Chapter Text
May 6th 10:47 a.m
Lychee was the first one to wake up in the rental house. She smiled looking at Layla who was sprawled out on top of her still sleeping. She quietly and slowly made her way out of Layla’s grasp and into the bathroom. Even though she tried her best to stay quiet once she reached the kitchen, Becca made her grinny appearance soon after.
Toni and Shelby made sure that all of the kids got their own space so they could all hang out before going their separate ways for the year.
“Hey sissyyyy!” Becca said quietly and giddy as ever.
Lychee rolled her eyes playfully. “Hey!” She started looking in the cabinets for some cereal. When she found the box of Apple Jacks, she held it up for Becca to see. “Want some cereal before we go to brunch?”
“Please!” Becca replied.
Lychee grabbed some milk from the fridge and began making their bowls. “Last night was so fucking fun dude..” She pushed Becca’s bowl towards her.
“Mhm..” Becca nodded. “God, they both looked so fuckin’ happy..” She said before she took a bite. There was no need to remove her flipper anymore since she had finally gotten permanent teeth earlier in the year.
“Yeah..” Lychee took a bite too. “That’s the happiest I have ever seen my mother in her life.” She said with her mouth full.
“Uh-uh. OUR mother!” Becca winked and corrected.
“Actually B.. it’s our MOTHERS..” Lychee teased sarcastically. “Biologically..” She whispered.
Becca chuckled. “Right..”
There was more on their minds as they continued to scarf down their food.
“So um.. I have some news to tell you..” Lychee said happily.
Becca got curious and tilted her head. “Some news?”
“Yeah.. uh..” Lychee scratched above her lip for no reason. “Me and Layla were talking last night while we were dancing.. and we decided that we’re gonna move in together next year..”
“Wait.. really?” Becca said with surprise.
“Really..” Lychee smirked.
Becca’s facial expressions were all over the place. She was happy for the couple and also sad. There was more to it of course, but she hadn’t thought of how to explain her own situation. “That’s great Lych..”
Lychee sensed something was wrong. She figured it must’ve been because they had agreed on being roommates as long as they were both in school. She reached out to touch her sister’s hand. “Hey.. look if you’re worried about whether or not we’re still gonna be living together too.. me and Layla talked about that also.. neither one of us mind okay? We just wont be on campus obviously and-.”
“It’s not that..” Becca interrupted.
Lychee furrowed her brow.
Becca sucked in her lips and squinted an eye as she exhaled through her nose. She had to look away.
Lychee looked Becca up and down with concern. “Well.. what is it?”
“Umm..” Becca laughed nervously. “I’ve been puttin’ off sayin’ this just because I wasn’t really sure how..” She started pulling at her sleeve. “I um.. I’m gonna transfer to a school in Minnesota next year..” She finally looked back at Lychee.
Lychee had an unsure look on her face mixed with mostly sadness.
Becca frowned, thinking Lychee was gonna be angry.
Lychee swallowed her emotions the best she could. “When did uh.. when did you decide this?”
“About three weeks ago?.. Marcus is the only one who kind of knows about it.. I haven’t even told him the transfer got approved yet..”
Lychee sighed and was the one to look away this time.
Becca began to panic internally. “Look if that’s not what you want, then I can just tell him the transfer didn’t go through..”
Lychee looked at Becca again in confusion. “What?”
“I can tell him the transfer didn’t go through! And then maybe UCLA will take me back? It’s just.. things have been gettin’ pretty serious between me and him.. and I thought maybe if we were closer, we could also eventually move in together.. and.. fuck, I don’t know!” Becca began to speak louder as she rambled on. “I just really love him.. and I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was just terrified that you’d be angry at me.. and it would fuck up our friendship and..”
“Shhh.. B..” Lychee reached over to grab Becca’s shoulders.
Becca’s eyes looked lost.
Lychee gave her sister a soft smile and nudged her head towards the front door. “Let’s go for a walk..”
* * *
11:07 a.m
The girls walked silently side by side until they found a spot on the beach to sit down. The conversation was going to be heavy.
Becca spoke first as tears began to swell up in her eyes. “I’m sorry..” She said looking at the ocean.
Lychee felt her eyes start stinging as she took a deep breath through her nose. “I’m not mad at you B.. I’m not mad at all.. I’m just.. sad..” She chuckled.
Becca nodded in understanding.
“But.. I think we both knew this day would come eventually.. where it wouldn’t be just about me and you.. or mom and Shelby anymore.. and we’d have to figure out what we’d want to do with our lives..”
“It just.. it happened so fast..” Becca sobbed. “One second were gettin’ street tacos, or we’re in your dorm room hangin’ out, and then we’re at a party runnin’ from the cops, going on vacations with each other, figurin’ out that our moms know each other, watchin’ them get back together, and that we’re sisters.. and then all of the sudden.. that chapter is over..” She shook her head and sucked in her lips. “I don’t want it to be over.. I still want to see you all of the time.”
Lychee leaned over and hugged Becca tightly as the two of them cried.
“I know I won’t.. but this feels like I’m losin’ you.. that’s why it was so painful to say anything.”
Lychee shook her head as she pulled back to look at Becca. “You could never lose me.. you hear me? You were my best friend before you were ever my sister.. that kind of bond doesn’t just go away when we decide to go to other places or do different things with our lives. I mean.. look at the unsinkables..”
Becca sniffled more quietly.
“They’re from all over the place.. and that one big thing that brought them together.. bonded them for life. Same as me and you!”
A bittersweet smile appeared on Becca’s face.
Lychee grinned. “Remember the day we met?”
Becca nodded happily. “Mhm..”
“If you hadn’t had your face buried in that stupid map..” Lychee laughed.
Becca laughed too.
“Then you never would’ve bumped into me.. and this story.. never would’ve happened.”
Becca felt the tears start to comeback, but only for a second. “Thank God I did, huh?..”
Lychee agreed. “A-fucking-men..”
The pair hugged again once more.
“I love you B..” Lychee said.
“I love you too Lych..” Becca replied. “I promise I’ll still watch all of your games..”
“I know you will.. and I promise no matter what, I’ll always be here for you.. okay?”
“Okay..” Becca said softly and feeling reassured.
When they let go of each other, Lychee needed a quick reminder about something. “The Wilds hits the shelves next week right?”
“It does!”
“Fuck yeah! You excited?”
“Actually.. I’m pretty nervous about it..”
“Why?”
Becca shrugged. “I don’t know.. I guess I’m just worried it won’t do well.”
“Bro are you kidding? That shit is gonna fly off the shelves. The Kindle company will probably make more fucking Kindle’s and shit too because it’ll be that damn good.. maybe it’ll even be an audio book!”
Becca giggled and rolled her eyes. “Is an audio book the only way you’ll read it?”
“Probably.. you know I can’t stand to read!”
“Yeah, I know!”
“Fuck..” Lychee said as she beamed. She nudged Becca’s shoulder. “What if it’s so good.. that they turn it into a movie or a tv show? Then I wouldn’t have to read it at all!”
Becca smirked at the possibility, but wasn’t exactly hopeful. “I doubt it. If it got turned into a tv show it would probably only last like two seasons before it gets cancelled.”
Lychee sucked in her teeth and stood up. “Ah come on B..” She reached her hand out to pull Becca up from the sand.
Becca took Lychee’s hand and up she went.
“Have a little bit faith!” Lychee winked. “Those two seasons would probably mean the world to some people.. but hey! Even if it doesn’t do great, we’re all so fucking proud of you! Even my Mama wants you to send her a signed copy of it.”
Becca laughed. “Tell Regan I will gladly do that for her!”
“Will do. And when this book does good, then you’ll write another one! You just have to find more shit to get into. I volunteer to be your assistant of course.”
“Actually.. I kind of already have another idea for one in mind.”
The pair started walking back to the house.
“Oh yeah?”
“Mhm! I kind of want to write about everything thats happened in the last two years. Between me and you.. and Mom and Mama..”
Lychee liked the idea. “What would you call that one?”
“Psh. Hell if I know..”
“God.. You really suck at coming up with titles.” Lychee joked.
Becca scoffed. “Well, you swallow!”
“Oh, I swallow?” Lychee pointed at herself knowing it wasn’t true.
Becca blushed and sucked in her lips trying not to laugh.
“Exactly!” Lychee gave Becca a playful shove.
Becca returned a shove back.
Lychee went to shove Becca again, but the shove was dodged and Becca suddenly hoped up on her sisters back. “Oh shit!” Lychee wobbled.
“Ha! Now you have to give me a ride back.”
“You’re lucky I love you. If I didn’t I would totally throw you over my shoulder and rub sand all over your face.” Lychee started walking with Becca in tow this time.
“You would do that anyway!”
Lychee pretended to drop Becca.
Becca squealed.
“Don’t tempt me!”
“You’re gonna get smacked.”
“Oh, then I’d definitely make you all sandy.”
“Not before brunch! I don’t want to have sand in my hair.”
“After brunch it is then!”
Becca chuckled. “I’m gonna tell Mom and Mama!” She said in a jester tone.
“They would literally help me build a sandcastle on top of you.”
“They would not!”
“I mean shit.. I could probably convince Mama Shelbs to take a picture of it too!”
“You know what? I’m just gonna tell Mom you were mean to me. She’ll shut the whole thing down before it even happens.”
“Oooh, a Toni Shalifoe shut down?”
“Uhuh!”
“Oh I’m real scared!” Lychee said sarcastically.
“You should be!”
Becca and Lychee continued to playfully bicker with one another on their way back to the rental house. Their futures may not be totally known yet, but they don’t doubt for a second that there will be trouble to get into, discoveries to be made, and stories to be written. Their bond will never be broken.
* * *
At the same time Becca and Lychee were talking on the beach, Shelby was just starting to open her eyes. Toni, who was still asleep, was the first thing she saw before slowly sitting up and looking around at the mess they had made from last night.
Handcuffs were still attached to the bed, there was a strap on over here and over there, and what seemed like a million other things scattered around their bedroom.
Shelby sighed happily and nearly laughed. When she was just about to reach over and kiss Toni awake, something else had caught her eye. It wasn’t anything that had been used last night, but it was something significant.
Shelby reached over to her bedside table and picked up what had caught her eye. Now in a frame, was the piece of receipt paper Toni had written on all those years ago at the airport. Shelby couldn’t help but read it again like she had done many times before.
“Shelby, No matter where we go or for how long, please know that you will always be on my mind. I’m so proud to know you and so thankful for the time we shared together. I don’t know when i’ll see you again, but I promise i’ll be waiting. I love you Bee, and will forever.
Toni.”
Toni had certainly kept her promise.
It wasn’t long after Shelby had read the note that Toni started moving around a little bit.
Shelby leaned over and put the frame back on the table before turning her attention to Toni. She nestled against Toni’s skin. “Good morninnnnn”.” She said sweetly, peppering her wife with tiny kisses.
“Hey..” Toni said happily. “Good morning Miss Shalifoe!” She pulled Shelby in tightly.
They’re obviously in the honeymoon phase, but Shelby knows that hearing the words “Miss Shalifoe” and knowing it’s her, will forever make her excited.
“How’s my Bee?”
“Mmm.. I’m doin’ just fine! Sore in some places, but in a good way!”
“Oh no.. sore in some places?” Toni teased as she started kissing Shelby’s neck.
“Mhm..” Shelby whined seductively. She ran her fingers up and down Toni’s back.
“I guess i’ll just have to kiss it better huh?” Toni began dragging her lips from Shelby’s neck, to her chest, down to her stomach and all the way down to her inner thighs.
Shelby giggled in delight and began to moan as Toni started kissing her sex. She grabbed the back of Toni’s head to push her mouth harder against her vulva.
Just as Toni was about to start using her tongue on Shelby, someone’s alarm had gone off on their phone. Toni let out a disappointed huff on Shelby’s skin.
Shelby rolled her eyes at the alarm and reached over to turn it off. “Damnit! Alright Baby.. time to get up.” She moved her legs away from Toni’s face and stood up to walk in the bathroom. “We’ve gotta go meet everyone for brunch!”
Toni groaned. “Can’t we just politely tell them to fuck off for a couple more hours?”
“Honey, they’ll all be gone in a couple hours. Come on! Get up. The faster you get up and we get brunch over with, the faster we can go look at boats!” Shelby raised her eyebrows and began brushing her teeth.
Toni groaned again, but she was happier this time. “Alright. Fine!” She finally sat up and started rubbing her eyes. “What should I wear?”
Shelby spit out her toothpaste. “It doesn’t matter Sweetheart. Wear whatever you want!” She walked over and turned on the shower. “Did you wanna do anything else today? Besides me of course!”
Toni chuckled. “Actually, I kind of want to go get another tattoo!”
“Oooh, okay! What do want to get?”
“I uh.. I’ve had this idea for awhile now..” Toni pointed to her right arm where the birch tree with the lychees was. “Underneath the tree, I want to get two honey bees. I want one just a little bit bigger than the other, but it’ll be for you and Becca!”
Shelby looked at Toni with surprise at first. “Are you serious?..”
“Dead serious! I can’t walk around with just one of my girls on me.” Toni shrugged and winked.
“I love you..” Shelby said with adoration this time. “Like seriously Toni, I love you so much..”
“I love you too Bee..” Toni stood up and walked over to kiss her wife. “I think we should invite Becca and Lychee with us to go get it! Maybe me and Beccs can finally convince you guys to get something.”
“Hey! I’m totally down for them comin’ with us, but you know that know me and Lychee aren’t that easily persuaded when it comes to tattoos! We have to reallllly want it. You and Becca are spontaneous. I still can’t believe you knew about her gettin’ that robot tattoo and didn’t tell me!”
Toni rolled her eyes in good spirits. “Shelbs I promise you, once you and Lychee get one, it’ll become a full blown addiction!”
Shelby went to go say something else, but could faintly make out the sound of their doorbell ringing. A knock followed.
Toni got confused. “Who the fuck is that?”
Shelby was also confused. “I don’t know.. did you tell anybody to come over?”
Toni shook her head. “No..”
“I’m sure it’s someone from the weddin’.. Just throw on a robe and tell them to meet us at the restaurant. They probably just got confused.”
“Why do I have to throw on a robe and go tell them?”
“Because, I said so!” Shelby said with a cocky tone.
Toni scoffed and smiled. She grabbed a robe hanging from the door. “Alright Miss Shalifoe! You got it..”
“Wait!” Shelby handed Toni mouthwash. “Swish this around in your mouth first.”
“Damn.. does my breath stink that bad?”
“No.. you’ve just been..” Shelby looked down at herself. “Down there..”
Toni beamed and licked her lips. “What’s wrong with that?”
Shelby chuckled. “Damnit Toni, just do it!”
“Alright! Alright!” Toni swished some mouthwash around. At the same time she went to spit it out, the doorbell rang again and there was another knock. “OKAY!” She yelled before walking out of the bedroom to the stairs.
Shelby was equally annoyed by whoever was at the door.
“I’M COMING!” Toni tied her robe as she walked down the stairs. “Jesus fucking Christ..” Toni started unlocking the door and then opened it. She was expecting to see somebody she knew immediately, but instead there was some random man at her door holding what appeared to be a large present in his hands. “Oh..” She moved the door to cover herself a little bit more. “Can I help you?”
The man looked apologetic. “Uh, yes! I’m sorry if I bothered you.. I just wanted to make sure I was at the right place.”
Toni cocked an eyebrow. “Okay?..” She was still visibly annoyed.
Any hope on the mans face had vanished when Toni seemed to be acting more put together than not. “You don’t remember me.. do you?” He twisted his mouth.
“Uh..” Toni shook her head.
“Does the name Alex ring a bell?..”
It took all but a second for Toni to become fully awake. She certainly remembers him now. He does look a little different from the last time she saw him. His hair was longer and he now has a beard. The fuck was this man doing here? More importantly, what the fuck does he have in his hands?
Alex swallowed nervously, watching Toni’s face go through different emotions.
“SHELBY, GET DOWN HERE!” Toni yelled up the stairs.
“What?” Shelby called out from the room. “Toni, I’m literally naked right now. Who’s at the door?”
Alex cleared his throat uncomfortably and tried not to smile.
“JUST HOLD OFF ON THE SHOWER FOR ONE MORE MINUTE! I NEED YOU DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!” Toni yelled again.
“Alright! Give me a second please!” Shelby replied.
Toni looked at Alex again, really not in any kind of mood for bullshit.
“Again, I’m sorry for bothering you both..” Alex said to Toni.
Toni pinched between her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned her head to see Shelby running down the stairs with a towel wrapped around her body.
Shelby got a little embarrassed in Alex’s presence because she was expecting it to be someone else. “Oh lord..” She covered up more behind Toni. “I’m sorry.. I thought you were goin’ to be someone else!”
Alex turned his head so he would make Shelby less uncomfortable. He was going to apologize for the third time, but Toni started talking instead.
“Do you remember this asshole?..” Toni asked Shelby while pointing at Alex with her thumb.
Shelby was taken aback by Toni’s insult to this man. She didn’t recognize him though. “What? No..”
“I’m uh.. I’m Alex..” Alex said still looking away.
“Alex?..”
“Yes. I worked for-.”
“Gretchen.” Toni finished.
Shelby became just as surprised as Toni and gasped.
“What the fuck are you doing here?..”
“Look, I swear this will be the last time you will ever see me.. I’m ready to move on from all of this too..” Alex looked down at the present in his hands. “But Gretchen had me keep a promise to her a few days before she died, that I would give you two this wedding gift from her..”
A wedding gift? A FUCKING WEDDING GIFT?!?! Ain’t no fucking way. Jesus, this woman can’t even leave them alone in death. This “wedding gift” was a big white box with a blue bow tied around it.
“A weddin’ gift?..” Shelby asked with a disturbed look on her face.
“Yeah! Well..” Alex had to rethink. “It’s not just a wedding gift.. it’s actually for everyone in a way.. but the way it’s set up is geared towards you two.. Gretchen figured that-.”
“Okay!” Toni interrupted. “I’m gonna need you to shut the fuck up for a second.”
Alex did.
“How the hell did you find us?..”
“Right.. um..” Alex did owe them some kind of explanation.
“Have you been trackin' us?..” Shelby asked with worry.
Alex shook his head. “No.. well, not exactly..”
“Not exactly?”
Alex smiled uncomfortably. “I actually just googled both of your names.. Toni’s name provided this address.. and then, the wedding venue advertised both of your names on their website for an upcoming event.. with the date..”
“Oh..” Toni and Shelby both simply said after doing some deep thinking. The internet can really just reveal too much sometimes.
“Yeah..” Alex replied.
Toni looked down at the gift and nudged her head towards it. “So.. what’s in there?”
“I’d rather not say and just let y’all open it so I can get out of here.. I don’t want to bother y’all anymore than I already have.. here if you just wanna-.” Alex went to hand Toni the gift.
Toni shook her head. “No! Fuck that, Shelby, go grab my phone..”
Shelby listened and went to run up the stairs to grab it.
Alex got paranoid. “Toni, please.. I really don’t want any trouble..”
“I don’t want any trouble either..” Toni glanced at the box. “But I don’t know what the fuck is in that thing.. and if you have any kind of respect for me and my wife.. I suggest you hangout for bit..” She said sternly.
Truth be told, Alex did have respect for Toni. He had respect for all of the girls. He knew this must’ve been scary and suspicious to them and stayed even though he was almost positive Toni was going to call the police.
Shelby came running back down the stairs and handed Toni her phone. “Who you callin’?”
Toni dialed a number and put the phone to her ear. “I’m calling Marty..”
Alex immediately felt relieved, but also knew something else would soon be happening.
Martha answered after a few rings.
“Marty, hey..” Toni sighed. “I can’t believe this is even happening, but brunch is gonna have to turn into lunch. I need you and all of the girls to get over to the house right now..”
* * *
11:31 a.m
Toni and Shelby flat out refused to allow Alex to come inside their home. They opted on going to the backyard where the beach was, but not before Shelby could at least throw a t-shirt and some shorts on.
Alex placed the present on a table and stood around holding his hands together. There wasn’t much to talk about while they were waiting for everyone to show up, so it was mostly quiet which made it seemingly more nerve racking.
When they all heard the sound of a car pull up, Toni and Shelby felt relief, but nobody had come to the backyard yet like they had instructed over text.
“Mom?!” A voice called from inside of their home.
Shelby’s heart dropped. “Was that Lychee?” She said to Toni.
Toni knew it was and it worried her too. If Lychee was here, that could only mean that..
“Lych! I found them. They’re out back!” Becca called out to Lychee as she slid the back door open.
When Toni called Martha and told her to bring the girls, she didn’t mean bring their daughters.
Lychee followed Becca out of the door and down the steps towards their moms.
When Alex realized who was coming down the steps, he had to take off his sunglasses to get a better look. His throat went dry.
Becca politely smiled at Alex even though she had no clue who he was.
“What the hell are you guys doing here?” Toni asked.
“Aunt Marty texted us and said brunch was cancelled cause something was up! We were closer to you guys than them so we figure we’d check on you guys too. They were pulling in as we were walking inside.” Lychee said. She then looked over at Alex. “So.. what’s up? Who’s this guy?”
“Holy. Shit..” Alex managed to push out. He was stunned by how similar the girls looked liked Toni and Shelby. He could only imagine Fatin and Leah’s daughters looked the same.
Becca and Lychee were both confused by his comment as they came up to stand beside their moms.
Toni sighed and rolled her eyes.
“Um.. girls this is..” Shelby started to say.
“ALEX?!?” Nora said as she appeared with the rest of the girls behind her.
Alex smiled when he saw Nora, but only for a second. “Hey..” He couldn’t seem to look away from Becca and Lychee.
Nora picked up the pace to give Alex a hug.
Leah stopped in her tracks and gripped Fatin’s hand tightly.
“Marcus?” Martha called out.
Becca was confused by the “Marcus” question.
It then clicked for the rest of the girls who Nora was now hugging.
“Oh you’ve got to be fucking kidding me..” Fatin said as her and Leah started walking again.
“I’m so fucking tired of this shit..” Leah laughed pathetically.
“What the hell Nor? Did you know he was here?” Rachel asked.
Nora turned around still holding on to Alex and shook her head. “No! I swear I didn’t..”
“Bullshit..” Dot said.
Alex snapped out of his daze. “No.. no she’s telling the truth.. I promise this is a surprise.. to everyone..” He looked at Becca and Lychee once more.
Toni was growing more and more pissed every time he looked at her daughters. She blocked them off out of sight with her body the best she could.
Shelby could sense Toni’s nerves as she put her arms around the girls.
Leah and Fatin caught on to the situation as well.
Nora looked over in Toni and Shelby’s direction, realizing why Alex looked so surprised. She cleared her throat and gave him a reassuring look.
So the story was true.. Gretchen had basically cloned Shelby and Toni. Alex knew it was true, but seeing it with your own eyes gives you a whole new understanding.
“What the fuck are you looking at dude?” Toni asked.
Alex shook his head. “I’m sorry.. I don’t mean to make this anymore uncomfortable than it already is.. but um.. your children.. look so much like you..” He chuckled lightly.
Toni crossed her arms and nodded. “Yeah.. they do..”
“So.. who the fuck is this guy?” Lychee whispered to Shelby.
“That’s Alex.. he worked for Gretchen..” Shelby replied
It now made sense to the girls why he was looking at them so strangely.
“What?!?” Becca said surprise.
Lychee’s eyes widened. “Shit.. what does he want?”
Before Shelby could answer Lychee, Nora asked Alex “So what are you doing here? Where have you been?”
“All over the place.. mostly Peru. Have you heard from Susan?”
Nora nodded. “Here and there..”
Alex smiled. “That’s good..”
“Any word on Audrey and Devon?” Nora asked nervously.
Alex twisted his mouth. “They’re alive.. and also in Peru..”
“You’ve seen them?..”
“Only a few times.. Audrey’s not doing so well..”
Everyone was clearly getting annoyed by Alex and Nora’s conversation.
“Jesus Christ, can you two please catch up later?” Dot said.
“Yeah.. why the fuck are we here?” Fatin asked.
“More like why the fuck are you here?” Leah corrected.
“Right.. sorry..” Alex took a deep breath and walked over to the present on the table.
As the girls walked over cautiously to get a better look, Becca turned to Martha. “Did you call him Marcus?”
Martha nodded. “Yeah.. I’ll tell you about it after this!”
“Okay..”
“As I was explaining to Toni and Shelby before they called all of you, Gretchen had me keep a promise to her before she died. So..” Alex placed his hand on top of the box. “The promise is this gift, but it’s set up more like a wedding gift.”
Everyone but Nora seemed to huff or puff or roll their eyes.
“She made you keep a promise?” Nora squinted an eye.
Alex nodded. “Mhm.. one promise for another..”
“And what was that?” Martha asked.
Alex smiled at Martha. “A place to be free..”
“Oh please.. you’ve been free this whole time..” Leah said bitterly.
Alex twisted his mouth uncomfortably at Leah’s words.
This whole thing was suspicious as shit.
“So.. what the fuck are we gonna do with this thing?” Dot asked all of the girls as she pointed towards the box.
“We need to throw it way far out in the fucking ocean!” Rachel said.
“Agreed!” Leah said.
“Wait, are y’all not even a little bit curious as to what it is?” Fatin cut in.
“Fuck no. I’m not..” Leah argued.
“What if it’s more money?” Martha said.
“It’s probably a fucking bomb!” Rachel said.
“I don’t think so..” Nora said.
“I think if it was a bomb it probably would’ve exploded by now..” Shelby said.
“Dipshit over here probably wouldn’t have stuck around either..” Toni nudged her head towards Alex.
“Well fuck, I don’t know!” Rachel was getting frustrated.
“Just get fucking rid of it Toni!” Leah snapped.
“Why are you getting an attitude with me?” Toni snapped back.
“Because you called us out here!”
“Hey! Don’t talk to her like that!” Shelby pointed at Leah.
“Babe, calm down..” Fatin grabbed Leah’s arm.
While everyone kept bickering, Lychee and Becca gave each other a look and slowly made their way over towards Alex without anybody really noticing.
Alex smiled at them and looked down at the box.
Lychee shrugged her shoulders. “Fuck it we ball?” She asked Becca.
“Might as well!” Becca said to Lychee.
The sisters began to open the present.
“You set this up?” Lychee asked Alex.
“It was Gretchen’s idea, but yes I set it up..”
“It looks really pretty!” Becca said nicely.
Alex chuckled. “Thanks.. I tried.” He then became curious. “So.. who’s Rebecca and who’s.. Lychee? I think that was the other name I heard?”
“Uh.. I’m Lychee..” She said nervously.
“I really like your name..”
Lychee almost laughed. “Really?”
“Yes. It’s very unique!”
Lychee didn’t want to admit it, but that felt really good to hear. A lot of people give her a hard time for it, so it was nice to hear something positive about it for a change. “Thank you..”
“You’re welcome!”
“I actually go by Becca.. but I guess that’s too basic for ya?” Becca joked.
Alex laughed quietly. “No I like your name too.. I heard it a lot before Gretchen passed.”
Becca paused to let Lychee finish untying the bow and remove the top of the box. “Did she like the book?.. I’ve tried to ask Nora, but she only told me “I think so.”.”
“She absolutely loved it..” Alex thought back on the many different times Gretchen had read the book aloud over and over again in the house in Wyoming.
Becca smirked and she wasn’t sure why. Gretchen was obviously a very shitty person, but hearing about her reading what a shitty person she was and that she liked it, was kind of funny. “It’ll be published next week..”
“Congratulations..” Alex said proudly.
“Oh God damnit!” Toni said when she noticed the girls near Alex.
“Girls!” Shelby yelled and started walking over. Everyone else started following suit.
“What the hell is the matter with you two?”
“Bro, none of y’all can ever make a simple fucking decision! So we had to do it for you.” Lychee said.
That statement was true and none of them could deny it.
“She’s not wron-what the fuck is that?” Fatin merged her words once she got a look in the box like the others.
There was what appeared to be either a black suitcase or briefcase covered in a little bit of sand.
It really didn’t help settle Rachel’s bomb suspicion as her eyes adjusted to it. Her heart began racing and she took a step back.
Instinctively, Leah and Martha did the same.
“Girls.. get behind us now..” Shelby said to Becca and Lychee.
Becca and Lychee listened, only because they could really sense the uneasiness in the air this time.
“Dude, I swear to fucking God.. if there’s a head in there or some shit..” Dot began saying.
Alex almost laughed. “Nah nothing like that.. I can open it for all of you if you’d like. If it’ll settle your nerves.”
Toni looked around, waiting for someone else to give the okay. Her eyes finally landed on Nora. “Can we trust him?”
Nora sucked in her lips nervously. She knew she could trust Alex with her life, even if the other girls didn’t know it. She nodded her head. “Yes..”
Toni sighed and nudged her head towards the box. “Go ahead..”
It was a little awkward getting the case out, but eventually Alex did. Everyone held their breath as he unclasped the second buckle.
Sand came out on each side for only second as he pulled the top of the case back.
When all was revealed, Toni was the first to get her hands on something laid out on top the sand. She picked up the largest thing first, smiled to herself, and turned around to show the others. “It’s a bottle of lychee flavored wine..”
That made Lychee smirked. “Get the fuck out..”
“Oh..” Shelby was relieved.
“The fuck?..” Fatin said and grabbed it out of Toni’s hands. She looked it over. “Shit.. this is bougie..”
“At least it’s not a head..” Dot butted in.
“Are you fucking with us right now?” Rachel said to Alex. “Gretchen’s secret present was a bottle of wine?”
“There’s more..” Dot picked a bag of jerky and shook it. “Check it out Martha! It’s goat jerky..”
Martha still doesn’t eat meat, but her face brightened and she walked closer to get a better look.
Leah stayed back and scratched her elbows, still feeling unsure.
Rachel cocked an eyebrow as she picked up one of eight coupons now scattered around. She didn’t hate what it was for. “These coupons are for a free spa!”
“Oooh..” Martha picked one of the coupons up too.
“Wait.. Oh what the hell dude?!?” Rachel looked at Alex again like she was pissed off. “These are fucking expired..”
Alex couldn’t believe it. “What?” He had to see for himself. Sure enough, it was confirmed. “Shit..”
“You mother fucker!” Fatin said.
“Yeah, dick move dude..” Dot chuckled.
Becca and Lychee giggled.
“I’m so sorry..” Alex apologized.
“Hey look.. the edibles aren’t expired!” Martha held up a bag of potent gummies.
Rachel scoff laughed.
Shelby crinkled her nose at what she thought was the last thing amongst the goodies. It was a brown and dried leaf. She knew it had to have been green at some point and assumed it belonged to a palm tree. It clicked for her, although the rest of the girls were thinking the same thing. “These are.. all things related to the island. I guess she wanted us to have a reminder?” She asked Alex.
Alex smiled. “Yes she did, but it can be deeper than that..”
Hearing that made Leah go even deeper in her head.
Alex looked down at his watch and cleared his throat. “Ladies, I really have to get going now..”
Nora felt a sadness jab into her sides. “When will you be back?”
“Actually.. I promised I wouldn’t..” Alex looked around at everyone but Nora briefly. “But I’ll reach out to you from time to time.. okay?”
Nora bit her lip and nodded. She hugged Alex one last time with her eyes getting a little teary.
“It was really nice.. and.. fascinating..” Alex let out a breathy laugh. “To meet you two..” He said to Becca and Lychee.
“You too..” Becca said nicely.
Alex took one final look at the unsinkable 8. “Um.. even though you gave me a lot shit, it was good to see all of you again. I wish you the best.”
Everyone but Nora and Martha looked emotionless, not giving a fuck about him wishing them well.
Alex winked at Martha before he walked away for good.
Martha blushed for some unknown reason. (She totally thought he was hot af.)
“Fuck that guy.. no offense Nor..” Rachel said.
Nora just shrugged.
“I think Martha would if she could..” Fatin whispered to Toni louder than she thought.
“I heard that!” Martha said. “And no, I wouldn’t!”
Fatin rolled her eyes playfully.
“Welp.. besides the creepy set up and the expired coupons.. I wouldn’t say this is too bad of a gift..” Dot crossed her arms.
“Yeah.. could be worse I guess..” Toni said.
“Y’all wanna just lounge around and sip on this since brunch got cancelled?” Shelby held up the Lychee wine. “I can order us some pizzas!”
“Honestly I’m cool with whatever as long as I get some food! Hell, I’ll eat the goat jerky as this point.” Fatin said as she looked over Leah.
“Pizza sounds good Bee!” Toni kissed Shelby’s cheek. “Y’all can invite everyone else over now too.”
“Leah..” Fatin called out.
Leah looked up from the case and then back down.
“What’s wrong Baby?”
Leah twisted her mouth. “It can be deeper than that..”
Everyone got quiet and started focusing on Leah.
“What?” Fatin questioned again.
“It can be deeper than that..” Leah repeated. “Shelby said that maybe Gretchen wanted us to have a reminder.. and he said “Yes, but it can be deeper than that..”
It took a few moments, but Shelby side eyed the case eventually. It did go pretty deep after all. “You think he meant literally?”
“When I have a hunch.. It usually turns out to be true..”
Shelby looked at Toni with asking eyes.
Toni got the hint, and the two of them wordlessly started digging through the sand. They tossed it on the ground when pushing it to the side became pointless.
Eventually, The Shalifoe’s reached the bottom where they discovered an envelope. Toni held it up.
Leah chuckled and rolled her eyes. “Told you..”
The back of the envelope read “The Unsinkable 8”. Toni opened it and read it to herself first. Her eyes widened when it reached the end.
Shelby had been reading it beside her. She put her hand on her chest like she had lost her breath. “Oh my God..”
“What? What the fuck does it say?” Leah asked with anticipation.
“Um..” Toni chuckled and got a little shaky. “It says.. “To my girls, i’m sure all of you are standing beside one another like you did so many years ago. I figured in light of the recent event regarding the newlyweds, this would be the best time to give you what you all deserve. Perhaps a never ending honeymoon? Or even a quick get away? However you’d like to spend your time. You’ve all made me so pleased, even though I’ll die hated. Women like you are the future and deserve a world of your own. So please, take care of your world. - Gretchen Klein.
Coordinates: 1.34693° S, 90.30912° W.”
Everyone jolted their heads back.
“That’s.. that’s gotta be to.. to..” Shelby stuttered happily.
Toni grinned at her wife, her daughters, and her best friends. “The island..”