“Yeah, I travel pretty light,” he shrugged,the movement causing a zap through his shoulder.
“Are you shipping the rest of your belongingshome?” Laura asked as they reached his dad’s massive 4-doorpick-up. Before waiting for his answer, Laura opened the door forhim, motioning him to sit up front.
“Ah, no…” he gritted his teeth as he pulledhimself into the truck with his good arm, his injured arm bracinghis abdominal wound. Once they were all securely in the cab of thetruck, with his parents both staring at him in anticipation, hestruggled to find the right words. “I, uh… have no otherbelongings… This is all I own.” They eyed his uneasy expressionintently, waiting to hear him reveal the mystery of where he hadbeen and why he was suddenly home.
He continued hesitantly, anxious to see theirresponse. “This is all completely confidential. I’ll tell Maddy andAiden, but this cannot leave our immediate family.” He studiedtheir confused faces, pleading for their agreement. Their headsbobbled as they nodded, brows drawn with worry. “I… I’m beingdischarged from the CIA. For medical reasons. I’m a CIA operative…or, I was a… a spy. For the US government.”
From their seats, his parents stared at him,eyes wide, bodies frozen, not yet able to speak. He continued, “Iwas shot by the brother of the guy that blew my cover… all mycovers, so I’ve been put out to pasture.”
There was a long silence. His parents juststared at him, unable to answer.
Frank spoke first, patting him on the goodshoulder, clearly not knowing exactly how to respond. “Son, I’mreal proud of you.” Frank paused, searching for more to say, butgave up and put the truck in gear.
As they pulled onto the expressway, Frankshook his head with a smile, having found his words, “I always knewyou wouldn’t do anything ordinary with your life. Computerprogrammer. Didn’t believe that one for a damn minute. Guess Ishould have expected you’d only have dropped out of college forthat sort of opportunity. Don’t rush yourself into deciding whatyou want to do next. Take your time. Gonna be a hell of anadjustment.”
Sitting in the middle seat behind them, hismother reached forward and patted his arm affectionately. “You’rewelcome to stay with us, but we figured you’d want to have your ownspace. Chase is moving in with Maddy, into her beach house, so he’sarranged for you to take over his lease. If you want it. It’s paidup for the next 3 months. Some of the furniture he’s leaving therefor you, but the rest we’ve rounded up so that you’ll have afurnished place of your own.”
Ronan was relieved to hear that. He loved hisparents, and greatly appreciated they knew him well enough to makesure he had his own space. On the drive home, his mom filled him inon everyday updates about the family, changes in town since heleft, what the weather had been doing. It was nice to hear hervoice… and not be expected to respond. His dad was right, this wasalready a major adjustment. Melting into the plush leather seat, hemanaged to stay awake… only just barely.
4
“And that’s why I was promoted to Chief of Neurologyfor our medical group,” Gregory finished his dreadfully long workstory as he gazed adoringly at Payson across the table.
Ok, maybe he was notthe one.Maybe hewas just nervous? First dates could make one ramble. She lookeddown at her empty plate, her lobster and arugula salad long sinceconsumed.
The man did wear his suit well; sleek blackwith crisp gray starched shirt and coordinating tie; he may pulloff a tuxedo as well as James Bond. Sean Connery version of course,although Pierce Brosnan was sexy too. She’d heard that the nextBond would be a woman. Payson was ridiculously excited. Abouttime.
“Payson?” Crap, she forgot to pay attentionagain. Gregory was looking at her, awaiting her response to hisquestion. What did he ask her?
Decked out in her favorite olive-greensweater dress, snug enough to pique interest, but without anycome-hither slutty-ness, Payson didn't deny that a big part of whyshe enjoyed dating was the excuse to wear her favorite dresses.Even if the date was a total flop.
“I’m sorry, Gregory, neurology and thehealthcare system in general are just way beyond me. What were youasking?” Puff up his ego a bit so he wouldn’t be offended thatshe’d tuned him out. They weren’t beyond her; she could talk aboutanything if she were interested. She just was bored to tears fromsuffering through a pompous, narcissistic soliloquy.
“I was asking if you would care for dessert?Perhaps we could share some tiramisu.” His charming smile did helpsoften the self-absorbed monologue.
Payson smiled graciously, “Oh no, I couldn’t.Thank you for dinner, this was excellent. I have a bit of a driveback home, so I’d like to call it a night.”
“Of course,” he responded. Was thatcondescension in his eyes? Huh. Figures.
As handsome as he was, of course he wasconceited, and maybe a little sexist. He insisted on paying fordinner; Payson was a firm believer in splitting the check, but asshe’d driven nearly an hour from home to meet him closer tohiswork, she didn’t argue.
With perfect gentlemanly manners, he escortedher to her pristine blue 1965 mustang. 1964 and a half if she wasto be more specific. As all men did, he passed the car at first,not convinced it was hers. “Thanks for a lovely evening,” she saidas she unlocked the door.
He ran a hand through his hair, stylishlymessing up his perfect style, “I’ve not made this the best eveningfor you. I’m sorry, but I’ve been working 70-hour weeks and can’tseem to relax. I was hoping my work would impress you enough toforgive me for talking so much, but I fear I’ve bored you to tears.Please, allow me to make it up to you?”
Fine. At least the guy knew how to apologizewell. Maybe she shouldn’t rule him out yet. “That would be nice,”she accepted.
With a sigh of relief, he smiled, “You livein Seaview, right?”
She nodded.
“I went through there last Spring, ate at alovely little Italian restaurant. Friday after next?” Withoutwaiting for a response, he leaned in and kissed her gently,lingering but remaining chaste. Not bad.
“I’d like that,” she said as she pulled away.She hopped into her car and gave a gentle wave. Turning the key,the engine purred like a tiger.
The car had been her father’s baby, whichhe’d spent years teaching her to maintain, before finally teachingher to drive it. He and her mother died in the car accident a fewmonths after she got her driver’s license. She’d always loved thecar, like he had, and had been grateful he’d shared his passion forantiques with her. Driving the car they’d worked on together for somany years made her feel like she always had a part of him withher.
Initially in Boston, and now in Seaview, shehad always lived so close to school or work that she walked mosteverywhere, so she didn’t get to drive it often. Every few weeks,she made a point of going for a joy ride along the coast. Shiftinginto high gear, she tore along the coastal roads, savoring thedrive back home. The invigorating trek almost made up for the verydull date.
