CHAPTER 12 - Cherished Memories

They moved into a Spanish tabby house a block from the beach. She loved it! It had a French baloney out the front bedroom door. At night she would sit out there and she could hear the ocean.
She had called Mark once she got a little settled. They made a date to go to Jacksonville Florida to eat. He picked her up at 6pm that Saturday evening. They went to the river area where DeAnna knew the Chart House was. A very elegant restaurant right on the river. It was so romantic and beautiful. The dinner was excellent. As they left the restaurant there was a horse and carriage still there that gave rides around the river. So Mark took her for the river ride. It was so sweet. She was lite up with happiness. On the way back to Brunswick Mark talked about when he went back to Michigan he wanted to live in Dearborn Heights. Which was a very rich area. Get married and settle down. DeAnna told him she was born in Dearborn. When he walked her to the door he kissed her so sweetly. She told him how much she enjoyed the night. As he left she felt really happy. But knew she didn't want to see him again. He would be leaving here in another week. And she SURE DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO MICHIGIAN!!!!!!!!! Too bad he didn't want to live here she thought. He sure was fine and sweet! A great catch for someone. But not her. She LOVED THE HOUSE SHE WAS IN AND THE ISLAND. She always said if she ever left here she would only go further south! She was a beach lover! She felt the mystery of God as the ocean waves washed upon the shores. And the seagulls flew through the air. She loved to imagine what was all in the huge body of water!
She had lost her license again but her job was only four houses down. So walked every morning to work. She really loved her job. It allowed her to use her creative talents. They did the all of F.L.T.E.C. (Federal Law Training Enforcement Center) Islander Paper, books, menu's, brochures and fliers.
Across the street lived a man who was very well built with long blond hair. He had a '70's T-Bird. God, he was fine. DeAnna had noticed him before she moved to the island. She eyed him a lot. She noticed he was always alone.
One day she asked her boss about him. He told her he was a x mercenary. And now worked as a body guard for a man on Sea Island. Which was an island and resort for millionaires only. Movie stars and all kinds of famous people lived to stayed there. Including the president of the U.S.A. She was very intrigued.
Rainey and Scott came by one evening to see her new place. "Hey guys" DeAnna said as she let them inside.
"We got you this as a house warming present." Rainey said holding up a bottle of Cabernet Sovieniat.
"Oh wow! Thank you guys!" She said as she gave them a hug.
"The refrigerator isn't working but you can put your beer here in the cooler. It's full of ice so it should keep it pretty cold."
"Thanks Deb!" Scotty said as he set it inside.
"Lets sit here by the fire." DeAnna said as they walked back into the frontroom.
"This place is awesome!" Rainey remarked.
"I know I love it. Come on I'll show you around." They went upstairs and stood there on the baloney that over looked the frontroom and fireplace.
"That's so cool how above the front door there's a little baloney you cann't even get on." Scotty laughed.
"Yea, it's something else. That's what I love about this place so much. And I really love how all the doors are circular. Guess that's the Spanish style. This house was built back in the day they fought the Spanish off the coast here. Fort Frederica is really interesting too."
"Me and Scott went there to visit when we first moved here. It makes you stop and think what they went through back in those days." Rainey said as she followed DeAnna into her bedroom.
"I sit out here at night and listen to the ocean booies as I watch the fire in the fireplace." DeAnna said as she opened the French baloney doors.
"Listen, I hear them now." Scott exclaimed. "This is great."
"Thanks! I knew I wanted this place when I saw it was empty. I thank God I managed to track down the owner. She lives in Atlanta and owns other houses all over Georgia she rents out. Come on this is really cool too." DeAnna said as she took them to the back of the bedroom. They walked through the bedroom door that led to a bathroom. There was a bath tub and sink. And another door that led into the other bedroom.
"This is the boys room. I love it that it's so close to my room."
They walk through the boy's room then headed back downstairs.
"I'm ready to another beer." Scott said and grabbed another beer. "You ready to another one Lorraine?"
"Yea. Where is your garbage, Dee?" Rainey asked as she swallowed the last of her beer.
"It's in here. Come on I'll show the rest of the house. This is under the stairs." She said as she opened the kitchen closet. "And here's another bathroom. And another bedroom. I love how there's a patio out here." She said as she opened another set of French glass doors. There was a red brick patio with a set of white bricks that traced around the patio.
"Wow! This is really sharp. I really like it. You really pick a nice place." Rainey said as she walked out on the patio.
"Thank you girl. Come on I'll show you out back."
They walked back into the kitchen and went out the back door.
"There's a small cottage apartment back here. And this is the picnic area." DeAnna said as they walked under wooden roof of the picnic area. There was a brick grill and picnic table.
"Super! When we gonna have a cookout?" Scott said as they headed back into the house.
"I don't know. We'll have to get together and plan one. And invite Karen and Steve." They were friends she met from them. Steve worked with Scott in the Coast Guards.
"Let's chill in the frontroom." DeAnna said as she poured herself another glass of wine.
"I need to use your bathroom." Rainey as she threw her empty can of beer in the garbage. "Get me another beer Scott." She said as she shut the door.
DeAnna turned on the radio and they sat listen to music enjoying the fire.
"Hey Lorraine and Scott!" DeAnna's boys came running into the house.
"Hey guys! How do you like your new home?" Lorraine asked them as they ran over to her giving her a hug.
"I love it!" John said.
"Yea, I'm glad mom found this place." Keith exclaimed.
"I love waking up in the morning and walking across the street to walk on the beach." Jamie remarked.
"Ok you guys! It's time to take and bath and get ready for bed. You have school in the morning."
They raced each other up the stairs."I'm first!" Jhon yelled at his brothers as they ran into the bedroom.
DeAnna was so happy her friends had come by to see her new place. They laughed the night away. This was a night DeAnna knew she would treasure for the rest of her life. She was glad she had such great friends.
As time went on when she would ride her bike down to the pier on weekends. She finally stopped to say hi to the guy across from her work. She had a original style with her hair. She was nick named Pebbles because she did a ponytail on top that fanned out. And she was very slim and most guys thought she was very sexy. He always laid on his front porch in what looked like hammocks but you can either lay or sit in them like a chair and swing. He had two of them hung on his porch.
Hi!" She said as she stopped.
"Hi!" He said. He was really rather stern. But she was so intrigued.
"What are those you're sitting in? They look like you can lay in them too."
"Yea!" He said as he stretched his legs out in them. "They're very comfortable. Here have a seat and try it." He said as he sat back up and motioned to the other one next to him.
"Ok!" She said as she walked up his porch steps. His porch was screened in. She sat down and they were comfortable. "Wow! This is nice!"
"Yes, I really enjoy them."
"I really love it here on the island." She said as she swung back and forth a bit. "It's so peaceful."
"Yes, it sure is."
They got to talking about the ocean and the islands. She really enjoyed talking with him.
Well, I need to get going. I have to go check up on my boys. It was nice talking with you!" She said as she got back on her bike.
"I enjoyed it too. Take care!" He said as he stood up waving goodbye.