Jack was impressed. “Sounds like you’ve given this a lot of thought.”
“It’s a big part of my life, Dad; of course I’ve thought about it.”
“It’s nice to have something you’re so passionate about.”
“Were you ever passionate about anything?”
“Not until I met your mother; then she sort of took up all the passion I had.”
Mikki made a face. “That is, like, so gross to tell your own daughter.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. Before your mom came along, I was just drifting. I had my sports and all that. But not much else. And my dad was dying of cancer.”
“But you still had your mom.”
“Yeah, but we had our issues.”
“Didn’t get along? Like you and me?” she added, poking him in the side.
“Let’s just say I spent a lot more time at the O’Tooles’ instead of my house.”
“What was the issue?”
His expression turned serious. “I’ve never really talked about this with anyone, except your mother. There were no secrets between us.”
“Fine, I was just curious. You don’t have to tell me.”
Jack stopped walking, and she pulled up too.
“Okay, full confessional. It got to the point where I really wondered if my mom actually loved me.”
Mikki looked shocked. “She had to love you. She was your mother.”
“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?”
“Why did you think she didn’t?”
“Probably because she left when I was seventeen. Right after my dad died.”
“What? Nobody ever told me that.”
“Well, it’s not the sort of thing you announce to the world.”
“What happened?”
“She met some guy and moved to Florida. She kept the house in Cleveland, and I lived there until I married your mom and enlisted. She died in a boating accident when you were still a baby and I was still in the army.”
Mikki looked at him in amazement. “You lived there, what, by yourself?”
“Didn’t have any other relatives, so yeah.”
“But you weren’t even out of high school yet.”
“But I was over sixteen. It wasn’t like foster care was an option. I got part-time jobs to pay for expenses.”
“My God, Dad. I mean, you were all by yourself.”
“You like to spend time alone.”
“Yeah, but I could come downstairs and everybody would be there.”
“Well, I had your mom. She was my best friend. She helped me through some really tough times.”
When they got back to the Palace, Mikki said, “Thanks for the walk and talk.”
“Hope it’s one of many this summer.”
As she ran up the deck steps ahead of her father, Sammy appeared from around the side of the house. “You got an early start.” He glanced at Mikki as she went into the house. “Little father-daughter time?”
“She’s a pretty amazing kid, Sammy. Half her life I was carrying a gun for my country. The other half I was driving nails. I’ve got a lot to learn about her.”
“Probably why I never got married,” said Sammy. “Too complicated.”
“You ever regret it? No kids, no wife?”
“I didn’t, until I started hanging out with you Armstrongs.”
29
Later that week, before her dad left for work and she had to watch the kids, Mikki pulled on some shorts, tennis shoes, and a tank top, stretched her legs, and headed to the beach to run. She was naturally athletic, taking after her dad, but she’d never gone out for any school sports teams. The jocks at her school were obnoxious, she thought. And she disliked the competitiveness of sports. She simply liked to run, not try to beat someone running next to her.
She headed down the beach, listening to tunes on her iTouch. She’d put on lots of sunblock because her skin was still pale from the bleak Ohio winter and cold spring. The sun felt great; the views were breathtaking. Her arms pumped, and her long legs ate up ground at a rapid pace. People were fishing from the shore; kids were playing in the sand; teenagers were body surfing in the rough breakers. Though it was still early, a few people were already lying out on beach blankets, reading and talking.
“What the—” she gasped.
The guy had run right up beside her.
“Hey,” he said, grinning.
Mikki saw that it was the boy from the Mercedes convertible. He had on board shorts, no shirt. He was lean and muscled. Up close he looked like a Ralph Lauren model, which meant she instantly despised him.
She took out her earbuds, though she kept running.
“The beach is pretty wide,” she said back, trying to look indifferent, “so pick another spot.”
“I’m Blake Saunders.” As they ran, he put out his hand to shake.
She ignored it. “Good for you.”
“Can we stop running for a sec?”
“Why?”
“It’s important.”
She stopped, and he did too.
“Okay, what?” she demanded.
“I wanted to apologize for what happened the other day. Tiff can be a real piece of work.”
“Tiff?”
“Tiffany, Tiffany Murdoch.”
Mikki snorted. “She looks like a Tiffany.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty spoiled. Her dad was some big-shot investment guy in New York before they moved down here and built the biggest house on the beach.”
“So why do you hang out with her?”
“She can be fun.”
Mikki gave him a scathing look. “Oh yeah, I’m sure she can be fun.” She slapped her behind. “Hug ’em?”
“No, I didn’t mean it that way.”
Mikki said, “I’m going to finish my run.”
“Mind if I jog along with you? I’m the quarterback on the high school football team and I’m trying to keep in shape.”
“Suit yourself, QB.”
“And your name?”
She hesitated but then said, “Mikki. Mikki Armstrong.”
They ran on.
“So what grade are you in?”
“Junior next year.”
“I’ll be a senior. So you guys just moved down here?” said Blake.
“Yeah, from Cleveland.”
“Wow, Cleveland.”
She looked to see if he was making fun of her. “Yeah, Cleveland. Got a problem with that?”
“No, I meant that was cool. You have a pro football team. Although no more LeBron James.”
“Yeah, but we have the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
“That’s cool. You play music?”
“Some, yeah. Mostly guitar. And bass.”
“I’d like to hear it sometime.”
“Why?”
“You’re hard to get to know.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Maybe we can hang out sometime.”
“Again, why? If Tiffany is your type, it would be a waste of time. Because I’m not a Tiffany by any stretch of the imagination.”
“Because it’s nice to meet some people who aren’t from around here. Small towns can be pretty boring.”
“Well, I plan to run on the beach about this time every day.”
“Great. Maybe next time I won’t get the evil eye as much.”
He playfully punched her in the arm, and Mikki let slip a tiny smile.
“Finally, a crack in the armor,” he kidded.
“Do you know Liam Fontaine?” she asked.
“Yeah, he’s cool but a little odd.”
“Odd? Why?”
“No sports, though I know he’s a good athlete.”
“Well, he works at the restaurant and he has his music. Not much time for anything else.”
“Sounds like you already know him.”
“I met him. He’s an amazing musician.”
Blake grinned. “Maybe you should ask him out.”