Authors: Renee Matteo
Gina felt a warmness in heart for the students as they all embarked on their summer fun. “That sounds pretty cool.”
“Are you going anywhere this summer Miss Fotelli?” Alyssa asked.
Gina turned to her thoughts. Getting away wasn’t a half bad idea. The new idea mixed with the warmth and happiness that had consumed her the last few minutes with her students brought excitement to her. “I think I just might take a little trip this weekend.” She said, enticed by her impromptu thoughts.
“Where to?” Victory asked.
“Well, I’m not sure. I think I’ll drive somewhere with a beach,” she replied dreamily.
“You should go to Myrtle Beach. It’s not that far. It’s in South Carolina. We went there for spring break. The beach there was awesome.” Alyssa replied.
“Yeah, or you could go to North Carolina.” Victory began, “my aunt and uncle live there, it’s pretty. And the ocean was really close to their house.”
North Carolina….Grant.
Her mind split into two. One side doing it’s best to focus on the girls in front of her rambling on about beaches and trips and the other side thinking of Grant. Her curiosity of his life in North Carolina and the things he saw, the house he lived in, and even the roads he drove piqued her interest.
“Miss Fotelli?” The voice flew into her mind from the direction of the door. “Hi. I’m Mrs. Stricker.” She said as she walked into the classroom, extending her hands.
Gina stood up, offering her hand back to her. “Hi there. How are you?”
“Good thanks.”
“I think we met before, at conferences, correct?”
“Yes, we did.” Mrs. Stricker replied with a smile and a bit out of breath.
Did she run here?
Gina laughed to herself.
“I am sorry, I should have sent Nicole with a note. We all should have,” she said pointing to the girls. “The only flight we could get out today was a four fifteen. The earlier I could get them the better.”
“No problem,” Gina smiled. “Just make sure you sign them out at the office before you leave.”
“Thank you. Them getting out this much earlier is going to be such a help,” she replied with a slight bow.
“Have a safe trip and a fun summer!”
“Bye Miss Fotelli,” they shouted in unison as they quickly disappeared from the classroom.
Gina’s mind slipped back to North Carolina. She wondered what the grocery store looked like where he shopped, or the gas station that he got gas. Did he know the guy who worked there? Was he a regular? She pictured Grant as “that guy” in the small town enjoying the simplicity of the American way in a life that Gina’s heart broke for. The idea of a last minute trip was so far out of her comfort zone that she was shocked by the autopilot that took over in her mind. She normally planned everything. Down to the details of the minutes of each day. Research, time and development went into trips out of town and to the mall. That was just how Gina was.
Was
, she thought. That is how I
was.
She took a deep breath, stood up and grabbed the box she packed earlier. She looked around the classroom one last time before heading out the door and down the hall, skipping right past the library where they were setting up for the end of the day mandatory faculty meeting.
Eighteen
“Hi Welcome to Lilly’s. Do you have a reservation?” A young girl with long brown hair and bright blue eyes greeted Gina from behind the reservation desk.
“I don’t. Do you have any open rooms?” Gina looked around the lobby taking in the smell of the ocean; it reminded her of the seaside vacations she took as a kid. The warmth of her surroundings were bringing calmness to her tense manner, easing her mind and relaxing her body from the long drive.
“Actually, you're in luck. We have one open room.
How many nights were you looking to stay?”
“I’m not sure. Just the weekend…I think.” Gina continued to look around as the young girl tapped on the keyboard in front of her. She had been to a few bed and breakfasts before, but this was the largest she had ever seen. The driveway was at least a quarter mile long, tucked away behind a thick mass of trees. A small faded blue mailbox that read
Lilly’s Inn
in white lettering marked the establishment. The grounds were impeccable-doting perfectly manicured landscaping, fresh paint, and an amazing and abundant assortment of bright flowers. The half moon drive donned a small mock parking lot tucked next to a row of perfectly hedged bushes. To the right, past the massive white colonial gave way to the crashing waves of the ocean.
“What brings you to Lilly’s?” She asked as she brushed her long, wavy hair back behind her shoulder. She was dressed in a white cotton, strapless sundress that gave contrast to her sun kissed skin. She looked so happy, so calm, and so at peace. Gina envied her manner.
“Just some time away.” Gina smiled.
“How did you hear about us?”
“I was just driving by. It’s so beautiful here.”
“It is. I don’t know if you noticed on your way in or not, but the porch wraps around the entire house. My favorite place is on the back overlooking the water. I could sit out there for hours listening to the waves in the ocean,” she said as she looked up from the counter and smiled. “Here is a list of restaurants and tourist attractions. All the rooms have cable television and wireless internet. Breakfast is available from 7:00 a.m. till 10:00 a.m.” She handed Gina the list along with a room key and welcome packet.
Gina handed her credit card to the young girl and zoned out from the conversation. She could make out the sounds of the waves in the not too far distance. Dishes clanking and warm delicious smells poured out from the kitchen. The thick southern heat filled her body with a warmth that was more than welcome.
“We have lunch and dinner available in the dining room, you’ll find all the information in the folder. Enjoy your stay.”
Gina signed the credit card slip, handed it to the young girl and took a deep breath. She couldn’t help but giggle at her erratic behavior. Who gets in their car an hour after they decide to take a trip and just starts driving? Up until ten minutes ago, she had no idea where she would stay, go or what she would do. Luck or fate intercepted when she stumbled upon
Lilly’s.
All that mattered at this point was that she finally felt the stillness in her body that she had been craving since the drama of her life began to unfold. Whatever brought her here didn’t matter. She was going to absorb every last minute of this feeling and take it all in for what it was worth.
“Thanks,” Gina replied. She picked up her Vera Bradley blue and white weekend tote and began towards the stairs.
They were massive. Beginning wider at the bottom before evening out on a landing where they split into two sides. Gina took each step slowly as she took in the surroundings of the massive home. As she reached the landing halfway up the case, she took in the view from the enormous window just in time to catch the sun as it was settling over the water. She froze in a stare; lost in the beauty of the incredible orange sky. Minutes seemed to come and go as she watched nature run it’s course in the distance. Once her mind tuned back into the moment, she turned around and made her way up the second section of the stairs towards her room.
The hall at the top of the staircase was narrow and dim, with dark hardwood floors, thick white baseboards and freshly painted walls. As she passed the first two rooms and the third on her left, she noted the stillness of the space. Room four caught her eye on the right. She used her new room key and granted herself access to her assigned area.
As the door flew open into the room, the faint smell of clean laundry flowed out past her and down the hall. A small table sat to her right and a bathroom door to her left. A queen size bed dressed in a navy and white-striped comforter fit perfectly in the nautical themed room. She set her tote down on the bed and took out her toiletries. Gina peeled her clothes off her body as she headed towards the bathroom. She pulled back the shower curtain, turned the hot water on, and gave the pipes a moment to heat up.
The bathroom was clean and fresh. Cream tiles covered the floor and ran halfway up the wall ending in a knotted ceramic trim. A crisp white shower curtain was held on a rod by small sailboat rings. The walls were painted in a warm navy blue. The dim night light of the beautiful southern sky poured in through the skylight.
After a few minutes of waiting, Gina hoped in the shower, relaxing in the heat. The hot water massaged her tense shoulders releasing some of the anxiety of her drive. The smell of sun ripened raspberries exploded into the bathroom as she wet the block of soap she packed. The scent usually woke her, however tonight it simply drifted in and out of her nose.
The water began to cool off as Gina finished washing the conditioner out of her hair. Wearily, she stepped out of the shower onto the stark white towel she had laid out and picked up another one off the rack to dry her body. She flipped her hair over, wrapping the towel around her head. Gina walked over to the bed and slowly dressed in her cotton pajama pants and a sleeveless tank. She tiredly pulled back the comforter and slid her body in under the plush covers. The bed was soft, but firm. The pillows fluffy. She hadn’t intended to go to sleep for the night but the physical and mental exhaustion her day took on her caused her to slowly lower her lids and drift off into a deep slumber.
*****
Gina slowly opened her eyes as the sound of the seagulls in the distance calmly woke her out of a deep sleep. She felt refreshed, vibrant and well rested. She glanced over to the clock on the nightstand learning it was 6:00 a.m. Her mind walked through the previous night’s events trying to remember what time she checked in. Deciding it had to be sometime between 8:00p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Gina realized she had gotten way more than her needed sleep.
Her growling stomach confirmed her thoughts of getting on with her day. Gina got out of bed and dressed in a khaki skirt, black sleeveless collared shirt and flat black sandals. She fingered through her shoulder length hair letting it fall as naturally as it dried in a light wave. She headed down the grand staircase and out the back door to the porch, holding
The Great Gatsby
in her right hand. There was no one in sight as she took a seat on the swing hanging on the porch. She stretched her arms up, feeling her relaxed body as she sat.
“Hi Ms. Fotelli.”
Gina jumped at the sound of the voice. She pulled her hand over her heart and gasped. “Oh,” she laughed, “Hi there, good morning.”
The young girl who had checked her in the day before stood in the doorway. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. Can I get you something? Coffee?”
“That’d be great, thanks,” Gina replied still laughing at how startled she had become.
“How about some breakfast? We have freshly baked blueberry muffins in the kitchen.”
“I would love one, thank you,”
The young girl walked back into the house leaving Gina to a moment of solitude. Gina inhaled the fresh ocean air deeply, felling the purity of the air move into her body. She peered off at the waves in the distance watching them as they calmly crashed onto the beach, trickling in and washing the sand back and forth. She watched the water flow from land to sea in a relaxed and quiet daze.
“Here you go,” the young girl spoke softly as she handed up a cup of hot coffee and a muffin.
“That was quick, thank you.” Gina wrapped both hands around the mug and allowed the heat to penetrate into her skin. She breathed in the smell of the blueberry muffin, “smells delicious.”
“I’m Lisa.” Her voice was calm and sweet. She half bowed, half curtsied at Gina.