Fading Memories Read online

  “Morning, Izzie. How are you?”

  “Fine. Thanks for asking.”

  “Well, are you going to ask me how I’m doing?”

  “No, I wasn’t planning on it, but since you asked, how are you this morning, Dakota?” Taking my chances, I peek over at him and notice that he’s at the screen door now.

  “Did you not sleep well?” He chuckles as he questions me. “By the way, I’m good. Thanks for asking.”

  “I slept fine, just need to get ready for my day.” I’m so over this little exchange now, I stand abruptly and turn toward him. “Look, I got to go. See you around,” I say with as much aggravation as I can muster.

  “Yeah, I’ll see you around, Izzie. You going to be home later?” he asks.

  Coming to a halt in the doorway, I whip my head around and look at him without a care in the world. “Yes, I should be. Things to do, and people are coming over.” Better make sure he knows I’ll have someone here, just in case I’m his next victim.

  I don’t allow him to respond or question anything else as I slide the door closed behind me. Refilling my mug, I look around for my phone and realize it’s in the bedroom. It’s only seven in the morning and Kelsey is going to be irate if I call, but with Dakota already in my space, she needs to be woken. I shouldn’t be the only one up and dealing with stuff today. Kelsey needs to move her butt before I flip out on this guy. On a good day, I’m nice, but something about this man causes the mean, rude side to show its ugly face. He confuses me and totally invades my space. The new me keeps people at a distance. If you haven’t been in my circle, you’re not getting in now.

  Kelsey answers on the third ring. “WHAT?… I’m sleeping and it’s too early, Izzie.” Yep, pissed.

  “Good morning, sunshine! This is your wake-up call; it’s time to get a move on. We got shit to do, and I need out of this house.”

  “Izzie, it’s Saturday and I wanted to sleep in. I thought you were going to go pick it up and then I’d meet you at the house?”

  “Kelsey, I thought you wanted me to be happy. You’re going to pick up the paint and maybe have breakfast with me. That’ll make me happy.” Yeah, she can’t say no to me now, especially after I turned that broken girl voice on.

  “Fine Izzie, but you’re buying breakfast.”

  “Always babe. Want to meet me here, or at Kay’s?”

  “I’ll meet you at the restaurant in about forty minutes; it's closer to me anyway.”

  “Okay, later,” I say.

  All I hear is the click of the phone. Kelsey isn’t a morning person. Still laughing to myself, I head to the shower and dress for the day’s events.

  Freshly showered, I run a comb through my wet hair. I’ve decided to just let it air dry, as I’ll just end up pulling it back later. Yoga pants, yellow tank top, and black flip flops on, I’m dressed for my morning. Checking the clock by the bed, I realize that I’m running late and I skimmer along toward the front door.

  Once I’m out the door, I notice Dakota is heading toward his car and toss out a half-ass wave in his direction as I continue to mine. Then I see his hot-as-sin muscle car. I’m not quite sure what kind it is, but I’ll admit it’s nice and fitting. He cranks the engine and the sound of the motor purring almost makes me purr.

  Even though I love his car, my convertible bug is more my speed. It’s red with a black top and black interior. A little over two years old, it still brings me happiness. It’s the first brand new vehicle I’d ever bought, so you can only imagine how thrilled I was.

  I remember how my father talked to me about how small and unsafe it could be, especially with the convertible top. Of course, I shrugged it off and just smiled while he explained. I didn’t even tell Peter I was getting a new car that day; we had talked about it, but never actually agreed on what to purchase. Having my own job and money, I thought it best that I got what I wanted. On the drive home that night to the house we shared, I was still reeling in the newness. Once in the driveway, I honked the horn and Peter came out to see what the commotion was.

  “Izzie, what is this?” Peter said.

  “It's my new ride. You like?”

  “No, Izzie, I don’t like it. We talked about this before, and you need to drive a car that says ‘I’m going to marry into money.’ This doesn’t say that; it’s a child’s car. You need to take it back.”

  “No! I’m keeping my car. We aren’t married yet, and later I can always get a new one. I’ve always wanted one like this. Can’t you let me be happy for a little while? Later we can get a BMW or whatever you want me to drive.”

  “You really like it, Izzie?”

  “Yes!” I literally screamed at him.

  “Fine, you win for now, but I’m not riding in it. When we go places, I’ll drive. That’ll keep the miles down.”

  Yes, I still have my ladybug and I drive it everywhere.

  Backing out of the drive to head toward Kay’s Diner, I notice that Dakota’s heading the same direction. Praying that it’s a coincidence, I continue with my drive. Seriously, the guy just moved to the island, how does he even know where to have breakfast here?

  Dakota enters the same busy parking lot I’m about to park in. I slide right behind him, but decide to turn left and park in the gravel lot. “Hah, take that buddy,” I say out loud.

  Not bothering with the top, I click my alarm button on the keypad. Yes, I know, why alarm it with the top down? Everyone always ask me the same thing, but if you think about it, it does make sense. If someone tries to steal her, I’ll know about it sooner rather than later.

  Approaching the front door of the diner at the same time as Dakota, I put my head down to avoid eye contact. Hopefully, he thinks I just didn’t notice him.

  I spot Kelsey at the booth in the back, and we’re lucky she got here before I did. The place is packed with groups waiting to be seated. I slide into the booth and smile at my grumpy-looking friend. “Morning, sunshine.”

  “No sunshine yet this morning, Izzie. Still need my coffee.”

  “I’ll give you a few minutes before I start talking.”

  “Look Izzie, is that your hot new neighbor that just walked in?”

  Not even looking because I know it’s him, the hair on the back of my neck stands to attention. “Yes, that’s him.”

  “You didn’t even look. How do you know?”

  “I know because we left the house at the same time and we pulled in at the same time. Now, please change the subject.”

  “Sorry, can’t do that. He’s headed over here right now.”

  “Shit!”

  “Morning again, Izzie.” Dakota then looks over at Kelsey. “And your name is?”

  “Why, good morning to you. I’m Kelsey.”

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Dakota. Didn’t I see you over at Izzie’s last night?”

  “Yep, and I know your name already. Izzie told us last night.”

  “She did, did she?” he asks with raised eyebrows in my direction.

  “Would you like to join us for breakfast?”

  “Thank you for asking, but I’m going to let you have your breakfast while I sit at the counter. It was nice meeting you, Kelsey. See you later, Izzie,” he says as he turns and walks away.

  Kelsey looks over at me now. “So, you already said hello to him this morning, huh?”

  “Shut it down, Kelsey, and shut it down now.”

  “Oh, so feisty this morning. He’s really stirred up something with you, hasn’t he, Izzie?”

  “No, just drop it, please. We need to order, eat, and go buy paint.”

  “Fine! Fine! Fine! I’ll drop it for now, but we’re going to talk about it.”

  Kay, our waitress, makes it over, and I smile at her welcoming face. She’s been here for as long as I can remember and feels almost like family. “Morning girls, you two want your usual?”

  “Yes, that would be great, and can you bring more coffee when you get a chance?”

  “Got it, it’ll be up in a few. I think Dav
e saw you walk in and already started your breakfast.”

  We’ve been eating here at the diner since high school and have always ordered the same thing. Back in school, we’d leave early just so we could stop and have the diner’s special. Well, it was really our individual special. It’s not even offered on the menu, but Kay made sure to always have what we wanted. Ham and cheese omelet topped with veggies, side of grits, and toast. It covers all food groups.

  “Are you going to talk to me, Izzie?”

  “Talk about what, Kelsey?”

  “Come on, you know what. Don’t play coy with me. Let’s speak about that bomb Leah dropped on your lap last night.”

  “Really, I don’t feel like hashing it out. What can I say? I guess I’m happy for Peter. He’s getting what he has always wanted. End of discussion.”

  “Izzie, you know I sat and witnessed your face and body language last night when Leah brought it up. I just want to make sure you’re okay with everything. I really don’t want you slipping back to the way you were last year—hell, for that matter, a few months ago.”

  “Kelsey, really, I am fine. Stop worrying about me, all right? I just need a little time to process the news. I mean how would you feel about everything?”

  “I know, I know. Let’s change the subject. No more depressing talk for the day.”

  “Before you even say it, no I don’t want to speak about him either. I see that look you have going on, and I’m stopping that right now.”

  “You’re no fun then, Izzie.”

  Just in time, Kay appears at our table with breakfast. I can’t say saved by the bell, but I can say saved by the food. Digging into our heaping plates, we have a little chit chat about this and that.

  “I need to get a head count for the party finalized since I’m not sure who’s coming. Do you have any idea who’s bringing whom this year?” I ask.

  “No, I’m solo and so is Leah. Joseph might bring his new lady and then the rest you know will at least have their husbands or wives with them. So, typical crowd of what, twenty or so?”

  “That sounds about right.”

  “Are you going to ask Dakota over for the party? I mean, he is your neighbor. I’m sure his family will want to meet you and everyone else.”

  “If I do ask him, it might just be him since I found out last night he’s not married and doesn’t have a girlfriend either.” Looking up from my plate, I shake my finger at her to let her know not to ask or put it out on the table.

  “I take it you’re not going to ask him then?”

  “Nope, not asking.”

  “Well, can I ask him?”

  “NO! You can’t either. Plus you just RSVP’d to one, not a plus one, only one.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Hurry up and finish eating, we need to go buy paint and crap. I am on a deadline and you running your trap is not getting me finished any quicker.”

  Kelsey’s laughs at me, because apparently I’m quite funny this morning, even though I don’t see the humor in this conversation.

  I flag down Kay for the check. Once she approaches the table she hands me a note on a napkin. She quickly explains that our tab was already covered. As she leaves the table with a quick goodbye, I open the note:

  “Thanks for the company last night on the walk back, and this should cover at least one bottle of wine. I still owe you one more. D”

  He signed it D. Not Dakota, just D.

  Kelsey looks over trying to read the napkin as I ball it up and toss it onto the table. How irritating that he thinks he can just waltz in here, stalk my beach, my deck, and buy me breakfast. I’ll be having a little chat with someone today, and setting some ground rules, stat.

  “Come on, let’s go.”

  “What’s it say, Izzie?”

  “Nothing, let’s go. I’m ready to get this work done today if you don’t mind.”

  “I’ll follow you to the hardware store.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  KELSEY PULLS INTO the hardware store lot first, and we both find open spots quickly. I grab the paint swatches, my purse, and my phone from the passenger seat. I get to the door first and look back, noticing that Kelsey is taking her sweet, loving time.

  “Coming? Let’s get a move on it. I need paint!”

  “Slow down, the paints aren’t going anywhere, I promise.”

  Tugging the cart out of the holder, I laugh at this stupid banter between us. She has no idea how excited I am for the simple changes I’m making. It’s a huge step for me, one that needs to be done.

  “You know what color you’re getting?”

  “Just going to do white on the back of the house wall in the sunroom; I want to keep it the same color as the siding. Maybe with some navy blue trim though, and accents of red. What do you think?”

  “Sounds good to me. It’ll change it up for sure.”

  “Can I help you?” asks the young kid behind the paint counter.

  “Yes, I need to get about five gallons of semi-gloss exterior pure white, one gallon of this blue, and one gallon of this red.”

  I hand over the blue and red paint swatches I’ve picked out for him to match the color perfectly.

  “Where are you putting the red?”

  “Um … Not really sure yet, but I want to have it just in case I decide where I want it.”

  “Cool, sounds like a good plan.”

  Looking over my shoulder at the assistant, I say. “While you get that ready, I’m going to go get my other supplies. We’ll be back in a few.”

  Just as I figured, nothing in return from him, just a quick bow of the head as he moves about to gather my paint.

  Making our way over to the brush aisle, my search for the supplies starts.

  “Kelsey, what kind of brush do you want to use?”

  “Doesn’t matter to me, I want to roll anyway. Just find me a good roller. Oh, and make it lightweight.”

  “Okay, you roll while I trim. Does that sound right to you?”

  “Yep, seems perfect. Is Leah coming over to help?”

  “Not sure, you want to text her and find out?”

  “Yeah, I’ll text to see.”

  “Hey, I’m going to go find a new drop cloth for the flooring. Will you look at some tape to use around the doors?”

  “On it,” Kelsey responds as I head in the other direction.

  Throwing a few drop cloths into the cart, I change my search to the home goods aisle. Just as I’m passing, I notice Kelsey staring at the tape.

  “What’s the face for, Kelsey?”

  “Do you know they have like, a thousand different types of tape? Which one do I pick?”

  “Just get one; we’ll make it work. Let’s go pick up the paint, then I want to go check out cushions and stuff.”

  Back at the paint counter, I grab the gallons and glance at the dried color spots upon the lids, pleased with the way the blue looks but not sure about the red. A few ideas are swirling in my head on what to do with this color. I’ll allow it to play out before I make the final decision.

  In the home goods section in search of an outdoor rug and cushions, I spot a huge bin full of pillows and dig around as I saw the perfect one on the bottom. Happy that I found four matching ones, I toss them into the cart and move toward the outdoor rugs.

  The floors in the sunroom are whitewashed, as I redid them a few summers back. I spot a solid navy blue rug with white and red swirls all around in the middle—kind of modern looking, but still in the nautical tone.

  “Kelsey, look what I found. Don’t you think this will be perfect?”

  “Oh, that’s grand. Are you going to get it?”

  “Of course, help me get this thing into the cart.” Lifting the rug out of the awkward bin, we place it on top of the cart.

  “What’s the plan with the furniture?”

  “This is what I’m thinking: the wicker’s already white and it blends into the background. We can either move the furniture around so it’s not on the back wall, or leave
one white and I can use this blue to paint them a little. What do you think?”

  “Sounds wonderful; you’re going to love it even more once you’re done, Izzie.”

  “Yeah, I am. I always wanted this color scheme out there and it’ll look more me. You know Dad always kept it the old way. He never wanted to change the way Mom decorated.”

  “I know, Izzie. No thinking of the past today. We’re all going to help you make the cottage yours, a place to call home while being proud to show it off again.”

  “Very true, my friend, very true.”

  Kelsey goes to another aisle and then yells for me. I turn the corner and see her beaming with excitement. In her hands are a lighthouse and a sailboat that will look magnificent in the sunroom. Since I’m splurging, they land in the cart with my other items, even placing some wind chimes I notice sitting to the side. The ones currently hanging up are old and weathered and in need of some TLC.

  “I think we’ve got enough for today. We need to get out of here before I spend all my money on one room.”

  “Let’s roll,” Kelsey says.

  As I place all the items on the conveyor belt, I’m pretty pleased with my choices. Everything is finally coming together. Well, that is, until the cashier announces my damage. This, of course, causes Kelsey to bend over laughing. She knows that I save and save, and only spend when needed.

  Kelsey leans toward me. “Remember, it’s a need, and it only adds value to the cottage, Izzie.”

  “Right, a need and not a want,” I repeat at the cashier, who gives me a crazy look.

  “Leah will meet us at the house.”

  “Great, we need the extra hands.”

  Kelsey decides I need to stop by the market on the way to my house, so we pack everything into her trunk. I agree that it’s best to grab some sandwich items. Once we start, there’s no way I’m going to want to stop.

  “See you in a few, and don’t forget my pickles!”

  Kelsey

  I really am happy that Izzie finally decided to take the summer off, I think as I head back toward her house. We all thought we lost her last year. When I pull into the driveway, I notice Dakota outside near his car. Dang, Izzie didn’t tell me about the car. That man is sex on a stick, and my girl needs to ride that stick, even though I’d not let her know I think that. She’s still touchy.