7. Caleb
CHAPTER SEVEN
Caleb
I’ve been looking forward to this day for weeks. Not just because of the mouth-watering burger I am currently devouring, but also because I finally get to see my best friends for the first time in months.
Parker flips through the songs on the miniature jukebox at the end of the table, queuing up several tracks.
A small tear in the powder blue leather runs down the back of the booth beside him, giving the illusion of two seats.
The spot next to him is still empty, soon to be occupied by the final member of our trio, Linny.
We met in elementary school, and this has always been one of our favorite places. Not much has changed in the last two decades. Same menu, same staff, same feel-good vibes.
Flo’s is the only twenty-four-hour diner on the island and is home to the best milkshakes in the world, hands down. The menu is overflowing with hundreds of different flavors and mixtures to choose from, and more are added every year.
As kids, we would scrounge up coins from our parents’ houses and ride our bikes here after a long day of running around the island. We pooled our money so we could try as many milkshake flavors as possible, and whoever brought the most coins picked the flavors that night.
So many core memories were made in this diner.
I lean back against the taller-than-average backrest, feeling myself sink into the worn leather.
Despite Flo’s being near capacity, the diner layout keeps outside conversations at a quieter level, creating a more intimate experience.
Parker is on song duty, and today has been a mix of Joan Jett, The Beach Boys, and Coldplay. His taste covers a wide range of genres and artists, so you never know what you’re going to get when he’s in charge of the music.
“How’s the family?” I ask Parker between bites.
“Everyone’s good,” he says before sipping his apple pie milkshake. “Business is steady. Mom talked me into coming to the store with her a few times a week to keep her company on slower days.”
Parker and I are islanders, born and bred. First-born sons, and heirs to whatever endeavor our ancestors decided to take part in. Parker’s dad owns Thornton Family Jewelers, the island’s only jewelry store. It was started by his great grandfather and passed down from father to son, until Parker.
Halfway through our senior year of high school, Parker decided he wanted to go to college instead of working at the store, leaving it all behind for his younger sister to one day take over. She was thrilled, of course, but Parker wanted no part of it.
He’s done alright for himself these past few years. More than alright, actually.
He finished his degree in computer science at Framingham State and now works in IT for a small business startup. He lives just outside of Boston, not too far from Linny, but works remotely. He only goes into the office a few times a year for staff meetings and major events.
Parker broke the mold. He got out, I didn’t.
A tiny part of me—some sick part of me—envies him for not having to stay with the family business.
I know it shouldn’t bother me, but it does.
It bothers me that he didn’t even tell me he was considering college.
My family was busy falling apart before my very eyes, and I had no time to think about anything else.
College was never something we thought about until high school, and even then, it never seemed attainable.
When businesses stay in the family for so long, you start learning all the ins and outs at an early age.
By the time you start working right out of high school, you’ve already learned the essentials.
Some people on the island do get a college degree depending on the type of business their family has, but most of the time, you graduate from high school and immediately enter the workforce.
Those that end up leaving the island to go to college end up coming back anyways to take their part in the family business.
We finish the last bites of our burgers and start to pick at the plate of truffle fries between us. “How’s the progress on the bed and breakfast?” Parker asks.
“Coming along. We are slightly ahead of schedule since we got some supplies earlier than expected.”
He nods, then grows quiet and grabs another fry.
I told him my plans to bring the topic up to my father again last week, and I can tell he is silently waiting for me to broach the conversation. Parker knows it’s a sore subject and does his best to avoid bringing it up, but it’s a little hard to do that when the whole island knows your business.
“And your dad?” he prompts cautiously. “Have you spoken to him yet?”
I bite the inside of my cheek, unsure where to begin, when the diner door flies open and the overhead bell rings wildly, announcing Linny’s arrival.
Quite literally saved by the bell.
I’m grateful for the extra few seconds of peace before we open that can of worms. I don’t know why this conversation stirs up so many emotions, especially with my friends.
I know they have my back, but there’s been no progress since I first brought it up to them, so they probably think I’m never going to do anything about it.
It’s not fair to assume that of my friends who have done nothing but support me, but I can’t help it.
“Sorry I’m late,” Linny says, approaching the booth. “The schedule changed last-minute and the kids stayed an hour later than usual. We were out on the water all morning so by the time I found out, I had no way to text, and I just ran straight here afterward.”
“All good. I’m just glad you still made it.” I rise from the booth to give her a hug. “I haven’t seen you in months.”
Parker turns his attention to Linny. “Yeah, and you’ve been home for weeks. How come we all haven’t gotten together sooner?” he asks, feigning displeasure.
She tosses her purse in the booth, ensuring it smacks Parker’s arm, albeit gently, and slides into the booth next to him. “Not all of us get to work from home, Parker,” she teases. “Some of us don’t get flexible work hours.”
My eyes snag on her navy polo shirt from the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, still damp from today’s camp activities.
“Plus,” she pauses to take a sip of the ice water in front of her, “I’m in the middle of my thesis. My professor keeps me on a tight deadline. Every spare minute is spent on that.”
Parker shakes his head. “I can’t believe they make you work the children’s camps on top of everything.”
“I don’t really have a leg to stand on when they are hosting me for the summer so I can continue my data collection.” Linny pulls out a tube of ChapStick and applies a thin layer to her lips. “Running a few educational excursions and facility tours is the least I can do.”
“I don’t know how you do it all,” I admit.
She shrugs. “You know I like to keep busy. But all that matters is we are together now.”
Our waitress returns with another plate, placing it in front of Linny.
“We ordered you the buffalo chicken wrap,” Parker chimes in. “Your favorite.”
“Oh my god, you guys are amazing,” she says, immediately digging in. “I’m starving. These kids ran me ragged today.”
Linny steals a pickle spear from Parker’s plate—which he absolutely notices but says nothing—and pulls the toothpick out of the second half of her wrap.
I look across the table at my best friends.
Even though we all grew up together, Linny was different.
When she moved to the Vineyard in elementary school and made our duo a trio, she was already destined for greater things.
The way she used to collect bugs and small animals and put them in her bike basket while Parker and I raced each other down the steepest hills was just the beginning for her.
Linny’s dreams were always too big for this small island.
I knew she would leave after graduation, while Parker and I would still be here.
But when senior year was almost over and Parker told me he planned to go to college in the fall, I just about laughed in his face. I couldn’t believe he was serious.
Unbeknownst to me, Parker had been meeting with Linny’s mom, the high school guidance counselor, after the college fair came during the first week of school to begin working on his applications and essays.
I felt like my friends were moving on without me, and selfishly, I started to grow bitter.
That was quickly replaced with guilt.
I never wanted them to hold themselves back from the things they wanted, but everything was changing and I wasn’t ready.
Things got better by the end of senior year, and since they were both going to school in Boston, I could visit them on weekends and see them when they came home during holidays and summer breaks.
“So, what are we talking about?” Linny looks between us, waiting for us to fill her in.
“Caleb was just about to tell us if he talked to his dad yet,” Parker responds.
“And? Don’t leave us hanging,” Linny prompts.
I take a deep breath and lean back against the booth. “He’s got me on a new assignment starting next week. I did bring it up again, he just won’t hear it. But this is my last job. I just haven’t told him that yet.”
They both simultaneously lift their brows and lean toward me, on the edge of their seats waiting for me to continue. It’s like they rehearsed this beforehand.
“That’s it,” I admit.
“That’s it?” Linny practically shouts. “No, there’s more to this story.”
I shake my head. “There’s nothing else to tell.”
“Caleb.” Linny’s tone is stern, but soft. “Don’t shut down on us again. You know you can tell us anything.”
I lower my head. “It’s the truth. I still plan on talking to him again when the time is right. But it isn’t worth the hassle right now.”