“What do you do for shopping? What do you mean they don’t allow cars? There’s only one nail spa? Where do you meet people? What do you do in the evenings? What do you mean there’s not a movie theater? Well, what do you do?”
The second day of their visit, their dismay evolved into suffocating concern. “Honey, what do you do for friends? Do you shut yourself in your office all day? I know working from home allows new options, but I’m worried. Isolation can be harmful. If you need the hospital, where do you go? How far away are the big box retailers? Do you pay extra for shipping? So, if you want to go anywhere, at all, you have to get on a boat?”
During the barrage of questions, my father read the paper. He’d been quite unnerved to learn he had to drive down to the grocery store each morning to select and purchase his morning news. Other than the newspaper issue, from what I could tell, Dad could settle into island living. He found a chair he liked and claimed it.
Dining out helped fill time. But my parents had now been to every restaurant on the island. Dad researched flights from his iPad over breakfast at Delphina’s. He did it discreetly, while Mom asked about the absence of lifeguards on the beach. If I’d been having a better year, I might have hoped they’d move their flights up to this evening. But, given my luck, I didn’t hold out much hope for such an occurrence.
The low hum of the television grated my last nerve. While my mother prepared for her trip to the market, I paced the living area, searching for the tiny remote. I lifted Dad’s newspapers, searched underneath the sofa, and lifted cushions. I spied the sliver of silver on the back of Dad’s seat cushion and shut it off. He looked up from his paper briefly but didn’t say anything.
In my office, all three television monitors were generally on. I liked it that way on a stock market day. But on a Saturday, news was crap and loaded with commercials.
“You want to come with us?”
“Nah, I have some things to check on.”
“Okay. So, I turn left out of your driveway?”
“Yes. You should recognize Federal. It’ll be the first wide street on your right.” Street signs weren’t overly prevalent, so pretty much everyone got around with visual recognition.
“Okay, dear. We’ll be back in a bit.” She patted my cheek.
“Have fun.” I was pretty sure my Dad rolled his eyes. I closed the door on them and reveled in the silence.
Sometime later, my cell rang. I answered without checking the name. Big mistake.
“Gabe, finally. You’re a difficult one to catch.”
“Caroline.” Fanfuckingtastic. “How’s it going?” I spun my office chair around, spinning three-sixties.
“Well, I’m calling to ask you that question.” The spinning chair slowed to a halt.
“Everything here is good.”
“Really? Is that why Clare and Dale flew down to check on you?”
Bitch. I exhaled and flipped open my laptop. “What do you want, Caroline?”
“Why the attitude? I’m calling as a friend. I spoke to my dad, and he says he thinks the case against you is shaky at best. He’s willing to give you a shot.”
I spun the chair around again. “If all I needed was a job, I’d get one.”
“Are you sure about that? Would any other firm touch you with an ongoing Justice Department investigation? How long before the SEC comes knocking?” They already had, but my lawyers were dealing with it.
“And so why would your dad be willing to bring me on?”
“He says as long as you cover any legal costs, he’s open to bringing you in. He’s always liked you.” Caroline’s dad happened to also be golfing buddies with my dad. Our moms were friends, too, although they’d never seemed as close as the men. I spun around and around, weighing my options. Tempted. The stillness of the place had intensified since my parents’ arrival. I itched to get back to the city, to hear horns honk and someone shout a solid round of obscenities. Energy. I needed to be surrounded by life and hustle. I almost craved the smell of exhaust.
“Reed says you might have a reason for staying.” Caroline’s unstated question brought me back to the conversation at hand.
“You’ve been talking to Reed?”
“He says you’re seeing a…hooker.”
“What?” That fucking piss ant. “No. I’m not.”
“The blonde who stopped by when Lauren and I were there? You’re not seeing her?” I stood and paced the office, reining in a surging temper. I swallowed the urge to tell her to fuck off, but only because I might need her dad. Closing doors wasn’t an option.
“Caroline…” My tone served as warning.
“No, Gabe. I’m impressed. You’ve clearly grown up…I mean, she’s not exactly a model, is she?”
Her condescension pissed me off. Poppy not only outshone Caroline in the looks department by a factor of ten, she had heart and drive. I’d pick Poppy over Caroline any day of the week, as would way too many men, judging from her subscriber base, and I had half a mind to tell her, but I refrained.
“Well, if she’s the reason you’re still stuck out there, just keep in mind you’re a pilot. You can fly back on the weekend for a release, or whatever you need from her. And still keep your life going in the city. You don’t have to throw away your career for a temporary fixation.”
What, exactly, did Reed tell her? I leaned over my desk and watched as my father tugged on the steering wheel to make the turn into my driveway. The market trip had been way too quick.
A heavy sigh filtered through the line. “You know, Gabe, in our world, lots of married men even have women like her they
