Page 17 of The Paradox Club

“And hello to you, too, Vivian. What do you mean Tess is back?”

“She showed up on my doorstep yesterday afternoon. She’s taking a break from school because of, I don’t know, mental stress or something.”

Richard felt his pulse quicken. His fantasy of a quiet life by the beach and the pool seemed in danger of evaporating. “And she just happened to show up on your doorstep a week before—”

“Maybe it’s a coincidence.”

“If it’s a coincidence, it’s an awfully inconvenient one,” said Richard.

“She did say she felt pulled to the island.”

“Damn,” said Richard.

“Maybe it’s time to tell her,” said Vivian.

“You want to tell a person with fragile mental health…you want to tell her that?”

“She’s got to find out sooner or later.”

“Let’s just get through the fourteenth, Vivian.”

“Richard, you don’t think that maybe we should…”

“Don’t even say it.”

“Why not? It may be her one chance.”

“You know what happened last time,” said Richard.

“I feel like I’m all on my own here—if anything should happen. If anyone at the club were to find out—”

“I’ve got eyes in the club. If anyone finds out, I’ll know.”

“Yes, but you’ll still be a thousand miles away. Couldn’t you come stay here until after the fourteenth?”

“If we’re trying not to draw attention to your house, having me show up is the worst thing we could do.”

“Somewhere nearby, then. Shack up in a cheap motel out by the highway.”

“You realize I’m sitting on my private veranda looking out over the ocean.”

“Please, Richard. I’m not sure I can handle her.”

“What’s to handle? Just tell her stories. That always works on her.”

“I can’t just tell stories, Richard, you know that. I have to experience them.”

“I would have thought, if Harry’s math was right, you’d be experiencing them constantly these days.”

“Okay, fine. I’ll tell her stories. But I’d still feel a lot better if you were closer.”

“How about this: Remember that resort up near Sheboygan where Harry and Marie went for their tenth anniversary?”

“I remember.”

“How about I migrate up there until after the fourteenth? Keeps me out of the way, but I’m only a couple of hours away if anything happens. And I’ll have a view of a lake instead of a truck stop.”

“Would you, Richard? I’d feel so much safer knowing you were nearby.”