Page 36 of Keeping it Local

He placed Kinsley on the ground, and in her Nikes, she toddled up to the front porch with her stuffed monkey in hand. I leaned down to pick her up and gave her a big hug.

“You’re looking pretty comfortable with a baby in your arms,” said Felicia. She gave me a smile and started to unload the massive amount of baby things they brought.

“Not for me.” I shook my head, looking at my niece, my heart involuntarily clenching. “At least, not for a long time.”

“Got it. Well, if that’s the case, why don’t you put my daughter down and help us unload.” She tilted her head with a smirk.

Once we got them settled in, we opened the beers I brought over and relaxed on the patio chairs in the shade. Kinsley played in the grass with her toys, and Oberon nudged her, trying to get her to throw something out to him. Occasionally, he licked her, and she giggled, pushing him back.

“Oberon! Leave her alone.” I threw one of his toys toward the back of the yard for him.

“This is great,” Ryan said. “How much of the work on this house did you have to do again?”

“This one?” I looked back at the peach cottage with white trim. “This was mostly a clean-up job. Nothing major. Some of the others were a lot more.”

“And you’re full this summer?” Felicia asked.

“Pretty much booked through Labor Day. Feels a little surreal since last year was a lot lighter. It means the money I spent on those marketing ads paid off—luckily.”

“I don’t think luck has anything to do with it,” Ryan said. “This is all you. It’s pretty amazing to see what you’ve been able to do up here in such a short amount of time. I definitely couldn’t have done it. Not in my DNA.”

Ryan had followed my dad’s footsteps and worked in the Ford factory downriver, close to home.

“You could have, but thanks. I appreciate it.”

“So, what’s on the game plan this weekend?” Felicia asked. “I’m looking forward to seeing what this place is all about.”

“Can’t believe this is the first time we’ve visited,” Ryan chimed in.

“Hey, you’re here now,” I said, brushing off his comment. “Figured we could lay low mostly with Kinsley. Go to the beach, barbeque, shop in town. That work for you guys?”

“Sounds perfect. Vacations are a different pace these days with a one-year-old.” She walked over to Kinsley and sat on the grass next to her, playing.

Once she was out of earshot, Ryan leaned over to me.

“So…” He tilted his head toward me. “Tell me about the girl.”

“It’s nothing serious,” I said. “She’s leaving in a month, anyway. We’re just hanging out.”

“Hanging out? Or hanging out?” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.

“I thought it’d be more physical and that would be the end of it, but the more time we spend together, the more I’ve grown to really like her, respect her, really.” I pushed back and put my elbows on my knees, leaning down.

“Could it be something more then?”

“Nah, she’s really involved with the family farm. I just don’t see how it’d work.” I threw a toy for Oberon to fetch. “It’s pretty impressive hearing what she’s done and how she supports them. I mean, she basically gave everything up to help her parents.”

“You’re impressive too, you know that? Especially everything you had to deal with a few years ago. You started over. You’re doing what you’ve always wanted to. Look at this place.” He put his hand out to indicate the yard and house.

“But it’s not for anyone else. It’s for me. It’s different with her. She’s so selfless.” I shook my head.

“You’re not that different. Don’t shortchange yourself. If she’s someone that you want, don’t let something like geography or you putting her on a pedestal stop you.” He paused a moment. “You deserve some happiness.”

Just then, Kinsley squealed as Oberon licked up her entire face, and she slowly rolled onto the ground in a fit of giggles.

Ryan had it all. It just wasn’t my time yet.

The next day, we packed up their fancy stroller, jumped in the minivan and made our way to downtown Port St. Clair. Felicia pestered us that she wanted to go in as many of the “quaint little shops” as she could. She planned on getting Christmas gifts for everyone here, and when I reminded her that it was July, not December, she shot me a glare that could have knocked me on my ass.