Chapter 6 #2
“Yes, it was a requirement. Every student’s bed had to pass inspection each morning before we went down to breakfast. We had communal bathrooms, though, and the school had staff who cleaned those.”
“What about college? Where did you graduate from?” she asked, curious as to where he went and his experiences there.
“I had my heart set on Princeton because of their renown architecture school. Zane and I made plans to room together. He didn’t care where we went because he knew he had a place waiting for him at Wagner Enterprises.
Both our dads met at Harvard. The only thing Mr. Wagner insisted upon was that Zane attended an Ivy League school with an active Greek life because of the connections we could make.
Since Princeton didn’t allow fraternities on campus—and neither of us wanted to follow our fathers to Harvard—I decided on Yale.
It had a terrific architecture program. Zane majored in finance, like a ton of other Ivy Leaguers.
First, we roomed together in the dorms and then again after we pledged in the fraternity house. ”
“I should’ve known you were a frat boy.”
“You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”
“Let’s just say during my two years in college, my path didn’t cross much with those of fraternity and sorority members. I hung out with people in the drama department and those who operated the radio and TV station. Those weren’t majors Greeks typically pursued.”
“Fraternity guys don’t always date girls in sororities,” he told her. “I’m surprised no frat guy asked you out.”
Piper looked at him, her brows arched. “How many non-Greeks did you go out with at Yale, Mr. Shepherd?”
He was silent a long moment. “I can’t think of any,” he said sheepishly.
“Point made,” she said. “I’m sure you weren’t as rowdy and drunk as most of the guys in your frat, but those were still the guys you hung out with.”
He nodded in agreement. “You’re right. My parents—especially my mother—always wanted me to be seen in the right company. To go to the right schools. Pledge the best fraternity.”
“You said you spent summers in a small town with your grandparents. I assume they were your dad’s parents and not your mom’s?”
“My father came from pretty humble beginnings. Pawpaw was a carpenter, while Memaw worked as a retail clerk at the local sporting goods store. Father was brilliant, though, and earned a scholarship to Harvard. He met Zane’s dad there.
Believe it or not, Mr. Wagner came from Driftwood Bay.
His parents are Neville and Nellie Wagner. ”
“They own and run Driftwood Diner!” she exclaimed. “I’ve known them forever. Hmm. I didn’t even know they had kids.”
“Only Mr. Wagner. He left Texas and set pretty lofty goals. Wagner Enterprises is a multibillion dollar operation with resorts worldwide. Our fathers found kindred spirits in one another, being bright scholarship students from small towns with big dreams. They became best friends who learned how to fit in with the wealthier students. Mr. Wagner wasn’t ashamed of his parents, though, the way my father was of his.
My mother abhorred having in-laws who were blue collar.
That’s the biggest reason they stopped me from going to Baker’s Cove each summer once I turned fifteen. ”
She heard bitterness in his tone. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I know you speak of your grandparents fondly. That must have been tough.”
“It was. I even ran away and hitchhiked to Maine so I could see them.”
He laughed, and she saw him loosening up a bit.
“I won’t begin to tell you how much trouble I was in when I got carted back to Manhattan.”
“Do you at least see your grandparents now?”
“No,” he said abruptly, going quiet for a moment. “They died that next summer in a boating accident. Even all these years later, I miss the hell out of them. I accomplish something and immediately want to share it with them—and then remember they’re no longer here.”
He pulled his car into an empty parking space, and Piper saw the local ferry heading toward them.
“I can’t imagine what you’ve gone through,” she said. “I had very loving grandparents. Loving parents, too. They supported everything I ever wanted to do. I don’t know if you’ve met Mom or Dad.”
“I’ve met Chief Roberts. He’s one of those salt of the earth guys. He and Pawpaw would’ve gotten along well.”
They fell silent, watching the ferry make its approach. It was steered into the slip, and she said, “Why, I think that’s Kylie Mayfield.”
“It is,” Sullivan confirmed. “She’s not always on the ferry runs.
A lot of times, she’s running one of the charters for her family.
Neville and I went on one of her deep sea diving expeditions not too long ago.
I’m living in a room above the diner. Neville and Nellie have sort of adopted me as an honorary grandson. ”
“Kylie was a year ahead of me in school. She was a cheerleader and ran track. The most popular girl in school, and yet she was friendly to everyone.”
“You say that as if that’s something odd,” he noted.