Wait for the Rain (27 page)

“It’s lovely to meet you, dear.” Eleanor seemed distracted, but she took Skylar’s hand in hers. “Is this your first visit to St. Mirika?”

Skylar nodded. “It’s also my first tropical vacation with my best girlfriends in tow, so it’s been my favorite.”

“Yesterday was Daphne’s birthday,” KC said.

Harry smiled at Daphne. “Happy belated birthday, kiddo. You don’t look a day over twenty-five to me.”

“Thank you, Harry. Are yo
u . . .
feeling all right?” She didn’t mean to pry, but she couldn’t pretend she hadn’t noticed his condition.

“I’ve been better,” he said.

“What have you darlings been up to since we met you?” Eleanor asked.

Skylar pointed at KC. “That one got herself stung by a jellyfish.”

Harry chuckled. “Is that so?”

KC frowned. “Little sucker got me pretty bad.”

“She ended up in the hospital,” Daphne said. “It turns out she’s allergic.”

“First beets, and now jellyfish. Who knew?” KC said.

Eleanor interlaced her arm with Harry’s. “Big H here was in the hospital earlier today too.”

Daphne and her friends all looked at him, his pallid tone suddenly taking on more significance. “Oh my gosh. Are you okay?” Daphne asked.

He smiled and shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. It’s my ticker.”

“He’s on his second,” Eleanor said, the shadow in her eyes growing a bit darker.

Wide-eyed, Daphne asked, “You had a heart transplant?”

Harry nodded. “We were hopeful this one would stick, but it doesn’t look like that’s in the cards.”

“We’re not giving up, though,” Eleanor said. “I’m never giving up.”

“She’s more optimistic than I am,” Harry said. “Always has been, that’s one of the reasons I love her.”

“I’m so sorry,” Daphne whispered.

A hush enveloped the group. Daphne was too stunned to say anything else, and Skylar and KC were equally taken aback.
Harry’s dying?

Eleanor stroked Harry’s cheek with her hand, then turned toward Daphne and her friends. “Thanks, love. If there’s one thing I’d tell young people like you three dolls, it’s just enjoy every day while you can, especially every
birthday
, and don’t waste time fussing over things that don’t mean squat.”

Harry took Eleanor’s hand and kissed it. “Well said, my love. Enjoy the party while you can still dance, that’s my motto.”

Daphne stared at the wise couple standing before her.
He’s really dying?

Eleanor wrapped her arm tightly around her husband’s, then carefully looked at the three friends, giving them each a warm smile as she did so. “We’d better get back to the house. It was such a pleasure running into you again. Happy belated birthday, Daphne! Enjoy the continued celebration, and be sure to soak up every minute you have left here, promise?”

Daphne, KC, and Skylar all nodded like schoolchildren. They knew Eleanor was no longer talking about St. Mirika.

Harry gave them a wave as he and Eleanor slowly ambled away. “Have a drink for me to toast this glorious sunset.”

“I can’t believe he’s that sick,” KC said on the slow walk back to the beach house. “When we met on the beach the other day, he was s
o . . .
sprightly
.”

“He still is, at least on the inside,” Skylar said. “He knows what’s important in life. They both do.”

“I want to be like that when I’m that age,” Daphne said. “Actually, what am I saying? I want to be like that
now
.”

“We should all be like that,” Skylar said.

KC pinched both their waists. “Does that mean you’re up for a workout tomorrow morning? You know what they say—a healthy body makes for a healthy soul. I should probably take it easy, however.”

“Maybe. It depends on how late I stay up tonight,” Daphne said.

Skylar looked at her. “You have plans we don’t know about?”

Daphne bit her lip. “Maybe.”

Skylar narrowed her eyes. “Would these
plans
involve a certain Clay Handsome?”

Daphne smiled slightly. “I was thinking it was best to close that book, but seeing Harry like that just now is kind of making me look at things in a different way. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a terrible thing if I ran into Clay one last time, right?”

“Of course it wouldn’t be,” Skylar said.

“Definitely not,” KC said.

“You think we should stop by the Castaway later?” Daphne asked them. “Just to check it out? He might not even be there, though.”

“But he
might
be,” Skylar said. “I say it’s worth a flyby.”

KC pretended to maneuver the controls of an airplane. “I don’t think I have another wild night in me, but I’m happy to play wingman.”

Daphne blushed. “I haven’t heard the term
wingman
in a long time.”

Skylar put a hand on Daphne’s shoulder. “I never thought I’d say this to
you
, but maybe it’s time you refreshed your vocabulary. Now, let’s go get some dinner. I’m starving.”

Chapter Twelve

That evening they had just left the restaurant and were strolling down the sidewalk on Main Street when Skylar froze in her tracks.

“What is it?” Daphne asked, coming to a halt beside her.

“It’s my phone. Damn it.” Skylar reached into her purse and fished out the vibrating device, then frowned at the text message on the screen. “I knew it.”

“Another work emergency?” KC said.

Skylar began walking again. “Yes. I’m sorry, ladies. No Castaway for me tonight. I need to go back to the house for an important call.”

“Does it ever stop?” Daphne asked. At the beginning of the week she’d assumed the endless conference calls were related to one particular emergency that needed attention, but now she realized Skylar’s job required her to hop continuously from one crisis to the next, with no end in sight and the weight—and heat—of each fire resting firmly on her shoulders.

Skylar tossed the phone back into her purse. “I don’t
think
it used to be this bad, but I might just be saying that. I’m so used to it now that I don’t realize how all-consuming it is until I’m around people who live relatively normal lives.”

“You have spent a lot of this week on the phone,” KC said.

Skylar sighed. “I know. I love my job and the lifestyle it allows me to lead, but in moments like this, when I’m supposed to be on
vacation
, I can’t help but ask myself if I’ve traded too much in return. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s kind of true.”

“How would you change things if you could?” Daphne asked.

Skylar hesitated for a moment before responding.

“I don’t know exactly,” she finally said. “I’ve had an amazing career, but I’ve never been in a committed, serious relationship. Not that it’s ever been something I’ve really coveted, but meeting Eleanor and Harry tonight made me wonder if one day I’m going to regret that, if when I’m their age, I’m going to wish I had someone by my side until the very end, you know?”

Daphne and KC nodded, sensing Skylar wasn’t done.

She continued. “I don’t necessarily think that having a demanding job and a serious relationship are mutually exclusive, but sometimes I can’t help but think that maybe in my case they are, if somehow I’ve stopped myself from finding the right man without even realizing it. Not that my goal has ever been to get married, but I guess on some base level we all want to love someon
e . . .
and feel loved in return, right?”

Daphne looked at Skylar, her fair skin slightly sun-kissed, her auburn locks flowing down her back, not a strand out of place. Dressed in a silky turquoise halter top and flowy island-chic white pants, she was the picture of success, yet this was the first time Daphne had ever heard her express an ounce of misgiving over the price she’d paid for it.
No one’s life is perfect. Not even Skylar’s.
Before she realized what she was doing, she walked over to Skylar and hugged her tight.

“Whoa, are you okay?” Skylar asked. “Where is this coming from?”

“I would never unsubscribe from you,” Daphne said. “I just think it’s about time I told you that.”

When they reached the Castaway, Skylar bade Daphne and KC good-bye, then hurried down the beach back to the house.

KC pointed toward the bar. “Okay champ, you ready? Let’s do this for Harry!”

Daphne laughed. “I get the sentiment, but that sounded kind of creepy.” They began walking toward the deck entrance. Despite her determination to be casual and just have fun, as they ascended the steps, she felt her nerves begin to jitter.
Do I really want to do this?

“Maybe this is a mistake,” she called to KC over her shoulder. The steel drum band was playing again, and the dance floor was filled with bobbing heads.

“Just keep moving,” KC yelled back. “Dance while you still can, remember?”

They climbed the steps and joined the scene, which looked exactly the same as it had the night they’d been there. Couples snuggling in the lounge chairs, friends bopping together in groups in the center of the room, revelers doing shots at the bar. The stage and the play unfolding upon it remained essentially unchanged, except for the characters flowing in and out like a gentle breeze.

“I think I had enough of this place the other night,” KC said. “I’m getting a hangover just remembering my hangover.”

Daphne gave her a hopeful look. “So we can go back to the house? I’d much rather relax on the couch than face this scene right now.”

KC shook her head. “We have to at least do a run-through to see if he’s here. You’ll kick yourself if we don’t. Besides, Skylar’s probably going to be at her desk for a while, so it’s better if we give her some space.”

Daphne nodded. She knew KC was right: she
would
kick herself if she bailed out now. “Okay.”

Beginning at the outdoor bar where KC had downed her tequila shots, they slowly began to survey the landscape for any sign of Clay or his friends. They didn’t spot them anywhere on the deck, so KC put her hand on Daphne’s back and nudged her inside. The area in front of the long bar was packed, but Daphne immediately noticed a tall man at the far end near the street entrance. His face was obstructed, but she could see the back of his head.

“I think that’s Scott,” she said to KC.

“Nice.” KC snapped her fingers. “Houston, we have contact.”

They squeezed their way through the crowd until they reached the area where Scott was standing. KC stood on her tiptoes and tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey, you!” she said with a grin.

He turned around and looked down, a surprised expression on his face. “Oh hi, KC. Hey, Daphne.” He gestured toward the young redhead sitting next to him. “This is Ashley.”

KC smiled at Ashley, then looked back up at Scott. “Are Clay and Doug here?”

Daphne’s eyes darted around the bar.
Is he here?
She recognized a couple other guys from their crew milling about, but not the one she really wanted to see.

Scott jutted his chin toward the back deck area. “They’re with their lady friends.”

“Their
lady friends
?” KC said.

Daphne felt like she’d been kicked in the stomach.
This was a bad idea.

Scott pointed back toward the deck. “Last I saw they were dancing. You didn’t see them on your way in?”

“No,” KC said.

Scott shrugged. “Maybe they took off.” He turned back toward Ashley and began to play with her hair as she giggled. Empty shot glasses sat on the bar before them. Daphne wondered what Scott’s girlfriend back home was doing right now. Then again, maybe Scott’s girlfriend was running her fingers through someone else’s hair too. Who was she to judge their relationship from the outside?

“Okay, thanks, Scott. It was nice meeting you, Ashley.” KC smiled again, then pulled Daphne by the arm back into the crowd. “You want to keep looking?” she asked her.

Daphne laughed and shook her head. “After
that
revelation? Definitely not. Can we go home now? I miss my slippers.”

“You sure you don’t want to give it one more shot?”

“Give
what
one more shot? You heard Scott, he’s with someone else.”

“So? That doesn’t mean anything.”

Daphne sighed. “Okay, let’s walk out the back way. If we see him, we see him. If we don’t, at least I tried. Does that work for you?”

KC grinned. “That’s the spirit. Harry would be proud.”

They made their way back outside, and while KC scanned the crowd, Daphne countered her unease by replaying the conversation she’d had earlier with Clay in her head.
He likes you. He’ll be glad to see you, regardless. Don’t overanalyze it.

“There’s my bestie!” KC suddenly yelled. “He’s on the dance floor macking on some girl. I’m so proud of him!”

“Do you see Clay?” Her eyes followed KC’s.

KC peered through the crowd. “Affirmative. He’s with a girl too, but they’re not swapping spit.”

Daphne laughed and looked at KC sideways. “I can’t remember the last time I heard the terms
macking
and
swapping spit.
”

KC caught her breath and reached for Daphne’s hand. “He sees us. I think he’s coming over here.”

Daphne scanned the dance floor, then gave KC’s hand a squeeze as she spotted Clay emerging from the crowd, a bit disheveled, but not overtly intoxicated like Scott.

“Hey, Daphne, KC. I’m surprised to see you here.”

Daphne let go of KC’s hand and quickly peered around him to see if a pretty young thing trailed behind him, but he appeared to be alone. “Surprised in a good way, I hope,” she said, thrilled to hear the words come out somewhat flirtatiously.

“Of course,” he said with a grin. “Always.”

“I see my bestie’s having a little fun out there.” KC pointed over Clay’s shoulder.

“He is indeed,” Clay said. “And it’s about time, if you ask me.”

“Good for him. Who shouldn’t have a little fun on vacation, right?” Daphne said. This time she made—and held—eye contact with Clay.
Another small victory!

Just then an attractive brunette appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Clay’s arm. “There you are. You disappeared on me.” She stood on her tiptoes and gave him a sloppy kiss. “I’m going to the little girls’ room. Wait for me here?” Without acknowledging Daphne and KC, she wobbled away on her stiletto heels, leaving the two of them standing there with Clay.

Daphne hesitated for a moment.
Don’t give up so easily. You can do this.
She took a deep breath and focused her eyes on Clay. “I see we have a little problem,” she said with just the hint of a smile on her lips.

Clay kept the eye contact but didn’t speak, and Daphne held her breath. After a pause that was just long enough to be noticeable, his lips slowly curled upward. “Not one we can’t take care of.”

Daphne felt the squeeze of KC’s hand on her torso in a subtle gesture of celebration. Then KC yawned and slowly took a step backward. “My pals, it’s been fun, but I think I’m going to get a head start on that walk home. Give Doug a hug good-bye for me, will you, Clay? I assume you’ll make sure my girl Daphne gets home safely?”

“You know I will,” he said. “Sleep tight.”

She gave him the thumbs-up sign, then turned and trotted toward the back exit.

Best wingman ever,
Daphne thought as she watched her disappear down the steps.

“S
o . . .
” Clay said after KC was gone.

“S
o . . .
” Daphne said with a bat of her eyelashes.

They stood there smiling at each other for a moment, then Daphne nodded her head toward the restroom. “About your friend ther
e . . .
”

“She’ll be fine.” Taking a step forward, he slipped a hand around the small of Daphne’s back, and her insides did a little flip-flop. “Besides, you and I have some unfinished business to attend to,” he added.

Daphne looked up at him, a suggestive expression on her face. “Is that so?”

He nodded. “It is so. Especially after you ditched me like that.”

“You mean last night?”

“Last night and yesterday morning too. Three times in a row would be a little tough on the old ego, even though I’m not that old.”

She furrowed her brow. “How did I ditch you yesterday morning?”

He smiled and scratched the back of his head. “You’re joking, right?”

“Are you messing with me?”

“Not messing with you.”

“Are you drunk?” she asked.

“Have I been drinking? Yes. Am I drunk? No.”

“Daphne!” Doug emerged from the crowd and enveloped Daphne in a bear hug. “Is KC here?”

Daphne pointed toward the water. “You just missed her. She said to give you a hug good-bye.”

“Coolest girl ever,” Doug said wistfully.

Clay elbowed him. “It was never gonna happen, dude. Where’s your dance partner?”

“She’s getting us some more drinks. I need to drain the weasel.” He gestured toward the men’s room.

Daphne laughed. “Nice euphemism.”

As Doug sauntered away, Clay took Daphne’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.” He quickly pulled her through the crowd toward the back exit, then down the steps to the beach. He didn’t let go of her hand until they were nearly at the shore.

Daphne glanced back at the Castaway. “What about that girl?”

“What about her?”

“Shouldn’t you at least say good-bye? You can’t just ditch her.”

He smiled. “Why, because ditching isn’t nice?”

“I told you, I didn’t ditch you. At least in the morning, I mean.” What was he talking about? She’d told him about their trip to the emergency room.

He raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms, and took a few steps back from her. “I beg to differ. If I recall, when I woke up in your bed, you were standing
like this
as far away from me as possible, without actually leaving the room, which made it pretty clear you weren’t about to get back into bed until I vacated the premises.”

She felt her cheeks blush. That was partially true.

“Bu
t . . .
”

He kept smiling. “But what?”

“I did that becaus
e . . .
because I thought you had coyote arm,” she said softly.