Page 39 of The Weekend Crashers
“I think this decision should be more of a conversation,” she says.
He holds up his phone, showing her an email, an update to the offer on the inn. It’smoremoney. It’s a debate-ender. So she says nothing.
“This is our retirement, Belinda. I’m sorry, but I can’t imagine a more important priority.”
Maybe he’s right again. Maybe sentimentality is getting the best of her. She’s gotten set in her ways.
Still, when he leans forward to kiss her on the cheek, she feels her body stiffen.
Really, she can’t blame herself for not giving more pushback to the idea of selling when he first brought it up a few months ago. They’d been having such a carefree summer. After years of ups and downs, they’d finally settled into a relationship that was the perfect balance of comfort and a lingering spark of passion. Each year that passed gave them more history, more shared memories. So of course, when he brought up the sale and the move, her first impulse was to say yes. To be agreeable.
Agreeability has always been her impulse. And now she’s wondering if it’s time to change.
Aidan and Cole stand on the riverbank, the morning sun casting a golden glow through the canopy of vibrant foliage. Crimson, amber, and fiery orange leaves reflect off the water’s surface, creating a patchwork of color. The air is cool, with a mist wrapping the landscape in an ethereal haze. Aidan can barely see the rest of the guys searching for their own fishing spots nearby.
He’s thankful for a quiet few moments with Cole. Last night, he heard from Ritchie that Cole never joined up with the other guys, so he stopped by Cole’s room to say good-night but he didn’t answer the knock. It seemed early for Cole to be going to sleep, but since he’d been on edge all day, maybe that was exactly what he’d needed.
When Aidan woke up that morning, his first thoughts were about the conversation with Barclay at the bar. He’s now concluded that there isn’t anything strange about Cole not confiding in him; he’s a private person. Aidan understands, becausehe’s the same way. That’s why it’s been so challenging for him to get serious with any woman. By definition, it would involve going public with his son and the Cavanaughs. And he couldn’t do it. Now Barclay’s telling him that somehow contributed to Cole’s bad relationship judgment? He’s not sure he buys it. And so, although he promised Barclay he wouldn’t betray their conversation, he feels compelled to saysomething.
Cole’s first cast sends the line arcing gracefully over the water, landing softly in a pool where the current slows. Aidan follows with his own line, and they wait for any sign of movement. The river’s stillness is interrupted only by the distant call of a heron and the rustle of a squirrel foraging in the underbrush.
“So, are you gonna tell me what’s going on between you and your cousin?” he says.
“There’s nothing to tell,” Cole says.
“That’s not how it seemed yesterday. Why didn’t you say something about having a beef with him heading into this weekend?”
“Because it’s not ‘beef.’ He’s just pissing me off. I showed up this weekend for you. And Grandpa. But no, I don’t want to team up with him for these activities.”
He wants to be supportive of Cole. If he can’t talk to him about the problem, he can at least do something about it.
“Well, here’s the good news: We won’t be partnering with Ritchie and Scott today.”
“Thank you.”
“Instead, I lined up some new partners for the afternoon. To mix things up a little.”
Cole looks skeptical. “You did? Who?”
“Remember the woman who was upset with our table at lunch yesterday?”
“You mean, the one who freaked out for absolutely no reason?”
“Yeah. That one. Anyway, I ended up talking to her at the bar last night. She actually believes that knitting is harder than outdoor survival skills. So I challenged her to build the fort with us.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Cole says.
“Nope. Not kidding. Totally serious. We have a bet. Fifty bucks.”
Cole shakes his head. “You can’t just invite a random person along.”
“They’re not random. They’re staying at the inn.”
“Who’sthey?”
“She’s here with her daughter.”
Somewhere in the distance, Barclay and Ritchie hoot and holler over a catch.
