“I didn’t have any idea what your doctor friend wanted me to say.”
Determined to distance himself from her sister and doctor husband, Matt hoped that he hadn’t made Dez angry.
Eager for them to have a nice day, Dez didn’t mention that Matt really did know Jeremy’s name - he was more than her 'doctor friend'.
Amazed that he was so uncomfortable, she changed the subject.
Sorting through holiday brochures, she handed him one. “What do you think about this cruise, Matt?” She had no opinion about the River Cruise, but wanted to distract him. He took it from her, opening out on the table. “Looks alright, but don’t you want to go to the Caribbean?”
“Right now, I just want to get off the Island. I miss the wandering I did in my younger years. It feels like I’ve been boxed in too long. I know the pandemic's been over since May, but I still feel trapped.”
“I know what you mean, Dez. Just feels tight. Why don’t we skip the cruises and drive south. We could get down to Mexico, hit a small town, just relax for a couple of weeks. We don’t even have to get that far, we could just drive. What do you think?”
Dez grinned. “That’s more like it! When I picked up these brochures, I wasn’t sure it was something you’d like to do. But I didn’t think of asking you first. A cruise would just keep me boxed in. But, just driving. I like that, Matt.” She twisted the engagement ring on her left hand. Decided to keep quiet about what she was thinking.
~~~~~
Matt Hamilton had never been one for vacations, or holiday. The life of an orchardist could lend itself to time off, but he and his previous wife never agreed on when or where. His boys always wanted to go to someplace expensive or too far away. He sometimes took them fishing; as they reached their teens, they took up skiing at Whistler. He’d take them and their friends up, and then enjoy the lodge. “Come on, dad. Just try skiing - take a lesson.” They begged and pleaded with him but finally shouldered their skis and trudged off to the slopes. He couldn’t tell them he’d had a serious skiing accident as a young man that had sworn him off of that sport. He worried about this sons.
Meeting Dez had been a surprise. He had sworn off of women after his marriage went so wrong. His wife and sons lived on the mainland now. He’d get then over to the island once a year, but hadn’t seen them in almost 4 years because of the pandemic. He didn’t talk about it with Dez, but she had seen their pictures on the walls of his living room. Their jackets hanging in the closet, ball caps on on the shelf above. Other paraphernalia of teenage boys in odd places around the house; old gym shoes, hoodies, an old baseball mitt. He wondered how they’d all get along. They’d be coming to the island for Christmas. Their mom was going off on a cruise with her partner. She’d called him and said they’d be there for Christmas. Didn’t ask if he would be busy or on the moon, just said “I’m sending the boys to you at Christmas. I’ll send you their itinerary when I get it set up.” Dez was so different from her. But he wouldn’t walk on eggshells with her like he had with his ex. He also knew that Dez wouldn’t put up with it and that he wouldn't have to. She had agreed to marry him, but wasn’t pushing for a date. This vacation might be the right time for it. He’d think on it and maybe talk with her about it.
“We spend so much time bantering about the words when
the real open conversations might very well be our actions.”
~ Anna Deavere Smith,
American actress, playwright and professor
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