Love Revealed: A BWWM Sweet Romance Novel (9 page)

He cleaned up and got dressed, hoping to leave by ten. He was a little late, but he hadn't made any plans so, it didn't matter. He was going to give back the boat, check his new boat is okay, then head into town for some lunch and then some shopping, maybe stop by and talk with Betty. He had picked up the cardboard boxes as he left the house, for his groceries. As he was sailing through the bay, he spotted some seals playing in the water, bobbing their heads up and down and then splashing their tails as they dove under. Guy wondered if they were Pat and its new mom? Would he even recognise them if he did see them again? Darla popped into his head then. He missed her. He was angry at himself that he had not noticed his interest in her sooner. Sometimes love just happens like that though, one minute you think of a person as a friend, but then if someone puts the question to you, you start to think about this person in a whole new light and begin to wonder how you never noticed that you had the hots for them before, or that they were the perfect person for you all along?
 

Maybe I'll text her when I get to the diner, he thought.
 

He got through his business at the boat shop. His new boat was looking good. A nice new model, with a more modern engine than the one his father had purchased probably fifteen or more years before. He would have to think of a name for this one, maybe even get Darla and Adeen over to help him christen it?
 

"Hows the weather looking Larry?" he asked the salesman.

"Looking clear through until Monday, then we have a low pressure area coming in. Could change though. Keep your eyes and ears open as usual. Hope that new boat lasts you as many as the other. I heard from some of the guys that went out doing clean up on the vacant islands, they may have found some of your boat. If they come across something that looks like it definitely is, would you like me to keep you a piece, for memories sake?"

"Yeah, sure, that would be nice Larry. Okay, thanks for everything, I'll be leaving 'round six, or seven tonight taking the boat back."

"Right you are Guy. Thanks for your business. See ya."

Guy was pretty hungry, and was planning what he was going to have for lunch. The diner wasn't very busy when he entered. Nancy recognised him right away and pointed him towards a corner booth. As he sat down she came over with her notepad.

"So, stranger, you get everything fixed up right, after the storm? Haven't seen you around since then?"

"Yeah, I hired some guys to come out and help me fix up the shed and the dock, then some others to cut down a broken tree and do some trimming around while they were there. Couple of roof tiles needed mending. Cost a pretty penny, but hopefully it'll all last a while now. Don't even remember if that was the original dock or not. But it was damn old!"

"Yes, best to have up to date things on an island like that. What you in town for today? Groceries?"

"Brought back the rental boat and picking up my new one tonight and groceries yeah.You think it's too late to go out and visit Betty later?"

"Hm, she hasn't been feeling the best this last week, picked up a nasty summer cold. Probably best not to introduce anything else into the house while she's poorly. Maybe next month? I’m sure she'll be better by then."

"Send her my wishes, will you."

"Will do son. Now, what will you be having today?"

While Nancy filled his order of a cheeseburger and fries and vanilla milkshake, Guy scrolled through his contacts list on his phone. He really wanted to send Darla a message. He started typing one out, but was interrupted by a tap on his shoulder.
 

"I knew it was you."

Guy turned around. It was that woman from the stationary store, the fan. What was her name? Jane? No, Jocelyn.

"Hi, Jocelyn. How are you doing? In for a bite to eat?"

She had grown a huge smile after he said her name and was now slowly sliding herself into the booth seat across from him.

"I was just gonna get a coffee to go, but maybe I'll get a bite, if you are?"

Just as he was about to try to weasel his way out of this surprised dinner date, Nancy walked over with his food.
 

"Here you go, enjoy. You eating Jocy?"

"Yeah, I'll have some fries and onion rings please, Nancy." "So, Guy, you gotten far in your writing yet? I know you said no spoilers, but just let me know did Carrie survive at the end? No, don't tell me. I wont be able to hold it in if you do."

Guy shoved his burger in his mouth and began to eat to show he couldn't speak right now.

Nancy came back with Jocelyn’s order pretty fast and the two of them ate in silence, with the occasional glance up to see if she was looking, and she was. She was staring at him, not looking down at her food as her fingers found a fry or an onion ring. It was pretty creepy, Guy thought.
 

As he started on his milkshake and Jocelyn still had half her meal left, he caught a glimpse of somebody familiar outside, then they were gone. Then there was a tapping at the window next to him. He turned around, the straw in his mouth as he sucked on the delicious vanilla milkshake. It was Adeen! She had her cute little face smooshed up against the window staring at him.
 

"Adeen!", he said to the window.
 

"A what? What are you talking about? Oh, is that a new character name?", Jocelyn said.

"Adeen, is your mother here?", he said again to the window, not realising that she more than likely couldn't hear her. He stood up and shouting to Nancy that he'd be back to pay, he ran out the door, not giving a second thought to Jocelyn.
 

"Adeen!", he shouted after her.

She stopped in her tracks and turned around. She was with her sister Monika and possibly a brother of hers.
 

"Guy, hey how you doing? You in town for a shopping trip?" Monika said. "This is our older brother Chuck. Chuck, this is Guy, the man that Darla was stuck on the island with, during the storm a few weeks back."

Guy put his hand out and got a huge strong handshake in return.

"Nice to put a face to the name Guy. Adeen here told me a lot about you, you're a writer? Good job, man. Maybe you can help this lil one out and encourage her to go to the writers camp."

"Nice to meet you too Chuck,” then to Adeen, "You don't want to go to the camp? I thought you were all excited for it? Isn't it coming up soon?"

"It's this weekend." Monika said. So far Adeen had just stood with her head looking at the ground.
 

"So, sorry I didn't ask, but how's your mother doing?"

"She's doing better. Didn't Darla let you know?" Monika said.

"Oh, that's good news. Is she still in the hospital?”

"Mom's gone to work for a half hour just to help with this special case. A couple of ducklings were found by the side of the highway with no parents around, they were starving, so they need a lot of help right now."Adeen said.

"Oh, well they are lucky they have your mom right? That’s good news about your grandma Adeen."

"Thanks. Yeah, I'm really happy she's better."

"Say, what are you guys doing now? I am just finishing up a milk shake, want to join me? You hungry at all? My treat, maybe Darla can meet us here after, if you don't all have other plans?"

"Well, our other brother and sister had to fly straight back to their jobs this morning, so we were just gonna go back home and eat some take away. What do you guys think? Diner for dinner?"

"YEAH." Adeen chimed in.
 

"Sure, fine with me." Chuck said.
 

"Okay, let me text Darla that we are joining you here."

They walked into the diner together and as they headed to the back booth were Guy had been sitting, he noticed Jocelyn. Shoot, he thought.
 

"You just ran out, I thought you saw an accident or something."

"Sorry Jocelyn, I saw my friends here. This is Adeen, Monika and Chuck. Guys, this is Jocelyn. She's a fan of my book and stopped by for a chat."

"Oh, nice to meet you Jocelyn." they all said together.

"Nice to meet you too. I am just finished, if you guys want to take my seat. I'll see you around, Mr. Murtagh, don't spend too much time fraternising, we want that book out in a timely fashion." She winked at him and left.

"Got yourself a stalker there?” Chuck asked.

"Ah, no, she’s not that bad. At least I haven't seen her around the island yet!"

"What’s a stalker uncle Chuck?" Adeen asked ever so innocently.

"Well, darlin, it's when a person likes someone just a little too much and is always around. Even though the other person has clearly told them they have no interest."

"Like old aunty Selene? She was always around and you told us you didn't want anything to do with her."

"Yes, child, a little like my ex wife, aunty Selene." they all laughed.

They ordered their food and Nancy persuaded Guy to order a slice of cherry pie. Darla arrived just as everyone was starting on their milkshakes. Guy stood up as she walked in and greeted her.
 

"Hey sorry I took so long at work, but the poor little ducklings are really in a bad way. I'm afraid we lost two of the little guys earlier today. They were just too weak and dehydrated. Hopefully the other ones can pull through with our help."

“Oh, thats sad, I’m sorry to hear that, Darla. The guys here were telling me your mom is out of the woods, I was happy to hear that."

"Thanks Guy. It's been a tough few weeks, but with these guys here it helped a lot. I'm sorry I didn't call you, I was planning to over the weekend when things settled down."

"I understand, don't worry about it."

Darla sat down and ordered a coffee and slice of the cherry pie from Nancy.
 

"You sure you don't want a meal?" Monika asked.

"No, my appetite hasn't fully come back yet. I'm craving sugar right now,” she laughed, "Cherry pie was always moms favourite too."
 

"So, were they telling you that Adeen won’t go to the writers camp? She doesn't want to leave me. She thinks I'll be too stressed because of mom being ill."

"I don't want to go. Mom will be too sad without me. I'll be too sad without her too. I don't want to go and that's that."

Monika and Chuck went back to the house, thanking Guy for the dinner and saying they hoped they saw him around again. Adeen was sitting there very sulkily, sucking the last dregs of her milkshake and Darla was getting another refill on her coffee. Guy had a great idea.

"Hey, I've got an idea. Why don't you and your mom come and stay with me on the island for a week or two, instead of going to camp? I can help you with your story and teach you some things about being a writer. We can pick some books to read together and discuss them like you would have at camp and you wont have to leave your mom? How about it?"

"I don't know Guy, what about your own book, wont it suffer?"

"I have gotten a lot done in the last two weeks, it's half way there in the first draft. I can still work on it, while Adeen is working on hers and you can do whatever you like around the island, go fishing, read. "
 

"Mom, it sounds so cool! We should do it. It'd be just like camp, but you'll be there, and you'll get to spend time with Guy too."

"Well, there's that too, but that's not why I'm suggesting it. Honest." Guy said, holding up his fingers like a boy scout.
 

"Mom, please? I think Guy would be a really great teacher and we could still be together."
 

"I do have time off due to me, but I don't know if I could use it now, what with the ducklings and all."

“Can’t your other staff can handle it? And even if they need you, you are less than an hour away." Guy noted.
 

"Monika might not be too happy with me leaving her alone though."

"Okay, I have to do grocery shopping. How about, Adeen comes with me, you go back to your house and talk it over with Monika and Chuck and make your decision. No pressure from me and Adeen. If you decide not to come, there is a standing invitation for you all to visit any weekend over the summer."

Darla looked at them both. Adeen had a pleading grin on her face and Guy could barely hide his hope that she would decide to do it.

"Okay, you two head off shopping and I'll talk to my siblings. No promises. If Monika makes a sad face, we are staying."

"Okay mom. I love you." Adeen gave her mom a great big hug and her and Guy left the diner. Darla sat there in the booth for a moment longer and Nancy came over to check if she wanted anything else.

"You ordering anything else hun?"

"No thanks, I'm leaving now."

"You and him an item?"

"I don't know yet. That’s what I'm trying to figure out."

"Well, he seems like a great catch to me. I'd go for it if I was you."

Darla looked out the window and watched as Adeen and Guy walked away. Adeen was skipping alongside him, looking the happiest she'd seen her in a while. Maybe it would be a good idea, even just for Adeen, to get away after all the stress of her moms illness. Her mom is back home with the live in nurses and is only a phone call away. She had made up her mind to go, but now just needed to talk with Monika about it.
 

Adeen and Guy grabbed a shopping cart and began their spree. He let Adeen put in any type of candy and chips she wanted, she also seemed to like fig newtons too, he was happy to see. He grabbed a lot of tinned soups and beans and lots of water.
 

"Do you think my mom will say yes?"

"I don't know, I hope she does."

"Are your parents alive?"

"No, I'm afraid they are not. They both died in the last couple of years.”

"I'm sorry, you must miss them a lot?”

"Thank you, yes, I still miss them, but it's nice to be out at the cabin, where we all spent many summers being very happy with each other."

"I really want to go and visit. Even if we don't stay for the whole two weeks, can we still come and visit like you said?"