Around the same time, Lydia had suffered a miscarriage. Shed become depressed and withdrawn. He didnt know how to fix things between them, so hed focused on saving his failing career. The team hed helped take to the World Series let him go. Lydia refused to uproot Leo by following Nathan to Detroit, and then to Cincinnati. He couldnt sleep at night. Hed started mixing his pain pills with alcohol.
It was difficult to pinpoint the exact moment his drinking had gotten out of hand. The third trade, maybe. The strikeout that killed their play-off hopes. The infield error in the last inning of his last game.
At twenty-eight, hed been one of the most celebrated baseball players in the league. He had more money than he could spend. Five years later, it was over. He had no hope of getting another lucrative contract. To say he went on a drinking binge was an understatement. Hed pretty much just stayed drunk.
He hadnt known who he was, outside of baseball. Hed been drafted at eighteen. Hed never gone to college. His self-worth was all tied up in the game. After more than ten years of people telling him he was a superhero, hed believed it. And when his fans thought he was shit, he internalized that, too.
A commotion ahead startled him out of his reverie. Brooke and Leo had hiked around a bend, past a group of tall pine trees. Nathan heard the deep voice of a stranger, along with Brookes friendly hello. Abby hurried to catch up. Nathan followed close behind, more curious than concerned.
There were two men blocking a fork in the trail. Leo stood silent next to Brooke, his shoulders square. Her body language was more relaxed; she didnt consider these men a threat, even if Leo did.
Both strangers were scruffy and unkempt. Their long hair was incongruent with the military-style fatigues they wore. The man in front of Brooke had grimy hands and a thick beard. His companion was younger, with the sparse mustache of a teenager. They were hunters, judging by their camouflage gear and backpacks.
Nathan found their appearances strange, but he was probably biased against hippie backpackers. What really disturbed him was the avaricious gleam in the older mans gaze, which faded as soon as he saw Nathan.
Is it this way to Echo Lake? Brooke asked, pointing to the left.
The stranger nodded. Good day for a swim.
Brooke inquired about drinking water sources and they had a short discussion about filtering. When Abby joined them, the older man gave her breasts a quick study before glancing at Nathan once again. Sizing him up as an opponent.
Where are you headed tomorrow? the man asked Brooke.
Lupine Meadow, Nathan said.
Brooke opened her mouth, as if to dispute him, but she went quiet when Abby gripped her elbow.
Thats a nice area, the man said.
Abby murmured goodbye and continued down the path with Brooke and Leo. Nathan stayed behind. It was part protectiveness, part male posturing. His instincts told him to stand his ground instead of scurrying along. The men had a strange, earthy smell. Not marijuana or stale sweat, but something else, like wet fur.
Any luck hunting? Nathan asked.
Caught a few quail, the man said, his eyes twinkling.
With what?
Traps.
Maybe that was the odor hed detected: fresh game. Nathan didnt care if they were poaching, growing pot or playing Jesus. The boy looked scared and guilty. As long as Grizzly Adams didnt mess with his women, Nathan had no beef with him.
Have a good one, Nathan said, nodding goodbye.
The older man stared at him for a few seconds, not moving. Nathan was reluctant to turn his back on him. The grungy teenager broke the spell by starting down trail. Nathan and the other hunter left the scene in unison.
Freaks.
Abby was waiting for him nearby, her mouth tight. She didnt ask any questions. Sound carried in the forest. Nathan walked beside her, glancing over his shoulder at regular intervals. They caught up with Leo and Brooke as the trail narrowed into a steep incline.
Are we really going to Lupine Meadow? Brooke asked.
No, Nathan said.
Why did you lie?
Leo seemed surprised by her naïveté. Because that guy was looking at you like he wanted to eat you.
Brooke turned to her mother for confirmation. The fact that she hadnt picked up on the strangers demeanor raised a number of red flags for Nathan. Thank God he had a son instead of a daughter who seemed unaware of her own beauty. When Abby didnt say anything, Brooke flushed and continued hiking.
For the next hour, they ascended a series of switchbacks that made conversation difficult. It was a tough climb, even for Nathan. His shirt grew damp and his pack felt heavy on his back. Leo kept up with Brooke better than Nathan figured. Abby was also a trouper.
They reached the top of the first mountain and paused to take in the view of Echo Lake, nestled in the valley below. It was a gorgeous blue oval, surrounded by white granite rock formations and tall pine trees.
Lets have lunch here, Brooke said.
It was a good place to stop. Nathan could keep an eye on the trail, though he doubted the strange duo had followed. They shrugged out of their backpacks and sat in the shade of a sturdy oak tree. Nathan was sweating like crazy. So was Leo. Abby looked hot and bothered in an attractive, post-orgasmic way. Brooke didnt even appear winded. She passed out a lunch of mixed nuts and oranges.
This is our only fresh fruit for the trip, so enjoy it.
They did. Nathan was ravenous. He tried not to notice Abbys ample chest or her hollow cheeks as she sucked on an orange slice. Shed be stripping down to her bathing suit soon, so he needed to get a grip. Think about something else.
Lydia tells me youre a runner, Nathan said to Brooke.
She took a sip of water, nodding.
Long-distance or sprint?
I do the 800 meter, which is considered medium-distance. Also the 100-meter dash.
Whats your time for the 100?
11.7.
No shit?
No shit.
That was fast. Half of the boys on his roster couldnt beat her, and some of them were major-league bound. Did you get an athletic scholarship?
It was part athletic, part merit.
Nathan arched a brow at Leo, who was on academic probation at Humboldt State University. Leo had maintained a 3.0 GPA in high school without exerting much effort, so Nathan knew he could do better.
You dont pay my tuition, Leo said, defensive.
That was true. Ray and Lydia were funding Leos studies. Im impressed by the achievement, not the cost savings.
Abby touched Nathans elbow. It was the same gesture shed used to keep Brooke quiet. Do you play any sports? she asked Leo.
He surfs, Brooke said.
This was news to Nathan. Really?
We stopped by Mavericks after Christmas, Brooke said.
Nathan felt the blood drain from his face. Hed never been to Mavericks Beach, but hed heard the waves were huge. Not for amateurs.
Abby let go of his elbow. You didnt.
We did, Brooke said, smiling. Leo gave me a ride to Berkeley, and I wanted to check out the waves. I stayed on the beach while he went surfing.
When Nathan pictured Leo paddling out into a raging sea, pressure built in his chest. Why would you take such a stupid risk? What if youd gotten held under, and Brooke drowned trying to save you?
When Nathan pictured Leo paddling out into a raging sea, pressure built in his chest. Why would you take such a stupid risk? What if youd gotten held under, and Brooke drowned trying to save you?
She wouldnt have come in after me, Leo said, rolling his eyes. The waves were only ten or fifteen feet high that day, and there were other surfers in the water. It wasnt that dangerous. I didnt even catch anything.
Nathan wiped his hand over his mouth. Sometimes he could still taste the cool bite of a gin and tonic. He recognized cravings for what they were now. He was better at identifying stress and other triggers.
His emotions always ran high with Leo. There was no one he cared about more, no one who could make him as scared or angry. Nathan had to learn how to communicate with his son, and he was terrified of failing.
He took a deep breath, thinking back. His interactions with Brooke had been effortless. Why couldnt he talk to Leo that way?
I cant wait to go swimming, Brooke said. Im melting in this heat.
Nathan used the hem of his shirt to blot his face. It was too hot to yell at Leo. He didnt like feeling this way, tense and unhappy, but he couldnt flip a switch to change the past. He couldnt make his son love him again.
They hiked the short distance from the top of the mountain to the shore. The lake was even more beautiful up close, crystal blue and fresh-looking. The entire area had been carved by glaciers, which had left giant pools in the granite. There was a sandy beach on one side near an island of towering boulders.
I bet I can climb those rocks and dive off, Brooke said, shrugging out of her backpack and placing it on the sand.
Dont you dare, Abby said.
The waters really deep, Mom.
We should test it first, Leo said. Depth can be deceiving.
Brooke listened to Leo, rather than her mother. Okay.
The four of them sat down to unlace their hiking boots. Brooke tugged off her shorts and tank top, revealing a striped bikini. Hurry up, she said to Leo, who seemed to have forgotten what he was doing.
Leo fumbled to remove his high-tops and lame T-shirt.
Nathan resisted the urge to glance at Abby as she undressed. It would be rude to stare, hoping for a wardrobe malfunction. He imagined her breasts jiggling as she pulled her shirt over her head. Not looking also seemed weirdhe wasnt a horny teenager, incapable of acting cool. So he waited until he thought it was safe and...
Gulp.
Her suit wasnt as skimpy at Brookes, but her body made it sexier. Or maybe he just didnt see Brooke the same way because of her age and relationship to Leo. Abby was a mature woman, fair game for ogling. Her simple blue bikini accentuated her figure. She had pale skin and mouthwatering curves.
Ever heard of manscaping? Leo asked.
The question interrupted Nathans perusal. It took him a second to realize Leo was referring to the hair on his chest, which narrowed to a strip over his abdomen. Nathan had never heard any complaints from women about it. He glanced at Leo, noting that he had the smooth, sculpted torso of a male model. You wax your chest?
No. I dont have to.
But youre saying I should?
Totally. Body hair is disgusting.
My mom likes it, Brooke said.
Abby jerked her gaze from Nathans stomach. Brooke!
What? You do. She waded into the lake. I think its kind of sexy, too. On guys. Smiling at Leo, she dived into the water and swam away.
Nathan figured Brooke was being outrageous to tease Leo, who frowned at her retreating form. Abby escaped the awkward situation by submerging herself in the lake. It was cold, judging by her little shriek.
Nathan didnt know what to say to his son, as usual. Although Brookes provocative comment had put him in his place, Nathan couldnt just let it go. Leo had been combative and disrespectful too often. His bad attitude sparked an equally negative reaction in Nathan, prompting him to needle Leo further. Hooking his arm around Leos neck, he said, Just keep shaving your balls, pretty boy. Theyll drop soon enough.
Leo shoved him backward. Fuck off!
Nathan stumbled into the shallow water, his heart pounding. He wanted to duke this out, physically and emotionally. Wrestling wasnt a good way to communicate, but it felt better than doing nothing. So he threw his arms around Leo in a maneuver that was half tackle, half hug. Leo rewarded him with another hard push. Then they were both in the lake, splashing and grappling. The cold shock invigorated him.
Nathan tried to gain the upper hand, but Leo was a slippery sucker. His son elbowed him in the stomach and kicked him in the thigh. Nathan grunted in pain, scrambling for a better hold. His foot scraped against a sharp rock as they waded into deeper water. Leo broke free and retaliated with a swift punch in the mouth.
Nathans head rocked to the side. He fell into the waist-high water and let himself sink. The urge to fight left his body. It was a well-placed hit, but probably not full strength, and nowhere near a knockout.
Good one.
Nathan didnt plan to stay under for more than a few seconds. He just wanted to avoid a second blow. To his astonishment, Leo came after him. He put his arms around Nathan and hauled him upright.
Dad!
Nathan found his footing and turned to gape at Leo, whod clearly been worried. About him. His throat got tight and tears flooded his eyes. Nathan swiped a hand down his face, laughing suddenly.
You were faking, Leo accused.
No, he said, tasting blood. You laid me flat.
What the fuck is so funny?
You thought I was drowning.
Nathan didnt know why that was funny, but it was. Maybe because hed been horrified by the thought of Leo drowning at Mavericks. Maybe because they were both fools, and it felt good to act stupid with his son.
Youre an asshole, Leo said, but he was smiling.
Still chuckling, Nathan swam into the deeper water. Leo followed, dunking him for good measure. Nathan returned the favor. He knew the issues between them couldnt be solved by an afternoon of horseplay. But for now, at least they werent angry.
When he caught his breath, he noted that Abby and Brooke were watching from a distance. Although the altercation had ended on a friendly note, it hadnt started that way, and women tended not to approve of such shenanigans. Nathan didnt, either. Hed removed players from his team for brawling.
She thinks youre an idiot, Leo said, following his gaze.
What does Brooke think of you?
The same.
Nathan dunked him again, not caring at all.
CHAPTER FIVE
ABBY HELD HER BREATH as Brooke dove off a twenty-foot boulder.
She hit the water with a gentle splash and stayed under for several long seconds. Abby watched, her heart racing, until Brooke resurfaced next to Leo, whod been waiting for her. Grinning, he gave her a high five.
They were both daredevils, egging each other on. Leo had gauged the depth of the lake and deemed it safe, with one exception. There was a large rock about six feet underneath the surface on the left side. Leo treaded water above it while Brooke jumped, and vice versa. They were using the buddy system, as promised.
That didnt mean Abby could relax. She tensed every time Brooke was airborne, imagining worst-case scenarios. She knew Brooke well enough to anticipate increasingly dangerous feats. Leo had started with short leaps and cannonballs from a smaller boulder. Now Brooke was high-diving. Backflips would be next.