Alice Cove

1. I woke up that morning to salty skin, I passed out on the couch after swimming and a bottle of red wine. I was always warned to not go to the beach after drinking in the middle of the night. But it’s always where drinking at home seemed to lead me. The ocean never got old to me, I felt calm in the calming water behind the waves, and when I felt reckless I’d continue to dive through the crashing waves, getting closer and closer til the break. It kept me fit, swimming laps up to the buoy and back, but I dare not do that in the dark. There wasn’t many shark sightings at Alice Cove but that was mainly because we were so far out from the city the helicopters barely came here. But there was no doubt they were there. Alice Cove was a holiday town, the only locals worked either at the caravan park, country club or the servo/shops on the top of the hill, even some of them travelled from the closest town. Everything else was holiday homes. I worked at the caravan park as a receptionist. I worked all year round but it felt like only half the year. In the summer time business thrived, in the winter it was only people passing through. I was lucky enough to be on the good side of the caravan park owners and lived rent free in a permanent caravan on site. It wasn’t much but it was a fairly new caravan which I’ve made homely with décor. It had everything I needed, built in shower and toilet. But half the time I preferred the showers in the ablution block. It was a pretty luxurious caravan park with all the amenities. The only down side was that I had to be on call, but that was rarely necessary being a receptionist, I’ve gotten pretty handy helping out the caretaker in the busy seasons though. And that’s pretty much my life, a beach bum with a semi permanent life. The reason I chose it? I had a pretty nice life in the suburbs 5 years ago. Until s**t went down I’d rather not speak about. My parents use to come here every year when I was a child, up until a few years ago, and it just so happened when s**t went down there was an opening up here. Knowing the owner for 2 weeks out of the year since I was 2, magic and luck wasn’t necessary. And here we are….on the couch, contemplating to get up for a shower or not. It was a Monday, my day off. But I assumed I’d get called in to help Roy, the caretaker, as we were only a week out before some of the summer holiday crowd would be coming in. Not a lot, it was still too early. But the people that couldn’t get the best summer period because it’s booked out years in advance, opt to come earlier or later. The air was still crisp during the day. And at night, it was f*****g freezing. But people wanted to get their kids into the camping spirit young, if you could could call that this. So Roy, goes around checks all electricity boxes are working, water and drains are working. The usual s**t you’d expect. He doesn’t need my help, but he makes me hold his toolbox and get out what he needs. Maybe only takes half an hour off his day, but that’s not what it’s about to him. He’s getting old, and I think he likes knowing someone’s there if something does go wrong, not to be found when it’s too late. I only expect another year or two out of him. He has been here since I was a child anyway. After about half an hour playing on my phone deciding when to get up and have a shower, I decided not to. Don’t judge me. I had reasons, if I went to the ablution block, chances are Roy would see me and call on me, I couldn’t be bothered just yet, I could use my own I know. But another reason not to, is in my ploy to not see Roy, I was going back to the beach. I’m salty, why wash it off to get more salty? And don’t get me wrong, I’ll help the old man if he asks, but I’ll make him look for me or call me. I contemplated not taking my phone to the beach also. But technically I’m on call. And if I see him on my way out to the beach I will turn straight back around if he asks. He didn’t see me on my way out, I laid on the beach for an hour, reading my book and adding to my tan, then went for a half an hour long swim, after I returned to my towel, I checked my phone, no missed calls from Roy. But two for Darlene the office manager. She never calls me and as far as I knew she wasn’t working today either. That was odd, as I dried off I tried to listen in on something strange. No one else was really on the beach at this point but I could hear something in the distance. The closest thing to the beach was the caravan park. Then I felt like my heart sank, it was sirens. I scooped up everything I brought with me and ran back to the caravan park as fast as I could in my bikini. I was short but my legs were long and I was fit from all the swimming I think I got there faster than anyone else could. It was only a couple rows back from the end of the caravan where the ambulance was. It was leaving as I got there. Darlene was standing there, clutching a tissue to her face and tears streaming. “Darls, what happened? Is it Roy?” I asked through deep breaths. Trying to catch my breath back. She turned and hugged me, putting all her weight into me, almost like she was collapsing in my arms. “Heart attack.” “Who? Roy?” I asked. She nodded. Tears started to well up in my eyes. But I didn’t cry. I pushed her off me, holding onto her shoulder, I looked her in her bloodshot eyes, “he’s not dead right?” And this is where the real story starts. Don’t worry, Roy is still alive. Left me with a right mess though. The heart attack sent Roy into retirement, he moved back to the city to stay with one of his children. I’ve been the temporary care taker for the last two weeks. I don’t know how Roy did it for the better part of his life. I’ve got some of the local boys helping me and Darlene’s husband. But I’m the only one that can sought through Roy’s shed a find what’s needed in that dump without taking an hour. We’re almost at the busy period and we’ve had only three applicants for caretaker. Who wouldn’t want to uproot there life in a matter of days and straight into the busy period? Don’t get me wrong, we had nearly 100 apply, but all wanting to start in the off season. That won’t work. We need someone now! Tall ask but I guess that’s what you do to yourself, when you have a 60 something year old running the place without a prodigy. Or do they think that’s me? Did I mention all three applicants have been rejected? My legs are all cut up, I have a permanent bandage on my shoulder and I haven’t even seen the beach in a week. I start in the early morning and don’t finish til the sun is well and truly down. I pass the f**k out as soon as I get home. I think I even went 3 days without eating. I’m fixing the pipes in the office, Darlene’s husband is meant to be helping me but he’s off on a break at the front desk, where Darlene resides. “They just need to get back to me,” I over hear Jasper, Darlene’s husband, say to her. “Don’t even wait for them, just tell him to come, El is dying out here,” Darlene said, referring to me. I hear the phone ringing and she’s constantly putting them on hold. I really need to get back to my permanent job because she is not cutting it. “Alright, I’ll tell him to make plans to come up, and he can stay with us if he doesn’t get the job, we’ll make a night of it.” Who they hell are they talking about? But in any case, I was happy for them to bring whoever to be interviewed. I knew what would happen if they didn’t find anyone…they’d make me caretaker for the season and then hire someone in the off peak. That was most definitely worse case scenario, I wanted it to be over right this second. Even so, I wanted old man Roy back. I didn’t like change, and it didn’t like me. I finished off my day a little early for once, it was technically my last day before two days off, they weren’t actually days off, I was on call. But regular maintenance was done for the week, and it was Sunday before school holidays, so anyone that was here was packing up to leave, and the people starting off their holidays will be a few days away. It’ll be the quietest it’s been in a week and will be for at least two months. I don’t think I’ll make it through the holidays if they don’t find someone. Jasper, my main help goes away in a week to the mines, he took the time off to help me for the last few weeks, but he couldn’t do it forever. I thought about this as I had my six pack of beer that afternoon, it’s all I could think about until I finally passed out from the buzz and exhaustion. The next day didn’t work out as I planned, I never got to the beach. I was so close to it, when I got called over by an elderly couple trying to hook up their van to leave. They had a flat tire. Just my luck. No one was around yet. Changing a tire on a heavy as f**k caravan wasn’t a picnic. Especially when you had an old man nagging you on how to do it correctly, because he was older than me and a man. And then an old lady nagging him. Where was the young kids following me around when I needed them. After that I finally got to go over to the next town, grocery shopping and a wonder around with a barista made coffee for once, no noise, no work phone going off. Just time to chill. When I finally got back to the park I was waved in by Jesse, one of the owners. He was a lovely round man I look at as a second dad. “Park up and meet me back at the office love,” he told me. I parked the Ute up in front of my van and lugged all the groceries inside and took off my thongs and changing to my boots, assuming this was work related. I walked back up into the office and swung the door open. I stepped in, not too far, expecting to have to turn straight back out. “You’re not the caretaker anymore!” Steph, Jesse’s wife sang loudly. “Thank f**k,” I fell to the side onto the old couch. Jesse laughed and handed me a glass of champagne, I then noticed, Jess and Steph, Darlene and Candice, the other receptionist were all there, champagne in hand like a celebration. I took the drink with a smile, “was I that bad?” I joked. “No love, you did so well,” Steph said from behind the desk, she then lifted up a nicely wrapped hamper with ribbons and bows, and placed it on the desk. “This is for you, for all your help,” she beamed. “And there will be a nice bonus in your pay,” Jesse said. “You didn’t have to do that,” I said, “just give me a few extra days off.” Darlene laughed, “maybe in a couple months.” “You can take the rest of the day off,” Steph declared. Jesse furrowed his brows at her, “well kind of.” I looked at him quizzical. “His names Brody and you’ll love him,” Darlene beamed. “Oh so they hired your friend?” She looked at me puzzled, she didn’t know I overheard her. Jesse didn’t miss a step, “yes. He’s here already getting settled in. This arvo you’ll show him around so he can start tomorrow.” I nodded, understandable. But I can drink while this happens. “He knows which van is yours so he’ll come get you when he’s ready.” “So I can’t go to the beach yet?” I asked, jokingly but also not. Steph laughed, “not quite. Now get out of here so we can.” “Don’t have to tell me twice,” I got up, “I’ll bring back the glass later Darls.” I grabbed my little hamper and was out of there, “thanks again guys.” “No, thank you.” “Oi El,” Candice called at me as I walked out the door,”I’ll come find you later tonight.” I waved my glass at her as confirmation and walked out. Thank. f**k. I walked back to my van and I felt lighter, almost a slip in my step. I couldn’t wait to have my cruisy job back, and enough energy to hit the beach afterwards, or party when it got to the busy period and all the younger adults came with their friends to the holiday homes. I packed up all my groceries away and had a look at my hamper while I finished my champagne. Chocolates, wine, nuts and cheese. Was such a nice gesture. I couldn’t leave my van until this Brody came knocking so I grabbed a beer from the fridge and watched some Netflix on the couch in my annex, with the fabric door open a nice breeze came through and I fought the nap my body wanted so badly. Maybe 45 minutes later I heard someone call from the front of my annex. “Knock, knock,” they said, not actually knocking. “One sec,” I said, placing my almost empty beer on the table and getting up. I walked to the door and almost froze. The man standing under my gazebo was astounding. He was tall, with big arms, under a snug black T-shirt. I could see some ink peeking out of the shirt on his left arm. His face was so defined with a 5 o’clock shadow and piercing green eyes behind thick dark lashes. “Can I help you?” I managed to spit out, I tried to not let his looks get to me. All things considering he seemed much older than me, and probably here with his wife and kids and probably just needs some help. Of course this man is married, probably with a stepford wife looking type. “Elody?” He asked. I nodded, “what do you need?” I guess I was still the caretaker until tomorrow. He smiled, his teeth were dazzling and white. And his smile could make any girl swoon, “I’m Brody.” Oh! I forgot, how stupid am I. It took me a moment to realise his hand was outstretched I he could shake mine. I quickly took a step forward to shake it, a second longer and it would’ve been awkward. “Sorry about that, I forgot you’d be coming to look for me. Thanks for helping us out.” He shrugged, “no worries. I was looking for a getaway, and my situation aaa easy to leave behind.” He uneasily laughed it off. Remind me not to ask about that. “All good,” I smiled, without even realising we started walking, “I’m guessing you’ve had a look around anyway. There’s not much to show.” “Yeah, it seems pretty self explanatory, and Jesse told me most today, probably just a formality,” he began, “it’s just that shed looks like it’ll be a bitch.” His voice even sounded so sexy, deep and full. And I’m not usually one to find older men attractive. I’d have to figure out his age. “Yeah I’ve been trying to clean up that shed for weeks, barely got a dent in.” As we walked around I pointed things out that I thought would be of use. Opened up a few electrical ports and show him about them. What I found out is that he hasn’t worked at a caravan park before, but he grew up on a farm and had been working there since a boy. Probably over qualified for this. We circled back and ended up back at my van. He stood there under my gazebo talking and then it went silent and he didn’t move. I didn’t want this to go awkward, I expect I may have to be helping this guy like I did Roy. “So, I’m going to have a beer, do you want one?” I asked, pointing back towards my fridge, not like he knew where that was. He seemed to think for a while, contemplate if he should, “yeah sure. Maybe one, big day tomorrow.” I walked inside and chuckled, “yeah it will be,” I said loud enough for him to hear. I came back out and he’s already sitting in one of my deck chairs. I sat in the one beside him and gave him a beer, we both looked out towards the beach. “So how did you end up here?” Brody asked. It surprised me, I didn’t expect him to ask about me. “I use to come up here every year with my family since I was like two,” I smiled looking back at fond memories, “my family were friendly with Jesse and Steph and then about 5 years ago a spot opened up here and I asked for it.” He smiled, maybe it was a nice story, “when they told me about you, you weren’t what I expected.” I scoffed, “what is that meant to mean!” He laughed again, a bit louder, “I don’t mean it like that. They told me the girl that would be helping me had been doing this all on her own two weeks.” “Yeah, so what did you expect?” He thought for a while, maybe trying to be careful with his words, “maybe a bigger, older girl. I could throw you over my shoulder.” Maybe that wouldn’t be the worse thing, “so more like a butch?” He almost spat his drink out, “I was saying it in a nicer way.” I smiled, “we live in a caravan park, what do you expect.” “You don’t seem like you would, you look like a girl who should be living in the city, fancy office, tiny dog, maybe a famous footballer boyfriend.” I scoffed, I guess I thought the same of him. “How old are you anyway?” He asked. Here’s my chance! “I’m 27, how old are you?” “34,” he answered quickly. “Am I interrupting?” A voice came from behind us, it was Candice. “Hello you,” I turned in my chair to look at her behind us, “grab a drink.” She went into my annex and then straight back out with a beer. Brody finished the end of his, “here take my seat. I’m retreating for the night. Thanks for the drink Elody, nice to meet you both today.” “It’s El, see you later.” Brody faded out into the distance and Candy pretty much jumped into his seat. “That’s why I was coming over,” she told me. Candy didn’t live in the park, she lived in a granny flat behind her parents house. They didn’t live here, they come up during the week in summer though, and rented out the house the rest of the time. Pretty rude considering Candy lived here year round in her one by one instead of the mini mansion. But money’s money I guess. And if it was a group of young guys hiring out the place she ended up in one or two of the bedrooms anyway. “What?” I asked. “Brody!” She almost screamed. I should have known, men were the only things on her mind. “Yeah, he seems like I may actually get some time off,” I laughed. I hopped up to get another beer. “What do you think though? Hot as f**k right?” I could see her getting all hot and bothered. “Yeah he’s hot, not really my type,” I said, coming back out. I didn’t lie, it’s not the usual type I go for, but I didn’t have to tell her my reaction to him. She rolled her eyes, “yeah because you go for the opposite of everyone’s type.” I laughed, “less competition though.” “You’re right. That’s why I love you. But I was even going to let you have this one.” “Yeah right,” I laughed. “Seriously El, when I first saw him I thought you’s would look like the perfect couple. And it’s probably best for me to stick to holiday boys, not root and boot a coworker. Plus he seems like the settle down type, f**k that.” “I’m not the settle down type either,” I mused. She gave me a deadpan look, “you never play the field! When was the last time you got laid?” “I get laid,” I fought back, “I just don’t need it all the time like you.” “Yeah. You find one guy a year, you stick with him while he’s here, until he’s gone and then you’re done for the season,” she said. “It’s not a f*****g season,” I laughed out loud, “it’s a working season. Besides, I don’t find nearly every guy attractive like you do. Remember that one time you tried to play them all and then you realised they were all staying in the one house?” She shrugged, “not my finest hour. Fine, I’ll leave you alone for now.” We sipped our beers for a while in silence. “Want to watch a movie?” Candy finally chimed up. I nodded and stood up, “you find something.” “Just the one then I’ve got to go. I got work tomorrow and I doubt you’ll get much of a day off considering we’re going to be swamped as of Thursday.” “That’s why they pay me the big bucks.” I woke up on the couch again, blanket over me this time. Candy must have tucked me in, I don’t remember anything from the movie I must’ve passed out pretty early. And now it was super early. 4am. I wasn’t still tired though, I was energised. I was a receptionist again, I never thought I’d say I miss that! I was almost shredded now, I could even see abs forming, how was Roy an old slob? It almost made me want to quit beer and just stick to spirits and red wine for the anti oxidants of course. But nah. I decided to even go for a run, with my new found fitness. I put my bathers on underneath because I knew where I’d end up. By the time I finished my run and got to the beach it was 5, no I cannot run for hours on end. I stripped off and almost ran to the beach. I dove under waves not caring how f*****g freezing it was until I got to the calm. I floated there to what felt like hours. Until I could start to hear screaming kids with their family make their way down to the beach. That’s when I decided to get out. Considering I was on a run I didn’t bring a towel with me so I grabbed my stuff and went back soaking wet. At the front of the caravan park were outdoor showers to get all the salt and sand off, so I did that, they were even colder than the ocean, I’d need a real shower after this. As I walked back to my van I noticed Brody was already out doing rounds. I glanced at my watch, 6.30. Earlier than Roy ever got up. Maybe this guy would be good for this place. I brought Darlene and Candice coffee mid morning because I actually didn’t know what to do with myself. Usually I’d be knee deep in calls from Roy by now, but so far nothing from Brody. And from sitting under my gazebo I could see he in fact was working. “Oh that’s nice of you,” Darlene smiled as I handed her a paper cup from the café across the way. “Not like you at all,” Candy laughed. I slumped down on the couch with mine, “I literally just don’t know what to do with myself.” Candy laughed really loud, it was a real laugh, but the exaggeration was put on, “I told you,” she looked up at Darlene. “And of course cause I just wanted to do a nice gesture,” I lied, “I know in half an hour you’ll start getting people coming in and out starting the season.” Darlene looked at her computer, “yep, no cancellations today. Only three out and fifteen in!” I rolled my eyes, “thank f**k I’m not the caretaker anymore.” “We all agree,” Darlene said. “Hey!” “She meant because we finally have eye candy,” Candy declared. I rolled my eyes again, “isn’t he your mate Darls?” “No!” She blurted, “he’s Jaspers. And Jaspers not here a lot of the time.” We all laughed. Darlene would never stray from Jasper, but she has fun saying it. “We live on a beach, we always have eye candy.” “Not permanent.” I spent the rest of my afternoon on the beach with a few beers, we knew that theory wasn’t going to last, I wasn’t swimming. The breeze had already kicked in, and even though sunset was hours away, a weird thing about Alice Cove is the sun starts to set super early. So dusk lasted for so long and it was so pretty. I sat on my little picnic blanket in my shorts and hoodie and just looked out over the beach. I used the cheese from my hamper and a few meats and had myself a little cheese board with my beers. I thought about asking Candy to come down, but sometimes I liked to just sit by myself. I know it wasn’t like the old school taking in your surroundings. I obviously had my phone where I’d play games and read ebooks. I didn’t have social media, that was a long story. I know you probably don’t believe me but I don’t have f*******:. What was the point? I gave my number to the people that I wanted to speak to again. And I live in a holiday town, I can walk to see everyone I want to. I don’t want to see what people do in the real world when I live in their fairy tale summer. I laid on my stomach reading a true crime book, swigging my beer and making little crackers with cheese and meat. Then all of a sudden I felt someone sit down next to me, I shut off my book and looked up, it was Brody. He was wet, and shirtless. f*****g hell. I thought I was growing abs? This guy looked like he was born with them. “How was your first day then?” I managed to get out before it was too weird. I actually think this guy likes awkward silences. He stared out at the ocean, “yeah, wasn’t as hectic as I thought. But I’ve already been told this is just the beginning.” I laughed, “yeah. And I imagine you’ll have more work than Roy ever did.” He looked down at me for a split second then back to the ocean. His jaw was so defined. “What does that mean?” He asked. “A lot of single mums come down here.” He laughed, “I can handle them.” “I bet you can,” I raised an eyebrow at him. I sat up and looked over the ocean with him. He still sat there, not saying anything or offering to move. So I let there be silence. Every now and then I glanced at him. His eyes said much more than just him looking out at the ocean. He was thinking about something deep. This man was a mystery. But I could see myself getting along with him. I thought back at all the men we interviewed, there was always something weird and quirky about them. I don’t think I’d be sitting here with any of them other than Brody. “Well I better leave you to it,” Brody said, getting up, not more than 5 minutes later. “Bye,” is all I said. I wanted to leave as well, but that was weird so I knew I had to wait. I stayed staring at the ocean, glancing at my phone, and finishing my beers. Until the sun was completely down and I could see some drunk teens starting to wonder about the sand. I didn’t want to stick around for that and be deemed responsible.