Page 4 of Hometown Harbor 3
After dinner, they kicked off their shoes and walked along the beach.
“I’m glad I almost hit you with a volleyball on July Fourth, although I believe I would have met you anyway. I would have seen you walking down the beach and thought I had to meet you,” Carmine said as they started holding hands. “I love how you walk like you have somewhere urgent to be, even when you don’t.”
It was nice that he noticed something about her that most people missed. “I think I got that from working in the emergency department for so long. There’s no downtime when you’re working at a big city hospital. We all work quickly because no one should wait for care for hours, especially when they're paying so much. A triage nurse gets the most serious cases through first, but still, I learned to move fast. I hate that we have to have different levels of emergency. The person who comes in only knows they have an emergency, and we tell them to wait a few hours. Then, there’s keeping up with Kylen, but you know how that is since you work at a high school for boys,” April said.
“It’s a lot, but as their coach or teacher or both, there’s only so much I can do. The parents are the ones deep in the trenches. Kudos to parents like you.”
“Thank you. That little compliment means so much to a single mother,” April said with a prideful grin.
“I’m heading down to Miami next week, and I wanted to take you and Kylen. I can’t go because I have a shift at the emergency clinic. If I take more than a four-week break, my license goes into limbo, and it’s a pain when I return to Tampa. Would you take Kylen alone, or is that too much responsibility?” April asked. She was hesitant about asking since they hadn't known each other too long.
“I would love to bring him with me. I can show him the university while we're there because he mentioned that he's college-bound.”
“We’ve already been to the Miami campus. He wants to stay closer to me, and Miami is about four hours from Tampa. I hate that he might give up opportunities because he worries about me,” April said. “I don’t want it to seem like I’m pushing him out of the nest, and I’d rather he fly off on his own.”
“That was something he mentioned, but I knew the night I met you that you were more than capable of taking care of yourself. You practically ripped my head off, and you didn't need anyone by your side to do that.”
April nodded in agreement. “I’m ready to leave Tampa, and he thinks I’m just saying that. I’d like to move to a smaller town, and after Kylen is in college, I’d like to start working in a hospital again. It won’t be a level one trauma center like before because I don’t want to suffer burnout again.”
“If it comes up, I’ll mention it to Kylen. Leaving home and going to college was scary, but being away was fulfilling, so after a week, I wasn't even homesick anymore. I have no right to meddle in your family business, but if he asks, I’ll answer,” Carmine said.
April was so relieved someone had taken an interest in her son that she nearly cried. “Are you serious? Meddle, please meddle. It’s been so long since anyone besides his Uncle Greg was willing to join me in the trenches. Kylen respects you, and I trust you.”
“I wish you were coming with us, but we’ll be sure to call plenty while we’re down there. You aren’t going to pick up another volleyball player while I’m away, are you?” he asked.
“Not a chance.” She leaned over and kissed him as the waves lapped up over their feet.
Carmine and April spent time together every day until it was the day Kylen was set to leave. Kylen had never been so excited for a road trip with April and she was fine with that. With his bag packed and money in his wallet from Mom, he was ready when Carmine picked him up.
“Since I met you, I’ve never seen that look of worry on your face. Are you sure about this?” Carmine asked April as he walked onto the deck.
“She’s sure, aren’t you, Mom?” Kylen said in an exasperated voice.
“I’m sure, and I’m usually not a worry wart. To be honest, I’m jealous more than anything because I wish I were going, too,” April said. “I hate having to go to workshops and take tests, which I would have to do if I don’t take this shift.”
“I’ll miss you and be back in a few days,” Kylen said as he hugged his mother.
Kylen took his bag to Carmine’s waiting car, leaving them some privacy to say goodbye.
Carmine put his hands around April’s waist and pulled her in tight. “Meeting you and Kylen this summer was the one thing in my life that I didn’t know I needed. The end of summer is going to be something we should talk about. A summer romance would have been fun, and parting would have been bearable, but this doesn’t feel like a typical summer romance. If you don’t feel the same, you’ll have to let me know so I can prepare myself for heartbreak.”
“You left a lot for me to think about. I—” April started to say, but Carmine cut her off.
“I don’t want an answer now. You have something to think about while we’re gone. It’s better than missing us.” Carmine smiled.
He left April with a juicy kiss before running down the stairs. As she saw the car speed away, she heard the music blaring. April predicted that Carmine would tolerate Kylen’s music for about an hour. She wouldn’t have sent him off with anyone Kylen was hesitant to go with. Carmine immediately hit it off with her son, and he had advice only a man could give. Being a single mother, she figured that she had all the bases covered. She didn’t, and although it was early, Carmine provided the missing piece. He was a vital piece that April didn’t even know was missing, but Kylen probably knew.
April collapsed on the chaise and started thinking about what Carmine said. It was definitely something she could spend four days thinking about. They had careers, friends, and family. She closed her eyes and they only stayed that way for a minute when Tabitha walked out onto the deck with two cups of coffee.
“I saw the boys drive away and thought you might need some company,” Tabitha said.
"There must be some fairy dust in the air conditioning vent. Deb is in a relationship with her complete opposite, and you fell in love in weeks, and now Carmine walks into my life,” April said. “I had given up on meeting someone, let alone a man interested in my son. I wish I had met him ten years ago when Kylen was getting in trouble.”
“It’s too bad life doesn’t work that way. I wish we could choose when things happen in our lives, but that’s not possible. If falling for men quickly is our only problem this summer, then we’re lucky,” Tabitha said. “Greg, Maxim, and Marcus were very different, and each didn’t work out for different reasons. I might find a man I want to spend the rest of my life with, but it’s more likely that I won't. In my hiking, walking, and occasional jog, I’ve had time to autopsy my relationships. It turns out that the best relationship is the one I have with myself, and that’s the one I should be working on.”
“I’ve had seventeen years to autopsy my most seminal relationship. That’s been done, and now I have to figure out where my current relationship is heading,” April said as she reclined her chair.
“You enjoy contemplating your future. I’m meeting Deb and Nathaniel for lunch at Zabu’s.”