The night air on the balcony was thick and warm, smelling of salt water and the damp concrete of the pool deck below. The children were finally asleep in the double beds inside, their small faces pale in the glow of the nightlight. Mark sat on the metal chair on the balcony, a
“Some friends of mine from college are in town,” he said, his voice casual. “I might meet up with them tomorrow.”
I paused, my fingers freezing on my ring.
“Your college friends?” I asked. “Who?”
“Just Jason and a few of the guys,” he said, turning his face toward the dark parking lot. “They are playing some golf.”
“You did not mention Jason was going to be in Florida when we booked these flights,” I said, the words feeling heavy in my throat.
“It was a last-minute thing,” he said.
“But this is our family trip,” I said, leaning forward. “We only have these ten days.”
He checked his watch, the screen lighting up for three seconds before going dark again.
“You have the kids and the resort,” he said. “You will be fine.”
I looked at his profile, realizing how little of him was actually in this room with us.
“I just need to know if you are actually here with us this week,” I said.
Mark pulled a pair of white wireless headphones from his pocket and slid them into his ears. He turned his head back to the dark parking lot, completely ignoring my question.
half-empty glass of melting ice water on the small table beside him.
I stepped out onto the balcony and closed the heavy glass behind me, sitting in the chair opposite him. The distant sound of pool toys splashing and music from the resort bar drifted up through the dark.
“The kids loved the pool this afternoon,” I said, looking at him.
He did not look up from his phone screen, which cast a blue light across his nose and forehead.
“That is good,” he said.
“I was thinking tomorrow we could go to the nature trail at ten,” I said, touching the edge of my silver wedding band. “Then we have the lunch reservation by the marina.”
Mark set his glass down, the ice clinking against the glass.
