From the Breezeway, Divi and Priya came out on the deck with one arm around the other like they were supporting a drunk. Their free hands wiped at their tears. They sat down on a cushioned chaise longue. They weren’t sobbing anymore but the sadness was palpable. I just sat down in my gravity chair beside them and stayed quiet. If they wanted anything from me, they’d ask.
Divi was the first to speak, and it was with bitterness in her voice, “He was a bad father and a bad husband. We’re better off without him and his bimbo girlfriend.” Even in the dark I could see the fire in her eyes. Priya didn’t react to Divi’s statement except to pull her in tighter.
Priya finally spoke. “Jack. First of all, thank you for all you did for the girls today. I was able to glean from some of the details that you saved them from possible disaster that they didn’t even realize until after it was over. I’m going to take Divi home and we’re going to comfort each other. She’s a little shaken up about the divorce and I need some time to think about my life too.” I understood; their lives had just come off the rails. The ‘think about my life’ part concerned me because I was thinking I was a part of that too.
I said, “Call me if you need anything. I’ll be here for whatever you need.” That statement, as simple and normal as it was, seemed to sadden Priya even more as she stood and helped Divi to her feet.
They headed for the stairs without another word until they got to the stairs. Divi stopped and turned. “Thanks Jack for a wonderful day. Thanks for Molly too.” She forced a smile and they headed down the stairs with Priya looking back at me mouthing the question, ‘Molly?’ I just shrugged my shoulders and they were gone.
I had an ominous feeling in my gut. I had begun to feel close to Priya and Divi too. My life had some excitement in it again. Maybe excitement wasn’t the correct word but I was feeling good about a new day dawning which had been missing for a long time. I was feeling alive again instead of just waiting to die. The mosquitoes drove me in and I chugged the remains of my beer as I headed for the Breezeway thinking that I would drag fewer of the blood-thirsty vampires inside the house if I went that way.
The next morning, I woke early, as usual. Consciousness was accompanied by a morning woody that had lately become a usual event. I jerked myself off as I reminisced about the erotic events of yesterday. It didn’t take long. In the shower my mind went back to Priya’s ominous statement as she and Divi headed for the stairs. I could only guess at the meaning, ‘Think about my life too’.
I dressed in my usual garb – athletic shorts with no underwear and a tee-shirt. I pulled on my sandals and got on my boat. I cast off and made my way to the Marina again. I had seen a poster displaying ‘breakfast pizza’ yesterday and the photo looked delicious.
I sat outside the Marina at a picnic table eating my pizza and watching the first boats of the day filling up with gas. I got a chance to see some of the speed boats and wake boats up close. As I was cleaning up and throwing the waste in the pizza box, I saw a familiar pontoon boat slowing at the “No Wake” sign. I did a double take to confirm that it was the gang of five twenty something’s from yesterday. It was the same boat but there were only three of them aboard: the alpha guy and the two that had taken off through the woods. I sat back down to see what they would do when they saw me.