Teegan
It's late afternoon before we make it back to the house, but the kids are full of ice cream and happy and sweaty. It's that warm, thick air where it feels like I have sand everywhere, too. Mom is already home and having a glass of white wine, sitting on the back deck. She looks much more relaxed than I've seen her all week and that makes me happy. The kids run to her and hug her right away.
"We walked so far and my legs got tired," Josie says right away. "But Teegan carried me on her back."
"Did she?" Mom asks, smiling at me.
"Yep. And we got ice cream and it was yummy," the little girl goes on. Her hair is falling out of her pony tail and her cheeks are red.
"And we saw the boats!" Oscar shouts, and I notice he's got chocolate smeared on his cheek.
"I'm glad you guys had fun together," Mom goes on, then to me says, "Thanks for taking them."
"No problem. How was your meeting?" I ask, walking up the steps of the deck.
Oscar grabs a couple buckets off the deck and goes down to the sand, and Josie follows him.
"It went well. Just about a loan, for the business." She says this casually and then calls out to the kids, "Stay close to the deck, please."
"We know!" Oscar yells back.
I'm just about to go into the house to get some water and relax a bit when my mom stops me again.
"Oh, Teeg, how was the party?"
My stomach bottoms out right away. Firstly, she called me Teeg. She called me that when I was little. And secondly, I don't want to lie or keep things from her, but I will not go into details about what happened at the party. Forcing a smile, I step closer to the house.
"Oh, it was fun. I had one beer that was pretty gross and walked back. I got home before 11P.M," I tell her, because I know that's what she wants to hear.
"I do not care if you drink or stay out later than that, Teegan. I know you'll be responsible," she says, and then smiles again. "Did you meet some more of the kids who will be around this summer?"
My mind goes right to the mysterious guy, but I try to shake it away and nod at my mom. "Yeah. Lola's friends seem nice."
"Good. Great."
I know my mom is friends with Luke's mom. I know that other teenagers also work at the rental hut, I just don't know who, yet. Everything is still new and unknown to me. I do know that I have to keep some things from my mom, because it's a tiny place and the only way I'll survive is if my mom thinks I'm having at least an okay time.
My dad calls me that evening, and it's only the second time I've heard his voice in over a week. I didn't realize that I missed him, really, until now.
"How's everything?" he wants to know, his voice trying hard to sound cheerful. I know him very well and I can tell he's faking it.
"It's good," I say quickly, fiddling with the dangling things on the blanket, on my bed.
"Good. You and your mom getting along?" he asks. "I figured normally you'd be on your way home from there by now, since it's been a week, so I thought I'd check in."
Right. It's weird, though, that the week really flew by and I am looking forward to staying longer. I never thought I'd be thinking this. There is so much more than I want to do, I guess.
"Yes, we're good," I answer and then think about what else I want to tell him. He doesn't need to know that I'll be working. He only really needs to know that I'm safe and happy.
"Alright, good. The kids miss you. I miss you," he says, and sighs.
"Tell them and Jenna I miss them too. And we can video chat soon, maybe?" I suggest.
"Yes, great. Let me know if you need anything, okay?" He sounds desperate for me to keep in touch, so I promise myself, and him, that I will do just that.
"I will, Dad."
Once again, I can't sleep that night. It was a good day. I talked to Kiara and my dad, and spent time with the kids. But laying in that bed, tossing and turning to get comfortable, is not working. I try reading one of the books I brought, but I keep reading the same line over and over. Finally, when my phone says it's 12:06A.M., I slip out of bed and grab a hoodie from the drawer. I try to be as quiet as possible as I go down the stairs and towards the back door. My feet are bare as I sneak outside and down the deck, to the sand.
Right away, I feel more relaxed. The warm sand in my toes actually helps somehow, and the soft sound of the water ebbing and flowing. It's unbelievable how close to this large body of water I am. I take a few pictures of my feet in the dark, even though it's dark, and then start walking. This time, I'm going away from the pier. I know there's no much this way once the beach ends, so I won't be going far. Ten minutes later I turn back and realize I'm yawning. That's a good sign. The fact that I can go outside and walk down the beach when I can't sleep is crazy to me, but I really like it. The sounds and the warmth of the air here is so different. So welcoming. I have no idea how the rest of the summer will go, but I do know it's going to be okay. Everything.
*
A few days later, I realize that I need tampons. I haven't spent more than seven days here in my teenager years and somehow I've always avoided my period while here. I didn't pack any tampons because - well, stores - but it's so very obvious that the tiny store down by the restaurant has only one brand and one size and that's not how this works.
My mom's been out most of the day and the kids are at daycare, so once I'm back from my walk, I call her. This is so wild, to me. It's my mother, but we've never talked to this. She hasn't been in my life regularly enough since my period started six years ago. I'm pretty open about this kind of stuff in general, because, well, it's normal. My dad and Jenna always know when it's happening. But now I have to be up front with my and it freaks me out.
"Hey, Teeg, I'm just heading to grab some groceries in the city, I'll be back in about an hour," she answers, telling me her plans without me even asking. "What's up?"
"Oh, um, actually, I need something," I say, awkward as hell. "From the store."
"Sure, of course. I'll be there in a few. What do you need?" I can tell she's got me on speaker and she's driving.
"Um, well, I am going to be starting my... you know... period, soon. Like, tomorrow," I manage to say. My face must be so red.
"Oh! Heavens, we haven't talked about that, have we? Well it's a good thing you called now. Anything specific you'd like? Pads, tampons? I mean, I can send some pictures of what they have when I get there-"
Oh, god.
"No, it's fine. Just a box of tampons. Um... you know... different sizes."
"Yes, that's a good idea. Alright. Hey, would you be able to grab the kids from the daycare? She wants to close early today and I thought I'd make it there by 3P.M., but... well it's already 2P.M. I can text you the address, it's only around the corner." She isn't really giving me a choice, but it's not like I'm busy doing anything else.
"Yeah, of course. I can go whenever," I answer.
"Thanks, Teeg. Okay, you can get them in thirty minutes? I'll text you now. Bye."
I hang up and see the address pop up a minute later. After I go to the kitchen and eat a banana muffin from a container on the counter, I put on my sandals and head out. It's a bit cooler weather today, but the sun is shining. Pushing on my sunglasses, I go around to the front of the house and start walking.
My phone buzzes in my pocket before I even get to the main road.
Hey. It's Lola. I'm in Avila today and just left Riss' house. I was going to come see the kids. My dad's not answering his phone.
Woah, okay. Lola is texting me now? It's been four days since the party where she basically ignored me and now she's texting me. I was not expecting that at all. I know there's no point in encouraging drama between us. We should get along, or at least be civil towards each other. I don't have any reason to not like her, and vise versa.
Hey. I'm actually just picking the kids up from daycare. Your dad had to push his flight back and should b home 2nite. Do u want to meet us at the house in like 20 mins? I send back as I continue walking down the road.
I'm pretty sure Lola and I will not become BFFs this summer, and that's okay. We are step sisters and we share siblings and parents, sort of. I will be as friendly as I can be, assuming she does the same.
I stop in front of the house that my mom said is the daycare. There's a sign in front that says Carol's Kids and just as I'm walking up to the door, it flies open. Four small children come running down the steps, followed by an older woman - I'm assuming Carol? She sees me and smiles big, her white-grey hair falling over her shoulder.
"You must be Teegan! Welcome!"
I smile back at her as Oscar wraps his arms around my legs. "Hi Teeeegan!"
I ruffle his hair a bit and say to Carol, "Yeah, hi. I'm just picking up Oscar and Josie."
"Your mom called to let me know. You tell her they were great today, alright?" Carol tells me, coming closer, and then she hands me two small back packs.
I take them and sling them over my arm. Josie hugs my legs, too, and grins up at me. "This my sister, Teegan."
I realize a second later that she's telling one of the other little girls this. The other girl smiles shyly and waves at me, so I wave back.
"Bye guys," Carols calls over to us as we start walking back to the road, to go home.
They talk my ear off all the way back - telling me how they did a craft today and ate pancakes for lunch - and Oscar notices the white Audi in the driveway before I do.
"Lola's here!" he yells, and Josie squeals after him.
Yes. Lola's here. And I have no idea how any of this is going to go.