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Title TBD : The Group Chat [Maybe not]
Draft Entry #8: Where the River Meets the Sea
Meet me at the spot where saltwater and freshwater mingle. Make me believe that someday we can make our way to each other, too.
Chapter Twenty-One
Englishman’s Cove was paradise. A curved shoreline, hugged by a dense tropical forest, slanting into the turquoise sea. Tucked away on the quiet side of the island, far from the touristy hustle and bustle, it was the calm backdrop they needed on this day.
After a swim, Naomi set up the picnic using the fancy plates and cups she’d ordered for the evening’s cancelled barbecue. Anthony and Roman went off to order lunch at a nearby seafood shack. The rest of them were hanging out.
‘Who wants to check out the river with me?’ Jasmine asked. ‘It’s a short walk in that direction.’
This was the cue.
Jen scrambled to her feet and wiped sand off her bum. ‘I’ll go.’
Hugo slipped on his sunglasses. He gave Adrian a peck on his bare shoulder. ‘I’ll be right back, babe.’
Samantha grabbed her camera. ‘I’ll shoot video for the blog.’
Jason, Adrian and Chris knew what was up. They politely declined. Naomi was too absorbed with her task to notice their theatre production. She waved goodbye.
They set off, Samantha and Hugo trailing behind Jasmine and Jen, and soon arrived at what looked to Samantha like a shallow stream running perpendicular to the sea. Every so often, a strong sea wave crashed through it.
‘Here’s where the sea runs into the river,’ Jasmine said. ‘Freshwater and saltwater don’t usually mix. When they do, it changes everything. They make something new.’
‘Lovely,’ Hugo said. ‘Get to the point.’
‘I didn’t want to spread gossip,’ Jasmine said. ‘That’s why I kept this to myself. Jason knows, but otherwise—’
Jen shielded her light eyes from the sun with her hand. ‘You can tell us.’
‘I may have some insight on the best man drama.’
Samantha edged closer. Now they were getting somewhere.
‘Our first night here, after dinner, Jason and I went for a walk. It was such a gorgeous night. We walked past Anthony’s bungalow.’
‘Honey, sweetie,’ Hugo said. ‘Get to the point.’
‘Don’t rush her!’ Jen said.
‘We heard shouting. Anthony and Ted were arguing.’
‘What about?’ Samantha asked.
‘I didn’t hear much,’ Jasmine said. ‘Ted was definitely trying to reason with Anthony. What’s the rush? he kept saying. Why can’t you date a while like normal people? Give it six months. Give it a year. It got heated and we didn’t want to get caught eavesdropping, so we took off. The next day, Ted was gone.’
Guilt churned in Samantha’s gut. Hadn’t she come to Tobago with the intention of saying all those things?
‘They fell in love!’ Jen exclaimed. ‘What’s so strange about that? Some people, honestly!’
Hugo, Jasmine and Samantha swivelled to face her. Jen buckled under the strength of their combined glare. ‘I’ll admit when they announced their engagement I thought they were pranking me. We met for drinks and I nearly spit out my apple martini. They’d only been dating a few weeks.’
‘I feel terrible,’ Samantha said. ‘I might’ve said all those things to Naomi given the chance.’
