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“Of course I called the the kids, too I promise”
“When?”
“Soon”
“Uh-huh,” Matt answered He stuffed the bandanna back in his pocket “And by the way—assu they don’t arrive soon, just how on earth do you think the two of us will be able to lower this thing into place?”
Travis disain “We’ll figure it out Just think hoe’ve done so far We’re almost halfway there”
Matt scowled again It was Saturday—Saturday! His day of recreation and relaxation, his chance to escape frorindstone, the break he earned after five days at the bank, the kind of day he needed He was a loan officer, for God’s sake! He was supposed to push paper, not hot tubs! He could have been watching the Braves play the Dodgers! He could have been golfing! He could have gone to the beach! He could have slept in with Liz before heading to her parents’ house like they did al at the crack of dawn and perfor southern sun
He paused Who was he kidding? Had he not been here, he would have definitely spent the day with Liz’s parents, which was, in all honesty, the reed to Travis’s request in the first place But that wasn’t the point The point was, he didn’t need this He really didn’t
“I don’t need this,” he said “I really don’t”
Travis didn’t seeetting into position “You ready?”
Matt lowered his shoulder, feeling bitter His legs were shaking Shaking! He already knew he’d be in serious, double-dose-of-Advil pain in the yo scuba diving in Aruba or surfing in Bali or skiing in Vail or anything else the guy did “This isn’t fun, you know?”
Travis winked “You said that already, remember?”
“Wow!” Joe co an eyebrow as he walked the peri its descent, strea off the bay In the distance, a heron broke fro the light Joe and Megan, along with Laird and Allison, had arrived a fewthereat! You two did all of this today?”
Travis nodded, holding his beer “It wasn’t so bad,” he said “I think Matt even enjoyed it”
Joe glanced at Matt, who lay flattened in a lawn chair off to the side of the deck, a cold rag over his head Even his belly—Matt had always been on the pudgy side—see
“I can see that”
“Was it heavy?”
“Like an Egyptian sarcophagus!” Matt croaked “One of those gold ones that only cranes can move!”
Joe laughed “Can the kids get in?”
“Not yet I just filled it, and the water will take a little while to heat up The sun will help, though”
“The sun will heat it within minutes!” Matt moaned “Within seconds!”
Joe grinned Laird and the three of thearten
“Tough day, Matt?”
Matt re and scowled at Joe “You have no idea And thanks for showing up on time”
“Travis said to be here at five If I had known you needed help, I would have come earlier”
Matt slowly shifted his gaze to Travis He really hated his friend sometimes
“How’s Tina doing?” Travis said, changing the subject “Is Megan getting any sleep?”
Megan was chatting with Allison at the table on the far end of the deck, and Joe glanced briefly in her direction “Soh the night again, but soan isn’t wired to sleep At least, not since she becaets up even if Tina hasn’t made a peep It’s like the quiet wakes her up”
“She’s a good mom,” Travis said
“She always has been”
Joe turned to Matt “Where’s Liz?” he asked
“She should be here anyup as if from the dead “She spent the day with her parents”
“Lovely,” Joe commented
“Be nice They’re good people”
“I seeh one more of your father-in-law’s stories about his prostate cancer or listen to your h it wasn’t his fault—you were going to stick your head in the oven”
Matt struggled to sit up “I never said that!”
“Yes, you did” Joe winked as Matt’s wife, Liz, rounded the corner of the house with Ben toddling just in front of her “But don’t worry I won’t say a word”
Matt’s eyes darted nervously fro to see if she’d heard
“Hey, y’all!” Liz called out with a friendly wave, leading little Ben by the hand She an and Allison Ben broke away and toddled toward the other kids in the yard
Joe saw Matt sigh in relief He grinned and lowered his voice “SoMatt’s in-laws Is that how you conned hi here?”
“I ht have mentioned it,” Travis smirked
Joe laughed
“What are you guys saying?” Matt called out suspiciously
“Nothing,” they said in unison
Later, with the sun down and the food eaten, Moby curled up at Travis’s feet As he listened to the sound of the kids splashing away in the spa, Travis felt a wave of satisfaction wash over hi, whiled away to the sound of shared laughter and fa to Joe; the nextwith Liz and then Laird or Matt; and so on for everyone seated around the outdoor table No pretenses, no atte to show anyone up His life, he soht, resembled a beer commercial, and for the ood feeling