Page 56 of Saint
We continued our exploration, taking note of the coral reefs and a camouflaged octopus as it made its appearance. Equipped with my underwater camera, I snapped a few photos of Tori as she stared at a crab moving around on the ocean floor.
As I moved closer to the reef she was studying, my limbs froze. Behind Tori, at least five meters back, was a pair of sperm whales. They were returning from the surface, likely from feasting on plankton. Mother and baby in tow, the duo were seemingly about to dive deeper.
I signaled to Tori to get her attention and then held her close as a sign of reassurance. Her eyes bloomed when she saw the whales as they drew near. Seeing them up close in person for the first time was always a shocking experience. Whales were magnificent in size, making humans appear microscopic in comparison.
Once the whales passed, we continued moving through the ocean, chancing a glimpse of an octopus and a few jellyfish. After an hour spent underwater, we resurfaced and boarded the boat. As Tori removed her goggles and other equipment, I asked, “How did you feel about that dive, Beauty?”
“It was amazing! Did you know we’d see whales? That was insane!” She gushed her excitement, birthing the smile on my face.
“Nah, I didn’t know if we’d see them, but it’s always a possibility. I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.”
Removing my swimming fins, I grinned. This was far too comfortable, overtly, too enjoyable, and entirely unexpected. For a brief moment, as I controlled the boat and navigated us back to land, I dissociated with my thoughts, my memories, and my entire sense of self. The cool touch of Victoria’s pruned fingers enclosed me, bringing me back to the present reality. Unfathomably, she had my head fucked up. It wasn’t what I’d intended, and neither did she. I didn’t understand it, and that was a problem.
The shrilling of my phone upon return to the house dragged my attention away from unloading the boat. My father’s name was displayed across the screen, prompting me to answer on the first ring. The unusual summon heightened my curiosity. He only rang when something was important.
“Dad.”
“Saint, I need you to get to the house as soon as possible. Alone.”
“Is something wrong?” Lowering my tone, I asked, shifting to glance at Victoria.
“Just get to the house.”
The silence emanating from the opposing end of the line informed me he’d hung up. Sliding my phone into the pocket of my shorts, I inched toward Victoria to assist her in exiting the vessel. Together, we gathered the dive equipment and walked the dock back toward the house. Once all the equipment was stowed away, I announced my departure.
“I need to meet with my dad. I’ll be back. Sam will be just outside the front door as always, and two men will be out back.”
My father wasn’t very forthcoming on the phone, but the fact that he emphasized my coming alone alerted me that something might be wrong. I wouldn’t risk her safety in my absence.
“Okay,” she dragged. “Is there something I need to know?”
“No.” Pulling her close, I held her at my chest for several unchecked seconds. “I lo– I’ll be back soon,” I amended, planting a kiss on her lips.
Dragging a plain white tee over my exposed chest, I headed out the door and into my car. Wasting little time, my foot connected the gas pedal with the floorboard.
The fifteen minutes it typically required me to arrive at my parents’ home was shortened to twelve. Pulling up to the front door, I parked my car in the circular drive. Utilizing the access code unique to my date of birth, I unlocked the front door and entered.
“Saint,” my mother sang upon seeing me. Her arms outstretched to greet me as I treaded through the foyer.
“How are you, Beautiful?”
She smiled at the term of endearment my father bestowed on her the day they met. My mother smelled like Thierry Mugler’s perfume and fresh biscuits, informing me what goodness awaited me in the kitchen.
“I’ll be even better when I can cradle a newborn and inhale all that newness and goodness.”
“You got any of those biscuits I sense left over?” I asked, ignoring the not-so-subtle expression of her desire for me to procreate.
“I do, but you should probably get to your father. He’s in the study. I’ll bring you a biscuit.”
“Do you know what it’s about?”
“You know your father doesn’t keep me in the loop of his dealings. Nor do I want to be.”
It was true. My mother never was involved in any of my father’s business. Not when he distributed drugs as his lead profession and not now that he’d retired. It was the reason she wasn’t aware of me and Victoria’s wedding sham.
I headed down the hall toward my father’s study to find him positioned as he always was. The air was void of the putrid smell of cigar smoke, ushering my silent gratitude. He was positioned behind his desk with a biscuit in front of him alongside a mug of what smelled like black coffee. The television stole his attention as he watched replays of a football game.
“What’s good, Pops?”