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I WALKED AROUND THE house, unplugging things just in case there was a power outage. I didn’t want to fry my electronics. Basically, I was stalling. The boat guy wasn’t meeting me until three. I locked all the windows and flopped down on the couch to wait.
My phone rang and I just knew I didn’t want to look at the screen. I didn’t have to guess who it was. It was a very special ringtone, an eerie tune. One that had been used in a horror film. I didn’t bother reaching for the phone. She could leave a message. There was nothing I needed or wanted to say to my now ex-wife.
The call ended and a moment later it started ringing again. I reached for it and declined the call. Why didn’t I just block her damn number? I wanted to, but I worried she would do something else to get to me. But then again, it was time to cut the cord. The phone rang again. I hit the beat it button. Then there was a text followed by another phone call.
“What?” I answered. “What could you possibly want from me? Haven’t you taken everything? We’re so over, Amanda. There’s nothing more to say.”
“You don’t have to be so rude,” she snapped.
“I think I have to be.”
“Did you tell Phil Michelson I cheated on you?” she snapped.
I could not believe I was listening to this. “Amanda, why are you calling me? We’re divorced.”
“I just had a very ugly run in with Phil at the neighborhood luncheon,” she said. “He was very rude. He said he knew what I had done and it was a shame I was still in the neighborhood.”
“And what would you like me to do about it? Don’t you have a fiancé you should be sending after him?”
“I’m disappointed in you,” she said with disgust.
“That’s too bad,” I said dryly. “What will I do? Oh no, will you divorce me again?”
“This isn’t funny,” she said with a sigh. “We have to live here and see these people every day.”
I blew out a breath. “Let me see if I can make this very clear. You are not a part of my life and vice versa. I don’t know why you feel you can or should call me all the time, but you need to stop. This is all over. I don’t want to go to such great lengths to block your number, but I will. I need a clean break. You did what you did. Own it. I’m moving on with my life. Happy trails to you and Phil, good luck with the neighbors and please, for the love of anything holy, don’t call me again.”
I ended the call and shut the thing off. That sealed it. I was leaving early. I would sit on the dock all damn day if I had to. I just had to get away. I didn’t care if it made me a coward, but I wanted to run away from all of it.
When I arrived at the coast, I checked the time. I was going to be early, but I didn’t mind the wait. I climbed out of the cab and grabbed my suitcase and sleeping bag. I was ready to be on that island. Hell, I would swim myself if there was a chance I’d make it out to the island. I took my stuff to the bench facing the water and had a seat. It was a nice view. I was strongly considering moving out to the coast. I could afford a second home. Maybe I would do it. Hell, maybe I would buy one of the many islands that were just off the coastline.
We’d see how this little adventure went. My ride should be showing up pretty quickly. I tapped my foot and waited. I had brought along the bottle of scotch to finish. Last night, it had felt wrong to be imbibing such a fine scotch while inside. I wanted to drink it while I was on the beach under the stars.
I spaced out a bit while I watched the water ebb and flow. It wasn’t long before I heard the engine of a boat. An old man pulled up to the dock and was climbing out of the boat when I whistled to get his attention.
“What can I do for you?” he asked as he hobbled along the dock.
“I think you’re my ride,” I said with a friendly smile.
“Your ride?” he asked. “Where you going?”
“I’m supposed to be heading out to an island,” I told him. “Bar Island, if I remember correctly.”
He scowled and rubbed a hand over his beard. “You sure about that?”
“Pretty sure,” I said. “Is that not the name of it? It’s got a single house on the island. Privately owned. A rental.” I waited for him to show some kind of recognition.
“Oh, I recognize it all right,” he said. “I just came back from there.”
“Oh?” I asked. “Are you the caretaker?”
“Nah, not really,” he shrugged. “I help out the owner’s kids. Technically, I guess they are the owners of it now. They don’t much care to be out there. In order to pay the taxes, they rent it out. I knew their old man; he lived out there full time. I help them out because I don’t want them to sell it. Their daddy would just hate the idea of it being taken out of the family.”
I nodded. I didn’t really care, but I listened. “I reserved it for the month,” I told him.
He scowled and rubbed the beard again. “You and the missus?”
“Missus?”
“The pretty blonde I just took out there,” he said. “Is that your lady? You lucky man.”
Considering Amanda had brown hair, I knew it wasn’t her. “I don’t have a missus,” I told him. “Maybe we’re talking about a different island.”
He smirked and shook his head. “I only go to one.”
“I have the reservation,” I said.
He shrugged. “She beat you to it.”
“That can’t be,” I said. “I already paid.”
“I think there’s been a mistake,” he said. “I don’t have anything to do with the reservations. I just pick up groceries and make sure the place isn’t being squatted in.”
“I’d like to go out,” I said. I wasn’t going to give up. I had been waiting for this vacation for too long.
“You sure about that?” he asked.
“Yes,” I nodded. “I can pay whoever is out there money to leave. I’m not giving up my reservation.”
“Suit yourself,” he said.
I grabbed my bag and sleeping bag and tossed it in the boat. “Just one woman?” I asked.
“Yes, sir,” he said, and before he started the engine, he looked at me. “You’re not a bad guy, are you?”
“Would a bad guy answer that with a yes?” I laughed.
“Don’t need to,” he said with another nod. “I know a good man when I see it. I find myself to be a very good judge of character. I have to make sure I’m looking out for the young lady.”
“Young lady?” I asked with mild interest.
“Yep. What do you plan on telling her?”
“I plan on telling her there’s been a mistake and she needs to leave,” I said.
He laughed again and started the engine. “Oh, I’m sure that’ll go over really well. Any woman willing to stay out there by herself for a month seems like she might be just a little stubborn.”
“I can be just as stubborn,” I said. “If she doesn’t want to leave, that’s okay. We’ll share. I plan on sleeping under the stars anyway. I’m going to fish and be a beach bum. I need nothing else.”
“Now, that’s something I can relate to,” he said.
I was hoping this stubborn, beautiful blonde he described would be reasonable. I wasn’t going to give up and walk away. I needed this island retreat. I was certain I would suffocate if I didn’t get this time away. Mostly because I’d been planning on it for so long. If the woman wanted to get technical, we’d play the game of who saw it first. I was almost certain it was me. I had booked the cottage three months ago. It had been wide open.
“Is it pretty good fishing?” I asked him.
“Yep, if you know how to catch them,” he laughed.
“I’m not worried about that,” I said. “I’ve got a month to figure it out.”
“If she lets you stay.”
“If I let her stay,” I corrected.
“Should I wait?” he asked as he approached the wooden dock that had seen better days.
“Nah, I’ll let her have the house for a week if she wants it. I’ll stay on the beach. If she doesn’t want to share, I’ll tell her to use the flare and signal you to come pick her up.”
His choking laugh made me smile. “I think I might pay to see this little showdown.”
“Nah, I’m a very reasonable man and I’m certain I can convince her it would be best if she gives me what I want,” I said.
He offered to help me out of the boat, but I quickly declined. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stick around?” he asked.
“I’ll be fine,” I told him. “She won’t even know I’m here if that’s what she wants. I’m a very quiet, private person.”
“Just follow that path up to the house,” he said. “Good luck. I think you might need it.”
“Thanks,” I said. “What was your name?”
“Captain Oleg Macdonald,” he said proudly. “Holler if you need me.” Then he burst into laughter. “Loudly.”
“Will do,” I said and waved. I headed up the path and inhaled. The first thing I smelled was the salty air. Then it was the damp foliage. Most of all, I smelled freedom. I took my time as I made my way up to the house. The front door was open.
I knocked on the door frame. “Hello?” I called out. “Anyone home?”
It seemed kind of silly to ask if anyone was home considering it was an island and she couldn’t have gone far. I walked inside and looked around. There was a pile of clothing on the floor in the living room. That seemed a little odd. “Hello?” I called out again.
I popped into the bedroom and saw a bag on the bed. She must be out walking the island. I didn’t dare intrude—yet. It did feel like she had claimed the cottage. I felt like I was breaking in, so I left my bag and suitcase on the porch and went to search for the mystery woman.
“Hello?” I called out as I walked through the trees.
I emerged from the trees and scanned the beach. I could see something not too far away, but I wasn’t entirely sure what it was. It looked like a body. I was going to be so pissed if there was a dead body on my beach. The last thing I wanted was to deal with a crime scene. I would surely be pushed off the island. My entire vacation would be ruined.
“Please don’t be dead,” I whispered. “Hello?”
The body moved. “Thank goodness.”
I waved my hand. “Hey!” I started walking towards the person. I assumed it was the woman Oleg had told me about.
The body sat up, then stood. “Holy shit,” I breathed when I realized she was naked. Very naked. Nude. “Ho-ly shit.”
I waved again. “Hello!”
She screamed and reached for the towel she’d been lying on. She haphazardly covered herself. That’s when I realized I was scaring the shit out of her. I was a strange man on a private island she thought she had to herself. She was right to be terrified. I wasn’t making the best first impression.
END OF EXCERPT
