I’d tradedmy corner office for a rotating collection kitchen tables and I didn’t hate it. Most days, I worked from Sunny’s place although I also stationed myself at my parents’ house if I wanted to check on Parker or Dex. When I didn’t have any conference calls on my schedule, I hung out at the newly renovated and expanded Naked Provisions.
The portion of the café lost in the fire had been rebuilt with a one-hundred-and-eighty degree view of Friendship Cove, more seating, and zero dark, narrow hallways. They hosted a grand reopening on the evening of October’s full moon and celebrated by dragging out the cauldron. Leary, one of Friendship’s newest residents, had started the party by lighting the bonfire. His nephew Mars had told me we were nuts for letting a guy with glaucoma set fire to anything, and, though it had killed me to agree with him, he was right.
Leary helped out in the kitchen at Naked a few afternoons each week. When he wasn’t peeling vegetables, he could be found at one of the café tables, devouring every muffin put in front of him and telling stories so outrageous that they were almost believable. There were days when I pulled up a chair beside him just to hear his running commentary on issues such as seaweed, the British monarchy, and the “foxy ladies” who came through with the walking club. It was good to talk to him, even if he grumbled like a box of rocks the whole time.
Dex was still at home, though he frequently made a point of telling us he didn’t need to be here and would be moving out soon. I found this amusing as he’d special-ordered a mattress for his room and had a professional batting cage installed in the backyard. All very temporary, of course.
We’d sold his place in Arizona and all the cars he’d forgotten about there too. He’d done some on-air commentary over the winter and survived the whole affair with only a fuckton of drama. He kept himself busy by annoying everyone at SPOC while shucking oysters and inviting himself to practices of the high school baseball and softball teams, where he’d serve up his special blend of complain-coaching. Every swing, every pitch was a personal offense to my brother. For reasons I still did not comprehend, he hadn’t been escorted off the field yet. Apparently the teams liked having him around. Something about all those years spent playing in the Major League.
Parker was finishing up his junior year next month and he continued to have no interest in discussing college, which I’d chosen to accept rather than kicking up a conversation that would only give me a headache. Without my knowledge or involvement, he’d signed up for a photography class at the community college last fall. He’d taken to it quickly, and registered for another class this spring. I’d refrained from asking whether this was a hobby or a future career, and I felt like I deserved some credit for that. He didn’t keep me updated on the tilt-a-whirl that was teenage love, thank god, but I kept the cookie jar filled with condoms.
As far as my parents went, well, I was still backing dump trucks of cash up to Adrian Pineda’s office on a regular basis. That was a work in progress.
The oyster company was in Ayla and Mel’s capable hands, and Hale was deep into conversations with the local university to launch a research partnership along with an oyster hatchery. We had many years of work ahead of us, but it seemed like we were closer to making that a reality than I’d imagined.
“Remind me about your schedule for today.” Sunny dug in her basket—it was a basket, it was not a bag, and I wouldn’t entertain any discussion of this—as I drove down Market Street. “You have things and then other things, and then you’re taking me home?”
Jem leaned forward from the back seat and licked the side of my face. “Thanks, buddy,” I said. “Yeah, that’s pretty much the plan. Are you staying for the yoga and tarot event tonight?”
“No, Beth has that under control.” She continued sorting through the basket. “And you’re ready for the weekend?”
I turned down Succotash Lane. It was hard to notice things that were gone when so many other, good things crowded in and filled the void, but there were moments when I was aware that I didn’t dread coming here anymore. I didn’t associate the oyster company—the whole damn town, honestly—with disaster and responsibility. With saving everyone else before I saved myself.
“I am as ready as anyone could be.” I pulled into my spot and stole a quick kiss before letting Scout and Jem out. “I will survive this the way I survive most things.”
“Oh, wonderful,” she murmured, coming around the back of the car. “Am I going to need to rub your neck and shoulders with that salve from the herbalist from Ecuador again?”
“No,” I replied, irritable for no good reason. “Maybe. I don’t know. It will be fine.” I reached for her hand. “Do we have more of that stuff?”
“Yeah, I bought four jars when she visited for her tincture workshop.” She smiled up at me. “I know how you get. You squirrel your stress away.”
“I do not squirrel anything—"
“Good day, friends!”
We turned to find Ranger and Phil Collins emerging from the path, the walking club in tow. “This guy’s timing,” I muttered to Sunny.
“It’s a gift,” she said under her breath. “But he tips like a god so be nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
“You are contemptuous and intimidating,” she said. “Nice is not part of the package.”
“Then it’s a good thing you’re nice enough for both of us.” I held up my hand to Ranger and Phil Collins. “Good afternoon.”
“And what a fine afternoon it is,” Ranger said. “Looking forward to the weekend?”
I swallowed a groan. I’d gotten quite proficient at that over the past few months. “As much as anyone.”
“Outstanding,” Ranger said. “Mr. Collins and I will be there with bells on.”
“Promise?” Sunny asked. “Because I’ll wear my bells too, but only if you’re doing it with me. Can’t be the only one in bells.”
“I have a jingly bracelet I got in Portugal that I’ve always wanted to wear but could never find the right occasion,” Phil Collins said.
“Really?” she cried. “Me too! Where in Portugal?”
“Oh, well, this little village at the base of a volcano where—”
