Page 39 of Sea La Vie
“Charleston, South Carolina,” she says. She drawls out the ‘i’ in Carolina ever so slightly, and I want to hear her say it again.
“I’ve never been there,” I say. “I’ve never been anywhere outside of Widow’s Wharf, unless you count out there.” I nod toward the water. The sun is beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the world and putting on a show for Emma’s first day here.
“Oh?” she says.
“My dad’s a fisherman and I’m taking over the business one day,” I say proudly. “That’s our boat right there.” I point over a few docks to our boat, rocking gently in its dock. It’s a newer one among the crowd of others. Dad had finally saved enough for it last summer, and although things were tight now, we knew itwould eventually pay off since our previous boat was on its last leg.
“That’s amazing, Beau!” Emma smiles. “So you’ve graduated high school, then?”
I nod, proudly, the first in my family to do so.
“Me too,” she says. “I’m going to the College of Charleston in the fall. I think I’d like to study nursing.” My heart sinks at the thought of her leaving, even if it is three months from now.
“So, Beau, what is there to do in this town? It’s going to be an awfully long summer if all I can do is walk along the boardwalk and shop,” she teases.
“Oh, there’s plenty,” I promise her. “You just have to know someone from here. And lucky for you,” I gesture down the length of my torso, “He’s right here.”
The bells from our only church a street over chime seven times and I grimace. “And, he’s going to be late for dinner if he doesn’t leave right now.”
Emma frowns, “I should probably get going too.”
“Meet me back here tomorrow at the same time, okay?” I ask. “I want to take you somewhere I think you’ll like.”
She smiles, and my stomach does a little flip-flop. “Okay, Beau.”
I begin walking backward, wanting to soak in every second with her I can, and hating to leave her. I trip over a curb, stumbling, but right myself quickly.
“Tomorrow, Emma!” I yell. “I’ll be counting down the hours!”
She hides her smile behind a hand and nods, enthusiastically enough for the copper waves surrounding her face to bounce.
“Okay?” I yell, a few hundred yards from her now.
“Okay!” she waves back.
16
Tate
“What are you wearing?” Lainey giggles as she opens her front door.
I glance down at my outfit, then hers. “A pirate outfit. Where is yours?”
“Mine?” She twirls a strand of hair around her finger, a playful smile sitting on her lips.
“Yeah, Lucille told me everyone dressed up as pirates for Founder’s Day. She said I had to wear this.”
“Therearecertain people who wear pirate costumes, yes. But those are typically people who reenact Blackbeard’s last battle,” Lainey says then her eyes widen in horror. “Unless—oh no…She wouldn’t.” She tucks her bottom lip between her teeth, eyebrows arched.
“Whatever you’re insisting Lucille would not do, I have a feeling she absolutely would,” I say, my heartbeat picking up its pace.
“I can’t believe you’ve never been to Founder’s Day before,” Lainey muses.
“Grandpa usually kept to himself,” I say. “I can see why this wouldn’t be his cup of tea, especially if pirate costumes were involved.”
Lainey gives me a half smile. “How are your acting skills?”
I frown, realizing that whatever Lucille has tricked me into is going to most likely be embarrassing. “Not great.”
