Long Live the King

Seven

Marshall squinted out over the water, supporting the weight of both his luggage and Adrienne's on arm. The ferry was visible in the distance, slowing moving toward the dock. With his other arm, he flicked his sunglasses down to cover his eyes.

"Are you sure you don't want help with those?" Adrienne asked. "I can carry my own."

Marshall looked over at her, his eyes obscured by the black shades.

"I told you I've got it," he said. "So when did you say Regina is meeting us?"

"At the water taxi. She'll take us over to the island, introduce me to her father. We'll talk about the job he's offering and see if I even want to take it and then he'll either set us up in a room or Regina is going to pay for one."

"Ferry is ready," Marshall said, inclining his head toward it. "Let's go."

The ferry had pulled up during this time, releasing a batch of people and vehicles. Marshall readjusted the luggage on his shoulder and then both of them marched onto the ferry with a load of other people. They picked seats on the top deck, next to the railing. Adrienne finally was able to relieve him of her bag, nestling it between her feet for safekeeping.

Around them, people shuffled past, all finding seats as far away from strangers as they could manage--which wasn't very far at all on such a crowded ferry. Adrienne watched them with mild interest until she felt the boat start to pull away from the dock. She delighted in the jerking motion as it set out for open waters. Although she never had much cause to ride in boats, she had always liked the way the wind her whipped through her hair.

"I don't understand though," Marshall said suddenly.

"What?" Adrienne spoke louder that usual.

"I don't understand," he repeated. "Why do we have to head all the wait out to her father's hotel? Why couldn't she just stay in the city if she wanted to pick your brain?"

"Expenses," she answered. "It costs a lot of money to stay in the city and just as much to ferry back and forth on the regular. She's been living at the hotel ever since that guy threatened her."

"Isn't it just as expensive if we decide to stay?"

"She's hoping no. She's hoping her father will hook us up with a free room a.) because we're 'friends' and b.) because I might be hired."

"What if she's wrong?"

"We've been over this Marshall." Adrienne sighed, propping her elbow up on the rail and looking out to the water. "If her father is unwilling to cover a room then she'll pay for one for a couple days and then we head back to the city. Of course, we might be doing that anyways."

"But you do promise you're going to be reasonable about this, right?"

"I never make promises."

"Of course you don't."

"Of course I don't."

"Never?"

"Never might be a stretch, but I don't like to make promises. Things change. It's hard to make a promise that you know you can keep."

"I make promises."

"Yeah? So what happens when you break one?"

"I haven't yet."

"I find that hard to believe."

He shrugged.

"Excuse me," a young kid said, suddenly pushing his way between the two of them. He, the child, dropped to the floor and started fishing around on the floor with one arm. His muffled voice explained the situation. "I lost a quarter."