Lottery (29 page)

Ahna’s tiny arms flailing up and down to keep her balance, her chubby toes dug into the thick carpet. She put one unsteady foot in front of the other and waited until she was stable to pick up the other foot.

“Oh, my God,” Caleb whispered.

“Just a few more steps, honey,” Ling encouraged.

On her last step, the baby started to topple, and Caleb caught her. He whisked her up into his arms and gave her quick kisses all over her face. “Good girl, Ahna,” He said, his voice breaking.

“Yeah, Ahna,” Ling cheered and clapped as Ahna clapped with her.

Ling stood. “We’re going to have to get even more gates so she won’t get hurt,” Ling told Caleb and sat down beside him.

“How long did it take her to learn?” Caleb asked.

“Like two days.” Ling giggled. “We wanted to surprise you.”

Caleb leaned over and kissed Ling. “You make me so happy.”

Ling shot up abruptly, her eyes narrowed. “I can
smell
your happiness.”

“I know.” He paused. “I heard from my mom. Dad’s not doing well.” This time Caleb wasn’t lying. His father had suffered a massive heart attack a few days ago.

“Cut the crap, Caleb. That man was supposed to die months ago.”

“He did have a heart attack.” He looked up Ling. “I promise.”

Caleb heard Weber laughing.

Caleb picked Ahna up and stood. “Believe me, I’m not going to risk losing the two most important people in my life. I just needed something to calm my nerves.”

“Believe you?” Ling said sarcastically and took Ahna from him. “I’ve got a news flash news for you, too,” she blurted angrily. “I’m pregnant.”

Caleb felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach. “What?”

“I’m not going to put up with anymore of your craziness.” She marched toward the bedroom door. “No way.”

“Wait.” He started after her.

“Nope.” She strode down the hallway. “I’ve had enough.”

“Ling, please,” he pleaded.

Following Ling down the hall, Caleb saw Ahna’s lower lip pucker.

“I had a setback. Give me a break.” He put his hand over his forehead, which was doused in perspiration.

“First the father-in-law, now the wife,” Weber said. “You’re never going to keep her.”

Although enraged by Weber’s comment, Caleb swallowed his anger. “Ling, please just—.”

“If you can’t leave the booze alone,” she said firmly and started down the stairs, “then I’ll take Ahna and leave.”

Take Ahna? The hell she would. “It won’t happen again.” He hurried down the steps after her.

She turned around when she reached the foyer and looked up at him. “I can’t go through that again … no …” she shook her head. “I
won’t
go through that again. I was so excited to tell you about the baby and now this.”

“It’s been months since I had a drink,” he lied.

“Ahna deserves a sober father.” Ling put a hand over her abdomen. “So does this baby.”

“Does anyone else know?” Caleb asked, hoping to change the subject. “About the baby?”

“Just you.”

“Not even your parents?” he asked, hoping he was the first to know.

She shook her head, turned and walked away from him.

Caleb scratched his head, following her. “Aren’t we going to have the cancel going to Shanghai with the next couple?”

Marching through the door and into the kitchen, she said, “I haven’t even narrowed down who that will be yet, but I’ll do it this week. I’ll be fine to travel until I’m six or seven months along.”

“Ling.” He walked toward her. She stopped and turned around, glaring at him. He laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll try harder. I can’t lose you or Ahna or the baby.” His eyes filled with tears.

Her gaze was cold.

“I love you and Ahna more than anything in the world. Please don’t ever say you’re leaving me.” Caleb drew in a breath. “I don’t think … I could take it,” he managed.

“I can’t take your drinking, either.”

Caleb’s eyes met hers. “I’ll do better.”

She walked to the sitting area and put Ahna in the playpen.

Caleb stared after her, trying to think of what to say. “I’m taking your dad with me to try out a yacht today.”

She whipped around and faced him. “A yacht?”

“Our children need to enjoy the bay on the water, not from the shoreline.”

“Can we even afford a boat?”

“What do you think?”

Ling waved a dismissing hand. “Get anything you like.” She walked to the sink. “Just don’t plan on me being there if you choose drinking over your family.”

“I understand,” he said sheepishly and turned. It startled him when he reached the doorway and saw someone in the great room.

“Hey, O’Toole,” Weber said, sitting on one of the couches, his arm draped casually across the back cushion.

Caleb closed his eyes, willing Weber away. When he opened them, Weber was walking toward him. “Get the hell away from me,” Caleb whispered angrily, walking through the foyer.

“No fucking way. We need to talk.” Weber’s dark eyes penetrated through Caleb.

“Screw you.” Caleb opened the door.

“Who you talking to?” Ling asked.

Caleb turned back around and saw her standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
Shit, she’d heard him.
“Just reminding myself what I need to do before I take Sam on the boat.”

She shot him a look and then disappeared back into the kitchen.

“I have an errand to do and I’ll be back in half an hour to pick up Sam.”

In the driveway, he stepped into the BMW he’d bought before Ahna had arrived and started the car.

“We haven’t talked in a while,” Weber said, sitting in the passenger seat.

“You need to leave me alone.” Caleb looked over his shoulder and backed out of the driveway.

“The old man,” Weber said, “he needs to go.”

“Sam Jameson would never do anything to hurt me.” Caleb turned the wheel and started for the grocery store to pick up snacks for the afternoon. “He’s harmless.”

“If you didn’t think he would try to take away Ling, I wouldn’t be talking to you.”

“What does that even mean—if I didn’t think he’d take Ling away?” Caleb asked confused.

“Let’s just say that whatever I say, you’re already thinking.”

Caleb noticed the liquor store, started to pass it, and then turned the wheel to the right and pulled into a parking spot.

“I could use a drink, too,” Weber said.

Caleb stared out the window, begging himself not to go inside. He turned and looked at Weber.

Weber tossed up his arms. “Sorry, but it’s been a terrible morning. First the father-in-law tells you he’s going to take away your family, and then your wife threatens to leave you. I have a terrible headache.”

“So do I.” Caleb opened the car door, craving the liquor even more. He’d fight Weber to the end on this one. He could never harm Sam.

aleb had always wanted to own a boat. He’d taken classes at the yacht club when he’d been married to Katherine and had received his captain’s license. Last week, he’d taken the seventy-five foot boat out with the salesperson. Today Caleb was taking it out by himself to decide if he would purchase the ninety-two thousand dollar cruiser.

“Oh, my,” Samuel said when he stepped on board the stark white cruiser with a wide navy stripe on each side. The awning could cover the entire top deck or roll back leaving a portion of the upper stateroom open for sun worshipers.

Caleb’s eyes started at the back skimming over the wide swimmer’s platform that could be used for sunbathing or diving into the ocean; over the built-in benches that hugged the back and sides of the boat that were covered in a plush white leather, and the rich dark veneering that encased the control panel.

One step up from the cockpit was a spacious stateroom. The white leather wrap-around seating that could seat a dozen or so people was across from the full-sized refrigerator and wet bar. With an abundance of built-in cabinetry, there was even a stainless steel Weber grill.

“Come on, Sam,” Caleb motioned and went down the few stairs between the passenger and driver’s seats.

Underneath, a whole new world evolved. A luxurious curved sectional upholstered in the same white leather as the cushions on the upper level took the length of one side of the boat. On the other side, a galley kitchen, complete with a stainless steel sink with two-burner gas stove were embedded in the white marble countertop. A sixty-two inch television rested inside one of the cherrywood cabinets.

“What do you think?” Caleb stretched out his arms. “Is this big enough for all of us?”

Samuel scratched his head. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Caleb walked to an open door beyond the grand stateroom and waved Sam inside.

Caleb took a few steps into a lavish bedroom. The queen-sized bed was covered in a beige suede spread with an array of decorative pillows strewn across the top. Caleb faintly caught the musky odor of cedar in the two open closets. The entire lower level had an abundance of oval shaped porthole windows with shirred curtains that could be closed for privacy or opened for light.

“Look at this bathroom.” Caleb walked toward an open door. The floor-to-ceiling marble tiled shower was sandwiched next to a countertop with two deep-bowled sinks. Above each basin were rectangular mirrors framed in ornate silver frames. Caleb nodded back at the stateroom. “There’s another half-bath by the stairway.

“You really know how to drive one of these?” Samuel asked, not commenting on the amenities.

Caleb smiled. “Let’s go see.”

Cruising in the bay, Caleb tried to explain to Sam how to use the chart plotter, color radar screen, and the VHF radio that was attached underneath the counsel. “Even has air conditioning and heat.” Caleb glanced up. “Oh, and a surround stereo system.”

Except for the ripples of gentle waves from passing barges and cruisers, the waters were calm; the skies above them cloudless. The colorful sails on the sailboats in a nearby regatta billowed in the breeze. As they travelled further out into the bay, the clamor of traffic and the clang of streetcars began to fade.

“Breathe in that fresh air,” Caleb commented to Sam, who sat in the passenger seat across from Caleb. “Here, take the wheel for minute.” Caleb stood.

Samuel slapped a hand over his chest, his eyes wide. “Me? But, I don’t—”

“Just keep it straight. Just like driving a car, only easier.”

“Be right back.” As soon as Sam took the wheel, Caleb hurried down the few stairs into the stateroom. He needed a drink. He’d promised Ling he would cut down, and would … just not today. Between Sam telling him he’d heard Caleb talking to himself, and that damn Weber trying to order him around, his nerves were frayed.

Caleb took the flask out of the inside pocket of his jacket and twisted off the top. He took a quick glimpse at the stairs to see if Sam had followed him. When Caleb didn’t see him, he gulped the clear liquid. After Caleb popped a couple of breath mints into his mouth, he tucked the container back into his pocket and went back up the stairs. Taking the passenger seat, he looked out over the rolling mounds of Marin Hills. “It’s so peaceful out here.”

“I wish you’d drive,” Sam said, a worried expression on his face. “I just don’t feel comfortable.”

“You’re doing great.” Caleb hoped Sam wouldn’t suspect he’d been drinking. “Ever think you could go under the San Francisco Bridge instead of over it?”

Sam was quiet.

“You said you wanted to learn to fish,” Caleb said.

“Always wanted to, but never had the time.”

“Well, now you do.” Caleb pushed the sunglasses up on his nose. “We’ll go soon.”

Sam cleared his throat. “I can’t swim.”

“That’s why there are life jackets.” Caleb nodded at the benches in the back. “The seats are storage benches. There are enough jackets on board for a dozen people.”

“Caleb.” Sam broke the silence. “We need to talk.”

Caleb stiffened.

“I know you’ve been drinking,” his father-in-law started.

Caleb stared straight ahead, his stomach starting to ball into knots. He didn’t need this right now.

“I’ve seen you talk to yourself, and now the drinking again. It has to stop.”

Feeling the build-up of pressure over the past few weeks, Caleb had to talk to someone. Day after day, week after week, guilt was taking him like a fast-growing cancer. “Everything’s all fucked up,” Caleb blurted, put his hands on the dashboard and leaned forward.