“Patricia told us before we met Jules.”
I bristle at the thought of my father’s name in Patricia’s mouth. Not even his name, I think—just a conveniently forgettable chapter in her new daughter-in-law’s old life.
“I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for you.”
“Thanks,” I say sincerely. “Honestly, it was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. People assume it was hard for Jules and me to grow up without a mom, but for the most part, I didn’t really feel like anything was missing. I never felt any lack oflove. He had a way of making us feel like we were the only people that mattered in the world. Like we were capable of anything.”
“You’re lucky,” Caleb says after a moment.
“Lucky?”
“Some people go their whole lives without knowing a love like that.”
I look over at Caleb as he pushes a leaning palm out of the way for us to cross.
“I take it you’re not close with your parents?” I guess correctly.
“Hardly. My mom wasn’t exactly a model parent. Half the time she was off on a bender with some guy she met at AA, and the other half she was working double hours at the cannery. Most of the time my brother and I ended up living with my grandparents.”
I try not to look visibly shocked. From the way he carries himself, I assumed Caleb grew up reciting Latin in boarding school and crushing it on the rugby team.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him, unsure what else to say.
“Don’t be. She’s alright, now—four years sober this fall. But she made her choices, and I made mine. From the time I was ten, I knew I wanted to get out of my hometown and do something with my life. Kids where I’m from don’t usually leave. This crew is my family, now. And we get paid to travel the world. Not sure I can ask for more than that.”
He’s trying to make me feel better, but internally I’m cringing. This job is clearly so important to Caleb. So why would he risk it flirting with me?
A girl in every port,I remember Will’s warning from the day we arrived. Just because Caleb’s a person with depth (who knew) doesn’t mean he’s not still a total womanizer. Maybe this is his deal. Work hard, play harder. Or, more likely, he’s just looking for attention.
Whatever his game is, it’s not going to work on me.
We come to a break in the trees thatopens to a clearing bordered by dozens of small houses, some with palapa roofs and some with corrugated metal. Chickens poke about in overgrown grass that sways beneath long clotheslines.
“Finally!” I say as we step out onto the grass. “I was beginning to think this place didn’t exist.”
“Take off your hat,” Caleb tells me in a low voice, “and whatever you do, don’t touch anyone’s head.”
“Why would I touch someone’shead?”I ask him.
He shrugs.
“Who knows with Americans. The Fijians consider the head to be the most sacred part of the body. It’s highly offensive.”
There’s not a person in sight, but as soon as we break into the clearing, a pack of brown and white dogs come charging towards us, their tongues lolling. They gather around our legs and I kneel to greet them, giggling as they lick my salty shins and elbows.
Caleb, however, skitters backwards, positioning himself carefully behind me. I can see his whole body going stiffer than it did when we ran into the Tiger shark.
“Caleb,” I ask, looking him up and down. Is he seriously?—
“Are you afraid of…dogs?”
“I’m not afraid of them,” he protests. “They’re just—so?—“
He loses his train of thought as a shaggy brown dog with a large stick in his mouth leaps towards Caleb, throwing his paws up towards his stomach. Caleb throws his hands up and steps back into a muddy spot in the grass that nearly knocks him off balance.
“Unpredictable.”
“You’re totally terrified!” I announce triumphantly. Finally I’ve found something to shake the formidable Captain Flawless. “I mean, I don’t blame you. Just look at this vicious creature.”
