Page 53 of Kiss My Glass
Sun’s coming up, and it’s another day in paradise. As I walk, I start thinking about yesterday, and how I couldn’t wait to tell Nate about the deal with Ted, right up until we were all together eating burgers. I looked across at Nate and saw our dad, and in my mind, I heard him say that money wasn’t a subject for polite conversation. Unless you’re nagging your children about planning for their futures, of course. Also, Nate and Shelby aren’t starving, but they’re hardly well off. I’m happy to compete with Nate when we’re on an equal footing, but it feels wrong to brag when we’re not. I’d come across like Scrooge McDuck diving into his cellar full of gold coins.
Mom and Dad gave us Durant kids every advantage, it’s true. But we all know how privileged we are and we also know that Mom and Dad expect us to make our own way now, without their help. Dad in particular was always super clear about that. It’s why he gets so down on me – because my way’s not the way he’d have chosen. I could call him up now and tell him about the success I had yesterday, but deep down, I know it wouldn’t make any difference. He’ll point out that it was a flash in the pan, a one-off favor from Ted, like the one-off favor his friend with the Ferrari did me. He’ll ask me when the next big sale is coming and all I’ll be able to say is, “maybe next week, maybe never”. He’ll point out how flaky and risky that sounds, and I’ll end the call before I say something I regret and spend the rest of the day feeling like a shitty loser. I love my dad, but sometimes he makes it hard for me to like him.
Huh. There’s a light on in the kitchen. With luck, it’s Shelby, and she’s already got the coffee brewing on the stove.
It’s Frankie. Sitting at the kitchen table, scowling at her laptop. She’s concentrating hard and hasn’t noticed me. It’s one of those moments where you don’t want to startle someone but you know you’re going to.
I settle for a cough as the least disturbing announcement of my presence. Fail. Frankie leaps like I’ve stuck her with a pin.
“What are you doing here?” she demands in a stage whisper. “It's the crack of dawn!”
“Ran out of coffee,” I say.
She rolls her eyes. “If Shelby’s coffee maker bites your hand off, don’t come crying to me.”
Frankie’s cute when she’s annoyed, and I will never, ever say that out loud. I do stand behind her and plant a quick kiss on the nape of her neck. I half expect her to swat me away like a fly, but she thumps back in her chair and lets out a frustrated, “Gah!”
“What’s up?” I ask. “Anything I can help with? After I’ve had coffee, I mean?”
She exhales a long breath. On her laptop screen I can see a route map, of…
“The Camino de Santiago? Isn’t that the trek your mom’s doing?”
“Yup. My guess is she’s somewhere between here”—Frankie points her finger at a spot markedPamplona, in Spain—“And here.” Her finger moves to a spot further west markedBurgos.
“And this is important why?”
“Because Mom decided to go all authentic medieval and not take her phone,” says Frankie. “So, I need to track her down so I can leave her an important message.”
Lack of caffeine makes me a little slow. “How will you do that?”
“I’m going to contact every possible place of accommodation along the route. I can eliminate any big chain hotels – Mom would sooner sleep in a bus shelter – but it’s still a loooong list. And I could be completely wrong about where she is, which is fun.”
“Will coffee help?” I admit it, I’m on a single track here.
“No, Danny,” she replies, turning around so she can give me an even stare. “I am dialed up to eleven right now. I am at Defcon one and my hand is on the big red button. If I get any more wired, I will launch into hyperspace.”
I wait a beat. “So, I guess a quickie is also out of the question?”
She’s got a good aim. Her pen almost clips me on the ear as I make a run for it.
“I’ll fix you breakfast!” It’s my plea for mercy. “Whatever you want!”
I’m safe. Frankie is smiling. A little wryly, but still.
“What I want,” she says, “is to not have so many issues with my goddamn mother. I’m too old for this shit.”
“I hear you.” I really do. “Let me get some nuclear-powered liquid in me and I’ll sit down and help you out.”
ChapterTwenty-Nine
FRANKIE
Ithrew my pen at Danny but what I really wanted to do was say, “Yes, please, fuck me now, as hard and fast as you can, so I don’t have to think about my mother and her five hundred possible locations.”
But that would wake up Nate and Shelby. If we did it right.
I missed being in Danny’s bed last night. But I also enjoyed hanging with my sister. I realize we haven’t seen that much of each other in the six years since I left home. Ironic that we were watchingGilmore Girls, where Lorelai is forced to reconnect with parents she’s been estranged from for years. And although it’s a feel-good show, it doesn’t make the family reunion look like sweetness and light. Maybe this is a message for me? A higher being is teaching me life lessons via the medium of a critically acclaimed comedy-drama? Maybe I do have my mother’s woo-woo powers? Or possibly I just need a break. And food.
