Page 49 of The Seven Rings
“I’d object, but I’m not sure I want to sit through another set. I’ve got it.” Owen waved Trey back and went to pay the tab.
“I’m going to sharpen up my skills. We need a rematch.”
“Adorable.” Sonya examined her nails. “Just adorable. Remember, you have many other exceptional skills.”
“Right. Where’d you learn to play pool to teach this one how to play?”
“My daddy. He’s such a quiet, unassuming sort of man. People who didn’t know him would think, oh, there’s an easy mark. He’d let them talk him into a game, eight ball, nine ball, cutthroat, whatever. Then he’d quietly, unassumingly wipe the table with them.”
“Good to know. When he visits again, I won’t suggest a friendly game of pool.”
“Play poker with him, prepare to lose your shirt.”
“I’m pretty good at poker.”
When Cleo just smiled, Trey nodded. “So noted.” And rose when Owen returned.
Once they got in the truck, Sonya settled back. “This was a very fine idea.”
“We still have cake coming.” Owen nudged Cleo. “Right?”
“Let’s have it up on the widow’s walk. What do you say, Son? Up there under the stars, the moon, with the ocean rolling below.”
“I say another fine idea.”
They came home to delighted dogs, and a cat who allowed them entry.
Since Yoda still had a ball in his mouth, Sonya laughed.
“Good time with Jack.”
“I’ll let them out awhile.”
“While Trey does that, I’ll whip some cream. Sonya, cappuccino?”
“All over it.”
In the kitchen with Cleo, Sonya got out cups. “It really was a good time. I keep telling myself to get out more.”
“You do fine. You hit your comfort zone. We like to party, but we were never party girls. We’re having ourselves an excellent weekend. Doing our search, fixing up rooms, having a fine meal, going out for pool and music. Tomorrow taking a sail.”
“And Monday back to work.”
“It’s what suits us. Trey, just in time. Why don’t you and Sonya take the coffee up. Owen and I can bring the cake.”
They made their way up, and as they passed the third floor, Sonya looked down the hall.
Quiet and dark. Saying nothing, she kept going, but she’d felt it. Eye of the storm, she thought, and it would blow in before long.
But not, she promised herself, right now. She’d take that calm, even if it proved a false one.
When they reached the widow’s walk, she stood under the stars, the moon, with the ocean rolling below.
“Worth the trip.”
“Do you come up here much?”
“Not as much as I should. It always takes my breath. Cleo talks about painting from up here. She probably will.”
