named Sal, who came in at least twice a day to have a drink. He was lamenting about how bad the fishing had been so far this year, telling me that he had caught hardly anything, when I noticed a girl walk in.
She had beautiful long dark hair that sat restlessly just past her shoulders. The ocean breeze made it whip around her face like it was trying to trap her. Her pale skin was in strong juxtaposition to her hair. And, I knew under her sunglasses, she most likely had dark green eyes. Just as her sister had. She was Leia’s twin; I knew it.
She slowly approached the bar, looking around, like she lost something. But, when her eyes settled on me, suddenly I knew what she was looking for.
“Ellis? Are you Ellis Waters?”
I continued to wipe down the bar. “Who’s asking?”
She lifted her sunglasses so that they sat on top of her head, and I looked into the deep green eyes I knew would be there. There were golden flecks around irises, just like her sister. Though, this girl, her eyes were just a bit darker, so they made the golden specs stand out even more.
“I’m Skye. I think that Ellis knew my sister, Leia? Do you know where I can find him? It’s very important that I speak with him.” I could hear the anxiousness in her voice, but I wasn’t here to talk about Leia. I left her and that life a long time ago, and I wasn’t about to bring it up again.
“Sorry, he’s off today. I’ll let him know you stopped by.”
She chewed on her lower lip, looking like tears might spill from those dark green eyes at any moment. I felt like I’d been punched in the gut, the sinking feeling growing as she put her sunglasses back down, and turned to leave. But I wasn’t going to stop her. The bricks that were sinking in my stomach would go away, and the past that she wanted to know about was buried. I wouldn’t bring it up again.
I put my head down and found some glasses that needed washing, but, when I expected to hear the bell on the door, I didn’t. I slowly stood back up, and saw her looking at pictures along the wall. Shit. I knew that one of my catches was up there, and with my name. Suddenly, she spun around, and I knew she must’ve found it. She lifted her sunglasses again, and stomped my way. She was going to be persistent. I could tell by the way she squinched up her nose.
“I thought you said he wasn’t working today.”
I cocked my head at her. “I can neither confirm nor deny what I said. But, Ellis Waters is supposed to be off today. He’s not even on the schedule.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “Then, why is Ellis Waters standing directly in front of me?”
Touché. “Because I got called in. But, listen, I don’t know anything about your sister. And I’m not some guy who likes to bring up the past. And as pretty as you are, I know what Leia was like. And I don’t want anything to do with her anymore.”
She sat down on bar stool right in front of me. “You and me both. You probably actually know better than I do, since she wanted me dead and everything.”
I set down the glass. “She told you that?”
She opened up the purse that had been sitting just above her hip, and pulled out one of what I knew was Leia’s journals. She never went anywhere without those things. “I read it. I know the two of you are close, and I know she wanted to kill me. Yet, here I am looking for her.”
I squinted at her trying to understand, “But, why? Why not just let her be?”
“My grandfather. He’s dying. And his death wish is to see both of his girls together again.” She shrugged, looking defeated.
“How about a drink?”
She perked up a little, her eyes widening, “So, you’ll help me?”
I shook my head at her. “No, I’ll pour you a drink, and then send you on your way. I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”
She set her lips into a thin line, the once pouty roundness gone. “Fine. I’ll take a Jack and Coke, heavy on the Jack, light on the Coke.”
I nodded and set