Free to Love Read Online Free
Author: Sydell Voeller
Lumber about a beach cleanup. It’s in a couple of weeks, I think.”
“Yes, I know. Trudy Conner, my boss at the aquarium, is the one who put the poster up. Some time ago, she volunteered to be the zone captain for this part of the coast, but she had to resign because of unexpected family obligations. I told her I’d be more than happy to take her place.” She reached into the first of two brown paper bags filled with fresh fruit, vegetables, pasta, and assorted cheeses, the staples of her typical vegetarian diet. Silently she opened the refrigerator door and placed a brick of Colby cheese on the top shelf, while he hunched down to stash a five-pound bag of potatoes into a low cupboard.
“Gosh, Jo,” he said after a long moment’s pause. “This was only your first day on the job. Sure you want to take on all this extra work too?”
“No problem. I like to challenge myself.”
“So what’ll you have to do?”
“For starters, I’ll have to contact the garbage haulers to coordinate the collection sites. Then I must talk with the beach captains in my zone and make sure they understand about setting up the registration sites, checking in volunteers, tallying the collection data cards—that sort of thing.” She drew in a deep breath. “Last but not least is the publicity, probably the most significant part of all.”
“Meaning, undoubtedly, you’ll have to get out the word to the television and radio stations, plus the local and state newspapers.”
“Yes, but thank goodness, I’m not working alone.” The refrigerator door gave a muffled thud as she shut it. “I’m only one of many who’ve volunteered on local, state and national levels. Only problem is, it seems many people are still in the dark about the importance of it all. There’s never enough volunteers and the problem is especially critical in Southport.”
“Why?”
“Because of the town’s recent population explosion and popularity with tourists. Our marine wildlife is dying. And if something isn’t done, our beaches here will be buried beneath mountains of trash.” She pointed to a stack of flyers on the counter. “I’ve got to start getting these out as soon as possible.”
“Let me help you.”
Not answering, she wrenched her eyes away from his, struggling to ignore how his nearness disturbed her. It was uncanny... and scary. Every time she looked at him, she could only see Kyle.
***
He noticed the sudden shadow darken her face. He saw that desperate, panicked look in her eyes. Was she feeling overwhelmed with the task she’d taken on? Or was she perhaps still thinking about the dead sea lion?
“What is it, Jo? Is something wrong?”
“Has... has anyone ever told you how much you look like Kyle?” she finally asked in barely a whisper.
“Yes, all the time.” Her reaction caught him totally by surprise. He flinched, his voice ragged. “I’m sorry, Jo. I never considered that. Never for a minute. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”
***
She turned to him again and said haltingly, “You needn’t apologize, Austin. I’m the one who should be sorry. It was selfish of me. Lately, it seems I’m so into myself, preoccupied with my feelings. But I can’t help it , a small voice inside of her cried. Especially when you show up like this practically out of the blue. And here we are already, putting away groceries together like Kyle and I used to do.
He brushed her cheek with the inside of his thumb. His touch was gentle, his skin smooth, clearly the hand of a man who spent more time at fundraisers than engaging in physical labor, she thought. Was his insistence he stay to tackle the necessary repairs really appropriate?
“You’re not selfish,” he said. “Feelings are feelings and not to be judged.”
“Yes, but I’m not the only who’s hurting. You lost Kyle too. And what about your parents?”
With furrowed brow, he nodded towards the breakfast nook, a U-shaped green upholstered booth
“Yes, I know. Trudy Conner, my boss at the aquarium, is the one who put the poster up. Some time ago, she volunteered to be the zone captain for this part of the coast, but she had to resign because of unexpected family obligations. I told her I’d be more than happy to take her place.” She reached into the first of two brown paper bags filled with fresh fruit, vegetables, pasta, and assorted cheeses, the staples of her typical vegetarian diet. Silently she opened the refrigerator door and placed a brick of Colby cheese on the top shelf, while he hunched down to stash a five-pound bag of potatoes into a low cupboard.
“Gosh, Jo,” he said after a long moment’s pause. “This was only your first day on the job. Sure you want to take on all this extra work too?”
“No problem. I like to challenge myself.”
“So what’ll you have to do?”
“For starters, I’ll have to contact the garbage haulers to coordinate the collection sites. Then I must talk with the beach captains in my zone and make sure they understand about setting up the registration sites, checking in volunteers, tallying the collection data cards—that sort of thing.” She drew in a deep breath. “Last but not least is the publicity, probably the most significant part of all.”
“Meaning, undoubtedly, you’ll have to get out the word to the television and radio stations, plus the local and state newspapers.”
“Yes, but thank goodness, I’m not working alone.” The refrigerator door gave a muffled thud as she shut it. “I’m only one of many who’ve volunteered on local, state and national levels. Only problem is, it seems many people are still in the dark about the importance of it all. There’s never enough volunteers and the problem is especially critical in Southport.”
“Why?”
“Because of the town’s recent population explosion and popularity with tourists. Our marine wildlife is dying. And if something isn’t done, our beaches here will be buried beneath mountains of trash.” She pointed to a stack of flyers on the counter. “I’ve got to start getting these out as soon as possible.”
“Let me help you.”
Not answering, she wrenched her eyes away from his, struggling to ignore how his nearness disturbed her. It was uncanny... and scary. Every time she looked at him, she could only see Kyle.
***
He noticed the sudden shadow darken her face. He saw that desperate, panicked look in her eyes. Was she feeling overwhelmed with the task she’d taken on? Or was she perhaps still thinking about the dead sea lion?
“What is it, Jo? Is something wrong?”
“Has... has anyone ever told you how much you look like Kyle?” she finally asked in barely a whisper.
“Yes, all the time.” Her reaction caught him totally by surprise. He flinched, his voice ragged. “I’m sorry, Jo. I never considered that. Never for a minute. Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”
***
She turned to him again and said haltingly, “You needn’t apologize, Austin. I’m the one who should be sorry. It was selfish of me. Lately, it seems I’m so into myself, preoccupied with my feelings. But I can’t help it , a small voice inside of her cried. Especially when you show up like this practically out of the blue. And here we are already, putting away groceries together like Kyle and I used to do.
He brushed her cheek with the inside of his thumb. His touch was gentle, his skin smooth, clearly the hand of a man who spent more time at fundraisers than engaging in physical labor, she thought. Was his insistence he stay to tackle the necessary repairs really appropriate?
“You’re not selfish,” he said. “Feelings are feelings and not to be judged.”
“Yes, but I’m not the only who’s hurting. You lost Kyle too. And what about your parents?”
With furrowed brow, he nodded towards the breakfast nook, a U-shaped green upholstered booth
Readers choose
Linda McDonald
Anne George
P J Brooke
Dean Edwards
Richard Estep
Cathryn Williams
James Twining
K. T. Hanna
Red Garnier
Doreen Owens Malek