Southern Comfort - Fern Michaels [33]
A sudden breeze whipped through the palm trees in front of the porch and ruffled both men’s hair. “Why would you think that, Pete?”
“That’s a question, not an answer. I think it’s because you never seem happy to see me, and I admit this is only my second visit. I’ve taken into consideration that I’m a reminder of your past, and that I bug you. I worry about you. Andy worries about you, and your cop friends worry about you. They come by the bar all the time and talk about you. Don’t worry, I never said anything. Bartenders are just listeners, kind of like priests in a weird kind of way. You wouldn’t believe half the shit people tell me. A total stranger. For some reason, people feel safe confiding in bartenders.”
Tick was only half listening. He was trying to come to terms in his own mind about what he would do if Pete up and left. Then he would truly be alone, and he’d had enough solitude to last him a lifetime. It was finally time to admit it. Maybe his problem was he loved too hard, too deep. Maybe a lot of things. He had to say something, and he had to say it now to wipe off what he was seeing in Pete’s face.
“I don’t want you to leave, Pete. I’ve been in a deep hole for a very long time. I’m just starting to make my way up and out. The best thing that could have happened to me was your showing up last year. I think you know, but if you don’t, I want you to know that if you were in trouble, no matter where you were, even Atlanta, I’d be there as fast as I could. It’s important for me to know that you understand that. I’m trying, Pete. I really am. Maybe not hard enough in your eyes, but for now, it’s the best I can do.
“Maybe I am a coward in your eyes. I did cut and run. At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do for me. I don’t expect you to understand because you weren’t walking in my shoes at the time. Which by the way, I lost along the way. I really liked those shoes, too. Funny how I remember that, and the rest is just a blur. I’m glad that you’re here, I really am, Pete. I guess that’s why I bought two of everything even though I told the guy at the dive shop I liked to keep spares. I guess, in my subconscious, I had decided to call and ask you to come down.
“You know what I’ve been thinking?”
“Hell, it could be anything with you, Tick. What?”
Tick laughed. “I think I was meant to be a beach bum. I love it here. I like what I do. Yeah, I miss being a cop. But I like writing, too. If I tried to do both, one or the other would suffer. I’ve seen to my future, yours, too. I don’t know if Andy told you about that or not.”
“What do you mean?” There was an edge to Pete’s voice that Tick didn’t pick up on.
“I set up a trust for you a few years ago. Don’t look at me like that. I have more money than I can spend in my lifetime and no one to share it with. I wanted you to have what I have. Sally always worried about the future on a cop’s pay. College, things like that. The future was important to her. You know what cops make in retirement. I didn’t want Sally to have to work, but she did anyway because we needed her salary. I guess what I’m trying to say here is I love you, and I don’t want you to have to worry about your old age. I’m telling you, Pete, stop looking at me like that, or I’m going to knock your ass right off this porch.”
Pete settled back in his chair. His voice was soft, almost gentle when he asked, “Is that the God’s honest truth, or did you do it because I got off the rails and couldn’t find my niche?”
“Nah. You were doing what you wanted to do. I always admired that free spirit in you. You know what they say—when God is good to you, you have to share. That was a litany of Mom’s. Who else can I share with but you? You’re my twin brother, for God’s sake. We were joined at the hip for more years than I can remember. You gonna fight me on this, Pete?”
“Hell no! I’m going to enjoy spending all that