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Emily
Making it back to the house I’m so annoyed I could punch Miguel but knowing it would only make him torment me more, I opt for a cool shower to remove the unwanted sand that’s hiding in my swimsuit. Coming out of the shower I dig through one suitcase after the next, I have nothing for sleeping or lounging around in. Finding a long t-shirt that falls mid-thigh I peek around the door, “Miguel, are you in there? I have a problem and was hoping you might be able to help me out.”
“Emily, why are you hiding in your room?”
I hear him coming across the floor before I ever see his head pop around the corner. “Miguel, I don’t have any sleepwear we forgot to pack some do you happen to have an extra pair of gym shorts I could use for the night?”
“I might have a pair I’ll look but what the hell are you in now?”
Peeking up at a towering Miguel who has a scowl all over his face, “I got a t-shirt on why is it a big deal I’m not running the damn beach here.”
“Stay put let me see what I can find if I don’t have anything I’ll make a store run.”
Miguel has his days where he confuses the hell out of me. Finally, taking the time to drink in the room that will be mine for the next week. It is cozy, not fancy over the top but as if it was someone’s home strolling around I look at the pictures on the wall above the bed these were taking right here I know the scenery. There’s a handmade quilt across the foot of the bed and an old fashion trunk at the end of the bed, this room is designed to make you feel at home. Hearing the creak of the floor I return to the door, “so?”
“Sorry Emily, I don’t have any but I’m heading up the street to a store to pick up something, and I’ll grab some dinner, you want anything specific?”
“No, anything is fine you know what I like, and don’t you need my size to buy clothes though?”
Shaking his head as he goes down the hall.
“Nope I know what will fit you, be back in just a bit.”
Waiting a few minutes to make sure he is gone I head to the kitchen. There must be something in this house to drink. Mind you I can’t drink every time, when I do it seems something gets broke. Spotting a full wine rack, I pursue the inventory, there’s a small fortune sitting on this wine rack. Makes me wonder who this house really belongs to and how we got it at the last minute. Pulling a nice white wine, I uncork it as I get a goblet down, pouring half a glass I head for the front balcony to watch the sun start it’s decent for the night. This is the total opposite of my home, I bet there are millions of stars here at night. Pulling my shirt down on my thighs I slide into the hammock hanging on the balcony, sipping the wine I lean back and relax. I’d not admit it out loud but this feels great, I’ve not enjoyed the month of October at all in two long years and this used to be my favorite time of the year. Slowly starting to sway the hammock I sip my wine and listen to the sound of the waves crashing into the shoreline, by the sound of it there must be a storm coming in, I hope it moves north or south of us I’m enjoying my spot. Finishing off my glass of wine I set the stemware down on a small wicker table. Swaying in the ocean breeze, I’m jerked awake when something swings the hammock hard, jerking upright I glare at Miguel. “You’re going to give me a heart attack if you keep sneaking up on me all the time. How the hell does someone your size move so quietly around?”
“First let’s discuss why you’re outside with no damn clothes on, yes it’s a private beach and all that, but people have been known to go where they do not post too. Second, why are you drinking it’s not your thing it never turns out good for either of us.”
“Ass, I’m not naked as you can see and for the second part I had one glass that’s all and how much trouble can I get into on an empty beach?”
Tossing the bag from a box store at me he tells me to put those on and come back out he got dinner. Running into the house I dump the contents in the bag out. Miguel is really sweet when no one is looking, he knows I love short sets to sleep in and he got me three different colors to choose between. Getting dressed in the tank top and shorts I head out to find my food. The sooner this day ends the better I will feel. He’s moving around in the kitchen, I see my glass sitting on the table half full, I sit and take a sip of the tangy goodness. “So, what did you bring home for dinner hunny?”
“For you my darlin one, I grabbed a chicken alfredo and a lasagna for myself.”
I pout at the mention of two of my favorite foods.
“Stop pouting I knew you would do it so I got large of both, so you can pick off my plate, but I get to eat off yours in return.” Hell, if she is willing to eat instead of scattering her food out she can have both our dinners. Emily doesn’t eat nearly enough, hasn’t in a long time, she picks and scoots food around to make it look like she ate. “
“Well ass, what’s the plan for tomorrow look like? That way I know how to dress for the day or we could just stay hidden here on the deserted beach.” Wondering how to bring up who the owner of the property is presents itself-hard to do, because for some reason I don’t know if I really want to know. Smelling the distinct Italian seasoning, I glance up to see Miguel plating our dinner, it’s an odd picture really, I’ve never envisioned him as a domestic sort, but he seems to know the area well. Placing our plates on the table he grabs a water from the fridge and sits down.
“There’s a reef right off the edge of the property line that I have explored a few times and I thought I might take you down there in the morning. It’s not real deep, the water is calm in the morning so it’s the perfect place to try scuba diving for the first time.”
Damn Emily has eaten almost all her dinner and has begun slowly sneaking bites from my plate. If this is the way she’s going to be here I’m never taking her back to Georgia. Seeing Emily relax, eat, sleep without tears is a gift to my soul maybe I should tell her the beach house is mine and she can have it if she wants to stay here. I’d gladly give up anything to make her smile again even if it means we’re in two different countries most of the time.
