I laughed. My brother was always such a kidder.
“I’ll do my best, Marty, but I can’t promise she’ll stay away from me. We’ve been seeing each other pretty regularly and well, things are starting to get serious.”
It was amazing. My brother, for the first time in a long time stopped what he was doing and looked right at me.
“What did you say?”
“Well, you can’t tell me you didn’t know? I mean our picture has been in all the local papers on the celebrity pages. Oh, that’s right. You don’t read those. I forgot.”
I stood there smiling down at my brother, the great Marty Reid and thrust my hands in my pockets, rocking back and forth on my heels.
“Do you have anything else to tell me, Josh?”
“Looks like I told you too much.” I said laughing just a little. “But, there is one more thing. I would like to invite Natasha to the cabin in Aspen next week for our six month anniversary. Give her Monday and Tuesday off when she asks.”
My brother didn’t say a word as I left.
I didn’t go back to the board meeting. Instead I called Natasha who didn’t answer her phone. I left her a beautiful message about my feelings growing and wanting her in my arms. Then I left the building and paid that cute waitress a visit at the bar where Natasha and I had met. Once again, she helped me out.
MARTY
Ray Peppers had been a part of my life for decades. He worked for me. His official title was that of c
hamberlain but he was old fashioned and had no problem calling himself the butler.
“Marty, I know you pretty well. This fishing trip isn’t for relaxation, is it?”
I looked at him a bit surprised as I tilted a bottle of beer in my mouth. Shaking my head no I looked up at the sky letting the bubbly, bitter taste of the hops fill my mouth. I swallowed hard.
“No, Ray. I’ve got a problem. A big one. And I’m really stumped this time.”
“Does it have to do with Natasha?” Ray was reading my mind again. I didn’t have to answer. He was already nodding his head. They sky was overcast overhead and it made the water of my favorite fishing spot take on a cold, hard, charcoal look. The water rippled just enough to make the small motor boat we were in rock gently like we were babies in mother’s arms. Birds flew overhead and squawked amongst themselves in the trees along the shore. So far, after hanging around for over half an hour neither Ray nor I had gotten so much as a nibble in the ends of our lines.
“Can I be honest with you, Marty?”
“I’ve come to expect nothing less.” I braced myself for Ray’s words. To look at him a person might thing he was a logger or a lumberjack. He was about over six feet tall and had a huge barrel chest that was usually covered in some flannel shirt in the cool months or gray or navy blue t-shirts in the warmer months. His jeans were old and faded after seeing many hours of work outside and even though I paid him well he was happy to live simply. His quarters at my home were small upon his request and although at any time I would have bought him a new truck, he insisted on driving an old pick-up that had seen better days. Ray’s philosophy, it if ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
“You need to slap a ring on that girl and start living the life of a family man.”
“What?”
Those words were not what I had expected. And the twinkle in Ray’s blue eyes told me he was amused by my response.
“That’s right. That house has been empty long enough. She’s been over several times now and each time she gets more and more pleasant. A real lady, too.”
“But she’s been seeing my brother, too, for a while.”
“I’ve heard that. Seen it in the papers myself.” Ray said, rubbing his chin. “But, you haven’t given the girl the ultimatum. Have you told her you don’t want her to see anyone but you?”
“No. But…”
“Have you told her you think about her all the time?”
“Ray, kind of, but…”
“Have you told her anything about your brother’s history?”
I swallowed hard.