“See you soon.” She walked to the long staircase leading to the cottage door and stood on the bottom step as he got in his truck and started the engine. He gave her one last wave before pulling out of the drive. She slipped the directions into her pocket and walked up the stairs, her cheek tingling from Jake’s gentle touch.
FIVE
Casey had taken Isabella to Jockey’s Ridge, one of the tallest natural groups of sand dunes on the entire east coast, to climb the mountainous dunes. They’d seemed like a desert of endless sand as Faith had hiked them as a kid. Casey bought Isabella a kite like their mom had done for them when they were little, and Faith was so glad to see Casey carrying on the tradition. Faith had stayed behind in the cottage, and when it occurred to Jake that Isabella might not have a life vest for the boat, it had been Faith who had answered the call from Jake. Now, she found herself shopping for a child-sized life vest with him. She’d insisted on meeting him at the shop, not wanting him to make yet another drive out to the cottage. He was nice enough to take them sailing; the least she could do was meet him in town. And she wanted to spend more time with him.
“I haven’t ever taken a child sailing before,” he said, his head swiveling from one side of the racks to the other.
Faith stopped to thumb through a few life vests before moving on. The far wall of the store was clad from floor to ceiling with brightly colored surfboards, their patterns and glossy surfaces like artwork. She had to force her eyes from their beautiful designs to keep looking for Isabella’s vest. These little shops were quite common along the beach, and she loved going in them. Each one was unique, displaying its wares in its own quirky way. They were small spaces, jammed with all the latest in beachwear, a friendly cashier wearing flip-flops and shorts, with sunglasses on his head, there to help and answer any questions. Her mom had always allowed them to buy a T-shirt as a souvenir when they visited as kids, and there were so many different ones to choose from that it had always taken Faith all week to decide on one. These shops were perfect examples of life here.
As she’d driven in to town, Faith had tried not to notice the enormous monstrosities that were now lording over the bypass, big superstores, selling their beach paraphernalia at low prices, and screaming out at her with their bright signs promising her they could meet all her beach needs. There was nothing wrong with those stores in particular; she just didn’t want them here. The Outer Banks had always been a place of solitude for her, rich in culture, it’s small-town beach vibe unique to any other place she’d ever been. As she looked around the shop now, she prayed that those big chain stores wouldn’t put stores like this one out of business. She smiled as she caught a glimpse of the locally made jewelry showcased under glass at the checkout counter. Those big stores claimed to have her every need, but she was willing to bet they didn’t have what this shop had: charm, personality, warmth. She was so glad that Jake had chosen this place to get Isabella’s life vest. She was happy to support the local shops.
“Thank you for helping me out,” he said, turning toward her.
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m glad you’re coming sailing today.”
“Thank you for inviting my family.”
“Well, I already know you well enough to guess that you wouldn’t have gone and left them at the cottage. You’d have felt bad about it.” He raised his eyebrows as if to say,I’m right, aren’t I?
He’d only invited them all because he wanted her to go? She smiled. And he was right. “How did you do that?”
“What?”
“How did you know what I was thinking?”
He smiled. “I can see it on your face. Sometimes, it’s a quick crease between your eyebrows or movement of your eyes as you’re thinking. You give yourself away.”
Her ex, Patrick, had never guessed what she was thinking, and they’d been together for two years. The only other person who seemed to be able to do that was Nan. She’d never met anyone else with the ability to see her so clearly, until now. “I think you’re just good at reading people. What am I saying right now?” She looked at him and allowed her bubbling feelings to surface.I like you so much already,she thought.
He tipped his head back and laughed then shook his head, amusement on his face.
“What was I thinking?” she pressed, remembering how this little exchange had begun.
He was still smiling, his grin reaching his eyes. “I’m not telling.”
“Why? It’smythought. You can tell me.”
“I’d rather hear you say it.”
Her face burned with the idea that he had actually read her mind. Had he guessed how she felt about him? She could feel the heat still in her face as she looked up at him.
That amusement twisted into affection in his eyes. She could almost swear it. She looked at the rack of vests to steady herself. These feelings were happening too fast, and she wanted to slow them down.
Jake followed her lead and held up a tiny pink vest, the buckles swinging free on either side of it. Faith reached over to inspect the size on the tag. It was an extra-small. “I wonder if she’s a small,” she said, her heart still beating like a snare drum. Jake hung it back on the rack and pushed a few more out of the way before pulling another one out. This one was purple.
“They all look so little to me,” he said with a grin. “I can’t tell one size from another.”
He’d let her off the hook. She was trying to focus, but her head was still swimming. Faith studied the purple vest, squinting her eyes to imagine Isabella wearing it.
Jake seemed to notice her deliberation and took the pink vest back off the rack, holding the two side by side. “I love kids,” he admitted, looking down at the vests. “I really enjoy them, and I so rarely get the opportunity to be with them given my line of work.”
“What do you like about them?” she asked, genuinely curious. Faith obviously loved kids; she was a kindergarten teacher. She loved their honesty, watching them as they made their way through the world while learning the social etiquette that they’d need as adults. She enjoyed their silliness and their absolute freedom when they were given time to explore. Nothing was off-limits. They hadn’t learned enough about the world yet to be wary of things.
“I love their innocence,” he said. “I’ve tried to remember exact moments growing up when life revealed things to hamper that innocence. Sometimes I can remember, and sometimes I can’t. I often wish I could see my own child grow so I could learn when it all happens. When does the world finally get a hold of that innocence?”
“Oh, I don’t think it happens all at once,” she said, tapping the purple vest. Jake slid the pink one back on the rack and handed her the purple one. “It’s a slow process. I’d like to watch my own kids too one day.” As she said that statement, fear swept through her as she worried that she’d waited too long. She’d spent so much time working that she hadn’t put enough effort into her personal life, and now, just entering the dating scene, she may never have that family she wanted.
