ISLAND STATE OF MIND

Chapter 2:

They finished their sandwiches in near silence. Tully didn’t want conversation, didn’t want to know this lady and didn’t want to know what kind of ‘this and that’ she did to keep groceries in the house. He didn’t mean to be rude but couldn’t think of anything to say to her.

The General ate his burger and licked the paper plate clean. Tully was going to be difficult.

Casey was surprised to learn he was a cop. Not that it mattered, of course, she had nothing to hide. She had never met a cop before. She studied him as he smoked, catching a glimpse of his green eyes when he looked up. What she could see of his hair  under the cap was dark chestnut brown. He was tall, broad shouldered, clean shaven. His mouth turned up at the corners and curved into a cupid's bow; a very handsome man. There was an air of loneliness about him. He was always alone when she spotted him on the island.

“We’d better be on our way if we’re going to get home by dark,” Tully said as he stood up and gathered the paper plates and wrappings for the trash container.

“Yes, you’re right. Let’s go.” She smiled at Tully across the table but he barely moved his lips. No smile was coming her way. She picked up her bottle of wine and started down the path to the boat.

Thirty minutes later they were approaching the old pier but Casey didn’t slow down. She was going to take a chance on Tully. He might arrest her or get angry. She didn’t care.

“You need to pull in here, Casey.”

She ignored him and continued past the pier.

Tully stood up and tapped her on the shoulder. “What are you doing? You know that’s where you picked us up.”

The General moved over to Tully and looked at Casey. Where were they going?

“You can arrest me for kidnapping if you want.  I’m taking you to my house.”

Tully was stunned. “You can’t do this. Turn around now and take us back to the pier.”

“I’m captain of this little ship and you’re under my command. Sit down before you fall out, please.”

“Casey, this is not funny. I don’t want to go to your house. I want to go to my house. Turn this boat around.”

“Nope, I said I wanted to get to know you. If I leave it up to you it will never happen, Tully."

She turned and faced him. “I’ll take you home eventually. Don’t worry, I don’t bite.” She smiled up at him.

Tully sat down. He was in the boat with a crazy woman. “I do. I bite,” he said.

“Oooh, that could be exciting, now couldn’t it? Hey General, want to go see where Casey lives? You can see the ocean and there’s a nice little garden and a cat.  Do you know any cats?”

Cats! The General does not know cats. Oh dear, what kind of mess have they gotten themselves into this time? He looked at Tully. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea, after all? He walked back up to the front of the boat. She really was nice except for the cat part.

Another thirty minutes went by in silence when she began to slow down and cut the motor back. They pulled into a dock and she cut the motor. Tully had the ropes secured and The General hopped out and looked around. He’d never been on the south side of the island. Tully extended his hand to help Casey from the boat with her wine bottle.

“Okay, now what?” he asked.

“Follow me and you’ll soon see,” she laughed.

They followed a sandy path through some trees to a narrow street that curved to the right. The street was lined with old clapboard cabins. Here and there new construction was moving in. At the end of the lane sat a bright yellow cottage with a white picket fence surrounding the tiny front garden. Casey opened the gate and motioned for them to follow. The General was on the lookout for the Cat.

The front entry was surrounded by shells attached to the door frame. The door was painted bright blue and opened into a small parlor. It was furnished with white wicker furniture and found objects. Oil paintings of the area covered the walls along with shell-covered mirrors. She led him through to the small kitchen and turned on the light.

The General noticed immediately that a cat lived here. He could smell it. He began to look around the room, checking under the table and behind cupboards. It was somewhere.

The cat lay on top of the fridge watching the stupid dog. Why did mummy bring a dog in here? She was pissed and laid her ears back.

Tully paused at the doorway, hands on hips. He had removed his sunglasses and glared at Casey, who was taking wine glasses down from a shelf.  She opened the bottle of wine and poured out two glasses, handing him one. “Come,” she said and opened the back door. He followed her out to a bench swing that overlooked the ocean. It was a beautiful view, the sun lying low in the sky, spreading lavender over the waves.

The General was relieved to leave the kitchen and the cat smell. He ran out to the swing and beyond to the sandy beach. He checked on Tully who was swinging with Casey then did a dog run faster and faster down the beach, skid around and ran fast back the other way. Oh, this was fun.

Tully, resigned to his fate, sat beside Casey and sipped his wine. She was crazy, no doubt.

Casey turned and looked at Tully. “You know this is the first time I’ve seen you without sunglasses? Sorry about the kidnapping. I hope you won’t press charges.”

He dipped his head and looked up at her. “Depends on what your plans are.” He had no idea where this was going.  For now, he would just play along.

She sipped her wine, looking over the rim of her glass into his eyes. She didn’t have a plan past getting him to herself. Now he was here.

The General bounded up to the swing, wagging his tail. He liked the beach. He looked at Tully

to see if he was okay and gave him a nudge. Tully reached down and scratched his head. Yeah, everything was cool, so he ran back to the beach.

Tully was beginning to feel something stirring inside. Something he hadn’t felt for a long time.

It was fear. The divorce had hurt him to the core. It caused a pain he had learned to live with; the pain of rejection.  He wasn’t about to open himself up to the possibility of being hurt again. He looked out to the sea. The motion of the swing, the motion of the waves, the wine warming from the inside, causing him to slide into dangerous waters.

Casey inched over and leaned against his shoulder, the swing, the waves, the wine finding a motion in her body. She closed her eyes, felt his arm go around her shoulders and nestled

closer to him.

It had been a long time since Tully held a woman. It felt good and he was aware of himself  swinging back and forth watching the waves. He finished his wine and put his glass down.  She was looking up into his eyes and he kissed her.

She tasted the hunger on his lips. She could feed him now, if she wanted to. She wanted to, but got up and took their glasses back to the kitchen for refilling.

The General saw her leave and came running to Tully. Something not quite right here, he suspected. He nudged Tully toward the beach. Tully followed him down to the water's edge, removed his shoes and walked a ways with The General. He needed to get out of here before he made a fool of himself. He hated to ask her to take him home as though he were some  scared schoolboy.

Casey came back with the wine and watched him walk with his dog. He’s been hurt' she

thought ,and he’s scared.  She walked down to the edge of the dune and sat down, sipping her wine. The General saw her and ran up ,knocking her down in the sand and spilling the glasses

as he gave her a big sloppy kiss.

“Oh, you big beautiful animal, I love you, too,” she laughed, giving him a hug.

Tully came up behind him looking down at her in the sand. His lips didn’t move but his eyes smiled at her. He offered his hand to pull her up. “Thanks, Tully, I should probably get you home before it gets too late.” She had looked into his eyes and decided, yes, she'd better take

him home.

The General was glad Tully was being nice. He liked Casey and thought Tully did, too. He was wagging his tail and smiling. This had been a good idea he had about the boat ride.

Casey backed her old Volkswagen out of the drive. Tully was folded up in the seat beside her

and The General’s head was hanging between them. He was going on a car ride now. What a great evening this had been.

Tully directed her to his house and opened the car door. The General jumped out and ran around barking his thanks and goodbye. Tully walked around to Casey’s door and stooped to give her a quick kiss goodbye. He said he would see her again. That was good news to The General.

Casey took a deep breath and started her car. She waved and drove away.

Tully walked around back with The General. “Well, what do you think we’ve got ourselves into? It's all your fault, you know.”

The General gave him a nudge and smiled. Wagging his tail, he led the way to the door.

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