"Whoa, slow down," I say to Madi. To the couple, "You're saying you…want us to use your cart?"
"We do." The older man steps up and lends a steadying hand as the older woman gets out of the stylish new ride. "Why rent one when we have an extra?"
"And we won't accept any answer but yes," the woman, Rayna, says firmly. "And, yes, sweetheart, you can drive it if you have your license. But only if your dear uncle says it's okay."
Madi lets out a disappointed sigh and, "Ahhh, man."
"She doesn't have her license yet," I tell the woman. "But we're going to work on that, aren't we, Mads?"
My niece nods and smiles. "The second we get back," she stresses.
I smile at her determination and excitement. I like seeing Mads excited about a milestone in life.
"We would've been here sooner, but we had to charge the battery on that one so we'd have a ride back to the house."
I release one crutch to shove my sunglasses atop my head. "This is very kind of you but?—"
"No buts," Rayna says. "I heard how you took care of my Mary Elizabeth when she fell ill in the bookstore and your bravery. The least we can do is help you get off that leg of yours so you can travel comfortably and the girls get a fun day on the island. It's just a golf cart, but it is a bit roomier than those."
That's the understatement of the year. The rental carts were perfectly good carts, but the couple's has all the bells and whistles. Including more leg room, cushionier seats and cooling fans to combat the humidity and heat.
"Just text us when you're heading back here, and we'll come back to pick it up," Rayna says. "And I know you've probably made your lunch plans already, but if you haven't, we also left your name at a few of our favorite places on the island," she says, handing me a list on a slip of paper. "If you decide to eat at one of them, it's on us. For the birthday girls," she stresses with a wink.
"Thank you!" Dani says. "Daddy, look, there're balloons."
Everyone laughs at Dani's unbridled excitement at such a simple gesture as tying balloons to the cart, and I don't have the heart to refuse. "This is your number?" I ask, spying it on the paper I'd been handed.
The couple grins in unison.
"Enjoy your day, girls," the woman says. "And make sure he stays off that leg."
Chapter 24
Lindsey
Of all days to feel sick, why today?
Because now I can't hide behind routine. Everything feels brighter, louder, harder to fake, and I'm running out of ways to pretend this is manageable.
The girls are happy. Dani is talking a mile a minute, and Madi is taking photos and videos nonstop. She has me take pictures of her behind the wheel of the golf cart with no one else on board. Then some with Dani beside her and her uncle in the backseat, looking far too handsome.
I'm behind the wheel of the fancy cart, and we're on our way to explore the beautiful island.
The older lady, Rayna, mentioned a small grocery and shops and the girls immediately wanted to go, so we head that way first.
My stomach is rolling and pitching like a storm-tossed sea as I follow the signs and find a parking spot beneath one of the large trees sprawling its limbs upward and out like open arms.
The girls hop out, Dani chattering nonstop about what the store might have inside. I grab my backpack but look at the stuff we brought with us now stored in the rear compartment of the cart. "You know what? I'll stay here. Keep an eye on things."
And maybe use that tree trunk to brace myself as I hurl.
"It'll be fine. There's nothing all that valuable, and if they need it that badly, they can have it," Kace says. "Just make sure you have your wallets and phones and ear buds. Things like that."
"I do," Madi says quickly.
"I don't have anything," Dani says in a disgruntled voice.
Kace chuckles and tugs at her ponytail. "You have me, birthday girl. That's all you need today."
