Chapter 21
Jack
It’s nearly ten o‘clock, and the sky has finally gone black. The stars are out. People have been arriving all evening, and many of us have settled in around the fire pit on the deck, overlooking the lake. Henry and Allison are all grins and giggles. I’m really happy for them. Henry’s always been the heir apparent to his family dynasty, which made him so serious. Allison was a television star known mainly for wearing a bathing suit and running on the beach as a lifeguard. But it turns out she’s so much more. And she had her pick of men, but she wanted Henry. She really loosens him up, and they’re great together.
Once again, I’m reminded that all of my friends have coupled up. I like all their partners, which is kind of amazing. This makes me regret even more what I did to Laine. I’ve made such a mess of things, and my efforts to make them better keep making it worse. I don’t know what to do at this point. I’m hoping we can have some alone time this weekend to talk, but she seems preoccupied, and she’s still avoiding me, like she did most of the week. Maybe she just needs time.
But I can’t help feeling a sense of urgency. Fucking Kent Johns showed up with Cordelia, his sister, instead of a date. He’s been eye-fucking Laine, and I’m ready to get physical with him.
“Hey!” Paisley appears next to me and gives me a tight hug. “You guys flew in?”
“Yep. We arrived about lunchtime. You guys came in on a commercial flight, didn’t you?”
She nods. “We did. Davis had a surgery this morning, so we just got here. I’m starved, and while the spread of s’mores looks fantastic, I need something more substantial.
“There’s a taco bar in the kitchen.”
“Perfect.” Paisley looks around. “Where’s Laine?”
“I don’t know. She’s someplace around here.”
Paisley eyes me speculatively. I want to tell her I’d rather Laine be at my side, but I don’t think that would help anything. So, I just raise my drink as Paisley disappears inside.
A little while later, Phillip stands and gathers everyone’s attention. “Okay. This weekend is all about sending Henry and Allison off to happy married life. And we’re going to have fun doing it!”
Everyone cheers.
“We’re pretty relaxed around here,” he continues. “You all have your rooms and my girlfriend, Trish—”
“Ohhhh,” Michael starts and several join in.
Phillip rolls his eyes. “There are twelve suites, which means everyone has a bathroom and a bed to share with their partner. Just focus on using that bed for sleep. The walls are quite thin.”
Everyone snickers.
“Tomorrow, breakfast will be out about eight, and if you need anything, Alan and Merry Morrison are my house managers. They’ll be taking care of us, and please be respectful of them, Griffin.”
“Since when have I not been respectful?”
“Respect means wearing shorts and not letting the world see what you’ve got,” Phillip quips at his younger brother.
“If you’ve got it, flaunt it,” Griffin smirks. He gives a nonchalant shrug to his date—someone he’s failed to introduce to everyone.
“You may have seen the magnifying glass in your care packages,” Trish says. “That’s for when people whip it out and we have to look for it to measure.”
The crowd is laughing. I love it.
“We’ll have jet ski racing tomorrow at ten a.m., and the first race is co-ed,” Phillip continues. “We’ll be racing out and around the floating dock and back. We’ll go over the rules in the morning, but be prepared, Henry. To win, Allison still needs to be on the back of the jet ski when you finish. You can’t leave her in the water after the turn.”
“I would never!” Henry says in mock disgust.
“Yes, he would,” Allison counters. “When it comes to beating his brothers, I need to stand back and get out of his way.”
The crowd laughs again.
“Excuse me?” Phillip says after a moment. “Can I continue?”
“Of course, you can,” Allison mocks.
“The second round is at noon, and the third and final round is at two.”
“My good friend Laine will be managing the brackets,” Phillip adds. “Only she can touch them. So, Davis, if you think you can change something, think again.” Phillip points two fingers at his eyes and then at Davis.
“I’m not a cheater!” Davis exclaims.
“Sure. Remember at the house up north when you had to swim to the raft and back? When no one was looking, you turned around so you’d win.”
“I won fair and square, you nerd.”
I shake my head. It’s times like this that I can see the disadvantage to growing up an only child.
“Tomorrow, those of you who are darts and foosball fanatics will also get a chance to show off your skills,” Phillip continues. “For that, you’ll keep your own scores next to the board. Michael, it requires honesty.”
“Hey, I’m loud, but I’m not a cheater!” he protests.
“And we’ll have various pool tournaments. We’re doing a seven-ball, fifteen-ball, cutthroat, one-pocket, and snooker just for you, Jack.”
“I don’t know how to play snooker,” I lie smoothly.
“Don’t let him fool you. He will run the table,” Davis warns.
“Just because I work in foreign countries half the year and spend my evenings playing pool doesn’t make me a shark.” I act indignant, but this is all a hoot. I’m really not a very good player.
“Okay, we’ll call you a whale then,” Phillip says. “Play at your own risk is all I’m saying.” He shrugs. “And finally, no one is required to be there, but tomorrow night and Sunday afternoon, we have two vineyards coming by to do tastings. Ruby Blues will be here tomorrow night, and they have a double flight. For you, Steve, that means twelve.”
“I can count,” he grouses with a smile.
“And Trish has Cedar Creek Estate Winery coming on Sunday afternoon. If you’re driving back on Sunday, we’ll tell you what to buy when we get home.”
Everyone seems impressed. They’re known for the best wine in the valley, and it will be quite the haul for them to deliver for the tasting. She must have promised to buy plenty.
“That’s the wine we’ll have at the wedding,” Allison exclaims.
“I may have told them that when I booked them,” Trish says with a smile.
Allison claps her hands. “I love it.”
The rest of the evening dissolves into conversation and fun. I rarely drink much because I never want to have a problem with my availability to do surgery, but tonight, I’ve had three drinks, and I’m tipsy. That makes me wish I could get Laine to go to bed with me early.
I look around, but she’s nowhere to be seen.
She was just here a few minutes ago. I go inside to look for her. I end up in our room and find she’s not here either, nor is her suitcase.
My heart sinks, but I’m not really surprised. She’s been avoiding me all week, and she’s made it clear that what happened between us was not picking up where we left off. Tipsy or not, I know I have to respect that, even if I’d hoped this weekend might be like old times. We’re just not there…yet.
I continue down the hall, but I don’t know what room she’s in. Back outside, I pull Trish aside. “Do you know where Laine is?”
“Yes.”
I look at her, waiting for her to continue. “Will you tell me where she is?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Because she doesn’t want you to know.” She looks me up and down. “I don’t know exactly what you said to her, but she’s very confused right now.”
“She’s upset that I defended her against her lousy parents. You know they suck.”
She shrugs. “They’re selfish. But I think it was something about manipulating her by using the L word.”
I close my eyes. “I wasn’t manipulating her. I was being honest. And I’ve told her I loved her before, obviously. What’s the big deal?”
Trish’s face shifts into something like disgust. “If you don’t see the problem there, I can’t help you. Leave her alone this weekend. If I hadn’t asked her to help me, she wouldn’t be here. I’m so disappointed in you.” She turns and walks away.
What is she talking about? Why would Laine feel manipulated?
I head back up to my room and get in bed alone. As Phillip promised earlier, I can hear Griffin and his latest conquest not abiding by the sleep-only suggestion in the next room. Can this night get any worse?
Then I hear her orgasm, and she sounds like a porn star. I roll my eyes. He’s one of my last remaining single friends, but all that means is I’m stuck here listening to this crap.
After they both orgasm and she has a third, I can’t take it anymore. “Dammit, Griffin. Didn’t you hear your brother say the walls were thin?”
His voice rumbles, though I can’t make out what he says, and then his partner giggles.
I stand and rummage through my shaving kit for a package of earplugs. Once they’re in, I can finally fall asleep.
I didn’t close the curtains last night, and I wake up with the sun reflecting off the lake like a spotlight into my room. I pull the curtains closed, but I can’t go back to sleep. My mouth feels like I swallowed a fur ball, and a thudding headache is building. Should have had more water last night. I pull on a pair of shorts and a Coldplay concert T-shirt and wander downstairs to the kitchen.
Merry is putting out a nice breakfast with Belgian waffles. And who do I find sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a cup of coffee? Laine.
I pour myself a coffee, and she looks at me, seeming skittish.
I sit down next to her. “How did you sleep last night?”
“Not too bad,” she says. “And you?”
“If there’s an award for best porn impersonation, please put Griffin and his girlfriend at the top of the list.”
Laine cringes. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. Fortunately, I had earplugs in my shaving kit from that Oasis concert in London we went to.”
“You went with Barbara to that show. Not me.”
“I went with you,” I insist. Barbara and I went to medical school together. She’s a good friend, but I’ve never been interested in her. She’s more the sister I never had.
Laine stands and lets out a big sigh. “It was Barbara. You talk about it every time you get together.”
I open my mouth to protest…but she’s right. How could I have forgotten? Because I’m an asshole. “What are you doing today?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
“I’m keeping the brackets for the jet ski competition. And I plan on taking a long nap before I enjoy the wine tasting this evening.”
“Where are you sleeping?”
“Hey, you two,” Kent Johns says as he enters the kitchen.
This guy has the worst timing.
Laine beams. “Good morning. How did you sleep last night?”
“It was great. It’s so peaceful here.” He turns to the buffet and fills a plate with scrambled eggs and sausages. “These are just like we get back in Britain. Thanks, Merry.”
And why is he so damn cheerful?
She smiles. “You’re welcome. I have the first two Belgian waffles.” She points to Laine and me.
Laine stands. “Great. That will be perfect with the strawberries and blueberries.”
Merry smiles. “I grow those myself. It’ll soon be too hot for them, so the timing of this weekend was perfect.”
Laine loads up her plate. “I think I’ll eat outside.”
“I’ll join you,” Kent says.
What the hell?
I take my waffle and sprinkle it with a few pieces of strawberries before I drown it in maple syrup.
“I can always tell the Canadians.”
I look over my shoulder, and Allison is smiling. She’s an American.
“Don’t you have maple syrup in the U.S.?” I ask.
“I’m sure people do, but maple-flavored corn syrup is what we had growing up, and Mrs. Butterworth was my favorite. It was great with my Eggo waffles.”
Merry shakes her head. “I hope you enjoy this much more than an Eggo waffle.”
Allison smiles. “I know I will. Thank you.” She serves herself a large plate of waffle with fruit topping. “I think I’ll join Laine outside,” she says before leaving me to eat alone in the kitchen.
Pretty soon more people filter in. Everyone seems to be in various stages of hungover. I’m feeling better with some food and sugar in me, but I don’t want to sit outside with the women and Kent. Fuck this. I’m going for a run.
The outside air is cool, and there’s a bit of frost on the side of the road where the sunshine hasn’t caught it yet. Today is going to be a great day on the lake. We’ll all have to wear wet suits, but the sun is shining.
I’ve been to Phillip’s before, and I know the path I need to follow to get in at least five kilometers. It’s quiet, and soon my breathing becomes rhythmic. I keep my head low and watch where I’m going. These days the bears are coming out of hibernation. There was a picture that circulated a few years ago of a bear that swam out to one of the floating docks and sunned herself for the day. It took a wildlife officer to shoo her off.
What am I going to do about Laine? Soon that thought is rhythmic in my head too. Just when I thought things were getting better, when I realized I wanted them to be better, instead I’ve made them worse. But I know we could figure this out if only she’d talk to me.
When I return to the house, I walk around the back. Sweat is pouring off of me, and I take my shirt off. Then I hear a catcall.
“Take it all off,” Trish says.
I look over at the group of women sitting at the outdoor table. “Thank you! Next show is at eleven when Laine and I kick all your asses on the jet ski.”
I’m not going to give her a choice. She needs to have some fun, not just keep the brackets, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to go another day without at least trying to have a real conversation. I’m ready to get this thing figured out.
Phillip walks outside and shakes his head. “Can you put your shirt on?” he gripes. “You’re making the rest of us look bad.”
I snort. “You’re doing all right,” I assure him. “Not too big a spare tire.”
He has no extra body fat whatsoever.
“Well, these days I’m getting a different kind of exercise.” He grins.
I hold up my hand. “I don’t want to hear it. But I’m glad you and Trish are getting along so well.”
“We really are. I always thought she was out of my reach.”
“Why would she be out of your reach?”
“She’s beautiful, and she’s run a multimillion-dollar company for more than ten years. Do you know what I was doing ten years ago? Getting high and being a lazy asshole who didn’t want to work in the family business. Plus, she’s smart. I can go on.”
I shake my head. “Man, she is all those things, but I would bet you all the money in your trust fund that she’d rather have been with you, getting high and being lazy, than running her father’s company.”
He nods. “Did you know her then?”
“I knew who she was. We didn’t really get to know one another until I met Laine at the UBC library.”
“Oh yeah?”
“I was in my residency after working at the Saint Francis Burn Center in San Francisco. I needed some reference materials, and she was doing research for some article she was trying to write. We got to talking and went to lunch. She didn’t know who my father was for the longest time. I was just some guy trying to get his license to practice medicine close to where I grew up because I wanted to be near my mom while she managed radiation and chemo.”
“That seems just like yesterday.”
I nod. “Sometimes, I pick up the phone and dial home expecting Mom to answer. Imagine my disappointment when I get my dad.”
Phillip chuckles. “Is he still dating that young thing?”
“As far as I know. She’s not letting go anytime soon.” I roll my eyes. “Hey, do you know what my dad did right before Laine and I broke up last year?”
He gestures for me to follow, and as I help him get the four jet skis out, I tell him the story about the half-million-dollar check.
Phillip stops in his tracks. “Did she cash it?”
“Even after I dumped her, she didn’t.” I shake my head, marveling at that all over again. I must get a strange look on my face, because when I look up, Phillip is studying me.
“The question is, what’s going to make you happy?” he asks.
I’m not sure I have that answer or the energy to explain the mess I’ve made of things with Laine. “I don’t know.”