“Ouch.” Charles commiserated. “I’ve been hit with lobster tails. Hurts.” He scribbled a note. “So then?”
“Then I let him past me and he hit the door.”
“And hit me.” Kerry said. “And Dar hauled him back like he was a sack of wheat and kicked him in the nuts for that.” She gave her spouse an affectionate look.
“Ah.” Charles said. “Well, Ms Roberts, chances are that guy’s gonna file charges against you, and Kristie, and probably me, because he’s got more money than sense. But Kristie here.. you’ll step up and testify?”
“Sure.” Kristie agreed at once. “Listen, my dad’s not going to like hearing about this guy, and if he knows what’s good for him he’ll just keep out of here. He doesn’t want to mess with my father.” She glanced at Dar and Kerry. “He owns this place.”
“The store?” Kerry asked.
“The island.” Kristie smiled. “He owns the development company. We live here. He just never believed in raising us kids to be rich feckless brats.”
Revelation. Kerry smiled at her. “You going to college?”
Kristie shook her head. “Not my thing. I like to do graphic artistry. Dad says he’ll maybe hire me to design our ad copy.”
“You like computers?”
“Want a job?” Dar and Kerry said at the same time, and then exchanged looks.
“Okay folks, can I just finish here before we start something else?” Charles begged. “So that’s all that happened? Then we came in?”
“Yes.” Dar said. “Sorry to ruin your night, fellas.”
The other security guard grinned briefly at her. “I’ve seen you in the gym, Ms. Roberts. Sorry we missed the dust up. Kristie’s right. That guy’s nothing but stupid bad news.”
“So are we going to call the police?” Kerry asked. “We have a lawyer, but I’d rather not have to use him for this.”
“Let me have my boss go talk to that guy.” Charles said. “I’m thinking, he’s pretty new around here. Been here only three months. He probably doesn’t know who Kristie is.” He gave the girl a smile. “She’s right. He don’t want her daddy to get involved. He’s got a temper.”
“Okay by me.” Dar said. “You guys handle it. I’ve got stone crab and ice cream to get home.”
The guards left, talking in low tones together and looking at the pad of notes. The door closed behind them and the three women were momentarily silent.
“Okay, so.” Kerry finally cleared her throat. “Sorry that had to go down. It was a really cool Saturday before that.” She said. “Want to get home and get the salt water out of your hair?”
“That was really cool.” Kristie said. “Don’t worry about that guy. My dad’ll take care of him.” She added, confidently. “He knows about you.”
Dar’s brows lifted. “We’re computer nerds.”
She nodded. “Yeah, he knows that, but I also heard him telling someone.. I guess someone had a problem with your dog? Or something? The gym maybe? Anyway he told them to shut up and leave you alone.”
Dar still looked surprised.
“You have some contacts with the government?” Kristie prompted.
“Ah.” Kerry smiled. “Yes, we do have some contacts with the government. So anyway, Kristie – you interested in a career in computers? We run a consulting company and we sure could use some help in the media department.”
Kristie made a face. “It’s kind of gross for me to say this, but I don’t think my dad would let me.”
Kerry’s eyebrows shot right up.
“He doesn’t’ like gay people.” The girl said, in a matter of fact tone. “So like I said, he knows about you guys, but he’d really go apeshit if I said I was going to work for you. I think he’d think you were recruiting me, you know?”
Dar blinked a few times, then shrugged. “His loss.” She said, “And maybe yours.”
“Are you mad?” Kristie looked wistfully at them. “I don’t want you to be, I just don’t want to lie about it.”
“We appreciate that.” Kerry recovered her balance. “But tell your dad to do himself a favor and never say anything like that to her dad.” She indicated Dar. “He won’t care if he owns this place.”
Kristie cocked her head to one side. “Is that the tall guy, Andy?”
“That’s my dad.” Dar said. “He’s a retired Navy SEAL, and I’m his only kid.” She glanced at Kerry. “Well, his only blood kid.”
Kerry smiled at her. “Anyway, no hard feelings, Kristie.” She said. “My father felt the same way about gay people. He went to his grave hating me for it.” She leaned on Dar’s shoulder. “That’s why I’m glad I found Dar and her family.”
Kristie nodded, looking more serious. “He just is like that.” She said. “It’s not a religious thing, he just thinks a family should be a man, and a woman and kids.” She glanced at the clock. “And, it’s time for me to close this place up before any more weird stuff happens.”
They got up and Kerry retrieved their bag, then tucked her arm inside Dar’s as they headed for the door. “Night.” She glanced back at Kristie. “Hope that guy doesn’t give you any more trouble.”
Kristie herself looked troubled, but she waved. “Night.”
They made their way out of the store and headed once more along the path toward their home. “Yuk.” Dar said, after a pause. “That didn’t end the way I figured it would.”
Kerry shrugged slightly. “People are like that.” She acknowledged. “it’s just getting more evident I think. “
“Yuk.” Dar repeated. “My conversation with Jacques was more interesting. He took charge of the board. Seems like there’s a big fight going on there.”
“Big surprise.” Kerry said. “You give him any advice?”
“Yes. But I doubt he’s going to be able to take it.” Dar said, with a sigh. “It’s not our issue anymore. Let’s go have some crabs and chill out.”
Kerry accepted the change of subject and remained quiet for the rest of the short walk, pondering the stars visible over the tops of the buildings as she thought about the evening’s surprises.
Yuk, about covered it.
**
The next day, it rained. Kerry was very content to watch the heavy clouds disburse their contents across the seawall as she stood at the kitchen window, enjoying an early morning cup of coffee.
She could hear Dar playing with the dogs in the living room, and there were cartoons playing on the television to complete the background noise.
The kitchen floor had towels on it, mopping up from the wet dog footprints and she carefully stepped over them as she went back into the main part of the house.
Dar was sitting on the floor, legs sprawled out with a knotted towel in her hands being tugged at by both Labradors.
It was adorable. She put her cup down and grabbed her camera, focusing quickly and snapping a few shots of the action. “You guys are hilarious.”
“I’m not sure who Mocha’s helping more.” Dar watched the puppy get in Chino’s way, then grab the end hanging from the bigger Lab’s mouth and hung off it.
“Growf!” Chino let go and barked at him in outrage.
Kerry chuckled, perching on the back of the love seat. “You all set for the conference?”
“Yup.” Dar rolled onto her back and let the dogs clamber all over her. “Got the demo done too. Going to spend the rest of today just relaxing.”
“I’m up for that.” Kerry agreed. “It’s going to rain all day, and I’m going to enjoy it, now that I sent an email to Richard warning him about little Billy Jacktard.”
“Peh.”
Kerry put the camera down and joined them on the floor, grabbing the towel and waiting for Mocha to latch onto it. “What are you doing there, little man?”