Chapter 21
A Pivotal Year – Sneering Sunny Skies
Nolan 17, Lissa 17, Ryder 13, Olivia 10
Annabelle 5, Victoria 5, Lucas 4
October 21st
The next day, the family headed back to the same spot on the beach. After this second day of relaxation, Owen's conference would begin and the remaining three family members would focus on sightseeing.
After snorkeling in the ocean, Owen and Ryder both appeared perturbed as they approached the relaxed mother and daughter. "Uh oh," Olivia exclaimed when she spotted their expressions.
With her eyes closed, Amelia inquired sleepily, "What is it, Liv?"
"They're coming this way and they both look crabby," Olivia reported.
Amelia chuckled, "Do we have time to make a run for it?"
Olivia made her lips into a squiggle and sighed, "I don't think so."
Balancing her upper body on her lower arms, Amelia partially sat up. She grinned toward the guys, who now were within range. Instantly, she agreed with Olivia's assessment. "What's up, Buttercups?"
Ryder responded with a huff and rolled eyes before he lay down on a towel on the ground next to Olivia. Attempting to mask his frustration, Owen forced a fake smile and offered, "Lots of amazing fish out there. You gotta go there with me next time, Mia."
"Sounds great. What'd you see?" Amelia inquired.
With a slight shrug, Owen shared, "I'm not sure about names. Quite a few bright yellow ones. Bright blue one bigger than my fist. One red one with a white neck that had black stripes. Ry spotted a few sea turtles and pointed them out."
"Cool," Olivia responded with awe. "Ryder, how big were they?"
Unburying his face from his towel, Ryder looked directly at Liv. Quietly and without much emotion, he answered, "Probably at least three feet long. You need to go out there later. You'd really be amazed." Without delay, he buried his head back into his towel after coughing a few times. Owen glared at Ryder, and Amelia took note of what she observed.
After taking in a big breath, Owen questioned, "Are we about ready for an early lunch or a snack?"
"I'm ok," Olivia responded, and Amelia echoed her daughter. Ryder did not respond. Amelia added, "Are you hungry, O? I'll walk with you if you want to grab something."
Grimacing, Owen nodded once and folded his arms, "That'd be good. You two want anything?"
"Since you're going, maybe a water? And a cookie?" Olivia charmed. Ryder, without moving his head, mumbled, "Yeah, water, please."
Amelia stood up and approached Owen. He reached out his hand and grasped hers with a mild smirk.
After they were out of earshot, she asked, "What's up?"
Distracted, Owen blinked and made eye contact, "Huh? Nothing."
"Owen Hunt, I'm not naïve. What's the deal between you and Ryder?" Amelia pushed.
Furrowing his brows, Owen dropped his head toward the ground. "It's probably nothing. We exchanged some words. His attitude has been snarly."
"That's what happens when they turn 13, Handsome. Have you forgotten sweet little Nolan's overnight transformation to a hostile, unappreciative boar?" Amelia recounted.
Owen shook his head, "Yeah… this is different."
"He's a different kid. Ry's always been more overt with his emotions and moods. He'll probably be our great teacher in the next few years in terms of how to raise a teenager," Amelia chuckled.
"I'm done with school," Owen grumbled, but then grinned at his wife. The two reached the tiny hotel market. As he gathered bottled water in his arms and Amelia chose some snacks, Owen continued with ongoing pondering, "It's just… different, Mia. Not different like a different kid with another personality or style. Different like something is up."
"Hmmm. I guess I really haven't noticed much," Amelia shared.
"Keep an ear to the ground. Maybe I'm being too hard on him. Let me know your impressions," Owen suggested before remembering to pass along another observation, "Oh, have you noticed his cough?"
"I wish I could say 'yes,' but I was operating so much before we left, I'm not sure I noticed much of anything around home," Amelia admitted.
As Owen approached the cashier, he reached into his wallet for some cash. He glanced back at Amelia and mentioned, "Listen for it. Sounds like a smoker's cough."
"Owen…" Amelia grumbled as they left the store. "In order for him to have a smoker's cough, he'd have to smoke for years. It doesn't happen right away. You know that."
Instantly perturbed, Owen snapped back, "I said that's what it sounds like, Amelia. I didn't say that's what I thought it was."
"Sorry," Amelia smirked as she raised her eyebrows high and pursed her lips.
Owen shook his head, "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be an ass."
Leaning into Owen's side and resting her head on his arm, Amelia pointed out, "We're in Hawaii. You're giving a speech you've basically given before elsewhere. This is vacation. Deep breaths, O."
They walked arm in arm the rest of the way back in comfortable silence. When they reached the kids, the kids were arguing.
"I am so gonna tell on you!" Olivia burst with anger.
"You do and you'll wake up to find all your sweet little curls cut off," Ryder threatened.
"Woah, what's this about?" Amelia interjected.
Both kids began talking over the other and dramatically attempted to sway Amelia to their point of view. Owen smirked and lay down in one of the lounge chairs, deciding in that moment to heed Amelia's advice about enjoying his vacation.
"Stop," Amelia stated firmly as she held her hand up in front of her torso. "Olivia, what's your story?"
"It's not a story, Mama. It's the truth," Olivia insisted.
After smiling and holding back laughter, Amelia continued, "Then speak your truth, Olivia. Let's hear it." Owen continued to enjoy the show from afar.
"Ryder said something he wasn't pusposed to say and I told him that I'm telling you about it," Olivia fretted.
"Sup-pose-d," Ryder sounded out with a snarl. "You're 10 years old, Olivia, get it right."
"See?!" Olivia protested, "He's just mean, mean, mean to me all the time about everything."
After taking in a slow, deep breath, Amelia looked at Ryder and inquired, "So?"
"So, what?" Ryder stalled.
"What's your side of all this?" Amelia probed.
"Why don't you just let the two of us work it out, Mom. You're always telling us to work it out ourselves. Give us a chance to try that," Ryder stalled as Owen, his eyes closed, chuckled in the background.
"What's your side of all this?" Amelia repeated.
"Olivia is making a big deal out of nothing. That's my side of this," Ryder attempted to cover his tracks.
"Let me see if I'm clear. Olivia, you believe Ryder broke our rules. Ryder, you're ticked that Olivia is exaggerating. Am I on track?"
Ryder nodded but Olivia added, "And he's always mean to me."
"Mmm Hmm," Amelia nodded. "Olivia, why is it so important to you that you need to tell us?"
"Because he used really bad words about someone in our family," she protested.
Amelia sighed, "Ry, what did you say and about whom were you speaking?" She glanced at Owen with an expression that screamed how much she hated being the language police.
"I was talking about Anna. Olivia didn't have anything nice to say either," Ryder disclosed.
"But I didn't use really bad words. I just said she makes me angry sometimes," Olivia yelled.
"Yeah, right," Ryder snorted.
Amelia switched her gaze back and forth between the two and stated, "Slamming your little sister isn't kind, you two."
"She's just such a little b…" Ryder began and caught himself, "brat. Such a brat sometimes. She whines and she hits Ria and picks on Lucas. I get sick of her."
"Brat isn't the word you used," Olivia interjected. "You used the bad B word and called her a little f-er."
"Wow," Amelia responded as she pulled her head back slightly, "Really, Ry?"
"Umm, well… no. That's not how I meant to say it," Ryder explained.
"What did you mean to say?" Amelia prompted.
"This whole thing is stupid. Can we just all shut up and move on?" Ryder attempted, hoping to change the subject or at least put the current subject to bed. His face was beginning to display a patchy redness that hinted he was trying mightily to avoid crying.
Softly, Amelia responded, "If you need a minute, take it, Ryder. But we're coming back to the topic."
"Why don't you take a walk, Ry?" Owen suggested. Ryder, his face becoming more strained, stood up and walked toward the ocean with determination. He approached the calm and small waves and strolled along the water's edge, keeping his feet continually in the warm water.
"He's not allowed to be in the water without a grown up," Olivia tattled insistently.
"Olivia," Owen firmly replied, "you worry about you and we'll worry about Ryder."
"Do you want to know what he said?" Olivia offered proudly.
"I want Ryder to tell us, Olivia. Thanks anyway," Amelia declared.
"I don't think he should have said it," Olivia insisted, ready to burst out of her skin with anticipation.
"Thanks for sharing, Olivia," Owen calmly stated. "Do you want to go peek at the fish?"
"I'm scared of them touching me with their weird lips," Olivia explained as she puckered her mouth to imitate a fish.
"They won't touch you. They'll swim around you. I'll be there the whole time," Owen assured her.
"Mmm… I guess. Mama, can you put my hair in a braid so it doesn't get all tangly?" Olivia asked. After quickly putting a French braid in her long, curly hair, Amelia sent Olivia off to explore the waters with Owen. The two redheads walked toward the ocean hand-in-hand and were about as adorable as any sight Amelia had ever seen.
While Amelia watched the redheads in the distance, Ryder returned and inquired quietly, "Where's Dad?"
"He and Livs are snorkeling," Amelia shared. "Are you feeling better?"
"I was fine," he shrugged as he denied his near-tear moments.
"Do you want to tell me what's going on?" Amelia questioned in her normal voice.
"Not really. It's… umm… well, it was really no big deal," Ryder tried to point out.
Ryder exhaled through his mouth and admitted, "I thought Livie and I were just venting. She started by saying that she missed Luke and Ria but not Anna. Then I responded that I understood because Anna can be a little b sometimes. Olivia started complaining about different times Anna was a brat and I listened. Then I agreed by saying, 'Yep, she can be a real f-er.' I know it's not kind or among your favorite words, but, Mom, we all know Anna drags us down sometimes."
"She does," Amelia grimaced. "I hate knowing you used those words around Olivia. She's only 10, Ryder."
Snorting, Ryder pointed out, "It's not like she doesn't already know them, Mom."
"That doesn't mean I'm cool with you throwing around f-bombs in front of her or in front of anyone for that matter," Amelia pointed out. "What's a fair consequence?"
"Tape Olivia's mouth closed for tattling," Ryder sneered.
"Nice try," Amelia offered as she rolled her eyes. "I meant for you."
"Prohibit me from talking to the three of you for the rest of the day," Ryder sarcastically brainstormed.
"That would be a reward, wouldn't it?" Amelia pushed. Ryder narrowed his eyes and stared at his mom. Determining the consequence herself, Amelia put her hand out and instructed, "Phone, please. 24 hours without using inappropriate language when referring to anyone in the family and the phone will be yours again." Since Ryder was in Hawaii and away from his friends, the inability to text people back home was aggravating. Grudgingly, he handed her the phone and closed his eyes as he lay flat on a beach towel.
As Owen and Olivia returned, Owen appeared disappointed and Olivia was beaming. Obviously, she'd told Owen what she'd heard. Owen caught Amelia's eyes and stared blankly, unable to convey his various thoughts and feelings.
"How were the fish?" Amelia questioned.
"Mama! They were swimming all around," Olivia began with enthusiasm and full arm motions, "and so, so, so colorful. Different fish were different sizes and we saw turtles – big ones and little ones. Then we saw all different kinds of coral and plants and stuff. Daddy says we can get an underwater camera so we can take pictures!"
Amelia caught Owen's eyes, not really minding his decision but teasing him about it anyway, "He does, does he?" Looking like a naughty school boy caught red handed, Owen smirked and raised his shoulders as he caught his wife's eye.
"Maybe after dinner we can run to a store and see what our options are," he suggested. Noticing Ryder's emotional and physical distancing, Owen tried to incorporate Ryder into the conversation by questioning, "How's that sound to you, Ryder?" Ryder held up his forearm slightly and gave a thumbs up sign briefly.
Olivia, sensing her opportunity to have some undivided attention, grasped Amelia's hand and pulled her toward the wet sand, saying, "Mama, let's go make a sand castle!" Amelia followed along and the two staked out an area for their creation. Without any tools or buckets, making a castle would be tricky. Even so, the time together opened up a chance to chit chat with one another.
Owen sprawled out on a lounge and sighed audibly before inquiring, "And how's Ryder?"
"Fine," he responded without raising his head.
"What kind of camera should we buy? Do you know anything about waterproof cameras?" Owen asked in an attempt to start a more extended conversation.
"Dunno and nope," Ryder answered.
"How about dinner tonight – what sounds good to you?" he tried again.
"Food," Ryder snapped.
Owen sat there for a few minutes, trying to decide how to proceed. Obviously, Ryder did not want to talk. Regardless of the topic or question, Ryder was going to find a way to answer as briefly as possible. Trying one last question, Owen inquired, "I was thinking about checking in with Nolan. Do you want to talk to him when I'm through?"
"Sure," Ryder quipped, again without raising his head.
Grabbing his cell phone, Owen called his eldest. Nolan answered right away sounding upbeat and cheerful, "Hey, Dad. How's Hawaii?"
"Beautiful. The weather is just right, the water is warm, everyone but Mom has snorkeled. It's great," Owen detailed. "How's your time with Lissa? I'm guessing she arrived without any problem."
"Yep, she did. We're having a great visit. Actually, we're at Disneyland for the day," Nolan shared as his arm wrapped around his girlfriend and as he glanced her way with a smile.
"Disneyland, huh?" Owen chuckled. "Why not?"
"Just don't tell Olivia. She'd be jealous. Ryder probably couldn't care less," Nolan expressed.
"You've got that right," Owen responded in code.
"He's right there, huh?" Nolan inquired.
"Yep," came the brief reply. "Want to talk to your brother?"
Ryder grabbed the phone and began walking away from Owen, hoping to get out of earshot. "Hey," Ryder grunted.
"What's up? How's Hawaii?" Nolan asked.
"Nice, I guess. Kind of boring because Olivia is the closest thing I have to a friend. And she's… well, you know… she's Olivia," Ryder complained.
"You're the only guy I know who could spend a week in Hawaii and find a reason to bitch about it, Ryder," Nolan teased.
"Easy for you to say, you're not here with the tattler and the language police," he grumbled.
"True, but how hard is it to watch your language for a week?" Nolan tried to assure him.
"That's a long time to inhibit my freedom of speech," Ryder pointed out.
Trying to shift to a more upbeat conversation, Nolan inquired, "What have you guys done so far?"
"Pretty much just hung out on the beach and snorkeled. The snorkeling was pretty cool," Ryder admitted. "Tomorrow, we're going to some volcano and hiking. I can hear Olivia whining already."
Nolan laughed and suggested, "What about a luau? Livs could strut her dance moves and you could watch the ladies."
"Yeah, maybe," Ryder shrugged with little emotion.
"Or maybe you could decide to do everything you can to make this the worst trip ever," Nolan nudged.
"Funny," came the sarcastic retort. Annoyed by his brother's efforts to widen his perspective, Ryder asked, "Wanna talk to Mom?"
"Sure," Nolan responded. He waited for Amelia to come on the line and then enthusiastically shared the big news, "Guess what?"
"Tell me," Amelia requested.
"I'm standing in a line with a beautiful, short blonde who happens to be wearing a ring on her finger again," Nolan boasted with controlled joy.
"She's wearing the promise ring?" Amelia sought to confirm, hoping they hadn't taken a bigger step.
"Yep. And it looks fantastic on her," Nolan cooed as he gently kissed Lissa's hand.
"That's great news, Nole. I'm really happy for you both," Amelia shared. After Amelia chatted with him awhile longer, Olivia had an opportunity to say hello before Owen approached. Once they were all within earshot of one another, Owen pointed out the time and suggested that they needed to get ready for dinner.