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Suddenly, Ben did something he hardly ever did. He meddled in someone else’s business.
Ben tapped Henry’s shoulder. Henry turned his head quickly as Ben peered around him to find Victor. “There you are, Mr. Sutton! I’ve been looking around for you everywhere. Come to find out, you’re just two seats to the right.”
At first, Victor’s eyes were dim. He didn’t recognize Ben at all. Victor probably thought he just wanted to dig into his private business as Henry did.
Ben looked at Henry, who was quizzical. “I’m dear friends with Victor’s daughter, Rebecca. I have something important to discuss with him. If you don’t mind?”
It took Henry a split second to get the hint. He saluted Victor, then Ben, and stepped back from the stool. “Of course. Let me know when your private meeting is through. I’d love a little more time to catch up with my dear friend.” As Ben eased onto the stool beside him, he patted Victor's shoulder again.
With Henry gone, Ben sipped his beer and remained silent.
Under his breath, Victor coughed, “Thanks for getting me out of that.”
“If I understand anything, it’s wanting to be left alone.”
For a long time, Victor and Ben were quiet. They sipped beers slowly, looked at their phones, and allowed the minutes to tick past. Around them, the bar grew increasingly volatile, then quieted.Someone sitting next to Victor without speaking was better than sitting at the bar alone.
Victor cleared his throat. Ben glanced around to see that one half of the bar had cleared. Henry was nowhere to be found.
“You’re the young veteran we met the other day outside the Sutton Book Club,” he said.
Ben nodded.
“I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything from Esme since then?”
“I’m afraid not. But I can’t imagine I’d be first on her list to reach out to.”
Victor sipped his beer. “Two of my daughters are back at the house. They told me Esme’s been in contact with someone on the island. She knows we’re here, but she’s choosing to stay away.” He coughed. “I can’t blame her.”
Ben felt very cold. By contrast with the man beside him, he’d never known the kind of familiar love that could cast such a long shadow of resentment.
“Esme’s your ex-wife?” Ben asked.
Victor nodded. “We’ve been divorced for many years.” After another pause, he asked, “Want to know how many of those years I regretted leaving her?”
Ben was surprised at how open Victor was with him, a stranger. “How many?”
“All of them,” Victor affirmed.
Ben was wordless. In the corner, someone messed with the jukebox and played a Simon and Garfunkel song, one Ben’s mother had loved.
“Can I ask why you did it?” Ben asked softly.
Victor sniffed. For a moment, Ben thought for sure he’d gone too far. He hated, for example, when people asked him why he’d joined the service in the first place. There was only so much about the past you could explain.
“Things got really bad,” Victor said. “Despite coming together during a horrific time, Esme and I became strangers. One morning, after I’d spent all night crying in my office, I slept with my assistant, Bree. The affair got out of hand. And before I knew it, I’d taken a position at the University of Rhode Island, and Bree and I were off to the races with our brand-new life.”
Victor told the story as though he spoke about someone else’s life. Ben’s heart hammered. He burned with questions, none of which he felt confident enough to ask. Instead, he allowed Victor to recede back into his thoughts, safe with Ben beside him to carry whatever he needed to share.
Chapter Thirteen
The morning after Bethany’s arrival, the two Sutton sisters sat together at the breakfast table and tried to call Esme’s phone again. It rang and rang and rang until it finally cut to voicemail, at which time Rebecca sent a message.
Mom. It’s Rebecca and Bethany. We really need to speak to you. Will you call us back?
Bethany poured them cups of coffee and blew at the steam. She wore no makeup, and Rebecca studied the soft wrinkles around her mouth and the crow’s feet that deepened around her eyes. Her wrinkles seemed the same.
“Did you hear Dad come in last night?” Bethany asked.
