Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 95107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
I bite my lip. “I think the heat’s finally gotten to his head.”
“Forgive us,” Kevin says. “We happened to overhear you from the terrace and walked down to make sure everything was all right.”
Embarrassment warms my cheeks when I realize we’re in front of their property. “Sound really carries out here, huh?”
He offers a sympathetic shrug. “It really does.”
“Sorry about that,” I tell them. A tired sigh slips out. “Turns out we packed all our problems but not enough sunscreen.”
Kevin glances over and lightly touches Bruce’s massive biceps. “See if you can catch up to him? Make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble.”
“Would you?” I ask, relieved.
I’m not thrilled about the idea of Tucker running around a strange town alone. Especially if he’s drinking. With our luck, he’d end up driving the Jeep off a pier or something. I’d go after him myself, but I get the feeling Bruce will have better luck talking him down from bad decisions. I’d probably accidentally push him to make more.
“No sweat.” Bruce gives me a reassuring nod before jogging after Tucker.
Kevin invites me up to their villa for a glass of wine to calm the nerves while we wait for our men to return. Sitting by the pool, I find myself unloading all the pent-up stress of the last several days on this poor, unwitting man.
“It’s nothing special, I guess. I’m sure all couples constantly fight about work and time and figuring out the future. And yeah, I know we’re pretty fortunate to be in literal paradise complaining about people throwing money at us. I just mean, as a couple, as parents, this stuff matters, right?”
“It does,” he says patiently.
“I just wish he would tell me what he was actually feeling instead of pretending like it’s all good, all the time.”
Kevin chuckles. “In his defense, a lot of men have trouble sharing their emotions. The entire romance self-help industry would crumble if that were not the case. Men are from Mars, remember?”
“I guess. But I didn’t realize Tucker was one of them. He’s always been so candid with me, or at least I thought he was.” I gulp down some more wine. “I’m not a mind reader. If he doesn’t feel like he’s a priority for me, he needs to tell me. How am I supposed to change my behavior if I don’t even realize I’m behaving badly?” A groan slips out. “And now I feel awful. You know what? I should just accept the second job offer. It’s less exciting work, but the hours are much better and the money is still good. And then I can be home with Tucker and Jamie more.”
Honestly, it’s not like Tucker hasn’t been accommodating. All through law school and the pregnancy, he never once complained about making dinner or cleaning the apartment. Changing diapers or getting up at four a.m. to rock Jamie back to sleep. Just so I wouldn’t have to stop studying. And he did it all with that easy smile of his, taking it in stride.
“He’s not so out of line to want me to give a little reciprocation,” I admit. “So he has the space to figure out what’ll make him happy, find a new business to set up. Whatever it is.”
“Sounds like you two care very much about each other’s wellbeing,” Kevin remarks, smiling. “That’s a good place to start.”
“It still feels like this trip has been a total bust. At this point we’re not even speaking.”
“You owe it to yourselves to try salvaging something out of it. I can’t deny you’ve had some bad luck, but it can’t last forever. A few good days might be worth the bad, if you give it time.” He laughs again. “You want to know what a total bust is? Let me tell you about the first vacation Bruce and I ever took. We were on the Amalfi coast and—”
His phone rings, lighting up. Since it’s sitting between us on the pool deck, I clearly see Bruce’s photo flashing on the screen.
Kevin wastes no time answering. “Everything—” He barely gets the word out before he’s cut off by Bruce on the other end. He listens, then asks, “Where?” His eyes flick to mine.
A knot forms in my gut.
“How much?”
It tightens, stretching against my insides.
“We’ll be right there.” Kevin ends the call and takes a breath before setting his face in a neutral expression.
“What happened?” My fingernails dig into my palms, bracing.
“Well, here’s the thing… Your husband’s been arrested.”
30
Sabrina
Night 5
At the jail in the municipal complex, people loiter outside on phones while taxis roll through the parking lot, unloading and picking up a steady stream of haggard, stumbling tourists. Kevin and I jump out of his Land Rover and hurry across the cracked, uneven pavement toward the front entrance. It doesn’t take long to spot Bruce inside the lobby, looking frantic next to a potted palm and a rotating fan.