‘About what?’
‘All that stuff you said about how you’re just a humble, modest, lowly lobsterman.’
‘I never said lowly. But the rest is true.’
I gestured at the mansion behind him. ‘This isnotmodest.’
‘This is my parents’ house, not mine.’
‘Did you grow up here?’
‘I did.’
‘So clearly your family is wealthy.’
‘You could say that, yes.’ He sighed heavily. ‘My family own The Shore Hotel, a luxury hotel here in Pine Harbor. We also have quite a substantial property portfolio, both here and on the mainland. My parents want me to take over running the business. I have no interest in doing that. It’s a bit of a sore point between us. Especially now that my father has had a stroke.’
‘Right.’
‘I didn’t lie to you,’ he insisted. ‘Iama humble lobsterman.’ He shrugged. ‘Just one who happens to come from wealth.’
‘Did you always want to be a lobsterman?’
‘No,’ he admitted. ‘It’s just something I fell into. Started as a summer job, while I was still in high school. Then when I dropped out of university I had to find some way to make a living so I wasn’t reliant on my parents, so I went back to it. Worked hard for a couple of years and bought my own boat. I enjoy it, but it’s not my dream in life.’
‘What is?’
He looked as if he was about to say something, then he closed his mouth and shrugged. ‘I’m still figuring that out, I guess.’
‘I get wanting to forge your own path in life. My father is retired now, but he always wanted me to follow in his footsteps and become a doctor. Or a surgeon to be exact. But I much prefer nursing. He doesn’t understand. Thinks I’m settling for a mediocre career changing bedsheets and washing bedpans, when I could be a big shot like him.’
He smiled sympathetically. ‘Families, eh?’
‘Yeah, families. Who’d have ’em?’
‘Do you want to go somewhere? Get some lunch?’
I checked my watch. ‘I can’t.’
‘I understand.’ He looked crestfallen.
I put a hand on his arm. ‘No. I really would have loved to, Jonah. It’s just that I was late here and I don’t want to risk being late for my next job too, which I still have to find. If your mother does complain to my boss I might be out of a job before I’ve even really started.’
‘She won’t.’
‘I don’t think she likes me.’
‘She doesn’t like anyone. What matters is that my father does.’
I smiled. ‘I like your father.’
‘Most people do.’
‘He’s going to be OK.’
He swallowed hard. ‘I hope so.’
‘He was lucky the stroke was relatively mild. With a few lifestyle changes, medication and regular check-ups, the chances of it happening again are slim.’
