A/N: Sorry for the delay! Returned from a mini getaway and hopefully back to a regular posting schedule (if FF would stop crashing) Enjoy!
After the beer samples I switch to water since I know this is only the first stop of the night. I learn a lot from Jacob about the local foods and am told that the mussels are what I really need to try. I'm not sure that mussels and a night of drinking with friends is a good mix, so I add it to the list of things that I'll need to soon discover. With every turn of this island there is something to explore.
Garrett seems to be the go-to guy when it comes to learning about the local beers, Jacob for the local food and Jasper for the local music. Edward, I suppose, is the expert farmer in the group. As I learned in quite a few shopping excursions, Alice is addicted to antique shopping and it sounds like Kate is crafter in the group as she fills me in on the jewelry that she's started to sell made from local beach glass.
Walking back towards the wharf on the way to our dinner location, I'm lost in thought as I wonder what I'm going to do next. I love working for the McCarty's but that's not a long-term goal. With as quickly as time is passing already, I begin to doubt whether I'll find my place here after all. Everyone else seems to be so settled into their own lives.
"What's got you so lost in thought over here?" Edward startles me.
"Oh, nothing really," I reply.
"I'm not sure I believe that, you looked deep in thought."
"Just taking it all in really; wondering what I'm heading towards next."
"What do you mean?" Edward asks, actually looking interested.
"Well in high school I knew that I wanted to go to college so I worked towards that. In college I knew that I wanted to become a teacher. Then after I graduated and couldn't find a teaching position, I had the crazy idea of moving up to Prince Edward Island and here I am! Now I'm wondering what's next," I ramble on, glancing at Edward from the corner of my eye.
"Maybe you don't have to figure it all out yet," he replies.
"Says the person running his own successful farm."
"Exactly. I'm a success, so listen to my advice," Edward teases with another of his smirks.
He gets caught up in conversation with Jacob and I pocket his advice to think about later. Today isn't the time for stress.
The wharf is more crowded than it was before. It's only just after 6, but the sun is already down and the wind is picking up off the water. As we climb up a set of stairs leading to the upper deck of a restaurant I notice that the outdoor area is deserted now that the cold weather is here. Our group moves inside with Jacob smooth talking the hostess into getting us a table near the windows, using my newness to town as a reason to get the water view.
This time I find myself sitting closest to the window with Edward across from me and Alice to my right. In the summer I imagine that the deck is filled with tourists but for now the restaurant indoors is filled with the locals. While the waitress passes out menus and describes the specials for the evening, I scope out the lights bouncing off the water.
"So are you going for the mussels tonight Bella?" Jacob asks from the other end of the table.
"Not sure I'm brave enough for that yet," I answer. "I think I'll stick to something I've at least tried before."
"You can't go wrong with any of the seafood here. Next time on the mussels."
I order the baked haddock with PEI potato fries while the others go for some more adventurous seafood.
Waiting for the food to be prepared, Jacob delighted the table with tales of Edward and Garrett on the farm. Apparently Edward started to work on the farm while he was in high school and it was still owned by the Black family.
"With these two working there, suddenly the farm became the place to be for all the girls in town. Driving back and forth up the street in hopes of catching them hard at work," Jacob laughs. "It was enough to make me double think giving up the farm for culinary school."
"It only got worse once you were off to school. The ones that stuck around here suddenly realized that they could use visiting Sue as an excuse to catch some time with the boys. Poor Sue, no wonder she sold the farm to get away from it all," Kate jokes.
"And I never noticed a single one of those girls. The only one I hoped would come visit never turned up," Garrett says with a kiss to Kate's cheek.
"How long have you been together?" I ask.
"I've been chasing this one my whole life. Finally convinced her to give me a chance after I graduated high school, once the stigma of her being two years ahead of me couldn't ruin her reputation," he laughs.
"Please," Kate replies. "I was waiting for you to mature is all and looked how well it worked out."
The food arrives causing the conversation to dwindle as everyone dives in. Jacob was right when he said that the seafood here was delicious. I talk more about my life back in Washington, sharing how different the experience here has been. Throughout the night I find my worries from earlier slipping away as I enjoy the moment with my friends.