Page 16 of Finding Parker

We followed as Downes walked toward the rear of the home. As we approached the windowed wall which faced the ocean, Downes turned to the right and stopped in front of two large French doors. As he opened one of them, I noticed Kenton’s shadow on a putting green below the patio.

“Mr. Ward. Mr. Bale and Miss Katelyn Moss here to see you,” Downes said sharply from the elevated deck of the patio.

Kenton spoke as he turned to face us.

“My apologies,” he said as he began to walk from the putting green toward the steps that led to the patio.

“But the game of golf, Miss Moss is lost or won right here,” he gestured toward the green.

“On the putting green,” he began to walk up the steps, using the putter jokingly as a cane.

“Everyone gets on in two or three strokes,” he paused and extended his hand toward Katelyn.

“And they’ll four putt their way into a loss. I have vowed not to step onto another course for as much as a round until I can have a sub-par round at Torrey Pines’ south course. I need practice. Miss Moss, pleasure to meet you, I’m Kenton Ward,” he smiled as she shook his hand.

Silently, and her mouth still noticeably agape, she shook his hand.

“May I call you Katelyn?” Kenton asked.

“Yes. Yes sir, you may,” she stumbled.

Kenton nodded and turned to face me. He raised his hand and slapped me on the shoulder lightly.

“Parker, you rarely stop and visit. Let’s change that, shall we?” he chuckled.

“I’ll do my best, Kenton,” I grinned.

“Katelyn, do you drink tea?” Kenton asked as he turned and began to walk toward a wrought iron table positioned on top of the patio.

“Yes, I do,” she responded.

Kenton nodded toward Downes, who disappeared quietly through the French doors.

“Please, sit down,” Kenton motioned toward the chairs which surrounded the table.

Kenton smiled as I pulled a chair from the table and waited for Katelyn to sit. After she sat, I lowered myself into the chair beside her. Kenton leaned his putter against the handrail of the patio pulled out a chair across the table from us. As he sat down, he looked down at his shoes.

“It seems I never take these damned things off. I spend all of my spare time on this damned green, Parker. You’d think I had some vested interest in the game. Nothing could be farther from the truth,” he grinned as he looked up.

“I’ve never been,” Katelyn paused and turned from staring out at the ocean to face Kenton, “golfing that is.”

“Well, it’s a frustrating sport to say the least. So, Parker, what have you two filled your evening with?” Kenton asked as he leaned into his chair and faced me.

“Well. We ate dinner, drove around and talked for a bit, and decided to come visit you. To end the evening on a relaxing note,” I gestured toward the ocean as I spoke.

“What was for dinner?” Kenton asked.

“Oh my God. We went to Rockin’ Baja Lobster,” Katelyn stammered, obviously still excited from my choice of the restaurant.

“You must have planned that, Parker. Getting into that place on a Friday night is impossible without a reservation. The lobster corn chowder is a must. One of my favorite places,” Kenton smiled.

“Oh my God. We had the chowder. It was so good. And a Cortez Bucket. It was so good,” Katelyn sat up in her chair and clasped her hands together as she spoke.

“What was in the Cortez? I always get the Baja Bucket; chicken, beef, shrimp, and lobster. I can’t seem to stray from it. Maybe it’s partly that I know I’ll leave satisfied,” Kenton grinned and rubbed his palms together feverishly as he waited for Katelyn to respond.

“Oh my God. It was lobster and uhhm,” Katelyn looked up and pressed her fingers against her cheeks.

The French door opened and Downes stepped to the patio with a pitcher of tea and three glasses on a tray. Quietly, he placed the serving tray onto the table in front of us, poured three glasses, and turned away.