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Chapter 19

Shane

We had a date. An official date. In all the time we had known each other, we had more or less met by chance. At the beach, in my trailer, in our cabin, at breakfast.

I stood somewhat helplessly in front of my clothes. When was the last time I had been on a date? It must have been during school.

All my other regular arrangements had not involved dates.

A certain uneasiness came over me. I wanted things to work out with Ruben.

It suddenly was imperative to me that this date be outstanding. I needed to convince Ruben, make it clear to him that I was the partner he had been waiting for his whole life.

Putting so much pressure on myself was sure to make for a relaxed evening. Not! What was I thinking, stressing myself out like this?

Maybe I should wear a button-down? First, we’d drive to Burlington, which would take over an hour. We would be going to some restaurant Ruben had found, and my brother had recommended an immersive art experience to me. Beauford Delaney’s paintings were made accessible to a wide audience in an unusual way in a multimedia installation. Nash himself had raved about it, having already seen the exhibition in New York, that he had been making me curious for weeks.

Now I hoped that Ruben would find the exhibition as compelling. Maybe I should have asked him what he wanted to do? After all, he had consulted me about the restaurant. Not that I could have contributed anything.

A button-down was over the top for the immersion. For the restaurant, it was a must.

I hated decisions like this. My life had been much easier when I didn’t care about anything.

I paused, startled. I hadn’t been indifferent to everything. But I hadn’t attached the same importance to these things that some people generally did.

I had tried to do the same when Dick III had bluntly informed me at our school graduation that he planned to continue being served by me when he came home. However, it went without saying that this arrangement would have to remain a secret.

After all, he was unwilling to risk his position in the New York debutante marriage market, his fraternity networks, and his future career prospects.

I had carried my indifference to social conventions like a shield in front of me. Now I stood there. I was unaware of how important it was to Ruben how I dressed, nor how important it was to me.

No matter what I wore, it wouldn’t change who I was. It would only change how I was perceived. And the only thing that mattered to me was how Ruben saw me. My gut feeling told me that he didn’t care about such superficialities. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become as important to me as he had in the last few weeks.

I energetically put on a pair of tight black jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt. I added my Chelsea boots. That should work.

A glance at my phone told me I still had time. Ruben was at a meeting with some important chef at the hotel. Several chefs from the surrounding resorts had been invited to talk to him about some kind of training session. I was supposed to pick him up in half an hour.

I hadn’t seen him all day because he had gotten ready for the event after his early shift and I hadn’t come back until later.

I slowly made my way through the small grounds to the back exit of the resort. From there, I reached the staff parking lot where Ruben had parked his car.

I had my cap in my pocket and kneaded the wool indecisively. It wasn’t worth messing up my hair for those few minutes.

Adriel came out of the hallway to the staff dining room and nodded to me.

“Are you on your way to lunch?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yes, but not here. We’re going to Burlington.”

He smiled mischievously. “You and . . . ?”

Shaking my head, I made a disapproving sound. “Tsk, tsk, Adriel! You haven’t gone and joined the gossip mill, have you?”

He raised his hands defensively and grinned even wider. “This was my attempt to be a good boss and show interest in my employees.”

“And you don’t even blush when you say that oh so casually.”

“Why should I?” He laughed openly. “If you don’t want to share, that’s your business, of course.”