Seventh Avenue by Norman Bogner

Author:Norman Bogner [Norman Bogner]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction/Romance/General
ISBN: 9781612308326
Publisher: New Word City, Inc.
Published: 2014-12-26T05:00:00+00:00

Palm trees flicked in the light breeze from Biscayne Bay. The car, a pale yellow Cadillac convertible, driven by Douglas Fredericks, crossed the Venetian Causeway from Miami proper to the beach. The bay, on the beach side, had a jade crystalline color, which cut the glare of the sun. The red leather seat felt like a broiled lobster and Jay opened his collar, slipped his jacket off, and slumped back. Fredericks pointed to an electronic device fitted into the dashboard.

“Ship-to-shore telephone. I haven’t missed a trick.”

“Very impressive,” Jay said listlessly. “What’s it cost?”

“About five hundred . . . you ought to get yourself one.”

“Yeah, it’s just what I’m missing.”

Douglas laughed amicably and offered Jay a cigarette.

“You’ve got to loosen up, Jay. You’re not an old man, so don’t act like one. I’ve got twenty-five years on you and I don’t feel a day over thirty-five.”

“What keeps you young?”

“Money and women. I made my first million when I was a couple of years older than you, and I’ve been sitting on top of the mountain ever since.” He pulled the car into Ocean Drive and shot up along the front at First Street. “When you’ve got a million, you’ve got to behave like a millionaire. Imagine, you haven’t been to Miami before.”

“I’ve been too busy paying for my money.”

“I’ll tell you something . . . the day I met you in that real estate office, I knew you were meant for big things, but when you put the squeeze on me, I wasn’t so sure.”

“It’s worked out, hasn’t it?” Jay replied, querulously.

“Who’s complaining? I thought you were going to bring your little redhead along.”

“It’s finished.”

“I don’t see any tears.”

“I wear them inside.”

“What’s your wife have to say?”

“We’re thinking of splitting up,” Jay said wearily.

“Mistake . . . big mistake. Wear out a thousand women first, but don’t get divorced. Once you start you never stop. The first one’s the hardest. I’ve had a few rough patches with my wife, but we’d never break up. The trouble is you’re bound to remarry, and you never know for sure if a woman wants you for your money . . . the one you start out with is for love.”

Jay looked at the tanned bodies lying on the beach; a gay medley of swimsuit colors that reminded him of confetti, and he gradually awoke from his emotional stupor. They all appeared to be enjoying themselves, and he realized that he hadn’t ever had a holiday in his life, apart from an occasional weekend in the mountains. His chin sagged, and the sweat poured off his forehead, clouding his eyes.

“What’s the deal, Doug?”

“How do you mean?”

“You must’ve had something in mind when you invited me down.”

“How long are you going to stay?”

“A week maybe.”

“Well, relax first . . . and have a look around Miami to see if you like it. Then we can talk. Business’ll wait.”

“I’ve got a lot to think about at the moment.”

“Your wife . . . ?”

“Uh-huh. She thought it would be best for me to get away, so here I am.

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