Breaking Even

by Lily Bishop

  He had lost his mind. “I can’t leave my car in Miami. I’ll need it.”

  “You could have paid someone to drive it for you…”

  Lindsey thought he had lost his mind. “I don’t live in the kind of world where you would pay someone to drive your car.”

  “I know, but I would have—”

  Lindsey cut him off. She didn’t need him thinking he had to take care of her. “Ric, it’s fine. It’s easier for me to drive. We’ll make it in two days without even pushing.”

  “If you say so.” He didn’t sound happy, but she knew he was just worried.

  “What have you got going on today?” she asked to change the subject.

  “I’m meeting with a couple to discuss some special catering requests for their wedding. Chef doesn’t want to make their changes.”

  “Poor Chef Etienne. Let me guess. They want something American.”

  Ric laughed. “Yes, they asked him to make chicken tenders and macaroni and cheese for a kid’s entree.”

  “Oh, no! Bless his heart. No one ever listens to him.”

  After a brief pause, Ric continued. “My meeting is about to start. I’d better go. Stay safe.”

  Right after she ended the call, Ben’s number flashed across her screen. She clicked the button to answer. “Hey.”

  “What are you doing?” Ben asked, his voice sharp.

  “I’m driving. What are you doing?” She didn’t even bother to hide her irritation.

  “You’ve dropped back so far I can't even see you. I didn’t know what was going on. I thought maybe your car had thrown a gasket.”

  “No, I’m fine. I was talking on the phone. You don’t have to worry you lost me. We’ll be on this stretch of interstate for hours.”

  “Who were you talking to?” he asked, suspicion in his voice.

  He was sounding way too clingy, especially considering he had an “arrangement” with Brittany. “A friend. Don’t worry about it. I will catch up.”

  “All right. The point of the caravan is to stay together, remember?”

  “Got it.” She ended the call and turned up the radio. Ric and Ben had both managed to irritate her. Ben was way over the line, and Ric was on the edge, even if the two of them were practically dating.

  Nothing else happened on their long drive, despite Ric’s warnings. She and Ben rented separate hotel rooms and walked to dinner. Lindsey was back in her room by the time the sun set.

  She had learned her lesson after sharing a suite with Vaughn Bruce in Calliope. She was better off with her own private space. She had propped up all the pillows on the bed and turned on the television when Ric’s number popped up on her phone.

  “I'm just checking that you’ve stopped for the evening.” His voice sounded like brushed velvet.

  “We did. We’re in Jacksonville.”

  “Separate rooms, I hope,” he said dryly.

  “Yes, separate hotel rooms. Get a grip,” she said, irritated. “Ben and I went to dinner, came back, and parted company. I won’t see him again until in the morning. Promise.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Either trust me or don’t.” Lindsey wasn’t used to navigating the waters with a jealous boyfriend, if that’s what he was. She hadn’t dated much, but in her limited experience, the guys hadn’t cared what she did. He paused as if he were trying to determine if he should change the subject or continue down that path.

  “So, what are you doing now?” he asked. Lindsey felt relieved that he had decided to cut his losses on that one.

  “Watching a movie. Once it finishes, I’m going to bed.”

  “Alone,” he reminded her with a gravelly voice.

  She laughed. “Good Lord. Yes, alone. What are you up to this weekend? I’m sure I’ve kept you from your regular duties all week.”

  “True, but I don’t have any regrets. I don’t have much here. A few weddings. My cousin may come to the island to discuss a business venture, but I’m still undecided. He wants me to go to Las Vegas with him Labor Day weekend. Why don’t you come with me?”

  “Oh, I would love that, but I think we have classes on Labor Day. As much as I like to play blackjack, I’ve still never been to Vegas. Maybe I can go with you next time. For me, this weekend will be crazy. I’ve got to buy furniture and start unpacking. I don’t want to start out the year with everything in boxes. I looked at the schedule, and we have fall break in mid-October this year.”

  “I hope I’ll see you before then,” he said. His smile came through the phone.

  “We can make better plans once I know my teaching schedule."

  “Call me tomorrow and tell me about your new house. I’ll worry until I hear from you.”

  “I will, I promise.”

  “And I understand that you’re not interested in Ben, but don’t forget. Not everyone is as honest and straightforward as you are. He may have his own agenda.”

  “Message received. I will keep an eye on him, I promise.”

  “Goodnight.”

  #

  After driving all morning, Lindsey arrived in Clemson mid-afternoon. She met with the leasing agent to pick up the keys to her rental house. She was so excited. This was her first house on her own. The three-bedroom ranch-style house had a breakfast area, dining room, and a patio. It was even nicer than the pictures she had looked at on-line. For the first time, she wouldn't have anyone above or below her for the first time.

  French doors opened onto a patio with a built-in grill. She would definitely have to find some patio furniture. She could imagine sitting out there with her laptop doing her coursework. She told Ben they should go furniture shopping the next day. She was just too tired to think about it that evening.

  She tried to call Laura to find out about her job interview, but got her voice-mail. She finally heard from her right before bed.

  “Where have you been? I called a few hours ago.” Lindsey eased down on the air mattress that she was using as a bed for a few days. She would definitely need furniture sooner rather than later.

  “It’s only seven o’clock here. I’ve been walking around the resorts, enjoying the sites.”

  “You’re still in Las Vegas? I thought you were coming straight back.”

  “I was, but … well, I have some news.”

  That did not sound good. “You took the job?”

  “No, not quite ... Well, Fox knows Mark, the person I interviewed with, and he found out about the interview.” Lindsey could hear background noise. “Correction—Mark called Fox for a reference.”

  “Well, did he give you a decent reference?” Lindsey asked.

  “Fox, Lindsey wants to know if you gave me a decent reference.” More background chatter.

  “Earth to Laura… skip to the important part,” Lindsey said. She made circular motions with her hand even though Laura couldn’t see it.

  “Well, he flew out here, desperate to stop me from going to work in Las Vegas. He wants me to come to work with him in Atlanta … and …”

  “And?” Lindsey asked, wishing Laura would just spit it out.

  “He proposed! We’re getting married.”

  Lindsey’s world lurched. She would be completely alone if Laura had her own family. “Wow—See, I told you everything would work out. Have you set a date?”

  “Oh, we haven’t gotten that far. Sometime next summer, but I’m planning to move in with him as soon as we can get it arranged. Then I will put my condo on the market, and we will go from there.”

  “That’s great! You’ll only be a couple of hours away. That’s much better than a plane ride or two days by car.”

  “True. Hey, Fox says if you’re his new little sister, you can’t go get yourself kidnapped in the Bahamas all the time.”

  Lindsey laughed. “Roger that. No more kidnappings. Why don’t you guys plan on coming up for dinner the Saturday of Labor Day weekend? That will give me time to get furniture and get my life a little bit organized.”

  After they finali
zed the details for Laura’s visit, Lindsey ended the call. She couldn't believe her sister was moving forward so fast. Normally, Laura drew up a pro and con chart for every decision. What had come over her sister?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  A New Home

  After two weeks in the house, Lindsey found a workable routine. She was so busy, Laura's visit at the end of August arrived sooner than she expected.

  As a teaching assistant, Lindsey led discussion groups and provided tutoring. On top of that, she had her own classes and coursework to finish. She found a local fencing club, but after a few practices, decided she didn’t have time to join their roster.

  Ric had asked her to go to Vegas with him Labor Day weekend, but she couldn’t miss class on Monday. Her professor waited until Friday before he canceled Monday's classes. By then she had already invited Laura and Fox up for dinner Saturday, and she didn’t want to cancel.

  Laura had asked to meet Ben, but it looked like that wasn’t going to happen. He hadn’t been around much, and this was the grand opening for his uncle’s bar, The Globe. Ben had been spending all his time on renovations at the bar. According to Ben, the bar targeted graduate students and faculty. They planned to stock a large variety of wine and bottled beer.

  Her house now felt like it was her own space, more than anywhere she had lived since selling her mother's condo. The main room had an open floor plan and large, bright windows. She had bought green and gold scarf valances and matching pillows that tied the room together. She could see herself living here several years and had created her first family picture wall.

  Her favorite picture was the one she had printed of her and Ric together in Calliope. Out of picture frames, she had left it on the refrigerator for a while. While unpacking, she found an empty pewter frame that said “Friends Forever.” Her mother had given her the frame years ago, for her best friend, and she had never found anyone worthy to put in it. Why not Ric? She had felt odd hanging that picture on the wall with the others, so it found a home on her nightstand.

  Expecting Laura any minute, Lindsey walked through again, looking for anything out of place. She wanted everything perfect when Laura saw where she lived.

  When the doorbell rang, she opened it to find Laura and Fox carrying a ficus tree taller than Fox. She waved them inside, laughing at the unwieldy present.

  “We brought a housewarming gift. A little greenery brightens everything,” Laura said.

  “I love it. Come help me find a place for it. I want to make sure it gets the right amount of light.”

  Lindsey noticed Laura looking around. She hoped that her sister approved of her decorating choices.

  “Is Ben here? I’d like to meet him,” Laura asked.

  “No, he’s working.” Ben had called her a few times, and she could tell from the background noise that crowds had come out to fill the new bar.

  “On Saturday night?” Laura asked.

  “His dad and uncle are opening a bar this weekend and it’s all hands on deck.”

  “Oh,” Laura said, surprised. “Opening a bar?”

  “Yes. His uncle talked to Ben about moving up here after he graduated from college. When his dad heard about it, he wanted in as a partner.”

  That answer satisfied her. “Have you heard anything more from that man on the island? What was his name? Ray?”

  Lindsey stiffened at the intentional slight. She was beginning to think Laura didn’t want her to date anyone. “Stop it. You know his name is Ric. And we talk several times a week.”

  Laura stared at her. “Honey, he’s way too old for you.”

  “Ten years. That may seem like a lot, but it’s not." Lindsey defended Ric even though she didn’t exactly know how to define their relationship. It’s not like they were lovers. “The whole Taser thing was just a misunderstanding. He was sorry that his men hurt you.”

  “I’ve forgiven him, and I would just as soon forget everything that happened on that island. Just make sure you manage your expectations. You need to focus on graduate school right now.”

  Lindsey wanted to argue, but saw the look in Laura’s eyes and let it rest. “When have I ever let anything come between me and a good grade? Enough of that. Come take a tour.”

  She showed off her picture wall first, a collage of family and college pictures.

  “That’s my favorite,” Laura said, pointing to the picture of their mother with both of them. Laura had been at college, and Lindsey was still in high school. Their mother still had her hair in that picture.

  “Mine too,” Lindsey said, squeezing Laura’s hand.

  In Lindsey’s room, Laura’s lips tightened at the picture of Ric, but she didn’t say anything else.

  Lindsey didn’t show Laura and Fox Ben’s room. Sometimes he smoked clove cigarettes, and Laura didn’t like smokers. Fox inspected the windows and doors and seemed satisfied with the security. Laura gushed over the new furniture and how Lindsey had pulled it all together.

  When the three of them had returned to the main room, Lindsey realized she hadn’t even asked about the ring.

  “I was so excited. I can’t believe I almost forgot. Tell me about your engagement.” She took Laura’s hand and pulled her down beside her on the couch so she could get a close look at the ring. Fox definitely knew diamonds. “Oh, it’s gorgeous! Now tell me exactly what happened in Vegas. The clean parts, of course,” she added as an afterthought.

  Laura told the story of how Fox had flown to Las Vegas and surprised her at the same blackjack table where they had met. They went back up to her suite, where he then asked her to marry him, and then asked her to join his new consulting firm.

  “We’re in the planning stages, but we want to help smaller hotel properties have a web presence. Early on, we will focus on bed and breakfast hotels. Most of them have something on the web, but often it’s dated or uses old technology. We feel like the market will explode in the next few years.”

  “That’s great. You’re starting a business and planning a wedding. Have you set a date yet?”

  “Not yet. I’ll have to sell the condo in Miami, so it may take a while. Everything has happened so fast, we’re not in any hurry to rush the next step.”

  The oven timer went off, and Lindsey stood up.

  “Sounds like dinner’s ready. If you want, you can help me with the salad and garlic bread.” They gave Fox the job of setting the table with Lindsey’s brand new dishes.

  For the first time, Lindsey had tried to duplicate their mother’s lasagna recipe. When she pulled it out of the oven to set, the top layer of noodles and cheese was the perfect shade of brown.

  “Look at you—homemade lasagna! I thought you would order a pizza, being a college student again and all.”

  Lindsey laughed. “I’m trying to cook at least once or twice a week. I can’t eat takeout all the time. I want to start trying some of Mama’s favorites.”

  “I forgot about her recipe book. When you get time, maybe you can make me a copy?”

  Lindsey grinned. “Will do.”

  Laura sliced and buttered the French bread while Lindsey whipped together a salad. She had just placed the salads and bread on the table when the doorbell rang.

  “Could you go see who that is while I finish in here,” Lindsey asked her sister.

  “And just what are you doing here?”

  Laura’s shrill voice carried all the way back to the dining room. Lindsey put the bread down and dashed back into the living room. She stopped when she saw Ric standing in the foyer, holding an armful of yellow, orange, and red roses. After a heartbeat of a pause, she continued, heading straight to him. He wrapped his free arm around her and she stretched up to kiss his cheek.

  “Ric—I thought you were in Las Vegas. Come in, of course—the flowers are beautiful.” She took them in her arms, smelling each color in turn. “And so many colors.”

  “I liked them all,” he offered by way of explanation, giving her a goofy grin.

  Happy tears threatened
to squeeze past her lashes. “That is so sweet. But why are you here and not in Vegas?”

  “My meetings ended sooner than expected.”

  Lindsey stared at him, still tongue-tied. Instead of his usual suit, he wore a collared shirt and gray slacks. The combination was a bit overdone for a college town, but she would take it. “Yes, here you are.” She stepped back, remembering that they had an audience. “You remember my sister Laura and her fiancé Fox. They drove up for dinner, but you’re welcome to join us.”

  Fox had managed to recover before Laura did and he extended his hand in greeting. “Ric, good to see you again.”

  “You too, Fox.” Ric turned to Laura with a slight bow. “Laura, you look well and beautiful as always.”

  Laura’s lips tightened. “Yes, thank you. I’m feeling much better than the last time I saw you.”

  His lips twisted at the reminder of the Taser incident. “Congratulations on your engagement. When you choose the date, I would love to host your wedding on Calliope.”

  “Oh, wow, that’s generous of you,” Fox said.

  Lindsey didn’t wait for Laura’s response to that. “I’ll get an extra salad. Ric, come help with the flowers.”

  Ric followed her into the kitchen. Despite the open floor plan, the kitchen was an older style with a swinging door that closed behind you. Lindsey arranged the roses in a vase and set them in a prominent position on the kitchen counter.

  “These flowers are beautiful, Ric. I don’t know what to say.”

  “I didn’t want to barge in on your evening without bringing something.”

  “Why the three colors?”

  “Each color signifies a different feeling. I couldn’t choose.”

  Lindsey wanted to ask, but with Fox and Laura in the other room, decided to wait. She smiled up at him and brushed a bit of flower greenery from his shirt. “I still can’t believe you’re here, but I’m glad.”

  “Are you? You looked shocked to see me. The way you hesitated in front of Laura makes me think that you didn’t tell your sister all about us.”

  Well, he didn’t pull any punches. Lindsey grabbed the extra greens from the refrigerator and made another salad. She couldn’t quite look at Ric in the eye yet—she didn’t know what to tell him.