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His absence was no great loss to me. I’d never known him any other way. But it was hard on Ensley and Garrett, who often knocked on his bedroom door only to be ignored.
He’s never met his only grandchild, and he didn’t even respond to the news that his oldest daughter was getting married.
I’ve never known a happy father other than in the old photo albums that abruptly end with my mother’s death. His only smile with me in the picture is from the day I was brought home from the hospital.
There are precious few childhood pictures of me. Ensley carefully saved the proof images sent home from school on order forms we never could send back in. That’s the only documentation of what I looked like as a kid.
I run my fingers across Rosie’s cheek. We will never let her have a life like that. Never, ever. I’ll work in the worst run-down, backwater bar before I let that happen. It’s a promise I made long ago: Rosie comes first. Then my sisters. And with Ensley moving on, more of the responsibility is mine to shoulder.
“What’s got you so thoughtful?” Lila asks, settling Rosie on her hip as we walk down a trail lined with palm trees. “That bartender?”
There’s an edge to her voice. She doesn’t approve.
“I’m having brunch with him after this.”
Lila stops. “Why? This is just a vacation. You’ll never see him again.”
“And that makes him a perfect fling. Have you seen those biceps?”
Lila takes off in a speed-walk, her jaw set. She’s really mad.
I rush to catch up with her. “Hey. What’s getting you?”
She shrugs. “You seem so happy.”
I want to fire back,And I’m not supposed to be?But I don’t. I get it. She doesn’t want me to ruin our sisterly escape by running off with a man.
I don’t argue. Fighting isn’t really what we do. Instead, we keep walking, letting the tension dissipate in the beauty of our surroundings.
But then she stops and points to the trees. Up among the leaves are parrots, bright green and yellow. Rosie sees them and claps her hands. And just like that, the hard moment is over.
The birds look down at us, cocking their heads, making us laugh. Rosie’s infectious giggle must annoy them, as they extend their colorful wings and tweet down at us in high-pitched chirps.
I don’t snap their picture. Some things you always remember, even when there is no evidence the moment happened.
This is one of those. My sister, my niece, and me in the most beautiful place we’ve ever been. And she’s right. I am happy.
I realize I don’t have Gabe’s phone number when we run late. I frantically lunge out of the car and dash down the sidewalk that cuts through the condo complex to the beach.
But he’s there, leaning against his closed-up hut, the wind ruffling his sandy hair, a half smile on his lips.
“I’m so sorry. The turtles went longer than I thought. And I can’t drive fast, not on the wrong side of the road—”
“Now don’t go apologizing.” His eyes crinkle with amusement. “This is island time. It’s all good.”
I tug my white T-shirt self-consciously. It’s damp over my wet bathing suit, revealing the yellow-flowered bikini top. My butt is wet as well.
“I didn’t get to change,” I say. “Should I go do that?”
Gabe is wearing long khaki shorts and a yellow shirt that fits tightly across his chest and biceps. “You can change if you like, but where we’re headed, most of the people are coming in off the beach.”
“Okay.” I touch my cheeks. I don’t have a lick of makeup on, either. But he’s already seen me.
We head to the hedge where he hid his motorcycle yesterday. Soon, we’re in helmets and flying down the highway, this time going in the opposite direction.
I could seriously ride through the tropics, hanging on to Gabe’s back, for the rest of my natural life. The tangy air, the wind on my knees, and his muscled back against my chest are an intoxicating mix.
I close my eyes and revel in the rumble of the bike and his lean into a turn. We’re all one working part—Gabe, me, and the motorcycle.
