page11 (1/2)

“Things to do,” Travis said “I know And I don’t have any greater desire to go back to Espada for a dress rehearsal of King Lear than either of you guys, but—”

“I hate to tell you this,about, not Stratford-on-Avon”

“What Ito feel mortal”

Slade snorted “Our father’s figuring onit to one hundred, and you knohat? My money’s on him”

“Still, I bet he’s looking around, taking stock of that little spread of seven zillion acres he calls ho it’s tidom”

“Well, I don’t need to spend a ive a daruffly “You two enjoy the party without me”

Slade could feel Travis waiting for hiuilty about cutting out on Catie, and leaving Trav to face the old es in his appoint substantive A trip A conference Anything…

His stootten There it was, in black-and-white Hiswith Dobbs

“I can’t,” he said “I’ to be in Baltimore that weekend”

“Or in the Antarctic,” Travis said, “anywhere it takes to avoid this shindig, right?”

“Wrong,” Slade said—and hesitated If he went to Espada, he couldn’t go to Baltimore He wouldn’t have to spend two days in the sa where she was and who she ith…“Listen,” he said, with all the conviction he could ht weeks on plans for a new bank”

“Dammit, Slade” Travis took a deep breath, then blew it out “Sorry, kid I have no right to twist your arm”

“Forget it Truth is…”

Slade hesitated The truth was, he really could blow off the Balti, just to touch bases, would be enough Ted or Jack could go in his place Dobbs would understand Who wouldn’t? An eighty-fifth birthday celebration was a big thing And it wasn’t cowardice e sounded definite about not attending Could he really let Travis get trapped at Espada for a couple of days, without moral support?

Slade sat up straight “The truth is,” he said briskly, “I was lying through et out of the Baltimore trip”

“A over our own feet in a rush to keep clear of the place where we grew up”

“The thing is,” Travis said, “eighty-five is a pretty impressive number”

“The old e said bitterly “Your eighteenth birthday Slade’s two years in grad school”

“Or your fifth anniversary party I know, but what the hell, gentle, he’s old That’s a simple fact And then there’s Caitlin”

“Trav got that right,” Slade said “I do hate to disappoint her”

“Me, too,” Gage muttered, “but I just don’t see a choice here”

“Right,” Travis said “There isn’t any choice We have to show up We’re not kids anyet under our skin and et to sar stories and put a smile on Catie’s face at the same time Is that really so much to ask?”

“I’m in,” Slade said

“Not e said “I don’t have a weekend to spare”

“Gage,” Travis said, “look—”

“No, you look! I’ on here You got that, or do I have to put it on a billboard in Tio I just can’t”

“Sure,” Travis said, after a minute

“Understood,” Slade said, a beat later “Well…”

There was silence, the sound of a throat being cleared “Well,” three voices said, and then there were hurried goodbyes and the brothers all disconnected Slade waited a second, then punched the button that autoe’s number

“Are you okay?” he said, without any preliminaries

“I’e said, in a voice that didn’t sound fine at all

“You sure? Because if you need anything—”

“I’ll call you”

Slade frowned “Just remember that” He disconnected, waited a minute, then hit the button to phone Travis “I called hi to say hello

“Uh-huh So did I”

“Soe sound like that”

“Yeah But whatever it is, he doesn’t want to talk about it”