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2
Mikal Cross
“I already told you, I’m not traveling to Texas or anywhere else for a show. I’m retired,” I said to my old manager and friend Carson as the waitress brought over our food and drinks.
“It pays pretty good. Are you sure you won’t reconsider?” he asked, still trying to persuade me as he picked up a piece of pizza.
“I don’t need the money,” I reminded him. “If you have a charity event that you want me to do, let me know.”
Carson chuckled. “I was just looking forward to the commission.”
If I didn’t know him better, I’d think he was serious. But Carson and I travelled the world one booking after another. I’d think that he’d be thrilled to be home with his wife and grandchildren. What was I missing?
“How’s the family?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Dottie is fine. The kids are all off doing their own things. And the grandchildren are teenagers.”
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“That they don’t want to hang out with us anymore. And when they do come over, they are on the cellphones or another device most of the time,” he said.
So you’re bored.
“Thought you were going to take up golf,” I said.
“Tried it. I suck.”
“How bad can you be?” I asked, knowing that we had only discussed it a couple of months ago.
“I hit Dottie with the ball. Gave her a welt on her thigh that turned black, blue and purple. She said if I don’t give up the sport, I’ll be sleeping on the couch from now on,” he sighed. “And before you say it, Dottie won’t stay home. She said that she spent most of our marriage at home waiting for me, and retirement wasn’t going to be the same.”
I never got married. Not that I hadn’t thought about it. The one woman I thought I could spend the rest of my life with gave me an ultimatum, my career or her. That wasn’t going to happen. I was young and out to make a name for myself. I did. At a price. There was no one to go home to.
“If you ask me, you owe Dottie. Why don’t you take her on a vacation? Travel. Go and see the world,” I suggested.
“I’ve seen it already,” he replied.
“But she hasn’t,” I reminded him. In the beginning, Dottie would travel with us, but when she became a mother, she wanted stability for the kids. “I just got an email offer for an amazing deal for a cruise that will take you places Dottie has been dreaming of.”
“How do you know what she’s been dreaming of when I don’t?” he asked.
I chuckled. “Reading people’s minds is what I do.”
“Yeah. Right. Let me guess, she’s complaining about me, isn’t she?” he grumbled.
That wasn’t true. Dottie had reached out to me looking for suggestions for a surprise anniversary trip. Forty-five years was something to be proud of. I couldn’t tell him that or she’d be making me disappear and it wouldn’t be a magic trick either. “When we all were having dinner a couple of weeks ago, I heard her mention something about Greece. You know I have a good memory.”
He accepted that response and smiled. “Then I’m sure you remember that it’s your treat tonight.”
“Damn it. If I had, I wouldn’t have gotten a steak,” I joked, looking across the table eyeing his prime rib.
He grinned. “I’m only doing this for you. I mean, you have no wife, kids or grandchildren to spend all your money on. Might as well spend it on me.”
“I do have a life, you know,” I stated.
“Never said you didn’t. But I’m just wondering when you’re going to settle down, find someone to grow old with,” he said.
I laughed. “I’m turning sixty in a couple of months. It’s a little late for thinking about having a family, don’t you think?”
