“This is the moment we are waiting for. The moment where we see who will be leaving as a couple and who will be going home alone.”
Alexis squeezes my hand and sits up straighter.
“We will begin with Paula and Owen. Paula and Owen had a beautiful date learning sand sculpture techniques. But was it enough to cement their bond? Paula?” Marco places her shell gently in her hands. “The shell is in your hands,” Marco says. “What will you do?” I think he’s holding his breath.
Alexis grips me tighter.
“I’m so sorry, Owen,” Paula says. “You are a lovely man. Truly a sweetheart. But I just can’t see us moving forward,” she smiles apologetically. “And what I mean when I say seeing it, is seeing it here.” She pats her breastbone. “I’m going to go with my heart and continue to play with fire, Owen. I don’t think you’re my match.”
“Well, this means you’ll both be going home, Owen and Paula. Please take a moment to say goodbye to everyone.” Marco says. Owen is biting his cheeks, trying not to smile as he fist-bumps the rest of the cast.
Marco waits to hug Paula last, trailing his fingers over her bare back, off camera, before a PA leads her away.
Alexis exhales. “Thank God that’s over,” she whispers.
“Lacey?” Marco picks up Lacey’s shell and hands it to her. She stands for a moment, gazing between Ryker and Darwin, biting her lip and twirling the end of a long dark strand of hair indecisively.
“Is there a problem, Lacey?” Marco asks. He’s holding another shell behind his back.
“Yes, Marco,” Lacey pouts. “I guess I’ve always been a little extra. And now I need to ask you for a favor.”
“We had a feeling this might happen. So we took the liberty of making this for you.” Marco holds up the second shell. Lacey smiles broadly and takes it in her other hand.
“Ryker? Darwin?” She holds the shells aloft, one in each hand. “Will you boys accept my shells?
“We will!” Darwin jumps to his feet, waiting for Ryker to come to his side. They take the shells from her.
“Lacey?” Darwin asks, nodding at Ryker. The two men link arms, each holding a shell to their lips.
“Do you hear our call?” Ryker smiles at her.
And then they blow.
“Good Lord!” Alexis doubles over laughing. “What would you call that?”
“Flatulent goat,” I state with conviction. “And on that note,” I say, “I think I’m going to call it a day and head back to the room.” I give Alexis a quick hug and turn to go.
“Try it again, Guys,” Rob says. “Otherwise we’ll fix it in post. Let me count you down. Three… Two…”
But before he gets to one, I hear it. A loud, clear note cutting through the air, coming from the direction of the water.
It sounds like a low, sonorous horn, piercing the night.
The set goes silent as everyone strains to listen. There’s a second sound now, too, a low mechanical hum that sounds like a boat motor. And then the horn sounds again. Closer this time.
“Did you hear that?” I turn back to Alexis. We are all looking out to sea now. Her eyes are wide, too.
“Hells yes,” she says. “Was that a conch shell? I mean a conch shell the way it’ssupposedto sound?”
jackson
“I’m not sure what’s next for me. Things feel a bit up in the air. Has anyone heard from Jackson?”
~ Isla Fairfax, Playing with Matches Confessionals
“So,”my father asks as I climb aboard his boat, “How’s it going, Jackson?”
“Seriously?” I ask. “It’s gone better.”
