AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I will, Mom. How’s Ant?”
Anthony was on the other side of the cabin, setting up the table with a troubled expression. I quietly said, “He’s doing his best.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Let’s just say that whatever you have planned, you better be smart about it.”
“I will, but this is where you come in.”
Finally, some information. I was eager for him to clear up the smoke screen. “I’m listening.”
“First, did you get the stuff I asked you?”
“Yes.”
“Sweet. Make him Death in the Afternoon.”
“Say what?”
“It’s a drink, one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorites. One and a half ounces of absinthe, four ounces of sparkling wine, and lemon twist.”
“What’s so special about this drink?”
“It will go straight to his head. Make sure he drinks two of those by the time I’m there, but no more than that.”
“Okay. What else?”
I didn’t need to see him to know he was smiling. “Now, for the fun part, listen closely…”
*
We were back sitting on the couch when we heard the car getting close before parking outside. Anthony rested his face in his palms, his attempts to play it cool now failing. I put my hands on his shoulder. “Look at me.”
He raised his head, his big brown eyes wide with worry. “I can’t do this.”
“You can.”
“You don’t know the full story between us.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re about to get closure to what went down between you two. Don’t let yourself be the victim, Ant.”
He frowned. “Victim?”
That word did something to him. I could tell it was sinking in, floating between his thoughts. He opened his mouth to speak, but then Chris opened the front door and hurried inside, bringing with him a mighty gust of wind before slamming the door shut.
“It just started to rain,” he said and took off his coat, his dark blond hair a bit wet.
I went over to give him a hug, then realized that now Anthony would be expected to hug Chris as well.
“Hey, Ant,” Chris said once we broke the hug. “It’s been a minute.”
Looking at Anthony, I was sure he would break character and either explode or leave. It was in the stiffness of his shoulders and the tightness of his jaw. To my relief, he cleared his throat and took a step forward to shake Chris’s hand. “Good to see you.”
I let out a silent sigh. One drama prevented.
“I haven’t been here in ages,” Chris said and went to look around. He was wearing a gray sweater that suited him well. As always, he was neatly shaven, although he only needed to shave around once a week.
“None of us have been here in years,” I said. “Nice to see the place stayed the same.”
