Cruel World(7)

James spun around, his eyes lighting up before taking a bow.

“Thanks, I’ll be here all week!” he yelled, hurrying across the room to them. He set his beer down and swept Quinn into a strong hug, picking him off his feet before setting him down again.

“Jeez dad, are you drunk?”

“Not in the least, my boy. Come here, Teresa.”

The older woman swatted at him, the shining smile still on her face as James pulled her into the room and began to spin her while another big-band tune began to play. Teresa let out a short shriek that became laughter as they glided around the room. Quinn shook his head, watching them, his father catching his eye and winking before he dipped Teresa who responded by slapping his shoulder and laughing again.

“I thought you weren’t coming home until late tonight?” Quinn said as James stood Teresa upright.

“We got done early,” James said, taking a swig from his beer.

“I’m assuming the meetings went well?” Teresa said, fixing a length of hair that had come loose from one of her combs.

James grinned again, happiness ingrained into every inch of his face.

“Better than I ever dreamed.”

Mallory stepped into view from the hall, a bemused expression gracing her Hispanic features.

“What is this, a fiesta?” she asked, looking around the group.

“Yes,” James said. “In fact, tell Graham to cook lobster tonight and that creamy crab dip he does at Christmas. We’re celebrating. Oh, and open some smoked herring too.”

“All right,” Mallory said, giving the three of them a puzzled smile before heading in the direction of the kitchen.

“Ish, dad, I don’t know how you can eat that stuff.”

“Herring’s the perfect food, tons of protein and delicious besides.” James gave him a playful swipe on the shoulder with his fist.

“Yeah, well, I’ll stick to the lobster and crab dip.”

“Me too,” Teresa said.

“You two don’t know what you’re missing.”

“We do; that’s why we’re not missing it,” Quinn said, grinning.

James shook his head. “How about you and I take the skiff out for a run before dinner?” he asked. “She hasn’t hit the water in a while.”

“The skiff? Okay…” Quinn flitted his eyes to Teresa who gave a slight shrug as she finished smoothing her hair.

“Great, I’ll go change if you want to grab the lifejackets from the boathouse.”

“Sure.”

“Meet you down there.”

His father disappeared through the hall, another snippet of song floating back to them and fading as James made his way upstairs. Quinn closed his eyes and then looked down at his hands, rubbing them together as if he were cold.

“I’ll see you at supper,” he said, moving toward the entry. Her voice stopped him before the door.

“Don’t put your plans on hold because he’s happy, Quinn. He’ll understand.”

He nodded, not looking back and left the house.

They sailed for an hour along the shore, the canvas snapping over the sound of the wind that gusted and shoved the small boat across the waves. The spring air carried more warmth than chill in the afternoon sunshine though the salty brine that sprayed them from time to time still spoke of winter.

They didn’t talk much, both of them focused on their required jobs: his father steering the skiff while Quinn ran the sail and helped turn them through the surf. I’m leaving. The words were in his mouth, choking him. I’m leaving. He’d said them so easily to Teresa, knowing that she would understand. But his father.

Quinn glanced at the older man for the thousandth time. The wind swept James’s hair away from his unlined brow and his clear eyes sparkled, reflecting the sea. He could say it. He would tell him. Tomorrow he was leaving.

“Let’s head in, I’m starving,” James said, breaking him from his trance.

Quinn nodded, letting the words fade away with the wind as they guided the little boat toward shore.

The house smelled of boiling seafood when they returned, and Quinn’s stomach growled. The soupy nausea that had accompanied him throughout their sailing, intensifying to the point of being unbearable when he started to say the words, relinquished its hold and gave way to hunger.

“Smells good, doesn’t it?” James said, stifling a cough as he slung an arm around his shoulders.