July

Escapes and Lemonade

When it finally came time to visit Isla's sister, Kate, I was actually pretty excited to escape the city for a while. A month in Maine was very much welcomed. We're going to be there all of July.
The 7 hour trip to Bailey's Island began with excited chatter about the wedding. Isla is very much a perfectionist. She wants a big church wedding with a big white dress, but I on the other hand would prefer something much simpler and maybe even outside. I lost that argument early on with a "I'm the bride, it's my big day." Which was strange because I was under the impression that I was getting married too and that it would also be a big day for me. Isla soon fell asleep and would be asleep the rest of the trip, leaving me alone with my thoughts, which was dangerous in itself.
God, I hope I did the right thing. We've been together for 10 years. It was about time we get married, right? At least that's what my mom has been saying for the past couple of years. I looked over to my right. Her head was resting against the window, her hand propped up her chin. I love her.
We got to the island around dinner time. Kate's house was a big old whitewashed farmhouse with a big front porch and a considerable sized garden. It sat right on a rocky edge overlooking the ocean.

"Isla! Adam!" She brought us both into a big hug. She helped us with our bags and asked about the ride up here.
"It was good. Not much traffic. this one was out the whole way up though." That earned me a shove in the shoulder.
"Shut up!" she smiled.

Isla and I sat on the front porch swing and looked out to the water. Kate sat in a big blue Adirondack chair. We sipped on lemonade and caught up with each other's lives. I like Kate, she always seems genuine and warm. It was obvious the two were sisters. Both tall and slender. Both had defined facial structures. But Kate's hair is lighter and her eyes match the water her house sits just feet away from. Kate was a couple years older. Isla had brown hair that rivaled her dark eyes. And it was clear Isla was a city girl. She laughed with a socialite's ease and offered guests fine wine. Kate laughed loudly and happily and offered her guests freshly squeezed lemonade and anything they wanted from her immense vegetable garden.

While the two talked I watched the ocean collide with the rocky shore and breathed in the salty sea air. It was night and day compared to the smell of gas and street hot dogs that I experienced daily in the city. It was then that I noticed her for the very first time. Climbing among the rocks with a burlap bag. Not once did she look up to break the concentration she had. But then her face lit up with a small smile. She picked up something small and green and dropped it in her bag.
"Oh!" Kate said, noticing the strange red head, "Rory!" she yelled to the girl. Rory looked up and gave a smile bigger than life. She waved back.
"Hey!" she hollered over the sound of the waves.
"What's she doing out there?" Isla squinted her eyes.
"She's collecting sea glass." Kate answered.
"Why?" Isla asked in an almost judging manner.
"She makes jewelry out of it." Kate explained, "Like this," She pulled a necklace from where it slipped in under the neck of her sweater. It was art really, and adorned with blue and green sea glass.
I watched the girl navigate the slippery rocks like a pro. She looked so at peace. She looked like I felt. Swinging on a front porch by the sea next to my love, I was nothing if not at peace.
"Do a lot of people out here do that?"Isla pressed on.
"You see them mainly in touristy shops, but I don't know, I guess I'm partial to Rory's stuff. She really is an artist." Kate stood up, "Well, I'm hungry. Any ideas for dinner?"
"Let's go out. Somewhere locally famous." Isla replied.
"Seaway's it is!"

Seaways's, as it turns out, is a place situated on a peninsula, near the bridge you come in on. Known for its lobster and seafood, it's a favorite among locals and tourists alike and a convenient 20 minute walk from Kate's. "We're not in any rush," she said as if she were trying to justify walking.

The place was pretty busy when we got there. We walked through a bar and past a gift shop to get to the main dining room. While passing the little shop that seemed almost like an afterthought, I noticed some sea glass necklaces, earrings, and even key chains. I wonder if they're Rory's. Our booth overlooked the small island harbor. Buoys and sailboats bobbed in the water. Sitting on the table were place mats that also acted as step by step instruction on the proper was to eat a lobster, which we all ordered. I'm still having trouble getting over what we spent on dinner.

"You can't live here for a month without having lobster at least once. It's a cliche, I know, but still true." Kate said. His was more directed to me. I grew up in Brooklyn and barely ventured any farther than jersey. Isla grew up in Maine and moved to the city when she was 18. She, although now more city than anything else, knows her way around a lobster.
"So Kate," Isla began, " We actually have some pretty big news. We were going to wait till mom and Nate got here but-"she smiled. Kate clasped her hand around her mouth and held in a huge smile. She knew what was coming. "Adam and I are getting married." Kate's yells of joy got the attention of the entire restaurant.
"MY LITTLE SISTERS GETTING MARRIED!" She yelled. A huge smile across her usually quite calm face.

On the way out of Seaway's I stopped in the little gift shop and bought one of Rory's sea glass key chains. This would be my one souvenir of this trip. We pulled Kate away from the clerk who she, no surprise, knew. It seemed as though she knew everyone in the little bar in the front, too. And that was the beauty of the island. The hospitality of of stranger tourists was the same hospitality shown towards old friends.
On our trip back to the house we walked by a little garage like structure. The big garage door was slid open and the bright light lit up the buggy and humid evening air and onto the gravel road. Inside sat the little red head from earlier. She was crouched over a workbench as she worked meticulously on a wiry necklace embellished with brown and blue pieces of glass. She raised her head towards us as we walked by and gave a little wave along with a smile.
"Just getting back from dinner?" She called over to Kate.
"How'd you know?" Kate answered with a playful smile. She walked up to the opening of the little studio. Isla and I close behind.
"This is my sister, Isla, and her fiance," she smiled a little when she said the word, "Adam." Rory wiped her hands on her apron. It was obvious that she was painting before working on the piece she was now. She shook each of our hands.
"Nice to me you." All three of us said in an orchestra of politeness.
"They're staying with me all of July."
"Great! That means you're gonna be here for the fireworks."
"Where are they at?" I asked just to give me an excuse to talk to this girl.
"Seaway's."
"Seems to be the place of choice on this island."I said. She laughed just as easily as Isla, just a little more carefree.
"I usually watch from the bridge. Best spot in town. You guys should come with me!"
"That'd be fun." I said.
"We're meeting here then?" Kate asked.
"Sure. We can eat dinner then walk over."
"See you then!" Kate said as we walked back to the road.
"Bye." I waved.
"Again, nice meeting you!" Isla called back to her.
"See you later guys!" The red head responded looking happy as ever that she didn't have to go to the fireworks alone.

Once back at the house, we sat in the kitchen, played cards and sipped on gin and tonics. The next couple of days were spent exploring the island. We got ice cream cones two days in a row at neighboring Orr's Island's candy store. Kate also brought us to Land's End which was a massive gift shop at the very end of Bailey's. There's a fisherman statue and more rocky coastline. We sat on the big blue Adirondack chairs that lined the stores porch, and relaxed, enjoying the uninterrupted view of the water. That's how we spent our 4th of July. Tomorrow is the fireworks with Rory. Sitting there completely relaxed made me sad to think that eventually I would have to go back to the hustle and bustle of the city.