Almost Home (NG2)

Illegal

This is the continuation from Almost Heaven.

Robbie felt overwhelmed, but not the bad kind. He looked up from his computer screen when he heard a knock on the door.

"How was your day?" His father strolled into his office looking confident.

"It was a lot... new names. Lots of information to familiarize myself with, but good and exciting."

"You'll do fine."

He had a staff for the first time. They comprised the accounts payable and receivable personnel. There were five women of varying ages. More than one commented on his resemblance to his father and his accent, which no one in Nashville thought he had.

"I'm looking forward to digging in."

"Not tonight. It's quitting time. Remember, family company."

"Except I live alone."

"Come for dinner anytime. Just give Mom a heads up."

"I bought groceries." He thought about checking on Phoebe. Maybe it would count as one of their ten dates.

"Remember Adrian and Betsy left. They're counting on you to keep an eye out."

"I know. Even Rick reminded me this morning." He smirked. There was no place where neighbors cared more than The Point. "I also had a lesson on how to switch to the generator."

Rob chuckled. "Alright then. Mom will wonder where I am."

Robbie shook his head. The man used to work until nine or ten many nights.

He bought chicken and rice to cook with some vegetables. It would be edible, but not as good as what his mom was serving.

Once the chicken was in the oven and the rice was cooking, he looked at his phone. He hadn't had it out all day. Getting caught looking at Twitter on his first day wouldn't be good.

His Twitter feed was full. It was all about Beau. He'd like to say he was surprised, but wondered which one wasn't legal. Maybe the waitress from the day he surfed? The one he saw the last day he visited Vivian looked like a child. The problem was like Phoebe at sixteen. Girls today looked older than they were. A girl like Splashtown Pheebs being with Beau Haywood disgusted him.

He couldn't call the house, so he texted Cayla.

R: I heard what the girl is saying. I'm still your friend if you need one.

He could imagine if they were still together. It would be awful, because she would defend her daddy.

He emailed Vivian. She had an iPad, but she only used it when she didn't have a migraine. He imagined her debilitated with the news. He tapped out a message, letting her know he was a phone call away.

Rob continued to read his feed when he sat down to eat. He made enough to have food left for lunch or another dinner. His phone chimed with a text, but not from Cayla.

P: Tyler's out of the band.

R: Seriously. I'll call Nash.

He couldn't tell Phoebe he hated the drummer.

P: I'm coming over.

R: If you do, it's a date.

She didn't reply before he called Nash. He answered and asked about his day, but Robbie wanted to know about Beau.

"It's a mess. You're lucky you left town."

"I got a text from your number one fan. Something about Tyler."