Page 32

COULTER

The room felt unbearably quiet, with the sounds of her soft breath echoing in my mind like a distant memory.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, pulling on a pair of old board shorts I’d left on the floor.

They looked clean enough. The tile floor was cool, chilling my feet before I slipped on my topsiders and threw on a shirt.

I jumped in my truck to head over to dad’s house. I didn’t want to be alone.

The early morning air was crisp, fresh with the scent of Bermuda grass that was still slightly damp with the dew that hadn’t burned off yet. As I stepped into the kitchen, Dad was already up making coffee. He looked over and held up the pot. “Want a cup?”

I nodded, and he silently pulled a second mug from the cabinet.

He gave me that Dad look. He could tell something was on my mind, but he didn’t press, just sliding the mug of black coffee across the counter.

I pulled out a stool and swung a leg over, bellying up to the bar, gripping the warm mug tightly in both hands. That first sip was heaven.

Faith had never been here, but I could picture her beside me, chatting with Dad, part of the family. I shook my head at the ridiculous thought. The clink of coffee cups, and Dad milling around the kitchen was comforting. But everything still felt off. And it wasn’t just Faith.

“I need to talk to you about something.”

Dad raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say a word, waiting for me to continue.

“What do you think really happened to Kylie?” I asked. “I can’t help but think it’s weird she died just like mom.”

I watched his expression tighten before his face cleared and he shrugged, trying to act as if I hadn’t struck a nerve. “It is weird, son, but sometimes weird things happen. We can’t always make sense of it.”

“But what do you think really happened? That some stranger just happened to be robbing Kylie’s mom’s house in broad daylight and she caught him and ended up dead?

Or do you think that was just a coincidence, a random robbery in broad daylight, and completely unrelated, she just happened to slip and hit her head and drown?

” I stared at him, but he just stared right back.

“I don’t believe it,” I told him. “Any of it. None of it makes sense.”

He ignored my questions, moving to the stove. “Want some breakfast? I can whip up something quick. ”

Before I could push for answers, Trouble walked in, yawning. “What’s with all the yapping this early? Don’t you two know that Rodman men don’t talk in the mornings?”

“Morning Trev, want some coffee?” Dad held up the half empty pot. “I can put another pot on if we need it.”

I nodded at my brother while he pulled up the stool next to me. “I didn’t know you stayed over.”

“Yeah, Corrine stayed at her place last night so I decided to keep the old man company.”

“Want some breakfast?” Dad asked.

As if they’d heard the call for food, the twins rolled in the front door with the dogs. “Our fridge is empty, you got anything to eat Dad?” Kai asked, heading straight for the fridge.

“We need more coffee,” Reef shouted, emptying the pot into his mug.

The kitchen filled with happy sounds. Dad laughing, the dogs barking, Kai and Reef fighting over the last of the coffee.

“Settle down boys,” Dad shouted over the din. “Everyone, sit, I’ll make some pancakes. Banana chocolate chip okay with everyone?”

Trevor leaned against the counter and grinned. “So, Corrine wants to know who’s bringing a plus one. She says I need to arrange the boats. So, guys, gimme a headcount.”

“Boats?” I interrupted. “For what?”

“Oh shit, we didn’t tell you?” Trouble chuckled. “You’ve had so much going on. Sorry bro. ”

“Tell me what?”

“We changed the wedding plan. We’re doing a sunset ceremony on the water out at Alligator Lighthouse. Then the party back here at the marina afterward. So we still need Alex’s band. Did you ever ask him if they can play?”

I blinked at him trying to process the barrage of information before the caffeine had kicked in. “Way to complicate things.” As if planning a wedding in less than a month wasn’t already difficult, why not make it a logistical nightmare?

“It’s not that big of a deal. Corinne got the Paradise Key resort boat, and their big dive boat.

We have the Ellie II and the Osprey , and we’re rounding up a few other big charter boats.

We know enough people with big boats, that won’t be hard.

But we need to get a headcount to know exactly how many we’ll need.

So which of you derelicts will be able to round up dates–that is the question. ”

“We’ll bring some girls.” Reef said, stealing the first pancake off the griddle.

“And who would that be?” Dad asked, slapping his hand away before he stole another.

“Dunno yet,” Kai answered. “I’ll find a cute girl before Reef does.”

“Pff.” Reef huffed. “As if. I bet you twenty bucks I’ll beat you to it.”

“Okay so that’s four,” Trevor grabbed a pen out of the cup beside the house phone on the wall. Dad still had a landline, and swore by it in case of a hurricane.

“Spence will be able to pull a hunny. Put him down for two,” Reef pointed at the paper Trouble was jotting notes on .

“Ava won’t have any trouble getting a date either,” Trevor grinned as he added two more.

I rolled my eyes at my footloose brothers. “I guess Dad and I will be the only ones without dates.” I sighed, totally not in the mood for this conversation. “Why are you guys even here?”

“We have a 9 am charter.” Kai nudged me with an elbow. “You never know, you might get lucky. If there’s a cute girl on the boat today, I’ll tell them what a great catch you are. You still have 3 weeks before the wedding to convince somebody you’re not an idiot!”

“You still need a date, moron,” I laughed. “Why wouldn’t you ask her for you?”

“If she’s not cute enough for me, I’ll send her your way.”

“I’ve got a better idea…” Trouble snickered. “Sit in on a gig with Alex’s band. Chicks dig musicians. Plus you can finally ask them about playing the reception.”

A pang stabbed me with the memory of Faith the last time I’d played with them, but I did my best to ignore it. “You seriously want me to pick up a random groupie to bring to your wedding?”

“Suit yourself,” he shrugged. “Be Dad’s date.”

Dad chuckled as he turned another pancake onto the steaming pile. “There are worse things.”

“No offense, bro, but a date for your wedding is the least of my worries. And women are the last thing on my mind.”

The room went quiet for a moment, the light-hearted teasing gone. Dad looked up, concerned. But in true dad fashion, he didn’t say a word and just kept cooking. I studied my coffee, wondering how I became the grumpy old man of the family. I missed Faith.