Big thanks to my friend Shannen for the location inspiration. Follow her? @SassyPants
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Chapter 2: March 15, 2011
St. Maarten. For a small island, I cannot figure out this map to save my life. It's my first day here since buying a house so it'd be great to find my new home instead of standing here on the side of the road leaning on my car. Okay, let's see ...
"If I am here, and my house is there ... ugh"
"Hey, there!" I nearly dropped my map at the sudden sound of someone else's voice. "Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you."
"It's alright, I just ..." I looked up and lost myself in the breathtaking eyes of this stranger.
"You just ... what?" I can't even seem to gather my words. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah ... yeah I'm just lost." She stuck her hand out to me.
"Nice to meet you, lost. I'm Riley." I giggled a bit before shaking her hand.
"Marie."
"Ah, now that's a much nicer name than 'Lost.' Where are you trying to get, Marie?" I pointed to my destination on the map. "You wouldn't happen to be the new girl, would ya?"
"The new girl?"
"Yeah, there've been rumors of an American moving into a house on that block. Are you her?"
"I suppose I am."
"Blimey. And here I thought you were a tourist. I live 3 houses down from you!"
"Really? Well that's lucky ... I could give you a ride if you navigate?"
"Sounds like a plan to me. Let's get going!" She made her way to the other side of my car and I couldn't help but stare. She is beyond gorgeous. "Marie?" I really need to stop doing that.
"Oh, sorry!" I unlocked the doors and we got into the car.
"Okay, you go straight on this street." Feels good to be back on the road without worrying about where the hell I am. "So, American, yeah?"
"Mhm. I'm gonna guess you're a native?"
"Born and raised! What made you move down here?"
"I needed to get away from where I was and this seemed to be the easiest choice."
"Well, welcome to the island. Make a left up here."
"Were you gonna walk the whole way home?"
"Yes. I'm very physically active so I've got to keep in shape. I typically walk everywhere."
"That's a healthy way to live."
"I like to think so. Another left."
"Thanks for doing this, by the way. I would have been stuck forever."
"No problem. Like a good neighbor, Riley is there!" I couldn't help but laugh at her corny State Farm joke. "I watch a lot of American television. Turn right, this is our street." I pulled up to my house after Riley offered to help bring my stuff in.
"You really don't have to do this."
"Nonsense, I have nothing else to do." She grabbed most of the bags from my trunk.
"Are you sure you can handle all that?"
"Yeah, this is nothing. Open the door, would ya?" We walked in the front door to see the sloppy job done by the movers. "Wow. That's a lot of furniture."
