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Hue opened up the back, and we retrieved the guns, ammo, and our gear. He had a full complement of everything, including safety glasses and earplugs. He went to check in while I broke open both guns to check that they were unloaded, which they were. His guns were beautifully engraved, double-barrel, over-under models. The man took his shotguns seriously.
Geared up with safety glasses, earplugs, and shooting vests, we started at the first station by the high house after the previous pair had finished their round.
Hue went first and nailed the first two clays, turning them into puffs of orange dust. “Your turn, young man.”
I got set up and called for the pull. I hit the one going away from the high house, but missed the crossing orange clay from the low house.
“Very good for someone who hasn’t shot in a long time,” Hue said with a smile.
We shot from the next two positions before coming to position four, the hardest for me on the course, because both clays would be crossing. I never managed to lead them quite well enough and had always missed both from this angle.
Hue had missed one earlier, but he hit both at this station, and I congratulated him again.
I stepped up to the box and loaded my two shells. “Hue, you make it look so easy.”
“Let me show you a little trick,” he said as he approached. Starting at the first station, just lead the target by one finger.” He held a single finger alongside my barrel. “Visualize a finger-width at the end of the barrel, and add a finger of lead at each of the next stations. So here…” He put four fingers upright at the end of my barrel. Visualize four fingers alongside, and use that as your aim point.”
It sounded simple enough. I raised the gun to my shoulder. “Thanks. I’ll try that… Pull.”
I missed on the first, but I got the second one——the first time I had managed to hit one from station four.
We finished the course with little talking besides compliments about each other’s efforts.
Then we picked up our previous discussion of the Patriots’ outlook for the season as another pair shot around the course.
I’d been nervous when I arrived, prepared for a series of questions about my lifestyle choices and a cross examination regarding the article in the tabloid, but neither happened. Out here, being with the old man was relaxing: two guys doing guy stuff while the girls were off doing girl stuff, which probably included gossiping up a storm about us.
We started another round of the course, and my score improved a bit, but was still nothing like Hue’s. He almost didn’t miss.
Chapter 29
Amy
Felicia had bookedus at the Spa di Napoli downtown.
The aroma of the vanilla-scented candles filled my nostrils as we entered. Our gorgeous massage room featured a mural on one wall depicting a patio with columns and a balustrade looking out over the Mediterranean, as if we actually were in Italy.
Nikki, my masseuse, started with oil and a heavy shoulder massage as I lay on the soft towels of the table.
I’d always wanted to take a day off to pamper myself at a place like this, but had never found the right time, or the money. Today I would rather have been anywhere else. I was scared to be alone with Felicia, with Liam’s deal hanging in the balance.
What if I screw it up for him?
Felicia turned her head to look over at me from her table. “I noticed you have a new ring.”
The interrogation had begun.
I held my right hand up. “Yes, Liam gave it to me.”
“It’s lovely,” she said. “I guess it means he thinks you’re special.”
I looked at the ring and what it represented. “I think he’s special too.”
Nikki was showing no mercy. Her fingers pushed ever harder, threatening to break bones.
Felicia grunted several times, as it appeared her masseuse was equally mean. “I like Liam. I think you’ve found a good man there.”
I smiled. “Liam is a really nice guy.”Nicewas putting it too mildly;terrificwould have been a better word.
