Heritage of Light

Chapter 4

Kaelie stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom. Her olive-green dress matched her eye colour perfectly. She carefully adjusted one of the dark curls surrounding her face. Her face had become dotted with freckles over the last week. She had never had freckles like this before. Then again, she had never spent a week away before. The vacation had gone by in a blur. The last day had come and she could not imagine going back home the day after. She had gone snorkelling, seen amazing architecture and learned she could get a tan. But there were still so many things she wanted to do. The bunch of catalogues were still in their hotel room with half of the excursions still waiting to be experienced. And then there was the reason she was all dressed up. It was her seventeenth birthday. They had already eaten a fabulous lunch and Chloe's father, James had booked a table at the finest restaurant in the city for the occasion. Kaelie had insisted they did not celebrate, that allowing her to come was the best gift she could ever have wished for. James had countered, saying if not for her, then because it would be their last night before going home.

She swiped her pink lipstick quickly over her lips and picked up her bag. Angie, Chloe and her parents were waiting in the hotel lobby. They were all finely dressed. James in a suit, the girls in dresses. James had kept the location of the restaurant a secret, leaving her nerves tingling with excitement. The taxi arrived only a minute later. The restaurant was not far away, but James insisted they'd take a taxi to the restaurant and use the opportunity to walk the food off afterwards.

The taxi took them up a steep hill to the small top they had watched from the beach all week. It followed the road over the top and continued until it reached the oceanside were cliffs headed straight down into the ocean. On one of the cliffs by the bay sat the restaurant. Chloe's parents had booked a table out back. The restaurant overlooked the bay, the city centre and the ocean where the sun was about to dip below the horizon. The sky was coloured in the deepest orange and yellow. Kaelie did not know how Chloe's parents managed to book a table for sunset, but was grateful they had. She could not help but stare at the amazing view in front of her.

She tried to take in the rest of the restaurant. Glass railing separated them from the open air. The walls were covered in dark glass panels and small fires burned in the corners. The table matched the dark glass panels, and the chairs were of expensive leather. Kaelie had rarely been out to eat with her parents. Her mother and stepfather preferred eating at home. She had been out for occasional birthdays, but even then, the restaurants had been nothing like this. Then again, she was from a small town with few restaurants to choose from.

Kaelie continued to watch the sun move slowly towards the horizon, the colours ever changing. Occupied by her own thoughts she didn't notice the approaching waiter before he landed a menu right in front of her. She looked up and felt her cheeks warming instantly. The waiter was only a few years older than her, his skin sun kissed. He was wearing a black, tight fitted t-shirt, dark trousers and a black apron. Dark tousled hair reached to the middle of his ears.

"Can I get you started with something to drink?" he said. The moment he took his eyes of her, she averted her eyes to look down into the table. Too late, she realised that the others had already ordered. She looked up, straight into the deepest green she had ever seen and realised he was staring at her, waiting for her to order.

"Can I have a 7up please?" She said and looked at Angie as the waiter went to collect their drinks. Angie had that quirky smile that said; I am laughing at you and you know why. At least Angie seemed to be enjoying herself even if it was at her expense. Kaelie had always envied how easy Angie and Chloe surrounded themselves with boys. She could not help but feel awkward and out of place. On the other end of the table, Chloe seemed to be completely oblivious to the situation.