Page 13 of Final Approach
“I just finished going over everything once more and making sure my report wasn’t missing anything. I’ve done all I can do, so I’m going to go home, unpack, and grab some sleep. It’s been a long day.”
Understatement of the year.
“You learn anything new?” Kristine asked.
“Not a thing,” Nathan said.
“Then I’m out of here.”
Andrew started to offer to walk her out, but his phone buzzed with an incoming call from his mother. He couldn’t put her off any longer. To Kristine, he said, “See you tomorrow?”
“Bright and early.”
She gave a mini-salute that included Nathan, did a one-eighty, and headed for the exit while Andrew tapped the screen to answer the call. “Hey there. What’s up?”
“Thank you for texting that you were okay.”
“Of course. I knew you’d see it on the news and know it was my plane.” His family had all the itinerary details.
“I know you’re busy so I won’t keep you, but...” A sigh.
Andrew frowned. “What is it?”
“Your cousin, Corey.”
His shoulders tensed. “What about him?”
“He’s ... here.”
“Here where? Already?”
“Yes. He stopped in the store this morning.”
“Look, Mom, I mean, I’m all for taking care of family, you know that, but Corey can’t be trusted.”
“I know, hon, but someone has to try and help him.”
It didn’t sound like she was trying to guilt him into volunteering, but he still hesitated. “All right, what can I do?” he finally said.
He’d already taken a lot of vacation days to meet real estate agents, look at properties, and help them find the perfect spot for the bookstore. He even put in time to run it while they ran errands necessary for setting up a life in a new town and a few doctor appointments. But that was months ago.
“Do you have time for dinner next Friday?” she asked. “That’s when I’ll have his room ready, and I thought it would be nice for all of us to sit down as a family and discuss ... things.”
“Things?”
“Expectations. Boundaries.”
“Ah.” Andrew ran a hand over his chin. “All right. Let me check my calendar and get back with you. I think I can.”
“Thanks, Son. We appreciate it.”
“Sure thing. Talk to you later.”
He hung up and walked to the window. Kristine was long gone, but he couldn’t help wishing his phone hadn’t rung right at the moment she was leaving. Wishing they were in the Keys where they should be. But no...
Nathan walked over to nudge him with his shoulder. “Do you remember what you told me about Jesslyn when I was acting like a lovesick puppy?”
He remembered. “Nope, not at all.”
