Page 3 of Escape To Paradise
My job search had yielded nothing yet. There were several positions available as a chef, but most of them were in big cities. I just felt like going to a big city at this point would just burn me out. All the eight years I poured into my relationship and my restaurant had drained me. Now, I had no drive left, especially after I broke off my relationship and partnership with Benoit.
Lisa cautioned me about moving on. She told me it wasn’t easy. Building something back up from the foundations of a past life wasn’t a simple task. When she took me in, she told me I really had to think long and hard about it. When her relationship ended with Bob, she had to rebuild everything from scratch.
Lisa brought her glass of red wine with her. It was getting a little chilly, so I sipped a hot chai tea with some cinnamon. Adding the spice added a little warmth to the drink.
“You’re brave to be doing this. I’ve been at it for a while, but it wasn’t easy when Bob left,” Lisa recalled. She was staring blankly in front of her while sipping her wine.
“It’s not by choice. I just can’t stay with him anymore. I have thought about going back and forgiving him, but I just couldn’t bear it. The thought of him, all this time, with another woman. I just can’t.”
“Well, I forgave Bob several times. Heck, if he hadn’t continued to do it, I would still be with him. But the sixth time was the last straw.” Lisa’s eyebrows furrowed. “But I tell you, it wasn’t easy to move to this small town. To take care of the kids. Luckily, he sends money every month. It helps, at least.”
“I’m sorry about the cheating. I didn’t know he cheated on you that many times.”
“Well, I’m over it. It was five years ago.” Lisa shrugged her shoulders.
“Why did you choose the mountainside?”
“Well, I thought it was my chance to leave the city life. I’ve always wanted to retire in a cabin in the woods. But I guess everything got fast-tracked after my divorce. So, what was your plan when you retired?”
“Retire from what? I love cooking, I don’t think I will ever retire from it.”
“You know what I mean… Like what is your dream later in life?”
“Well, I wanted to still cook but to retire in an island paradise somewhere. You know, close to the sea. Like live in a hut and just enjoy a swim in paradise whenever I want to.”
“There you go. That’s your fast-tracked goal. I have an idea. Give me your laptop?”
“My laptop?”
“Yes, come on, give it to me.”
I reluctantly got up and retrieved my laptop. I handed it to Lisa when I got back to the porch. She opened it almost immediately and typed in the browser. After a few clicks, she showed me her browser search.
“What is this?” I asked. I took the laptop and read the browser search. It was a list of jobs available in the Caribbean for on-board yacht chefs.
“That’s your answer. There are several that need a chef ASAP.” Lisa looked proud of her accomplishment.
“How did you do that?”
“I just have good browsing fingers. Anyway, just take a job, any job. Get out of America. Travel the world. I would have done it if I didn’t have kids in tow. Just invite me there in the summer.”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure.”
Lisa pried the laptop away from my fingers. She then proceeded to type for what seemed like five minutes. Then she clicked on the “Enter” button.
“What did you just do?” I asked.
“I just applied for a job for you. You’ll get the job. You’re an excellent cook. And also, those yachts, they’re desperate to get staff.”
“How do you know?” I asked again.
“I had a co-worker who worked on cruise ships and private yachts before. She always told me how wonderful it was to travel and work at the same time. You don’t have kids yet, so this is very doable for you.”
I placed the laptop on the table. Then Lisa grabbed my hand and dragged me to her backyard, which was lit up with string lights. She climbed up on the trampoline and invited me to join her. She proceeded to jump up and down.
I joined her, albeit reluctantly. She held my hands, and we started jumping together. It felt good to have the cool air on my face, and the jumping made me feel like a young girl again. Then we both collapsed together and looked up at the stars. Right then, a shooting star zipped across the sky.
“Well, that’s a good sign there,” Lisa said.
