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“Tell him to take a break, the world will keep revolving.” I chuckled, knowing he wouldn’t like that comment. “Tell him there’s plants on the island he can study. That might get him here.”
“I know you’re joking, but it just might work.” Aunt Victoria climbed the steps to her plane and waved.
“I need to go to the boatyard please,” I said to the driver. “You don’t have to wait. After, I can walk back.”
The boatyard at this time of day was a lot busier than my usual visits. I could see a seaplane sitting on a trailer of some sort.
“Hey George, am I right in assuming that’s my plane over there?” I frowned.
“Yes sir, Mr. Hawthorne. I tried to tell them it wasn’t being delivered here, but they wouldn’t listen.” George shrugged. “They said they were leaving it here or it was going back with them. Something about a storm they needed to beat.”
“Well, I’ll deal with them later about that. Thanks for at least having them leave it here.” I shook my head in disgust. “Now, how do we get it over to the island? It’s not even on the water.”
“My truck can haul it over to the marina,” George offered. “Can you fly it out of there okay?”
“I don’t know, George. Remember, they were supposed to send a pilot to train me?” I rubbed the back of my neck. “Just get it to the marina. I’ll figure it out from there.”
“I can have it over there in an hour.” George hurried over to his ringing phone. “Sorry again, Mr. Hawthorne.”
I waved and walked away. I hadn’t planned to visit Admiral again today, but here I was in front of the hospital and my legs just walked me right in the door.
“Mr. Hawthorne, what are you doing here?” a familiar female voice asked from behind me. “Usually you only drive me crazy at the marina. I don’t see any water around here for you to push me in.”
“I already apologized for that.” I spun around, ready to argue my point, to find a giant wall of men behind a laughing Jade. “And…you were joking. You got me.”
“Thanks for the flowers. I didn’t even know the florist here could make a bouquet that big. Oh, and beautiful too.” She reached around me to push the elevator button. “Very impressive.”
“You didn’t like the flowers?” I frowned. “I thought everyone likes flowers.”
“I was being serious, Mr. Hawthorne, they’re beautiful. But people are going to start talking if you keep this up,” she teased, as I held the door so everyone could get in the elevator. “I’m not sure I’m going to fit in there.”
“You can fit, come on.” I squeezed into the back corner. “Bond, what are you guys doing here, and with Jade?”
“Turns out her dad is our buddy. We’re so happy you told us about him,” Bond answered across the moving elevator.
“Did you sayBond? I thought your name was Gunner?” Jade asked as the doors opened. “What am I missing here?”
“The Hawthorne family calls me Bond, as in James Bond, but the name is Gunner.” Gunner stepped off the elevator last. “I’m the bodyguard for his cousin’s wife and she decided to call me Bond. I guess you’d call it an inside joke.”
“I thought your name was Bond, too,” I laughed. “No one told me differently. Does Aunt Victoria know this?”
“Truthfully, I have no idea. Solitaire introduced me asBondand I didn’t correct anyone.” He and his buddies had a good chuckle over it.
“So, do I call you Bond or Gunner?” I asked, stopping in front of the Admiral’s door. “Is Imogen Solitaire?”
“You got it. I decided to give her a nickname, too.” Gunner laughed. She needed it in her life at the time, so I went with it.”
“Guys, wait out here. I wanna go see how he’s doing first.” Jade pushed the door open slowly. “Hey Dad,” she said before walking all the way in.
“I think I’m gonna just get going. You guys have a good time catching up with your buddy.” I turned to leave. “Tell Jade I’ll see her later, and tell the Admiral I said hello.”
“Mr. Hawthorne, we won’t be long. I know you were waiting for us to get over to your island to look at stuff,” Gunner said.
“Take your time. I have to go figure out how I’m getting my new seaplane over to the island.” I backed away from the group. “I’m sure there’s a way with the right amount of money.”
“Wait, wait, wait. You bought a seaplane and you don’t know how to fly it?” Lou asked. “Is that what I’m hearing?”
“No and yes,” I shrugged.
