Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks [51]
Garrett shook his head and smiled, still feeling the remnants of her touch lingering on his arm. “We get all kinds around here. It’s not quite California, but give us a few years.”
Theresa kept watching as the man with the bird wandered down the pier. “You should get yourself one of those to keep you company when you go sailing.”
“And ruin my peace and quiet? Knowing my luck, the thing wouldn’t talk. It would just squawk the whole time and probably bite off part of my ear the first time the wind shifted.”
“But you’d look like a pirate.”
“I’d look like an idiot.”
“Oh, you’re no fun,” Theresa said with a mock frown. After a brief pause, she looked around. “So do they have anyone to serve you here, or do we have to catch and cook our own fish?”
“Damn Yankees,” he mumbled while shaking his head, and she laughed again, wondering if he was having as much fun as she was, knowing somehow that he probably was.
A few moments later the waitress arrived and took their orders. Both Theresa and Garrett ordered beers, and after putting the order into the kitchen, the waitress brought two bottles to the table.
“No glasses?” she asked with a raised eyebrow after the waitress had left.
“Nope. This place is nothing if not classy.”
“I can see why you like it so much.”
“Is that a comment about my lack of taste?”
“Only if you’re insecure about it.”
“Now you sound like a psychiatrist.”
“I’m not, but I am a mother, and that makes me something of an expert in human nature.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s what I tell Kevin.”
Garrett took a sip of his beer. “Did you talk to him today?”
She nodded and took a drink as well. “Just for a few minutes. He was on his way to Disneyland when I called. He had early morning passes, so he couldn’t talk that long. He wanted to be one of the first in line at the Indiana Jones ride.”
“Is he having a good time with his father?”
“He’s having a great time. David’s always been good with him, but I think he tries to make up for the fact that he doesn’t see Kevin that often. Whenever Kevin goes out there, he expects something fun and exciting.”
Garrett looked at her curiously. “You sound like you’re not so sure about it.”
She hesitated before continuing. “Well, I just hope it doesn’t lead to disappointment later. David and his new wife have started a family, and as soon as the baby gets a little older, I think it’s going to be a lot harder for David and Kevin to be alone together.”
Garrett leaned forward as he spoke. “It’s impossible to protect your kids against disappointment in life.”
“I know that, I really do. It’s just that…”
She stopped, and Garrett gently finished her thoughts for her. “He’s your son and you don’t want to see him hurt.”
“Exactly.” Beads of condensation had formed on the outside of her bottle of beer, and Theresa began to peel off the label. Again, it was the same thing Catherine used to do, and Garrett took another drink of beer and forced his mind back to the conversation at hand.
“I don’t know what to say except that if Kevin’s anything like you, I’m sure he’ll end up all right.”
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “No one’s life is easy—yours included. You’ve had some tough times, too. I think that by watching you overcome adversity, he’ll learn how to do it as well.”
“Now you’re the one sounding like a psychiatrist.”
“I’m just telling you what I learned growing up. I was about Kevin’s age when my mom died of cancer. Watching my dad taught me that I had to go on with my life, no matter what happens.”
“Did your dad ever remarry?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I think there were a few times that he wished he had, but he never got around to it.”
So that’s where it comes from, she thought. Like father, like son.
“Does he still live in town?” she asked.
“Yeah, he does. I see him a lot these days. We try to get together at least once a week. He likes to keep me on the straight and narrow.”
She smiled. “Most parents do.”
The food arrived