The Broken Road (The Broken Series) (46 page)

I
tried to plead my case. “Cenia needs to try one so we can figure out what
seasonings they use. That way we can try to duplicate this dish when we get
home.”

Kadyn
caught Cenia’s hand just as she tried to nab one from his plate. Since he was
occupied with her, I stole another one and tossed it to her. Roger caught it
instead. Cenia groaned, but the rest of us burst out laughing.

Kadyn
flagged our waiter down and ordered another plate of shrimp, complaining loudly
about how we all couldn’t keep our hands off his plate. The rest of us ordered
a second round of drinks at the same time.

The
waiters didn’t appear anxious to get rid of us, so we ordered coffee and every single
dessert on the menu. As soon as our waiter delivered our dessert, he pulled a
chair up to join us. We took turns questioning him about what it was like to
live in the Bahamas while we passed the desserts around for everyone to sample.
We ended up monopolizing our table for so long and were so thoroughly
entertained by our waiter that we decided to leave him a fifty percent tip.

Instead
of returning to the hotel, we decided to sit on the beach for a while. I kicked
my sandals off and dug my toes into the sand. I sifted the warm sand through my
fingers as I listened to everyone else talk. I tried to keep up with the
conversation, but my mind kept returning to Kimme’s question and the decision I
had to make. When it turned dark, Kadyn stood and reached for my hand. “You
still up for that walk?”

I
smiled. “Yes, I most certainly am.” I grabbed my sandals, then reached for his
hand.

Just
as we turned to walk away, Dan called out, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Kimme
giggled.

Kadyn
shook his head, then turned back around. “Isn’t it past your bedtime, old man?”

“Oh.
You just got burned,” Mason exclaimed.

Their
laughter trailed after us.

I
switched sides with Kadyn so I could walk in the waves. As we walked, I swung
my sandals in my hand. We didn’t speak for a long time.

“What’s
going on inside that pretty head of yours?” Kadyn finally asked.

“That
decision I’m supposed to make,” I grumbled miserably.

Kadyn
nodded. “I thought so. Tell me what you’re thinking.”

I
shook my head. “Just that it’s an impossible decision.”

Kadyn
steadied me as the waves crashed over my knees. He led me further up the beach,
where the waves just trickled over my feet. “What makes it impossible?”

“I
want to live in Montana, I want to be closer to my family, and I want my old
job back. I found it far more rewarding than what I’m doing on the Hill…”

He
shot me a curious look. “But?”

I
glanced briefly at Kadyn’s face, then resumed watching the waves dance over my
feet. “But my heart hurts every time I think about leaving you. I know it
sounds crazy, Kadyn. We’ve only been dating for seven months; and I know that
you and Cenia and everyone else could move from DC in a year, because you’ll
all be facing reassignment. Then where does that leave me? Alone in DC all over
again.”

We
both stopped walking as Kadyn turned to face me. “What would you do if you
stayed in DC?” he asked softly.

I
shrugged. “I’d apply for a job with the government or an NGO… a job that would
enable me to help people. I want to feel like I’m making a difference, and I
don’t think I am… not on the Hill. I’m also considering going back to school.”

“Law
school?” he asked.

“Maybe.
There are some other graduate degrees I’ve been considering as well.”

Kadyn
nodded. “I was thinking of doing the same thing. I’d like to begin working toward
a master’s degree this fall.”

I
smiled. “It’s as good a time as any, I suppose.”

Kadyn
pulled me into his arms, so I tossed my sandals in the sand, just out of reach
of the waves. He kissed me gently on the lips before resting his forehead against
mine. “I don’t want to sway you in your decision, Kri. You have to decide this
for yourself, but I’m sure we’d find a way to make things work either way.”

I
tightened my hold on him. “I don’t think I can live without you.”

Kadyn
sighed as he tucked my head under his chin. “I know, Kri. Trust me. I know just
how you feel.”

*
* * * * *

The
next morning, we camped out on the beach under a brilliant blue sky. Kadyn,
Phil, and Mason were throwing a football around in the water. Roger and Cenia
were floating next to each other on rafts, holding hands. Marie and Gabi were
keeping me company as one of the beach combers braided and beaded my hair.

I
glanced at Gabi. “How are things going with Mason?”

Gabi
pretended to cast out a fishing pole, then began reeling it in. Marie choked on
her bottled water as she burst out laughing.

I
reached inside my bag and handed Gabi a small black book. “Here. You two should
read this book together.”

Gabi
looked at the book curiously. “If… Questions for the Game of Life.”

“There’s
a really good question on page thirty-two,” I prompted.

Gabi
opened the book and looked at the question. A huge smile spread across her
face. “Hey, Mason!” she shouted over the waves. “Come read with me!” She turned
and winked at me. “Thanks, Kri.”

Kimme
and Dan joined us as they returned from their stroll along the beach. “Look
what I found,” Kimme announced as she dumped a pile of seashells out on the
sand.

I
smiled at Kimme as she sifted through her treasure. Then I thought about the
treasures I had found. My eyes filled with tears as I examined each of my
friends in turn.

*
* * * * *

The
next day, Cenia and I left the rest of the group on the beach so we could go
swimming with the dolphins. We took a speed boat out to a small cove where we
played with two bottle-nosed dolphins, alongside a handful of other tourists. I
marveled at how gently the dolphins took the fish from my hand, how playful
they were, and the silky feel of their skin. Playing with them was one of the
most amazing things I had ever experienced.

We
still smelled a bit fishy when we rejoined the group. They were embroiled in a
debate about where to go for dinner. Cenia and I amicably joined in the debate
before heading up to our rooms to shower. Twenty minutes later we were all climbing
into cabs. The soldiers in the group had convinced the non-soldiers to brave
eating at a local joint, somewhere off the beaten track.

We
commandeered a wooden table in a small, broken down shack of a restaurant. I
eyed the menu skeptically.

“We
should order the conch,” Mason suggested. “I’ve heard it’s very popular in the
Bahamas.”

Dan,
Kimme, and I exchanged looks. “What’s conch?” Kimme asked.

I
was relieved she had asked. I had absolutely no clue what it was, but I could
see it was all over the menu in chowder, salads, and fritters.

“It’s
a large ocean mollusk with a firm white meat,” Phil explained in all
seriousness.

Once
again, Kimme, Dan, and I exchanged glances. We were no closer to understanding
what conch was.

Kadyn
laughed at the looks on our faces. He explained, “You know those big fancy sea
shells that you and Kimme were admiring in the market… the ones with the points
on them? That’s where conch comes from.”

“Conch
is considered an aphrodisiac,” Gabi announced with a wicked grin.

Suddenly,
everyone agreed to try it. The restaurant prepared the meat in a variety of
ways, so we each chose a different dish and agreed to share. Surprisingly,
there wasn’t a single dish I didn’t like.

We
decided to go out dancing after dinner. Dancing in the Bahamas was unlike
dancing anywhere else. The only word that could possibly describe it is fun.
Dancing in Montana was fun too; but I never could keep up with all the
intricate steps involved with line dancing. The most complicated dance I could
manage was the two-step, unless I was dancing with a guy who was skilled enough
to overcome my vexatious tendency to lead.

Kadyn
had taken me out dancing in DC. Once. I was so emotionally scarred from the
experience that I refused to go again. The nightclub was packed with people,
and I didn’t understand the point of being there because it was impossible to
move even one inch. There wasn’t any seating, so people brought their drinks out
onto the dance floor and proceeded to spill them on anyone unfortunate enough
to be within a twenty mile radius. My hearing was permanently impaired from the
pulsing techno music, and I was appalled to find that other men considered it
completely appropriate to grope me even when I was firmly wrapped in Kadyn’s
arms.

Thankfully,
dancing in the Bahamas was nothing like dancing in DC. It was light and fun,
and, like everything else in the Bahamas, it was not complicated. No one cared
that the dance club had a DJ instead of a live band.

Kadyn
pulled me out onto the dance floor as soon as the DJ started played Shaggy’s “Angel.”
The rest of our friends joined us on the dance floor, and we danced straight
through to the very last song… Kamakawiwo’ole’s version of “Over the Rainbow.”
Kadyn sang softly in my ear as we danced together one last time. We couldn’t
possibly have ended the evening on a more perfect note.

*
* * * * *

It
was our last night in the Bahamas. Our entire group of friends ordered take out
from a nearby Italian restaurant, so we could eat together on the beach. I
followed the banter as we ate dinner, amazed at how well Kimme and Dan had
meshed with my friends from DC. As the food and the wine dwindled, so too did
the conversation. The sound of the waves lulled us into a companionable silence
as we savored our few remaining minutes on the darkened beach. The fact that I
had yet to make my decision hung heavily in the air.                    

“Well,
we're going to head back to the hotel. Good luck with your decision, Kri. You
know we’re here for you either way,” Cenia offered encouragingly. She reached
for Roger’s hand.

Phil
and Marie stood and said goodnight. Phil draped his arm around Marie. Then they
fell in behind Cenia and Roger. I watched as the two couples walked back to the
hotel.

Mason
and Gabi stayed and visited for a few minutes longer. Then Gabi convinced Mason
to take her for one last walk along the beach.

“We’re
going to call it a night too,” Kimme announced as Dan helped her up from her
chair. I couldn’t help but notice the sadness in Kimme’s voice. Her green eyes
gentled as she looked at me. “Krissy, you should know that there are no wrong
decisions here, just different ones.” She quietly regarded me as I sat on
Kadyn’s lawn chair, tucked inside his arms. Then she smiled. “You have finally
found
your
knight in shining armor. I couldn’t be happier for you,
honey.” A single tear slid down her face.

Dan
hugged Kimme. “Kadyn’s a good guy. From where I’m standing, this decision of
yours looks like a no brainer.”

Kimme
wrapped her arms around Dan.

My
eyes welled with tears as I watched the two of them walk away. I leaned back
against Kadyn as I tried to regain my composure. We were the only two people
left on the beach.

Kadyn
and I didn’t talk for some time. I simply lay in his arms and stared out at the
waves as I sorted through a million different questions. Should I return to
Montana? A job I loved was waiting for me. I missed my parents, Charlie, Lexie,
Siobhan, and all the friends I had left behind. But what about DC? With everything
that had happened over the past few months, had I really given DC a fair shake?
I had grown to love my new friends: Kadyn, Cenia, Roger, Phil, Marie, Gabi, and
even Mason. I thought about how they had welcomed me into their group and how
they had risked their lives for me. You didn’t find friends like that every
day. On the other hand, I knew that most of them would be moving within a year
or two, since they were in the military. Then what? Would I still want to live
in DC?

Kadyn’s
voice was soft as he interrupted my silent debate. “It seems you are at a bit
of a crossroads. Hopefully, this marks the end of a very difficult road.”

I
turned around and perched on the end of the lawn chair so I could look at
Kadyn’s face. “The road I chose was a bit broken, but I still believe it was
the right one.”

“Why
do you say that?” he asked as he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

I
smiled, reflecting on how the lyrics to a song could so accurately capture my
life. “Because it led me straight to you.”

Kadyn
quietly considered my response. His face was impossible to read.

I
looked down and reached for his hands, no longer able to look into his eyes.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay on the same road as you.”

Kadyn
reached up and lifted my chin, so he could look me directly in the eyes. “I
think that sounds like a very good idea.” He kissed me softly, then leaned back
in the chair.