Growth in a Bottle extended preview

Carien stretched her arms and laid down onto her beach blanket, her blue bikini shining in the sunlight. “What a beautiful day. So glad I decided to treat myself to a vacation.” She closed her eyes and put her hands behind her head. “Only thing that would make it better is if Sarah could be here. Alas, she is spending the week house hunting. I will have to send her a postcard along with something else nice. She must be freezing back home in Michigan.”

Carien crossed her legs. “I still can’t believe that I won that sweepstakes competition to come out here, though. I am usually never so lucky.” She laughed. “Though Sarah is going to kill me if she finds out that the competition was sponsored by Fredricks Fancy. I know she hates them and all, but I don’t know. They aren’t all that bad.”

“Hey, miss, look out.”

Carien opened her eyes to see a giant blue beach ball. She threw up her arms, but it was too late. “Oww.” The ball bounced off of her face and landed on her cooler. Carien sat up as she rubbed her forehead. “Who threw that at me?”

A young lady with long red hair and a red swimsuit to match ran up. “Oh, I am sorry.” She turned her head at a tan-skinned man in blazing red shorts. “Patrick, I told you to be careful.”

He sighed. “Sorry, Karen.” He turned his head. “Carien? Is that you?”

Carien raised an eyebrow. “Umm, yes?”

He walked over. “Don’t you remember me? I was at Sarah’s birthday party?”

Carien crossed her arms. “Umm ya. That. . .” She shook her head at the memory that was Sarah’s failed surprise party. “I didn’t get much chance to know you there.”

“Ya.” He pulled at his arm. “Anyways, it is nice to see another familiar face around here. Have you met Karen?”

“Not really.”

“Oh, she is great.” He pulled Carien to her feet. “I just met her when I got here, but she is great. You just have to get to know her.”

Carien gulped.  I just hardly met this guy once, and he is acting like my long-lost brother.

“Karen.” She turned around with the giant beach ball in her hand. “I would like you to meet my friend Carien.”

She dropped the toy and extended out her hand.

“Hello. It is nice to meet you.”

Carien took her hand. “Hello.”

“Are you another contest winner?”

Carien slowly nodded her head. “Umm, yes.” She crossed her arms. “Yes, I am.”

Karen clasped her hands together. “Great. Then I hope to see you later today. All contest winners are invited to an outing on the company boat.”

Patrick pulled at Karen’s arm. “Hey, why are you telling me this now?” He wrapped his arms around her. “Think I can join you out there?”

Karen laughed. “Sorry. Only people who won the contest can take the boat ride.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “But we can see each other after. Don’t worry.”

“Fine. Fine. Well, let’s spend what time we have together, shall we?”

“Sounds good.” She pulled him away down the beach and waved at Carien. “So you later tonight.”

“Umm ya. Later.” She sighed and sat back down. “I wish they had told me ahead of time about this boat ride but ok.” Carien closed her eyes and dozed off.

***

When she opened her eyes, the sun was low in the sky. “Ugh, how long did I nod off for?” She sat up and dusted the sand off her body. “Dammnit, who took my cooler?” She slammed her fist into the sand. “Last time, I decide to take a nap in the middle of the beach.”

“Everything alright, Carien?”

She turned her head to see Karen walk towards her. “Umm ya.” Carien scratched at the back of her head. “Just missing a few things.”

“I can help you look for them if that is ok?” She held out her hand and pulled Carien to her feet. “I am sure they are around here somewhere.”

Carien shook her head. “No, it’s alright. It was all stuff courtesy of the people who organized the event.” She shrugged her shoulders. “At most, I will just have to pay extra before I leave.”

Karen laughed. “I am sure we can work something out, of course. Well, we should hurry after all. We don’t want to miss the boat ride.”

Carien nodded her head. “Of course.” She sighed as she followed Karen down the beach. “Once we do this, can we head up to the hotel? I have been looking forward to step inside there. It is a five-star resort, after all.”

“Of course.” Karen laughed. “After our trip around the bay, we can relax all you want.”

They walked down towards a wooden pier where a few boats were docked. The pier was slick with water and was slippery, unlike the sandy beach. Karen rushed ahead towards a vessel filled with people at the end of the dock. “Hey, wait up.” Carien slowly made her way down the pier. “I don’t want to slip onto my rear end.”

Karen laughed as she jumped onto the boat. “Don’t worry so much, and hurry up.”

She turned around and jumped onto the second deck.”

Carien shook her head. “I am coming.” She neared the luxury boat, lights gleaming in the waning sun. Carien pulled herself onboard and was greeted by a man she hadn’t met before in a suit.

“Welcome to the Galestorm. Head up to the second level for the party.”

“Thank you.” She walked past him and raised an eyebrow. “Wonder what his deal is.” She shrugged her shoulders and did as she was told. She made her way up a spiral crystal staircase to find a group of three other women sitting at a glass table having sweets.

Karen waved at Carien. “Hey. Come on. There is free food.”

“Thanks.” She sat down on a velvet couch. “What about drinks?”

A tall and broad-shouldered woman with amber hair and red binki crossed her arms. “Been here for an hour. They haven’t produced any kind of drinks for us.”

Karen laughed. “I mean, they have to right.” She threw chocolate with two lines of white frosting and a strawberry in the center into her mouth. “I didn’t catch your name.”

“Amy.”

“Well, Amy, now that we are all here, maybe we can get something to drink.” Karen raised her voice. “Hello. Hey. Who is in charge here? We want some beverages, and we want it now?”

The man in the suit who had greeted Carien walked up the crystal staircase. “Don’t worry. Your drinks are coming, ladies. We have something special planned for the contest winners here.”

The blonde-haired woman in a blue and black swimsuit stood up. “Hey, don’t hold out.” She crossed her dark-skinned arms. “You have been making some of us wait for over an hour now.”

He turned around. “Just wait a few more moments, please. I will go and check on the status of your drinks.” He walked into the cabin.

Carien sighed. “Anyone find it strange that they have been holding back on the drinks?”

Karen threw another small candy into her mouth. “No. I am sure they were just getting the brew ready. Must be something special.” She smiled and extended her hand out to the blonde-haired woman. “Hi, I am Karen.”

“Lora.”

“Well, it is nice to meet you.”

Lora cracked a small smile. “Sure. I didn’t know anyone else was going to be here. From what my sweepstakes ticket said, I would enjoy a weekend getaway. It said nothing about having to share the experience with others.”

Carien laughed. “Funny. I didn’t even know it was for the weekend. I thought it was just for tonight.”

Lora crossed her arms. “Well, someone should explain something to us. Don’t you think?”

“I am sure we can get some questions answered when they finally bring us our beverages.” Carien crossed her legs. “Now that we are all here, it shouldn’t be too much longer.”

Amy walked to the railing and looked out of the sparkling water. “I hope so.

And I hope they bring us something more than just candy. I want something like pasta or a nice steak to eat.” She looked up at the sky. “Or maybe some chicken.”

Karen laughed. “You came all the way out here for chicken?”

Amy turned her head. “Hey, don’t judge me. I love chicken. Especially grilled.”

Karen shrugged her shoulders. “Ok then.”

“Ok, drinks are served.” Carien and the others turned their heads at once to see the young man in the suit walking towards them; he held a tray in his hand, and on the tray were four bottles with blue liquid. “Specially of the house.”

Karen took one of the bottles. “Thank you.” She held it above her head and examined it. “Is it some fancy type of liquor?”

He shook his head. “Not exactly. My employer, Fredricks Fancy, is experimenting with a new type of wine, and as part of your winnings, we would love for you to try it.”

Karen smiled. “I love wine.” She drank the contents of the bottle.

Amy and Lora took the wine and slowly drank the contents as Carien took her bottle off the tray. “Thank you.”

The man nodded his head. “I will be back in a few moments, and we can discuss dinner.”

Amy smiled. “Swell. I want to ask if you have steak. Or chicken. Please tell me you have chicken.”

He smiled and turned around. “We can discuss this when I get back. Just enjoy yourselves until then.” He ducked back inside the cabin.”

Carien sighed. “I can’t help but get a weird feeling from all this.”

Karen put her arm around her. “Loosen up. We have some wine now. Drink up.

This is a celebration after all.” She stretched her arms. “Let’s start treating it like one.”