The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,69
guilty, asking for half?” she asked. “I’m not the surgeon. I didn’t endure a decade of medical school and residency. I didn’t build the practice...okay, on his father’s money, but still. It wasn’t mine.”
“Maybe you don’t need half,” Beau said, surprising her. “Maybe what you need is what’s fair and reasonable. But before you settle on a number, you should know what there is. And you should see if you can count the pinches. The bruises. And I don’t know that much about your marriage but... Could he have done any of it without you?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “With a maid, nanny, assistant, secretary, household manager...and whipping post.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
At the end of September, when the leaves were turning colors and people were putting fall wreaths on their doors, Beau called her one Friday afternoon. “How’s your poker game?” he asked.
“Poker?” she repeated.
“You know, cards. Your poker game.”
“I’m not sure I even remember how to play,” she said. “I might’ve played a couple of times in college, but we mostly played hearts.”
“Great! I’m getting a table together for tonight. Tim, my son, Drew, his current girlfriend, Darla, me and you. I’ll have food. Poker food. Seven. Will you come?”
“Oh... I don’t know...”
“I’ll tell everyone to go easy on you,” he promised. “Come on, it will be fun.”
Lauren took the address from Beau and opted to drive herself to his house, though she was tremendously nervous. Would Father Tim frown in a paternal way? Though Tim didn’t seem that fatherly, except in the clerical sense, and surely he would not be wearing a collar or robes... Would Beau’s son show his disapproval of her presence out of loyalty to his mother? And the girlfriend—would she be snooty and proprietary? Why ever would she think or worry about those things? Lauren didn’t know. Perhaps because she worried about many things.
“Hi,” Beau said when he opened the door. “Come in! We’re all here!”
She presented her offerings, though she wasn’t asked to bring anything.
“What’s this?” he asked, taking a couple of large, sealed containers from her.
“Stuffed mushrooms and a cheese ball.” She lifted a bag. “And crackers.”
“That was nice of you,” he said. “I didn’t mean for you to go to any trouble...”
“Well, I wanted to,” she said. “You’ll love it.”
“Will you have a glass of wine?”
“I... I... Yes, sure,” she stammered.
He grinned at her. “Aw,” he said softly. “You’re nervous.”
She glanced around. The house was so nice. It wasn’t in any way fussy, but the walls, woodwork, cabinetry, window coverings and furniture were classy and well cared for. There was, of course, a big-screen TV mounted on the wall in the family room and a U-shaped sectional facing it. It was, in a way, masculine, so she wondered about his wife and wanted to see the kitchen. Clearly the dining room would be the poker table, since that’s where the cards and chips were.
“Lauren!” Father Tim called, coming to her at once to greet her with a hug. He wore jeans and a sweater. An emerald-green sweater that brought out that green in his eyes. “I’m so glad to see you! Beau mentioned that it’s been a while since you played poker so I took the liberty of writing out a little cheat sheet for you.” He pulled a slip of paper out of his pocket.
“Ah, wait a sec,” the young man who must be Drew said. “You’d better let me check that...”
“You suggest I would mislead her? An innocent like Lauren?”
“I wouldn’t put it past you. Hi,” he said, sticking out his hand. “I’m Drew. And this is Darla. I’m really glad you could make it. My dad’s mentioned you now and then for months, obviously trying to pretend he’s not dating anyone...”
“Actually, I don’t think he’s dating me. We’ve just met at the pub down the street a couple of times. Back in the day, that wasn’t quite a date,” she said.
“It qualifies,” Drew said. “Let me check that cheat sheet.” He grinned at her and pulled it from her hand. “Hm. Looks correct, but don’t take his advice, okay? He’ll do anything to win. He doesn’t exactly cheat, but he wrangles.”
“I’m offended,” Tim said. “First of all, it’s poker. Second, I’m not on the clock right now. I play by the same rules you reprobates play by.” He turned his attention to Lauren. “You’re looking wonderful. I haven’t seen you in a while, but it looks like you’ve been well and happy.”
Her whole demeanor softened. There was nothing like a handsome