Page 22 of Tide Over

“Fraser,” I say, telling the truth and keeping my eyes on Theo for a moment longer, letting my heart slow down a bit.

Jimmy smiles as I shift my gaze back to him. “I can’t say I knew any Frasers up there,” he says, and relief immediately rushes through me. “I fished with a few men out of that area though, way back in the day. I actually purchased my first ever lobster boat from Inverness.”

Theo looks over at him as he flips one of the fish on the barbeque. “Yeah?”

Jimmy nods. “Indeed. It wasn’t much, but it got me started. And your father was quick to learn to drive it.” He chuckles. “Wasn’t an easy drive either.”

A smile spreads across Theo’s face as he quietly listens to his grandfather reminisce about teaching his son, Theo’s father, how to drive the first lobster boat he ever owned. And I take this moment to watch Theo. Because even though his smile remains, there’s a sadness in his eyes as the light in him slowly fades away.

“And now, with the technology you guys have on those boats, and the size of them,” Jimmy waves a hand in the air with a shake of his head, “they’re basically doing the work for you.”

Theo scoffs and cocks an eyebrow at him. “Offer still stands, old man. Come on out tomorrow morning and show me how it’s done. I’ll gladly step back for a day.”

Jimmy laughs and looks at me, tilting his head towards Theo. “Smartass, isn’t he?”

I chuckle as the door opens and Cynthia pops her head out.

“How’s the fish coming?” she asks. “Everything else is ready.”

“All done,” Theo says, turning the barbeque off and loading the now cooked fish onto the plate.

We head inside to find the table set with various salads, rolls, and a centrepiece of lobster. Mason runs around the table as he tries to grab a lobster, while Chris chases after him, his handssnapping like claws as he playfully pretends to be a lobster trying to catch him.

I stand back and watch the chaos with a smile as Chris finally wrangles Mason into a seat, and everyone else follows suit. As I take my place next to Theo, my eyes roam over the gallery wall behind the table, filled with family photos. But one picture in particular catches my attention. Theo, as a young boy, with a man who I can only assume is his father. Theo is holding up a lobster with a huge smile, and his dad is crouched beside him, smiling proudly.

“Here.”

My attention is brought back to the table as Theo places a lobster on my plate.

“Hope you like lobster… you kind of have to in this house,” he says with a smirk.

I chuckle. “I do.”

I quietly sit and listen to everyone talk as they fill their plates and pass bowls around the table, and before I know it my plate is overflowing. And everything looks delicious.

“So, Theo,” Heather says, setting her wine glass down and smiling at him. “I was thinking about it a bit more.”

“Uh oh,” Chris says from the other side of Theo, and Theo huffs out a laugh as he takes a bite of his salad.

“I just don’t get why you and Allison aren’t together,” she says, and I look up at her. Allison… from the pub?

“I told you,” Theo says, keeping his eyes down on his plate, tension seeming to enter his body as he pulls the claw off his lobster. “We’re better off as friends.”

Cynthia hums thoughtfully, observing her son. “I still don’t know why you two even broke up. You were so cute together. And she is so sweet.”

Theo shakes his head, shifting in his seat. “It just wasn’t working. Like I said, we’re friends. That’s it.”

I observe him for a moment, wondering why he seems so bothered by them asking this. And as Heather shrugs and turns her attention to helping Mason and Isla with their lobster, I can’t help but notice I’m also feeling uncomfortable at the thought of them together. I don’t know why though. She seems nice, she’s pretty, and they appear to get along well. And actually, she’s the type of girl I typically go for. But I’m definitely not looking to pick up girls while I’m here, so this uncomfortable feeling isn’t jealousy that he’s been with her, and I haven’t… Is it?

But I shake it off, pushing those feelings away as the conversation at the table shifts and Theo visibly relaxes next to me. I listen quietly while I eat, as they talk about Isla’s dance recital, the store, and Chris’ recent work trip. I find myself laughing along to Jimmy’s stories and Mason’s antics, and Cynthia hushing my protests as she scoops seconds onto my plate. I join in conversation with ease as they effortlessly include me, even when they ask me questions about my job. They don’t dwell or put any pressure on me when my answers are short and I try to deflect. And whenever I do feel the tension creeping back in, one look into Theo’s soft brown eyes pulls me right back out of it.

On the drive home, I lay my head back against the seat, looking out at the water in the darkness, feeling content, relaxed, and the complete opposite as I did on the drive there.

“So how many worms do you think Mason has in his pocket?” I ask with a smile.

Theo laughs at the memory of him subtly showing us his dirt and worm filled jacket pocket before they left. “Enough to give Heather a stroke, I’m sure.”

I chuckle as Theo pulls into the driveway, and I let the peaceful view of his house pull me deeper into this relaxed state. And as we head inside, each carrying containers of foodthat Cynthia sent home with us, I’m surprised that the feeling continues to linger.

---