I sighed. “You’re incorrigible.”
“Maybe so. But I’m not wrong. He likes you. And you like him.”
I tried to suppress my smile.
“If there’s one thing I know, it’s that life is short. You’re young, and beautiful, and totally capable of being happy. You deserve that, Melody. You’re my little girl, and I’ll be damned if I steal even one night of joy from you.”
“I don’t like leaving you here alone.”
She took another exaggerated breath. “I love you, and I know you don’t. But I’m notlonely. Don’t you see the difference? Loneliness is the perpetual state of being without a soulmate. I’ve never been lonely. Not since you came along, Pretty Girl. You’ve always been my soulmate.” She inhaled again, and her voice shook. “But I won’t be here forever. You have to find your own soulmate. Someone to love you long after I’m gone.”
“Will you stop it, please?” I replied. “I don’t want to talk about that. Wesaidwe wouldn’t talk about that here.”
“Fine. You’re right, and I’m sorry. But promise me you won’t pull this shit again. You go out with Beckett tomorrow night. And every night if he asks you. See what he’s all about,” she explained. “If it turns out he’s terrible, then fine. Be done. But not without giving him a fair shot first.”
“Deal.”
“Swear it.”
I exhaled, fed up. “I swear.”
“Good.”
“Now put back on that stupid show, please.”
She nodded, held up the remote, and turned the TV back on. And for the rest of the night, I felt like shit, because I knew everything she said was right. I didn’t want to face the idea of a life without my mother in it, even if that alternate reality came with a happily-ever-after courtesy of a wonderful guy like Beckett.
But I made her a promise, so on day four, when he asked me if he could take me to the Sopranos Piano Bar after dinner, I said yes.
Aruba is divided into sections, at least as far as tourists know. It’s a small island, only twenty miles long, with everything that matters to visitors running along the western and southern shores. Most of what folks come to see stretches from the capital city of Oranjestad eight miles west to the northernmost tip of the island, where the California Lighthouse is located. Between those two points, one can find the low-rise section at Eagle Beachand the high-rise section at Palm Beach, and yes, they’re labeled as such based on the height of the hotels in each area. The high-rise features more of the well-known, popular chains like the Ritz-Carlton, several Marriotts, the Hilton, the Hyatt, and the Radisson. The low-rise has less expensive brands like La Quinta and local brands like the Divi Resorts. Oranjestad houses the cruise port. The only real game in the capital from a large hotel standpoint is the Marriott, with its twin buildings: the Marina Hotel and the Ocean Suites. Heading east, there’s another twelve or so miles of Aruba, but anything past the airport is mostly home to locals. Savaneta, the original capital of Aruba, is about twenty minutes east of Oranjestad, and Baby Beach—named as such because the water stretches out for miles and only goes up to your waist—is the southernmost tip, a thirty-five-minute drive from Oranjestad.
The Sopranos Piano Bar was named after the famous television show from the early 2000s. Why it should exist in Aruba of all places was beyond me.The Sopranoswas set in New Jersey, and it’s about the mob. Not exactly Aruba vibes, but okay. Apparently, the Sopranos Piano Bar had very little to do with the show itself, outside of the ambience being similar (inside, not outside) and there being lots ofSopranosparaphernalia on the walls—signed photographs and such. A good spot for live music and drink specials.
My only issue with it was that it was situated down by the high-rise area of Aruba, about four miles (or ten minutes) away.
“I’d love to go there, Beckett. But, I have to be honest, I’m concerned about this one,” I said, jutting my chin in the direction of my mother, who had opted to sit next to Beckett at dinner on our fourth night in Aruba. We were at Casa Tua, an Italian restaurant next to the Dutch Pancake House.
“Concerned about what?” she asked me, spinning a bite of linguine alfredo around her fork.
“Mom, it’s not right close by. It’s a cab ride away.”
“So?”
“We can go somewhere else if you don’t feel comfortable,” Beckett offered. “I didn’t realize that would be a concern.”
“No. She’s being ridiculous,” my mom declared. “What’s a cab ride on the smallest island on earth? Ten minutes? Also,” she added, “who cares? I am literally going to go back to the room, wash my face, brush my teeth, and curl up in bed.”
“I just read good things about it on Tripadvisor. Thought it might be fun,” Beckett explained.
“Fun!” Mom exclaimed. “Yes. Yes to all of the fun. Right, Pretty Girl?”
I sighed. “Yes to all the fun.”
Beckett cocked his head. “Am I missing something?”
“No,” I said. “My mother here thinks I need to lighten up.”
“I mean, you’re absolutely welcome to join us, Birdie,” he went on. “I’m sure you’d love it, given your background in music. And we don’t have to stay late or anything. We could just get one drink, you know? Request a song or two?”
