Page 21 of Summer Ever After
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“You’relucky your dad didn’t see that stunt.” Trey laughed as he pulled up to the dock.
I tossed my saddlebags into the vintage wooden boat, the favorite of my fleet, and hopped in as Trey reached the dock. “He’s not coming up for another week, so I’ve got time for more irresponsible debauchery.”
Trey shook his head. “Your sister has stepped up in that department, it might be your turn to retire.” He pointed to the steering wheel. Would you like to drive? Planes, bikes, and a boat?”
Our transportation coordinator was mostly stuck shuttling staff back and forth from the mainland to the island on the clunky, slower than a turtle, pontoon boat. “Nah, I’m going to relax and take in the fresh air. God, I hate the city.”
“As you wish Sir.” Trey tapped his hand on his baseball cap. He had been an employee at Starling Island since he was twenty, and I’d known the man since I was ten. The sir bit was a joke, and we both knew it. He navigated the craft out of the shelter of the marina and charted a course for Robin’s Island, the second largest of the Starling Island cluster – mine.
Lacing my fingers together behind my head, I stretched my chest wide and took in the fresh air of Windswan Lake. It felt good to be back. “But Trey…” I clapped him on the shoulder. “Make it count.”
Trey grinned. “Your wish is my command.” The engine growled as he pushed down the throttle, the boat cutting through the chop of the open water. We both turned our hats backward as we zipped across the lake at fifty miles an hour.
“Wait. Slow down.” I shouted as we passed by Starling Island.
Trey eased up on the throttle and we were able to speak to each other without shouting. A massive floating dock was being set up on the point of my father’s island. “It’s even uglier than I thought.”
Always a professional, Trey did not confirm that the temporary docks that would hold the tent for the masquerade ball were an eyesore, but the narrowing of his lips as he held in his opinion, told me that he agreed. “It’s all anyone can talk about.”
“Very diplomatic, Skipper.”
We cruised past Starling Island and even though my father wasn’t due for a week, the place was bustling. “Is he running at a full staff?” I asked.
“And then some. They’ve hired a few new people.”
Squinting, I could make out several of the Starling Estate uniforms buzzing around the property. “I’m sure Mrs. Faye loves that,” I laughed. Faye Graham had been there longer than Trey, and even though I’d had nannies growing up, she was the one who I turned to when my mom wasn’t there – both before and after her death.
“Max, you should’ve seen it – it was a spectacle.”
“What do you mean?”
Trey angled the boat towards my boathouse, the bay in front of Robin’s Island was calm as glass. “Somehow it got leaked that the numbered company belonged to, well, your dad.”
“Say no more.” I held up my hands. “Let me guess, a whole lot of middle-aged gold diggers wanting to put on a maid’s outfit and pretend like this is a Jennifer Lopez movie.”
“Not even close.” Trey’s eyes crinkled beside his glasses. “It was like Mrs. Graham was holding an audition for America’s Next Top Model. They were all young and not so hard to look at.”
“Ever the diplomat.” I winked. “Do they think my dad is that stupid?”
Trey shrugged. “I think that some of them just want to get close to…” he gestured to the Starling grouping of islands, “this lifestyle. But, what they didn’t take into account was that a cottage keeper job actually requires, you know, cleaning.”
“It was a fun couple of days for me though. I have all the contact information for the interviewees if you’re interested.”
I focused on my cottage. I had spent the winter skiing in Chance Rapids, the next town over, but hadn’t been able to make it to Robin’s Island until now. I always thought that as I got older, I would spend more time at the cottage, but it turns out that running the charity for my dad was way more work than I’d anticipated. Being a responsible adult was not all it was cracked up to be. I had everything I’d ever wanted, except time, and a beautiful woman to spend it with.
“Maybe.” I shrugged. “I’ve got a lot to do before this stupid ball. I miss the days when I would show up on the Memorial Day long weekend and stay here all summer.”
“And bribe me to keep quiet about your raging parties?”
We had reached the dock and I hopped out to help Trey secure the lines once we were safely in the shelter of the boathouse. “Yet, he still found out.”
“He was young once too.”
Trey started the pontoon boat. “Do you need anything else? Mrs. Graham has your place completely stocked.”
“I’m good. Thanks.”
