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Rose

Rose

D ad’s not been himself the last week or so. Ever since I brought the casino chip home, he’s been subdued, but it got worse since those bodies washed up. It’s hard to put a finger on, but I know him well enough to know when something’s up.

At first I thought it might be the money. When I turned eighteen, he gave me a letter mom had written to me for the occasion.

It was strange hearing from her so long after she died. She said that she’d left me a safe deposit box with a nest egg inside. I went to the bank to open it, but all I found was a casino chip for Gianni’s casino up on the hillside.

Ten thousand, according to the writing on the chip. I tried to cash it in, but they wouldn’t even let me in the door. I’m too young. Story of my life.

Too young to get a job. Too young to date. Too young to do anything. Hence me taking the post at the animal shelter. To prove I’m old enough to take care of myself. I don’t need anyone else looking after me .

I asked dad about the casino chip, whether he wanted to go up there for me, but he just said it was my money, not his. Mom left it for me. He said it in this quiet voice and I remember thinking at the time he was probably just sad about mom.

She wanted to be here for my eighteenth, but she knew it wouldn’t happen. So she wrote me the letter and left me the chip.

I tried to talk to him about the bodies too, but he just shook his head, muttered something about me being too young to talk about that kind of thing.

I think he worries about me more than he lets on sometimes, thinks I’m still a dumb kid who needs looking after. I don’t. I’m doing just fine.

I get home determined to have a proper conversation about the chip. I can’t cash it in yet, so why did she give it to me now? Why not wait until I’m twenty-one? Or did she not know the casino wouldn’t let me in?

“I’m home,” I call out as I unlock the front door. There’s no response. I walk through to the kitchen and there’s a note on the counter. “Back in a few days. Love you.” It’s dated yesterday.

Dad never says love you. I know he feels it, but he never says it. Never has. So why write it in the note?

Something doesn’t add up, but what can I do about it? Call the sheriff and say I got a note from my dad saying he loves me. He will get the entire county out looking for Dad if I tell him that.

Besides, Dad goes off from time to time. Trips fishing upstate or into the city to visit the galleries and museums. He always comes back after a couple of days. I’m sure he will this time. So why am I worried?

I look at the clock on the kitchen wall. It’s noon. How has so much happened and the morning is only just over? I dig out my cellphone and send a group message to Caroline and Eddie. “Drinks needed.”

Two thumbs up come back at once. One from each of them. I don’t need to specify a time or place. They know I mean Larry’s bar and they know I mean right now. That’s the thing about having best friends. They know everything about you without you having to say it.

I freshen up and then head back out. By the time I get to Larry’s, they’re already there.

Caroline slides a glass of wine across to me. It feels strange drinking aged eighteen with the sheriff’s office right across the street, but Larry has never cared and no one has ever busted him.

There was a rumor he bribed the cops to leave him alone, but the last corrupt cop we had was Louie and he’s been dead for two years.

“So what’s up?” Eddie asks. “Aren’t you supposed to be locked up in choky? Doing a hard ten breaking rocks on the roadside? Chain gang, odd couple movie idea, escaping, life on the lam, all that kind of thing.”

“How did you hear about that?”

“Everyone’s talking about it. Rose lays down in the dirt to stop the diggers. Gets busted by the Feds. You’re a hero.”

“Am I?”

“No, no, you are not. Entire town thinks you’re an idiot. You haven’t so much as returned a library book late before and you got arrested? What is it? Going through a rebellious stage? Want to get back at your father for something? Try sleeping around, that’s what I did with mine. Got myself a man in the city and he went ballistic. Said no son of mine is gay. I said I enjoy a lot of cock for a straight man. ”

Caroline punches him on the shoulder. “Let her tell the story.”

“Right, sorry, go on wild child. What happened next in your life on the lam?”

“I gunned down a bus full of nuns. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Did you?”

“Might have been penguins. It was hard to tell from a distance.”

Caroline groans. “You’re as bad as him. Will you just get to the point?”

I sip my wine. “I got arrested, but then they dropped the charges. This weird guy said I could come see the contracts so he could prove they’re going to replace the shelter. Said Amelia and Leo already signed off on it.”

“And have they?”

“I don’t know. Leo’s on his boat somewhere and Amelia’s back at college, not answering her phone. I only found out the place was being knocked down last week. I mean, don’t they have to give more notice about things like this?”

“No idea.” She glances at Eddie, who shakes her head back at him.

“What?” I ask. “What is it?”

“Nothing. Go on. What else happened?”

“No, something’s up with you two. What is it?”

“We weren’t going to say,” Caroline says, beaming at me. “But we got engaged.” She holds her hand up and I see the ring.

“Wow,” I say. “That’s amazing.”

Engaged at eighteen. Imagine being that certain about someone. It’s insane. “Hang on, aren’t you gay?”

“Gay, bi, straight. It’s all just one big tapestry, Rose. ”

“And you’re sewing yourself to Caroline’s patch.”

“Exactly.”

I spot something over his shoulder. It’s the TV and I recognize the man on it. It’s the man in the suit I saw outside the sheriff’s office. He’s in an armchair looking like a younger version of The Godfather, being interviewed by a woman with platinum blonde hair and an immaculate blue suit.

The sound’s off so I can’t hear what they’re saying, but I can read the text at the bottom of the screen. Dino Gianni - Building Mansion in Gordon’s Cove - Exclusive Interview.

“What are you looking at?” Caroline asks.

“Him,” I say, pointing at the TV. “That’s the guy from this morning.”

“Wow,” she says, craning her neck to see. “What a hottie.”

“I’m right here,” Eddie says before looking at the TV. “Although fair point, he can carry me up to bed anytime he likes.”

“I thought he was one of the security guards,” I say, taking a gulp of wine.

“Looks like it’s going to be his mansion,” Eddie says, still watching the screen. “I wondered who was behind it all.”

“Outstanding work, Sherlock,” Caroline says as they turn back to look at me. “So, what happened exactly?” she asks me.

I tell them the full story of the morning, ending with Dino’s proposition to climb into his car and go see the work contracts.

“You should have gone,” Caroline says. “I’d have gone. All the way to make out point.”

“Right here,” Eddie says. “Still right here.”

“You could watch. ”

“Great. That’s what I want. See my bride to be making out with that guy. Dreams come true, right there. Actually, that’d be kind of hot.”

She sticks her tongue out at him, then kisses him. “You know I’m only teasing.” She turns back to me. “What do you want to do now, Miss Silver?”

I sit back in my seat, picking up my drink. “There’re no animals in the shelter. Moira’s looking after them. Dad’s away. I’m home alone.”

“Uh-huh. So?”

“So how about we celebrate your engagement by getting as drunk as physically possible?”

“I have a question,” Eddie says, putting his hand in the air like we’re still in school.

“What?”

“Do we have to carry you home when you pass out like last time?”

“I won’t pass out.”

“We’ll see.”

I drain my glass and then get to my feet. “Another round?” I say.

They both nod, and I notice they’re holding hands. I’m glad they’re happy. I just know what this means.

When they first hooked up, we hung out less. Then Eddie came out, and they were friends again. Now they’re engaged. I’m losing them both. My best friends are getting married.

I’m made up for them, but I’m also jealous. It’s not like I’m going to be getting married soon. I’ll be a lonely spinster while they’re shacking up together.

The total number of eligible men in Gordon’s Cove isn’t high, and the number I’d happily let into my pants is zero squared.

So there’s just me and the vibrator Caroline and I picked up during our last visit to the city. Contraband sex toys were brought back in our luggage. Some people smuggle booze or drugs. We each brought back a bullet vibe. Dangerous gals, right?

I order some more drinks and while I’m waiting; I look at the TV behind the bar. I can see Dino’s mouth moving, but the sound’s still off. No subtitles. He’s smiling at the journalist in the same way he smiled at me. Arrogant, smug, predatory.

I look away in disgust. He’s clearly the kind of man who thinks he can flirt his way through life, not used to anyone saying no to him. Well, I said no. I don’t want his mansion where the shelter is. I want the shelter to stay where it is.

I take the drinks back to the two of them and ask, “Do you think he was telling the truth?”

“Who?” Caroline replies.

“Dino Gianni.”

“About what?”

“About rebuilding the shelter.”

“No idea,” she says, taking her drink from the tray. “My dad says when they first built the casino, they promised they’d do up the harbor as part of the deal and all they ended up doing was building those hideous warehouses.” She stops dead. “Sorry, didn’t think.”

I shrug. “That was two years ago. Will everyone please stop waiting for me to get traumatized by that?”

Eddie points a finger gun at me. “That better?”

“Much. Now, can we please get hammered? There are only so many hours left in the day.”

I drink and I laugh and I enjoy the rest of the afternoon. I think about telling them about the casino chip, but I decide against it.

Amelia told me the story of what happened to her because of the one she was given. How it ruined the friendship between her and Molly. I don’t want this one to do the same to me.

I’ll just wait until I’m twenty-one and then have a decent nest egg. Go off to college myself. Become a dog trainer maybe. I haven’t gotten any further than that in my ambitions. Something with animals like Amelia.

I’ve always looked up to her. She’s always been good to me, trusting me with the dogs while she’s away training to become a veterinarian.

Not today, though. Nothing to trust me with. Moira’s got the dogs and she won’t let me take them back to the shelter until the demolition is off the table. Doesn’t want to stress them out.

The door to the bar opens, and a man walks in. He’s wearing a gray tracksuit, and he’s scanning the room. His eyes lock onto me, and his expression changes. Then Larry’s yelling at him. “You’re not welcome in here. Out!”

The man makes as if he’s going to stay, but Larry’s already pulling a shotgun out from under the bar, pointing it at him. The man turns and leaves without another word.

“What was all that about?” Eddie asks, looking pale.

“No idea,” I reply. “Hey, Larry, who was that?”

“Douchebag from out of town,” he replies. “Not welcome in my bar.”

He picks up the phone next to him and dials, starts talking into it in a low voice. I turn back to my friends, who have returned to their drinks. I join them, doing my best to forget about my day.

I know I said they wouldn’t have to carry me home.

I’m wrong.