Page 9 of Summer Escape
"Why are you visiting for the summer?" Hayden asked Saylor, picking at her kabob.
Saylor's face shuttered. "I needed a break."
"Are you working while you're here?" I asked her.
Saylor nodded. "My company is allowing me to work remotely for the summer. It’s easy to do because I work in graphic design. But I have to return to the office by the end of August."
"That's nice," I said.
"There was a magic to that summer I stayed here, and I'd love to find that again. I think it was the island itself." Then Saylor said to Hayden, "Hopefully you catch some of that while you're here too."
Hayden pushed her food around on her plate but didn't respond.
"There are some teenagers who live here year-round. You can find them at the community center or the library."
"I don't need friends. I have some back home."
Saylor shrugged easily. "It might make your time here go more quickly."
As if Hayden's time here was a prison sentence. At least Saylor had found a way to talk to Hayden. It probably had something to do with the fact that she wasn't her parent. Another woman who could possibly understand what she was going through. I was doing my best, but teen girls were outside my wheelhouse.
Saylor kept the conversation going, talking about all the things she loved to do on the island when she was a teenager: hanging out with friends at bonfires on the beach, riding her bike on the paths, and hunting for seashells.
When Saylor fell silent, Hayden asked, "Will you show me how to work on this graphic-design program? We have a free one through our school computer, and I want to learn how to do more."
I had no idea she was into creating art on the computer. But she'd always loved to draw and paint.
Saylor smiled. "Of course."
It might be good for Hayden to let Saylor stay here. They seemed to connect on a level that we couldn't, and if she could show her graphic design, that would be even better. I was happy that she was interested in something besides the four walls of her room, and her phone.
We finished dinner, and I was pleasantly surprised when Hayden asked to be excused. "Please take your dish to the kitchen first."
Hayden disappeared inside with her plate and glass."
"That went well," Saylor said.
I nodded. "She was less cranky with you around."
Saylor smiled. "That's because I'm not her dad."
I threw my napkin on my plate. "I wasn't around as much as I would have liked when she was younger. She was always happy to see me. But now? I feel like I'm in enemy territory."
Saylor nodded. "I remember giving my parents a hard time at that age too."
"I wish I'd left the military earlier. Maybe this would be easier."
"I don't know about that. Teens go through these phases."
"After college, my family expected me to return home and help run the business. At the time, I wanted to explore the world. I met Hayden's mother, Billie, after I joined the military. It wasn't anything serious."
"Was your family upset?"
"We haven't talked about it much, but Hudson seems to be upset with me." I couldn't blame him for feeling that way.
"What will you do now?"
"I wanted some time with Hayden before I jumped back into work, but I was hoping I could still work for Kingston Construction."
