Page 40 of The Butler

Bob’s eyes popped open wide, and his jaw went slack. “What the fuck?” he asked. “Don’t embarrass him, Linc.”

Dek bounded down the stairs and to my side in less than five seconds. “Sir?” he asked, standing at attention directly in front of me. Now I felt like an asshole.

“Can you please wipe down all the deck furniture here?” I asked. I dragged a finger across the glass top. “See? Look at this tabletop and those chairs.”

“Of course. Right away, sir,” Dek answered.

Dek hurried back to the bridge deck to retrieve his cleaning materials.

“You’re pathetic, my friend,” Bob said. “Really, Linc? What is this, fourth grade and another boy is flirting with your favorite boy at recess?”

He was right. I was pathetic. “I’m sorry,” I said, sitting down and leaning forward. I stared at the teak-wood deck and felt feelings I hadn’t ever felt. I hurt inside to the point that I wanted to openly weep. Troy had destroyed me and now I was being destroyed by another boy because I couldn’t admit my feelings for him. My hands squeezed the sides of my head and I dug fingers into my temples. “I can’t do this anymore, Bob.”

“I know you hurt, buddy. I’m hurting with you,” he said. Dek came back and was about to start cleaning the deck furniture, but Bob raised a hand to stop him. “It’s ok, Deklyn. Let’s call it done.”

“Sir?” Dek asked, turning his attention to me. “Are you ok, sir?”

One of my eyes betrayed me and lost control of a single tear despite my best efforts. It made its way down my face, and I held my hand up to Dek. I wanted to speak. I wanted to hug him and beg him to love me, but I couldn’t do any of those things. Instead, I barely managed to turn to Bob and squeak out the only words that I felt would save me.

“Get the copter ready, Bob. I want to leave the ship immediately.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE: Deklyn

Jake was waiting for me when I made my way back to the upper deck where he’d been watching my interaction with Linc. I grabbed the railing and watched as Linc and Bob had an animated conversation with the captain before Linc stood and hurried away.

Our captain strode up the stairs two at a time and yelled toward Jake. “Get the copter uncovered and untethered from the helipad, Jake. Mr. Carrington is leaving in thirty.”

I turned to Jake as he gave me a strange look like what the fuck just happened down there? He held his walkie-talkie to his mouth. “Attention all deckhands and interior. This is First Officer Jake. I need all of you on the copter pad in twenty minutes sharp, copy?” He waited for confirmation and then proceeded. “The primary is departing in thirty minutes. Dress whites required.” I heard the department heads responding and waited to get Jake’s attention.

“Does that include me?” I inquired.

“Of course it does. Why wouldn’t it?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” I responded, turning to leave but Jake grabbed my arm. “Anything else, sir?”

“I’m sorry for sounding so official, Dek.”

“You have to do your job, sir. I understand.”

“You don’t hate me?” he whispered, looking over the deck below and keeping his sense of propriety.

I shook my head.

“Just checking, mate.”

“I’ll be on the pad in my dress whites in twenty,” I said and hurried to my cabin.

The fact that I had such a fancy cabin considering I was now a deckhand hadn’t gotten past a couple of the other guys who’d been teasing me about getting canned by the boss. All deckhands and interior crew besides Starr shared cabins, so I knew I’d get grief from my peers for the remaining three days. The captain and Jake had their own as well but even theirs were smaller than the one I’d been set up in. I felt guilty going down the hallway of the main stateroom now that I wasn’t Mr. Carrington’s butler. The hall was usually quiet since there was only the main stateroom and butler’s cabin located there, but today just knowing the stateroom was empty gave the hall an even quieter vibe.

I stopped in front of Linc’s room and wondered if he was inside. I tested the door and it was unlocked so I slowly pushed against it and looked inside. The room was dim and there was no activity or sound. Linc had left already which meant I had about ten minutes to get to the helipad, but I was curious to see if he was indeed gone. Perhaps he was in the head and I could apologize and wish him well? I could ask him if he was okay or if I could do anything for him because I hated how things had ended.

I gently closed the door behind me and moved toward the head. The lights were out and there were no water sounds coming from the shower so he’d obviously left. I headed for the door but stopped after spotting a reflective item in the main living space’s trash can. I couldn’t make the item out from where I was so I moved closer and stood over the receptacle.

I pulled my cell from my back pocket and lit the flashlight, focusing it into the bin. Inside were the remains of the picture that had been on Linc’s nightstand. The one of him and Troy, arm in arm, beaming toward the camera. The frame had been destroyed and the image torn in half. Linc had obviously found the frame in the box I’d hidden in the closet and broke it into many pieces. I felt the pain he must have been feeling when he did the damage. Of course, I couldn’t be sure he’d done it, but who else would have?

I’d shared my feelings about losing loved ones and making sure to hold onto what was rightfully yours, but I now believed that had fallen on deaf ears. The evidence of that was in a pile at the bottom of a rubbish bin.

My walkie-talkie chirped causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. “Deklyn to the helipad. Do you copy?”

---