Lucas: Night, Abby.
Me: Night, Lucas… and if I need medical assistance then next time I’ll phone you. I promise.
Lucas: Oh, good, my plan to gain a new patient worked.
He sends me a winking emoji.
I sigh a blissful sigh as I sink into my chair at the kitchen island and look at Romeo who watches me with interest.
Am I losing my patience to wait? Because I want him, that I’m now sure of.
8
LUCAS
Looking around my parents’ living room, I have to respect these retired legends. My parents flew back for the weekend to celebrate my father’s 70thbirthday. Now, a couple dozen of his friends and their partners are floating around our big living room and the backyard. While I am hearing way too many conversations about stocks, golf, and vacationing in warmer climates, I am thoroughly impressed by the amount of whiskey being drunk and my mother’s cosmopolitans flowing in a steady stream. These folks know how to have a good time.
“Lucas, my boy, come join us for a drink,” my father motions for me to join him and a circle of people.
Since I do appreciate the conversation to be had and the fact I know someone is going to break out on the piano in the other room, I gladly join them as someone hands me a neat scotch.
“How’s the new practice? We were so happy to hear you were the one to take it over,” an old colleague of my father’s asks.
I take a sip of my scotch. “Good. I look forward to you all coming in for your cholesterol check,” I quip, which earns me a laugh from the group.
“My son is housesitting for us until his house is ready. He bought a beauty, and the renovated kitchen is going to be top notch,” my father notes.
“Did you use Felix McGee? He’s a great one for renovations,” Mr. Hill asks.
I have to laugh. Felix McGee, the arch nemesis of our group of friends when we were in high school. We would throw a party and he would try to outdo us with the next party. Yet, now as mature adults, we respect each other’s work—just still call each other asshole when we can.
I nod slowly. “I did speak with him, but I decided on someone who could do a quick flip.”
“Understandable. I remember you have a son, and I can imagine with the divorce that you want to start again sooner than later. Isn’t William’s daughter also divorced recently? Hey, William—” Mr. Hill nudges a man in a dark polo shirt from another discussion circle behind him.
Internally, I have to smile to myself as William Call turns to join our group.
“Lucas! I didn’t know you were back.” He smiles as he comes to pat the back of my shoulder.
I give him a smile. “Hi, Mr. Call, it’s been a long time.”
Mr. Call laughs. “Geez, Lucas, none of that ‘mister’ stuff.”
“We were just talking about my son’s divorce,” my father points out as he pours more whiskey all around.
“Oh yeah? What a party killer,” William says.
“I was just going to mention that your daughter is divorced too and back in town. A dentist, right?” Mr. Hill mentions.
“Abby? She’s a vet, and yes, she did get divorced. Hey, you should catch up with her,” William suggests with his eyes almost giving me encouragement.
Now I just grin. “Yeah, maybe I should.”
“She’s here, actually. Your mother invited her,” my father informs me and nudges my arm to look across the room to the open kitchen where Abby is indeed talking to my mother who’s dressed like this is a fancy club and looks like she is forever forty with dark hair and perfect make-up. Abby has a smile thrown across her face, and she is in a simple blue dress, her hair down.
My eyes alternate between my father and William, giving them both a face that tells them that I am on to them.
This must be planned, because now my mother is waving me over.
