips so near to hers that she could feel his breath. He lingered there, neither of them moving, and she wanted to kiss him right then. It was surprising. She’d only just met him. But his openness made him so attractive to her that she was feeling things she wasn’t used to feeling. He smiled at her and turned her around.

“Warm enough?” he asked, clearly trying to change the subject. Was he brushing her off? It was hard to tell.

She nodded.

“Good.” Then, the moment was gone. He’d turned to talk to her mom, leaving Faith a little lightheaded. She sat down and tipped her head back. It was a good day. And, with Jake around, she couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring.

SIX

“I brought you something,” Nan said from the chair in the corner. She waved a finger at a box across the room. “Your mom carried it in for me. Do you mind bringing it over?” Faith picked up the box and took it over to Nan, setting it down with a thud in front of her.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Open it up.”

Faith pulled back the flaps of cardboard that were folded in on themselves to stay shut, and inside, she saw a massive pile of photos.

“Close your eyes,” Nan said with a smile, and Faith wondered what she had in mind, but she complied. “Now, reach in and grab one.”

With her eyes shut, Faith fumbled her way inside the box and lightly moved her fingers around until they came to rest on the smooth surface of a photo. She could tell by the feel of it that it was glossy, so it must not be too old. She pulled it out.

“Open your eyes.”

Faith looked down at the photo, and she sat there in silence for quite a while as she took in the memory of the moment that had been captured there. Nan was quiet too. Clearly, she had a reason for doing this, and she was waiting for Faith to process it.

“It’s me,” Faith said, unable to get her tangled thoughts to come out in a coherent sentence, “…and Casey. We were here. Well, at the old cottage.” They were painting seashells to make into jewelry. The photo was slightly aged, but through the fading color, she could make out that they both had had too much sun—their cheeks bright red, their hair golden blond, their eyes tired from a day on the beach. Faith was on the floor, one knee up, her shell in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. It was a typical childhood scene. But what struck her most was that Casey was sitting right next to her, leaning on her shoulder with her chin to see what she was painting. They’d been so close. She could see the love between them.

A pang of sadness shot through her. Casey hadn’t leaned on her shoulder like that in a long time. Life had come between them, and now, she could never imagine her sister leaning on her shoulder that way. She wanted to be close with Casey again. She wished things could be as simple as they were when they were kids.

“Pull out another one,” Nan said.

Faith dug around for another photo and pulled it out. When she turned it around in her hand, she smiled. It was a photo of a girl sitting cross-legged, an open book in her hands, completely obscuring her face. The only reason she knew it was her was because she could make out the title of the book. It was one of her favorite poetry books by Robert Frost.

“I know what poem I was reading,” she said through her smile.

“Which one?”

“It was called ‘Come In’ and it was my favorite. I read it so much that the cover fell off the book, and then I just read it without the cover.”