Dammit, she hated when he had a point.
“Fine, so I don’t do a lot of that kind of thing. So what? It’s not like your fishing weekend is the most exciting thing in the world!”
Gah! Could I sound any pettier?
“You’re so competitive, Mal. Unclench a bit,” Sam said reasonably. “How’s work going?”
“Actually…I got a promotion! Effective this coming Monday!”
“Wow! Congratulations! So what is it that you do? Build computers or something, right?”
She sighed. It didn’t matter how many times she described her job to him; Sam never seemed to get it. So rather than explain it again, she simply replied, “Not exactly. It’s just…you know…all boring tech stuff.”
“And why did you opt to go into that field again? Because I have to tell you, you have never sounded enthused about your career. Ever.”
“Oh, and you do?” she replied sarcastically.
“Clearly you’re in a pissy mood and I shouldn’t have called…”
“No, no, no…you’re right. I’m sorry. I really am being a brat.” She groaned. “I’m glad you’re going away for the weekend. And…I’m jealous.”
Mallory could practically feel him grinning triumphantly.
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
She laughed. “Yes, it was!”
“Yeah, but you’ll survive. So what else is going on with you? Anything?”
“I was trying to come up with a hobby. Turns out I don’t have one.”
“Hmm…that’s…wow. Sad but true. You really don’t have a hobby. You should seriously get one.”
“That’s what I was just trying to figure out. I don’t even know what I like to do other than decorating and that’s not really a hobby. It’s more like a career.”
“So change careers!” Sam said with the same exuberance he gave to everything.
She envied that about him.
“Sam, you don’t just go and change careers! I’ve invested a lot of time, money, and energy into what I do! And I happen to enjoy it!”
“Do you? Because it never seems that way. And I change careers all the time! It’s not possible to simply go to college, pick a career, and never do anything else for the rest of your life. It just isn’t,” he explained levelly. “How do you know there isn’t anything else out there for you? Or something you may like even better? Remember the summer you did all that work on the boathouse? You loved it! We all thought you’d go into decorating.”
Yeah, she had loved it and in a perfect world it would have been a career path for her, but…she lacked the confidence to try. What she was doing now was a good, solid career choice. If she stayed up-to-date with technology, she would always have a job. If she did something different like decorating, though…
“I can hear you thinking from here, Mal.”
“I just don’t think I’m the kind of person who can just…switch careers. It seems like a huge risk. And with this new promotion…”
“Fine, don’t change careers,” he said with a small sigh. “But you really do need to do something about a hobby. And a social life.”
If only it were that easy…
“I don’t even know where to begin,” she admitted. “I never gave it much thought. Computers and technology have been my only interests for a while now.”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Mal. You’re just going to have to get out there and find some new interests.”
They were talking in circles and weren’t getting anywhere. Changing the subject was the only way to keep her sane. “So tell me about this cabin!”
“Can I let you in on a little secret?”
“Sure.”
“I keep a couple of bottles of whiskey down here that no one knows about,” Zeke said with an impish grin. “Gertie would have my hide if she knew I was still having a shot a day. Hell, Susannah would too.”
Jake couldn’t help but laugh. The power was out, they were down in the storm cellar, and truth be told, he was more than a little scared. The wind was like nothing he had ever seen. Magnolia Sound had risen so much that most of Zeke’s yard was flooded, and at last check, they’d lost about a dozen trees. Luckily the house was up on a hill so they were somewhat safe, but in his entire life, he’d never witnessed a hurricane like this and he prayed he never would again.
Then said another prayer he’d live through this one.
“How did you manage to keep it from Gertie? She rules this place with a bit of an iron first.” The truth was, Gertie was almost seventy now and she was more like family than hired help. Jake had a feeling she knew more than she let on, but also knew when to simply let something slide.
Zeke waved him off. “She likes to think she runs this place, but there’s plenty I don’t tell her and she doesn’t know.”
Again, Jake doubted it, but he’d humor Zeke.
It was a good way to pass the time.
It was only seven o’clock but it was already dark out and they had no power. They were using one of the battery-powered lanterns to see each other. They’d played several games of poker, listened to the radio for weather updates, and ate a couple of sandwiches for dinner. Undoubtedly, Zeke would be asleep within the hour and then Jake would be alone with his thoughts–too keyed up to sleep.
“I used to keep cigars down here, but the damn things smell enough that Gertie caught me,” Zeke said with a small laugh. “I know she’s just looking out for me, but at my age, I should be able to enjoy the things I want without anyone giving me any grief.” He paused and leaned back in his chair, a piece of lawn furniture they’d pulled inside for safekeeping. “No one lives forever, Jake. No amount of good, clean living is going to change that. Trust me.”
Unsure of what to say, Jake simply nodded.
“I’ve lived longer than anyone in my family,” Zeke went on. “I’m ninety-six years old. My father died when he was sixty. My mother lived to be eighty.” He paused. “I outlived my wife and children.” He paused again and wiped at his eyes before looking at Jake again. “I’m tired, son. I’ve lived a good life. And if I want to sit here and have some whiskey and smoke a cigar…well…I should be able to.”
Then he slowly stood up and walked over to the row of shelves in the far corner. Jake figured he was going to grab the whiskey. He could use a shot of it himself. This was all a lot harder on his nerves than he thought it would be. There wasn’t any reception for his cell phone and he wished more than anything that he could talk to someone and let them know they were okay. None of his texts were going through, but that didn’t mean he’d stop trying. At some point they would but right now he just wished he could connect with the outside world.
Zeke came back and sat down, placing a bottle of Johnnie Walker Double Black on the table along with two shot glasses and two cigars. The smile on the old man’s face was one of pure glee.
Shaking his head, Jake smiled too.
“The last two,” Zeke said with a wink.
Doing his best to sit back, relax, and ignore the harsh sounds of Mother Nature just outside the door, Jake accepted the shot glass. “What are we drinking to?”