Page 39 of Keeping it Local

“Hi Beth, nice meeting you. Don’t mind us, we’re just getting everything set up still. We’re still on the two-nap schedule, so we’re trying to make this work today.” She laughed and kneeled, wearing a giant brimmed hat that blew in the wind. “I think we’re about there.” She handed a shovel to Kinsley, who seemed thrilled to be here. She had one of those adorable, big toothy smiles and wore a hat and swimsuit that matched her mother’s. Something tugged in my chest as I watched them.

I set up my towel and leaned back, okay with taking a break to breathe in the lake winds blowing at us. It was all still new to me, and now that I lived near the water, I never wanted to leave.

Ryan looked like a slightly rounder version of Johnny with a little less chest hair, fewer tattoos, and more gray hairs. It was hard not to see the resemblance though. They even had the same mannerisms and smile.

As I watched them, Felicia leaned back on her hands, laughing at something Ryan said, a big smile on her face. There were some people that were more uptight and uncomfortable until you got to know them. Ryan and Felicia were the opposite, and as I settled in, I thought maybe this wouldn’t be as nerve-wracking as I’d originally assumed.

Johnny handed me a wrap and plopped down next to me. His suit was already wet. It looked like he and Ryan had both already gotten in the water.

“Thanks,” I said. “You guys go in already?” I glanced back and forth between the brothers.

“Tradition,” Ryan said, toweling himself off. “Growing up, when we came here with our grandparents, the winner was whoever could swim out to that giant rock first. Guess who won this time?” He waggled his eyebrows at me.

“Nope. Not fair. I didn’t know we were even doing that. You cheated with a head start.” Johnny shook his head, clearly unfazed by the lost competition.

“Doesn’t matter how you get there, just that you do.” Ryan smirked at his brother.

“Yeah, it was a big thing with all the cousins growing up,” Johnny said. “King of the rock. Bragging rights for days.”

“Not much has changed then,” I said. “Rock’s still there, brothers still being brothers.”

Being an only child, I’d always wished for a sibling to have in my corner, and their teasing brought that familiar longing rushing back.

“Guess not.” Johnny plopped down next to his niece and started digging with her. “What do you think, Kinsley? Do you think it’ll be a tradition thirty years from now for you too?”

He patted Kinsley on her head, and she giggled, looking up at him making fish faces back at her. He was a good uncle.

I felt the warmth radiate up my chest as I watched the two of them dig and play with the sand toys. Johnny would help her fill up the bucket, then she would dump it out, again and again. He didn’t seem fazed at all by her actions and gave her all the attention she wanted.

After we finished eating, Felicia looked over at the guys and her daughter, then over to me. “Want to jump in the lake? I won’t even make you race me to the rock.”

Felicia and I waded out toward the rock, and I felt the cold water rush against my body, sending shivers up my spine.

“I know it’s still so cold out here, but it also feels so good.” Felicia stretched her arms up over her head.

“Absolutely. This is what it’s all about,” I agreed, tilting my head back and letting the warm sun fall on my face.

We eventually reached the rock and just treaded water for a bit, enjoying the warmth. I was sure Felicia was enjoying her time without a baby clinging to her hip.

“You know? I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him like this,” Felicia said.

“What do you mean?” I asked, glancing over at her, and then to the shore where the guys were. As nervous as I was coming out here today, Felicia made it feel like it wasn’t a big deal, like we had known each other for years. It felt like friendship even though we had just met. They all just made it so easy.

“Johnny.” She nodded toward the shore, looking at her daughter, Ryan, and Johnny with a wistful expression on her face. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen him laugh like this. It’s just, really nice.”

I followed her gaze. “Yeah, we have a lot of fun together, that’s for sure. More than I was expecting, frankly.”

“You’re from up north?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Not exactly, but I guess it is for you guys.”

“When do you go back?”

“Little over a month now? I’m just here for eight weeks,” I said, and for the first time I really wished that wasn’t the case. That instead I could figure out a way to stay in what had become my happy place.

“That’s too bad,” she said. “I figured—I guess it doesn’t matter what I figured.”

“No, tell me.”