Testing The Waters

Chapter Fifty

"Babbie?"

Instantly recognizing the deep voice, I pause mid-stride in the middle of the parking lot. Beach blanket in hand, damp hair still dripping down my shirt, I turn towards Alex's Uncle Murray.

He's standing right outside the entrance to MurrMans, keys in hand. The restaurant doesn't open for a few hours, so I didn't think I would run into anyone.

I give him a tentative smile. "Hi."

He looks at the blanket in my hand before bringing his eyes back to mine. "You coming from the beach?"

"Yeah." I look back at my Jeep parked in the empty lot. "All the street parking was taken. I hope it's okay that I parked here."

"You're welcome to park here any time," Uncle Murray tells me.

"Thanks."

His brows lower, giving me a frown that closely resembles the ones I've seen from his nephew more times than I can count. "You weren't planning on going to the beach without stopping by to say hello, were you?"

"Uhm... no?"

Liar, liar.

Hi mouth tips up into a smile. "Are you hungry?"

"Uhm... yes?"

He barks out a laugh. "Well, come on then. I'll make you something."

I give him a small grin and follow him into the restaurant. While uncle Murray opens the restaurant, turning on all the lights and doing prep work in the kitchen, I make myself useful and start pulling down chairs that are currently positioned upside down on top of each table.

When I finish, Uncle Murry brings out a bucket of soapy water and a rag and, without saying anything, hands it to me before making his way back to the kitchen. I grin and start wiping off the tables, kind of liking that he didn't ask me or feel the need to be polite about it. Kind of like I was family.

When Uncle Murray asks me what I want to eat, I tell him to surprise me. I know anything he makes is going to be amazing. When he sets down the plate holding his signature SeaCow's Delight grilled-cheese sandwich, I grin up at him.

"I was kind of hoping you would make this," I tell him before taking a gigantic bite and instantly groaning over how good it is.

Sitting down next to me, he gives me a chastising look. "You're not still using mayonnaise, are you?"

I laugh and shake my head. "No. I honestly haven't made one in a while," I say, sounding a little sadder than I intended.

Uncle Murray nods. "Maybe you just need a little more time... you know, till you're ready to make one again." The look he gives me makes me think we're talking about way more than grilled-cheese sandwiches.

I clear my throat. "Where's Aunt Julie?"

He folds his arms across his chest, a small smile lining his mouth. "She's watching the grand babies today."

"You guys don't look old enough to have grandbabies."

He barks out a laugh. "Trust me. Were old. We'll be married forty years this June." He eyes my face and grins. "We married young."

"How did you guys meet?" I ask.

A wistful smile spreads across his face. "She was my high school sweetheart. We got married right after graduation."

I can't hide my surprise. "Was your family okay with it?"

He lets out a small laugh. "Not at all. Everyone said we were being young and reckless, rushing into things. Maybe we were, but I don't think that was a bad thing." He shrugs his shoulders.

My brows lower in question and he continues.

"I think young love can be one of the most honest forms of love there is. It might not always be wise or experienced, but it's also not restrained by the logic we learn as adults."

He studies me for a moment before the corner of his mouth tips up. "You don't agree?"

I lift a shoulder. "I don't know. I think the whole point of becoming wiser is to learn from our mistakes... to prevent the risk of getting hurt," I answer, but even as the words come out, they don't really hold the weight that they once would have.

Uncle Murry watches me, aged lines almost perfectly placed around his brilliant, caramel eyes. "Love isn't always logical, Babbie. Some of the greatest love stories in history lack the foundation of wisdom or reason, but it doesn't make them any less real or beautiful...

"But you're right. Love is a risk. It doesn't come with the promise of being painless or easy. And not everyone is willing to take that risk."

He gives me a sad, knowing smile. "The real challenge is finding someone who is worth the risk." Uncle Murray lowers his face, meeting my eyes. "And if you do find that person? Then, I'd tell you it's a gift and not to throw it away."

I look down at my lap, feeling my own lovesick heart squeeze inside of me, as everything within me wishes I had been brave enough to take that risk with Alex.

"What if it's too late?" My voice breaks. "What if I already threw it away?"

"There's only one way to find out," he says gently.

I peek up at him and, helpless to stop it, a tear drips down my face. "I really hurt him, Uncle Murray. He might not think I'm worth the risk anymore."

His eyes soften. "That's not something you or I can answer, my dear." He leans into me, grinning. "But for the record, I don't think you give my nephew enough credit."