Page 76 of Look for Me

When Martin pulled up at the parking lot next to the waterway, Pete was outside washing his truck. He stared at Martin’s rental car and shook his head.

“You didn’t drive your Shelby here.” Pete dunked a rag into a bucket of water.

“Nice to see you too.” Martin locked the car, and pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head as he made his way to Pete.

Pete wiped his soapy palms on his tee-shirt and shook Martin’s hand. “Glad you could come for lunch.”

“Want me to help?” Martin looked at the bucket. He was wearing shorts and a pair of dock shoes, but if they got wet, he had a change of clothes in the trunk.

“No need. I’m just going to spray some water all over it and be done.” Pete picked up a water hose. “I don’t want your clothes to get wet. Just talk to me while I do this.”

Pete made a quick job of rinsing off his car. “I’ll let the sun dry it all afternoon before I wax it.”

“I’ll help.”

“If you want. But I can’t pay you.”

“I take double desserts.”

“Have all the desserts you want!” Pete led him inside the houseboat.

As Martin stepped onto the wooden deck, he recalled talking with Corinne here at this very spot a year before. It was a sunny Sunday after church, and several church members had gathered here for lunch. Angelina had cooked spaghetti, and Corinne brought her daughter.

Martin wondered where Corinne was these days, whether she had moved on. There was still the matter of the college fund he had started for her children. How would he be able to tell her about it?

And yes, he wanted to tell her in person. Not to brag, but to see her face, to let her know he really cared, even if they weren’t meant to be together.

One year later, and Martin couldn’t move on.

There was no way he could move on.

Corinne would always be in his heart, and memories of her would be everywhere in Key Largo.

He felt like he was grieving someone. Truly, it felt like Corinne had died, and he would never see her again.

“Whoa! Have you gained weight?” Angelina shrieked.

“Nice to see you too.” Martin laughed. “Well, yes, I have gained about twenty pounds, but I blame Thanksgiving pies and Christmas cookies.”

“And here you asked for double desserts.” Pete laughed from inside the houseboat.

Martin followed Angelina through the door, half-wishing that Corinne was there.

She wasn’t.

The small living space looked more cluttered now, with the armchairs and sofas pushed closer together to one another. And across the rug from a big screen television was a giant leather recliner.

“Have a seat!” Pete plopped himself down on the recliner, as if saying, “Anywhere but this chair.”

“Turn the TV off,” Angelina told him.

“I haven’t turned it on,” Pete replied.

“You were going to!”

Martin laughed. “What are you watching?”

“Nothing since she sent me out there to wash my truck.” Pete there his arms up.

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