Page 27 of Pity Parade

He snorts. “Because you’re not going to take that kind of vacation with a woman. It might give her false hope for the future.”

I hate that he knows me so well. And as much as I want to tell him I’m not alone, what would be the point? “Yeah, I’m here by myself.”

“Are you bored?”

“No. Why would you ask that?” I’m starting to regret making this call.

“Because you’re calling me.”

I turn the car off and push the button to recline my seat. “I’m calling you because I thought you’d appreciate the fact that I’m reliving one of our childhood memories.”

He finally decides to play along. “Have you been in town for bubble gum ice cream yet?”

“No, but it’s definitely on my list.” Then I tell him, “You and Holly should bring the kids out for a week or two.”

He hems and haws before settling on, “Maybe. But you wouldn’t believe how busy the kids are with camps and friends. They have more going on now than when they were in school.”

“You have to be taking them somewhere for vacation,” I prod.

“We’re going to spend a couple weeks with Mom and Dad. Holly’s parents are coming out here after that. If you wanted us in Elk Lake, you needed to book us months ago.”

I sound moderately hostile when I say, “I didn’t realize how in demand you were. The invitation is open if you change your mind.”

“I’ll tell Holl and the kids. But right now, I need to get back to work.” Tyler runs a recreational facility for families who have special needs kids, whether that be mental or physical disabilities. Before he hangs up, he asks, “How are you able to work from Elk Lake?”

“I’m taking the summer off.”

“Seriously?” He’s laughing again. I’m glad I can entertain him so effortlessly. Does everyone think I’m a workaholic? But instead of responding, I simply hang up.

Before I can turn the car on again, I notice I’m sitting in front of a realtor’s sign advertising one hundred and fifty acres for sale. I’m suddenly intrigued. I have no idea why I find this so appealing. I mean, what would I do with that much land in Elk Lake?

Once I’m back on the road, I turn around and head into town. I should go get a double scoop of ice cream. Yet even though I want to prove to my brother that I know how to have a good time, bubble gum ice cream at nine a.m. sounds a tad gross.

As I drive into town, I start to wonder how long I’m going to be able to stay here. I had to be crazy to think I could take a whole summer off without losing it. Maybe I should just stay for the rest of the week and then go back to my daily grind.

Then an image of Trina Rockwell pops into my mind and I know I’m not going anywhere.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TRINA

I reach the short distance between my deck and Heath’s to put my coffee mug down. While it was very nice of him to come out this morning, I really have to stop seeing him if I’m going to get him out of my mind.

With Daniel coming tomorrow, I figure I should do a little more research on what he’s been up to in the last couple of years. Sitting down on the glider, I open a search engine on my phone and look him up. His name is mentioned over two thousand times. The articles are mostly about the people’s lives he’s saved. But there are a few just about him.

One of them is about how he’s recently spent several months in London teaching a new technique for semi-conscious sedation while replacing heart valves. My face contorts into what I’m sure is a look of absolute horror. Please God, if I ever need heart surgery, make sure I’m fully sedated. Take a frying pan to my head, if necessary, but I don’t want to have any idea what’s going on.

I continue reading some interesting statistics about how people recover much quicker from the method Daniel uses, and yet, no thank you. There are some things a person should have no recollection of, and in my opinion, heart surgery is one of them.

Clicking on images, I discover that Daniel is as handsome as I remember. Even though he doesn’t have Heath’s movie star good looks, he’s still very appealing. Gah! I need to remember that Heath Fox is not an option in my life and focus my attention on someone that I have a chance with. DanielDanielDanielDaniel.

Closing my laptop, I think about walking around town for a bit. Maybe I’ll take my book over to Rosemary’s and grab a sticky bun and latte for breakfast. Maybe I’ll go to the park and watch the kids play. Whatever I do, I know I need to get out of this apartment and enjoy my day.

After getting dressed, I walk down the stairs and out onto the street. I wind up at Rosemary’s, but Faith isn’t there, so I get my breakfast to go and then hit Main Street. Passing by the movie theater, I discover that in ten minutes, they’re going to be playing vintage romcoms all day. For the bargain basement price of twenty dollars, I can practically watch every one of my favorite Hugh Grant movies. It’s the easiest money I’ve ever spent.

Settling into a middle seat, I watch Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love, Actually. Then I grab a large tub of popcorn and some Red Vines for lunch while chuckling my way through About a Boy, Bridget Jones’s Diary, and Notting Hill.

It’s six o’clock when the last one ends, so I have to hurry over to Jamie and Missy’s house. I don’t even have time to go home and change.

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