Page 35 of Denying Davis
Whatever it was, I could pay the medical bills so Samantha didn’t have as much on her shoulders. I just needed to figure out the right time to present her the money.
I headed to the Everglades Club. I had some time to kill before teeing off, translating into a beer and a burger at the club’s restaurant. Normally I liked the food, but it tasted like cardboard and water. I was distracted. A lot.
“Hey, man, you’re early,” Aaron said as he sauntered to the bar just after four. “You’re never early.”
“I know.” I pushed my half-eaten burger away then shook hands with Aaron. “Boredom, I guess.”
He cocked his head. “You look like hell.”
“No, I’m”—I grabbed my lukewarm beer and downed the rest of the draft—“I have a lot on my mind, that’s all.”
Aaron nodded in the direction of the golf course. “Nothing a quick trip to the links won’t solve, I hope.”
“Me too.”
“Too bad it’s just us, bro. I called Luke Rothschild, and he was all set to go, but then he had a staffing problem at the Namaste Now studio in Palm Beach Gardens.” Aaron shrugged. “And everyone else is busy this week. Family stuff.”
“Understandable. It is right before Christmas.” I said this more for my benefit than his, and I pulled my phone out of my pocket to confirm my suspicions. “God, I can’t believe Christmas is four days away.”
“Not long now.” Aaron clapped me on the back. “Come on, let’s hit it.”
We picked up our golf clubs, balls, and carts from the pro shop. Both of us kept a club set in the men’s locker room nearby, and we were on the on links less than fifteen minutes after Aaron walked into the club.
I tried to use my mediocre golf game as a distraction from Sam, but it didn’t work.Is Samantha’s mom okay?We were about to tee off at the third hole when Aaron stopped the game.
“Something’s on your mind.”
“No, I’m fine.”
Aaron scoffed. “No way. I don’t buy it.”
I studied him and considered how to respond. “Things are just…odd lately.”
He walked over to me, using his club as a walking stick. “Okay, fine. I know you don’t normally like to share, but I’ll bite. What’s the problem?”
I sighed. Maybe talking about itwouldmake me feel better. Couldn’t make me feel much worse. “Samantha. Samantha Green is the problem.”
He frowned. “Who?”
“She’s the daughter of my grandfather’s former housekeeper. Her mother worked for our family for a long time, but she suddenly left when I was a teenager.”
“And what does that have to do withnow?” He cocked his head. “Don’t tell me—let me guess. Your dad is really her father, and now she wants money. You know, like an I-slept-with-the-help thing.”
“No.” I laughed, glad for the crass, blunt way Aaron had of putting things. “But knowing my dad and his behavior, that’s a decent guess. And Samantha is my age.”
“I’m all ears then.” Aaron retrieved a beer from the cooler in the back of the golf cart. “The affair story was my best guess.”
I found my own beer. “So, life hasn’t been so great for Samantha in the last few years. Her mother is very sick, and she’s in the hospital.”
“How’d you find out about that? Don’t tell me you wereactuallyon Facebook for once.”
“No way.” I shook my head. “Besides, if she’s on there, I haven’t found her. But no, it wasn’t through social media.” I paused. “She works for the caterer that did Trevor and Ainsley’s wedding.”
Aaron eyes widened. “The caterer?Oh God.”
“Good job hiding your snobbery, jackass.” I grinned at him before sucking down more beer.
“What?” My friend Aaron gestured with his club. “I’m an elitist. So? At least I know myself. Most people never really do.”
