Funny, Ronan was an inch or two taller, buthe still thought of his dad as larger than life. Even though hisdad worked strictly in the office now, just like when he’d been alittle kid, Ronan could smell the salt air on his dad, coming homefrom a long day fishing, pulling in lobster. He would never haveimagined how reassuring the scent could be.
“Sort of. She’s uh… not my biggest fan. I’mtrying to stay out of her hair until this project is done, and shehires a replacement.” Ronan carried the cut plywood over to hisstack of similarly sized pieces.
“Payson’s about the friendliest person intown. We all know you’ve always preferred to keep to yourself, butyou’ve always been more than likeable. Heck, you could win overjust about anybody with a quick grin or a wink. What did you do tothe girl?” Frank’s voice projected humor and pride, but hiscrinkle-edged eyes harbored unmistakable worry.
Squatting down over the stack he’d just addedthe board to, Ronan double checked the cuts, keeping busy as hetried to think of how to answer. Which wasn’t like him either.
His dad was right. Part of why he’d beenhired on by the CIA was his ability to quickly win over others, hisquick thinking on his feet. Where had that gone?
Lost in the pool of blood that had seepedinto the floorboards of his London flat. “I’m not that guy anymore,Dad.”
Frank sauntered toward his morose son,casually brushing off the sawdust that had clung to the elbow ofhis sweatshirt. With creaky knees, he squatted down in front of hisson. Ronan had no choice but to look up and meet his father’sknowing gaze.
“Ronan, I love you, son. Always have, alwayswill. You’ve always been too brainy for your own good. Alwaysfollowed such a straight and deliberate path, knowing exactly whatyou wanted. So much so, that the rest of us couldn’t keep up withyou. Left behind in your glorious dust. That path… well, that pathis covered in leaves and dirt and muck of all sorts; completelyobscured. Maybe even eroded away.”
Pausing, the older man chortled, tugging onhis son’s ratty beard, “Hell, maybe it’s lost under all that hair.Point is, maybe it’s ok to get lost sometimes. Might be anadventure, forging a new path.”
8
Payson paced up and down the storefront, afraid towalk back to the storeroom and disturb Ronan. He’d carted in loadsof cut lumber and had been drilling and hammering all morning. Howdid she apologize for not recognizing he was unwell the last timeshe’d seen him?
She imagined he must have PTSD from the traincrash. Or was there more? He’d looked so pale. So distant.
Resolved to make amends, Payson flipped thesign toClosed, grabbed her heavy coat and purse and headedout the front. She crossed the street to her favorite sandwichshop. Inside, Maddy sat with her partner, Ian, both dressed intheir police uniforms.
“Well, fancy meeting you here,” Maddy grinnedat her friend as Payson headed to their table. Payson wasn’t usedto being the somber one. Whatever the occasion, she was always theone to find the bright side, to bring others up.
Standing at the side of the table, shenervously gripped her purse and tried to look calm. “I’m hungry.And, I should probably feed your brother, or I don’t think he’llstop to eat.”
She wasn’t sure if she should sit for amoment or grab the sandwiches and run. Since meeting Maddy abouttwo years back, they’d been best friends. Maddy was who she turnedto when she needed help. Trouble was, this time her dilemma wasdirectly regarding Maddy’s own twin brother. But maybe that madeher the person she should ask.
Ian, a few years younger, long and lean inbuild, joked back, “I can’t imagine missing lunch. Or breakfast, ordinner… or snack for that matter.” He took a huge bite of hisgigantic sub.
Maddy kicked him under the table. “Uh-huh.You won’t have that metabolism forever, pal.” She looked up atPayson, “Is my brother behaving himself?”
Payson tried to say no, but she knew she wasthe one with the behavior problem. Overwhelmed with guilt for nothaving more patience, she admitted, “Mostly. I just feel so bad; Ithink that train wreck must have been really rough on him. Iinterrupted him in the middle of a panic attack the other day; hewas so pale. Being me, I missed it and totally pissed him off.We’ve been avoiding each other ever since. So, I’m attempting tomake amends with food.”
Maddy nodded, a sad smile on her face, “Yeah,he’s been through too much. I made him promise to socialize withhis family at least once a week.” In a lightbulb moment, Maddypulled her phone out of her pocket to check her calendar.“Actually, he’s passed due. Maybe we should drag him out tonight,distract him from his worries. How does Winter’s after worksound?”
Payson smiled. “Perfect, maybe we can get himto loosen up a bit. You’ll call Aiden and Chase?”
Typing madly away at her phone, Maddy was onit. “Group text officially… sent.”
Swallowing a huge bite of sandwich, Ian pipedin, “You know, it’s dancing night. Maybe I’ll see you there? Icould show you a few moves.” Ian was an incorrigible flirt. He suredidn’t keep his crush on her secret but was never creepy aboutit.
Teasing him back, she rolled her eyes, “Nicetry, hot shot. Aren’t you dating Aliyah from the hardwarestore?”
With a playful eyebrow raise, he insisted,“Nah, she didn’t hold a candle to you.”
Payson’s phone buzzed with the textedinvitation from Maddy. For the rest of the group, she respondedwith a quick:Wouldn’t miss it!
Ignoring Ian, knowing he could go on and on,she turned to Maddy. “Great idea for tonight. Maybe Ronan willrelax a little. We’ll liquor him up a bit. He may even have a laughif we drag him out onto the dance floor.”
Ian muttered to himself, “I see how it is.She likes them mysterious. I can be mysterious.”
Maddy rolled her eyes. “Ian, no offense, butI’m not suremysteriousis your thing. Anyway, I’m not sureI’ve ever seen Ronan dance. Good luck with that one.”
Feeling less guilty now, Payson headed up tothe counter to order the sandwiches. She wasn’t sure what he’dlike, but something told her that he’d eat… or wouldn’t… regardlessof what kind of sandwich she chose for him.
