Xsummerbabyx: NO! NO! I'm really not annoyed by your questions! (Cough) This story started like 22 years after the third year of the original sisterhood….I think…if my calculations are correct! The girls (as in Bee….catch my drift?) should be in their early 40s. If you have any more questions just ask me! (It's like nine o'Clock in the morning…and surprisingly I'm in a patient mood toward a lot of people! NINE O"CLOCK IN THE MORNING!LOL!)
Nicole had decided to take Esperanza out to lunch on the day after the memorial service. "Where's Max?" Esperanza questioned. Nicole pulled her long blonde hair up into a high ponytail and pushed back her sunglasses. "He had to work today…we can go see him if you want. I was going to ask if we could stop by there after this anyways." Esperanza quickly lightened up. "Yeah, that would be fine." She said a little less eagerly than the way she really felt. "Thanks for bringing me out. I kind of over-reacted about the whole Nevan thing…I never really asked how you knew him though…" "Oh…we used to be best friends before he you know…started using. We were really close…" Nicole told her. "So," Nicole said trying to change the subject. "What do want to eat?"
After they had finished eating, the girls opted to walk to Max's work, instead of driving. Nicole pushed open both of the glass doors when they arrived at 'New Elements', an art gallery that Max helped during the summer. He was in the back framing a new piece when he heard Nicole's voice pleading to see him. Marla, the woman at the front desk would not allow it. Max was busy framing. Max laughed at Marla and put down the finished product. He stuck his head out from around the corner and then his whole body followed. He walked over to the front desk. "Hey Marla…I'm done with everything. Jonathan said I could have the rest of the day off…so I'm going to take that offer." He leaned in closer to Marla so that Nicole and Esperanza couldn't hear him. "Listen Marla, My sister's friend's passed away a few days ago…I think she just wants to spend some time with the ones that she loves…so you won't mention it too me ever again?" Marla clocked Max out and handed him his weekly pay check. "No problem sugar."
Nicole ran outside and threw her arms into the air. "That was the quickest one yet Max." Max put and arm around his sister and another, hesitantly, around Esperanza. She didn't seem to mind. He turned them around in the opposite direction and they started walking. "Have ya'll had lunch yet?" He asked with a bit of his country accent slipping in. Esperanza laughed. "Yes we have." She said mocking his accent. "Ok then." Max stated. "What do ya'll want to do for the rest of the day? I just got paid." Nicole took the check and held it up in the air. "Dude…you don't get paid squat. Why do you insist on working there every summer?" Max took it back and put it inside his pocket. "I get paid enough to get by…you and I both know that April and Michael just randomly give us money…we have an appearance." Max jokingly said, saying the same thing his father told him every day. Esperanza had always wanted to call her parents by their first name, but the one time she had tried, she was grounded for a week. Not too fun, so she decided against ever trying it again. Max and Nicole's parents were always out of it, and they never noticed that their kids had never called them by 'mom' or 'dad'.
Nicole had to baby sit that night so she left Esperanza and Max to fend for themselves. It was getting dark outside, and Esperanza heard Max's stomach make a weird noise. "So, what's for dinner?" She asked him, knowing very well what he was going to say. He stretched out his arms and yawned. "Elijah's." Esperanza stood up from the bench and grabbed his hand to pull him up. "That's what I thought…but I didn't want to give it away." Max stood up, but didn't let go of Esperanza's hand. He wrapped his more tightly around it. "I'm kind of glad that Nicole left us alone for the rest of the night…even though Nicole is my sister and I love her more than everything." "Don't worry. I'm not going to go back and tell her what you said. I can keep a secret." "Really…then you won't tell her that I did this…" Max leaned down and kissed Esperanza on her cheek, and then moved his way to her mouth. He slowly and sweetly kissed her there. He pulled away to see the reaction on her face. Esperanza looked up into his eyes. "No…probably not…" She let him kiss her again, before she heard his stomach making noises. She pulled away and took hold of his hand again. "You need to eat. And we need to talk…come on." They made their way down the boardwalk, Esperanza questioning herself the whole way there.
Anna…and now Ella! I'm fine…well kind of. I've got Nicole, Andy…and Max. Is it ok to have feelings for someone else when my boyfriend just died? Please tell me it is…because I do. I went to eat lunch with Nicole today and then she wanted to go see her brother…Max. We met up with him and then Nicole had to leave to go baby sit…which left Max and myself alone…and one thing led to another and we kissed…well actually he kissed me but I wasn't opposed to it. (At all…lol.) But Max and I talked. He doesn't want me to do anything that I want to. But I do want him. I just don't know if I can let myself have him.
I'm coming home in a few weeks...I can't wait to see you Ella! (And you Anna in a few weeks!) And then Holly after that…I just got a letter from her. She says she's having an awful time. She won't let herself have fun though! We all know that! I'll call you when I have the chance. Love Esi
Eric walked to Tibby and Brian's apartment to get Bridget. It was a cool night, and it would have been wasted if he would have driven. He stopped by a florist and picked up a bundle of red daisies…roses were nice, but if you wanted to be creative you should get red daisies, the woman at the counter told him. Eric hesitantly took her advice and went on his way. When he reached the building he was told to wait downstairs. The security guard picked up a phone and dialed a number. Eric sat down in a chair and held the flowers in his lap. The guard hung up the phone and waved Eric over. "Mr. Richman, Ms. McBrian says to go on up." Eric shook hands with the man and made his way over to the elevators.
Bridget was still getting ready when Tibby came into the guest room and told her that Eric was coming up. "Bee…oh my gosh you look gorgeous!" Bridget put on her last ear ring and turned around to face Tibby. "You don't think it's too much? I mean I don't want him to get the wrong idea." Bridget had brought her favorite dress, incase she and Eric were to go do something together. It was a black halter dress that Lena had given her a few years before. It did look good on her. 'It pays off to still be active in sports,' Bridget said to herself as she looked at herself in the mirror. Tibby fixed the tie in the back and smoothed out a lump in the side of the dress. "What did Ella say?" Bridget grabbed her purse and headed for the front door. "I didn't really talk to her about it. But Eric said she was fine about it…" "Oh! So Eric told her?" Tibby exclaimed. Just then the door bell rang. Tibby ran to get it because Bridget had started running back to Anna's room to say good bye to Ella.
Tibby opened the door to see Eric standing there. "Hey Eric." She said. "Bee is coming. Why don't you come in?"
Before he could step a foot in the door, Eric saw Bridget walking down the stairs. She smiled and quickened her step to greet him. Seeing the flowers, she took them first. Bridget handed them to Tibby. "Thanks Eric." She said. Tibby took the flowers and hugged Bridget. "Have fun." She whispered in Bee's ear.
Bridget and Eric made their way out of the building and walked in silence for a few minutes. Bridget started uncontrollably laughing. Eric stopped walking and uncomfortably put his hands inside his pockets. "What the hell is so funny?" Bridget covered her mouth and tried to control the laughing. "I'm sorry Eric! It's just that this is kind of uncomfortable for us both!" Eric sat down and bent forward. Bridget sat down beside him and put her hand on his back. "It's been a long time Eric Richman. Too long of a time. Let's just go get that drink you promised me."
Holly couldn't stand being locked up in her room for the next two weeks. All she did lately was come out to eat, and she rarely did that. It was six o'clock in the morning and she couldn't go back to sleep. She grabbed her bathing suit and put it on. She had decided that she wanted to go swimming. The fishermen would be out this early, and the only other place that Holly knew of was a small grove just beyond the church. Quietly, and slowly, she made her way out of the house and tried not to trip as her towel got caught on a jagged piece of metal sticking out from behind the patio chair. "Damn…Effie really needs to clean this place up." She cursed under her breath.
Holly sat down on the huge rocks that lined the shore. She slipped out of her shorts and dove right into the cool water. Why hadn't she found this place before? It was secluded, and even if Kori did know where it was, she was more about showing off herself than hiding in a quiet place. Effie wouldn't be awake for a few more hours. That gave Holly a few hours to herself in this new and quiet grove. Holly hadn't realized how long she had been there when she saw a man coming down the hill. She got out of the water and grabbed her shorts. She wrapped the towel around herself just in time for the man to reach her.
The man gave Holly quizzical looks. She did the same. This person that she had never seen before seemed very familiar, like she had already met him…or someone she knew had met him and had described him to her. Maybe she had dreamt of some one or something that made her think of his features. His presence was making her feel a bit unsure. "I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I was just coming for my daily swim." He said in almost unbroken English. Holly grabbed her towel to go, but stopped to say one thing to him. "It's ok…I don't own this grove…but you seem familiar…very familiar. Like I know you or something." The man took a step back and put his things down on the rock. "I was going to say the same thing…you don't live on the island. I would have met you before…even if I don't live her myself." Holly looked the man up and down. "I'm Holly…Holly Rodman. My family is from this island. I'm here with my aunt. Her name is Effie Kaligaris." As soon as she said that she saw his face change. He let out a laugh that was mixed with emotion. He knew something she didn't. "That would explain why you look just like her!" He said with a hint of sadness. Holly was confused. "I'm sorry…no I'm not Effie's daughter. I look nothing like my aunt!" "I know that!" The man laughed. "You belong to Lena."
Holly was yet again confused. "Wait…you know my mother?" She had an idea of who she was talking too but she didn't want to be right. He reached out his hand to shake Holly's. "I do…well I did. We had a falling out. I haven't spoken to her since she was about to go to college. How old are you?" "I'm 17…holy freaking crap!" "Excuse me?" he asked. Holly sat down on the rock to regroup herself. "I'm shocked…I thought that you…" "So she's told you about me then?" He asked her as he sat down beside her on the rock. Holly jumped off and pointed her finger at him. "You're him! This has turned out to be one messed up summer!" The man laughed with her, even though he didn't really know what she was laughing about. "I am Kostos." Holly still couldn't believe what she was hearing. Kostos went to catch her before she hit her head on the sharp edge of the rock. "This is just what I need! I meet her daughter and then the daughter passes out in my arms…damn it." He laid Holly down in the sand and then picked up his stuff. She would wake up in about an hour and be confused, but maybe that was the best thing. Kostos ran up the hill and back into his house. This was going to be an interesting vacation. He ran into his son who was coming out of the kitchen. "I was just going to come down and swim with you dad."
Kostos caught his arm and pulled him away from the door. "Not right now…how about we go and get some breakfast." Kostos' son didn't put up a fight. "Ok…that's cool."
"WHAT!" No I had some what of a fun time writing this chapter! Lol! I wonder why! Hope you like it! Have to cut this short though…my little brother is in the hands of my sister…doesn't sound too good. I may want to go check on them! So review if you wanna! I'll update soon!