Eve and TC returned from sailing, and were sitting on the porch, looking at the stars.

" Penny for your thoughts?", TC asked.

" Oh, I was just thinking about how much I'm loving this trip."

" You are?"

" Of course I am, why would you ask?"

" I don't know. Sometimes, you've seemed like you didn't like it here. I worried."

" You don't need to. This vacation has meant so much to me, TC. It's….it's shown me what I could have?"

" What do you mean?"

Eve wanted to tell him about growing up poor, with roaches. That she never knew Black people like this existed, but, she knew she couldn't go there. So, she decided to tell him another truth.

" I've been so focused on my studies, I haven't really relaxed in a long time. My world has been school. It was the one thing that sheltered me in my life. I've depended upon it. But, living, really living, I didn't know if I wanted to risk that emotionally."

" And, now you do?"

" Yes. I'm not afraid anymore, and that has to do with you, TC. You've given me that, and I need to thank you."

" Eve, you don't. Because I feel the same way about you. I haven't enjoyed the Vineyard in years."

" Because of your father?"

Eve could feel TC tense up. " How did you know?"

" People have said things to me. Hinted around."

" Well, yeah, not since my father. He wasn't just my father, he was my best friend. He taught me everything. Even after I grew up, I wanted to be around him. I enjoyed his company. He was a terrific man. "

Eve listened to TC. She couldn't imagine what life was like with a father. She had never had one, and her mother wasn't much either. Eve nestled in further into TC's arms. They were protective and safe - two things she's barely had in her life. Eve thought about TC as a father. She knows he would love his children. He would do anything for them. Eve imagined being with their children. She could see him playing on the beach with their little girl, like she had seen the fathers do here. He was so athletic that of course, that would be a part of their lives. She imagined a little girl in the ocean, then on a pony, with TC helping her. Their daughter would come home excitedly and tell Eve about their day.

TC looked at the happy expression on Eve's face and he began to laugh. Hearing his laugh brought Eve out of her daydream.

" Man, that must have been some dream.", TC jokes.

Eve blushes and looks down.

" Wanna tell me about it?"

" No. I want it to come true.", Eve says quietly.

They sit there, cuddling, until Eve falls asleep. TC takes great pains to move her slowly. He picks her up, and carries her upstairs. Placing her on the bed gently, he goes to the closet and gets out another quilt to place upon her. He leans down, and kisses Eve on the lips.

" I love you, Eve."

She doesn't say anything, but, turns over, wrapping herself in the quilt. He walks out of her room and closes the door.
 
 

Eve is still asleep when she hears a knock on the door. She turns to the window to see that the sun is barely rising.

" Come in?", she says, not sure if this was real.

" Rise and shine, my dear. I'm going to take you for a real island experience. Meet you downstairs in 10 minutes."

Eve was confused, but knew that she had better put something on. She grabbed the first outfit she saw, threw some water on her face and brushed her teeth, and was down just as TC was coming to the staircase to yell for her.

" TC, where are we going?"

" Dinner."

Eve looked confused, but, followed TC to the car. They drove awhile to a beach. Eve could see that there were others on the beach. They got out of the car, and TC handed her a bucket. As the approached the beach, TC told her , " take off your shoes."

Eve looked at him, but, did what she was told. They found a  spot away from the others on the beach, and then, TC  put down the bucket.

" TC, what are we doing here?"

" I told you - dinner."

" Dinner?"

" We're going to have clams. We're clamming."

Eve looked at him as if he had lost his mind. TC pointed down to his feet, and she watched as he worked his way down into the sand. She looked in shock upon seeing his foot when it came from beneath the sand. It had a clam in it.

" Oooh", Eve cried out.

TC laughed at her. " Ok, your turn."

" TC…"

" Come on."

TC watched as Eve began drilling her foot down in the sand. She groped around, then thought she felt something. Her look of surprise made TC smile.

" You can do it."

She wiggled around her foot until she got a grasp on the clam. She brought it to the surface, and TC nodded. " See. You're a natural."

Eve took the tongs and placed it in her bucket. She  searched out another spot and TC did the same. She loved it. It was weird and fun at the same time. She was getting her own supper, and knew exactly which recipe she would use for them. One of the favorites in the Italian cookbook that TC's mother also had. They had fun, playing with one another, in between the clams. Eve had never really done this: have fun. Relax. Enjoy herself. It was a heady feeling.

When they finished, they look the clams back home and put them in the refrigerator. Eve then made TC spend the afternoon on the beach with her. He dumped her in the ocean, which she pretended that she was angry about, but the truth was that she loved it. There was an intimacy between them that she had never shared with Julian. She thought maybe it was the freedom to be seen together. Nobody cared, and they could express themselves to the world at large. What a difference from the cloak and shadow world of a mistress.

She and TC built sandcastles, played beach volleyball, sunbathed. By evening, they were both famished. Eve brought down the cookbook, and showed TC the recipe. Luckily, they had everything in the house, and they began to prepare the meal together. TC helped around the edges, and then left to set the table. The meal was soon fixed, and Eve brought it out to the table, which TC had turned into an intimate table for two, complete with romantic candles. They sat, ate and talked for hours.

As Eve's head hit the pillow, she couldn't remember a better day. Just the two of them. It was fantastic.

The rest of the trip went along just like that. She and TC spent as much time together as they could. They took a day trip to Nantucket, and then the Elizabeth Islands. TC's love of history was evident as he told anecdote after anecdote about the islands, and especially the history of Blacks on those islands.

Since she had passed Nannette's check, Eve knew she was in the clear. It was their last night on the island, and it was the night of Dr. Broderick Yancy's annual anniversary bash. A black-tie affair, Eve was glad that she had brought a formal dress. It was a light pink, and it was perfect for late summer. It was strapless crepe with a matching bolero jacket. Eve wore her hair down - she wanted to look 'soft' this evening. TC looked so handsome in his tuxedo.

As they walked into the big tent that had been set up on his expansive lawn, Eve was at ease. She let TC lead her around to make the rounds, and after finding their table, TC led her onto the floor to dance. Lionel Hampton and his orchestra were the entertainment of the evening.

As the song ended, they watched as another man came to sit down to the piano, as the orchestra got up to take a break.

" Who's that man?", Eve asked TC.

" Oh, that's Bobby Short. He plays at the Carlyle."

" Oh.", Eve covered. She had only seen the advertisements from The Carlyle in the Town and Country that she read every month. They danced until the program began. They were served a 7 course dinner, and then the toasts to the couple, as well as their mutual dedications.

Eve loved the evening, as had with everyone of the affairs like this that TC brought her to. It was TC's sense of belonging with this crowd. The way that he maneuvered the room with ease and confidence that made Eve fall for him even more. He was solid. He knew who he was, and where he came from. More importantly, he knew where he was going. There was something very comforting in that for Eve.

That little girl who lived with cockroaches was as far away you could possibly be from this kind of life. Eve liked it that way.

Eve squeezed closer to TC, who had no objections. They were floating on air, and pretty much shut out the rest of the world that night.

The party went until dawn, which was another Yancy tradition. Bobby Short played his last number, and Eve was still in TC's arms on the dance floor. Those that were left filed into the Yancy house, where a breakfast buffet had been set up. They all ate with leisure, and found their way home around 8 a.m. Eve barely got out of her dress to crawl into the bed. She didn't wake up until 3 p.m. She showered and got dressed. TC told her that they had to take the 8p.m. ferry. She was sad. Her time was at an end on the island. It only took her about an hour to pack. She made sure that everything was in order, and then went out into the hallway. She listened, and heard nothing, so she made her way upstairs to TC's room. He was still sleeping. He looked so handsome there, his chest exposed. As she looked on his side, she could see a long scar, where obviously a surgeon's scalpel had been. Eve knew that TC didn't talk about his accident, but, she knew it had to have been serious. He woke up and smiled at Eve.

" It's not everyday that you get awoken by an angel."

" TC..", she said blushing.

" What time is it?"

" A little after 4."

" Ok. I'll get showered and changed, and finish my packing. Can you look around downstairs?"

" Sure."

Eve was about to go downstairs when TC called after her. " Eve?"

" Yes, TC?"

" I had a terrific time last night. It was.."

" Magical.", Eve completed the sentence.

TC nodded. " That's exactly what it was."

Eve left and looked around the rest of the house. She did some cleaning in the kitchen - emptying the refrigerator of everything but the contents for their last meal.

TC kept his word and came downstairs to find her own the porch, looking out towards the ocean. He sat on the swing with her.

" You packed?", Eve asked.

" Yep."

Eve looked at TC and took his hand. " I…..I didn't know if I would have enough strength to tell you this, TC. I had a fabulous time. "

" I'm glad. This has meant a lot to me. I needed it to replenish the soul. "

" TC……I love you."

TC looked at her with shock.

" What did you say?"

Eve smiled. " I said I love you, Silly."

TC let out a sigh. " Man, I'm glad. I love you too. "

They kissed. And kissed some more.

" I'll always remember this place. This trip is something I will never forget, Thornton Chandler Russell. Thank you.", Eve said snuggling with him.

[[[ END OF FLASHBACK ]]]

Eve looked out her window. She could still feel TC's arms around her. It had been the beginning of their life together. The period of a life she could have never imagined. Eve felt her tears. She felt them. She was feeling the pain of her life. Her loss. She could have never imagined that day, all those years ago, that she would wind up here. But, she had. Chad had been right. She had been hiding out, and it was time to end it. It was time to face life again.