California dreamin' On such a winter's day

❤

“You say that now, but when she turns out to be a brat you’ll disagree” Daphne joked. But she liked to think that as much as she spoiled her daughter, she was keeping Dani from becoming a brat. Granted, there was only so much that could be done at that point. Dani was still a toddler, and toddlers were often prone to meltdowns. But she hoped she didn’t do anything to encourage that sort of behavior, because she didn’t want her child to grow up and be a menace to society.

Daphne’s eyes widened in mock horror. “Please don’t” she said. “A lot of those tourists wear socks with sandals.” Which wasn’t obviously the worst trait one could find in a partner, but she didn’t think it was something to be desired either. “Flannel on a woman can be so attractive. I don’t understand why some people can’t get on board with that. Maybe because Marilyn Monroe never wore it.” She shrugged. “But yeah, I suspect your mom is looking for something more dressy than lady lumberjack chic.”

“I don’t think she could ever be a brat. Not with you raising her. A new toy once in a while. A happy meal occasionally. Toss in some candy. She’ll feel loved and spoiled from her aunt but it won’t do any damage. Now if you bring her around my crazy aunt? The one with all the cats? Now that might do some damage. She might turn into a crazy cat lady,” She jokingly pointed out. With Daphne as a mother there was no way that she could turn into a bad child. All that kindness would rub off on her of course.

“True but with a bit of training you can get them to stop that. All it takes is hiding their socks. Plus a few months on the island and they naturally stop doing that but it’s still an awful thought,” She made a face just thinking about it. “Marilyn Monroe once wore a potato sack yet you don’t see women running around copying that. Just imagine how attractive she would have been in flannel!” Della laughed, “Lady lumberjack chic? Now that sounds amazing! How about hippie chic? I can wear tie dye, put flowers in my hair and go barefoot.”

“I did a peloton routine before I came down here, too, which I know most people could think’s insane.” Truth was, even Amber thought it was slightly insane, but she wasn’t about to change, she’d always been a morning person and it wasn’t about to change any time soon. Watching as Della threw a stick for her dog, she smiled, then turned back to the other woman again. “I think you should, be sad for it to go to waste,” she answered with a gentle chuckle. “Oh, you know, it’s going, it always will. One of those jobs you know will keep you busy. No matter what there’s baby’s being born.” Then she smiled and laughed lightly, “Nothing recently, it’s all been very normal. How’re your tours going? Guess it’s down season for you?”

❤

Daphne laughed at Della’s words. “You spoil her too much” she said, even though Daphne secretly loved that she had a sister-in-law who was as generous and loving as Della. Besides, Daphne didn’t have much room to talk, given that she spoiled Dani as well. Mostly to make up for Devon not being there, but also out of fear that she wasn’t as good a mom as she wanted to be.

Raising her eyebrows at Della’s comment about a set up, Daphne said “Hopefully this one is better than the last one.” As well intended as she knew her mother-in-law was, Daphne could understand if Della found it frustrating that her mother was trying to fix her up with someone. Then she laughed again. “Okay, then I guess we should start with one of the nicer clothing stores” she said, glancing around to see what was nearby. “Because I can only imagine how your mom would react if you showed up looking like the member of a 90s grunge band.”

“Is it really possible to spoil someone too much? I don’t think there is such a thing. It’s just my way of showing that I love her.” The psychologist that she saw occasionally since her divorce had told her it was her longing to have a child that made her spoil her niece along with trying to make up for her sister not being there for Dani. Maybe they were right. Or maybe it was just because she loved her niece so much. Or maybe it was a bit of all three. 

“I told her if she set me up with someone my dad works with again I’ll elope with the first tourist I see. Since that’s basically what I did last time she knows I’m serious about it too,” She joked. Well almost what she did last time. They had at least dated for a bit before running off to get married. “Or at least a store that has dresses. I think she’ll be happy if I just show up in something but jeans,” She shrugged. “Hey! Nirvana was the best band ever! Maybe I should wear flannel next time.”

“That is lucky. This must be what they are on about when they say that we Irish are lucky.” He grinned as he glanced out the window to see if he could spot the shop that she had just mentioned. He eyed the girl up and down as if trying to create a picture in his head about her, something he was more than familiar with doing - it just came natural at this point. “You been out enjoying the weather by the look of it?” He said, his eyes landing on her bare feet before returning them back up to her. “Oh, I’m Graham by the way, you can call me Gray.” He said, offering his hand out, gesturing a handshake. 

“So it turns out I could probably use a women’s advice actually.” He shrugged as he took a step to the door, holding it open for her. “You see, the suit isn’t for anything grand or special, but it also isn’t for a funeral, so I have a particular style I’m looking for, y’know?” He continued.  

“Is that the reason they say the Irish are lucky? I thought it had something to do with leprechauns running around the country and there being shamrocks everywhere but then again I’ve never been so what do I know?” She joked. “Hard not to enjoy it when you work on a boat. Plus it’s California. We have nothing but sun here. Guess you can say I’m a stereotypical Cali girl.” Looking him over, she took the offered hand and gave it a shake. It was easy to tell he was the exact opposite of her. “Nice to meet you Gray. I’m Della. So are you new to the island or just visiting?”

She thanked him, leading him toward the store. “I’ll do my best to give you some good advice,” Della promised. “So a suit that isn’t for anything grand, special, or a funeral? Is this for a job? Let me guess. Stockbroker? Banker? Lawyer? Funeral Directors? Wait. I know! You’re a secret agent like James Bond!”

It wasn’t really surprising honestly when she realised that it was Della, the younger woman was also known for being up with the sun, but Amber assumed that was all to do with the life that she lived and the job she kept. Plus there was the dog walking, it was always a good idea to take the dog out early in the day before it got too hot and there were too many people around. “That’s very true, guess we’re as crazy as each other then,” she chuckled. “The water’s amazing today.”

Who: @della-slade​ Where:Catalina Shopping Center When: Saturday January 23, around 2 pm

Between their respective jobs, it was rare for Daphne and her sister-in-law to both have a Saturday off. But Daphne had managed to get a full weekend off for a change. And while she wasn’t yet an expert on tourism in Catalina, she assumed it was slow this time of year, which meant Della had managed to have the day off as well.

Which is why, earlier that week, the detective had texted her sister-in-law to arrange a day out of shopping together. Now the two were walking through the shopping center, Daphne looking forward to the after-Christmas sales. Nothing had made Daphne come to appreciate sales quite like becoming a mom had. Turning to glance at Della, she said “Which shop should we check out first?”

It was the slow season on the island. Besides the occasionally tourist trying to get away from the mainland she was lucky to get a dozen tours a week. Even though it was a two-boat operation the second boat was docked for the season. It was just her doing the tours for now. At least until business started picking up again. With now tours that day how could she possibly say no to hanging out with her sister-in-law?

Thinking about her question, she laughed, “Well the toy store is always fun. Maybe if my niece is lucky I’ll actually buy her something instead of just something for myself,” She joked. “Actually that mother of mine told me I need something formal to wear for some dinner she’s hosting. I think she’s back to trying to set me up again. Apparently ripped jeans and old t-shirts aren’t proper formal wear.”

CLOSED ► @della-slade​

Location: Metropole Market Place

Time: Tuesday Afternoon

Graham was still getting to grips with his surroundings, it had been a long month of getting his office set up and introducing himself to his new work surroundings and the team that he had been tasked with training, mirroring his early days as a young lawyer himself. 

Having taken on a big case fairly recently, Graham’s inclination to always get a new suit whenever he would take on a case he was particularly excited for took over and he was off shopping once again. Not to mention it was an excuse for Graham to peruse the local talent on Grindr, something he was largely new too considering it was much easier to find hook-ups back in London or even in Northern Ireland. 

Graham perused the local shops, basking in the ambience of actually getting out and having some fresh air for once instead of being cooped up at his desk with a whiskey chaser and a boatload of paperwork that his asshole employees had dumped on him. Unknowing of the area, he approached the nearest person to him and offered a small grin. 

“I’m looking for a shop that sells actual decent formal attire, not to sound like a complete snob—” he paused and tickled the back of his head with his hand before gesturing the surrounding area, “—i’m realising I may be in the wrong place for anything formal so to say.” His thick Irish accent curling at the end of his sentence as he offered a second grin.

Della only had one tour that day and that was an early morning one since the people apparently wanted to see the sun as it came up over the ocean. Even though she had seen it a million times the sight of it was something she could never get tired of. It was one of the things she loved most about being a boat captain.. 

Finishing for the day, she locked up her boat for the day. Her mother was after her to get something appropriate to wear to the dinner they were having with some of her parents’ friends. Last time she showed up in ripped jeans and an old shirt. Her mother had been speechless when she saw that. This time she promised she would actually wear a dress and not one of the sun dresses she wore on her days off. 

Throwing an old sweater over her bikini top, she tossed her sandals in her bag for when she entered a store. Ripped shorts, barefoot and hair in a messy bun. But that was just how she normally looked. 

Glancing up when she heard someone speaking, she grinned at the accent. She only heard that from one other person. “It’s your lucky day. I’m actually buying formal wear myself. There’s a place just across from here. Probably the only formal place on the island. You only sound a bit like a snob but I think it’s the accent. What is it? Irish? Bit too thick to be English. Definitely not American.”

for: @catalinastarter​ location: step beach time: shortly after sunrise

It was nothing unusual for Amber to be out with the sunrise and on the beach. She’d got into the habit of early morning swims shortly after arriving on Catalina Island and had yet to break out of it again, finding the whole thing invigorating and a great way to start off her day. She’d been fairly sure she’d been out there alone today, but once she’d made her way out of the water again and onto the sand, wringing the water from her hair, she’d realised there was someone else heading down the sand in her general direction. “I thought I was the only one crazy enough to be out here this early,” she commented lightly, bright smile on her features.

____

“You know what? I think they’ll cope.” The Rabbi’s wife? He could imagine her making cake after apple cake, at least until she complained that her hands hurt, after which someone else would volunteer. As for his communications position, he imagined that someone else’s kid would take that job soon. “I’m sure they’ll find some sucker to make a gossip column.”

“You know, I wanna try Marlins,” he said. “Is it any good? I’ve yet to try it.”

“I think they will but honestly I’m going to miss you working there. That’s one of the only reasons I started getting involved with the temple again. It was nice having a friend there.” Before that her mother had to almost drag her to services. The only reason she ever went to events there was to make her parents happy. “I’m sure one of the ladies there would be perfect at a gossip column,” She joked. 

Status: Open @catalinastarter​ Location: Just outside MARLIN in LAFAYETTE SQUARE Celebration: New job at Davis Gaming Company

“So, guess what?” Johnnie asked. “I quit my old job at the temple, which… no offense to my aunt – she got me that job when I first moved – I was dying to leave for a while.” The relative lack of anything to do, plus the situation around the Hanukkah celebrations last month or so, made him want to ditch his communications job at Congregation Beth Israel. In anticipation of this, he had done a few freelance gigs to beef up his portfolio.

“And I got a new job. My first week went well, so, I’m ready to celebrate! The question is… where? Any suggestions?”

“NO! You can’t leave! Now who’s going to be my eyes and ears on what happens at the temple? I’m going to have to go back to bribing Mrs. Friedmann with apple cake. You realize how hard it is to make apple cake? That’s a lot of apples to peel and not to mention how time consuming that is. I’m sure the rabbi’s wife will have to fill in again until they find another sucker to do it,” She joked. Really she was happy to see him move on and start a job that he actually liked. 

☁

Nath doesn’t bother to reintroduce themselves, only because they are so used to being in the public sphere and having people recognize them all the time, for better or for worse. Catalina Island is the first place that the obsessive hounding had stopped, and he is glad for it. All he does is nod, a small, polite smile crossing his lips. “Right. Della,” he repeats. 

But their mind doesn’t wander for very long, as they’re right back onto the topic of the ferry. “Do you think they would’ve gotten lost?” Nath didn’t know much about boats, and how easy it would be to stray from course. “Or crashed into something?” 

Della frowned, thinking about his question. It was easy to get lost between here and L.A. It was wide open water after all. Not like it was a road or something easy like that. “If it’s an inexperienced captain that’s piloting that boat? Yeah. It’s very easy to get lost out there. I’ve been doing this for over a dozen years and even I’m afraid that I’ll get lost one day.” Unless one had a lot of experience it was better not to be out there at night. And this new captain? From what she heard he shouldn’t be a captain at all.

“There’s not much they could crash into out there. Well unless they hit another boat.” Which was always a possibility but she was sure she would have heard a distress call.

☁

Nath turns to encounter a familiar face. The woman from their synagogue, to whom they’d given a few wrong answers before correctly guessing their job as a tour guide for the island waters. “Oh, hey! You’re —” He pauses, wracking his head for her name, but it doesn’t come. “Sorry. You know what, I don’t think I every got your name after the Rabbi interrupted us.” 

Looking towards the ocean, however, Nath remembers why he’s down here and grimaces. “Shoot. You didn’t even get a distress call from them?” 

Della laughed a bit in embarrassment. She recognized him. Both from the synagogue and the few times she saw him growing up. After their last encounter she had googled him since he claimed he was in movies and looked at his IMDB site. She wasn’t familiar with any of his roles though. “Della Slade. Owner and one of the captains of Slade Tours.” 

She shook her head at his question, “No. Honestly I didn’t know anything was even wrong until I heard this crowd gathering. I tried for ten minutes but no one responded. Either the radio is off or it’s dead. Maybe broken? Hopefully they’re close.” It was always her fear to got lost out there at night.

Georgina: Thank you, Della! I can't complain, well beside what's currently unfolding on the ferry, but it's been an relaxing evening.

Georgina: Did you have any plans for tonight?

Georgina: Do be careful while you're out there! Is there anyone with you on your boat or did you head out on your own?

Della: I’m glad to hear that you’ve been relaxing. Well until this started happening!

Della: I had a late tour but I docked around 8

Georgina [ 1.45 am ]: Hey, sorry for making a massive group chat with similar numbers...

Georgina [ 1.47 am ]: First, happy New year! Hope this year treats you well 💖

Georgina [ 1.48 am ]: Second, does anyone else have someone coming back from mainland CA? My parents should be on the ferry back home but getting in contact with them is difficult?

Della: Happy New Year to you too dear! Hope it’s a good one for you!

for → @catalinastarter ( 3 / 3 ) location: catalina marina  time: 2:10AM

It’s a good thing it’s New Year’s, because otherwise, Nath would have slept through the entire ordeal unfolding before them. He isn’t sure what exactly happened, but he’d heard bits-and-pieces from everybody about the last ferry back being lost. Someone had said the driver had gone rogue, deliberately taking them far out to the middle of nowhere to run out of gas. Others had said that the driver merely fell asleep, and had crashed into cove somewhere. 

Striding up to the marina, they nudge the person next to them, furrowing their brow. “What have you heard?” he asks, chewing on his lip. “Is everything okay? Where’s the ferry?”  

Della hadn’t planned to do anything for the New Year. In fact she was in bed long before 2021. She had had a late tour so instead of going home she just crashed on her boat. The last thing she expected was all the noise coming from the marina. Looking at the gathering crowd, it didn’t take long to get the story or at least part of the story. What was true and what was gossip she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that the last ferry hadn’t come back. Getting back on her boat, she tried to radio them but after ten minutes of no response she gave up and rejoined the crowd.

Looking at the person next to her, she shrugged, “I tried radioing them but didn’t get any response. I’m friends with some of the ferry captains and I think it’s that new one out there but I’m not sure.”

    “If you are going to try to place any ill faith in their kitchen, I wonder why you’d risk a burger?” Callum quipped back with a warm lopsided grin. “As for the hour, hadn’t you heard? I no longer sleep, I function off of tea and spinach alone.” His remark was made with a side-eye smile, an attempt to convey that he wasn’t the least bit serious. The twenty-four hour time blocks had just had a bit of a long-term effect on his ability to sleep during ‘normal people’ hours. “Well, at least if you’re here with your water at the bar I will only be settled with a portion of odd looks and you’ll receive the other half.” Cal shrugged off his attempted offer, “ — you know, taking risks might as well be my middle name.” No. Not at all. Outside of working in a field that was deemed hazardous and laughing at the idea of worrying about a shark while surfing, he was a fairly calculated and risk adverse soul.

“Because at least if there’s any germs on the burger they were burned off when they cooked it. Especially when it comes to the meat part. As for a salad though? Who knows how long those veggies have been sitting out and my guess is they never washed them,” She jokingly pointed out. After eating here so long she trusted the kitchen enough not to get sick. “I knew it! I always thought you were some weird type of zombie and you just proved me right! Looks like I won that bet. A few people owe me some money now,” She winked at him before laughing. “I’m used to getting odd looks here. So that’s your middle name? How fitting considering your job. It’s like your parents knew you were going to have a dangerous job! Callum Taking Risks Whitmore. Has a nice ring to it. Better than Paul or Sean or those common middle names.”

“What do you do?” Nath thinks he might have seen her around before, but he can’t be 100% sure, so he asks. “And don’t ask me to guess, because I suck at guessing.” They smile good-naturedly. 

Upon hearing her next words, however, his face falls. “Oh — uh, must have been me. Nathaniel, or Nath. I used to live here. It’s why I’d even come here now. Out of nostalgia, maybe.” The truth was, he could have done his rehabilitation program far away, where nobody would recognize him, but he’d come back home instead. “You lived here too? Maybe that’s why I kind of recognize you, too.” 

“How about we make this fun? How about I say three careers and you guess which one is right?” She suggested. It was always fun to see what exactly people thought she did for a living. “I’m the world’s youngest brain surgeon. I’m a boxer. I’m own a tour company that gives tours of the ocean.”