Page 11 of Summer Savory

Chapter Eight

Reese

Iwas in such a foul mood that I avoided the family for as long as I could. Reagan noticed, of course. She always notices. Any other time, I’d be glad to have her, but right then, she was just pissing me off. When I finally made my way to the pool, I’d been sitting for only about five minutes when Delilah hit me in the head with a beach ball. It was all I could do to make a graceful exit.

“Don’t leave, Reese! Please. The kids didn’t mean it. You know that. Stay. You look miserable and I think you could use some time with people who love you.”

“There’s only one person I want to spend time with right now, and that will not happen. She’s busy, and we leave tomorrow. I’d rather just go sulk in the cabin, as opposed to raining on your merriment out here.”

She reached for my hand, stopping me. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

“No. Not unless you can figure out a way to either make her leave with me or for me to stay here with her. That’s the only help I need right now.”

“Isn’t there some kind of compromise you can reach?” I shrugged, but that didn’t satisfy her. “I’m sure we can think of something if we just put our heads together! What do you say, big brother?”

“I say I’m going to lie down. I’d go to the bar, but that’s too close to her, and I don’t think I could handle it. If there’s anything I can do from our cabin, just let me know.”

She scowled at me, but she didn’t protest any further. Good thing. I was in no mood to deal with her optimism.

When I arrived back at the cabin, I searched the whole place looking for something alcoholic to drink to get my mind off of the woman I loved. Nothing. Reagan must have hidden it all to keep the kids out of it. Either that or I drank all of it the first night I was at the resort. The night before I met Nora. I was in such an awful place that night, and meeting her was the bright spot I needed to get me out of it. Over the last few weeks, I’d imagined a future with her where there would be no unpleasant places and I could bask in her brightness for the rest of our lives. That hope was dashed, too.

*********

“Get up, Reese! Come on! Wake up! It’s time to put your future into motion.”

“Reagan? What the hell are you talking about?”

“You heard me, you big oaf! Hurry! We don’t have much time. I’ve figured it all out, but you have to get up right now. Where’s your other shoe? I found one, but I do not know where you kicked off the other one.”

“I don’t need shoes. I just need you to leave me alone and let me go back to sleep.”

She grabbed my earlobe and gave it a quick jerk, forcing me to sit straight up. “I said come on!” she told me. “I don’t have time to waste on your foolishness, and neither do you.”

“Jeez, Reagan! Did Mom’s spirit just possess you or something? What the hell?”

“Finally,” she exclaimed. “You’re up. I know this makes little sense right now, but you’re just going to have to trust me. Get up and come with me. I’ll explain everything on the way.”

Despite my ear still stinging from her pulling it, the desperate tone in her voice convinced me to listen to her. She tried to hide her doubt about whatever it was she was planning by not looking me in the eye, but I trusted her, anyway.

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