Beach Side Romance

Chapter 5: Brunches, Bitches and Bastards

Olivia POV

I promised Mrs. Willis I’ll have her and Brandon over for brunch today to thank her for everything. When I first got here 2 weeks ago, I was a complete mess. Mrs. Willis made sure that before she left that day I’m well taken care of, I had everything I needed and I was okay. I made some eggs and bacon and some breakfast sausages. I didn’t know if they liked rice in the morning but I had some cooking and toasted some bagels. While I was setting the table, I heard a knock on my door and quickly peeped to see Mrs. Willis and Brandon. “Hi Mrs. Willis, Hi Brandon! Don’t you look the cutest today?” I greeted asking them to come in as soon as I opened the door for them. “Hi O-wi-vi-ya! I got these fwowers for you!” Brandon gave me a bunch of white and pink roses with some daisies. I thanked him and hugged Mrs. Willis, “hope the walk wasn’t too sweaty?” I asked. “Oh no, dear. It was quite lovely actually and thank you for having us. Brandon couldn’t stop asking me about it since I told him over the weekend.”

We all sat down, and Mrs. Willis helped Brandon get his food on his plate. Turns out Brandon was 6 years old, and every the summer he likes to spend his time with his “Nonnie” aka Mrs. Willis. “This is very thoughtful of you, dear Olivia. I see you also look better than when you first got here. How are you?” She asked. I feel like she was dying to ask me this when I arrived but knew better that I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I’m ready now though… I think.

“Well, I feel better now Mrs. Willis. Really. The new scenery has helped me a lot, being away from the city and just focusing on myself for a change is actually unsettling but in a good kind of way.” I paused for a bit, pouring her a cup of coffee. “I know you wanted to ask me something when I first got here, I saw you were worried.” I spoke as I offered her the cup. “Uhm, well, yes. Amber gave me a quick call as soon as she settled when you will be arriving with some heads-up on the groceries she had delivered so I could receive them. She did mention that you were going through something, and when I saw you, sweetie. You were a wreck. Dark circles under your eyes, you had a messy bun, and you were pale.” She said, now looking at Brandon who was enjoying his bacon. “Yeah, well, about that.. I’m finally ready to tell someone about it in a bit more detail..” I whispered as I took a sip and started with my story.

“I was in my First Year of college when I met Drew. We had some classes together and I was living inside the campus then. My roommate, Eliza, I have been friends with since highschool. Best Friends, if you suppose. I didn’t take a liking towards Drew at first but Senior Year arrived and we started casually dating and it got serious. Eliza wasn’t really one to exclusively date, so it wasn’t bothersome that she was third wheeling a lot during those times. I got a job at a consulting firm straight out of college, and Drew was more into the sports industry, Eliza was starting in an advertising firm…” I had to give Mrs. Willis this background so she could understand the history. “About 2 years back, I got a promotion, and Drew wasn’t too happy about it. My work became a bit more demanding. What used to be flexible hours turned into sometimes dawn to dusk, and unwelcome weekend calls were part of that too. Drew tried his best to understand but it seemed like I wasn’t giving him anything he wanted anymore…” I sighed, and continued anyway. “Eliza was my go-to when I had problems with Drew. It used to be just a handful before, but when it was already overwhelming, I took time off from work, to resolve my issues with Drew. It got better, until about a year ago things started to change. He was distant, ‘always busy at work’, and even dinner dates we had to schedule way beforehand. It took me a friend to send me a picture to actually see the possibility… that he was seeing someone else, who just happened to be the girl who called herself ‘my best friend’...” Mrs Willis held my free hand and urged me to continue. 

I had to let this out, and she knew it too well. Brandon was enjoying his bowl of fruit as Mrs. Willis took out his iPad for him to be distracted a little more. “They were laughing in the picture, and when I asked Eliza if she saw Drew that night, she said that she bumped into Drew while doing a client dinner. And I believed them. My guard was up. On my own boyfriend, and my best friend. It was the worst feeling. It drained me inside. I threw myself into work a little more, letting Drew initiate things and never did. He wasn’t sweet nor showy of his affection even back in college, but I realized that maybe, just maybe he felt like I was just some type of jumpstart, you know? He has a girl on his arm, to take on dates and office parties, to show off that he’s taken, but that was it. A college reunion was all it took for me to see what this has all become really…” wiping away the tear I had with my finger hoping Brandon won’t see. “I was late for that party, an urgent client call came up a little before I was supposed to leave the office. Drew was going to pick me up but I told him I’ll soon follow which he didn’t protest. When I arrived, I saw some good friends and one of them swept me away from the party saying ‘you have to see this, you have to know’ over and over again and that’s when I saw it. They were all over each other ready to hit a home run, inside a bathroom. Drew saw me, Eliza saw me. And all she had to say was ‘I took care of him for you when you couldn’t’ and he said nothing.” 

It was a refreshing feeling sharing this to someone else. Mrs. Willis had nothing more than awe and pain in her eyes. “Oh my dear, but you are strong. You took it upon yourself to leave it behind and not to bother with them anymore.” She said, taking my glass and pouring water into it to offer back to me. “There are bitches and bastards out there, Olivia. There always will be. I’m sorry it happened to be the two people you thought you could trust, but you are bound to heal. Heal from the wounds, and when it no longer hurts more than what you can take, you know you’ve defeated your demon.” I nodded in agreement, “dessert?” Which she gladly accepted. We had some frozen yogurt that I served her, Brandon and myself with. 

“Mrs. Willis, can you tell me about the family who owns the resort down the road?” I asked her and to my surprise she wasn’t surprised at me asking. “Oh, Jerome and his family? Yeah, they used to really live here. Jerome grew up here, he’s friends with Brandon’s dad. He met his wife at that very place, it used to be an open area where kids could lay their mats and just lounge around and drink. Julianna was lovely, so full of love and light. Shortly after their daughter Lizzie was born, we lost her. Her second pregnancy was too much for her body to handle. Jerome bought the land shortly after and left for the city to raise Liz and Lian there. It was only around 9 years ago when Jerome came back and established that resort. Everyone was glad to see him back. Why do you ask?” She turned to me with a smirk. “Oh, I was wandering around the other day just walking along the shoreline when I saw the resort and stepped in. I met Lizzie and Jerome that day, and Lizzie and I hit it off. She invited me to the Sunset Party last weekend, and I met Julian too” I admitted. “Yes I was there too just in the restaurant of Hale ‘Aina. I saw you dancing with Julian” she stated, and I felt blood rush up my cheeks. “Don’t worry, I didn’t tell your mom. I was having coffee with Jerome’s head staff, she used to be his housekeeper and now she runs the resort as somewhat like their right hand.” I let out a sigh of relief when she said mom didn’t know. “Good kid, Lian really is. He used to come here a lot, then his work demanded a lot so he visited less. But I saw him the night he took you home from the resort, that was very nice of him to do.” I wanted to sink in and let the chair consume me, but instead all I could do or say was “I don’t know what it is… It’s all so unfamiliar to me. The kindness, I mean” she squeezed my hand a little and nodded. “It’s okay to be afraid, my dear. Just don’t let that consume you and miss out on the things you actually deserve.”

Brandon was getting sleepy so Mrs. Willis had to say her goodbyes. She offered to do the dishes before going but I had it covered. She hugged me goodbye, and so did Brandon. I promised to take him out one of these days and I plan to make good with that promise. As soon as they were out I used the dishwasher for the first time,  and placed the leftover food inside the fridge and got ready for work. Usually work starts after lunch time for me, working for a global company the hours you pull really vary. I’m currently working a 1-10PM shift which just allows me to be able to get ready a little longer. There’s a work desk inside the room I housed myself in and set-up my essentials before running to take a shower. It’s midweek and usually work is slow but I really can’t complain. When everything was settled, I showered and got dressed and hopped into my chair with now a cup of tea. A ping instantly went into my chat, and it was Mae.

Mae: Hey beachbum, do you have a sec to chat?

Me: Sure, Boss. What do you need?

Mae: Let’s start with a work related one first. I need you to work with this client who’s finishing a project near the area you’re in now. Pierre wanted to lead it initially but we have so many things in the LT happening now that he couldn’t afford. You in?

Me: Yeah sure, can you send me the project details and I’ll get in touch with the client after.

Mae: Awesome. He’s a cutie by the way in case you’re interested.  

Me: Mae… I love you and all, as my boss and a good friend - but seriously? Shipping me with the client?

Mae: Hey, I may be your boss, but like you said. I’m also your friend. Anyway the client seems like he needs to finish the project within their deadline and needs a different perspective on things — I don’t know if we could offer it really, but Pierre told the secretary we’ll try.

Me: Sounds fair. What’s the other one?

Mae: Oh, Drew called me the other day - and possibly the whole team. I told them not to tell you. But I told him off. He was asking where you were and all. Eliza dropped by the office the other day when no one was around, thank God.

Me: Lol couldn’t imagine what would happen if she chanced upon you or Pierre.

Mae: Right? Might have asked for security to fetch her or some s**t. But I did tell Drew you were out on business indefinitely. That sounded like a reasonable excuse coming from me.

Me: It does. Thanks for covering my ass, boss. Anyway, what’s the name of the client?

Mae: I’ll send you the details shortly, I’m jumping into a call. Ttyl?

Me: Alright, thanks again Mae.

True enough, Mae sent me the details shortly but there wasn’t a name, just a contact number. It was an amazing design, modern, but classic. It blended well on the beachside overlooking the mountains. I usually don’t consult for these things and this is a big project compared to the ones I’m used to. Definitely, also out of my league. But, Mae trusts me enough to get this done. I downloaded it on my iPad and stood up from my desk hooking up the iPad to the TV to blow-up the plan and structure. That’s when I saw what the client meant. It lacked something. It blended well with the area through structure, but it lacked connection, to the beach and mountainside.