A/N: This was originally going to be The Prom Chapter, but there was too much going on. The chapter would've been cluttered and it just wouldn't have flowed well if I included prom, not to mention the chapter would've been way too huge. Needless to say, the next chapter will be all about the prom.
May 26. It was Saturday morning, and just one week away from Capeside High's senior prom. In her cream-colored bedroom, Joey placed the yellow roses beside the framed picture of her boyfriend on the small white table next to her window. The flowers whispered, "Pacey loves you. Pacey really loves you," every time she looked at them. The hum of the lawnmower outside filled the room. She sat down in the chair at the table. The sound sent her back in time.
When she closed her eyes, she saw her father mowing the yard outside her window. A vision of him pushing the lawnmower back and forth. The smell of fresh-cut grass thick in the air. He was sweating. His muscles showing, the mat of dark hair on his chest already going gray. Shirt thrown off to the sunny summer day. She watched him, shirtless, in his prime. Back and forth he marched in straight lines. Baggy shorts, laceless sneakers stained green by years of cutting the same grass.
He worked in choppy strokes around the legs of her swing set. Halting for a moment to wipe the sweat from his eyes with a handkerchief, propping a hand against the metal bar of the swing set, he took a breather. He looked at the cylinder of metal in his hand, this thing he'd purchased for his youngest daughter, so she might rise into the sky, kick up her feet, come swooshing back, pushed higher and ever higher by his strong arms. Then her father, Mike Potter, turned slightly and shifted his eyes to Joey as if he'd known she was watching at her window. He smiled.
He stood there a moment in the sunshine of his virile manhood. Sweat glistening, resting a hand on the swing set, lawnmower idling, the air full of grass scent. That was all. A simple look passing between father and daughter on a summer afternoon. But it was everything. That flash across the humid air, that love in his eyes, that half smile of strength and confidence. A man sweating in the summer sun, a weekend of chores. Keeping the grass trimmed, his family fed, his daughter reassured that she was safe and loved and that any dream she might have, every aspiration, that sweaty man in the yard would do all in his power to help her achieve. It was his essence. It was everything he was.
It was everything he used to be.
Joey opened her eyes and her father was gone. Pacey appeared in his place. The sound of the lawnmower was suddenly much louder. He was also shirtless, sweating, flexing his muscles as he worked the push mower. The sight sent her back in time. She was hit with the remembered smell of salt water and sunscreen, the sun on her skin, and the new, thrilling taste of Pacey's lips on hers. She remembered the way he'd work the sails and the boom, his skin glistening with sweat, arms flexed in the hot summer sun. She remembered that astonishing rush of falling passionately in love, how being with him made her feel free for the first time, made her feel fully alive, tethered tight to life while soaring high above it.
Almost a year had passed, and yet it seemed like yesterday. If only the True Love was still theirs, and every summer could be just as magical as the first one. But there would be no boat for them this summer.
Hanging on one of the open closet doors was her lavender prom dress, protected by a plastic dry cleaner's bag. Joey got up from the chair, took it down, and stood in front of the mirror, holding it up against herself. It was just one week away. She thought of her plans for the after-prom, the small pink shopping bag tucked in the back of her closet. A blush colored her cheeks and she hung the dress back up.
Later that afternoon, glancing at his watch for the tenth time in as many minutes, Pacey strolled out the open garage door and checked the driveway. Bodie and Bessie had gone to a friend's wedding on Friday evening and had stayed the night in Boston. They were supposed to be back by now. The B&B guests would soon be arriving, made up entirely of James Moore and his family, who'd booked every available room. The closer this weekend had loomed, the more frazzled the Potter sisters had become. Pacey had ended up taking Joey to the movie theater when she got out of work the night before to distract her for a bit.
He looked at his watch again. Why did he always do this? Bodie used to be on time. Never late. But now…
"Pacey, are they here yet?" called Joey, leaning out the door to the house.
He smiled. "Nope. Late as usual. I bet your sister is chewing Bodie out as we speak."
She walked out the front door and made for the driveway, carrying a large brown paper shopping bag. "Well, I'm gonna get the last of this stuff into your car while we're waiting so you can drop it off at the community center later." She opened the rear driver's side door to the Witter wagon and set the bag on the seat to join the others. "I can't believe Bessie volunteered the B&B to do the pancake breakfast on Monday. I know feeding veterans and their families is a good cause and all…"
"Correction. She volunteered me to do the pancake breakfast."
"Well, me too. Who do you think is going to be serving 'em when you're done stacking 'em?"
Pacey slipped his arms around her waist as she straightened up, and nuzzled kisses into her neck. "Wanna take a chance that they'll be really late?"
Joey turned in his hug, pushing the door closed, and lifted her face to give him a quick kiss. "Uh-uh, you rascal. By the time you got me out of these clothes, they'd come blazing home and catch us."
He scowled. "Older siblings and loud toddlers can really ruin a guy's sex life."
She kissed his frown away. "You liar. You have a great sex life."
He ran his hands down her back over her tight jeans and cupped her bottom. "Yeah, I do," he agreed with a sly grin.
Just then Bodie's car pulled into the driveway. Joey arched her brows, giving Pacey an I told you so look. "Yeah, yeah, yeah," he muttered.
"Hi, guys," Bessie said as she opened the car door and stepped out. "Are we interrupting something?"
"Of course," Pacey carped. "Isn't that the way you plan it?"
Joey elbowed him.
"Hey!" He rubbed the sting from his ribs as she walked towards Bodie's car. He watched her get Alexander out of the back seat and then turned to go inside.
Just as Pacey opened the front door and set one foot inside the house, he heard the sound of another vehicle pulling into the drive. Expecting their B&B guests, he turned to look and then frowned at the sight of a police cruiser. He watched as the Potters tensed and immediately started backing up, Bessie moving to stand in front of Bodie while Joey clutched Alexander in her arms.
The familiar deputy stepped out of the vehicle and greeted them with a smile. "Hi there, Bessie. Hi, Bodie."
"Brendan," Bessie said, while Bodie nodded.
"Deputy Callaghan," he reminded her with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes. "Brendan, we went to high school together. I saw you puke in a trashcan in Mr. Peterson's class."
The man pursed his lips into a thin line.
"What can we do for you, Deputy?" Bodie asked politely, throwing his girlfriend a look. A tension began to fill the air.
"Are you here to book a room?" Bessie added, giving him a sarcastic look. "Because we're full up for the weekend."
"Funny. I was just in the neighborhood, and thought I'd stop by." He gave a casual shrug.
"I've noticed you've been in the neighborhood a lot lately," she sneered.
The deputy laughed. "Well, I'm campaigning, Bessie. As you well know I'm running for sheriff. The Primary is on June twelfth. I'd love to have your vote."
"You put my dad in handcuffs," Joey spat.
He stared at her a moment. "I was just doing my job, young lady. That father of yours broke the law. If someone breaks the law, then I have to do my job. You did the right thing by turning him in, and you should feel some pride in that. Family ties are not above the law. And I am not above the law. I have to follow it. Would you want a sheriff who turns a blind eye to lawbreakers? I genuinely care about the law-abiding citizens of this county and making this community safer for them."
Anger and resentment filled Joey's stomach like lead.
Brendan Callaghan glimpsed at the other cars. "I can't help but notice the Witter family vehicle in the driveway."
Rolling his eyes, Pacey stepped away from the front door and walked towards the others. "Hi, Brendan."
"Pacey!" the deputy greeted with a big smile. "How're ya doing? I haven't seen you out on the campaign trail with your dad and brother this year."
"No kidding," he deadpanned as he placed himself between the officer and the Potters.
"Well, I'm real curious as to where you stand, Pacey. You're old enough to vote now, right? Do you think your dad should win the election and serve another term as sheriff?"
He clenched his jaw. "I really don't care."
Brendan laughed to himself. "No. You never did, did you? You, uh, you remember that night you punched your dad in the face right in front of us?" He let out a hearty chuckle. "That was a memorable night."
His eyes narrowed. "That was the night the Ice House burned down."
"Like I said, it was memorable. You've got some balls on ya, kid. I don't doubt it." The deputy stepped closer and lowered his voice to a conspiratorial murmur. "So, uh, did your dad ever pay you back for that punch? You know, later?"
Nervous butterflies erupted in his gut. He swallowed, hesitating to answer. What was the guy implying? "If you're asking whether he threw a punch at me, then the answer is no."
"Well, of course not. But then what? Nothing happened?" Brendan scoffed in disbelief. "I have to say I find that surprising. I can't say the sheriff is known for, uh, being the kind to just let things go."
Pacey said nothing and simply stared. The tension in the air was only getting thicker.
The man shrugged. "Well, I won't take up anymore of your time. It was nice seeing you, Bessie, as always. You too, Bodie. I hope you guys come out to vote in a couple weeks and that you vote for the right candidate."
Everyone remained silent a moment, and then Bodie spoke up. "Thanks for stopping by."
They watched as the officer returned to his patrol cruiser and backed out of the driveway.
Without a word, Joey carried Alexander inside the house. Pacey rubbed his eyes with his palms and let out a great sigh. "I gotta get out of this fuckin' town," he muttered to himself. He turned at the sound of his girlfriend coming back out through the front door.
"I'm gonna go with Pacey to the community center to drop off the stuff for the pancake breakfast," she said to Bessie. "We'll be back later."
"What about getting ready for our guests?" Bessie protested.
"We already got the house looking spic and span while you were gone," Joey retorted irritably, her voice laced with frustration. "After the Johnsons and the Campbells checked out this morning, we took care of everything. The rooms were scrubbed clean. Linens washed. The guest rooms are fully stocked. Pacey mowed the lawn this morning and made sure the backyard furniture is clean and neatly arranged. We went grocery shopping. He's been cooking the side dishes pretty much all afternoon. Everything's ready."
Then she walked around to the passenger side of the Witter wagon and got in the front seat. Bessie huffed and stalked inside the house. The door slammed shut behind her.
Pacey stood motionless for a second, still feeling the tension around him. He turned to Bodie. "Uh, well… I guess that means we're heading over there now."
"Okay," he sighed. "But don't stay away too long. Remember, I have to go to work in a little while, and from what Joey says, it sounds like Mr. Moore will be here specifically to see you."
"Right." He glanced at the house. "Is Bessie… gonna be okay, or…?"
Bodie's mouth curved into a sad smile. "The Potter women have been through a lot, and this kinda shit stirs up memories and bad feelings. But she'll be fine. Don't worry, Pacey."
He nodded and walked over to his car, opening the door and getting behind the wheel. He looked over at his girlfriend as he took the keys from the visor. "You all right, Jo?"
"I don't like cops," she replied, her voice still tinged with irritation. "And I don't like that Brendan Callaghan."
"Well, you know what? Me neither."
"I guess we're not voting for him, then," she smirked.
Pacey reached over and took her hand, threading their fingers. "You gonna be okay, Potter?"
She took a deep breath. "Yeah. I was just thinking about my dad a lot earlier, and then… he shows up." She shook her head. "I know what he thinks of us, what he thinks of my dad. It's what everyone else in Capeside thinks."
"Your dad is a good man who made some bad choices, and the people in this town can go to hell."
"Thank you."
He smiled at the affectionate look on her face. "For what?"
She pursed her lips and shrugged. "For being you."
He kissed the back of her hand and then put the key in the ignition. Soon they were on the road, heading towards downtown. After unloading the supplies at the community center, they spoke for a while with the event organizers and others who'd also volunteered their services for Memorial Day. It was after four o'clock when they arrived back at the B&B, the uncomfortable run-in with the sheriff's deputy earlier seemingly forgotten.
Pacey's eyes went wide as he pulled into the driveway and veered to park on the grass near the tall reeds. He didn't want to block the other vehicle. Bodie's car was gone, but a shiny silver Lexus had taken its place. As he turned the engine off, he looked around. The truck was out of sight, likely hidden away inside the garage.
As they got out of the Wagoneer, Bessie opened the front door and peaked her head out. "Hey, Pacey! Mr. Moore is around back. He was asking for you."
He took a deep breath. Nerves fluttered in his gut. "Right."
Joey frowned as he let go of her hand and started walking around the house.
As he rounded the corner, the creek came into view, and so did James Moore, his wife, and two young women he'd never seen before. There were pitchers of iced tea and lemonade on the picnic table, and they all had glasses in their hands. They noticed him as he approached. A warm, heartfelt smile broke out over Mr. Moore's face.
"Pacey!" He began to close the distance between them, holding out his hand. "Good to see you."
"You too, James." They shook hands. "So, you found the place all right?"
"Oh, just fine." The man looked around at the creek. "It's a beautiful property."
"Yeah, it is." He tilted his back in the direction of the driveway. "I noticed you don't have the Mercedes."
James smiled. "I gave Miguel the weekend off. We rented a car here in town."
A look of surprise came over his face. "In Capeside? How'd you get here from Boston?"
"The boat."
Pacey chuckled, knowing the guy meant his enormous yacht. "Okay, then."
"Let me introduce you to the girls." James threw his arm around his shoulder and led him over to the women. "Of course, you met my wife, Amanda, at the charity event last month."
"Nice to see you again, Pacey," she said with a smile.
"You too, ma'am."
"And this is my daughter, Jessica, and my niece, Melanie Thompson."
He shook their hands and exchanged similar pleasantries. "I don't know what you all were planning on, but we're gonna be having a BBQ for supper. Some friends are coming over. The owners thought we should entertain you for the holiday. Hope you like meat cooked on a grill. Otherwise, there are some pretty good restaurants in town I can recommend."
James laughed. "That sounds perfect. It's not Memorial Day Weekend without a BBQ. We'd be happy to meet your friends."
As the Moore family seated themselves at the picnic table, Pacey went around the house to the garage to collect a giant bag of charcoal.
Joey sat across from Bessie at the dining room table, sipping from her glass of ice water. Fear was creeping into her heart, the more she heard Pacey and Mr. Moore laughing together in the backyard.
"Our new guests have gotten settled in, and they seemed content enough when I showed them their rooms," Bessie said happily. "You'd think they'd be unimpressed with our little house, but they truly seem to be enjoying their stay so far."
Joey could tell how pleased her sister was that things were starting off without a hitch, but she could only frown. "Well, of course, with Pacey out there entertaining them."
Her sister stared at her. "Do I detect a hint of bitterness in your tone?"
Ignoring the question, she got up and carried her glass to the kitchen, glancing out the window. She couldn't help but notice how beautifully Mr. Moore's wife was dressed, despite appearing casual in comparison to when she last saw her at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Her hair was still perfectly coiffed, her face made up, and her neck and ears adorned with beautiful jewelry. She turned her attention to the others. "I can see why they booked three rooms. There's another girl out there. I thought the Moores only had the one daughter."
"That's Mr. Moore's niece. She's a law student in Boston. Why don't you be a gracious host and go out there and introduce yourself to the ladies?"
"I don't know. They all look… rich and… blond."
"Well, I hope you'll be on your best, politest behavior at supper… and then at breakfast tomorrow."
"When am I not polite to guests?"
Bessie heaved a sigh, rolling her eyes as she walked into the kitchen. Before the conversation could continue, Alexander started crying and she left the room. Moments later, Pacey walked in through the back door and joined her in the kitchen. "Hey."
"Hey," she smiled.
He started pulling hamburger patties and the marinated chicken from the fridge. Then he stepped over to the stove and turned on the burners beneath two large pots as well as the oven. "You can watch over these while they warm up, right? Without burning them?" He arched a skeptical brow.
"I'm not completely inept in the kitchen, you know, Pace."
"I know." He gathered her in his arms, gazing down at her, searching her face. "You all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Sorry I've been out there with them and not in here with you. Why don't you come outside? Bessie can keep an eye on the stove. James's daughter just finished up her freshman year in college. She seems nice. I bet you'd have a lot to talk about. You know, with you starting college in the fall."
"No, I'm okay. Thanks."
"Okay. So, guess what? Mr. Moore has invited us to have supper on his yacht tomorrow before they leave for the Vineyard on Monday morning."
Joey snorted. "You're kidding."
He laughed and shook his head. "I am most definitely not kidding."
"He probably just wants to show off his big boat."
"Maybe," he conceded with a shrug. "He did say he really wanted me to see it."
With a quick kiss to her cheek, he then grabbed up the patties and drumsticks, and carried them outside to the grill. The BBQ was a success. They had quite a few people show up, including Dawson and his parents and the new baby as well as Jack and his new boyfriend, Tobey. To Joey's pleasant surprise, the Moore family got along with everyone and seemed to make themselves fit right in. The food was also very good and Pacey received a lot of compliments. They ended up having a lot of leftovers; the Leerys were sent home with armsful of Tupperware containers to spare Gail from having to cook for the next week.
"Thanks," Dawson said as Joey handed him the last container. "I have to say, me and my dad are useless in the kitchen, and we're quite sick of ordering pizza and bringing fish home from the restaurant."
"No problem," she laughed.
He placed the container in the SUV's trunk while his parents fiddled with the baby's car seat. "So, how're you doing, Joey? We haven't talked much lately, other than at the hospital last weekend."
"I'm good. You?"
"Uh, yeah… I'm good. Since Jack went and got himself paired off, I've been hanging out with Jen a lot. Well, when I'm not helping out at home or working."
She smiled, feeling glad the two friends were spending more time together. "That's nice."
He closed the trunk. "How are you feeling about Worthington and the whole money thing?" he asked, lowering his voice. "Have you told Pacey how conflicted you feel?"
She again turned to gaze at her boyfriend. "Not really, but I think he can guess I'm anxious or uncertain about it since I'm constantly questioning his decisions. I'm sure there's only so much more of that he can take before he's completely sick of me. I'm starting to wish he'd never had this money to begin with, and then I wouldn't feel so guilty about it, or feel like I'll be forever in his debt until I can pay him back. He's not making me feel that way. It's all me—me and my neurotic self. He's only being his usual generous, chivalrous self, and so then I'll feel like I'm starting to sound like an ungrateful bitch, which then sends me into another guilt spiral. It's an endless cycle, really."
"Money—at least that kind of sum—can probably change the nature of relationships, like you said at the hospital. But… you know, Joey… maybe a grand gesture like that doesn't have to mean a bad change. Maybe it can make all the difference in the world, and in a good way. In a way you never thought possible."
She tore her gaze from Pacey. "Prom is next weekend," she said, wanting to change the subject. "And then graduation will be right around the corner. I almost can't believe it. Seems like it took an eternity to get here."
"Yeah, I know what you mean, especially since this past year had been such an eye-opener. Um… I've been meaning to ask you, how's Pacey's counseling sessions going?"
She gave him a pointed look. "You could ask him yourself, Dawson."
"I think we both know he wouldn't appreciate that question coming from me."
Sighing deeply, she thought for a moment. "I think they're going well. He doesn't really tell me what he and Mr. Kapinos talk about, but I can tell that he doesn't have as much negative thinking anymore. The self-deprecating jokes aren't as frequent. He's not so down on himself anymore. I think that's probably a combination of things. You know, the counseling combined with the fact he's doing so well in school, and he has very little contact with his family. That honestly seems to make a huge difference."
"There's no question his dad's a jerk. Makes me all the more thankful for mine."
"Yes, you're very lucky, Dawson." As she gazed at her friend, it again struck her that he'd had a very different life than the one she and Pacey had. "Anyway… weird that Andie's back tomorrow, huh? Somehow it feels like she's been gone longer than seven months."
He laughed breathlessly. "Maybe it's because a lot of life has been lived in her absence. Well, I can think of someone who will be very happy to see her."
She watched Dawson turn his head and followed his gaze to Pacey, who was sitting beside Mr. Moore in an Adirondack chair, looking out at the creek. Her lips curved into a contemplative smile. "Yeah, he will."
May 27. On Sunday evening, Joey arrived at the Capeside Yacht Club with Pacey a few minutes past seven. Walking down on the docks, they passed a row of yachts, searching for the one Mr. Moore owned. She looked down at herself, at the knee-length yellow tiered layer sundress with a ruffled Bardot neckline. Jen had told her she looked "Boho" when she'd tried it on at the shop, and apparently that was a good thing. Although she was glad to wear something light and comfortable on a muggy night, she was now second-guessing her clothing choice.
"Do I look too casual for a yacht?"
He glanced at her and grinned widely. "You look beautiful, Jo. I'll take you in a dress—any dress—any day of the week."
"You might come to regret those words later, Pace. There are some really ugly dresses out there."
He started to laugh and then suddenly they found themselves face to face with Mrs. Valentine. Her face contorted into her usual conceited sneer. "Well, well, well… if it isn't my two favorite bottom feeders, Trigger Happy and Little Miss Know-It-All."
They grimaced. "Hey, I've been called worse by better, lady," Pacey snarked.
She glowered at him for a moment. "In case you don't remember, Miss Potter, terminated employees are no longer allowed at the yacht club. I'm afraid you will have to leave. I'm sure you can understand, dear. Don't make me call security to escort you and your violent boyfriend off the property."
"I'm not loitering, Mrs. Valentine. We are here as guests of James Moore."
She let out a guffaw of disbelief. "I find it hard to believe that Mr. Moore would want to associate with… someone of your… social status."
Joey scowled. "You know, I may be poor, Mrs. Valentine, but at least I don't have the personality of a plastic cup."
"Once again, Miss Potter, your parents are living proof that two wrongs don't make a right. Well, one of them is living, anyway."
Pacey's mouth fell open in shock. This woman was truly the worst. "Okay, lady, that was uncalled for—"
"You know what, Mrs. Valentine?" Joey said, cutting him off. "You have the rest of your life to be a total bitch, so why don't you take today off?"
The woman's eyes popped. "Now listen, you little—"
"Put a cork in it, Mother." They all turned and saw Drue standing there, a look of disapproval on his face. "Did you happen to lose a stick? Because I think I know where it went."
Mrs. Valentine sneered in response and then stormed away from them, claiming she had more important people to attend to.
Drue shook his head, watching her go. "I wish more people were fluent in silence." He then frowned and gave them an apologetic look. "Sorry about that, Potter. I'd try to come up with an excuse, but you already know what an absolute ogre my mother is. She's still pissed about the whole fight in the cafeteria and me getting suspended for two months and the fact it was over you, of all people..." He sighed. "I'm not one to hold a grudge, but she just won't let it go."
"Uh, that's okay, Drue. No harm done, I guess."
"So, I'm assuming the Class Couple is going to prom next weekend?"
Pacey and Joey exchanged small smiles. "Yeah," he said.
"Too bad I'll have to miss it, but Principal Peskin won't budge. I've tried to convince him that I've mended my ways and he has nothing to worry about, but the prom involves a boat and he's still cranky over that whole prank thing back in the fall… even though I had nothing to do with that. Right, Witter? So, no prom tickets for me. I'm on the strict Do-Not-Sell-To list. Well, I guess I'll see ya in school."
They stared after him for a moment. "Is it just me, or is he getting weirder?" Joey asked.
"And he's not one to hold a grudge? Since when?"
They continued walking, in search of the vessel that was their destination. Looking around, they spotted James walking up one of the gangways towards them. He looked handsome in his light tan tailored trousers and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Joey had to admit he was good looking in a rugged, older man sort of way, his brown hair only going slightly gray at the temples. The same way her dad was still handsome. James Moore didn't carry himself like many of the other rich men she'd observed when working at the yacht club. There was nothing really pompous about him, and he seemed more like someone who wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty.
"Good evening," he said as he approached them.
"Good evening," Joey replied, as she took his offered hand and he helped her onto his boat. Pacey followed behind her and shook hands with Mr. Moore.
"Welcome aboard Tabitha's Secret. I'll give you guys the tour."
Pacey stared up in awe at the yacht's mast and then looked around. The seventy-foot cruiser gave them a glorious view of the marina and the ocean beyond. Tabitha's Secret was appointed like a top-of-the-line luxury home. It was a floating masterpiece of style, taste, and comfort, with just the right touch of excess without seeming overboard.
The tour took about half an hour, with Mr. Moore especially keen to show off every aspect of the modern kitchen while introducing them to his personal chef, Mao Jingchen, and the prep cook, Gustavo Morales. Then he announced it was time to eat. He led them across the well-lit deck to a table with a white tablecloth laid out with fine china and crystal glasses. Pulling the chair out for Joey, he patiently waited for her to sit down.
"Thank you," she said demurely.
"You're welcome, Miss Potter," he replied as he sat across from her.
Pacey took the seat beside her and heaved a contented sigh.
"You enjoying yourself?" James asked him with a smile.
"I am. I love being near the water, on the water, in the water."
"That's good to hear."
"So, where's Mrs. Moore and the girls?" Joey asked politely. "Will they be eating with us?"
The man shook his head. "They'd much prefer to skip out on a business dinner."
Pacey's brows furrowed. "This is business?"
"We'll get to that," he said. "First, we eat."
Unsure what to say next, Joey felt relieved when a waiter showed up with their first course. They dined on succulent shrimp, Blue Point oysters, rice and peas, and cracked lobster. The supper could be described as no less than exquisite, and they took their time savoring the meal and the cool salty breeze coming off the ocean. Through most of the meal they made small talk. They talked about the upcoming sheriff's race on the Cape, their impending high school graduation, the Boston Red Sox, the Stanley Cup playoffs, George W. Bush, Shrek and Pearl Harbor, the Boston Celtics and their new coach, Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal and the Lakers. There was a lot of talk about everything and nothing of any real substance.
When the last of their plates had been taken away and their water glasses refilled, James cleared his throat. "Well, I hope you enjoyed your dinner."
"It was wonderful. Thank you," Joey replied.
"That was probably the best meal I've ever had," Pacey admitted.
"Good. I'm glad. I'll pass your compliments on to the chef." Then James crossed his legs and fixed him with that penetrating gaze of his. "I know I said this to you earlier, but the breakfast you prepared this morning was excellent."
"Thank you. I hope breakfast tomorrow morning will be just as good."
"I'm sure it will. So, let's get down to business. I want to discuss an offer with you."
He gulped and glanced nervously at his girlfriend before his eyes widened at Mr. Moore. "We already talked about that offer and I'm taking the restaurant job, remember?" he said pointedly.
"That's not what I'm talking about, Pacey. Do you have any real plans for the summer?"
"Um…" His gaze met Joey's for a moment, unspoken words passing between them. "No, not really. Just hanging around here and counting down the days 'til we leave for Boston."
"Did you enjoy sailing to Key West last summer?"
"I did indeed."
"So, you feel pretty comfortable spending long periods of time at sea?"
"Well, I feel as comfortable as a kid in a candy store, yeah."
Realization hit Joey, and she knew why they were here. She knew why Mr. Moore had taken the pains to give them the grand tour, and why he had made a real effort in trying to impress Pacey. Why he'd spent way more time showing off the kitchen than any other part of his magnificent yacht.
"We'll be sailing to the Vineyard in the morning and spending some time there before we move on to the Hamptons for about a week and then down to Miami. My family and I will then be spending the summer in the Caribbean islands. We'll of course be back in time for Jessica to start the fall semester at NYU. Following your graduation, how would you like to work on the yacht, in the kitchen? We'll be in need of a cook this summer."
Pacey gaped at him. Remembering the quality of the meal they'd just eaten, he shook his head in disbelief. "I'm not qualified to cook the kind of food you're talking about."
"No, you're not," James replied matter-of-factly. "Not right now, at least. But our prep cook, Gustavo, has some family matters he has to attend to and he'll be getting off the boat once we arrive in Miami. Mao really needs a second pair of hands down there, and you're the first person I thought of. You'd work alongside him, follow his instructions to the letter, and I guarantee you'll find yourself a much more educated and skillful cook by the time you get to Boston at the end of the summer. And it won't be all work and no play. You'll have time to yourself to explore the islands. It should be an experience you won't forget. So, what do you think, Pacey? Would you like to spend another summer sailing?"
All he could feel at the moment was shock. He hadn't expected anything like this. "I… don't know what to say. I mean, it sounds like a great opportunity, but..."
Mr. Moore smiled at Joey. "I'd extend the invitation to you, too, of course, but the cabin accommodations on board are insufficient now that my niece has finally agreed to come with us this year. Do you think you can spare your boyfriend for a couple months this summer?"
"Uh…" She could only stare. A flush colored her cheeks. The thought of two months without him…
"That's probably something we'd need to talk about, James," Pacey said, glancing at her. He could feel the sudden tension pouring off her. The full weight of what he was being offered was starting bear down on him, and the desire to return to a life of sailing, to once again spend his days and nights out on the open water was certainly there. But how could he just leave Joey behind? Go off on his own all summer to have the time of his life while she had to stay in this dreary town until August?
"Oh, that's fine. I wasn't really expecting an answer today. But I'd like you to seriously consider what I'm offering and then give me a call once you've decided. I promise I'll make the pay worth your while."
Not long after, Pacey and Joey thanked their host and disembarked the yacht. "I'm not really in the mood to go home," he said as they reached the car. "It's such a nice evening. Seeing as we can't loiter around here without Satan's handmaiden sending security after us, you wanna head downtown to the waterfront? You know, just walk around like we used to?"
"Sure," she replied with a smile.
Once they found a parking space, they took to the boardwalk. It was more crowded than normal, and he swore he caught several New York accents among the passersby. "Ugh, tourist season is upon us," Pacey said with disgust.
Twinkle lights were wrapped around every post. The hum of conversations filled the air. The town was coming alive with the influx of the summer people. They walked hand in hand along the waterfront, keeping quiet, both lost in thought. He gazed over at her, eyeing her up and down appreciatively. "You look very beautiful tonight. Have I told you that yet?"
Her face lit up and she laughed. "Yes, back at the house when you picked me up, and then again when we got to the yacht club."
"Well, it's still true." He eyed her, still feeling the tension that had begun to seep in during supper. "Uh, Jo… do you not like Mr. Moore?"
She swallowed, hesitating. "What's not to like? He seems like a nice enough guy."
"Yeah, but… you didn't seem that excited about being there."
"Well, if you've seen one yacht, you've seen them all, right?" she joked.
He didn't know what to say to that.
"I'm glad you proposed a walk. It's nice out here," she said after a few minutes of silence, looking out at the darkening sky over the horizon, enjoying the salty breeze.
"It definitely got a lot cooler when the sun went down."
"We never really do this anymore. It's kind of freaky, isn't it? It's so hot and muggy. It's like spring never happened and summer is just… suddenly here already and we didn't even realize."
"Well, our current pastime is much more of an indoor sport."
She snorted. "Yeah. Last summer was magical, wasn't it?"
He squeezed her hand. "That it was."
"Sometimes I still kinda wish we'd just done it on the boat. We had all that time alone, just the two of us."
"Nah. We would've missed all the scenery."
The air between them suddenly felt heavy with all the things they weren't saying to each other. She glanced at him, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Do you miss it?"
"The scenery?" he grinned.
"Yeah. The scenery. You know, being on the True Love. Sailing out on the ocean. Discovering new places, new people. Feeling completely free, unencumbered by life and all the bullshit in this town."
He sighed deeply. His heart still ached for his lost sailboat. "Yes, Jo. I miss it."
Tears pricked her eyes. "I miss it, too." She stopped walking and he halted, turning to look at her. "Pace, if you wanna take that summer job, then—"
"Jo—"
All of a sudden, they saw Jack, Tobey, and Jen were coming towards them, putting off the inevitable conversation. They smiled as they approached.
"Hey, guys."
"Hi, Jen," Pacey greeted her.
"What are you doing down here?" Joey asked them.
"My dad took us sailing earlier," Jack explained. "And then we went to the Leery's restaurant."
"What are you guys up to?" Jen said.
Joey looked over at her boyfriend. She could see their unfinished conversation in his eyes. "Uh, we were at the yacht club for supper… sort of. Someone we met down in Key West last summer is in Capeside for the weekend and his family stayed at the B&B last night. He's taken quite a liking to Pacey. We dined on his massive yacht docked there in the club's harbor."
"Ooh, fancy," Jack quipped.
"Yeah," she laughed. "And now we're just walking around, taking in the sights."
"Same here," Tobey said with a smile.
A very familiar voice then rent the air, bubbling with excitement. "Pacey!"
He turned and there was Andie McPhee. A wide smile spread across his face to match hers. His heart filled with joy. Without a thought, he ran toward his friend. She jumped into his arms and he spun her around. "Hey!"
"Ohh!" she exclaimed as she held onto him.
He set her down on her feet. "How are you, Andie?"
"Oh, great now." She hugged him tighter. "Mmm. You always gave the best hugs, Pacey."
He laughed and pulled out of the embrace. "Let me take a look at you." She blushed under his gaze. "You look amazing, McPhee. You're positively glowing."
"Thank you. I'm just… so happy, Pacey. I'm happy about going to Italy. I'm happy to be back home. I'm happy about Harvard. I'm happy my brother finally has a boyfriend. I'm happy to see you and all the rest of my friends. I'm just…" She shrugged. "Happy."
"Does Will Krudski fit in anywhere in this cloud of happiness you've enveloped yourself in?"
"Maybe," she giggled. She turned and saw the others. "Oh, there's Joey!" she exclaimed.
They rushed back to join the group, where she pulled Joey into a hug.
"It's so good to see you, Andie! You look great!"
"Oh, thank you, Joey. So do you."
"Wow. Italy must agree with you in a big way. Did you have a good time?"
Jack laughed. "Oh, don't even get her started."
"Oh, my God. You guys, it is heaven. You have to go, all of you, right now."
"I think that's code for 'she had a good time,'" Joey quipped.
Her hands flailed about. "I don't even know where to start. The architecture, the men, the food. Did I mention the men?" she grinned.
"You really do look incredible, Andie," Joey told her. "You look so…"
"Well-laid," Jen snarked. "I feel like everyone suddenly has a healthy sex life except me. When the hell did that happen?"
Andie broke out into an embarrassed giggle. "Oh, hush you. I'm sure you'll meet an amazing guy very soon. You just gotta put yourself out there."
"Oh, I sure missed your bubbly enthusiasm," Jen replied. "It's that perky positivity us northeastern depressives have been sorely lacking. I can't say it'll have the least bit effect on me, but I missed having it around nonetheless."
"Well, I'm glad to be back." Then she grabbed Pacey by the arms. "Are you busy right now? Can we hang out? There's so much I want to talk to you about!"
His gaze met Joey's. "Uh…"
She smiled at Andie. "He's not busy at all. Just don't keep him out too late, huh? He has to be up early in the morning to cook for our guests."
"Yay!" she enthused, clapping her hands.
Pacey's brow furrowed. "Are you sure? I'm your ride."
Joey shrugged. "Jen can give me a ride home."
"Yeah, no problem," their friend confirmed.
He leaned over and kissed his girlfriend on the cheek. "I love you."
"I love you, too. See you later."
The group all said their goodbyes, and then Pacey walked off with Andie down the boardwalk. "So, McPhee, tell me all about your Italian adventures, but feel free to leave out the part about the men."
"Then I'll barely have anything to say," she smirked.
He started laughing. "Fine. Tell me whatever you want to tell me."
She talked while they walked, sharing with him various anecdotes about her life overseas, and they soon arrived at very familiar surroundings. "Look, it's our spot," she said.
"It is."
He went over to sit down on the bench and she followed, taking the seat next to him. "The last time we sat here wasn't such a happy occasion, was it?"
"No, Andie, it wasn't. But that was a long time ago."
"You know what I realized when I saw you back there? When you were spinning me around?"
"What?"
"Well, three things: I missed you like crazy, is one. But, uh, I'm not in love with you anymore, and… I'm not sad about it anymore."
He smiled and leaned back against the bench.
"The breakup hurt, and my heart was broken," she continued. "I know yours was, too, and that it was all my fault. But I no longer feel like there's this cloud over my head that will never go away. I was able to finally forgive myself, and now I just feel… free… happy. I like myself again." She took a deep breath. "So, I just want to tell you, for the hundredth time, that I'm really sorry for the way things ended between us, Pacey. No one deserves to have their love and trust broken, the least of all you. I hope that—"
He reached over and touched her arm. "Andie, I forgave you a long time ago. When I look back, I don't look back with any regret. You were the first person to really push me, challenge me to be better. Because of you I proved to myself that I was capable of doing great things, that I had a real chance at becoming the man I wanted to be. And I am so glad you're back now, so I can tell you that I'm going to graduate."
She beamed at him. "Oh, my God! I knew it! I knew you could do it! See? What did I tell you?"
"Well, that puts you one up on me. You know, you were the first person in my life who told me I could be more than I was and believed it. So, thank you."
"You're welcome."
"You changed me, for the better. The good far outweighed the bad, and that's how I'll always remember us."
Her face lit up, her eyes twinkling. "You really are the best, you know that?"
Smirking, he gave a little shrug. "I try."
"We really are friends, aren't we?"
"You and me? Friends forever."
She broke out in a wide smile. "Friends forever. So, tell me all about you and your life, other than your amazing academic accomplishment."
"Well, I'll be moving to Boston at the end of the summer. I've got a job there waiting for me in one of the best restaurants in the city."
"Oh, my God! Really? That's great! We'll have to hang out as much as we can, Pacey. Harvard will be such an overwhelming experience, I'm sure. So, it's nice to know I'll have friends close by to lean on when things get crazy."
"Definitely."
"So, how are things with Joey?"
"Um…" God, why did he hesitate? "Uh, they're good. Yeah. They're good."
She eyed him knowingly. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. It's just… well, you know me, Andie. Something's bound to go wrong. I'm a perpetual screw-up."
"Pacey, you are not. Besides, between the two of us, no one's screwed up more than yours truly. I cheated on you, I cheated on the SATs…"
Shock wiped his mind clear. "Wait, what?"
She pursed her lips and gave him a repentant look. "Yeah, uh, remember junior year when that PSAT test went missing and Dawson accused you of stealing it and you got in that big fight?" Her brows arched as she gave him a pointed look.
His mouth fell open. "You stole it?"
"And guess who got one of the highest SAT scores in the country? Something that undoubtedly affected Harvard's decision to grant me early acceptance, which meant I was able to skip out on senior year and go to Italy for seven months. And all because I cheated. Trust me, Pacey. For all your little mishaps, you've never come close to beating me on the shame-o-meter."
"Jesus Christ." Stealing a test? Cheating? He knew that's not the person she truly was. "I guess you kind of had a bit of a rough patch there, McPhee."
"That's for sure."
They sat in silence for some minutes. He heaved a sigh, his thoughts once again turning to Mr. Moore. "Do you ever feel like you're being pulled in two different directions?"
"I guess… when I had to decide whether to stay here or go to Italy." Andie gazed at him a moment. "Is there anything you need to talk about, Pacey? I mean, if there's anything I can do… if you need someone to listen. It does kinda seem like you have a cloud over your head."
A cloud of impending doom, maybe. He took a deep breath. "Okay, I gotta tell you something. I got an incredible offer from this guy we met in Key West last summer. He owns a bunch of restaurants, not to mention enormous mansions all over the world, and a seventy-foot yacht. He's actually here in Capeside for the weekend."
"And is this something you want to do? The offer you got?"
"Yes and no."
"Tell me about it."
A couple hours later, Pacey was climbing into Joey's open bedroom window. She looked asleep, but she'd left the light on. He moved further into the room, stripping his clothes as he went. He slid into bed behind her. He needed to be closer, feel her skin against his. He skimmed his fingers along the waistband of her underwear and then slid his hands up beneath the hem of the shirt she was wearing. She rolled over, half awake.
"Pacey?"
"Shh. I just need to touch you, feel your skin against mine, that's all."
She lifted her arms and then he stripped his T-shirt off her. She had taken to shopping his closet for sleepwear lately, and his boring old clothes looked so good on her. He wrapped her up in his arms. The tension between them was gone, and he sighed in contentment. Snuggling his nose into the sweet-smelling dark hair at the back of her head, he cradled one of her hands in his, resting their joined hands between her breasts.
"Did you have a nice time with Andie?"
"Yeah, I did. It's good to have her back home. I didn't realize how much I'd been missing her until I saw her again."
"I know what you mean."
The room was silent for several moments, save for the sound of the crickets outside her bedroom window. "Jo?" he whispered in the quiet.
"Hmm?"
"I'm going to tell James that I'm not gonna take the job on the yacht this summer."
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
It seemed like she had asked him this question about a hundred times in the past several months. "Yes, I'm sure. Why would I want to spend the summer on my own? How could I enjoy it without you?"
"As long as you're sure, Pacey," she murmured sleepily.
"I'm sure, Joey."
The room was quiet again for several long moments. Sighing deeply, he let go of her hand as she made a disappointed noise and reached behind him to turn out the light. Darkness instantly cloaked the bedroom. He then snuggled closer and recaptured her hand, threading their fingers together.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear.
"I love you, too, Pace."
She felt so good in his arms. He loved her so much. He gently kissed her hair, breathing in her scent. Then he listened as Joey's breathing evened out and deepened as she quickly drifted off to sleep. Opening his eyes and staring out into the dark, Pacey shook his head, bemused; this had been an unexpected kind of day.