Page 3 of The Summer Request
She had to make the quick decision to leave her car on the mainland and walk onto the ferry. At some point during the hour-long trip, she’d figure out how to catch a ride to Roche Harbor for the memorial.
Lisa found herself a seat inside with a view of the water. The smells from the galley were tempting – soft pretzels, pizza, and were those curly fries?
No. She didn’t need anything else. She’d packed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and that was enough. If she’d had a traveling companion, they could’ve split a bottle of wine as they gazed out onto the passing islands, the brilliant blue sky and blinding white clouds barely floating by…
Lisa let out a sigh and got up to throw out the foil from her sandwich. As enchanting as ferry travel could be, she was traveling alone today.
She stepped onto the deck outside and found a spot to hang her hands over the railing. The boat slowly but steadily hummed its way across the water, past one island and onto the next.
She’d never appreciated the views when she was younger. All she could think of was how inconvenient it was to have to take a boat every time she wanted to go somewhere. Her parents had laughed and patted her head knowingly, telling her that she should enjoy island time.
Lisa hadn’t cared about that. She’d just wanted to be able to go to the mall like a regular teenager.
Back then, she couldn’t wait to get away from the island and live where all the action was. City life did end up being more exciting, and more convenient, though now she’d determined that convenience wasn’t always a good thing.
An announcement came over the loudspeakers, stating they were approaching Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. Lisa was cutting it close. The ferry had been late, and now she had to figure out how to get a ride. Surely Uber had made its way to San Juan Island?
Within a few minutes of docking, she had her answer. Uber had not made it, and the bus she’d hoped to catch to the other side of the island had just left. It wouldn’t be back for another forty-five minutes.
Island time struck again.
Lisa stood on the sidewalk of Front Street, and though she tried to focus on her predicament, she kept getting distracted by what she saw. So much had changed, yet it still looked the same.
The buildings were familiar, in a way. Many were the same structures that had been built in 1900, standing now as they had then. Lisa used to think that was boring, but now it amazed her.
Though the buildings were in the same location, they looked brand new. New paint, new siding, gorgeous windows. It made the street look like something out of a Hallmark movie. All of the restaurants and shops of her childhood had disappeared, only to be replaced by new ventures. Some looked positively chic.
The Friday Harbor of her youth had not been chic. She couldn’t go far without running into a group of fishermen having an end-of-the-day beer. Years later, any fishy stench could thrust her into a sentimental spiral.
A car honked, startling her out of her thoughts.
“Lisa?”
A woman had stopped traffic, rolling her window down to get Lisa’s attention.
“Hi, yes,” Lisa said, stumbling closer.
“I’m Zora, Justine’s assistant.” She looked down. “I’m sorry, her previous assistant.”
“Of course.” Lisa would’ve recognized her if she hadn’t had her head in the clouds. “We’ve met before. How are you?”
“Good.” Zora nodded. “I thought I would swing by and pick up any stragglers from the ferry. Have you seen anyone else who looks like they’re trying to get to the memorial?”
Lisa was too embarrassed to admit she hadn’t done anything but gape at the buildings. “I can’t say I have.”
Zora thought on that for a moment. “Okay. Would you like a ride?”
“Yes! Thank you,” Lisa said, grabbing at the back door and launching herself inside. There was no need to further upset the line of cars forming behind them by being slow. “I really appreciate it.”
In her rush, Lisa realized she was treating Zora, Justine’s loyal assistant of over twenty-five years, like a cab driver.
As soon as she shut the car door, she tried to correct herself. “Sorry I got in the back seat,” Lisa announced. “I think I panicked. There were cars waiting and I’m so used to the city, where people are angry all the time.”
Zora waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. Not at all. I’m just glad you made it.”
“Me too.” Lisa smiled. To think she almost hadn’t.
Zora drove through town slowly, stopping for pedestrians at every corner. The streets were filled with happy families and couples, the sun illuminating their smiling faces.
