“It was fun,” Wes admitted, though he understood why Art felt that way, because, truly, it had been such a strange conversation, which only made some semblance of sense in hindsight. Wes added, “There was…something about you that I felt like I got…that I understood and didn’t know why. I remember when word was creeping around that you were in town, chasing boys, and it clicked right into place forme.”
“What did you think aboutthat?”
“I was happy for you…because by the time I heard it, I wasn’t so happy myself. I wasn’t willing to take that step yet. I wasn’tready.”
“Some days, I still think I’m not ready,” Art added, clearly working to lighten the mood, but Wes had a more pressing question, one he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to, but one he had to askanyway.
“They called me a horrible father, didn’tthey?”
Art pressed his lips together, his gaze shifting like he was thinking very carefully beforereplying.
“I suppose that answers myquestion.”
“No. That’s not right. There was talk when word started getting around, but the way you handled all that and then being there for the kids, no one could denythat.”
“It’s funny how reputations waver. I guess we have plenty of time to rise and fall again and again. Eventually, people figure out that, unfortunately, you were only human…just likethem.”
“I assure you, Wes, people knew you did everything you could for you andyours.”
Wes knew he was right, but it couldn’t change the past. No amount of wishing or hoping could have taken Becca’s cancer away or spared Mike the accident that had taken hislife.
He’d accepted that a long timeago.
* * *
“So how’s Kelly?”Art asked, navigating the conversation away from the more tragic moments in Wes’slife.
“She’s great,” Wes said, his expression easing at the mention of his daughter. “Did you hear she’s a lawyer? Partner at the firm she’sat.”
“Yes, I heard. She sounds like a realjuggernaut.”
“Absolutely. Tough, and has never taken guff from anyone, me included. Hell, meespecially.”
Art appreciated the dreamy expression on Wes’s face, so different from when they’d discussed the loss of his wife andson.
“Is she planning to come outsoon?”
“Yes. I’ve been giving her a hard time for not getting out here sooner. But she has a case she’s been working on, and it’s a big one against the FBI, discrimination case, and she has a lot of prep work to do for her court date. She plans to come out here after, though. I’m really looking forward to it, and maybe by then I’ll be a little moresettled.”
The conversation shifted to more superfluous topics from their past—mutual friends from Winebourne, the popular feuds of some of the families they each had been aware of from their timethere.
By the time their lunch came to an end, Art was pleased with what they’d shared. Laid-back and brimming with confidence, Wes wasn’t so different from the all-American guy Art had seen running around theirhometown.
When they left the restaurant, they stopped just outside the door, moving aside for passersby before Wes grinned and said, “My grandson is encouraging me to get involved in some of the activities around here. Any recommendations would be greatlyappreciated.”
“You don’t have to worry too much about that. Spend a little time around, and you’ll be finding you have to say no to more of them than yes, just to have a life. It’s nice having so many options, but you can’t do everything. Let’s see what I do right now.” Art pulled his phone out of his back pocket and touched the screen for a bit, then said, “There’s the book club, which I run. And then aerobics, water polo, volleyball, and some Zumbaclasses.”
“Zumba? Really? I’m not sure I even know what thatis.”
“Sort of dance-fitnessclass.”
“That sounds like a lot ofwork.”
“The bark is worse than the bite. It’s pretty tame, to allow some of the more mature residents to participate. In your orientation pamphlet, most activities have clear indicators of level of ability required. And if you see something you want to try but you want to take it at your own pace, everyone’s reallyaccommodating.”
“That’s good toknow.”
“Yes, but one thing that’s basically a requirement is Friday Night Bingo,” Artadded.
