Aftermath (8 page)

Emma's Story

My palms were sweaty when Mrs. Warner opened the door.

Aunt Barb stood by my side with an armful of things I’d normally be embarrassed to bring. She loaded up a wicker basket filled with a casserole the Inn prepared, a couple loaves of French bread, some cheeses, and a bottle of Mrs. Warner’s favorite wine.

I never met Mr. or Mrs. Warner before, but they welcomed me like I did.

“I didn’t know you were related to Barb Carmichael. She’s really cool,” Lewis said after my aunt offered up Jet Skis from the Inn, for the day. Lewis led me outside to where our classmates congregated.

For a single second, I felt proud.

But when a guy I barely knew stopped talking mid-sentence to look at me, I realized I was
that
girl, the orphaned girl that left school abruptly a few days earlier.

Lewis didn’t seem to notice the silent stares I got, as he leaned over the deck railing in search of Melissa. Flagstone paths led past a volleyball court and wrapped around a fire pit. Mature trees and picture-perfect flowerbeds scattered the meticulously landscaped yard.

“She must be in the boathouse,” Lewis said.

I followed him down the stairs to the path. We were still a distance away when I saw Matt. He had his back to me and, suddenly, I found myself nervous to see him.

A football player at the table with Matt crushed a can in his fist. Frank was the type of guy that didn’t care what people thought of him. He partied a lot, told obnoxious jokes, and made a scene, all for fun. Aimee laughed at whatever was said, throwing her head to the side in an overdramatic motion. Melissa and I labeled it her signature move. The way she tilted her head was annoying, like time stood still and the spotlight was all on her.

The uncomfortable feeling I had earlier swept over me when Aimee leaned across the table and touched Matt’s arm.

Was she flirting with my boyfriend?

Omigod. What was going to happen after I moved?

Thoughts swirled in my head, and all I wanted to do was leave. I had to look away. I didn’t want to see if Matt flirted back. I focused on the boathouse and searched for Melissa. When I finally got the courage to glance at Matt again, he was no longer sitting with Aimee. Instead, he was on the pier talking to a blond-haired guy on a Jet Ski.

By the time Lewis and I reached the lakeside patio, Melissa saw me. She screamed my name and ran to greet me in a strong-gripped hug. Frank did the same, repeating the same words I’d heard for days, the words that triggered the resurface of tears—I’m sorry.

Melissa asked one question after another. When did you get here? How long can you stay? Did you hear about the island party? She rattled them off faster than I could answer, not to mention she barely took a breath.

When she finally paused, I told her I could stay overnight.

“Oh, I’m so happy.” She gave me another tight hug.

I lost track of where Matt was and if Aimee was watching him. Before I could worry about it, Lewis suggested we pick up the Jet Skis from the Inn.

Matt was untying the ropes at the bow of boat when we reached the pier. He didn’t notice Melissa or realize I was there. He stood and turned into me.

“Hey!” His tone was low, and I realized I startled him.

“Hi,” I said. The nervous feeling I had before went away when our eyes met.

I stepped into the boat, and Lewis started the engine. The gentle chug as it came to life and the sound of bubbling water made me feel at ease. The familiar scent of exhaust and mildew calmed me. I was suddenly content. I felt at home.

Lewis slowly backed away from the pier. The sun was hot on my skin. I took off my cover-up and settled into the bench seat at the back of the boat. Melissa sat in the bucket seat next to Lewis. The water glistened in the sunlight off in the distance, until a boat’s wake disturbed it. I was me again, out on the lake. All those happy memories of my parents and summers at the Inn came flooding back. I was in my own little world when Lewis increased the speed in the open waters.  After Matt stored the ropes in pockets on the inside of the boat, he sat down beside me.

He reached for my hand and smiled.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he whispered in my ear.

“Me, too.”

I wanted things to be the same, but deep down, I knew everything between us was different. When I looked into his eyes, I could tell he felt it, too. We were silent most of the ten-minute ride to the Carmichael Inn. Matt held my hand, his thumb rubbing gently on my finger. I guessed he didn’t know what to say any more than I did.

We rounded the point across from the island, and the Inn came into view.

“That’s my aunt’s house,” I said to Matt, pointing to a row of similar houses with matching siding and trim.

“Which one?”

“Third from the left,” I proudly answered. “All the houses are part of the Inn. Most are rentals. Except my aunt’s.”

When we neared the harbor, Lewis reduced the boat’s speed and Matt let go of my hand.

“Is Melissa taking a Jet Ski back with you?” Matt asked. His eyes were somber, and I guessed knowing I was moving was just as hard on him as it was on me.

“Can you come with me?”

When he nodded, his eyes seemed to smile. He began pulling out the boat’s ropes and prepared to dock.

The marina at the Inn was a friendly sight. Colorful shops lined the shoreline. Piers jutted into the water from a whitewashed boardwalk. There were enough slips to moor a couple of dozen boats at a time, and usually they were filled. The Carmichael Inn had great food, from the five-star restaurant to the Sports Pub ‘N Grill to the small stands on the beach that served Chicago-style hot dogs and deep-dish pizza slices.

Aunt Barb and her late husband designed the lakefront shops similar to Disney’s Boardwalk, Dad once said. Of course, a very scaled-down version with a contemporary coffee bar, convenience store, newsstand, and sporting goods shop for boaters and guests. The shed at the end of the beach offered paddleboats and windsurfer boards, not to mention Jet Skis for rent.

I never really thought about it before, but I guessed Aunt Barb was well off. I remembered Dad once saying she was taken care of financially. I looked around at everything labeled ‘Carmichael Inn’ and realized Dad was right.

I was lost in thought when Lewis docked the boat, and Matt jumped onto the pier.

A brown-haired guy in a boat nearby called to Lewis. The guy climbed out of his boat in a quick leap and shook Matt’s hand. Lewis similarly greeted the boy he called Drew.

“Island party tonight. You comin’?” Drew asked. He looked to be our age, with a tan, lean chest. His hair was long on top and trimmed short on the sides and he wore faded swim trunks that looked like they’d seen better days. I wondered if he lived on the lake and spent his entire summer in the sun.

“Wouldn’t miss it. I got some friends up, but we’re there, man,” Lewis answered with a smirk.

“Matt, we missed you on the fourth,” Drew said. “Huge-Ass-Party. You’d have loved it.” Drew was shorter than Matt by several inches, but his posture made him seem taller. He held his chin upward at an angle when he spoke. I wondered if he knew TJ or Hannah and if he went to the high school I’d end up at. Someday.

“I told him what he missed,” Lewis answered.

Melissa rolled her eyes at me. That was the weekend she was on vacation with her family and before Matt and I started dating.

“I’m having some people at the house tomorrow night. If you’re still in town.” Drew’s invitation was quiet and in a lower tone than before. I couldn’t help but wonder if he didn’t want Melissa and me to hear it.

“Hey, I’ll catch you later. Bring your friends,” Drew said when he finally noticed Melissa and I were standing on the pier.

“Yeah, for sure,” Matt answered, reaching for my hand. We walked along the water’s edge, weaving through sunbathers and kids playing in the sand.

“Thanks for coming with me,” I said and looked up at him.

“Yeah, no problem… I wanted to.” Matt squeezed my hand gently.

“So how well do you know that guy… the one at the pier?”

“Who? Drew?”

“Ah, yeah... I think that was that his name.” The sun was hot on my shoulders.

“He’s friends with Lewis. I met him when I came to visit this summer.” I nodded, and he continued. “He’s a big partier.” He shot me a look, and I knew exactly what he meant.

“Yeah, I got that part. You missed this year’s party on the Fourth, huh?” I asked. Waves gently rushed in, covering our feet.

“Apparently so. I heard they got busted. Some guy got caught with drugs. Drew said everyone laid low after that. Just a few parties at his place. Not like what they used to be.”

“Drew lives on the lake?” My feet began to sink in the wet sand when the water retreated.

He nodded. “Yeah… on the opposite end. There’s only a few houses by him, and I think he said they were vacant or something.”

I stumbled. My right foot got bogged down in the clumpy, wet sand. Matt waited while I regained my step. He chuckled, but he didn’t say anything. I couldn’t help but laugh, as I caught myself from falling a second time. His arms were around me before I knew it, lifting me up. When our eyes locked, I realized how much I would miss him. I was sure he would kiss me until some kids ran past us, interrupting the moment.

When we reached the equipment rental office, we were third in line. Matt crossed his arms tight against his chest while we waited. I glanced around. Wake boards and skis were stuck in the sand, propped against the small building. Weathered white shutters were folded back, exposing a window where a bronze-tanned brunette girl stood behind the counter.

The girl stared at the couple in front of her as they completed paperwork. The middle-aged man asked her a question and when he wasn’t looking, she rolled her eyes.

If she didn’t like her job, why didn’t she quit?

I was sure Aunt Barb wouldn’t be happy if the girl didn’t at least fake it in front of customers. I wondered if Aunt Barb would let me work here. I was lost in thought when Matt’s voice startled me.

“So when are you moving?” His voice was soft, and he uncrossed his arms. It was a topic I didn’t want to think about, even though he deserved to know.

“Next weekend. I think.”

“That quick?”

“Yeah.” I focused on the dirty-white sign above the rental window. The Carmichael Inn logo was neatly printed in navy blue with Rentals Here in red capital letters. The customer at the counter pushed the clipboard to the bronze girl. She handed the man a receipt and pointed the couple toward the beach.

“I guess I’ll have to visit Lewis more often,” Matt said as we moved up in line.

“Do you come up here a lot?” I couldn’t help but wonder if he did and if I’d get to see him after I moved.

“A couple times a summer. Not as much in winter,” he said. Then he quickly added, “We were here that week you were on vacation. Before football started.”

“Oh… yeah.” I remembered him sending a text about it.

The bronze girl giggled. I noticed how she hovered over the dark-haired guy filling out paperwork. She had a bright smile with exceptionally white teeth against her dark skin. Interesting… she didn’t smile at the older couple.

I barely noticed the guy in front of us before, but took a look at him while the bronze girl continued flirting. From the side view, I agreed he was attractive. He stood several inches taller than Matt did, but seemed to carry himself with more confidence. When he smiled, his eyes squinted and his jaw tightened. It was a masculine look I never saw on Matt or any other boys at my school. It was a more mature look, like a grin on a man, not a boy, and I guessed he was probably much older than I was.

He couldn’t be from here, I thought.

I didn’t realize I was staring at him until he turned and looked at me. Heat crept up my neck, and I focused on the sand around my feet. My heart began to race. He was much more attractive than I originally thought. He wasn’t cute like the boys at school. He was handsome like the Prince Charming I dreamed of when I was little. Like the fantasy characters in all of those sappy Disney stories Mom used to read to me.

When I felt normal again, I glanced back at Prince Charming. He wore a white T-shirt with the sleeves cutoff and the seams torn at the side. As he filled out the form on the clipboard and his left arm moved, I caught a glimpse of his tanned chest. I felt like a middle-schooler staring.

The bronze girl perched herself in front of him. Her elbows rested on the counter with her chin sitting in her hands. I could tell she was talking to him, but her voice was low, so I couldn’t hear what she said. I wondered what Prince Charming thought of the brunette, as he pushed the clipboard back to her. Then, an instant later, he glanced in my direction.

Busted again.

The same tingling I felt earlier, returned. I caught my breath and stared at my feet, pushing sand around, hoping my face wouldn’t redden. How ridiculous. He was clearly older than I was and staying at the hotel. He obviously wasn’t from around here, so the odds of me ever seeing him again were slim. The idea lessened my embarrassment. I focused on my surroundings, on anything to avoid looking at him. I stared at the sign hanging on the building listing the ten rules of the lake, and I wondered if anyone ever read them.