The Cayman Caper by Danelle Hall

Author:Danelle Hall [Hall, Danelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: -
Publisher: BookBaby
Published: 2016-07-25T04:00:00+00:00

They found Charles, as Loxie had known they would, sitting on the rock fence that protected tourists from the two hundred foot drop below. He sat, facing the far distance with the sickening emptiness below him and his legs swinging out over empty space.

“Charles, my god, what are you doing,” Adam said.

“Go away, Adam, I’m thinking.”

“Think someplace else. You know how I am about heights.”

Charles chuckled, a rusty sound.

“Come on, get your butt off that fence.” Adam eased toward him, his face pale and moisture beading on his forehead.

“Go back to your car, Adam.”

“If you don’t get off that wall, I’ll have to join you, and I’ll be really pissed off. After I get over puking my guts out.”

Now Charles’ laugh was a real laugh. “Oh, hell. All right.” He turned and bracing himself, carefully lifted one leg and then the other over the wall. Adam caught his arm to steady him as he stood and stepped away from the precipice.

“Sorry to interrupt you dinner, my dear,” Charles said, brushing dust from his slacks.

Loxie just nodded.

“So you and Adam raced to my rescue.”

“You seemed upset when you left,” Loxie said.

He nodded. “Not R. J. and Christine, but Adam and Loxie. Interesting.”

“Was this some kind of test?” Adam asked.

Charles ignored him. He faced Loxie and she saw the dried traces of tears. His eyes were still red. “He’s trying to quit, isn’t he,”

She didn’t pretend she didn’t know what he was saying. “Yes, he’s trying. He loves you.”

“That’s why he chose you. He’s trying to quit.”

Loxie nodded, but guilt washed over her. What was she doing, lying to this nice man. He and his son had issues they needed to confront and deal with. Now in this place, with the November wind raking her cheeks, and Charles’ gratitude bringing her dishonesty into sharp relief, she would have given anything to go back to that night in the bar and rewind, choose another story instead of this one.

“God bless you for taking a chance on him.” He leaned into her and hugged her tightly against him. She tensed, waiting for the knowing to slam into her, and was surprised when it didn’t. She was more surprised at how frail the old man seemed. He moved with such energy and purpose, she hadn’t registered his age

“All right,” said Charles, “I’ve been an old fool long enough. Let’s go home.”

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