His Paradise

I make my way towards the car waiting for me. The driver had been leaning against the side of the vehicle and pushes off to open the back door of the Cadillac for me. “I’ll drive myself,” I tell him. He nods, tossing me the keys. I catch them then walk around and slide into the driver’s seat.

It’s only a ten-minute drive, so it shouldn’t be too bad. While my resort and the bed and breakfast bump up against each other, there is still a nice chunk of space between us. There’s no road straight between them, so I’ll have to backtrack a little to get there.

I’ve never left my resort area before. I never had a reason to venture out beyond there the few times I’ve come here to check on things, and that was mainly when it was first being built. I told the few employees who know I’m coming to keep their mouths shut about my visit. The last thing I need is some of the people in town to get word that I’m here. The mayor is always trying to corner me into a dinner with him. I have no desire to mix with any of that bullshit.

All I care about on this island is my resort. Unless he can help me push the bed and breakfast out and get them to sell to me… Why hadn’t I thought about using him before? I could throw a little money at the mayor and maybe things will go over easier. I was told the owner of the bed and breakfast was born and raised here. As was the mayor. With it being a small town, I’m sure he can give them a little push for me.

I pull out my phone and hit call.

2

Nicole

I stare at the computer screen, wishing things could be different. I love this place. It’s all I’ve known my whole life and I’m going to lose it. No matter how hard I work I just can’t dig myself out of this hole. I’m going to lose the only link I have to my family, the place my grandma and grandpa poured their everything into. My heart breaks thinking about them. I try to remind myself that even if I lose this place I will always carry them with me.

I hit the close button on our accounting program knowing no matter how long I stare at the screen nothing is going to change. I have months. If I’m lucky. Taxes are due and there’s no way I’m going to be able to pay them. I have no reason to think that something is going to change that might help with the matter. Besides selling this place, and that is the last thing I want to do. Even if I’m being offered way more than this place is worth. But to me it’s priceless.

I force a smile when the Walkers come in.

“How was the beach?” I ask, already knowing they loved it.

They come here every year for their anniversary. They even got married here twenty years ago. I was only a little girl at the time, but the wedding was a last-minute decision and I ended up being their flower girl. Even after all these years it’s clear to see they love each other just as much as the day they married. Maybe even more. I’d being lying if I said I wasn’t a touch jealous of what they have. To always have someone to lean on like that. To love. It’s a love like my grandparents had. Heck, most people on this island are like that. I swear this island holds a special power—when you fall in love it’s forever. I can’t recall anyone on this island ever getting divorced.

“Perfect as always,” Mr. Walker says.

“That picnic was wonderful, too. Thank you so much.” Mrs. Walker places the basket on the front desk. I take it and place it on the table behind me. I’ll take it back to the kitchen in a little bit. “What was that jam stuff you had in there for the bread?”

“Goat cheese and raspberry jalapeño preserves. I made it myself.” I point over to the side table where I have a display of all the different dips and jams I make. I only started doing it a few months back. Everyone was always talking about how much they loved them and wished they could take some home. It’s actually my favorite thing to do here. When I get lost in the kitchen all my worries melt away.

“I’ll be grabbing some of those on our way out tomorrow,” she tells me as Mr. Walker pulls his wife closer to him. He whispers something in her ear that makes her blush. I can’t stop my fake smile turning into a real one at the sight of them.