Fuck it! I got up, walked to the bar, grabbed my empty glass and the bottle, and headed back to the couch. It wasn’t even noon. As I poured myself a hefty glass, my cell phone rang. Perfect timing.
“I guess you’re calling because you want that lunch,” I teased.
Cindy laughed and said, “Why else would I call?”
I really didn’t care why she called. She was the one person I wanted to see. “Just because I’m buying doesn’t mean you get to pick. I’m not going to one of those obnoxious places surrounded by video games.”
“James, you’re only thirty years old. You act as though you’re a hundred. Please don’t tell me I’m going to become old and boring like you just because I have your kidney.” She gave a theatrical sigh.
I laughed. “I wish it was that simple. I would’ve given you a kidney long ago.” Actually, I would have been happy lose a kidney to anyone if it meant Cindy didn’t have to face the multiple surgeries and constant physical therapy she had been dealing with over the last year.
Cindy grumbled and said, “You know you love me just the way I am.”
“Good thing, because I don’t think you’re going to change anytime soon.” Cindy had us all wrapped around her pinky and she knew it. She was the baby of the family, and we all doted on her. I’m the oldest, and I’ll never tell her she’s my favorite. She’d use it in her favor till the day I die.
“I don’t know about you, but we’re wasting time talking about my behavior when we could be eating. And I am starving,” Cindy said.
“I’ll pick you up in twenty minutes.”
“Do I have to change out of my bathing suit?” Cindy added in the voice she knows gets right under my skin.
I let out a low growl. “Only if you plan on eating with me. Twenty minutes. If you’re not ready…”
“Yeah yeah yeah, I know. If I’m not ready, then I’m the one buying. You say that every time, and I’ve never paid once,” Cindy said proudly.
I chuckled. “And you’ve never been on time, either. But I have an appointment. As I said, I’m leaving Boston and I have a jet to catch. You get twenty minutes. Be ready.”
I ended the call and put my phone in my pocket. I was tempted to down that bourbon. It was calling my name, but no way in hell would I have even one sip of alcohol and then put Cindy in the car as my passenger. Instead I grabbed my keys and headed out the door. Traffic was good. I’d probably be at her house in twenty-five minutes. Even then I knew I’d be sitting in the car waiting for her. I could go in and wait, because she still lived with our parents, but that meant we’d never get out of the house. Sometimes it’s good to know the people you’re dealing with.
I should tell my parents and my siblings I’m leaving. But in a way, having lunch with Cindy was doing just that. Cindy was not known for being able to seal her lips. The one thing she loved more than loud music and video games was sharing a secret with anyone who would listen.
Damn, I’m gonna miss that kid.
When I pulled up in front of the house it wasn’t Cindy who came out to greet me. My mother was standing there, her foot tapping on the ground and her arms crossed as she glared at me. That didn’t take long.
I rolled down the window and waved. She walked over to my Jeep and said, “I hear you’re leaving Boston. I know you’re not deploying overseas, yeah, I don’t have a clue where you’re going. Since you’re no longer in the military, I don’t want to hear your excuse that it’s confidential. I’m your mother. I have a right to know where my son is going.”
“I’m thirty years old, mother. I don’t think I have to check in with you every time I take a vacation.” Technically, I didn’t have a job yet. So I wasn’t lying to her. I was staying at a five-star resort in a foreign country with all expenses paid. Sounds like a vacation to me. Hopefully a very short one too, because I wanted my ass back to work where I felt useful.
My mother seemed surprised. Why wouldn’t she? And all these years I’ve never taken a vacation. “Are you traveling alone?”
I chuckled. My mother was always hoping someday I’d bring some woman home to meet her. I’ve had plenty of women in my life, just none that I wanted to meet my mama. And that wasn’t something I had planned for anytime in the near future either. “It’s the best kind of vacation a man could ask for. Peace and quiet.” I paused for a moment and then I added, “I bet Dad would be jealous right now if he knew.”
My mother shook her head. “You’re impossible. You know darn well your father would not go on vacation without me.”
I know you would never allow him to.
“I do. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to take Cindy out for lunch before I leave.”
“I was hoping you’d invite me as well,” she said hopefully.
If guilt was a tactic the military used, my mother would be a lethal force. “I’d love to, but as you can see this is a two-seater.” I pointed to all the stuff in the back.
“That’s okay. I’d much rather hear it from Cindy when she returns. I’m sure I’ll get a lot more information from her than I would from you.” She shot me a bright, warm, victorious smile.
“Just remember, you can only believe a quarter of what she says,” I responded. I opened my door, got out, and gave my mother a hug. “Don’t worry, mother, you finally have gotten your wish. I’m no longer in harm’s way.”
She gave me such a tight squeeze that I thought would never let go. “I don’t care where you are or what you do. A mother always worries about her children. I worried from the day you were born, and I’ll continue to do so until my last breath. I love you, James.”
I wanted to say something touching back to her. But I knew if I tried I’d just choke on the words. It’s not who I am. “Just don’t make it anytime soon. Remember this is my first vacation in a long time.”
Before she could say anything else, Cindy came bolting out the front door. She raised her right arm and said, “What do you think? Do you like my cast in pink better than purple?”
I wish you didn’t need one.
“Well, it definitely matches your tie-dyed shirt.”
Cindy looked down at her shirt and put her cast and arm against it. “Hey, you’re right. And all this time I thought you had no fashion sense.”
Right now I’m questioning if I have any common sense. If I did, I wouldn’t be standing here having this conversation.
My mother said, “I don’t know what donating a kidney has done to you, James! First you’re taking a vacation and now you’re commenting on clothes.”
Fuck me! “I know. It’s time for me to get the hell out of Boston.”
Cindy waved with her good hand to our mother and said, “You know James. We won’t be long, and I’ll tell you everything when I get back.”
You’ll only tell them what I tell you.
Chapter 2
Robin
When I told my travel agent I wanted a resort most people didn’t know about, this wasn’t what I had in mind. Granted, it was gorgeous here. Everything you could imagine doing was at your fingertips at New Hope Resort. The only problem is-everything you do had to be at the resort. Most people looked content with all the social and physical activities offered on the resort. But I love rock climbing, I love hiking, I love exploring-but you’d need to leave the resort to do any of those things. What’s the point of going to a new country if you’re not allowed to see it?