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“Not hungry right now. I’m gonna go lay down.” He turned to leave. “Wake me up if you need me.”
“Dad, I need you right now. The fishing boat engine has been smoking a bit.” I took a bite of the eggs he’d made for me. “I have a group of tourists to take out very soon. Can you go look at it?”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll go look at it. Why didn’t you tell me before now?” he grumbled. “I can’t fix things that fast. What if it needs a part?”
“I told you about it last week and again three days ago.” I stood from the table. “This is the third time, and it needs to be fixed.”
“You raising your voice to me, Jade? I’m the father.” He shook his head walking to the door. “No respect anymore, I see.”
“Respect? You want to talk about respect, Dad?” I stepped in front of him at the door. “I had to have Allen and a customer of ours drag you out of the bar again last night.”
“I was home last night.” He stepped around me. “I’m going to fix the boat.”
“You were in the bar drunk last night, again,” I said as I followed him to the dock. “Ask me how it feels to be embarrassed because I need help dragging you out to the truck.”
“Never happened.” He waved me off. “Go grab my toolbox if you want this thing fixed.”
I stood on the dock staring at him. “This conversation isn’t over. We’re going to talk about this later.” I turned and walked away.
“No, we’re not. I’m the father,” he yelled to me as I walked away. “Hurry up. I don’t have all morning since you waited ‘til now to tell me.”
Just breathe in and breathe out. Get the toolbox and walk away.
When I got to the office, a gentleman dressed in a suit was waiting out front.
This doesn’t look good.
“HI there, I’m Jade Campbell. How can I help you?” I put my hand out to shake his. “You must be warm in that suit. Let’s go inside.”
“Miss Campbell, my name is John DeLuca and I’m in the area looking for investment opportunities.” He followed me inside. “A few people in town mentioned you were having financial issues, so I thought I’d come over and see for myself.”
“Mr. DeLuca, I don’t know who was telling you our personal business, but I’m not interested in selling, if that’s what you’re getting at.” I handed him a cold bottle of water. “Who did you speak with?”
“Doesn’t matter who told me. I don’t think they meant any harm.” Mr. DeLuca drank the water. “I’ve been to a few of these Caribbean islands and I like the looks of this particular dock best.”
“Yes, that’s what my mother’s family thought, too, when they started this business over a hundred years ago.” I reached for the toolbox. “Could you give me a moment? I need to bring this down to my father on the dock real quick.”
“Why don’t I walk down with you? I’d like to meet your father,” Mr. DeLuca said with a smile plastered on his face.
“No, he’s very busy fixing a boat at the moment. I have an excursion this morning.” I pointed to the bench off to the side. “Have a seat. I won’t be long.”
The nerve of people telling this guy stuff about us. I’ll bet it was Mrs. Williams. She’s such a busybody.
“Here. I have to go back to the office.” I dropped the toolbox on the edge of the dock within his reach. “The excursion will be here in thirty minutes.”
“What took you so long? You want this fixed or not?” He yelled as I left. “You should have told me sooner.”
I don’t need this right now. I gotta get rid of this guy and go find the beer Dad stashed somewhere.
Chapter 12
Sawyer
“Sawyer, we’re about to dock. Where are you?” Asher banged on my cabin door. “You sleeping in there?”
I yanked the door open and pointed to the cell phone at my ear, then closed it on him.
“What’s with all the phone calls?” Asher persisted outside my door. “You’re starting to be boring, man.”
