* * *
ANNA AND LINNEA sat side by side on the sand, their wet suits pulled down to their waists over their swimsuits. The days were getting warmer as May marched on, but the ocean had been brisk. They’d just finished surfing their favorite spot on Isle of Palms. They were taking a break to warm up.
Linnea luxuriated in the feel of the spring sun on her skin. It felt glorious to be stretching her palms down on the warm sand, feeling the kiss of the sun. She reached up to comb her hair with her fingers, letting it fall out in skeins to dry. John and Cooper were still out riding the waves. The surf was unremarkable, but it was enough to get one’s metabolism up and create that sense of connection to the sea. No matter the wave, there was contact with the water, the exertion of one stroke after another and balancing on a board, and at last the exhilaration of riding a rushing curl of water home.
She felt her breath slowly return to a steady beat. “It feels so good to be back out on the water,” Linnea said, lifting her face skyward.
“Totally,” Anna said. She sat up with excitement. “Linnea, you’ll never guess.”
Linnea turned her head, the tone of voice catching her attention. Anna’s face was pinkened from the sea and sun and something else. “What?”
“I got an e-mail this morning from the aquarium. They’re calling me back in to work!”
Linnea sat up. “Really?” Hope fluttered in her chest.
“Really. They’re taking in a lot of stranded turtles now that the season started. Boat strikes, mostly. I wish those boats would just slow down and give the turtles a chance to get out of the way.”
“When do you go back?”
“Tomorrow. They say it’s urgent. They need help now.”
“Tomorrow? Wow,” Linnea said on an exhale.
“Did you get a call?”
“Nope.” She tried not to let her disappointment show.
“Oh.” Then Anna added with encouragement. “They’re still working with a skeleton crew. Hang on.”
“I have no choice, do I?” Linnea ran sand through her fingers. After an awkward silence Linnea said, “I miss my job. That was a big part of who I was. Now I feel like I’m in limbo. Waiting to see what happens next. I never thought I’d say I miss getting up in the morning and going to work. But I do.”
“If you were at work, you’d be sitting behind a desk. Not sitting here on the beach.”
“True.” Linnea sighed, not feeing comforted.
“Hey,” Anna said. “Why don’t you do what you said… about finding time to do things you haven’t had the time to do.”
Linnea turned her head to look at Anna. “You actually listened to me?”
Anna looked sheepish. “Yeah. I always do.” She laughed shortly. “Even if I don’t show it.”
“You seem, I don’t know… happier.”
“I am.” Anna smirked. “It’s more than the sex,” she said.
Linnea laughed.
Anna looked out at the ocean. “I’m sorry I was such a bitch at the beginning,” she said. “I was pretty down. And all you were doing was trying to stay positive.” She turned to face Linnea. “I admire that about you. Your generosity. I’m not talking about a money kind of thing, but your spirit. I mean it.”
Linnea never thought she’d hear those words from Anna. “Thank you,” she said simply.
Anna said, “And you know, I never really thanked you properly for letting me move in with you. So… thank you.”
Linnea smiled. “You’re welcome.”
“And, hey,” Anna added with a crooked smile, “I have to admit, it’s not too shabby to live on an island.”
“I’m glad you moved in. Really. We’ve become closer, don’t you think?”
“Well, there is your brother. We’re practically related…”
Linnea laughed and jokingly kicked her leg. “You’re so bad.” She looked out at the surf. “I have to admit, I’m kind of envious you have an open relationship with Cooper. It is what it is. No promises made. No feelings hurt.”
“Right,” Anna replied, but without a smile.
“I wish it were as clear-cut for me.”
“You seem pretty happy Gordon’s arrived.”
“I am.” She saw John take a wave, his arms stretched out. “I just wish I could put my feelings for John away.”
“Honey, everyone knows you two have it for each other.”
“No!” Linnea swung her head around. “Don’t say that.”
“When you’re in the same room, we’re all walking on pins and needles.”
“No we aren’t.”
“Why don’t you and John just sit down and talk it out?”
“We don’t need to. He has made it clear what he wants out of life. What he and I want are not the same. I’m too old—and wise—to go down that path again. So, we’re friends. I must accept that’s enough. But…” She closed her eyes with fatigue. She’d been going over and over this in her mind. “It’s so hard to know someone is not right for you, and still have emotions for him. I wish he’d just go back to California. He’s interfering with my feelings for Gordon. I need to give that relationship more time. He’s perfect.”
“Linnea, first of all, no one is perfect. Think about it. Do you know any relationship that’s perfect?”
“Maybe Cara and David.”
Anna waved her hand. “They don’t count.” She laughed. “But even with them, Cara has to still have feelings for her first husband.”
“Brett…” Linnea said softly.
“You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t have residual sentiments about John. He was a big part of your life. You loved him. And when you love someone, I don’t know if you can ever fully turn it off.” She flipped her hands up. “Not that I’ve ever really loved anyone, so this is all conjecture. Other than my boy toy, of course, but that’s another story.”
Linnea tried to laugh, appreciating her attempt at humor.
“Life’s not perfect. Love’s not perfect. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Anna looked up sharply, then groaned. “Oh God, look what the ocean spit out.”
Linnea followed Anna’s gaze and was surprised to see Pandora James walking toward them, swinging her hips in a designer bikini that showed off her body perfectly. Her long brown hair was braided over her shoulder under a big floppy hat. She carried a large designer beach bag and wore her signature enormous sunglasses. Every man she passed turned his head to follow her long-legged gait.
Linnea hadn’t seen Pandora since she’d said good-bye at last summer’s end, headed for England, and she’d had nothing but one e-mail since January. They’d met the summer before while surfing, then encountered each other again shortly after on Sullivan’s Island. Linnea had noticed her fabulous Chanel swimsuit. Pandora had noticed the black garbage bag Linnea was carrying to pick up trash. A friendship was born.
Gordon had strained that relationship. Pandora liked him and had let Linnea know it. But Gordon wanted Linnea.