Close Out (16 page)

Lucas also caught a ride in that set, but Kai didn't see it. He only saw that Lucas was paddling back out at the same time he was. Soon they were both sitting outside again. Meanwhile Shauna and Sam had arrived separately and were waxing their boards.

“Ready?” Lucas sounded impatient.

Kai was tempted to ask what the rush was, but he thought he already knew the answer. Lucas was eager to get some hard charging in before the waves started to get crowded. Kai had agreed to be his sparring partner until the Northeast Championship, so it wasn't fair to give the guy grief.

“Sure,” Kai said.

On the next wave Kai ripped, trying to force three or four moves into the space where he normally performed two. In a way it was sort of interesting to see how much you could pack into one ride. Kai could see the challenge. But he also saw how it could get old really fast.

They surfed and checked Everett's video for the rest of the morning. Now and then Bean joined them on the beach to watch. Shauna came out to Screamers, generally waiting for the others to catch waves before she
took hers. Kai nodded at her a couple of times, but she ignored him, as if she was still angry from the night before. Derek arrived, and Kai couldn't help noticing how friendly and chatty she was with him.

By midmorning, when the onshore thermals started to blow the waves out, Kai was nearly exhausted. Being Lucas's sparring partner was hard work. But he couldn't say he hated it.

“Want to go see Spazzy?” Bean asked while they wrapped their leashes around the tails of their boards.

“Definitely,” Kai said. He found himself glancing over at Shauna and Derek, who were sitting side by side on the sand looking out at the ocean.

“Interesting combination,” Bean said. “Does it bother you?”

“You kidding?” Kai said. “No way.”

They started up the beach. Lucas was reviewing his rides with Everett, but Kai had lost interest.

“Looks like Lucas is seriously gung ho about this contest,” said Bean.

“Yeah, I noticed,” Kai said.

“How's it feel to be his sparring partner?”

“Tiring,” Kai said. “Every time I turn around he's right on my heels. I keep asking myself, Why am I doing this? Why would I want to do Buzzy Frank a favor?”

“Maybe you're enjoying it,” Bean said. “A little competition can't hurt.”

Kai winced inwardly. A little competition had once hurt him horribly. The scars on his leg were nothing compared to the scars inside.

They got to the parking lot. Each time Kai saw the hearse it reminded him of the tires Goldilocks had slashed. Kai didn't know what it had cost Bean to get all those tires replaced. He just knew it wasn't cheap. Of course, Bean, being the kind of guy he was, had never said a word about the money, but it still bothered Kai big-time.

“Hey, you weren't going without me, were you?” Shauna trotted up the beach carrying her board and slid it into the back of the hearse.

During the drive to the hospital Shauna sat between Bean and Kai. No one spoke. It was unusual for the three of them to be so quiet. Shauna didn't look in Kai's direction, and Kai didn't look in hers. Finally Bean said, “Nice waves today.”

“Yes,” said Shauna.

“You're catching more and more of them,” said Bean.

“Thanks,” Shauna said. “I had a couple of rides today that felt really good. Like I was going sideways right in front of the curl. But it's hard to stay there.”

“It's about controlling your edge,” Kai said. “You'll get it.”

“I used to have this friend who took time to show me,” Shauna said. “I don't know what happened to him.”

“Ouch,” Bean said, even though the comment had not been directed at him.

“Maybe your friend didn't know you still wanted help,” Kai said.

“Or maybe he just got so distracted by tight bikinis and wet T-shirts that he forgot,” Shauna said.

“Yeow, it's getting hot in here,” said Bean.

“Maybe there's more going on than meets the eye,” Kai said.

“All I know is, depending on where the eye looks there's already way too much to meet it,” Shauna said. Both Kai and Shauna stared straight ahead as they spoke. Neither looked at the other.

“Time to get some fresh air in here.” Bean
brought both windows down and let the breeze blow in.

“Hey, maybe it's my imagination,” Kai said, “but it sort of looked like there might be other teachers interested in the job.”

“Some surfers do manage to think about other people,” Shauna said.

“Great, so then there's no problem,” Kai said.

“Who ever said there was a problem?” Shauna asked, crossing her arms and staring straight ahead.

“Forget the fresh air.” Bean brought the windows back up and reached for the dashboard. “This calls for AC.”

They rode the rest of the way in silence. Bean parked in the main lot of Sun Haven Hospital. It was noon and they were inland where the sea breeze didn't reach. The blistering midday sun reminded Kai that while the first hints of fall might be creeping closer every morning and evening, the middle of the day still belonged to summer.

As they walked toward the main entrance, Bean pointed at the black Mercedes station wagon with the California plates. “Julian's here.” Inside they rode an elevator up to a
brand-new pediatric wing. The light yellow walls were smooth with new paint and lined with brightly colored photographs. The floor was polished and glossy. Kai and his friends stopped at a nurses' station.

“Looks more like a NASA tracking station than a hospital,” Bean said, pointing at the many computer terminals and monitors.

“If I ever get sick, this is definitely where I want to be,” added Shauna.

A nurse directed them to Spazzy's room. The door was open. Inside, Spazzy was sitting up in bed, reading
Surfer
magazine. Jillian was sitting in a chair reading a book. When Bean knocked, they both looked up. To Kai it was hard to judge who had a bigger smile.

“Dudes!” Spazzy said. But despite his suntan, Kai thought he seemed pale underneath.

“Hey, man, waz up?” Bean held out his hand. Twitching and jerking, Spazzy managed to slap Bean's and Kai's palms. Shauna leaned over the bed and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Spazzy actually blushed. “Hey, if girls are going to kiss me, I might try drowning more often!”

“Caleb, that is absolutely not funny,” Jillian said sternly.

“Hate to say it, dude, but your sister's right,” Kai agreed. “I mean, we were totally freaked yesterday.”

“Okay, okay,” Spazzy said. “Hey, want to hear something cool? The doctors said they've never seen a kid my size barf up so much seawater.”

“Oh, Caleb,” Julian groaned.

“Any fish?” Bean asked.

“You mean sushi, don't you?” said Shauna.

“So what's the story with today?” Kai asked. “Know when they're going to let you go?”

“Any time now,” Spazzy said. “We're just waiting around for the doctor to check me out. I'll be back in the water tomorrow morning.”

“I beg your pardon,” Julian said.

“Aw, come on,” Spazzy said. “I'm fine.”

“Doctor Levine said he wants you to rest,” Julian said.

“Hey, what did I do last night?” Spazzy asked. “What am I doing today? What'll I do tonight? You know, too much rest can be bad for you.”

Julian rolled her eyes. “We'll see.”

There was a single rap on the door, and a tall man in a white coat strode in. “So, how are we today, Caleb?”

“Hey, Doc, tell my sister I'll be okay to surf tomorrow,” Spazzy said.

“Uh …” Caught by surprise, the doctor turned to Kai and his friends. “I think we'll need some privacy.”

Bean, Shauna, and Kai understood. “We better take off,” Bean said. “Catch you later.”

They left the room and went back out into the hall, pulling the door closed behind them.

“Sounds like the old Spazzy is back,” Shauna said.

“For sure,” said Bean.

They walked back down the hall to the elevator. Bean pushed the button. While they waited, Kai noticed a large metal plaque on the wall. In raised bronze letters were the words “John Fraser Moncure Pediatric Wing,” and under it were the names of various people on the hospital board, the architect who'd designed the wing, the construction company that had built it, and a long list of donors who'd contributed money to the venture. One name featured prominently on the hospital board and among the list of donors was Elliot “Buzzy” Frank.

A bell rang. Shauna stepped into the elevator. Bean held the door. “Kai?”

He joined them. The door shut and they started down.

“Something interesting on that plaque?” Bean asked.

“Guess who one of the major contributors to that new wing was?” Kai said.

Bean's forehead wrinkled. “Buzzy?”

“Good guess.”

“Does that change your opinion of him?” Shauna asked.

“I don't know,” Kai said. “But it's something to think about.”

T
hey got into the hearse and headed back to Sun Haven. On Seaside Drive they found themselves behind an SUV with out-of-town plates, two thick silver board bags strapped to the roof, and dozens of surf stickers on the back window and bumper.

“The troops are coming,” Bean said.

“Think you could drop me at Ice Cream?” Shauna asked. “It's almost time for me to start work.”

“Sure” Bean checked his watch. “And I've got to get ready for a funeral.”

“Driving?” Kai asked.

“Yeah. We've got a double header this
afternoon and one of the regular drivers is on vacation.”

At Ice Cream Shauna got out and thanked Bean without even looking at Kai.

“Hey,” Kai said as she started to turn away. Shauna stopped.

“I could try to help you with that edge stuff,” Kai offered.

“I wouldn't want to waste any of your valuable time,” Shauna replied.

“It's not so valuable,” Kai said.

“Let's see tomorrow.” Shauna headed across the sidewalk and into the shop.

“The wrath of Shauna,” Bean said back in the hearse.

Kai shrugged.

“You know she's crazy about you,” Bean said.

“She sure has a strange way of showing it,” Kai said.

“Actually, pretty typical,” Bean said. “You just have to know how to read the signs.” They were headed down Main Street now. “Any place I can drop you?”

“Teddy's.” Kai hoped she'd be in a better mood than the last time he'd seen her.

A few minutes later Bean stopped the
hearse beside the tall white picket fence.

“Thanks, Bean,” Kai said as he got out.

“Catch you later?” Bean asked.

“Definitely” Kai said. He pushed the hearse's door closed and stepped onto Teddy's property, not sure whether to check the house or the workshop first. He decided to be optimistic and try the workshop. The whine of the power planer coming from the shaping room was a good sign. Kai went in, but stood outside the shaping room until he heard the power planer stop. Teddy didn't like to be disturbed when she was shaping. Kai knocked, then pushed open the door and stuck his head in.

Inside the shaping room Teddy was running her hand along the rail of a foam blank. She was wearing a respirator and covered with foam dust. The floor and just about every other flat surface was also covered with white dust. She shook the dust out of her hair and pulled off the respirator. “I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever see you again.”

“After last time I wasn't sure you'd want to,” Kai replied.

“Because I told you to get out? Listen, grommet, you want to work with me, you'll need a tougher hide than that.”

Kai wasn't sure what to say. It sounded like they were working together again.

“So I heard you got that son of a bitch's boards back for him,” she said, apparently referring to Curtis.

“How'd you hear that?” Kai asked, surprised.

“Things get around,” Teddy said. “I like that. Means you get things done. You're not all talk, like most people around here.”

“I could have told you that,” Kai said, and winked.

Teddy chuckled. “I get it, you could have told me, but since most people are all talk, what difference would it have made? Very funny.” Then she did something that
really
shocked him. “Come on, let's have a look at something.” She went into the workshop. From a rack of finished, but unglassed boards, she pulled out the one he'd sketched the logo on. Kai was honestly surprised that she hadn't sanded the sketch off.

“It's not bad,” she said.

“You serious?” Kai asked.

She tilted her forehead down and looked at him with a severe gesture. “Do I give out many compliments?”

“Actually, no,” Kai said.

“Then when I do, you better take it seriously,” she said. “Only, this is just a pencil sketch. I have no idea what it will look like colored in.”

“I could color it,” Kai offered.

“I'd rather you didn't use the actual board,” Teddy said. “You wouldn't have any color sketches, would you?”

Kai did. Only they were back at T-licious. “I'd have to go get them.”

Teddy gave him a funny look. “So?”

“So … what?” Kai replied, confused.

“So what the hell are you waiting for? Go get them,” Teddy said, and went back into the shaping room, slamming the door behind her.

A
s Kai walked into town he realized that he'd been purposefully avoiding T-licious ever since he'd stopped working there. Of all the places he could have gone, this was probably the one he wanted to see least. It was midafternoon now, and the sun was still hot and high overhead. The sidewalks were nearly empty. Almost everyone was at the beach or a pool. On Main Street an out-of-state minivan passed, loaded with boards in board socks. More competitors. Kai stopped across the street from the shop. There was hardly any trace left of the old custom T-shirt scam. Almost everything in the windows now was discount surf wear.