Jasper
It’s become a routine for me that after the dinner service I go for a walk on the beach. After being in the hot kitchen all night, the waves seem soothing. I don’t normally find Brynn sitting on the beach, though.
So, I walk over and sit down beside her. She doesn’t move, turn towards me, or speak.
“What are you thinking about so hard over there?” I ask her.
“My parents. I wonder what they would think about all this. About Lin and me fighting to save Main Street, about the villas, you working in the kitchen, and how Lin and me are doing with The Inns. I wonder how my dad would have reacted to Kade, though, I know my mom would be gushing over him. She’d be in heaven right now, planning the wedding with Lin’s mom. Can you imagine? She’d decorate the whole town.” She smiles.
I can see it all, too. The first time I stepped foot in Sunrise, after being back from New York City, I had the same thoughts.
“I know what you mean. When I think about how my dad would feel about me coming home, I know he’d be happy. But can you imagine how he’d have reacted, when Kade stepped foot in his restaurant?”
“He’d have shoved every dish on the menu at him. Then, chase you around with that metal grill spatula for the way you treated them.” Brynn laughs.
I cringe, because she’s right. My dad loved that spatula. In fact, I have it in my office at the restaurants, because no one uses it anymore. We’re quiet for a while, and maybe, some of her defenses dropped, because it seems she needs to build them back up.
“So, how was your date the other night?” She asks.
“Oh, God. It was horrible.” I groan.
“Good!” She laughs.
“She ordered a salad! I mean, I’m a chef, I can cook you just about anything you want, you’re eating from my kitchen, and you order a salad!”
Brynn is laughing, “Well, it’s my kitchen, and you’re just borrowing it.” She says, when she calms down.
I smile, but again, I don’t say anything. If I have it my way, I won’t be leaving it, but she doesn’t need to know that, yet.
We sit in silence again for ten or fifteen minutes, or it could have been a half hour. It doesn’t matter, because I don’t care, and just sitting here with her is enough. But I know I need to start mending fences.
“I get what you went through more than ever now. It’s why I hesitated in coming home right after Dad died. I was scared to face you.” I admit.
“What? Why?” She asks, like I’m crazy.
“Well, the kiwis for one, and I knew I’d have to have this conversation with you, where I admit what an idiot I was, and how I didn’t know what I was doing.”
I wish I could find the words to convey to her exactly how I feel, but no matter how hard I try, nothing seems right.
“We were younger, dumber. Lin and I didn’t get to make all the mistakes you and other people make in their early twenties. We had to grow up much faster.” She says.
“And I should have been here for that. I truly am sorry. But I want you to know, it’s always been you.” I decide to lay it on thick; put it all out on the line. If it doesn’t work out, there will be no regrets that I didn’t say or do something that might have worked. That’s a lesson my dad taught me a long time ago.
“What?” She asks.
“I tried to date, and all I did was compare them to you. Because of that, I haven’t had a relationship, since you.” I admit.
Her mouth falls open, and she stares at me, like I just sprouted a second head. My eyes are drawn to her mouth, her perfect pink lips, and I remember what her lips felt like on mine all those years ago. I take the moment of stunned silence to lean in and kiss her. She doesn’t kiss me back at first, but when she does, it shocks my whole system.
I don’t remember our kisses feeling like this, electrifying and life changing. I don’t remember ever being so turned on by a kiss. I gently lean her back on to the sand and deepen the kiss, as she wraps her arms around my neck.
I slowly kiss down her neck. “God, Brynn, I’ve missed you so damn much,” I whisper against her skin.
“Jasper,” she gasps and grips my shoulders tighter, pulling me closer to her.
My kiss glides back up to her mouth, and we’re in a war for dominance, who is going to control the kiss. I let her lead, and when she nips at my bottom lip, I groan and pull away. It’s too fast, and I want to take this slow, letting her know this isn’t about sex, and this is about her and us.
The moment I pull away, it’s like reality washes over her, and she sits up, catching her breath.
I run a hand down the side of her face and lean to kiss her lightly on her lips.
This time, when I pull back, she jumps up.
“Ummm. Well… I… tomorrow…” She says, her eyes hopeful and runs off to The Inn.
I just shake my head, smiling and stay staring at the water.
I don’t notice Kade walking up, until he speaks.
“What has you grinning like a fool?” He jokes.
“Ahhh, just making progress with Brynn,” I say.
He cocks his head to the side and stares at me.
“You kissed her, huh?” He says.
My smiles grow. “Yeah.”
Kade chuckles and sits down beside me.
“Where’s Lin?” I ask.
“She kicked me out of the room, so she and my mom could video chat and talk wedding stuff. I told her she had half an hour, so I figured a walk on the beach was in order.” He says.
“So, what are your plans with the mayor?” I ask.
“I have a hunch that I can’t prove just yet, so I have a guy doing some digging. Something about this development project doesn’t seem to be on the up and up. Like I said, I can’t prove anything, but it’s a gut feeling, and I always go with my gut.” He says.
“I remember Mayor Jones, when I was growing up. His family has always been on The Island. He doesn’t get along with his dad. Rumors spread his dad was a drunk, but no one ever saw him drink, and Bert never had any marks on him. At least, that’s what my mom said.” I tell him.
I pause, trying to pull up the memories I have of Bert Jones.
“He went away to school and came back, and my mom said it’s like he was a different person. He wasn’t angry, but he disowned his father and helped his mom leave him. She’s now retired and living in some retirement resort in Florida. His dad left town, and no one has heard from him.”
“What did his parents do for work?” Kade asks.
“Ahhh, let’s see. His mom was an elementary school teacher, and his dad worked at a factory on the mainland,” I tell him.
“What about Bert? What did he do, before he was mayor?” Kade asks.
“He worked at the bank, doing loans, I think. He became mayor, when I was in high school and has been for years now. I don’t know if any of this will help you, but maybe, it will.”
“No, it’s good background, and it gives me a starting point,” Kade says. “Did you hear we’re moving up the wedding?”
“No, to when?” I ask.
“Two weeks, before the season gets busy.” He says.
“Any reason?” I side eye him.
He chuckles, “No Lin is not pregnant, and that’s the first thing my mom asked. It’s because I don’t want to wait, and when the season ends here, harvesting season begins for my parents, and they won’t be able to get away, so it makes sense to do it now. Since I can make it happen, why not? So, tell me what you need to make the food happen by, then.” He says.
“Just a menu and a guest count. Appetizers, soups, salad, meals, sides. Do you want it to be a sit down or a buffet? Get with Brynn on drinks to be served.”
“Okay, that’s all part of what Lin is talking to my mom about. That and I’m sure my mom is holding up every embarrassing photo she has of me.” He shakes his head.
“Lin and your mom get along?”
“Yeah. Almost too well.” He smiles.
Good. I’m glad Lin is gaining more family, as she doesn’t hide how much she misses her parents. I’m sure it’s even worse right now with them not around to help plan the wedding, so I’m happy Kade’s parents are stepping in.
“Well, I better head home and tell my mom the news. She’ll hang me from the tree in the front yard, if she hears it from anyone else.”
“Alright, then. We need you to cook for the wedding, so hurry home,” Kade says, as we stand up.
He shakes my hand, and I make the walk back to my mom’s house.
Like clockwork, she’s sitting on the living room couch reading, when I get home.
“You’ll want to put your book down for this, Mom,” I say and head to the minibar and pour us both a drink.
“Oh, no. You broke out the rum, what is it? Did you kill someone? I think the shovel is still in the shed, but you will have to do the digging.” Mom says.
The sad part? She’s 100% serious, and she’d help me bury the body, but then, hold it over my head the rest of my life.
“Nothing like that. It’s kind of good news, but I know it will stress you out a bit.” I tell her.
“Well, out with it, then!” She takes a sip of the rum.
“Lin and Kade moved up their wedding,” I tell her.
She pauses mid drink. “To when?”
“Two weeks, and no she isn’t pregnant,” I add in, because I know that’s her next question.
“Two weeks! Bloody good thing that boy is loaded. What made them move it up so soon?” She says.
“Kade said, when the season ends here, harvest season is starting with his parents, so the timing isn’t good. They can get away now, and he doesn’t want to wait,” I say.
Mom takes another sip, and then purses her lips.
“He’s doing it for his parents?” She confirms.
“Yes.”
“I’m so glad Lin found a good boy like that with his reputation and all.” Mom nods. “Does Lin get along with his parents?”
“Yeah, Kade says her and his mom get along too well,” I laugh.
“Good. Tomorrow, you’ll drive me into work, and I’ll help her get the planning in motion. Did they hire a wedding planner?”
“Mom, I don’t know, ask them.” I groan.
“Ugh, men never get the details. Just like your father.” She shakes her head and heads into the kitchen.
She’s still mumbling, while opening and closing drawers, and I know she’s pulling out a pen and paper to start making a list.
Lord, help Lin and Kade. Heaven and Hell have nothing on Mrs. Adams, when she gets going.