Page 14 of Trick of Light

The following afternoon, Rod got off work early and headed to the harbor to check on his boat. During his years at the University of Massachusetts, he’d ached to return to the island and sail whenever he pleased. (He’d often felt his heart physically breaking as he’d studied and taken tests so far from the rush of the ocean.) When he returned, he immediately removed the boat from storage and prepared for wild treks across the sound. He didn’t understand landlocked people. He needed the wide-open sea at his doorstep.

Like many islanders, Rod had learned to sail as a boy. He’d inherited his sailboat from his father and kept it clean and maintained over the years. It now sat latched to the dock, waiting for him as it gently rocked on the water. He imagined teaching Felix to sail in the coming years (hopefully without Vinny nearby).

But as Rod approached his sailboat for an afternoon trek, something caught his eye. He stalled and turned to find a familiar boat tied up near his with Esme on the side.

A shiver ran down his spine. He’d sailed that boat before. He’d been out on it hundreds of hours of his life. But he’d never thought he would see it again.

A split second later, a familiar head emerged from below deck. It was Victor Sutton, carrying a box. He locked eyes with Rod and nodded as he continued up the stairs. When Rod didn’t avert his gaze, Victor’s eyes lit up in recognition.

“My gosh. Is that you, Rod?”

Although Rod had spotted Victor and Esme at the Fourth of July fireworks, he hadn’t imagined what he’d say to him if he saw him face-to-face. It still felt like a dream that he was back at all.

“What are you doing here?” Rod decided to play dumb.

Victor’s smile widened. He set the box on one of the sailboat chairs and waved him up. “Come on! Have a beer with me. We need to catch up.”

Rod stepped aboard and reached out to shake Victor’s hand. It was firm and powerful, much like Victor himself. Although it had been nearly thirty years since Rod had spoken to him, he seemed just as vibrant as ever. The years hadn’t taken anything away.

Victor popped the tops of two beers and passed one over. They clanked them together and took chairs on opposite sides of the boat.

“I need to get her cleaned up,” Victor said, gesturing to the boat around him. “I just got her out of storage this summer.”

“Right.” Rod raised an eyebrow, remembering Victor had left Esme for his secretary. His secretary probably wouldn’t have liked it if Victor continued sailing on a boat named for his first wife. Yet the boat had been here, waiting for him all the while.

Did that mean that Victor had always planned to return? Had he always thought his second marriage was doomed to fail?

“You look great, Rod,” Victor said. “Really. I’ve thought about you over the years. Always wondered what happened.” He raised his shoulders.

Shame crawled up Rod’s neck. He sipped his beer, which tasted tangy and cold. It was an IPA with too many hops for his liking.

“You look great, too. I heard a rumor you were back,” Rod said. “But I’ve been away. I just graduated from the University of Massachusetts. Social work.”

Victor’s eyes widened. “Cheers to that. Quite an accomplishment. I’ve worked with many social workers in my career. Some of the best people I’ve known.” There was a pregnant pause. “Maybe we’ll work together in the future. You and me.”

Rod wasn’t sure what to say to that. “I guess that means you’re sticking around?”

“I’m getting divorced,” Victor said flatly. “My brother lives here. Esme’s here. Rebecca moved back.” His eyes sparkled. “Bethany was here, too, you know.”

Rod swallowed the lump in his throat. “How is she doing?” He tried to sound casual.

“You know how Bethy is,” Victor said. “So driven. Always has something to prove. I couldn’t get her to tell me anything ‘real’ about her life in Savannah.” He sipped his beer and gazed into the middle distance. “I couldn’t help but feel like she wanted to keep something from us. Like her Cinderella story life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

Victor explained what Rod already knew—that Bethany had married into an elite Southern family. Her father-in-law was one of the top surgeons in Savannah, and her husband was also a surgeon.

“I googled it,” Victor said, “and it looks like Bethany got the job her husband was always meant to get.”

“How do you know that?”

“Gossip channels in the medical community,” Victor explained. “I can’t imagine that’s done wonders for her marriage. Jealousy can destroy just about anything.”

Rod wasn’t sure why Victor was telling him this. Each word felt like a knife.

“I’ve been thinking hard about how to bring her here for good,” Victor said. “The Nantucket Hospital could use a wonderful surgeon like her. And I can’t imagine she’s half as happy as she thought she would be in Savannah.”

Rod wiped his mouth with his hand. “I’m sure you know I have a daughter.”

Victor arched his brow with curiosity.

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