When we step outside, I have to stop for a minute to take my hoodie off and try to inhale a breath. It feels like summer down here, but oh, the humidity. That will take some getting used to. It feels like wading through soup, and I can’t seem to get enough oxygen into my lungs.
Zander must notice my heavy breathing because he stops a step ahead. “You’ll get used to the humidity. Sorry, I should have warned you before we got outside.”
Troy laughs. “Wait until summer hits. The humidity fluctuates daily here, but when it’s in the high 90s and near 100% humidity, it’s gross.”
It gets worse? I can’t wait, I think to myself.
It takes only a few minutes to walk to the vehicle from here. It’s another black SUV, but this one has dark tinted windows. Zander opens the door to the passenger seat for me while Troy loads up the trunk area with our luggage.
“Here, let me grab your hoodie and backpack. I’ll set them in the back with me,” Zander offers. I hand them overand get in. He slips into the backseat while Troy returns the trolley. “Doing okay, Summer?”
“Yeah. Happy to escape from everyone. Thanks for protecting me.”
Zander smiles as Troy hops into the driver’s seat and does a double take when he sees me in the passenger seat. He looks in the rearview mirror. “Who are you and what happened to Z?” He demands.
“Shut up, Troy, and drive,” Zander responds, rolling his eyes. I look back and forth between them, trying to figure out what’s happening.
“What? You never let anyone sit in the passenger seat when you’re in the vehicle.” Troy turns to me. “You should feel very privileged sitting there Summer. He refuses to sit in the backseat with the rest of us.”
I direct my attention towards Zander. He winks at me and pushes the back of Troy’s seat. “Let’s get going.”
Troy shakes his head in disappointment at Zander. “I thought you loved me man.” These two seem very close with the way they banter. It will keep things interesting and lighthearted when they’re together.
He backs out of the parking spot, and we head out of the airport. Troy discusses something related to work, so I tune out and grab my cell from my back pocket, turning it back on. I send a text to Sue and Sarah, letting them know I’m in Charleston and heading to Zander’s house. A text from Sue comes in immediately.
Sue: Glad you arrived safely, sweetheart.
I shift my attention to the window and the passing scenery. It’s so different here from Virginia. We’re only a few states apart, but I see pops of color here already, instead of snow. As Troy turns left onto another road, I notice the water. It’s sparkling in the sunshine. It’s even brighter than when the snow glitters under the sun. Werise into the air over the land, and I lean forward to get a better look. We’re on a very long, very massive bridge as we drive over water, a sad-looking little island, and more water. The bridge rises tall on both sides of us. It’s a bit intimidating, so I lean back in my seat and stare ahead.
Soon we’re descending over land again, and the road returns to normal. Some of the tension I didn’t realize I was holding leaves my shoulders. I look over to see Troy smiling at me. “That was Drum Island and the Cooper River. Pretty cool, right?”
“I’ve never seen a bridge like that before. It was massive,” I respond. I glance back to see Zander. “There are a lot of big bridges in the area, right? I saw a map online the other day, and there seemed to be a lot of them.”
“Yes, there are several, but that’s the largest one we have around here,” he smiles warmly. “It can be overwhelming the first time you go across, but I honestly don’t notice it unless I’ve been away for a while. We’re in Mt. Pleasant right now. I, sorry, we live in Mt. Pleasant. It’s not far from here.”
Nodding, I turn back so I can keep looking around. There are houses and shops everywhere, and I see a school nearby as well. Different store names than I’m used to pass by, but with the same functions: pharmacies, grocery stores, offices. Soon we’re meandering through residential neighborhoods. There are enormous houses close together, interspersed with larger lots with older homes on them.
A few minutes after we’ve turned off the main road, Troy turns right onto a gravel driveway. A one-story house with a large porch greets us. The porch appears new, with a hanging swing on the left and rocking chairs on the right surrounding the green front door. There are shrubs lining the porch, with some starting to bloom in a hot pink color. Azaleas I think. The siding looks like wood and could use a coat of paint. To the right, there is a new two-car garage with white siding and wooden-looking garage doors. Several acres seem to surround the house, with a live oak tree in the front yard to the right of the garage. I can’t see any of the neighbors through all the trees. Trees that are blooming already with mostly green grass below.
Troy parks in front of the garage and hops out, going to the trunk. Zander steps out and opens my door. “Welcome home, Summer,” he smiles, excited to be back.
I step onto the driveway as Zander hands me my hoodie and backpack. I think it’s even more humid here than at the airport. Grabbing a hair tie from my backpack, I pull my hair into a messy bun, breathing deeply to get enough oxygen.
Troy walks back over to the SUV while I’m looking around. “I stacked the luggage on the porch. I’m heading back to work. Nice to meet you, Summer,” he smiles. “Z, talk soon.” He waves and hops back into the driver’s seat and heads down the drive.
I follow Zander up the steps onto the front porch. “So this is it,” he says, waving around. “The guys and I rebuilt the porch last year. I still need to paint the house and replace the front windows,” he says as he rubs the back of his neck. Is he nervous, too?
“It’s nice, Zander. You do construction too? I thought you did security and transport?”
“Construction is something I like to do. This was my grandparents’ house. I spent many summers here as a kid, and my grandpa owned a construction company. He taught me everything he knew. They left me the house when they passed, but it sat empty until I got out of the military, so it needed a lot of work. I’m still working on it,” he shrugs. “Let’s grab the luggage and get inside.”
I grab two of my wheeled suitcases and follow Zander inside after he unlocks the front door. We step into a spacious foyer with a closet ahead and a glass door on the right, looking into an office. Dark tile floors and white walls surround me. Moving further inside, the floor transitions to dark hardwood. On the left,a large living room has a stone fireplace and bookshelves. A huge tv hangs above the mantle with a large grey sectional facing the fireplace. Behind the living area is a spacious kitchen. White cabinets, lighter stone counters, and stainless appliances surround a large, dark green island with bar stools. A large wooden dining table sits to the right of the kitchen, with patio doors leading to the backyard.
Zander stops at the island and turns to me. “If you want to leave the luggage here, I can give you a tour?”
I nod and park my suitcases beside his. “Great, so this is the kitchen and living area, obviously,” he smiles. “My office was at the front, by the door.” I follow him to the right down a short hallway. “The first door on your left is a powder room, followed by a laundry room.” Opening the door at the end of the hall, he says, “this is the primary bedroom.” There’s a king-sized bed with a grey fabric headboard and wood end tables in the center of the white room, facing the hallway. Dark bedding covers the bed. A matching wood dresser with a tv sits on the opposite wall from the bed. There are large patio doors leading to the backyard, with sheer curtains covering them. He leads me to a door on the front wall. A huge bathroom with a soaker tub and a separate tiled shower greets us. There is a green double vanity with white quartz countertops, and the same dark tile floors as the entrance. Everything looks clean and new.
“Did you do all this work yourself?” I ask. It looks quite professional to my untrained eye. I would’ve sworn he hired contractors.
