Chapter 9

It didn't take them long to gather their things and start back up the trail. Sylvie was true to her word and was waiting for them once they arrived at the trailhead.

They decided to come back to St. John another day and do the bike ride around the island. The desire for a cold beer at Peaches was too great.

Sylvie pulled into a parking space on the street and they all got out of the Jeep.

"They have a back patio that opens up to the beach," Sylvie told them as they walked to the front door. "It's a great place to laze away the afternoon. You're on island time now."

Isabella followed Kelsey into the bar while Sylvie held the door open for them.

"Oh, this is perfect," Kelsey said.

"This is what I imagined the quintessential beach bar should look like," Isabella added.

"You must be Kelsey and Isabella," a woman said as she approached them with a wide smile. "I'm Liz. Welcome to Peaches."

Isabella saw Kelsey give her a quick warning look and she almost burst into laughter. "Hi, Liz. I'm Isabella and this is Kelsey," Isabella said. "We love the name of your bar and can't wait to experience it all."

"That's what I like to hear. Let's get you a table," Liz said, leading them to the back of the bar. "Do you want to sit on the patio?"

"How can we not?" Kelsey said. "That view is incredible."

Once they'd sat at a table where they had a view of both the inside of the bar and the beach, Liz asked, "What can I get you to drink?"

"A cold beer would be heavenly," Kelsey said.

"Me, too," Isabella agreed.

"I'll be right back," Liz said, walking to the long bar that took up the opposite wall of the space.

"Aren't you joining us?" Kelsey asked Sylvie.

"I can't right now. I'll pick you up and take you back to the ferry whenever you're ready. Text me." Sylvie smiled. "Enjoy."

Isabella sat back in her chair and sighed happily. Music played in the background and several tables were full of happy tourists. She could see Liz fill their glasses with beer on tap and figured the woman was in her mid-sixties.

"I bet she could tell us a few stories," Isabella commented.

Kelsey nodded. "Those beers look wonderful right about now."

Liz walked over with three beers on a tray. "I hope you don't mind if I join you for a bit."

"We'd love it," Isabella said.

They all took a deep drink from their glasses and Kelsey moaned. "Oh, that's good."

"Carmen told me a little about this grand plan of yours," Liz said.

Isabella raised her eyebrows. "Oh, it's Carmen's plan, too."

Liz chuckled. "I hope you'll make Peaches a regular stop on these trips."

"Oh, we will," Kelsey said, smiling at Isabella. "We just got here and I already love it."

"We have a very relaxed vibe, but there are times when we turn the music up and dance," Liz said.

"That sounds like fun," Isabella said.

"Oh, there's Alex," Liz said, waving at a woman inside the bar. "She's my business partner."

They sipped from their beers as Alex walked over to their table.

"Alex, this is Isabella and Kelsey," Liz said, introducing them.

"Oh, you're the women Carmen told us about. Welcome to Peaches," Alex said, sitting in an empty chair.

"That makes me wonder just what Carmen said about us," Kelsey said, looking over at Isabella.

Alex chuckled. "How did she explain it… Oh, you're highlighting island adventures to bring us more business."

"We hope so," Isabella said.

"Are most of these people tourists?" Kelsey asked.

"Oh, yeah," Liz said. "Just watch them. We get a lot of girls trip groups, like those two tables over there. Several of them are looking for a vacation fling in the islands."

"We aren"t the fling kind of people," Kelsey said.

Liz looked at Kelsey then at Isabella. "You're not together?"

"We are on this trip," Kelsey muttered.

Isabella chuckled. "Do we look like a couple?"

"Yeah, you do," Liz said. "Am I missing something?"

"We only met a couple of days ago," Kelsey said with a grin.

"We had dinner the first night we were here," Isabella explained, "and our server thought we were a couple, so it's kind of been a joke between us since then."

"Really? Well, you look like you belong together," Liz stated. "Some people you can tell, just by looking at them, that they're together. I can see the spark."

"The spark?" Kelsey scoffed. "It's been so long, I wouldn't know a spark if it singed me. I would think it was sunburn."

Isabella laughed. "We definitely have a spark, Kels." She turned to Liz. "There are friendship sparks as well."

"Absolutely. That's how Alex and I ended up as business partners," Liz said, smiling affectionately at Alex.

Isabella took a drink of her beer and watched as Liz studied her and Kelsey.

"Are you both moms?" Liz asked.

"You can tell that, too!" Isabella exclaimed.

"Yep. I've seen a lot of people pass through here." Liz smiled. "I hope you two will stick around."

"Thank you, Liz," Isabella said. She leaned a little closer. "Is this a gay bar?"

"Bella!" Kelsey exclaimed.

Liz and Alex both laughed. "The name kind of implies that," Liz said. "But we welcome everyone and people seem to feel that when they walk through our door."

"I can see us spending a lot of time here," Isabella said, grinning at Kelsey. "Maybe someone will catch your eye, Kels."

"Bella," Kelsey said with a warning tone.

Isabella chuckled. Her gaze was drawn to a woman who had walked into the bar. "I could see you with someone like her."

They all followed Isabella's gaze and Alex chuckled. "I hope not, because she's my wife."

Isabella saw Kelsey take a deep breath and groan. "I'm sorry, Alex, but your wife is hot."

"Don't I know it." Alex grinned.

"Hey babe, they"re playing our song," the woman said as she walked onto the patio and held out her hand.

Alex immediately got up and they went to the small dance floor and began to move to the music.

Liz chuckled. "Every song is their song. I'll introduce you to Riley when they come back."

Isabella noticed how Kelsey was watching Alex and Riley dance. She had a smile on her face, but also a look of longing.

"Kelsey, dance with me," Isabella said, standing up.

"What?"

"This is a beautiful song, we're in a beautiful place, so let's dance. Let's be beautiful, too."

"Okay," Kelsey said hesitantly.

Isabella reached for her hand and led them onto the dance floor. She put her arms around Kelsey's neck and smiled up at her. Isabella felt Kelsey tentatively put her hands on her hips.

"Come on, Kels," Isabella said. "We're a couple."

Kelsey chuckled and Isabella felt her relax as she pulled Isabella a little closer. "It's all part of the adventure," Kelsey said softly.

It had been a long time since Isabella had danced with anyone, but she felt comfortable in Kelsey's arms. She looked into Kelsey's eyes and smiled.

"What are you thinking, Bella?"

Kelsey had a way of asking that question just when Isabella was thinking of her. "I was just thinking…"

"Yes?"

"I don't know how those other women let you get away," Isabella said honestly.

Kelsey sighed. "Because they weren't right for me."

Isabella nodded and let her hands fall over Kelsey's shoulders. She leaned in and could smell the salt and sand from their beach adventures. Then she realized she'd never danced with a woman before and yet it felt like the most natural thing to be in Kelsey's arms.

The song ended and Alex smiled at them. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Riley."

"Welcome to Peaches," Riley said. "It's nice to meet you both."

They walked back over to the table and all sat down.

"Let's have another beer," Liz said.

"I'll get them," Alex said, squeezing Riley's shoulder before leaving the table.

"How are you enjoying the islands?" Riley asked. "What have you done so far?"

"Well, yesterday we got drunk on the beach outside our bungalows," Isabella said.

"Tipsy!" Kelsey corrected her.

Isabella laughed. "Okay, tipsy. Today we snorkeled at Honeymoon Beach and saw the most beautiful fish."

"And a turtle," Kelsey added excitedly.

"If you'd like a little privacy, Alex and I know a spot at the park with a private beach," Riley said.

"They're not together," Liz stated.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I just assumed," Riley said.

"It's okay," Kelsey said with a chuckle. "We've been together since we landed at the airport; however, I'm the only gay one in our little couple."

Isabella shrugged. "I'm divorced and we're both single moms."

Riley nodded. "Carmen mentioned that one of you creates websites."

Kelsey held up her hand. "I do the websites. Bella is the brand expert."

"I'd love to get your take on our website," Riley said. "I try to help with the business."

"I'd be happy to look at it," Kelsey said.

"My computer is at the bar," Riley said, raising her eyebrows.

"Let's take a look," Kelsey said.

Isabella watched them walk away and couldn't keep her eyes off Kelsey. A few minutes ago they'd been dancing, much like Alex and Riley. Isabella wasn't sure what got into her, but when she saw the rather forlorn look on Kelsey's face, she hadn't thought, she'd just acted. At the time all she could think about was putting a smile back on her friend's face.

To be honest she wasn't thinking, and when she put her arms around Kelsey's neck, a wave of doubt washed over her. But when she felt Kelsey's body relax under her hands, all the nervousness went away. Kelsey said it was all part of the adventure, but she had no idea how true her statement was to Isabella.

What was it about Kelsey that was so easy one minute, then had her heart racing the next? One thing she was sure of was that she couldn't wait to spend another day with Kelsey, discovering the islands, but also she was finding out things about herself. Things she wasn't even sure she could name. Things she'd never thought of until a nice woman helped her with her luggage.

"I can see you two together," Liz said quietly.

Isabella looked over at her and widened her eyes. "Kelsey is great, but we live in different parts of the country. And besides, we just met."

"That doesn't matter."

Isabella sighed and looked over at Liz. "I've never been with a woman."

Liz scoffed. "I hadn't either. There's always a first time."

Isabella looked back over at Kelsey where she was animatedly talking with Riley. "Kelsey isn't a first. She's a forever," she said softly.

"Come back before your trip is over and spend more time here," Liz said.

"Oh, we will," Isabella said. "But it won't make any difference with me and Kelsey."

"Just come back and dance. The islands have a way of giving you a different view."

Isabella looked back at Liz and smiled. "We'll see."

"No, Isabella. I already see. Maybe in time, you will, too."