Chapter 6: A Man Who Runs a Company

After the lantern ceremony, the contestants drifted up the beach toward the bonfire.

Ray and I stayed behind at the water's edge.

The camera crew had gone to fetch more batteries, and for ten minutes we had the dark to ourselves.

"You said daylight," I said.

"It's dark."

"You said tomorrow, and it's tomorrow."

"You're a hard woman," Ray said, with deep admiration.

He sat down on a driftwood log and pulled me down beside him.

I let my shoulder rest against his arm.

"I own a company," he said. "Trucks."

"You told me you fix trucks."

"I did. For years."

He rubbed his thumb along his steel watch.

"I started with one tow truck and a bad loan in my father's barn. It got bigger."

"How much bigger?"

"A lot bigger than anyone my age should be able to afford a house on a hill."

I turned my head and looked at him.

"Ray."

"Yes."

"How much?"

"More than you'd like," he said.

I thought about it.

"Do you own a boat?"

"Three."

"A plane?"

"Two. Technically the company owns them."

"Do you have a man who irons your socks?"

"Lorna, I have never in my life had my socks ironed."

"Well, that's a relief." I looked out at the lake. "I was afraid I'd have to leave."

He made a rough sound in his chest that was half laugh and half something else.

"You're not leaving?"

"I'm not sure yet. I'm thinking."

He waited, and I was grateful for it.

"I spent thirty-four years with a man who lied to me by leaving things out," I said.

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