Page 88 of Until We Break

“Sorry. I mean their business. You know what I mean. This is how bad gossip gets started around here. I don’t need it. Neither does Margot. That’s not fair to her.”

“All right. I’ll tell Nan next time I see her.” She stood as I rose from the table. “But speaking of this Margot, am I going to get to meet her?”

I grinned. “I think so. How about dinner?”

“Really? I’d love her to come over. For both of you to be here. And Jacob?”

We both looked at the door when we heard my dad’s truck door slam. “I need to get those tools out of the truck and put them back in the workshop.” I hugged my mom. “I’ll call you later about what night works.”

I jogged off the front porch steps. Dad was already hauling the tools out of the back.

“Hold on there, let me help you with those.” I met him at the bed of the truck.

“I’ve got it,” he answered.

“You went fishing today?”

He nodded. “Nothing biting much. A few trout. That’s all.”

“Enough for dinner?” I asked.

“You can have them if you want them. They’re in my cooler.”

I thought about breaking out Walt’s grill in the shed behind the cottage and cooking dinner for Margot. We had a lot to discuss. I wanted to know about breakfast with Ethan before I heard another island version of it.

"Yeah, I'll take some fish."

"For your friend?" he asked.

I chuckled. If I didn’t bring Margot to the house soon to introduce her to everyone, she was going to have a hard timeunraveling the reputation people were planting and creating without her input. I needed to take care of that.

“Yes, for my friend. And before you ask, I already told Mom we’re coming over for dinner. So you can meet her.”

Dad slapped me on the back. “Good. I’ve been hearing a lot about her.”

“Oh, about that.” I paused. “Don’t pay any attention to what Nan has to say about today.”

Dad seemed unaffected. “Son, I’ve learned that lesson a long time ago.” He headed over to his truck and handed me a small cooler. He opened the lid.

“Already fileted.”

“Great. Thanks.” I took the handoff and added the cooler to my truck bed. I was looking forward to surprising Margot with dinner. Maybe I’d pick up a bottle of wine at the market on the way to the Blue Heron.

We finished unloading the rest of the tools and storing them in his workshop. I told him goodbye and backed out of the driveway, on my way to see Margot.

FORTY-ONE

Margot

From somewhere beneath the heavy quilt, I heard the hum of the AC. It was as loud as the buzzing between my ears. It faded in and out like the tide lapping at the shore. It crashed and pounded before receding into gentle silence. I would awaken, only to feel the pain in my chest. It was unbearable. Aching like a hard, solid rock wedged beneath my ribcage. My only salve was to bury myself under the covers again and burrow deeper in the bed, hoping the next time I woke up, it would be gone.

How could he? How could Ethan be so cruel and insensitive? How could he have done this to me? I clutched the pillow, hugging it to my chest. I let out a sob, I didn’t know I was capable of.

The window rattled. I realized it wasn’t only the window, it was the side of the house. Someone was at the door. I rolled over as my phone lit up next to me. I had an entire day’s worth of mixed texts and calls.

I groaned. The rattling continued as I struggled to get out of bed. It was hard to get my bearings. The curtains were drawn. If Ihadn’t glanced at my phone I wouldn’t realize how late it was. I had lost the day. I had lost track of all the minutes and hours since I left the diner booth with Ethan.

I stumbled downstairs. I unlocked the door to the screen porch. Caleb stood before me.

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