Page 111 of The Choices I've Made
She gave me a warm smile, pulling out a mug before turning back around. “To go, or do you have time to eat?”
“I’ve got time,” I said, kind of bewildered by the whole thing.
So were some of the guests.
“I’m sorry. Where are my manners?” Molly said cheerfully. “This is my boyfriend, Jake Jameson,” she announced to the guests sitting around the table. “He’s the local doctor in town.”
A few heads bobbed up and down. Several others showed signs of relief, probably after wondering if Molly was serving coffee to her latest booty call. The couple who’d been eyeing me just smiled.
“That’s the couple who saw your dick pic,” Molly whispered in my ear as she handed me my coffee.
I coughed slightly, instantly regretting my decision to stay for breakfast.
“Why don’t you take that empty seat over there, Jake, by the Andersons? They’re from the West Coast.”
She grinned wickedly, knowing she was getting me back for yesterday when she’d dropped her phone in front of the couple. Now, I’d have to suffer through breakfast, sitting next to them.
“No problem,” I replied, giving her a wink, as I dropped down next to the wife.
She was easily in her late forties but attractive. They both looked active and fit, the kind of couple who worked hard and traveled a lot.
“Where on the West Coast? I went to school out there for my undergraduate work.”
“Oregon,” they answered in unison.
“Beautiful state,” I replied. “I’ve only been a few times, mostly coastal areas, but I loved the rugged beauty of it. Very different from here but equally stunning.”
They nodded in agreement, sparking a conversation about travel. We compared the places we’d been. We stuck mostly to beach locations since that seemed to be where their passion resided.
“Greece? No, I’d love to go though,” I replied to the latest question. “I’ve heard it’s amazing. Maybe I can get Molly to make the trip with me,” I said, giving her a quick smile.
It was then that I saw her hesitation. The fear she’d talked about.
I tried not to notice. I pretended not to see it.
But it was something I couldn’t unsee.
Was a life with Molly a jail sentence?
Was I condemning myself to this island indefinitely?
By the afternoon, my head was swimming.
Thankfully, it was Friday, and the office closed at noon. There was only one place I wanted to be. Hopping into my rental, I rolled down the windows as I left Ocracoke behind, heading for the ferry once more.
It was once again a beautiful, sunny day in North Carolina. Rain was forecasted for the evening, but for now, locals and tourists alike were soaking up the sun, riding bikes along the paths, flying kites, and doing everything and anything they could out in the waves.
It didn’t take long to get to the hospital.
The fact that I thought four hours wasn’t a long amount of time showed just how acclimated I’d become to the island lifestyle. Taking the first spot I could find, I took one last look at the clear blue sky and headed into the building, ready to greet my friend.
And make amends.
It was something I’d been avoiding for too long. I’d forced myself to believe none of this was my fault, that it was just some tragic comedy of errors that Dean and I had landed in during that ill-fated ferry ride together.
But the truth was, if I hadn’t talked him into it, Dean would still be whole.
He’d still be happy.
