Kate Sherwood - Dark Horse 02 - Out of the Darkness (22 page)

 

Dan just nods. He’s not sure what else to do.

“I never really understood the relationship, to be honest. It seemed like Jeff was just feeling guilty, and Evan was looking for a father or something. Wanted the security but didn’t want to settle down and put the work into a serious partnership.”

This isn’t a conversation Dan really feels like getting into. “I guess it’s always hard to judge these things from the outside.” He doesn’t want to offend her, but he also doesn’t want to hear something that will make him like her less.

“Dan, you’ll break my heart—don’t you know that a mother never thinks that she’s outside of her son’s life?” Anna doesn’t sound heartbroken, but she does sound a little sad. “But I think you’re right. I think maybe…. I think that
was
how they were, at the start. But they’ve changed, and I haven’t seen it.” She’s looking out the window now. “As an educator, I always had to remember to let the kids grow up. The kids that come in as freshmen leave in four years as adults. And I had to be sure to treat them that way. I’m not sure I’ve given the same courtesy to Evan.”

Dan thinks for a second. “What I said before, about Evan being an adult?”

 

“A grown-ass man, I believe you said.”

Dan nods. “Okay, yeah, that sounds familiar… but I didn’t mean it like
you
needed to change. I mean, I was talking about The Annoyers, but even if I was talking about you… what I meant was that you
don’t
have to change, because… well, because Evan’s a grown-ass man. He knows who he is. He’s not looking to other people to tell him that. So, if you haven’t been appreciating his maturity, I don’t really think it’s affected him too much. You know?”

Anna’s quiet for a moment. “And
this
is you being not good at reading people?” She smiles.

They’re pulling into Jeff’s driveway now, which saves Dan from having to respond. Anna climbs out a little stiffly, and Dan leans over to say, “Evan’s got a hot tub—you should soak in it for a bit tonight.”

Anna nods. “That sounds heavenly. I’ll remember to bring my suit.” She shuts the door gently and then leans against the bottom of the open window. “Thanks for the ride, Dan. I’m… I’m very glad to have met you. Sometimes I worry about Jeff. He’s my only child, so it’s my job. But I like what I’ve seen of him on this trip. He’s a bit preoccupied, maybe, and hasn’t been giving the proper amount of attention to his dear old mom, but it’s nice to see him really
engaged
in his life.”

“Well, the art show has been huge for him, obviously.” Anna smiles. “He’s been dreaming about that for years. But don’t fool yourself, Dan. It’s not just the art show.”

Dan looks down a little bashfully, then looks back up and sees Anna still watching him. He nods, acknowledging that he heard her, at least, and that’s enough for her to step away from the truck and let him back out to the road. He sees her still watching as he pulls away, so he waves out the window, and she waves back. Dan’s mind stays with her for a while, but by the time he’s to the highway, he’s looking forward, getting ready to see Chris.

He’s almost to the airport when his phone rings, with Chris’s name on the caller display. “You’d better be calling from California, man, because I am almost to the airport.”

“Yeah, I’m sitting on the plane. We’re on the ground, just heading for the terminal.”

 

“All right, great timing. I’m about ten minutes out, maybe a little less. You didn’t check a bag, did you?”

“Yeah, right, for my vast wardrobe. I’ll wait for you at the Arrivals curb. You still driving the truck, or has Evan got you fixed up in a Ferrari or something?”

“Chris, I think you’re maybe going to be a bit disappointed by the Kaminski lifestyle.”

 

“Just so long as you’re happy, pumpkin.”

Dan hangs up. It’s not long before he’s fighting his way through the airport traffic, and he sees Chris raising his arm from the side of the road. He pulls in, and as Chris is throwing his carry-on in the back of the truck, Dan hops out and almost runs around the front of the truck. Chris sees him coming and opens his arms wide, grinning like a lunatic. Dan’s not usually much of a hugger, but damn, he’s missed the guy, even if it’s only been a few weeks since Dan left Kentucky. They give a few manly thumps before they pull away, and Dan retreats to his side of the truck.

They’re halfway out of the airport before Chris starts. “You know, man, I could have come out earlier. If I’d known you were pining for me….”

“I’m not pining! I just… I don’t know, temporary insanity. Besides, you hugged back.”

 

“Dude, I didn’t get out of the truck. That’s all you.”

 

“Yeah, whatever. How’re things?” He braces himself. “How’re Karl and Molly?”

Chris thinks before speaking. “I guess they’re… okay, maybe. They’re out of the house now—it’s not knocked down, but it will be soon. I think they sort of thought that the developers would build the subdivision around it, but that’s not the plan. So that’s a bit hard, you know… the house Justin grew up in, plus the barn and the horses and everything….” Chris shakes his head. “They don’t really seem to be
trying
to get over it, you know? They’re just… resigned, maybe? Like they’ve decided that the rest of their lives are gonna suck, so there’s no point in trying to make it better. I don’t know.” He shakes his head again, more vigorously this time, as if he’s trying to shake the mood off. “So what about out here? What’s our plan?”

“Uh, Evan’s got some friends in. They’re kinda a pain, but whatever. But he’s having a barbecue, invited us to come over. But we don’t have to do that, if you’d rather just hang out somewhere.”

“No, a barbecue sounds suitably Californian. It’ll be poolside, I assume?”

“Dude, there’s pools in Kentucky.”
“I’m sure I’ll be able to tell the difference.”

“Yeah, okay. And Jeff’s mom is in town, so I think she’s coming. She’s really cool, actually. You’ll like her.”

 

“All right, excellent. We going straight there?”

 

“If that’s okay. We might crash there, if neither of us wants to stay sober enough to drive.”

“What, there’s no fleet of limos for us?”
“Seriously, man, brace yourself for disappointment.”

“I looked him up—the family’s net worth is estimated at
twelve billion
dollars. Do you understand how much money that is?” Dan thinks for a second. “Honestly, no, not really.”

Chris nods. “Try this—if he wanted to spend all that money in a single year? He’d have to spend almost thirty-three million a day. A
day
, Dan.”

That’s… a lot of money. Dan mulls it over. “Well, he’s not spending it on Ferraris or limos, dude. Sorry.”

 

“Well, is the barbecue at least going to include some sort of exotic, preferably endangered meat product?”

“Uh, last time it was diamond-encrusted panda, but no guarantees for tonight… and, honestly, the diamonds were a bit rough going down.”

“Panda? Jesus, Dan, why is that what you thought of? What’s wrong with you? You shouldn’t even joke about eating pandas!” “Shut up, man, it was the only endangered species I could think of.”

“Black rhinos are endangered—and I bet they’d be delicious.” “Not too tough?”

“Well, you’d probably want to marinate them for a while… or pound them with a diamond-encrusted meat tenderizer.”

 

“Huh. If the lawyer thing doesn’t work out, maybe you should have your own cooking show.”

“From torts to tortes?”
There’s a pause. “I don’t really know what either of those is.”

“Well, then, I guess I’ll be looking for someone else to be my sous-chef.”

 

“I guess you’d better. How’s the family?”

Sorting through the various misbehaviors of the Foster Clan takes up most of the rest of the trip to the farm, although Dan does point out a few landmarks, most notably Zio’s, home of, “I swear to God, the best panini ever created. Possibly the best
food
ever. Could only be improved if it included tiny, tender slivers of marinated rhino meat.”

Dan doesn’t feel nervous until they reach the edge of the Kaminski property, but once he’s there, the tension hits him like a freight train. “Uh, this thing tonight…. I could be paranoid, but it could be a bit awkward.”

Chris looks interested. “Yeah? You know how I feel about the awkward.”

Dan had actually forgotten and groans a little. “It’s not fun, forChris’s-entertainment awkwardness. It’s….” He struggles for words. “Jeff and Evan and me… everyone there kinda knows. But I don’t think most of them—well, I don’t think
any
of them, probably—have seen us hanging out together. Since they found out.”

Chris doesn’t seem put off. “So, awkward for you and Jeff and Evan, entertaining for the rest of us. I’m not really seeing the downside. And, honestly, from what I’ve seen of Jeff and Evan, I’m thinking mostly awkward just for you, ’cause neither of them is quite such a sensitive flower as you, right?”

“I’m not a sensitive flower, asshole.”

 

“Ooh, you said a naughty word! I take it back, you’re not a sensitive flower at all.”

“Fuck you.”
“Oh, my ears! You brute!”
“Sweet Jesus….”
“Blasphemy! To what depths will you sink?”

So at least Dan is laughing a little as they pull up to the house. They get out of the truck, and Chris looks around, then over at Dan.

“We should have gone to the barn first, probably. It’s more impressive than the house. But the house is bigger than it looks, really.” Dan doesn’t really know why he’s trying to justify Evan’s real estate.

“And where are the flocks of bikini-clad California beauties?” “Yeah… prepare for disappointment.”

They circle around the side of the house by the kitchen. Tia sees them through the window and beams at Dan, and then gestures for him to go up on the deck by the breakfast nook. He obeys, and as soon as he arrives, Tia is there, and she’s hugging Dan. “Oh, those books were a blessing this afternoon! She just couldn’t settle down, and then I pulled out the books and the assignments, and she got right down to work. We had to tear her away when Jeff and Anna arrived!”

“Oh… well, great. The assignments were a good idea, obviously. Way to go.”

Tia just shakes her head. “Oh, no, no modesty for you. You had the first idea and did all the work; I barely even helped. Way to go, you!”

Dan shrugs and is happy to turn the attention to Chris. “Uh, Tia, this is Chris, my friend from Kentucky. Chris, Tia looks after Evan and Tat. It’s a pretty big job.”

Tia welcomes Chris to California, and then gestures toward the back yard. “Everyone’s back there, getting up to mischief. Off you go.”

They head around the back, and as they turn the corner, it does seem like a perfect California scene. Jeff and Anna are reclined in the teak deck chairs, talking to Tat, who’s in the pool, bracing one arm on the tiled edge while the other rests in a slightly dampened sling. Evan and Blaine are behind the bar, apparently preparing mimosas, and Monica and Amanda are standing in front of the bar, waiting to be served. And they, at least, are wearing bikinis.

Chris nods. “Okay, it’s a small flock but good quality.”

“Amanda, the one in red, is dating Blaine. Not that I think that should stop you. She’s
possibly
too good for him—not because she’s so great, but….”

Chris reaches over and slaps the back of Dan’s head. “Don’t be catty about my future woman.” The gesture is so similar to his imagined rebukes from Puppet-Chris that Dan is thrown a little off balance, speechless long enough for Chris to add, “Or the friend of my future woman… things remain to be decided.”

“Well, Monica’s Evan’s ex, so… I don’t know how much you’re gonna suffer by comparison, but honestly, I’d be worried.”

Chris shoots him a dirty look. “You don’t know everything about me, Danny. And if you’re alluding to what I think you’re alluding to, you
definitely
don’t know!”

Dan laughs. “Are you sure about that? Remember that time at Scotty’s place, when you hooked up with… what was her name....” “Laura. Or Lauren, or something....”

 

“Yeah, in the same room I was sleeping in. The well-lit room, where I was
trying
to sleep.”

Chris looks like he’s trying to think back and remember details, and then Evan has seen them and is coming out from behind the bar and crossing over to greet them. And the awkwardness starts already, because Dan has no idea what the appropriate greeting should be. Hugs seem strange, handshakes remote, a kiss
far
too much…. He solves the problem by pushing Chris forward. “Look what I found at the airport!”

Evan gives Chris an enthusiastic handshake. “Hey, man, welcome to California! It’s good to see you again.”

 

“Thanks. It’s good to be here. And it’s a beautiful place, too. Thanks for inviting us.”

 

“Meh, I have to keep an eye on Dan. You’re just a special bonus!”

“You have to keep an eye on him?” Chris is smirking, as if he can smell that there’s a bit of a story there. “Has he been getting himself in trouble?”

“No!” Dan protests.

 

Evan shakes his head. “He has, actually. He gets a little crazy on his own.”

 

Chris shoots a quick look at Dan. “They’re not doing the shifts, are they?”

 

“No! There’s no shifts!”

Evan raises a finger to his lips and gives Chris a meaningful look. “No, of course there’s no shifts. Dan is completely fine on his own, and does not need to be babysat. Of course.” He smiles a little and then nods toward the bar. “Let’s do introductions and get you guys some drinks.”

Dan and Chris follow obediently. Blaine, Amanda, and Monica all greet them warmly, and Blaine immediately drags Chris into a discussion he and Evan had been having about college basketball. Dan tunes them out pretty quickly, and it isn’t long before he’s wandered over toward Jeff and Anna. Tat has climbed out of the pool and is heading over to the bar, but she stops on the way to give Dan a wet one-armed hug. “I got two of the assignments done,” she tells him proudly. “And I started the third one.” Then her conscience catches her. “But I did the easy ones first.”

Dan nods. “That makes sense. Why don’t you bring them down to the barn tomorrow and we can look at them?” Tat agrees and heads over to mimosa-land.