Page 60 of The Vacation Mix-Up
“Ahh…” She pops a fry into her mouth. “You’re one of those fitness-freak types, aren’t you?”
This time, my eyebrow hikes. “Are you fitness-shaming me?”
She giggles. “No. Clearly, it’s working for you.”
Stretching back, I think I fucking blush too, so I look out at the ocean, the sky dotted with orange clouds, the water beneath it a rippled mirror. Canada, as big and beautiful as she is, sits as a blip on the horizon. And for the next day, there will be nothing but sea and sky.
“So you’re a fitness junkie?” she probes.
I shake my head. “No. I just look after myself.”
“Well, believe it or not, I look after myself too.”
I’m not sure I believe her, especially if nutrition is an afterthought for her, so when I don’t agree or argue back, shetakes another monstrous bite of her burger and grins sarcastically at me, lettuce and beef poking out from between her teeth.
I laugh.
“Did you grow up in Philly?” she mumbles.
“Yeah. Born and bred.”
“Does Veronica and Poppy live there too?”
“They do. They live with Mom, two streets away.”
“And your dad?”
“He passed away years ago.”
Riles chokes, so I stand, ready to pat her back.
“I’m good,” she coughs out, raising her hand.
I retake my seat and slide her soda closer to her.
“Thank you.” She takes a long sip, her eyes bouncing from mine to her cup and back again. “I’m sorry about your dad. I shouldn’t have pried.”
“It’s fine. He was a heavy smoker, and that’s what killed him in the end.”
“How old were you?”
“Twenty.”
She swallows, her palm resting over her heart, her bottom lip pouting. “I’m so sorry, Riley. That’s awful. You were so… young. Barely an adult.”
I nod.
“I never knew my dad. He was a jerk. I’m glad you got the time you did with yours though, even if it wasn’t the lifetime you both deserved.”
Memories of Dad and me in the shed, planing and oiling hardwood together, hit me as if they’re happening in real time: the sound of sandpaper scraping wood, the smell of cedar… and tobacco.
I swig my beer. “He taught me everything I know.”
“About carpentry?”
“Yeah. I was his apprentice. When he died, I took over the family business.”
“Wow! That’s a lot of responsibility.”
