Stan’s sport fishing boat, Island Daze, is idling at the end of the main marina dock when Birdie hurries down the ramp, flip flops flapping on the wooden boards and hand on sunhat to keep it from flying off. Stan waits for her in the boat’s cockpit, amidst an assortment of inner tubes and paddle boards.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” she says, slightly out of breath.
“Five minutes isn’t late. We’re on Palmetto Island time.” Stan extends an arm, helping her on board. He pecks her cheek. “It’s so nice to see you again, Birdie.”
His genuine warmth sets Birdie at ease, and she smiles at him. “And you as well. Thank you for having me.”
“So.” He clasps his hands together. “While I was waiting for you, I overheard some fishermen talking. They spotted an enormous school of dolphin just offshore. Wanna go check them out?”
“I would love that.”
“Then what are we waiting for.” After untying the lines, he takes her bag from her while she climbs the ladder to the flybridge.
She hesitates when she reaches the top, not sure where to sit. Stan joins her, tossing her bag on the bench seat in front of the console and motioning her to the swivel seat next to the captain’s chair.
The tide is low, and when he puts the engines in gear, the propellers churn mud off the stern of the boat. “Busy weekend?” he asks as he guides them out of the marina.
She nods. “Very.”
“We’ve been slammed at the store. I barely managed to get away.” Stan’s store, Island Water Sports, is a destination for lowcountry boat owners and water sports enthusiasts. He carries everything from men’s and women’s apparel to medium size boats.
He settles back in his chair. “You’re smart to close at two on Sundays. How did you come up with that idea? Is that an off-peak time for you?”
“I don’t know, honestly. I adopted the hours when I bought the bakery from Amber. I figured our customers were already trained, so why change anything. Sunday afternoons have become sacred for me, the one time during the week when I can totally relax.”
“When you’re open seven days a week, you need a break every now and then. I’ve been considering closing on Mondays. We’d have to make exceptions for holidays that fall on Mondays like Memorial Day and Labor Day. Those are top-selling days for us.”
Birdie considers this before answering. “You might find you like having the time to reset the store after the weekend. And it would help with managing employee time off. Surprisingly, Mondays are busy for us. Our customers need strong coffee and comfort food to get them through the first day of the work week.”
Stan chuckles. “I can totally relate.” He places his right hand on the throttles. “I’m gonna speed up. Hold on to your hat.”
Birdie snatches her hat off her head and holds it tight in her lap as the engines rumble and the boat comes up out of the water. She studies Stan as he navigates through the channel to the mouth of the inlet and out into the ocean. He’s of average height and build with salt and pepper hair and a scruffy beard. While his eyes are hidden by Costas sunglasses, visible laugh lines are a sign of his happy-go-lucky personality.
Birdie knew his wife, but they were never friends. How long have Stan and Shannon been divorced? Five or six years? Birdie wonders, as she often has, if there’s any truth to the unconfirmed rumors about Shannon being gay.
They’ve only been in the ocean a few minutes when Stan yells, “Look! Dophin! Off the starboard side.” He slows the boat and puts the engines in neutral. “They’re everywhere.”
All around them, a sea of black porpoises leap out of the water and dive back in. “They’re amazing.”
“Aren’t they? Let’s go down to the bow,” he says, killing the engines.
They climb down the ladder and hug the cabin as they make their way out to the bow. They sit down and stretch their legs out in front of them as they watch the majestic sight before them. The ocean is as flat as she ever remembers seeing it. There’s not a cloud in the sky, and the air is still and hot. Birdie is unfazed by the perspiration streaming down her back and dampening her armpits. She’s used to stifling summers in the lowcountry.
“This is lovely,” Birdie says. “I don’t remember the last time I was out in the ocean.”
“We’ll have to remedy that. You can’t live on the coast and not get out on the ocean.”
When the dolphins move on, they return to the flybridge and cruise north up the coast aways. Turning the boat around, Stan yells, “How about a swim?”
Birdie shrugs, as if to say anything is fine with her.
Inside the mouth of the inlet, Stan anchors the boat near a sandy beach and they strip down to their bathing suits.
“What’s it gonna be, floating or boarding?” Stan asks, pointing first at the inner tubes and then the paddleboards.
“Considering I’ve never been on a paddle board, I vote for tubing.”
Stan veins horror. “Never been paddle boarding? You’re missing one of the greatest pleasures in life. What about kayaking?”
Birdie shakes her head. “Kayaking was Cary’s and Hannah’s thing. I didn’t mind so much. I enjoyed watching them spending time together on the water.”
Lines appear in his forehead. “More than two can kayak at a time, you know?”
“I know,” Birdie chokes out past the lump in her throat. The last ten years of their marriage, Cary had rarely asked her to go on any of his many outings.
Tossing the tubes in the water, Stan opens the transom door and they step out onto the swim platform. He cannonballs off the boat, and feeling like a kid again, she follows suit.
“Thatta girl.” He offers her a high five. “There’s hope for you yet.”
Birdie and Stan climb into their tubes and float around in the water. They talk about their businesses, friends they have in common, and food. Stan enjoys cooking and it appears to be something of a chef. But mostly they speak of their children. Without going into detail about their circumstances, she tells Stan about Hannah and Gus. Stan, in turn, talks about his daughter in Charleston—Jean, a successful interior designer with two teenager children—and his son, Blake, whom he’s grooming to one day take over his business. Stan spends much of his free time with Blake and his daughter-in-law, Jamie, who is expecting their first baby in November.
They exchange their inner tubes for paddle boards, and Birdie is relieved to discover that keeping her balance isn’t as hard as it looks. Paddling over to the beach, they sit for awhile in the sand with their feet in the edge of the water.
“I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed an afternoon on the water like this,” Birdie says, relaxing back on her elbows and tilting her face to the sun.
“You seriously need to get out more,” Stan says. “If you’re free next Sunday, we’ll go on a wave runner adventure. ”
“I’ve never been on a wave runner.”
He palms his forehead. “Wave runners are my number one seller. I personally own three. They’re parked at my dock. You can drive to my house, and we’ll leave from there.”
Birdie relishes the idea of spending another day like today with Stan. “Should I pack a picnic? We can have an early dinner.”
“As long as your picnic includes fried chicken,” he says with a hint of mischief on his lips.
“Of course. And all the fixings.”
Stan moves closer to her until their thighs are touching. “I’m a straight shooter, Birdie. I hope that doesn’t bother you.”
Birdie sits up straight. “Not at all. I don’t have the time or inclination to play games. You can always be honest with me.”
“Good! Because I’ve had a crush on you for the longest time, and I don’t think I can wait a week to see you again.”
Birdie laughs out loud, but secretly, she’s pleased as punch.
“Are you free for a cookout tomorrow night? What is Memorial Day without hamburgers and hotdogs?”
“I would love that. As long as you let me bring something.”
He nudges her with his elbow. “You may bring a key lime pie. My daughter-in-law served one of your pies for my birthday dinner last month, and I’m here to tell you, that was one of the best things I’ve put in my mouth in a long time.”
“I plan to make a fresh batch in the morning. I will put one aside.”
They sit on the beach a while longer, not talking but smiling at each other. Stan is a good guy, a normal guy with a big heart who enjoys life. And he has a crush on her. But the chemistry between them scares her. Cary is the only man she’s really truly been with. Will she remember how to have sex? Will she be bad at it? What if she lets him down? What if he’s disappointed at the sight of her naked, naked.
Stop, Birdie! You’re getting way ahead of yourself. Or are you?
Whatever this things is between them feels right. She’s not getting any younger. Why not go for it? She has nothing to lose.
Sunday afternoons are Hannah and Birdie’s special time together. They either take Gus to the beach, or go for a long walk, or out for an early dinner. She’s being selfish. Her mom is practically giddy about her date with Stan Morgan. And Hannah doesn’t blame her. For an old man, Stan’s pretty cool. If her mom marries him, maybe Stan will give Hannah a good deal on a wave runner. Although she won’t have much use for a wave runner if she moves to Charleston. If she moves to Charleston, which she’s decided she very much wants to do. Except that she hasn’t heard from Ethan since he dropped her at Liza’s apartment last night. Hannah tells herself not to worry. He’s either sleeping in or going to church with his folks or doing chores to get ready for the week ahead. But she knows deep down he’s avoiding her. She’s not going to hear from him.
Avoiding her father, she closes herself in her room. She reads Gus a book, but exhausted from his sleepover with Robbie, he falls asleep before she finishes the first page. Hannah works at her computer while he naps, checking her phone every few minutes for new texts. The phone startles her and she comes out of her chair when it rings around four thirty. But it’s her realtor calling, not Ethan.
“The owners of the Summer Street house are getting an offer this afternoon. The other realtor is a friend. According to her, the offer is weak. But, because the owners are eager to make an offer on their dream home, they may take it anyway. If you’re interested, Hannah, you should make a move. There’s a good chance you’ll get it.”
Great! She collapses back in her chair. Why did her mom have to pick today to go on a date? “I don’t know, Shannon.”
“Would it help to see it again? I can arrange to get you in this afternoon.”
Maybe seeing the house will help her decide. “Another tour is a good idea. But I’ll have to bring my son with me. Mom’s not here to watch him.”
“That’s fine. I’ll watch him while you look at the house.”
“Okay. Text me when you confirm the time.”
“Mommy, may I have a snack?”
Hannah swivels around in her chair to see Gus sitting up in bed. She moves over to the bed. “Did you have a nice nap?”
He bobs his head.
“Good. You needed it. Let’s get you dressed.” She helps him out of his pajama top. “We need to run an errand. We’ll get a snack from the kitchen on our way out.”
“What kinda of errand?” Gus asks, holding his hands over his head while she lips on his T-shirt.
“We’re going to look at a house.”
He scrunches up his face. “Whose house?”
“Somebody’s. No one you know.”
“But I don’t wanna go look at somebody’s house. Can’t I stay here with Birdie?”
“Birdie’s not here. She’s gone out with her friend. I promise it won’t take long. If you’re a good boy, we’ll stop at Scoops on the way home.”
He sticks his lower lip out in a pout. “I don’t want ice cream.”
Usually the suggestion of ice cream does the trick. But Gus is still cranky from his sleepover. “Fine. I’ll eat your share,” she says and tickles him until he laughs and falls over on his side.
Her phone pings with a text from Shannon. Owners are having guests for dinner. We need to tour the house now.
Hannah texts back. Be there in ten minutes.
They emerge from the bedroom to find her father watching television in the living room. Gus runs over to him and jumps into his lap.“Pops! Can I stay with you while Mommy goes to see somebody’s house?”
“Of course, buddy,” Cary says, mussing Gus’s blonde hair.
Hannah considers the arrangement. Touring the house without Gus in tow would be easier. On the other hand, letting her father babysit will give him the impression she’s softening toward him, which she definitely is not. “Sorry, Gus. You’re coming with me.” She picks up her son and carries him down the stairs kicking and screaming.
She retrieves a juice box and small package of animal crackers from the kitchen. Gus is still sobbing when she straps him into his stroller, but he quiets when she hands him his snack. She jogs cross Ocean Avenue and race walks up Magnolia Street. The afternoon sun is scorching, and Hannah is soon sweating.
What is she doing? Why is she considering making an offer on a house with her future so uncertain? She pauses on the sidewalk to check her phone. Nothing. Why hasn’t Ethan called? Maybe he went deep-sea fishing with his father today. Stop it, Hannah! Quit making excuses for him. Ethan has made it clear. He doesn’t want a twenty-five-year-old single mom as his partner.
Hannah pushes the stroller onward. But there’s a bright side. Even if she never hears from him again, the experience has taught her a valuable lesson. Designing websites isn’t enough for Hannah. In order to grow personally and professionally, she needs to expand her company. Which means stepping out of her safe zone. Palmetto island has harbored her during the past three years while she adjusted to being a single mother. But she’s more confident now. She can manage without her mother. Can’t she?
She can’t see herself in a big city like Atlanta or New York. She’ll move to a small southern city like Charlotte or Raleigh. Or Charleston. Ethan doesn’t own Charleston. And it’s only an hour away. She can come home on the weekends to get her island fix.
Hannah’s realtor is waiting for her on the sidewalk in front of the Summer Street house. “I’m sorry, Shannon. I’m wasting your time. I can’t make an offer on any house right now.”
Shannon peers at her from behind oversized sunglasses. “What’s changed? You’ve been in the market for months now?”
“A career opportunity has come up. If I decide to pursue it, I’ll be moving to Charleston. I need more time to make my decision.”
“I totally understand, hon. Buying a house is a huge deal. You have to be absolutely certain.” Shannon squeezes Hannah’s hand. “You know where to find me when you’re ready.”
Hannah smiles at her. “Thanks for being so understanding.”
“Happens all the time. It’s part of my job.”
Gus cranes his neck to see Hannah. “Is this somebody’s house, Mommy?”
Hannah pats her son’s head. “Yes, sweetheart. Somebody lives here. But I’ve changed my mind about going inside.”
Shannon’s face melts. “He’s adorable. Love those baby blues. He’s gonna be a lady killer when he grows up.”
“Thank you. I’ll be in touch,” Hannah says, turning the stroller around and heading back the way she came.
Her steps are lighter on the walk home. Instead of using her savings as a downpayment on a house, she’ll use it to establish her business. Her firm is the wrong fit for Ethan’s anyway. His clients are mostly mainstream professionals like bankers and doctors while hers are authors and small business owners. A city like Charleston would present an opportunity for her to break into the vacation industry with the boutique hotels and countless food establishments. Hannah will remain creative director. She’ll start slow by hiring another designer and work toward finding someone with an outgoing personality to bring in accounts.
By the time she reaches the waterfront, Gus has fallen asleep in the stroller. Not ready to face her dad, she drapes a blanket over the stroller to keep the sun of her sleeping child, and sits down on a bench in the park. Tourists stroll by and a gentle breeze rustles the large flat leaves of nearby palmetto trees.
A few minutes later, Hannah’s deep in thoughts of expanding her firm when her mom strolls up from the dock. She moves over to make room for Birdie on the bench. “Well? How was your date?”
Birdie drops her beach bag on the ground and sits down beside Hannah. “Lovely,” she says, her face aglow. “He invited me for dinner tomorrow night.”
Hannah digs her elbow into her mother’s side. “Go, Mom.” She’s been worried her mother was once again falling for her father.
“Stan is a genuinely nice person and fun to be around.” Birdie lifts the blanket to peek at Gus. “Tell me about your trip to Charleston?”
Hannah recounts the events of her trip to Charleston, including the part when she told Ethan about Gus.
“Hmm,” Birdie says, tapping her chin. “Maybe there’s another explanation as to why he hasn’t called.”
“Maybe. But I doubt it.” Hannah hesitates. Should she tell Birdie about her plans? Voicing her idea makes it more real. And super scary. “I’m considering using my house money to expand my firm. To truly have skin in the game, I would need to move to Charleston. What do you think?”
“I will miss you and Gus something fierce. But I say go for it. You’ve been hiding out on the island long enough. You need to make your mark on the world.”
Hannah cuts her eyes at Birdie. “Hiding out? Is that what you think I’ve been doing?”
Birdie tucks her chin. “Isn’t it?”
Hannah’s gaze shifts to the ground. “I guess you’re right.” The likelihood of Gus’s father finding her is far slimmer on the island than in Charleston. But that’s a risk she’ll have to take.
Off in the distance, Hannah spots a familiar figure gliding a kayak across the water toward the marina. “Yay! Dad found his kayak. I hope that means he’ll be out of the apartment more. He’s like the thing that wouldn’t leave.”
Birdie snickers. “That’s mean, Hannah. I know the situation isn’t ideal. But he’s trying.”
Hannah gawks. “I can’t believe you’ve forgiven him after everything he put us through.”
“You’re mistaken, sweetheart. I haven’t forgiven him for abandoning me, and I probably never will. I told him as much to his face. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.” Birdie tilts Hannah’s chin toward her. “Bitterness and resentment will eat you alive, Hannah. But forgiveness cleans the soul. Your father left because of problems in our marriage that have nothing to do with you. You just got caught in the after math. He’s your father. The two of you once shared a special relationship.”
“So special he never once tried to get in touch with me during the three years he was missing,” Hannah says, hooking her fingers in air quotes.
“We all make mistakes, Hannah. But good things usually come from those mistakes.”
“True,” Hannah says in a soft voice. “My biggest mistake brought me Gus.”
“And your dad’s disappearance led me to face some stark realities about myself. Because of him, I quit drinking and bought a bakery.”
“I’ve lost all respect for him, Mom. Will I ever be able to trust him again?”
“I don’t know. But you owe it to yourself to try.”