Philip raised his eyebrows. “Sometimes the system needs kicking, and last time I looked you were doing well enough for yourself.”
“Yeah, I’m transformed. A shining example of what a man can do with his life.”
“I happen to think that’s true.” Ignoring the sarcasm, Philip finished his beer. “Which is why I’m hoping that you’re not going to run off just because she’s back. There are a couple of kids on the scholarship program I’d like you to meet. I can tell you their stories if you like.”
“I don’t need to hear the stories.” He already knew them all. They’d be like his, only each would have its own variation. They’d look at him with hard eyes, waiting for him to let them down the same way everyone else in their lives had. “I’ve got some spare time this week. Want me to take them up?”
“That would be great. They always love it. And we could use some help with Starlight Adventure. Overnight in the forest is your area of expertise. Or you could just hang out in the camp and look cool. That’s usually enough to impress.”
“Your sense of humor always was one of the best things about you.”
“I think so.” Philip swatted an insect. “We’re doing good things here. You’re doing good things. Did you tell Brittany that you—”
“No. And I don’t intend to.” He frowned. “Shit, Philip, what is this? Make Zachary Feel Good About Himself Day?”
“Don’t you already feel good about yourself? Because you should.”
“That’s crap.”
“Not from where I’m sitting. I think you deserve some credit, that’s all.”
He finished his drink. “I get all the credit I need.”
“I had an email from Todd Richards.” Philips voice was casual. “Medical school. Can you believe that?”
“Yes. He’ll be a hell of a doctor.” Zach rose to his feet. “You really think she’s nursing a mad?”
“Brittany? You know her better than me.”
He did. And none of it fitted what he knew. “If she’s nursing a mad why is she so calm? She was calm when I flew her here and calm today when I gave her a lift home from the store. She was more upset with Mel than she was with me.”
“Pride? All those islanders who warned her you were trouble were able to say ‘I told you so’ and, worse, they gave her sympathy.”
“She was the injured party. She deserved sympathy.”
“It’s the last thing Brittany would have wanted.”
Zach gave a humorless laugh. “That’s a shame because they left a casserole big enough to feed the entire population of Maine on her doorstep this morning.”
Philip winced. “I’m willing to bet she hated that.”
“You’d win the bet.” Zach thought about the sentiments behind the casserole. “They’re all watching her, waiting for her to freak out because I’m living here.”
“It will settle down. By tomorrow you’ll be yesterday’s news.”
“I’ve never understood why someone else’s life is of so much interest. It’s none of their damn business.”
“On an island, everything is everyone’s damn business. That’s the way it works. They mean well. They want to offer support.”
“Which she hates, because she prefers to be independent.” He wondered how long it would take before her control snapped. “I don’t know how you stand it.”
“There’s good as well as bad.” Philip gave a faint smile. “And either I’m having a bad dream or you’re back living here.”
“You’re having a bad dream. But that’s nothing compared to the nightmares the islanders are having.” It almost made him smile to think about it. “I swear most of them have been double locking their doors since I came home. I’m waiting for the law to knock.”
“I’m the only Law around here.” There was a brief pause. “You called it home.”
“What?”