Page 84 of The Art of Loving Lacy
“Home?” His father never pressured any of his children to visit, and his question brought a string of worry to Dane. “Is something wrong?”
“Home, Dane. Your home. On your boat.”
Dane sighed. “I’m headed that way, Dad. I just needed a little time to make sure Rob was okay.”And to make sure I was ready.
“All right. What have you been doing for the past week?”
“Uh, you know, going out on the boat.” The lie tasted like acid on his tongue. “Trying to get past Rob’s accident.”
“Treat’s boat?” his father asked.
Dane shook his head. He knew his father didn’t believe him. All it would take is one call from Treat to the resort to know that he hadn’t even sailed it back. He’d paid to have it returned.
“Dad.”
“Something you want to tell me, son?”
Dane pictured his father sitting in his favorite leather recliner wearing a flannel shirt and a pair of Levi’s, his face a mask of worry. “Not really,” Dane said.
“What’s your plan?” his father asked.
“I don’t know, Dad. I guess I’ll head back to Florida at some point and get back in the game. Right now I’m trying to remember what it all means,” Dane admitted.
“What it all means? Like what it means to save sharks?”
He knew his father’s inquisition could not be deterred. When Hal Braden set his sights on making a point, he made it. Dane wondered what today’s point would be and decided he’d better cut to the chase and fess up now if he wanted to get to the point of it.
“Life, Dad. Work, relationships, death. I’m trying to figure out the point of it all.” He closed his eyes and waited for his father’s wisdom to enlighten him. When his father didn’t answer, he said, “Dad?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
“You asked me a question, and I answered. Don’t you have anything to say?”
“I was kind of waiting for you to tell me the answer. I never knew life, work, relationships, or death had a point,” his father said.
Dane kicked his feet up on the railing. “Good, then I’m not alone in this quandary.”
“Son, you’re never alone in anything. You know that. Your brothers and sister are worried sick about you. Max had to practically tie up Treat to keep him from chasing after you these last few days. He said you shouldn’t be alone, but your mother—” He took a deep breath. “I thought that you needed this time to think.”
Hearing his father stop himself from mentioning what his dead mother thought made Dane smile. He and his siblings were used to the messages their father received from beyond their mother’s grave. Dane didn’t know if he believed in his father’s supposed connection with his mother or not, but if she was what allowed him his privacy this past week, then he was thankful.
“Thanks, Dad. I think I need about a year, but since that’s not reasonable, I’ll take what I can get,” Dane said.
“Rob’s doing okay, I hear.”
Dane could always trust that Braden grapevine to ensure news traveled swiftly. He knew the information about Lacy wouldn’t be far behind.
“He is. He’s going home soon.”
“Glad to hear it. I’ve always liked Rob and Sheila,” he said. “And Lacy Snow?”
Dane stood and paced. He knew the question was coming, but it still hit him like a punch to the gut.
“She’s back at home. You know, work and all that.”
“Uh-huh. Son, did you ever figure out what your heart wanted?”
“Yeah, I did, Dad, but sometimes that’s not all that matters,” Dane said.
