Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six(26)

“I mean he pressed for this, for months, insisted on paying for everything. We’re out here in the middle of nowhere. There’s an itinerary on the bed.”

Mako. Yeah, he was a bit much, larger than life, big ideas, big appetites, grand gestures. That was his way. “He’s just trying to show his gratitude.”

But it was more than that, even she knew it. He was running some kind of an agenda. What was it? It might be internal. It might be something he wanted from them. No way to know until the big reveal.

“Family is never perfect,” she said. “But he loves us.”

She felt him nod. Then,

“Hannah, I don’t think I can work for your brother anymore.”

She looked up at him. His face was drawn, still. There was a heaviness to his tone.

“Okay,” she said. “Why not?”

He glanced away, rubbed at his temples with a thumb and forefinger. “There are things going on at Red World that I—can’t live with.”

His words landed oddly, making a strange kind of sense, but frightening her at the same time.

“What kind of things?” she asked, feeling her throat constrict a bit.

She’d worked at Red World, too. There were always trolls and ugly rumors about Mako, about the company. But power, success, always attracted hatred and jealousy, right? That’s what Mako always said. And there was just something about her brother. Even at school, there had been rumors and lies circulating about him—that he’d cheated on an exam. Other things. Hannah felt a clench in her middle.

“What kind of things, Bruce?” she repeated when he didn’t answer.

“Oh my GAWD! Look at this place!” Cricket’s voice carried up from downstairs. “Hannah! Hannah! Where are you?”

They locked eyes. He looked so—sad.

“Coming!” called Hannah. But she kept her gaze on her husband. Bruce kept watching her for a moment, then looked down at the floor.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—just forget I said anything, okay?” he said, voice taut. “This isn’t the place to discuss it.”

She wanted to push him, but she knew it was true, that whatever it was, they needed to talk about it later when they were alone. She couldn’t hear what Bruce had to say and then go downstairs and face her brother, pretend that everything was all right.

She could see the strain on him, that whatever it was, it was big.

“Whatever it is,” she said. “It’s okay. We’ll figure it out. I love you.”

He seemed about to say something else.

But when she turned her head up to him, he kissed her instead, slow, loving. If she sometimes missed the ease of their early couple-hood, she knew there was something deeper between them now. Their love, their friendship had grown. And now there was Gigi, the little life their love had made, connecting them always. No matter what.

Then Cricket was calling again, and Mako’s voice was booming. Her brother had obviously returned, as well.

“Hey, you lovebirds. Come on down.”

Then she did what she always did, had always been able to do. She pushed it all away. Whatever it was that was bothering Bruce about Red World, her own worries, fears and doubts. All that was for another time. For now, they were here and they’d enjoy this moment, get whatever pleasure they could. Face whatever came next when they’d returned home.

Hand in hand, they headed downstairs.





10


Hannah

And then she was in the embrace of her childhood friend who still smelled of lemons and very faintly of marijuana. Cricket was slumber parties, and manicures, martini night, and days at the beach. She was the person who knew everything—everything—about Hannah. And vice versa.

“You look so beautiful,” Cricket said.

Which was a lie; Hannah knew she looked as tired and worn down as any toddler mom, but she loved her friend for her unfailing kindness.

Cricket looked rested, gorgeous as ever with her flawless skin, and shining hair—as if she’d just come from a vacation, a shower, a spa treatment. She wore a slim denim shirt dress that clung to her curves. “You’re the gorgeous one,” she said. “Always have been.”

They’d become friends when Cricket and Mako were dating, back in high school. Cricket had ditched Mako—or had he ditched her, who could remember?—but kept Hannah. Now, as adults, they were all friends.

Cricket pulled her in again, and whispered, “I think I’m in love.”

Her friend’s smile was beaming, and Hannah looked around for Cricket’s new beau. But then Mako was hugging Hannah.

“This is going to be such an awesome weekend. I’m so glad you guys are here. I thought you might bail. I know you didn’t want to leave Gigi.”

She reflexively reached for her phone at the mention of her daughter’s name. But remembered it was still in the car. She’d have to go out for it.

“There’s Wi-Fi, right?”

“Of course,” he said. “I mean, it’s a little wonky. But of course.”

She didn’t have time to ask him what wonky meant, because Cricket was dragging her around the cabin-slash-ridiculous-mansion, gawking at the expansive great room with double-height vaulted ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, fresh flowers in towering vases. Outside, the sun was setting, painting the sky orange, purple, pink. The view of acres and acres of trees, the blue shadows of distant mountains, watercolor sky was stunning.