“Okay,” Taylor says with a smile. “I’m sure you’re dying to get back on track, though I want to express again how much I appreciate you taking the time to help me understand what’s important enough for an actual conversation and what can be expressed through newsletters and feedback. I may need a few more of these brief educational opportunities, but I think I have a much better understanding now. Thank you so much!”
“You’re welcome, Taylor,” the room says, almost in unison.
Taylor smiles brightly. “Okay, so the agenda has been tweaked a little because we have some exciting news. It was this that became the reason for our slight delay in meeting date, but we’re ready to share.” He looks at Mr. Calloway. “If you’re ready, sir.”
Mr. Calloway replaces Taylor at the podium and Taylor moves to the covered easel.
“Thank you all for joining us tonight. I have some exciting news. As you know, we’ve been talking about expanding the islands for a while now because, and I’m very humbled to say this, our growth has been exponential. Peoplewantto be here. They want to live, work, and vacation here. There’s a waiting list for homes, which isn’t a bad problem to have. Except when it is. Our growth has been plateaued for a long time now because we do not have the housing to accommodate more residents. We also have a problem keeping our young people who want to stay when we don’t have anywhere for them to live except with their parents.”
“Yes!” several people say.
Cash and I exchange grins.
“This is why we began talking about expansion to begin with. Not just for the resort, but for you, our residents, and for those to come. You know, in our original plan, we were expanding by three islands—one more residential and two more for the resort. As anyone with basic math will tell you, we’ll again run out of residential space when we’re expanding the work capacity by double what we’re expanding the residential. That was an oversight on our part.” He looks at Taylor and gives a nod.
Taylor pulls off the sheet and we’re looking at a color-coded island map chain. Kala’s original six islands are outlined in green. The original expansion of three new islands is outlined in blue. The second iteration of this expansion is outlined in red.
There are three new residential islands and four more for the resort. Yes, the numbers are still skewed, but the residential islands are much bigger than those for the resort.
“Here is where we’re at now,” Mr. Calloway says. “Thoughts?”
Almost everyone raises their hands in the air with excitement. I grin as I look around. My smile fades when I see my father glaring at me. I turn away and sink into my seat.
Chapter Thirty-Two
LAIKEN
Two weeks have passedsince the beach, and I think I’ve given Nason enough time to pull his head out of his ass. There are times when I think he’s avoiding me. I used to see him every single day, and I haven’t seen him at all. Not leaving his house. Not to get the mail. At. All!
I’m not sure the best decision is a confrontation, but I’m pissed off about the way he’s treating Lie. I get it. You’re angry. Neither of us is saying you shouldn’t be. But making your son cry after he hadn’t been home in six days because you’re making him feel like shit is unacceptable.
Who does that? What kind of parent looks at their hurting child and decides ‘I’m going to continue being a dick to him since he brought this on himself?’ Yes, I’m childless. But even I know that’s not how you should be treating your child.
I’m fucking flabbergasted that he’s still treating Lie this way. It’s hard to look beyond because I don’t fucking understand this man.
There have been times since Lie was born that I was jealous about how close he was with his son. How they’d have their own inside jokes. How Lie would confide in him. How Lie would seek him out above anyone else. Nasonlovedhanging out with Lie. He’d take Lie everywhere. There are at least an equal number of memories I have when it’s been the three of us—Nason, Lie, and me—over the last twenty-one years as there are without Lie.
Nason must know that he’s now fucked that relationship up beyond repair. Right? Is there no remorse at all?
I think this is what drives me to cross the backyard once Lie has gone to the bar with Cash to watch Whiskey Horizons play for a couple of hours. My staff know they have every authority to kick Benson out if need be. I support their decisions if it comes to that.
I pause in front of the glass sliding door. I’m not sure I’ve ever knocked on Nason’s door. It feels… wrong. I chew the inside of my lip and reconsider what I’m doing.
This is a bad idea. I know it is. I can feel it in my gut. I should turn around and let it be.
Except that I can’t. Lie needs his father to stop. Maybe I can help. Probably not, but I won’t know unless I try, right?
With that resolve, I knock on the glass door hard enough that it can’t be ignored.
Miranda appears around the corner and freezes in her tracks. Her eyes dart away, and then she’s wringing her hands in front of her. I’m a little surprised when she comes toward me and opens the door.
“Hello, Miranda,” I greet.
She gives me a weary smile. “Hi, Laiken.”
“I need to speak to your husband. Think you can convince him to come outside?”
Miranda is obviously torn. After a few seconds of indecision, she sighs. “Yeah.” She hesitates, her eyes meeting mine for a second.
