Four Good

“Oh, okay. Thanks.”

He gives me a warm smile as he steps back, and I close the door again. I’d rather not be meeting a stranger under these circumstances, but it was very decent of Brendan to let me know he was here so I wasn’t surprised when I walked out.

I wonder if their friend travels with them regularly. If he does, he’s probably used to them bringing women back to their place, and I suppose he’d know they like to share women.

As I walk up the hallway toward the kitchen, I feel a bit like a kid who’s been caught doing something wrong, which is ridiculous. I suppose it’s just strange meeting someone, when the first thing they’ll know about me is that I’ve slept with their friends.

I put a smile on my face as I turn the corner, but it disappears instantly. I come to an immediate stop just inside the room, as I stare, wide-eyed, at the new man seated at the table.

He’s involved in conversation with Corbin and doesn’t see me enter, so I have time to study him. His hairline is higher, and his hair, while still thick, is a dustier brown, with a good amount of gray mixed in. His face is leaner with more angles, but his eyes and mouth are unmistakable.

I turn my head to look behind me, trying to remember what I know about the layout of the house, desperately wondering if there’s a way I can leave without passing through the kitchen. When I look back, still in disbelief, wanting to make sure I’m not hallucinating, I discover it’s too late to sneak out.

His gaze is fixed on me, his expression as confused as mine surely is. “Christine?”

I continue to stare at the man I haven’t seen in eighteen years, the man I truly never thought I’d see again.

The Hayes brothers are all on alert now, looking back and forth between the two of us. Jonathan’s at the counter, a plate holding an omelet and fried potatoes in his hand. “You know each other?”

It’s Jay who tells them. “She’s my ex-wife.”

14

Shook

The silence that follows seems endless.

My body is frozen in place. Those nice relaxed feelings generated by all the sex are absolutely no match for the shock of seeing Jay, and seeing him here, in the house where I just slept with his friends.

“Christine, what are you doing here?”

Jay’s question comes at the same time I say, “How do you know each other?”

We both go quiet again, waiting for the other to answer.

“We met Christine here on the island,” Corbin says to Jay.

“Jay’s our good friend. We met him several years ago when he did photography for our business,” Brendan explains to me. Brendan starts to take a step toward me, coffee mug in hand, but after a glance at Jay, decides to stay where he is.

“Well, this is awkward,” Jonathan says, after another lapse in the conversation.

I’d laugh at his understatement, but I can’t manage it. In fact, I can’t manage any of this right now. I need coffee to deal with this situation, but I’m not going to stay in this kitchen to drink it.

“I need to go take care of my dog,” I tell them.

Brendan follows me to the door, the air heavy between us. I get the feeling he wants to ask me to stay, but to his credit, he doesn’t. When I turn to look at him after sliding on my shoes, all he says is, “Are you okay?”

I give a small nod. “I’m okay.”

“You’re shook. I’m shook too.” He squeezes my hand in his. “We can talk later.”

I nod, mostly to end the conversation.

“We’ll see you later,” he calls, as I go out the door.

I don’t think that’s a good idea at all, but, eager to leave, I don’t say anything in response.

So many thoughts, all coming at the same time. While at other moments, my mind goes blank.