Undertow (29 page)

Slow down. Like that’s even an option!

We went over this a million times last year when she told me she was pregnant. I told her it was going to be hard, and we should wait to get married, but no. She wouldn’t hear that. We were getting married right away, and she would never say a word about my working or being gone so much.

Now she’s changed her mind. Well, guess what? It’s too damn late for that. I’ve already committed myself to too many people, her father included. She’ll just have to deal with it.

Then, I agreed to have a dinner party with those Hayes people she met—I was happy to do it! I don’t know where she got the idea she couldn’t have or go to parties, and Travis and Winifred Hayes appeared to be a very nice couple, if a bit older than us.

Meg took Will to her mother’s house for the evening, and after the initial cocktails and small-talk, we all sat down for dinner. That was when the fun started.

“So, Bill, I hear you’re in the development game,” Travis said.

“Trying to be,” I answered, being friendly. “At the moment I’m up to my neck in classes, getting my business degree.”

“How long do you have left on that?” he asked, like it was his business.

“The goal is three years, but I’m hoping to shave that down to two and a half. So far, I’m on track.”

“Two and a half years!” He looked stunned, which I liked. “That sounds like it might be a record.”

I shrugged. “I don’t care about record books. I’m just focused on getting it done.”

“And you’re working with someone?” He stabbed the carrots Meg had made, and I noticed the ladies weren’t talking. That was my first clue something was up. Still I played along with his twenty questions.

“My friend Bryant Brennan,” I said. “His dad’s got connections in the construction field, so he’s working on making contacts there and getting crews in place while I finish up at school. So far he’s ahead of me.”

“Very interesting. I find that line of work fascinating.” Dr. Hayes chewed a bit, and I figured we were done. Not quite. “Is this project of yours something you came up with on your own?”

I nodded. “Pretty much, but it’s nothing new. You only have to look around to see development approaching us on all sides. We’re just trying to catch the wave.”

His eyebrows rose. “I guess that’s the sense of urgency.”

“I’m so impressed by how committed you are to this project,” his wife jumped in.

I glanced at her before answering. “Our commitment is what’s going to determine how far we go.”

Meg joined the conversation now, seeming a little nervous. “Billy’s been planning this out since we were juniors in high school. He and Bryant have it all mapped out.”

“Isn’t that something!” Winifred said. “And Meg, you said he basically puts in 60-hour weeks? How long can you keep that up, Bill?”

Mrs. Hayes was starting to annoy me. “I’ll keep it up as long as I need to,” I said. “For now I’m looking at two more years.”

“Winnie, don’t pester the man. He’s got a plan.” My eyes went to her husband, but I couldn’t tell if he was patronizing me or not. Meg looked uncomfortable.

“This pasta’s great, Meg.” I decided to change the subject.

“Tell me about your boy, Bill.” Travis sounded like Dr. Weaver now.

“Not much to tell. He’s about six months old, so he’s not doing much yet.”

“I thought six months was when all the magic happened,” he smiled at his wife. “When they start doing all sorts of things.”

“You’re the doctor,” I replied. “I guess you would know.”

“Yes, but you’re here with him. Has he smiled at you yet?”

I shook my head. “Not really. But he goes to bed early, so I only see him about an hour every night. And then he’s usually eating or bathing.”

“That’s too bad.” Dr. Pompous Douchebag said. “Can’t get those days back you know.”

I’d had enough. “You’re an intern, right, Travis?” I asked.

“That’s right,” he said, looking smug.

“So you guys are waiting to have children?”

“Well, we’re not waiting on purpose,” he said. “We’ve just been having a little difficulty.”

“What’s the matter, Travis? Shooting blanks?” I was being a dick, but I had a reason.

“I’m sorry?” He put his fork down.

“I guess that’s none of my business,” I said.

“I’d say it’s not.”

“Kind of like what’s going on in my family’s none of your business.”

That shut his interfering mouth. The rest of the dinner was dominated by the girls’ discussing their upcoming DAR functions and Art in the Park. When they finally left, I was more inclined to talk to Meg.

“I’m sorry,” she said after we’d gone to bed. “Travis was way out of line tonight.”

I pulled her onto my chest ready to make peace. “It’s not your fault. I just don’t like you being influenced by people like that.”

“Influenced is the wrong word, I think.”

I combed my fingers through her soft hair. “What would you say?”

“Enlightened?” She sat up and faced me then.

I frowned. “I don’t get your point.”

“Well, they
were
meddling,” she looked down, “but I do agree little Will should’ve smiled at you by now. I worry you’re missing a lot of time we won’t get back.”

“We went through this last month,” I said, getting angry again.

“But you didn’t let me finish,” she pressed. “You just shut me out.”

“I’m not shutting you out. You’re not listening.” I paused to soften my tone. I didn’t want to fight with her, I wanted to help her get her eyes back on the prize. Remind her of the things she wanted, the things I was working so hard to give her. “We’ve got to keep going like we planned. Don’t you want the big house on the island? Aren’t you excited about being married to the most important developer in South County?”

“Of course,” she said, studying her hands in her lap. “But your plan is not going to disappear. You could still do it and spend time with us.”

I reached over and covered her hands with mine. “That’s where you’re wrong, Meg. If I slow down, someone will come in and beat me to it.”

She didn’t like it, but I knew I was right. And I hoped this phase she was in would pass. I didn’t like the pressure she was putting on us, and the more she pushed, the more I saw us growing apart.

June 22, 19--

Asking Lexy to attend Meg’s second dinner party was a stroke of brilliance. She was definitely a positive influence on my wife, and she was deceptively tough. Those Hayes jackasses didn’t stand a chance against the two of us. We shut their stupid mouths.

Watching her maneuver her way through Travis’s thinly veiled barbs solidified my decision to get her onboard with Kyser-Brennan. I’d had a few brushes with investors so far, and they lived to eat your lunch and test your strength. I’d learned to be on my toes, and Lexy seemed to be a natural at it. Where she got it from, I didn’t know, but she could definitely hold her own. I imagined Bryant, Lex, and me entering a board room and smiled. We might look young and inexperienced, but those suits had better be on their toes.

Her trip home for the summer was also taking the pressure off me being in school. Lexy and Meg spent almost every day together, and as a result, Meg completely stopped nagging me about my course load. I imagined Lexy must’ve talked some sense into her. If we were going to do all the things we’d planned, somebody had to bust his ass.

The only problem with summer was that it ended. Fast. It was so much easier for me to concentrate on my classes knowing Meg had someone keeping her away from that Hayes woman. I was sorry Lexy was heading back to Savannah, but we all had things we were working on.

Bryant and I decided to have a meeting to see where we stood and what still needed to be done, and I was pleased with our progress.

“My dad’s got some good ideas for roofers,” Bryant said, flipping through the small notebook he always carried. “And he’s found this guy in Destin who’s working on a way to reinforce the walls to get them to Cat 5 zoning cheaper. I’m going to meet with him next week.”

“Sounds great,” I said.

“How’s school coming?” he asked.

“Getting there.” I had my calendar out, counting off the months until I was free. “I think eight’s my limit, but that still should put me finishing in two and a half years. And I’ve had a few professors give me names of potential investors in Atlanta. You and I should go out there by Christmas and start feeling them out.”

“I’m in. Just tell me when and where.” He folded his book, and put it in his front pocket.

I figured I’d run my other idea past him now that we were close to starting. “What do you think about bringing Lexy onboard to head up marketing and design?”

“Lexy?” His brow creased, and he rubbed his chin. “I thought she hated our ideas. What changed her mind?”

“Well, I don’t know if it’s changed or not,” I said, my hands going to my pockets. “But I was thinking about approaching her with an offer. If you’re in agreement.”

“You know I trust you, Bill. Need me to do anything?”

I smiled. “Doubt it. I’ll let you know. For now, I’m just pushing through as fast as I can.”

“We’ll get there,” he said.

That’s what I like about Bryant. He’s straightforward, cut and dried. You always know where you stand. He isn’t trying to pull any fast ones, and he’s always ready to offer a hand. Partners like him aren’t easy to find. I’m lucky our dads were friends.

I couldn’t remember not knowing Bryant, and I was looking forward to the day when these preliminaries were done and he and I could show this town what we could really accomplish.

I drove out that evening to the Romar Beach Pavilion and parked the truck. To the east there were a few old motel buildings. What was left after Frederick flattened this place a few years back. They were low-end and crummy, typical South County fare. People didn’t expect luxury down here, they just wanted to bring the kids and flop out on the sand. Drink beer and fire up the grill.

I got out and walked down to the shore. The sun was setting to my right, and the sky was lit a brilliant pink color. With the help of these blue waters and shimmering white sands, I was going to change all of this. Those rednecks could stay up in Dolphin Shores or Port Hogan, but East End Beach was going to be different. The Phoenician complexes would be replete with luxury and high-end opulence.

But the clock was ticking. I knew I wasn’t the only one with these ideas. We had to get here first. I had to be the one to stake that initial claim on these acres of sand just begging to be developed. In ten years’ time, you wouldn’t recognize this place, and it would all be the result of one man’s dream.

I grinned. One man’s dream. Bryant would love that. Okay, one man’s dream and the belief and support of his best friends. We were all working hard, and it was going to pay off. Patience was the hardest part.

Sept. 7, 19--

The death of Meg’s father was an unexpected blow. First week of classes, and I got the call to come home right away. Luckily, since it was the first week, I wouldn’t get too far behind, and a death so close in the family warranted a few days off.

Naturally, Meg and her mother were a wreck, so I took over all the business arrangements, settling up the finances, and making sure Mrs. Weaver was taken care of.

I liked Dr. Weaver, but he was always more like the wrath of God waiting to hit me over the head if I screwed up than a kindly father-in-law. I didn’t think he ever approved of me dating Meg, even when we were in high school, much less our getting married. Still, I liked to think I’d begun proving myself to him toward the end. He didn’t seem to scowl at me so much, although that could’ve been Will’s doing. He softened up a lot once that little guy made his appearance.

Dr. Weaver was originally from Birmingham, so many of his relatives would be driving or flying in for the funeral and then heading back out almost immediately after. Luckily the old Magnolia Hotel in Fairview was still in operation. It needed restoring badly, but it would do for the large group we were expecting.

Meg called Lexy, and she was coming back for the funeral. I was surprised she could get the time off from school, but it was her first week of classes, too. She probably had plenty of time to get caught up on what she’d miss.

Once the day came, I was pleased at how many people packed Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church for the funeral mass. The family all sat in front, but Lexy and Miss Stella were in the row behind us. Lex sure cried a lot. I never realized she was so close to Dr. Weaver. Or maybe it was sympathy for her friend.

Later that night when we were all back at the cottage, I heard the girls talking about that professor she’d been dating. Seemed he’d taken up with some new student since school started back, and Lexy was considering dropping out of art school. I thought about approaching her with my plan for working with us but decided to wait. She might say no without even considering the offer just because she was upset. I’d give her a chance to get over that loser then we’d talk.

Oct. 23, 19--