Page 8 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“I had to,” Bailey told him. “I love them and miss you all so much. But Mom and Dad would call me up to six times a day.”
“I know.”Ethan felt her pain. “They did the same to me and Alex when we moved away to college.”
“Speaking of Alex,” Bailey returned the conversation to their brother. “Did he actually date Monica for over two months?” She gaped.
Ethan nodded. “It was almost four months, and Monica started hinting at wanting more.”
“Oh dear.” Bailey snorted. “That’s one sure way to end a relationship with our dear brother.”
Ethan shook his head, blowing out a breath. “Unfortunately, Monica is a hot head, and Alex used his usual plow of ending a relationship at a restaurant to avoid a scene.”
“Uh-oh.” Bailey pursed her lips, knowing where this was going.
“She caused such a scene at one of the top restaurants in New York.” Ethan rubbed his eyes. “It didn’t help that it happened to be on Valentine’s Day as well, and she was going to propose to him.”
“No way!” Bailey exclaimed. “Alex was going to break up with Monica on Valentine’s Day.” Her jaw dropped. “That’s cold, even for Alex. She must’ve really been hinting about wanting more.” She looked at Ethan wide-eyed. “Why didn’t anyone tell me this?”
“I thought our parents did,” Ethan told her. “And if they didn’t, it was because it caused a huge upset as it hit the tabloids before Alexcould say anything to any of us.” He frowned at her. “The press referred to him as Alex Stoneheart. It caused a huge media uproar because Alex snubbed and humiliated society’s darling Monica, nearly ending Dad’s friendship with the Spiers family.” He scratched the back of his neck. “Don’t you read the tabloids?”
“Oh no!” Bailey’s brows rose in disbelief. “And no, I don’t read the tabloids. I’m too busy trying to keep a low profile, which is hard when I have a giant dressed in a pristine black suit and an earpiece following me around.”
“We told Benny to blend in.” Ethan frowned. “Is he still walking around looking like he stepped out of Men in Black?”
“Sometimes,” Bailey scrunched up her face, and Ethan knew she wasn’t being honest. “Okay. No, but he still sticks out like a sore thumb. Even when he’s not looking like an FBI agent, Benny’s still over six-foot-four, so it’s rather hard for him to blend in.”
“You know I’m not the one you need to be trying to convince to get rid of Benny,” Ethan pointed out.
“Yes, but you’re Dad’s little blue-eyed favorite.” Bailey’s voice softened, and her eyes widened as she tried to appeal to him. “He’ll listen to you if you speak on my behalf.”
“I’m not Dad’s favorite,” Ethan corrected.
The little minx was attempting to charm him into doing her dirty work. Bailey had done that from the moment she realized she could wrap her big brothers around her little finger.
“If you say so.” Bailey shrugged. “So, will you talk to him about Benny? Please!”
“I will when you’re finished studying in England,” Ethan promised. “And if you go to Egypt, make work your priority, study for at least three hours a day, and make being a tourist your third priority.”
“How about I prioritize work, and study for at least one hour a day.” Bailey held up her hand to stop him as he was about to say something. “I’m way ahead on my studying, and my grades are excellent. As you know, work will take up the biggest portion of my day, and I can have the entire day off on Saturday and Sunday to do as I please.”
“Okay.” Ethan nodded. “But only when production is back on track, as they’re slipping behind.”
“Awesome!” Bailey said sarcastically. You could’ve led with the fact that Egypt’s production was in a mess.”
“It’s not quite a mess yet,” Ethan told her honestly. But it will be if you don’t get there within the next two days.”
“Okay, deal,” Bailey agreed, stifling a yawn. “How’s my niece?”
“As my daughter, I couldn’t ask for any better,” Ethan said proudly. “Shay is the most wonderful teenager, a straight-A student, and downto earth. But she’s still anti-social, and tonight, she got a lift home with one of Harriet’s friends to escape Brad’s wedding reception.”
“You should be grateful for that,” Bailey told him. “Most fathers of teenage girls want them to be anti-social.”
“I know,” Ethan gave her a sad smile. “But I worry because she doesn’t have any friends.”
“What about Becky Stanford?” Bailey asked. “They’ve been friends since they were in diapers.”
“Becky went to a Swiss boarding school last year, and they’ve lost touch,” Ethan explained. “I’ve tried to encourage Shay to join clubs or take up a sport, but all she wants to do is go on digs with Mom, wander around museums, and read history books.”
“Aren’t you staying on Plum Island for the summer?” Bailey asked.
