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“He’s lost it,” Sandra whispered to Kassandra. “This is the first we’re hearing about him going over there. It’s true Pam’s mother died, but she was in her eighties. Plus, Pam was attacked in the parking lot at the gym that night. I’m sure she wasn’t thinking about anything else at that point.”
“Let me give you the deposit so you can get on with your day,” Kassandra said loudly, smiling.
So, with Andy and Sandra looking on, Kassandra rushed through signing the papers and handing over the check.
“Congratulations all around!” Andy said, and they clapped their hands, patting Igor on the back, trying not to give him the bum’s rush.
He went on his way, and soon after, Sandra and Andy left with their kids, chasing the surf as they headed for home along the sand.
“Do you want a beer?” Tony asked Kassandra once they were alone.
“I’d rather have wine. Your dad must have left a bottle somewhere.”
“This place has a wine cellar. Let’s go look.”
They held hands and went to a lower level, where, sure enough, there was a nice wine cellar that held a few bottles.
“Note my father left the furniture but took most of the wine and booze. What a guy.”
“It’s okay. We need to run out to get something for dinner, anyway. We can get a case if we want.”
They took the beverages out to the terrace. It was cold to be outside, but they bundled up. Tony got the modern gas fire pit going, and they were toasty.
“I want to do this every day,” Kassandra said. “Sit here and look at that view. I won’t be able to drink once I get pregnant, so I’d better take advantage of it.”
Tony reached for her hand. “I’m getting with the program. Do you want to start baby-making now? We can break the bed in.”
Kassandra giggled, tickled. “Yes! I hope there are sheets here. I don’t want to conceive in a bed where Iggie might have had sex with his girlfriend.”
“Great. Now I don’t want to do it here at all,” Tony said, flaring his nostrils.
“It’ll be fine. Let’s check it out.”
She stood up in front of him and grabbed his knee to move it away from the other, licking her lips.
“Watch it, kiddo. We might have to commit beach perversion if you keep it up.”
Kassandra looked around the area. The other houses looked unoccupied. “We might have to spice things up here in Babylon.” She reached for his hand and helped him up, laughing. “Here’s hoping for a baby,” she said as they swung their arms.
“I never thought I’d say that,” Tony replied. “But I’m ready. This is the right time and place for us.”
***
Across town, in a short-term rental development specifically for businesspeople, Ryan Maddox unpacked his clothes. Depressionhad snuck in. After filling the dresser, he got his phone out and dialed the number for the nurse who had taken care of him during a brief hospital stay the year before. Her name was Betsy Franklin, and she was ten years older than he was, but he had been immediately attracted to her and let her know it. Betsy Franklin was one of many reasons he had left Lisa. He might as well jump on that right away.
“Well, well, well,” she said. “I never thought I’d hear from you again after all this time, not to mention that embarrassing encounter.”
Lisa had walked in on them having lunch together at Shore Pizza, where Ryan had supposedly gone to meet up with his brother.
“Yeah, well, I’m sorry. Just know that it meant enough to me that I moved out. I got an apartment in town and just unpacked. You’re the first person I thought of, and luckily, I still had your number. Lisa thought we were still seeing each other.”
“I’m shocked. And I’m sad. I didn’t want to break up your home.”
“No, you didn’t. It was headed that way for a while. Lisa was sick of my moods. I don’t blame her.”
“So, you’re bravely telling me you’re moody. Is that what you’re saying?”
Ryan laughed. “I guess so. Let you see all the warts right from the beginning. You already know I’m HIV positive.”
