CHAPTER 17
“No don’t take her to a fancy eating place. You know what she really likes?” The grandmother said to Brian when he was getting ready to go out.
“No what does she really like?” Brian asked her, grateful for anything that would help him get the upper hand and impress Skye. “And I hope you aren’t watching me getting dressed.” He was getting used to having her about and talking to her seemed natural now, even though he still couldn’t see her. He imagined her there, having seen her photo at Skye’s house and having dreamt about her.
“My dear boy, I have seen more than you getting dressed in my time, having 10 grandsons and 11 granddaughters. And no, I am not watching you, so don’t panic.” She said to him. “By the way, cute butt. Now what Skye really likes,” she rushed on chuckling at the look on Brian’s face, “is a picnic.”
Brian snapped his mouth shut and shook his head. She never ceased to amaze him. He wished he could have known her when she was alive. He was sure they would have had a lot of fun. “How will I get a picnic together in such short time?” She was asking the impossible of him.
“Nothing fancy. That’s one thing you need to know about Skye. She doesn’t like all the fancy stuff. Yes she likes to dress up now and then for something special, but on the whole her life is simple and easy.”
“Well, what chance have I got then?” Brian muttered to himself, knowing almost surely she would hate his lifestyle. How could she ever fit into it? Funny thing was he saw forever after with Skye, but how could they possibly achieve that had already crossed his mind. Was there really any point in pursuing this relationship that was almost doomed the moment he told her what his career was?
“What is it you do for a living Brian?” the voice asked him, having heard his muttering.
“I’d rather not say. Suffice to say it could be a problem further down the track.”
“Well, lets cross that bridge when you come to it. You two are destined to be together, there has to be a way to make it work. So now it’s up to the two of you to build this relationship and see what happens. Nothing will happen if you don’t at least try.”
Brian nodded his head. She seemed so wise. He hoped she was right. “Now what about this picnic. What do I need?”
She began to tell him all about her favourite sandwiches and picnic foods from her childhood and how she loved it when the bread was cut thickly with just a smearing of butter. Brian took a list down and grabbed his keys to venture down to the local grocer for the items. “And don’t forget cinnamon rolls. She loves cinnamon rolls.”
“So do I. I’ll be back soon.”
“No wait. Where are you taking her?” she asked him suddenly.
“Just to the park by the water and then out on a boat I hired. It’s a big boat, one that she should feel comfortable in,” he said to her assuring her that he was going to look out for her.
“Want me to tell you somewhere special to take her?” the voice asked with a hint of mystery in her voice.
He heard her excitement and smiled to himself. Did she expect him to say yes, or no? Of course he wanted to know anything that would help him woo Skye, and if it took getting tips from a ghostly voice then so be it. “Yeah,” he said turning around, almost expecting to see her yet again. “Where should I take her?”
“Well, when you are out on that boat, taking extra care that she is feeling okay on the water,” she emphasised and Brian just nodded, “there is a little cove we used to take her to when she was little. She loved that place and was always asking us to take her there.” She paused as if trying to remember the way. “You head a little south of here, about a mile I think, then you will see a small island to the left. You should then head in to shore where there is a small hidden beach. Back when we used to go there with her as a little girl, and even just a few years ago when we returned there, no one seemed to know about the beach. It was private, somewhere you can be alone, if you get what I mean.” Brian could even imagine her winking at him when she said that and he laughed aloud. “She hasn’t been there for so long and I just know she will love it.”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Brian said, liking the sound of a private beach. He also knew that the ghosts wouldn’t be there either, to watch them, or listen in to their conversation. “Thank you for that.”
“But you will be sure to tell me all about it won’t you?” she pleaded.
“You are such a romantic aren’t you?” Brian commented.
“Oh yes, I am, especially where my granddaughter is concerned. You look after her Brian.”
“You know I will. Now I better get to the store or she will wonder where I am.” He turned and called back “Be back soon,” just as Jay came around the corner.
“Who you talking to Brian?”
“I… Um… I was…. On the phone,” he said quickly grabbing his phone out of his pocket, thankful he hadn’t left it behind.
“Oh, okay,” Jay said accepting the excuse without a second thought. “Just make sure you don’t take it with you today.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, it’s going to take all your time to make sure Skye is okay, got it?” she asked raising an eyebrow and Brian smiled at her. He could have taken offence at her demand, but somehow he was comforted by the knowledge that Skye had friends who cared about her. Friends and ghosts.
“Look, I am just going to get some things to take on a picnic with us. Would you come with me so I can ask you a few things about Skye?” At Jay’s sceptical look he continued on. “I just want to know where to tread lightly. I don’t want to do anything this time to jeopardise a building relationship. All I seem to do is put my foot in my mouth when I am with her.”
Jay shrugged. “Sure thing. I don’t want Skye to get hurt. She has been through too much in her life.”
The two of them climbed into the car and Brian drove to the store listening to Jay talk as she told him more about Trevor and Skye and their relationship. The more she talked, the more Brian realised on the one hand he wanted Skye more than anything, and on the other hand he feared it would not end the way he wanted. But he had to at least give it a shot. He might end up with a broken heart, but he had to try.
**********
“Did you ever find your wallet?” Brian asked Skye as they sat on a picnic blanket in the beachside park. The weather out was perfect, not a cloud in the sky, but a slight breeze kept the temperatures comfortable
She nodded. “It’s the funniest thing. After I hung the phone up, I turned around and it was on the table behind me. I’m sure I looked there before I rang you.”
“That’s odd.” He passed her a cinnamon roll. “At least you found it. That’s the main thing.”
“Yes, thank goodness,” she said as she was about to take a bite “You know you picked all my favourite foods.”
“Really? I just picked them all because they are some of my favourites, hoping you would like them too. Seems we have similar taste in a lot of things,” Brian said to her, watching her chew slowly. Her tongue snuck out to lick a piece of the icing that had stuck on her bottom lip and he suppressed the groan that threatened to escape. She was killing him without even realising it.
“Yeah, really. It’s almost like you knew exactly what to buy. Did you talk to Jay?” she asked oblivious to the effect she was having on him. She reached for a napkin and wiped her lips of the crumbs.
“No, she didn’t tell me what you liked,” Brian almost whispered.
Skye looked over at Brian and saw the look in his eyes. “Brian?”
How could he explain how he felt without scaring her? “Sorry Skye. You are just so beautiful. I’m sorry I was staring, that’s really rude of me.”
“Oh. Um…Thanks,” she blushed.
He smiled at her taking a deep breath to calm his body down. “How about we pack up here and keep going. I have somewhere special to take you.”
“By boat,” Skye said flatly.
Brian moved closer to her and put his arm around her for comfort. “Skye. I am not going to let anything happen to you. I promise.”
She nodded and took a deep breath. “I’m ready Brian. By your side, with your help, I can do this.”
“That’s the girl.” He said and kissed her on her cheek before jumping up to begin collecting the picnic things. He peeked down at her still sitting on the blanket and noticed her hand resting on her cheek. He smiled to himself. It had had the desired effect on her.
The boat Brian had hired was a good size and made Skye feel more at ease. “You do know how to drive this don’t you?” Skye asked him as they got comfortable on the two seats at the front.
“Of course I do. My friend Nick has one of these and he taught me a good while ago. He loves the ocean and we were often on it in our spare time.” Brian turned the key and the engine purred to life. Maybe if he kept talking she would relax while they went.
“Nick. He is a partner of yours?” she queried. She had to know something of his present life that he was so reluctant to talk about.
“Nick? Yeah, you could say that. I think you would like Nick. Everyone does. He’s five years younger than I am, but ever since we met nine years ago we have been buddies. Almost inseparable at times. Oh the mischief we used to get in to.” Brian chuckled.
Brian began to tell Skye some of the tales of life on the road with his friends without giving away any of the details of what they did. He kept her laughing and his heart swelled as he watched her. He wanted to share it all with her, but the timing wasn’t right yet. He saw the small island he had been told about and slowed the boat.
Skye stiffened. “What happened?” she asked clutching Brian’s arm tightly.
“Nothing honey,” he said using his pet name for her. She smiled briefly then concern showed again. “I’m going to stop. There’s this place I want to take you to. It’s just in there,” he said pointing to the small beach he could now just see to his right.
“I know this place,” Skye said excitedly. “I used to come here when I was a little girl. My grandparents brought me.”
Brian tried to look surprised. “Really? Wow, that’s amazing. I saw it on the map I was studying and thought it looked nice and peaceful for us to relax for the afternoon.” He shook his head for good measure. “You really came here as a child?”
“Yes! I loved this place. I was always begging them to bring me here. There is so much there I would love to show you,” she told him, her excitement bubbling over.
“Well, in a few minutes we can begin. You’ll just have to help direct me in and then tie up the boat.”
“Sure,” she said and as a team they got the boat on to the beach and tied up, all the while Brian was smiling at how easily he had managed to make this boat trip for Skye comfortable. She had shown little to no fear and he felt pretty pleased with himself.
Neither one of them had been prepared to be somewhere they would be swimming, much to Brian’s disappointment, so they sat on the beach talking for a while before Skye jumped up tugging him by the arm. “Come on Brian, I want to show you something.”
Brian got up and pulled her into his arms. He could resist the desire to kiss her no longer. No one could see them and he had been longing to hold her all day long. His arms wound their way around her waist and he pulled her in close to him, their bodies touching intimately. “I want to give you this first,” Brian said to her and lowered his lips to hers for a soft kiss. Skye whimpered, encouraging him further. If she hadn’t wanted this she would have let him know.
His lips moved over hers softly, slowly, just testing her reaction. Her lips were soft and warm, and when her fingers reached up to his neck, tangling themselves in his curls, he realised things could easily get out of hand. Although a romantic setting, he didn’t want things to go too far here. He wanted to deepen the kiss, but this would do for now. There was still time for that.
A cloud covered the sun, turning things dark and they both looked up at the same way. He gazed into her eyes, still holding her tight. “Was there something you wanted to show me?” Brian whispered, his lips so close to hers, he ached to close the distance again.
“Show you?” Skye looked puzzled. “Oh yeah. I wanted to show you something.” She turned in his hold and ran her hand down his arm, taking his hand in hers to lead the way. Their fingers were laced together and Brian squeezed her hand making Skye turn around and smile at him. What he saw in her eyes made his heart beat faster. She felt the same way he did. It was obvious in her eyes.
Skye led him to a small cave where the waves were rushing in. “In here Brian.”
“Is it safe in there?” he asked. He had promised everyone he would look after her.
“Yes it’s safe in there. I used to come in here all the time. It’s beautiful in there, I want to show you.”
“Okay, lead on.”
She was right. For an hour or more they were inside the small cave, exploring the hidden rocks and their many inhabitants. The cave was alive with an abundance of sea life, and the water so crystal clear that you could see the fish swimming along the sandy bottom.
“It’s beautiful Skye,” Brian said to her many times. Now though, he was looking at her watching the water. “You’re beautiful Skye,” he said and pulled her into his arms as he has before. This time though, Skye didn’t respond. A frown marked her face. “Sky? What’s wrong?”
“The waves. They are a little wilder than I have ever seen them in here. I think we should get out.”
“Okay, you know best. Come on,” Brian said taking her hand and guiding her out again.
Skye had been right. The beautiful day they had been experiencing when they went in to the cave was gone and grey clouds hid the sun. The wind had whipped up and the waves were building up, beating the side of their boat. Brian felt the fear in Skye as they headed towards the boat. “I think we better head back now.” Brian said to her.
“I can’t.”
“Yes you can. Skye we can get back to the dock in this boat, it isn’t that bad yet, I have been through worse than this. But if we don’t go now, we won’t be able to get back at all, and that won’t be any good.” He looked at her and saw the terror. “Skye, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She nodded her head slowly and Brian got their blanket while Skye stood fixed to the spot watching out over the ocean. He came up behind her and lifted her in his arms walking into the water and gently putting her into the boat before untying the rope and climbing in. He took her hand in his giving it a gentle squeeze and started the boat, expertly heading it back out to sea. What began as the perfect day to help Skye get over her fear was beginning to backfire on him. The weather report for the day had not predicted any of this.
Chapter 18
Index
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