Page 53 of Sunset

“You’re dressed perfectly. Ready to go?” He asks.

“Yep,” I smile up at him.

He takes my hand and pulls me towards the sidewalk.

“What?” I ask him, thinking we should be heading to his car.

“We’re going to walk. Remember all those times we didn’t have a car to use, so we walked everywhere. I loved it, because I got to hold your hand, and we just talked about everything.” He says.

He’s right. I’d tell him every little detail from school, and he’d talk about every little detail from the restaurants with his dad. It’s how we got to know each other.

“Okay, so what are we talking about?”

“Well, I want to know about that first year or so after you took over The Inn. I know we keep avoiding our time apart, and I get it, but it’s a big part of your life that I don’t know about.”

“Where do you want me to start?” I ask.

“Well, my mom filled me in all the days leading up to the funereal, and I was at the funeral, so tell me about the after.” He says.

I go on to tell him about meeting with the lawyers and getting all the assets transferred to my name. The conferences with the accountant to figure out the best way to keep The Inn and the house, and where I should live. How it was the accountant’s idea I live at The Inn and rent out my parents’ house, during the season.

I talk about moving out of the house I grew up in and redecorating it. About moving into The Inn and decorating my room there. About how I struggled to get my footing, and how most of the staff supported me.

How the first guy I fired was Rich’s boss, and then promoted Rich in his place. How I had to learn every part of the business I didn’t know. The hours spent learning from everyone. All the way to Kade showing up and asking me to help him with his PR this year, because I had taught myself to do it for both Inns.

We have been circling downtown, while we talked, and he stops.

“I don’t think I’ve told you how proud I am of you. You dove in headfirst and took all this on. I should have been there, and I know that. Though, that’s another story, but seeing all you have done, takes my breath away.” He says, shocking me.

I take a deep breath, “Okay, enough with the heavy for the date. Where are we going?” I ask, changing the subject, and thankfully, he lets me.

“For our favorite treat on a hot summer day like this.” He smiles.

“Ice cream?” I ask.

“Yep. Tell me your favorite is still chocolate chip cookie dough?” He asks.

“Of course. Is yours still black cherry?” I ask him.

“Yes, and let me tell you, with how big New York City is, I couldn’t find a single place that had ice cream as good as they have here. I don’t get it. A huge city, and no one knew how to make ice cream.” He shakes his head.

“Last I checked, I’m pretty sure as a chef you have to know how to make ice cream.” I tease him.

“Yes, I do, but it’s all in the recipe, and I never could replicate it either. I even tried to have my mom bribe the recipe out of the owners, and they wouldn’t budge.” He pouts.

I just laugh, as we enter and get in line. While we wait, I check out all the local handmade items on the display tables around the store.

Jasper orders our cones, and we head outside to walk the pier, as we eat them. But when we get to the start of the pier, Jasper stops.

“Is this okay? I know you don’t do the water, but what about the pier?” He asks.

“The pier doesn’t bother me. It’s okay.” I assure him.

“Do you remember the lighthouse?” He asks.

At the end of the pier, used to be a lighthouse. It was one of the first structures on The Island, but when I was six, a hurricane came through and destroyed it. The town wasn’t thinking of its history and tore the rest of it down, instead of trying to rebuild and preserve it.

“Yeah, I don’t think I was ever inside it, though. I hope the state decides to rebuild it, because I think it could be a huge draw.” I tell him.

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