the bartender. “You got the check last night. Today is all mine.”
“Thanks.” We got our drinks and sat in two oxblood leather wingback chairs in the corner with a low table between us.
“Look at you.” He shook his head. “Can I be old enough to have a kid your age?”
I laughed. “I hope so, or Mom’s got some explaining to do.”
“Oh my. Wouldn’t that be something?”
I sipped my whisky. The piped-in music was Chopin. The black-and-white marble checkerboard floors shiny and pristine. I ought to have gone to the resort for drinks and dinner more often. It was delightful to spend time there.
“You know, there was a time when I was devastated you didn’t follow me into the navy.”
“Surprise!” I teased. “That is not news to me.”
“I know.” He sighed and looked out toward the ocean. “I know I gave you a hard time about it.”
“You didn’t push too hard.”
“I didn’t let you off the hook either. It wasn’t until recently that I realized how disastrous that life would have been for you. In a weird way, your volunteering reminds me of some of the things I did. In your way, you serve.”
“My ragtag band of veterinary mercs.” I smiled behind my glass. “I’m a veterinary pirate.”
He laughed. “Arr.”
“You know I always wanted to be the kind of man you are. I’m just crap at doing what I’m told.”
“Your mother tried to tell me that. Do not, under any circumstances tell her I admitted she was right. It will go straight to her head and then where will we be?”
“She doesn’t need you to tell her she was right.” I glanced up to find his eyes on me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t more—”
“Don’t regret anything. I am so proud of you for standing your ground and doing what you love. You’re a success, despite my interference.”
“I don’t know about that. You’re a hell of a role model.”
He lowered his gaze to his drink. “Thanks.”
We took our time finishing our drinks and then headed out the exterior doors for a walk.
There was a pathway through the gardens that led past statues, a fountain, and a greenhouse. The garden wasn’t manicured, but it was lush and green and fragrant with a thousand different flowers.
Eventually we arrived at an open gate beyond which was a steep set of stairs leading down to the sandy, rocky shore. A posted sign warned it was too dangerous to swim. They were right to issue the warning. At low tide, I’d seen jagged rocks beneath the waves, plus the area had rip currents that would challenge even the strongest swimmers.
We left our shoes and socks at the base of the stairs and took off barefoot. I loved having cool sand between my toes again.
“What’s that look?” Dad asked.
“I was just thinking how long it’s been since I was in Hawaii.”
“Oh, yeah. I miss tropical waters. Have you been doing any sailing?”
“No.” Cold water and foam lapped at our feet. “There’s a marina just north of St. Nacho’s that rents boats. I suppose I could.”
“That would be fun. Let’s look into that for the next time your mom and I are up here.”
“Or I could come down there. Lots of boat rentals where you are.”
“Plus, I know the area. Maybe so.”
He picked up a mussel shell and threw it into the waves. “Been thinking about what we talked about last night.”
I glanced over. “What?”
“Your boy, Beck.”
“Not my boy, I assure you.” I pictured him as I’d last seen him, surrounded by the dogs and looking right through me.
“I didn’t want to say in front of your mom because she can be so…I don’t know.”
“Determined? Hardheaded? Intractable?”
“If she ever hears about this conversation, you tell her I said ‘delightful,’ you hear?”
I laughed. “I get it.”
“I’m going to need unconditional immunity regarding this conversation.”
“You have it. Go on.”
“Half the officers I knew dropped their first wives in favor of some young thing Beck’s age.”
“This is not an endorsement is it? Because—”
“No, no. Let me finish. Most of the time when a man goes out with someone half their age it’s about trophy hunting. You know it, and I know it.”
I did know it. “Right.”
“Thing is, I don’t think that’s who you are. You wouldn’t pick up just any young thing to bang. I know you better than that.”
My ears burned. “How?”
“You’re not shallow.”
“My coworkers said I’m one Harley shy of a midlife crisis.”
He stared at me for a long time then shook his head. “I don’t see it.”
“So what, then?