Page 5 of On the Line

“That’s very kind, but I can’t.” She pulled her hand away and dropped the pearl into Sammy’s palm.

Considering the questionable circumstances we found ourselves in, it wasn’t a shocker that Ellie didn’t want anything from me. Her wide eyes were full of worry. I lifted a finger to get Sammy’s attention as he placed the pearl back into the carved box, and pointed to myself to let him know to keep it for me.

He nodded discreetly before raising a tarnished silver pocket watch off the table and flicking the cover open. “It's been 1982 for twenty minutes already.” He shrugged. “Happy New Year, I suppose.”

In trying to forget why we were there, we’d forgotten the occasion. Definitely not the way I’d hoped to ring it in, but at least we were safe, for now. “Thanks for letting us crash here.”

“No sweat. I’d have slept through the holiday it if you guys hadn’t shown up. You got a plan for tomorrow? I’m heading out at sunrise.” I could tell he hoped we’d be gone long before he got back.

Ellie spoke up. “I have to be home in the morning to help with my family fish fry.” She turned toward me. “And I have to get my aunt’s van back to her.” There was a faint smile on her lips that didn’t match the tension in the rest of her face, like she was faking being fine.

“I’ll get you home for your fish fry. Don’t you worry.” I reached to put my hand on her knee but she shifted to pull away.

Sammy’s brows shot up and he gave me a sympathetic look before he turned back to Ellie with a soft smile. “Grab a hammock and get some rest. Tomorrow’s a new day.”

“Thanks.” Ellie stood and moved toward the teal and yellow hammock nearest her stool. “Hopefully it will be far less eventful than today.” She laughed, adjusting her dress after she settled into the hammock, but I doubted she thought any of it was funny.

Guilt churned in the pit of my stomach as I stretched out in the hammock beside hers. Ellie was a good girl. She deserved better.

CHAPTER 3

Sammy was long gone by the time I woke to the sound of gulls cawing. I rolled out of the hammock, unsteady on my feet in the soft, dry sand. Ellie was still fast asleep, her long blonde waves of hair loose around her perfect face like an angel’s halo. I found a speckled blue metal percolator on the camp stove, lukewarm at best, and poured some thick black coffee into the single enameled mug on the rack above the table.

The bitterness made me wince, but coffee that strong was bound to work. I took another sip of the bitter brew, contemplating what needed to be done. Get my truck, drive Ellie to get her van, and sort out whatever mess that was left at the party. Helluva way to start the new year.

Ellie stirred, groaning as she swung her feet over the side of the hammock. “What time is it?”

I picked up Sammy’s pocket watch. “Almost eight.”

She smoothed her skirt after she stood. “I’m going to take off. Thanks for the excitement.” She started toward the sandy lane leading to the road.

I called after her. “My place is closer. We can walk to my truck and I’ll drive you.”

She looked around, annoyed. “Whatever’s faster.”

“It’s a twenty minute walk,” I said, anxiety creeping in. She couldn’t just leave now, alone. “You’ll be home before nine.”

“Good.” She stared, waiting for me to get moving.

It stung that she couldn’t get away from me fast enough, but I couldn’t blame her.

Ellie didn’t have much to say on the shady walk down the Old Road, until I got her talking about school. She didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do for a living but she figured studying business was a good start.

“I’m thinking about a minor in accounting. Whether I end up running my own business or managing somebody else’s, I need to learn every aspect. That’s why so many businesses struggle. It’s not for lack of a good idea or a good product. It’s normally a lack of knowing how to manage the money.”

I ran my hand through my shaggy mop of hair, smoothing it off my face as we trudged along the side of the road. I had no idea how to manage a business, or money. She was even smarter than I’d thought. “I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding work after college.”

“I’m already helping my aunt get her books straight at the restaurant. Their inventory and ordering system was a disaster, so there was no way to track expenses. And deposits–don’t get me started,” she yammered on, kickinggravel as we walked. “They didn’t even add up daily sales regularly. Boxes full of paper tickets and no way to cross reference with deposits. They had no idea how much money they were making or losing every week.”

My money was stashed in a brown paper bag at the top of my closet. I had no room to talk. “They’re lucky to have you. Maybe you can help me figure out how to make a decent living out of fishing.” Because I didn’t plan on keeping up the risky business with George after I had enough to buy my boat.

“You’re already making a living fishing, aren’t you?”

The money I made fishing was a drop in the bucket compared to what George paid me to be sure his deliveries happened on schedule. “Not the kind of living I’d like to make, not yet,” I said, too ashamed to share with her how close I was to my dreams, because getting there was as a result of living the life I didn't’ really want. “But fishing’s got potential. There’s only a few guys out there doing it right, and they’re booked solid. Plenty of room for me in the market, once I save up for a bigger boat.” My confidence surprised me, and I could tell it intrigued Ellie.

“You’ll get there if you put in the sweat equity,” she said assuringly. “And keep track of your expenses. I can give you some pointers if you like.”

“I’d like that very much,” I said, shooting her a grin. I could listen to her for days, her voice like a warm breeze, soft and soothing with a gentle, lilting rhythm. It had a melodic quality, each word flowing effortlessly into the next, carrying a warmth that wrapped around me like my grandmother’s quilt.

---