Her smile changed her whole expression. Her teeth were white and even, her lips round and generous.
“I imagine you could spend most of your time getting waterlogged. See you tomorrow, Eli.”
As I headed toward the dive shop, I couldn’t help but glance back. Jules was still by the pool, wringing water from her hair. The setting sun bathed her in amber, illuminating the beads of water on her shoulders and chest. That very un-accountant-like chest. That very womanly, curvy chest. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
Shaking my head, I turned away. What the hell was happening to me?
I arrivedat Mom’s house, a sprawling four-bedroom ranch that discreetly overlooked the resort like a watchful parent, yet was screened by foliage to remain mostly unseen. The familiar scent of sea salt and gardenias hit me as I stepped onto the wraparound porch. This place held alifetime of memories. Some good, some… well, let’s just say I was glad to have my own place now.
Pushing open the door, I called out, “Anyone home? Or did you all start without me?”
Mom’s voice drifted from the kitchen. “In here, Eli!”
I found them settling around the large oak table, the one that had witnessed countless family dinners and heated discussions. Harper was helping Mom set out plates, while Finn entertained himself with a toy boat.
“There’s my favorite nephew,” I said, ruffling Finn’s hair as I passed.
Harper laughed. “He’s your only nephew.”
“Details, details.” I grinned, then turned to Mom. “Need any help?”
She waved me off. “Just sit down. Austin should be here any minute.”
As if on cue, the back door opened, and my younger brother walked in. Austin’s rugged face was etched with the day’s sun, his movements deliberate as he hung up his jacket.
“Hey,” he said quietly, nodding in my direction.
“Look what the tide dragged in,” I quipped as I rose to grab some steaming serving bowls from the kitchen. Despite Mom trying to shoo me, I wasn’t going to let her and Harper do all the drudge work. I set a platter of rolls in front of Austin. “How was the fishing?”
His gray eyes brightened as he smoothed his dark hair. Our fishing charter captain, Austin had loved fishing since he could hold a rod. “It was a great day. Had a family out, and the dad hooked a two-hundred-pound tarpon. You should’ve seen it, Eli. The fight lasted nearly two hours.”
I leaned forward. “No kidding? Did they land it?”
Austin launched into the story, his usual reserve melting away as he described the battle between man and fish. Ifound myself grinning, caught up in his enthusiasm. It was moments like these when I saw glimpses of the brother I’d grown up with before everything changed. Before he changed. But despite that and our very different personalities, we had a lot of similarities too. We were less than three years apart. And when it came to the ocean, we spoke the same language.
“Sounds like quite the experience,” I said when he finished. “Maybe I should trade in my scuba gear for a fishing rod.”
Austin’s mouth twitched in a quick smile. “You tried that, remember? You don’t have the patience for it.”
“Isn’t that the truth.” I laughed as I carried over a bowl of mashed potatoes and another of roasted zucchini Mom grew in her garden. “But at least I don’t have to sit still for two hours waiting for a fish to decide if it wants to join me for dinner.”
Harper chimed in, “You know, if you focused on other things as much as you do diving, you’d probably be running this resort by now.”
I shrugged, tossing a glance at Mom. “Not everyone can handle the pressure of being the perfect child like you, Harper. Some of us have chosen the path of least resistance.”
Mom sighed but couldn’t hide her smile. “Oh please, Eli. Your path of least resistance keeps us all smiling.”
I slid into my seat, the worn wooden chair creaking beneath me, a sound that felt like home. The table was a feast of colors and aromas—a perfectly cooked roast, buttery corn on the cob, and a vibrant salad bursting with greens from Mom’s garden. My mouth watered as I grabbed a plate and piled it high.
“Wow, Mom. This looks amazing!” I exclaimed. She always had a knack for turning simple ingredients intosomething magical, just as she had turned this house into a safe haven over the years.
“Only the best for my family,” she said modestly, but her smile betrayed how much she liked the compliment.
As we dug into the meal, I took a moment to soak it all in—the warmth of my family, the food that felt like a hug, and the memories intertwined with every corner of this house. Jules’s words echoed in my mind—appreciate what you have. And in this moment, it was easy to do that. Easy to forget the bad times.
Harper set her fork down, her warm eyes sweeping around the table. “You know, we’ve been discussing the projects around the resort lately. When there’s so much to do, it’s hard to know where to start.”
“What do you mean?” Austin asked as he took a sip of iced tea.
