“I didn’t say that either,” Jamison said. “But people change.”
“People don’t change that much,” Kerry retorted.
“People change enough.”
“Jamison!” Countess appeared in the circle and immediately threw her breasts against Jamison’s chest. “I thought I saw you walking up earlier.”
“Hello, Countess,” Jamison said, sounding as stiff as a British court guard.
“For some reason, I’m always so surprised to see you at these things,” Countess said.
Kerry frowned at this a little, but Jamison decided that she hadn’t really picked up on the meaning of Countess’s bright stare set on him.
“So how are things?” Countess asked. “I hear you have a new wife and a baby—”
Clara grabbed Countess hard by the arm and shook her head for Countess to shut up, but the monkey wrench had already been thrown.
“Everything is great,” Jamison said judiciously. “Thanks for asking.”
Kerry crossed her arms and looked away.
“Wonderful,” Countess said.
Tyrian and Alexander showed up at the circle to claim their parents.
Alexander had his chest poked out, but Tyrian was obviously crestfallen and ready to go.
“Alexander played better than me,” Tyrian said when his parents knelt down beside either shoulder to comfort him.
“Ahh, he’s a little older,” Kerry lied to pull her son out of his rut.
“Just two months,” Tyrian said.
“Don’t worry. You’ll do better next time,” Jamison tried. “We’ll get you some private lessons with old Bagger Vance over there.”
“Don’t make fun of Sir Adams,” Kerry whispered. “The kids love him.”
“I want you to teach me, Daddy,” Tyrian requested softly. “Can you?”
“Yes. I can do that,” Jamison said. “We’ll start next weekend. All right?”
“Great!”
Emmit came over and tapped Jamison’s shoulder.
“Hey, let me chat with you for a second before you all head out,” Emmit said.
“Okay,” Jamison agreed. He knew what Emmit wanted. “I’ll meet you two by your car,” he said to Kerry. “I wanted to talk to you about something.”
Kerry nodded and walked off holding Tyrian’s hand after saying good-bye to Emmit and Clara.
“Pump came through clean,” Emmit said after looking around to make sure no one was in earshot.
“I told you—my guy did one and couldn’t find anything on Dax. I guess—”
“Hold on—it came through clean, but then we got a break.”
“You got something on him?”