Page 37 of Sweet Escape at Bayside
The night before Emery had seen him in the kitchen, Violet had gone to Undercover with their friends. But there was so much lovey-dovey stuff going on, she’d left to sit at the bar, and later that night she’d gone to Justin’s studio. As always, working with clay had brought memories of Andre. The longer she’d worked, the sadder she’d become. It had been more than a year since she’d seen him, and she didn’t know why the guilt and longing had consumed her so deeply that time. But the bone-deep pain had been excruciating and inescapable, exactly like it had been the day Lizza had taken her away from the life she’d adored. Her thoughts were like a monsoon, unstoppable and terrifying. As if a higher power had known she’d needed him, Justin had walked into the studio. He’d taken one look at her and then he’d taken control, helping her clean up and wrap the sculpture she was working on. He’d wanted her to go up to his house so he could watch over her, but she needed to be in her own bed. He’d driven her home and had sat beside her bed as she’d tried to sleep, but by then she was a sobbing mess. And though she knew there was no substitute for Andre, she needed to feel something other than pain. Safe? Loved? Even now she wasn’t sure. She’d asked her most trusted friend to lie with her and hold her like Andre used to.
“I was glad I was there with you, despite Emery’s freak-out,” he said. “I was so tired, I didn’t even think about the fact that I was naked when I saw her.”
“You didn’t think it was strange that she was staring at you and pouring milk all over the counter? I love my friends, but they definitely have hang-ups about seeing people naked.”
“They didn’t grow up in villages where women went topless and men wore butt floss.”
“Neither did you.”
“I’m a dude. It’s different. Being nude is way more comfortable than wearing a ball hammock.”
She looked at the man who had been there for her since the time she was twelve, feeling blessed. Not only for Justin’s friendship, or that he could be the kind of friend she needed without wanting more or judging her, but also that Andre had been able to look past what she knew many guys might not be able to.
“I have no idea how I ended up with two great men in my life, but thanks for not being a jerk.”
He chuckled. “Hey, youknowI can be a jerk.”
She held up her finger and thumb about an inch apart and mouthed,a little bit, with a smile. Then she went back to sanding and said, “Would you mind if I brought Andre here sometime? I’d like to show him where I sculpt.”
He arched a brow. “Would you mind if I came over for the breakfast party sometime? Seems like a lot more fun than choking down a bowl of cereal by myself.”
“You mean can you come over and try to get in Chloe’s pants?”
He grinned. “Is that a yes?”
“Breakfast, sure. Chloe’s pants?” She set down the sandpaper and stared directly into his eyes as she said, “She’s a cool chick and I care about her, so you’d better think twice before putting your snake in her grass, got it? Because Iwillmake you regret ever coming over if you hurt her. Or Daphne, for that matter. We both know your snake likes to wander.”
He strutted back to his table and said, “Got any other single friends I should put on my potential-hook-up list?”
“Ha! You wish.” She picked up the sandpaper and turned back to her project. “Maybe you should take that trip to Maryland after all…”
The rest of the morning passed with smart-aleck comments and long stretches of silence as they each focused on their artwork. After glazing the torso and cleaning up, Violet grabbed her keys and said, “I’m taking off.”
“Meeting your man for a little afternoon delight?” Justin teased.
“Hardly,” she said, heading for the door. “I’ve got things to do.”
“See you bright and early tomorrow morning. What can I bring to breakfast besides the anaconda in my pants?”
Violet glared at him. “Remember what I said or you’ll be sorry.”
His chuckles followed her out the door.
ANDRE SAT ACROSS from his colleague and long-time family friend, David Posillico, the chief of pediatrics at Hyannis Hospital. In addition to knowing Andre since he was an infant, David had worked at Massachusetts General in Boston while Andre was doing his transitional-year internship there. He was as much of a mentor to Andre as Andre’s own parents had always been. Andre tried to stop in and say hello whenever he had the chance, which equated to only once or twice a year.
“I still can’t get over that you walked away from the security of the practice you worked so hard to build.” David was in his early sixties, with thick gray hair and wise brown eyes. He pointed his finger at Andre, the same way he used to when Andre was just a boy, with the proud smile of a favorite uncle. “You’re an inspiration, you know. I want all the news about SHINE. Where are you headed next? What are your projections for the future?”
“Thanks, but you’re just as much of an inspiration. Just in a different direction.”
“Cut it out. Give me the goods on SHINE. Gloat a little.”
Andre laughed. “I leave in a few weeks for Cambodia, and I’ll be there for anywhere between three and five months, depending on how things pan out. As far as the future goes, for now I’m sticking with the original business plan of opening two clinics every eighteen months. But if recruiting continues to go well and fundraising efforts are successful, who knows what the future will hold. Thank you for your generous donation, by the way. When are we going to get you out to one of the clinics?”
A deep laugh rumbled up from David’s chest. “I’m too old to be gallivanting across the world. I’ll let you young kids handle that.”
“Come on, David. You’ve got more life left in you than most thirty-year-olds. Come out for a few weeks, see what your money is paying for.”
“I’ll think about it. Your old man has been after me for years to go on one of those missions he and your mom love so much.” Andre’s parents had been volunteering with PAW and other organizations for as long as Andre could remember. “He’s amped up his nagging ever since he visited you in Brazil last year. But I’m not like you and your parents. I like my creature comforts.”
