The Topsail Accord (6 page)
She matches her pace to his, smiles at him, and they settle in to the running. They run to the pier, the natural turn around point, and where he turns around every day. He slows to turn, she turns with him.
Now the sun is behind them, but sparkles even more brightly off the waves. The newness and freshness of a beach morning seeps into her with every breath of the warm briny air. The tide is going out, leaving firm wet flat sand behind. The air is warming, but still cool for late July. There is the slightest breeze coming in off the relatively cooler water. They pass a few other joggers, nod their heads, say nothing. Respecting each runner’s decision to run alone, to be alone, to be quiet, to be at the beach at this time of morning.
Another mile goes by soundlessly but for the ripples of the waves, his hard breathing, and their footsteps.
They pass a surfer riding the gentle curl on the outgoing tide.
“
I’ve always wanted to try that,” he says.
I’ve always wanted to try that,” he says.
“
Me too,” she says.
Me too,” she says.
“
I wonder if anyone learns to surf at my age?” he asks.
I wonder if anyone learns to surf at my age?” he asks.
“
How old are you?” she asks.
How old are you?” she asks.
“
Forty nine. Fifty in a week. You?”
Forty nine. Fifty in a week. You?”
“
Does it matter?” she asks.
Does it matter?” she asks.
“
Nope. Just seemed like the natural question.”
Nope. Just seemed like the natural question.”
“
Forty last month,” she says.
Forty last month,” she says.
They continue jogging. His limp is better in this direction, with his right foot a fraction above the left on the very gently sloping low tide beach. They come within sight of her house. He doesn’t know what to do, what to say.
She slows to a walk. He slows too.
“
This is my house,” she says.
This is my house,” she says.
“
It’s beautiful. And exactly one mile from the pier. Sometimes I use it to time my runs up and back.”
It’s beautiful. And exactly one mile from the pier. Sometimes I use it to time my runs up and back.”
She stops. Smiles at him.
“
You measured it?” she asks.
You measured it?” she asks.
“
A couple times, a few years ago. Once with a yellow surveyors wheel, and once with mapmyrun.com. They both came out to two miles, give or take twenty yards.”
A couple times, a few years ago. Once with a yellow surveyors wheel, and once with mapmyrun.com. They both came out to two miles, give or take twenty yards.”
She turns and looks at the pier. The lone surfer has turned into three or four surfers, and the lateral current has drifted them down towards her house.
They quietly watch the surfers in the North Carolina morning where the rising sun, the soft breeze, the lazy low tide, and the endorphins from the beach jog still making everything right with the world.
“
See you for coffee at nine?” she asks.
See you for coffee at nine?” she asks.
“
Deal,” he answers.
Deal,” he answers.
“
Does anyone rent surfboards around here?” she asks.
Does anyone rent surfboards around here?” she asks.
“
I’ll find out and let you know,” he says.
I’ll find out and let you know,” he says.
He heads down the beach to the public parking area. She climbs the wooden steps up the dune and then looks down the beach at his retreating form.
“
How was it?” her sister asks. She has been waiting on the bench on the little deck on top of the dune.
How was it?” her sister asks. She has been waiting on the bench on the little deck on top of the dune.
“
It was nice,” Shannon says.
It was nice,” Shannon says.
“
Nice how?” her sister prods.
Nice how?” her sister prods.
“
He can run without having to talk,” she says.
He can run without having to talk,” she says.
“
Could he keep up?” she asks.
Could he keep up?” she asks.
“
Not this morning. His knees hurt,” Shannon says. “And probably not even if his knees were bionic.”
Not this morning. His knees hurt,” Shannon says. “And probably not even if his knees were bionic.”
“
That’ll happen to men his age,” Cara says.
That’ll happen to men his age,” Cara says.
“
How old do you think he is?” Shannon asks.
How old do you think he is?” Shannon asks.
“
Fifty? Fifty five?”
Fifty? Fifty five?”
“
He’s forty nine. He turns fifty in a couple of days.”
He’s forty nine. He turns fifty in a couple of days.”
“
Well if we weren’t all going home in a little while that would be an issue,” Cara says.
Well if we weren’t all going home in a little while that would be an issue,” Cara says.
“
Doubt it,” Shannon says. “This isn’t junior high. We’re fully grown adults. If I want to jog and have coffee with someone ten years older or ten years younger I’m going to do it.”
Doubt it,” Shannon says. “This isn’t junior high. We’re fully grown adults. If I want to jog and have coffee with someone ten years older or ten years younger I’m going to do it.”
“
Coffee?”
Coffee?”
“
Yes.”
Yes.”
“
Two days in a row?”
Two days in a row?”
“
It’s good coffee,” Shannon says.
It’s good coffee,” Shannon says.
“
And in a nice package,” Cara says.
And in a nice package,” Cara says.
“
What?” Shannon asks.
What?” Shannon asks.
“
You didn’t notice that he’s very handsome?” Cara asks.
You didn’t notice that he’s very handsome?” Cara asks.
“
Not really. He was limping.”
Not really. He was limping.”
“
What’s limping got to do with being handsome?” Cara asks.
What’s limping got to do with being handsome?” Cara asks.
“
Nothing I guess. But I was worried about his knees. I guess I forgot to notice.”
Nothing I guess. But I was worried about his knees. I guess I forgot to notice.”
“
Well pay attention on your third date, for coffee.”
Well pay attention on your third date, for coffee.”
“
I will, now that you mention it,” Shannon says.
I will, now that you mention it,” Shannon says.
She walks past her sister, into her house, to get ready for her third date.
Shannon and Joe
Shannon parks in the same spot, and steps into the coffee shop wearing the same sundress. She has put her hair in a ponytail, and has applied the same clear lip gloss and light mascara.
“
I brought croissants, and some berries,” she says.
I brought croissants, and some berries,” she says.
“
I have muffins,” he answers.
I have muffins,” he answers.
“
I saw that yesterday,” she says, “and thus I have croissants and berries.” She places her supplies on the counter.
I saw that yesterday,” she says, “and thus I have croissants and berries.” She places her supplies on the counter.
He laughs.
“
When are you heading back?” he asks.
When are you heading back?” he asks.
“
Why do I have to be heading back?”
Why do I have to be heading back?”
“
I know everyone who lives here year round, and until yesterday I didn’t know you.”
I know everyone who lives here year round, and until yesterday I didn’t know you.”
“
The family is heading home on Sunday. I usually go with them, but sometimes I stay at my cottage.”
The family is heading home on Sunday. I usually go with them, but sometimes I stay at my cottage.”
“
You call that house ‘your cottage’?”
You call that house ‘your cottage’?”
“
No. That’s my beach house. I own it. I come for all of July with my family and I loan it out to friends and sometimes I rent it, but not usually. I don’t like the thought of renters in my house. We leave our things there. People I loan it to seem to respect that, people who rent it don’t seem to respect it the same way.”
No. That’s my beach house. I own it. I come for all of July with my family and I loan it out to friends and sometimes I rent it, but not usually. I don’t like the thought of renters in my house. We leave our things there. People I loan it to seem to respect that, people who rent it don’t seem to respect it the same way.”
“
So if that’s your house, where is your cottage?”
So if that’s your house, where is your cottage?”
“
It’s here. It’s small, just big enough for me really. I don’t take the family there. I don’t take anyone there. I love having my nieces and nephews and brothers and sisters and mom around me in the beach house. But not in the cottage. If they’d ever been there then it might be too empty when they’re not.”
It’s here. It’s small, just big enough for me really. I don’t take the family there. I don’t take anyone there. I love having my nieces and nephews and brothers and sisters and mom around me in the beach house. But not in the cottage. If they’d ever been there then it might be too empty when they’re not.”
Joe nodded his head.
“
Your dad?”
Your dad?”
“
You are a good listener. He doesn’t come anymore. He likes the quiet weeks back in Ohio.”
You are a good listener. He doesn’t come anymore. He likes the quiet weeks back in Ohio.”
“
Your husband?”
Your husband?”
“
He still goes to Nags Head, with his new family, or maybe his new new family. It’s hard to keep track some time. And I don’t keep track. He still bugs me sometimes.”
He still goes to Nags Head, with his new family, or maybe his new new family. It’s hard to keep track some time. And I don’t keep track. He still bugs me sometimes.”
“
I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry.”
“
It’s okay. It’s for the best. He got what he wanted. At least he got what he thought he wanted.”
It’s okay. It’s for the best. He got what he wanted. At least he got what he thought he wanted.”
“
What did he want?”
What did he want?”
“
Something other than me,” she says.
Something other than me,” she says.
“
That’s hard to imagine,” he says.
That’s hard to imagine,” he says.
She looks at him dismissively, unhappy with the flirtation, especially while talking about her ex.
“
But easy to implement,” she answers.
But easy to implement,” she answers.
They finish their coffee.
“
Thanks for the croissant,” he says. “And the berries.”
Thanks for the croissant,” he says. “And the berries.”
“
You didn’t look like you liked the berries,” she says.
You didn’t look like you liked the berries,” she says.
“
It was obvious?” he asks.
It was obvious?” he asks.
“
Yes. And can I ask you something?”
Yes. And can I ask you something?”
“
Yes.”
Yes.”
“
Please don’t do that.”
Please don’t do that.”
“
What?” he asks.
What?” he asks.
“
Pretend. It’s okay if you don’t like berries, or English tea movies, or cats. It’s okay to just be you. Please don’t pretend,” she says.
Pretend. It’s okay if you don’t like berries, or English tea movies, or cats. It’s okay to just be you. Please don’t pretend,” she says.
Joe looks at her.
“
Deal,” he says.
Deal,” he says.
“
Deal,” she answers. “Tomorrow? Same time?”
Deal,” she answers. “Tomorrow? Same time?”
“
Nope,” he answers. “I don’t run on Fridays.”
Nope,” he answers. “I don’t run on Fridays.”
“
I can’t tempt you?” she asks.
I can’t tempt you?” she asks.
“
You could. But then I’d be pretending.”
You could. But then I’d be pretending.”
“
So what do you do on Fridays? Rest day?”
So what do you do on Fridays? Rest day?”
“
Nope.”
Nope.”
“
Do I have to guess?” she asks.
Do I have to guess?” she asks.
“
Nope. If you really want to know, meet me here at seven. Walking around or hiking clothes will work.”
Nope. If you really want to know, meet me here at seven. Walking around or hiking clothes will work.”
“
But we’re not running?”
But we’re not running?”
“
Nope,” he says.
Nope,” he says.
She smiles a little girl smile, not quite a night before Christmas smile, not even a night before your birthday smile. But a little girl smile like when Dad is coming home from a business trip and he might have something little in his suitcase for you smile.
But then the smile disappears and she realizes that he is asking her to meet her at his coffee shop to go to places unknown to do things unknown and while she knows that his name is Joe and that he says he is forty-nine and nearly fifty that she knows nothing else about him.
“
I don’t know,” she says. A run on the beach, starting and ending at her house is something that she has been able to accommodate into her world. But this? A date with a man she just met to do something unspecified.
I don’t know,” she says. A run on the beach, starting and ending at her house is something that she has been able to accommodate into her world. But this? A date with a man she just met to do something unspecified.
He senses her retreat and guesses at the cause.
“
Bring some other people with you. There’s going to be a small group anyway, maybe like five or six others.”
Bring some other people with you. There’s going to be a small group anyway, maybe like five or six others.”
“
Others?” she asks. “Other women?”
Others?” she asks. “Other women?”
“
Other people, from here, who all know me. My sister will be coming too.”
Other people, from here, who all know me. My sister will be coming too.”
“
Your sister? From the spa?”
Your sister? From the spa?”
“
Yes.”
Yes.”
She reconsiders, figures that the small group will be safe.
“
Seven. Walking around clothes. And if you want me to be functional at seven oh five, please consider having a grande ready for me. And not a half regular, half decaf. Fully leaded.”
Seven. Walking around clothes. And if you want me to be functional at seven oh five, please consider having a grande ready for me. And not a half regular, half decaf. Fully leaded.”
“
Got it,” Joe answers.
Got it,” Joe answers.
“
If you want my sister to be functional, you better have a double espresso grande ready for her!”
If you want my sister to be functional, you better have a double espresso grande ready for her!”
Shannon
“
So did you decide whether he was handsome?” Cara asks her sister Shannon.
So did you decide whether he was handsome?” Cara asks her sister Shannon.
“
I forgot to look. But you can look closely tomorrow and let me know,” Shannon answers.
I forgot to look. But you can look closely tomorrow and let me know,” Shannon answers.
“
What are you talking about?” Cara asks.
What are you talking about?” Cara asks.
“
Tomorrow morning. You’re coming with me to his coffee shop, at seven, to do something for which ‘walking around or hiking clothes’ are appropriate.”
Tomorrow morning. You’re coming with me to his coffee shop, at seven, to do something for which ‘walking around or hiking clothes’ are appropriate.”
“
Are you joking? Exercising at seven?”
Are you joking? Exercising at seven?”
“
He’s going to have a double espresso ready for you.”
He’s going to have a double espresso ready for you.”
“
Why didn’t you say so?”
Why didn’t you say so?”
Joe
“
Was that the same sundress from yesterday?” Joe’s sister asks.
Was that the same sundress from yesterday?” Joe’s sister asks.
“
I don’t know. Was it?” Joe answers.
I don’t know. Was it?” Joe answers.
“
Yes it was,” his sister answers.
Yes it was,” his sister answers.
“
And?” Joe prods.
And?” Joe prods.
“
And you’d think that someone who owns the biggest house on the beach would own two sundresses,” she says.
And you’d think that someone who owns the biggest house on the beach would own two sundresses,” she says.
Joe rolled his eyes. “What do you think people say about me and my wardrobe?” Joe asks.
“
I know exactly what people say about you and your wardrobe,” she answers.
I know exactly what people say about you and your wardrobe,” she answers.
“
Because you are the person who talks most frequently about my wardrobe?”
Because you are the person who talks most frequently about my wardrobe?”
“
Maybe. If you can call ten t-shirts, two pairs of jeans, a dozen pair of running shorts, one pair of khakis and one polo a wardrobe.”
Maybe. If you can call ten t-shirts, two pairs of jeans, a dozen pair of running shorts, one pair of khakis and one polo a wardrobe.”
Joe smiles at his sister.
“
I love you too,” he says.
I love you too,” he says.
“
But she must be wealthy to own the biggest house on the beach and not even rent it out,” she says.
But she must be wealthy to own the biggest house on the beach and not even rent it out,” she says.
“
Enough,” Joe says.
Enough,” Joe says.
“
And she has a cottage too?”
And she has a cottage too?”
“
Were you eaves-dropping?” Joe asks.
Were you eaves-dropping?” Joe asks.
“
No.”
No.”
Joe stares at his sister.
“
Yes,” she admits.
Yes,” she admits.
“
Please don’t. Please just let this be. Please stay out of it,” Joe says.
Please don’t. Please just let this be. Please stay out of it,” Joe says.
She scrunches up her face and returns to the nail salon.
Shannon
He didn’t flinch when I asked him not to pretend. Okay, I told him not to pretend. And he agreed. I could tell he didn’t like the berries, but he choked them down anyway. On the one hand it probably means he likes me. But on the other hand it means he isn’t honest. I need honesty in my life.
Honesty with myself, and from others.
So what’s my honesty here? Two coffee dates, a jog, and a mystery date for tomorrow morning where I can bring my sister? What’s my honesty?
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