One Enchanted Summer

Chapter 2

CHAPTER

TWO

Quinn

“You left to get cocoa and came back with a job?” Gertie laughs. “My goodness, I love being right. I just didn’t think it would be so quick!” She’s perched in her chair in the living room now already sipping from a mug of cocoa. I shiver and wonder if I need to make myself a cup.

“Is that okay? Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I ask nervously.

“Of course. I told you to get a job. And you sure work fast,” she laughs again.

“I wasn’t even trying to find a job. I was just walking around Mystic Harbor and happened to be at the right place at the right time.”

“Life is all about timing,” Gertie muses.

I’m glad she’s not mad about it. The whole way home, I worried that she would think I was abandoning her. I came here for her, and I want to be here for her. I would hate for her to think that I had ulterior motives for being here. But I should’ve known she was going to be supportive—she always has been.

“I do love the harbor. It will be fun working so close to the park. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind working in the park.”

Gertie chuckles. “You have always loved that place. Now I have an excuse to come down there and visit you.”

The next morning, I smile as I walk through the harbor. I am going to love starting my day here. The energy is intoxicating. I glance out over the water towards the Opera House and the statue of a bunyip in the water. The only reason I know what bunyips are is because of this park. There’s a large sign along the boardwalk that tells the tale of the bunyip. According to legend, it is a monster that lives in the rivers and swamps of Australia. It is rumored to be between a seal and a dog with large tusks and a horse-like tail. When I did my own research, it referred to the bunyip as being a man-eating monster, but the park conveniently left that tidbit off of the sign.

I tentatively walk into Emberwood: Southern Cuisine before it opens. I spy a few people tidying the chairs and getting ready for the day. I realize I didn’t even catch the name of the man that hired me. I don’t even know if he actually has the ability to hire me, though I’m hoping he does. I wring my hands together as I nervously look around.

A girl spots me and stops wiping one of the chairs. “Can I help you?” she asks. She looks to be close to my age. She has dark black hair that is pulled into a tight bun and is wearing clear-frame glasses. She’s wearing khakis and a white polo with the Emberwood logo on it. I assume that is the official uniform.

“I’m looking for someone…a guy,” I say slowly, hoping he will somehow appear.

“Aren’t we all?” the girl laughs and it’s a pretty, delicate laugh.

“I met someone here yesterday who said he wanted to hire me,” I explain.

“Oh! You mean Ash.”

I pause. “His name is Ash?” I glance at the sign on the wall that says Emberwood: Southern Cuisine. It seems a little ironic that his name is Ash and the restaurant is called Emberwood.

She follows my gaze and laughs. “Yeah. His Mom’s name was Ember, and she named him Asher, but everyone calls him Ash. It’s not very subtle,” She points toward a door in the back and says, “His office is back there.”

“Thank you,” I reply. “I’m Quinn.”

“I’m Tatum,” she answers with a smile. I already know I’m going to like her.

Ash is working on paperwork in his office when I walk through the open door. The smile he gives me quickly assures me that I’m supposed to be here. He’s excited and eager to get me started and tells me to talk to him or Tatum if I have any questions.

Thankfully, being a waitress here is very similar to my other time as a server so I quickly fall into rhythm. This restaurant has a fast pace and I like that about it. I feel busy and entertained for my whole shift. Tatum and I bond over quick conversations and pointed looks as we pass each other. Ash is pretty hands-off for a first day, but I catch him watching me a few times. He gives me a thumbs-up, and it makes me feel at ease. I have a feeling he’s going to be a great boss. By the end of my first shift, my feet are tired but I’m feeling accomplished. I’m glad Gertie recommended that I find a job. She knows me well.

“How was your first day?” Ash asks when I knock on his office door.

“Great.”

“Not too crazy for you?”

“I actually like the fast pace.”

He grins in response. “Wonderful! You seemed right at home. I was impressed.”

“Thank you.” His words fill me with a sense of pride. The fact that he noticed my work and seems impressed with it makes me happy. I’ve always been a bit of a nervous person. I hate the idea of not doing a good enough job or that someone might not be happy with me. Sometimes I need a little extra validation and Ash seems to be good at giving that. I think I’m going to like it here.

Ash stands up and hands me an envelope with cash inside. “Not bad for your first day,” he says with a smile. I glance inside in surprise. There’s a lot more money in here than I expected.

“Also, I forgot to give you your pass this morning,” he adds, holding a small card.

“My pass?” I’m confused. I look down and see the card has a mountain with the words ‘World of Enchantment’ on it. Excitement bursts through me. Is this what I think it is?

“Yeah. You get a free season pass to the park. Didn’t I mention that before?”

Now I know I’m really going to love it here.

I made $300 last night. I waited until I got in the car to count it, and then I shrieked in excitement. I can’t believe I made that much in tips in one night! The food is a little more pricey because of its location, and I think most people who eat there expect to pay a lot but I still wasn’t expecting that much. When I got home, Gertie was doing a word search in her chair, waiting for me. She was attentive and eager to hear all about my first day. She decided that once she’s a little more agile, I owe her dinner since getting a job was her idea. Guilt ate at me a little as we talked. I feel bad that she was home all day without any company. What if something happened to her and I wasn’t here? When she told me Doris came by, I felt even worse.

“Grandma, are you sure you’re okay with me working?” I ask quietly. I watch her face closely. Her eyes soften, and she reaches out to grasp my hand.

“Yes. You don’t need to worry about me,” she replies.

“And yet…” I trail off.

She chuckles and shakes her head. “You always worry so much about other people. Please worry a little more about yourself.”

I worked out my schedule with Ash so that I come in for the opening shift. They serve brunch, so I get to work at 10:00 and leave by 3:00. This means I can be there for breakfast in the morning with Gertie and still be back in time for dinner, shopping, and anything else she might need. She’s continued to assure me that she’s just fine, but it’s still a battle to deal with my internal guilt.

The first week passes uneventfully. The rest of the staff is very kind and patient with me. I bond instantly with Tatum, just like I knew I would. Ash understands completely about my situation with my grandma and assures me that he will be flexible with me if I need anything. Even most of the customers are great. The tips continue to exceed my expectations, and Tatum tells me that even in the off-season she still makes a lot. She usually works later than me, but today she’s done early, so we made plans to go to the park. I’m probably too excited about it. I have been eager to go but I’ve still been cautious and nervous about Gertie.

I popped into the park earlier in the week, but all I did was walk through the China region and grab some dumplings. I was in awe of the intricate details in just the part I saw. Each building’s architecture was made to look as if you were just transported to China. Lanterns were hanging across the walkway, and there was a section with food carts full of authentic food. I’d been craving dumplings ever since I got here, so I quickly grabbed some for me and Gertie, and despite wanting to stay at the park longer, I went home.

Now, Tatum and I are walking across the Sydney Bridge, and I’m practically bouncing with excitement.

“You’ve been here before, right?” she clarifies.

“Yeah. But I love it. I feel like it’s so different as an adult. I didn’t notice all the tiny details as a kid, now I’m just amazed by all of it.”

She laughs. “I guess I’m just a little too used to it after working here and going so often. It’s kind of refreshing to go with someone new.”

“How long have you worked here?” I ask.

She pauses as we scan our passes and walk through the gate. “Six years,” she answers.

“I’m 30. Trust me, I’ve gotten some judgment about not having what some people consider a “real career,” but I make good money and have flexible hours, and honestly, I like it. I don’t see anything wrong with that,” she continues.

I nod in response but don’t have to say anything because she adds, “Plus, I love the extra food I get to take home. And so does Dylan.”

Dylan is her boyfriend. They live together, and I met him when he came to pick her up once. They are both from here and have been dating for three years. He was slightly intimidating the first time I saw him. He’s 6’3 with extremely muscular arms. Honestly, I thought he looked a little like The Rock. I had to do a double-take the first time he walked into the restaurant. However, he goes against typical stereotypes because he’s a high school science teacher. Tatum said he’s received a few too many anonymous love notes from his students.

“So, where to first?” Tatum asks as we reach a fork in the road. The sign says China and Australia are to the right, and Ireland and Europe are to the left.

“Left. I went to China last time,” I reply.

I’ve never been to Europe in real life but if it’s anything like it is in the park, it must be beautiful. The shops are colorful with pretty architecture and a mountain backdrop that somehow looks real. We pass one of the tallest rollercoasters the park has, The Bat. It starts off in a dark room and the walls around you are lined with coffins. Then the coffins slowly open and it seems as if vampires are coming out. The room turns red and you shoot forward into a dark tunnel. It’s fast and completely dark, then the track takes you outside and you go straight up and straight down. It does a couple of loops and then it ends. It’s a fun one, especially at night.

Then, we walk past a replica of the Colosseum. I can’t wait to go there for real one day, but for now, this will have to do. It’s vast, detailed, and currently scattered with people taking pictures in front of it and sitting on the grass eating gelato.

Next, we reach Greece and the buildings turn white with blue roofs. We walk past the unicorn ride, which was a favorite of mine as a kid. I spy a little girl in line bouncing on her toes as she tries to see how close she is to the front of the line. I envy her a little. I wish I could go back and ride it again for the first time. You sit on a unicorn facing a screen, and it feels like you are riding through beautiful lush forests, along streams and it ends in a wide-open field with a rainbow. You can feel the unicorn breathing and running beneath you, it feels so magically real.

As we pass by another line, Tatum grabs my arm. “Race of the Centaur is only a fifteen-minute wait! That never happens!” She quickly pulls me towards the line.

It’s one of the newer rides, so I’ve never ridden it before. Another thing I love about theme parks is that even the lines are on theme. Race of the Centaur has an archway of greenery over our heads. The vines twist around us and hidden speakers play soft bird chirps. We walk quickly through the line and almost all the way to the front.

“I love this one,” Tatum gushes. “Wait, you like rollercoasters right?” she asks.

“Love them.”

She grins. “Perfect.”

We get on the next turn and sit side by side. As the lap bar pulls down I feel a pulse of excitement. I love riding rides when I have no idea what to expect. The unknown makes it even more fun.

The coaster pulls forward slowly, and suddenly, we feel like we are in a forest. There are large trees around us, and a bird swoops overhead. I look around in wonder. It’s breathtaking how authentic and detailed everything is. Suddenly, an animatronic centaur appears behind a tree and walks towards us. I jump a little in surprise, and Tatum laughs.

“He’s hot, right?” she jokes. It’s actually amazing how lifelike he looks. His hair seems to be luscious and flowing behind him and I swear if I touched the fur it would be soft.

“What are you doing here?” the centaur says in a deep voice. “Humans are not welcome here.”

“Uh oh,” Tatum says with a laugh. “Get ready.”

The centaur leans forward a little and suddenly the coaster launches forward. I’m pushed back against the seat and Tatum screams in delight next to me. We are zooming through the forest, dodging trees and racing the centaur beside us. The coaster goes up a hill and when we come back down we splash through a small stream and I can’t stop myself from screaming. Through the ride, the centaur runs beside us, sometimes pulling ahead a bit and sometimes falling behind. In the end we come to a slow stop and the centaur nods at us once before walking back into the forest.

“That was amazing!” I declare to Tatum.

She nods in agreement. “I know! I told you!”

“Want to ride it again?” she asks when she spots the short line.

We ride it two more times, and I still notice a new feature each time.

As we finally exit Greece, we pass the siren show. I vaguely remember enjoying that show as a kid, but I can hear it’s already started. We must have missed it by a few minutes. I check my watch, but it’s the last show of the night for that one.

“Hey if we hurry we can catch the last show of World of Enchantment!” Tatum suggests.

“Yeah! I’ve never seen that one.”

“Really? It’s a classic!” she says, quickening her pace. We pass by the werewolf ride and before we reach Ireland we turn and follow signs for the World of Enchantment show. We reach the entrance just before it starts. The large rock amphitheater is lined with bleachers and somehow we get lucky enough to sneak into the front. The performance starts and the stage is dark with a deep voice introduction.

“This world is full of magical beasts, mythical creatures and the unknown. But thanks to one man, we are learning more and more about these supernatural beings. Ezra Sterling risks his life every day to discover what enchanting things lie in this great world.”

The stage lights up and one man is standing in the center holding a map. He turns it side to side and dramatically looks up into the crowd. I instantly notice his chiseled jawline and how incredibly attractive he is. He’s wearing brown pants and a white shirt. Trees line the edges of the stage to seem as if he’s in the forest. Someone dressed in black with black wings flies past him as if they are a bird. Another dressed as a cheetah stalks past him. He holds still until the cheetah passes. He walks a bit further and bends down to feel the dirt as if he’s tracking a footprint there. Ezra Sterling stands up and looks around as three people dressed as monkeys quietly slide down ropes from the ceiling. They are elegant and slow in their movements. I’m amazed at their agility. Ezra Sterling continues to look around just as each of the monkeys flip off the rope and land around him. He jumps in surprise. He looks left, then right, and then does a back handspring away from them. The monkeys pound their chest and suddenly cartwheel towards him. He turns and runs as they continue to cartwheel and flip as they chase him. He reaches a cliff on the opposite side of the stage and parkours up the side of it to a ledge that sticks out. The monkeys seem as if they are about to follow just as someone dressed as a large black cat jumps from the side of the stage and chases them off.

A crew of people push a large mountain setting onto the stage as Ezra Sterling consults his map again. He starts his trek up the mountain, pulling himself up and over large boulders and ledges. Ezra Sterling reaches a gap separating the two mountains and uses a rope to swing across the large cavity. At the trail's end, he starts climbing to the top. I can’t help but notice how his arms flex as he grabs the ledge and pulls himself up. It gives us an excellent view of how tight his pants are.

“Is it just me or is he jacked?” Tatum asks as she watches him climb to the top.

I chuckle. “Definitely not just you.”

Once he reaches the ledge he notices a large nest with an egg inside.

“I found it!” He loudly declares. He gently reaches out and scoops up the large egg. He holds it up proudly. Suddenly a group of people rushes from the side of the stage. Four guys and one girl stand confidently in front of Ezra Sterling.

“Well, well, thank you for leading us right to the egg. These are worth a lot of money you know,” says one of the men as he pulls out a sword. “We’ll be taking that now.” The woman pulls out a sword too as the other men hold up their fists, ready for a fight.

“Egg, huh?” Ezra Sterling says with a smile. “Oh, you mean this thing?” He throws it up in the air and the group gasps and lunges forward. Ezra Sterling easily catches it and juggles it between his hands.

“Yeah. I’ll be keeping this,” he says and quickly tucks it into his bag. The man with the sword lunges forward and Ezra Sterling crouches down and spins beneath it.

The next few minutes are full of tumbling, flipping, and aerials as they pretend to fight each other. Ezra Sterling punches and dodges while keeping the egg safe. Despite knowing it’s all staged I can’t stop myself from watching him in awe. The way he moves is so graceful. He makes it look incredibly easy to maneuver his body through the air. I can’t stop myself from thinking how amazing he must be in bed. My cheeks blush in embarrassment as I shake away the intrusive thought.

Ezra Sterling seemingly throws a villain off the side of the mountain. Then he slides down the hill quickly, when one of the men tries to follow, they tumble over the wrong edge. When Ezra Sterling reaches the bottom of the mountain, he somersaults and starts to run before he realizes the egg has slipped out of his bag. He grabs the egg just as the villain flips and lands right on the other side of a hidden teeterboard. Ezra Sterling launches into the air, doing a double front flip, and the crowd cheers. I’m amazed by how high in the air he is thrown. On the second flip, he lets go of the egg and lands back on the teeterboard, launching the villain into the air, where he catches the egg and does a backflip spin before he lands on the board and launches Ezra Sterling back into the air. This goes on for a few minutes as they take turns juggling the egg back and forth while doing an awe-inspiring amount of twists and spins.

Finally, Ezra Sterling grabs the egg out of the air, does a backflip somersault off the teeterboard, and runs the opposite way of the villain. The crowd cheers wildly, myself included. I can’t believe the stunts they just performed on that teeterboard. It was incredible. Just when I think the show can’t get any better Ezra Sterling suddenly stops running and looks down at the ground. A clicking sound is heard and then a fast ticking sounds through the amphitheater. He just stepped on an explosive. He dramatically stares at the crowd as the ticking continues. I’m grinning as his eyes roam over the audience, he’s so dramatic and entertaining. He looks up and sees a large tree branch. He grabs his rope and throws it around the limb, then he pulls himself up and swings just as the ground explodes. Dirt and rocks go flying and real flames burst from the ground. Ezra Sterling lands on the ground and runs off stage. The stage crew puts out the fire and quickly switches the set from the forest to a research lab.

The show ends with Ezra Sterling reaching his lab safely with the egg. I can’t stop myself from jumping up in a standing ovation. That was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen at a park. I can’t believe I’d never seen it before. I’m blown away that they even used real fire at the end. The special effects and all of the stunts were phenomenal. I’m still clapping enthusiastically as the guy playing Ezra Sterling takes a bow and then motions to the monkeys and villains as they take their bows.

“That was incredible!” I proclaim.

Tatum beams back at me. “I know, right? It’s insane!”

I watch as a sweet little boy makes his way to the edge of the stage and starts eagerly waving. The guy who played Ezra Sterling smiles and walks over to say hello. He crouches and starts talking animatedly to the boy, who is bouncing up and down in excitement.

Tatum catches me staring and follows my gaze towards them. “Well, that’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen,” she says.

The Ezra Sterling actor takes off his gloves and offers them to the little boy. The sweet kid is so shocked he just stares at the gloves, unable to move. His mom laughs as she snaps pictures of the interaction. Finally, the little boy takes them carefully as if they are a fragile treasure. I’m so caught up in watching them that I don’t notice most of the audience has left now. When the family leaves the actor waves and then sees Tatum and I still staring. He nods once and holds his hand up in a wave before turning and walking off stage.

“He is yummy,” Tatum says as we watch him go.

I couldn’t agree more.