Distant Shores

So, that was part of the problem, too. Stephanie was busy getting ready to graduate; Jamie hated to admit that shed miss her big sister. "Shes too busy to spend much time with you, I take it?"

"Tim the wonder boy practically lives here. And he brings her flowers when she aces a test. Flowers. Hell, shes aced every test since they asked her to recite the alphabet in kindergarten. Our apartment looks like the flower store in Little Shop of Horrors. It makes me sick. "

"You mean jealous," Elizabeth said gently.

A pause. "Yeah. Now they want me to tag after them on spring break. Barbie, Ken . . . and Skipper. Yee-ha. The only thing worse would be to stay in the apartment by myself and watch her stupid flowers die. "

"Why dont you come home, hang with me?" Elizabeth said automatically. Then she realized what shed done.

Im getting the house ready for renters. Could she say it out loud, face to face?

"Home? And wheres that, with you or Dad? And speaking of that, when are you moving to New York? Dad sounded lonely the last time I called him. "

These were dangerous waters, especially with Jamie swimming alongside. "As soon as we find suitable renters. "

"Who are you waiting for, the British Royal Family? Just rent the sucker to some poor schmuck who likes mushrooms that grow overnight and rain that hits you in the head like a hammerblow. "

"You dont like it here?"

Jamie laughed. "Actually, I do. But its just a house; weve lived in tons of them. "

Elizabeth sighed. That was one of the by-products of her life with Jack. They hadnt given their children a sense of roots, of home. "Youre right," she answered.

"So, what would we do? If I remember, March is a particularly sucky month. We probably wouldnt see the sun once. "

Elizabeth couldnt help smiling at that. "We could rent movies and play board games. "

" Be still, my heart. Board games with my mother over spring break. " She laughed. "Ill think about it, Mom. Truly. But I gotta run now. Michael is picking me up in an hour. "

"Is your sister home?"

"Sorry. This is her day for curing Alzheimers. Ill have her call you tomorrow. Love you. "

"Love you, too. Bye. "

After Elizabeth hung up, she stared down at the phone. Her first thought was: Call Jack.

He needed to know what was going on with Jamie. A heads up would make the I-want-to-quit-swimming conversation run a lot smoother.

Elizabeth had always greased the wheels of Jacks relationship with his daughters. He . . . missed things sometimes, overlooked the important moments. It had been her job--or one shed taken on, at least--to facilitate a good father-daughter bond.

Without her guidance, she was afraid hed inadvertently hurt his daughters feelings.

She dialed his number.

Jack was in a meeting with Sally. "He actually threw a punch after the match was over--and broke the guys jaw?"

She nodded. "Every second was caught on tape. The question is this: Is it assault and battery because the match had ended? Or does assumption of the risk cover everything that happens in the ring?"

"Thats always been a question with far-reaching implications. Late hits in football, and forget about hockey. With this new interest in--"

The phone rang. He waited for his secretary to answer, then remembered that shed gone to lunch. "Just a second. " He picked up the phone and answered, "Jackson Shore. "

"I almost hung up. " Elizabeths laughter sounded forced, nervous.

"Hey, Birdie," he said after a stunned pause.

Sallys smile faded. She glanced at the door.