Page 7 of Coastal Rewind

She had the most gorgeous dirty blonde hair that was always braided or pulled into a messy bun with pieces hanging everywhere. Her nose was dusted in freckles from the sun and her olive skin was tinted a little red from sunburn.

The first time I met her last summer, I was starstruck by how gorgeous she was, but I learned quickly that the little dove was completely unattainable. I traveled with the Kellys to Lake Powell for a long weekend where Ryleigh had chartered a house boat she lived on for a month.

Nolan explained to me that she was a bit of a free spirit, always traveling around the country and never putting down roots. Any thoughts I had of hitting on her died then. I already stressed enough about traveling for work and having someone there for MJ. I couldn’t also have a woman in my life who rejected stability.

MJ needed consistency. I needed consistency.

Not that I was looking for one, or in any place to have a relationship.

I walked over to where the rest of the Kelly siblings were sitting at a table and sank into one of the empty chairs. MJ came running up to me and launched himself on my lap.

“Dad, Dad, Dad, did you see Ryleigh is here?” He was bouncing on my lap from excitement.

“Yeah. I saw, bud.”

“She told me she just got home from climbing one of the biggest mountains in the whole country. Isn’t that so cool? She’s going to show me pictures.”

“Very cool,” I said, glancing over at Ryleigh who was looking over at MJ with the softest smile. She had such a kindness about her and MJ was utterly obsessed. Every time he’d seen her, she regaled him with her adventures and showed pictures of places that were breathtaking.

It made me happy he got so excited, but it also made me feel like I was failing him by not showing him those places myself. One day, when my body decided it could no longer handle the demands of baseball, I promised to take him on a trip around the world to make up for all the adventures we missed out on.

three

Ryleigh

I looked down at the little boy who was passed out in my lap and ran my fingers through his hair. MJ had asked to see the pictures of my most recent trip to Mount Whitney in Northern California when his eyes started to get droopy and he drifted to sleep in my arms.

After the baby shower, we all congregated back at the Malibu house for a beach bonfire and some drinks. Mason wasn’t going to come, but Nolan did what Nolan does best and he didn’t take no for an answer. After ten minutes of begging and all of us insisting we wanted MJ to tag along, he dropped his shoulders and agreed.

I assume he thought having this little angel around was annoying for us, but we loved the little ball of energy. He and Nolan were cut from the same cloth.

I moved to stand as Mason walked up to where I was sitting with MJ.

“I can take him.” He reached out.

“I really don’t mind. If you want, he can rest in one of the rooms here until you’re ready to leave.”

MJ nuzzled his little nose into my neck and sighed. His breath tickled my skin, eliciting a giggle to bubble out of me.

“Nah, I think it’s time to go home.”

I nodded and followed him out to his SUV, attempting to not wake MJ as we transferred him into his booster seat. Once he was buckled in, I backed away and Mason shut the rear passenger door softly. He turned to face me and gave me a shy smile.

“I’m sorry he’s obsessed with you.” He chuckled with a slight shake of his head.

“I really don’t mind,” I said honestly.

I didn’t mind; I loved kids. I loved retelling my stories and seeing the looks on their faces when they learned I lived in a moving house. I loved how full of life they were because the mean world hadn’t dug their claws in yet.

“Right…well, thanks.” He gestured his head toward where my van sat parked in front of the house. “Are you off on your next adventure after this?”

I nodded looking down at my hands. Something about Mason Saxley made my stomach feel like it was floating. It was hard to look him directly in the eyes, and when I did I wanted to giggle like a schoolgirl who had just met her celebrity crush.

“Yeah, on Monday I’m heading toward Nevada, and from there…who knows.”

This was how I worked. I rarely knew where I was heading. I just wandered in the direction of a friend and took local recommendations until I moved on. Occasionally, an outdoor resort or travel agency would book me to review their properties on my blog, but other than that I floated around, drinking in the freedom of living a life completely untethered.

“You don’t strike me as a casino girl,” he said, his voice taking a sarcastic tone.