I exhale sharply as I drop the last box on the counter. My sister, Nova had already started going through the boxes when I walked in. After seven years of working, I finally was able to save enough money for a house. I was completely overjoyed, not just because I can visit my sister and her husband John every day, but that I was now a homeowner. I was one step closer to my goal.
That is if I ever find a guy or have the courage to date him. It's not like I don't want to date, I do. But I just have no interest in dating for fun; I want a real, lasting relationship.
"Hello?"
I blink a few times, suddenly realizing that I was still staring at the box I have previously placed in front of me. "Are you okay?" Nova looked over at me, concern etched across her otherwise perfect face.
She didn't have freckles for days as I did, nor did her fiery red hair frizz up in a heap of curls in the heat like mine. The only thing we were similar on was our hair color and eye color, but this was a given as we are related. But what made our sisterly bond undeniable was our ability to sense that something was wrong even if we said otherwise.
Little did I know that she was the person I would turn to the most these next coming weeks, even more, so that usual.
"I'm fine, I was just daydreaming. Let's get back to work." I try to reassure her while opening up the box to find my plates neatly stacked inside and wrapped in bubble wrap.
Carefully unwrapping each one, I stack them neatly in the cabinet before continuing on to the next box. After a few hours of unpacking, we beside it would be a good idea to get out and stretch our legs for a while. Little did I know that this walk would change my life forever.
*
We exited my two-bedroom beach house with our purses in hand. It was almost one by the time we made our way outside and into the cool salty air of Tybee Island. I say it was cool because Georgia weather was significantly cooler than Missouri weather where I grew up.
I faced the sun, shading my eyes a bit with my hands as I waited for Nova to lock the front door so we could leave. I turned to look at my older sister, only twenty-five years old and she could still pull off a pair of overall shorts and a light pink shirt, which she hastily changed into after I said I needed a break. I didn't understand her to need to change her outfit, but I guess if she wants to, she can.
"You look cute." I said, looking down at my tank top and shorts, "What's the occasion?"
She waved a hand at me before throwing the keys in my outstretched hand, "I want to get some lunch after all that work. Maybe after we can head over to my shop?"
"Sounds good," I said linking my arm in hers as we left the driveway and towards the nearest restaurant, "When's Josh coming home?"
"He's needed later tonight at the aquarium. Said they found an injured dolphin a few miles off the coast this morning." She pauses for only a moment and then continued on, "He would have been able to come earlier had the new veterinarian been scheduled."
"We got a new veterinarian?" I ask, curious.
"Yeah, Josh says he's a good worker. He told me he reminds him of you. Very passionate about the ocean, but he isn't as reserved as you tend to be."
"Huh, well I guess I'll be meeting him sooner than later. I'll be going into work next week," I said, grinning at her, "Head Conservationist, has a nice ring to it don't you think?" She grins over at me, shaking her head.
"You are so much like Mom It's insane!"
"Yes, but you're pretty like her and you have her heart." I retort, poking her arm.
She glances over at me, "We're both pretty women." She wraps her arm around me as we make our way up to the Sting Ray's restaurant.
A teenage boy greeted us from across the counter, informing us that there would be a bit of a wait as it was the afternoon. We thanked him and sat down at a nearby bench waiting for our turn to go inside.
"Oh!" Nova said suddenly, "I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back."
As soon as she left me alone the inevitable happened. Within an instant, I was trampled by a blur of black and white that came barrelling towards me before shoving all of its weight on top of me.
"Buddy!" Someone said, muffled by the crushing feeling of the dog on top of me, "Oh no, I'm so sorry! Buddy, get off of her!"
Somehow, I ended up sprawled on the ground before the weight of the Great Dane was lifted from me. I looked up, first seeing a hand offering to help me up and then I saw him. He was tall, no more than six foot and built as if all he did was swim. His tousled charcoal-colored hair fell into his green eyes as he looked me up and down, concern filling his features and something else I had never seen before. He was undeniably handsome.
"I um, It's okay." I managed to say, brushing my clothes off as if to say I wasn't just trampled by this guy's dog.
"Are you sure you're okay? I swear Buddy doesn't usually act like this."
"Thank you for your concern," I replied, beginning to pick at the hem of my shirt, "But I'll be fine."
"Oh my gosh, Elsie! What happened?" Nova asked as she came towards us.
"It's all my fault, my dog decided to trample her." He explained.
"As I said, I'm fine. We should start over," I said, offering my hand for a proper introduction, "My name is Elsie Andrews, and this is my sister, Nova White."
"Alex Walsh." He said, grinning as he shook my hand. "I'm a veterinarian as the Tybee Island Research Center."
"Oh cool, I'll be starting there next week. I'm going to be the new Head Conservationist."
"Really? Wow, what a title." He laughed and I couldn't help but join him.
We stood there for a few seconds in silence before Nova cut us off, "Well, they just called our table. It was nice meeting you Alex."
When we were safely tucked away at our table Nova pressed on the moment I had with Alex. Although I wouldn't call it a moment, I would call it a disaster! "I know that look," Nova said, "You like him!"
She squealed with delight like a thirteen-year-old and I managed to glare at her from across the table, "Will you cut that out."
"Fine, you're no fun." She pouted while looking over her menu and I rolled my eyes.
But her words rang through my head. If I liked him, and we were to date even with the slim chance that he liked me back, am I willing to risk the chance of another hurtful relationship?
*
After lunch, Nova and I made our way across town to her small boutique that was huddled in between a surf shop and an antique store. Some of the locals and the tourists smiled and waved at us as we passed, we, of course, smiled back. The Seaside Boutique sign looked back at me from across the glass window. Smiling, Nova opened the door to let me is. Rows and rows of colorful clothing hit me and the calming scent of rose blossoms surrounded the shop.
"Isn't it just amazing!" She beamed, straightening a conk shell that sat atop the glass countertop. Along the far wall was an assortment of swimwear and wetsuits, while near the front hosted various hats, sunglasses, and jewelry. The walls were painted a soft grey which contrasted well with the various colors that the shop's items sported.
"It's great!" I exclaimed, running my hand over a series of beaded anklets.
"Oh! That reminds me, I was wondering if you'd wear some of my items for your first day?"
I look up, eyebrows raised, "You want me to advertise for you?"
"Well, I mean, you don't have to wear everything from the shop. But maybe you could wear something simple, like a bracelet." She explained, walking over to the bracelet rack before pulling out a beaded piece of jewelry from a hook.
"Why don't you create a social media account for your shop?" I said, "You'll get more customers that way. Or are you just trying to say that I have bad taste in clothing?" Smiling slightly, I watch as she looks away which usually meant I was right.
"Well, It's your first day at your dream job! You should look your best!"
"Uh, huh," I breathed, unconvinced, "This doesn't have anything to do with you and your 'matchmaking' does it? I told you if a guy can't love me the way I am then he isn't the guy for me. That's why I don't wear makeup remember."
"I know, I know. But Elsie, for me, just wear some jewelry."
"Fine." I sighed, picking out a silver sand dollar necklace on a silver chain and handed it over to Nova to ring up. Opening my wallet, I place a five-dollar bill into her hand and she places it in her register before handing me back my necklace.
"I should probably be getting back to the unpacking. I still have the living room and my room to do."
"Can I help you pick out the furniture?"
"You're too late, I already ordered them. They should be here in a few days or so."
"Oh." Her smile fades before rising up again as a customer made their way through the front door.
"I'll see you later sis!" I call before leaving her with her customer and exit out into the nice weather.
The walk home was uneventful, that is until my neighbor showed up at my home just moments before I did. His familiar black hair sat before me and when the stranger turned around, I was instantly hit with a wave of nervousness. Alex Walsh was standing on my front porch with a bottle of red wine and no Great Dane in sight.
"Can I help you?" I ask, looking to him and to the bottle of wine and back again.
"Oh, hi Elsie, do you know when they will be back?" He asked, pointing towards the house with his free hand, "My sister wanted to give them a housewarming gift, so she made me go over and buy the wine. Anyways, what are you doing here?"
"I- I live here Alex." I state, not making a move towards my home."
"You do? Oh, I'm sorry for barging in on you like this. I've always wanted a house like this. You could put a porch swing here next to the window, you have enough room. And the beams look like they'd hold."
"Yeah," I pause, walking towards him until we were standing next to each other, "That would be nice, wouldn't it? Would you like to come in? I don't think I could drink this entire bottle; I don't usually drink a lot. We could sit and talk out here on the porch."
"Sure, I'd like that." He smiled, a genuine smile and I left him standing on the porch to go grab the wine glasses.
Walking back outside, glasses in hand I saw he had already made himself comfortable on the steps. Sitting down next to him, I watched as he easily popped the bottle open and poured our glasses. Taking a small sip of my glass we began to talk and get to know one another. I learned that he was from Summerville, South Carolina and that his mother still lived in the home where he grew up. His father passed away a few years ago and his mother still visited his grave every Thursday to check on his flowers.
I told him about my mother, about how she was a Marine Biologist and she worked in Kansas City, Missouri where my sister and I were born. And I also told him about the plane crash that killed my mother and father after they were on their way home from their cruise to celebrate their twenty-five-year anniversary.
"Do you miss them?" He asked, turning to me.
"Every single day." I said, giving him a small smile, "But they're still with me."
We sat in silence for a bit, finding comfort in each other's lack of words, listening to the soft lull of the sea in the distance. I felt like I could stay here forever, but maybe that was just the wine talking.