"Well, I'll try to keep my emotions under control," said Eli. "We won't fall in love with each other, as long as I can help it, I swear!"
"Eli, you're not being serious," said Benjamin.
"What, that was serious. I don't love her. I just think she's one of the coolest girls I've ever met in my life, and that we have a special bond between us."
"Which is what?"
"A shared interest," said Eli. "We both despise Faith Diaz."
Benjamin smiled and rolled his eyes. "Well, I know even though you're sarcastic at every minute, you're not the type to do the opposite of what people advise you just so you can feel rebellious, so go ahead, make fun."
Not long after, the Garcias left Toronto along with Jacob. Almost as soon, Lillian Collins returned. Thankfully, it was only for a weekend, and she happily stayed at Chase's apartment, so all Eli had to endure of her was seeing her for five minutes at the video store (she just missed her Chasey so much!), making out with him from around the checkout counter.
"I'm going to miss you, baby," she said to Chase. "It'll be a million years until I get to see you again. You promise you can come see over Christmas? You can bring your family along if you'd like."
"No, I won't like," said Chase. "I don't speak to them. Eli, you'll be off school by then. Why don't you come with us for two weeks to Lillian's cabin in Florida?"
"My boss, Mr. Caleb Anderson, likes to spend December down there, but he still needs someone to look after his affairs, so I'm coming along too. It'll be the perfect chance for me and my precious to spend some time together. I suppose there's room for you."
"Well, I don't know what to say – " He looked into Chase's desperate, pleading eyes. "I'd love to."
It was a lonely August for Eli, without Jacob's usual presence. With Chase, things had been strained since he had started his long-distance relationship with the most ridiculous woman on the planet. His younger brothers too were not a great replacement. The highlights of his last month of holidays were the times he got to speak with Jacob, courtesy of a good calling card. Unfortunately, their conversations were not very cheerful.
For the first week, Jacob hardly mentioned the Browns at all, but towards the end, he wondered why they were not answering their phones or returning any of the messages he sent, telling him he was in town.
Next, Jacob called and told him he managed to finally get a hold of Carter on his home phone. Jacob figured he must have changed his cell number, as it seemed it was never on, and so checked the phone book. Jacob told Eli how Carter seemed to be in strange mood, and very surprised to hear from him. He said he had never got any of the messages Jacob had sent and had no idea Jacob was in the country. Jacob asked about Chloe, but Carter told him she was not staying with them anymore, and was busy working almost all the time, and had no time to see anyone. Chloe, apparently, was residing with the Daniel and Grace Griffin for the most part. Then he said that Carter told him he was just about to go out, but promised to call back sometime.
Jacob spent the next few weeks complaining that Carter had never called him back as he said, until even Jacob could not delude himself that Carter was intentionally trying to ignore him. Jacob told Eli over the phone,
"Don't say 'I told you so', but I really think you might have been right about Carter Brown. He seems like a completely different person here than he was in Toronto, I just don't get it. He was friendly and nice to me then, damn it! He finally called me back yesterday, he asked me to meet him at some coffee shop, said it was the only free time he'd have in his schedule, whatever the hell it is he does in his time. It lasted about ten minutes, during which he barely spoke, barely looked at me, kept checking his watch, and left without answering any of my questions. I really don't care if I never see him again. I mean, Eli, he really was my friend. He invited me over, he started talking to me, he said did all that. I guess he just got worried, he doesn't think I'm good enough for his sister. Well, that's obviously no reason to be so rude to me. I don't know what he's afraid of. Chloe obviously isn't interested in me at all, so Carter's behaviour is really unnecessary. If she cared, she would not have let nearly a month pass without at least calling me! But I won't let them spoil by vacation. I'm having a wonderful time here with our Aunt and Uncle, and I won't let this get me down. After all, they've all acted how they think's best, they really haven't done anything to hurt me."
"That's good to hear," said Eli.
"I mean, Carter did mention that Chloe won't renew her lease on her penthouse in Toronto, that she never plans on coming back there, but it's not for sure yet."
Eli tried to comfort him, but Jacob refused to discuss the matter any more. Eli was relieved that Jacob now understood the situation, but he hoped this would not lead to him trying to fight for Chloe. As far as Eli was concerned, at this point, Chloe was not worth the effort. If she could allow her brother to manipulate her life so much, she either did not love Jacob, or did not deserve to have her love returned.
"Look, this phone card is almost done," said Eli, "no point saving it for another call. Can I talk to Uncle Benjamin?"
"Eli, my boy," he answered, when Jacob passed him the phone, "how are you? And how's the illustrious Miss Williams?"
"Funny thing, that," said Eli. "Got good news for you. We didn't end up falling in love, like you dreaded. Genesis has a boyfriend."
"No! You're kidding! She seemed so into you before, I was sure…"
"No, no. She's with some guy named Thomas King. He's sort of this business big shot on Bay Street. I saw them driving downtown in together in his Roll Royce and she told me about the next time I saw her. That was sort of the reason she asked me for a lift to Toronto the first time I brought her home. She had a date with him later that night…"
"Oh, I'm sorry Eli…"
"It's fine, really. He's a great guy. I mean, I won't deny that I had hope something but develop between us, but it never did. She's happy with him, and that makes me happy. See, I never loved her. If I did, I'd be miserable right now and hate them both. No, the fact I still care about her proves how much I don't love her."
"Interesting logic, I must admit."
"Listen, don't bother telling Jacob about this. He's dealing enough with his own problems."
In fact, his uncle was the first person Eli had mentioned any of this to. It maybe stung slightly more than he admitted, but not much. It was not eating away at him like Jacob's situation was. He knew Genesis was honest and nice, that she would not lead him on intentionally. Whatever affection there was, he must have imagined it. Sure, he wondered if she wanted King for his money, but Genesis was so far from being materialistic that it was ridiculous to even think of. If she was with him, it was because he was a good man who she truly liked. So, if that's how it had to be, Eli was prepared to be only friends. And who knows, if he was patient, maybe they would break up eventually.
Eventually, September arrived. Jacob returned, school restarted, and for a few months Eli was so preoccupied that the whirlwind events of the summer hardly ever entered his thoughts. As November neared its end, Eli was flooded with tests and assignments. He knew once his exams were up, he would have to keep his promise and follow Chase along to Lillian Collins' parent's cabin near Miami Beach.
Eli still called his uncle often. He had made a habit of it while Jacob was staying with them, and had gotten used to him. Ben was funny but wise, understanding but cool. He was the only one he ever mentioned Genesis Williams to anymore, who he still saw through friends once in a while, but Eli never spoke badly about her, despite his uncle's doubts. Ben also asked about Jacob. Outwardly, he was fine. Life went on, and he never even mentioned Chloe anymore. But it had not escaped his notice he did not show interest in any women since he returned.
In mid-December, in the midst of freezing temperatures and snow, an exhausted Eli finished his semester, and the next day found himself preparing for a very long car trip with Chase Lewis and his younger brother, Samuel. The road trip would take just under two days, and it was a mind-numbing experience. Eli and Chase hardly had a word to say to each other anymore, and Samuel liked talked, but never of anything worth listening to. Mostly Eli stared blankly at the passing scenery, wondering if it would be this horrible when they arrived. They spent the night in a dingy little motel somewhere in West Virginia, and then were off again the next morning, finally arriving at a little summer cabin just off Miami Beach.
As they pulled up the dirt drive, suddenly the screen door burst open, and out sprang Lillian, who in the warm climate chose to wear only a small tube top and daisy duke shorts, adorned as always by an oversized crucifix. She screamed in joy, jumped up and down, and ran to the car door. As soon as Chase stepped out, she flung herself onto him, and kissed him for a full minute before pulling away.
"Hey darling love! It's so wonderful to see you again! Really! And Samuel!" She embraced Chase's brother almost as heartily, kissing him on the forehead. "It's great to see you, my future brother-in-law! Oh, hi Eli. Well come in." She turned away and showed them inside to the living room.
"Now sit down. You all most be positively famished after such a long trip! Well, Lillian's here to serve you! You are my guests, and I'm here to serve you! Anything I can get for you? Anyone?"
"No, really, I'm fine," said Sam.
"Are you sure? There's a supermarket just twenty minutes away, I can go get something for you if I don't have it."
"No, thank you, really…"
"Are you positive? It's not a bother for me at all."
"Thanks, but, no. No…"
"Okay, if you're absolutely sure. But remember, it's only twenty minutes away, and I can go get something for you. Really. You all look thirsty! Let me get some lemonade!"
As soon as she had turned into the kitchen, Eli leaned on the sofa into Chase's ear. "Did she just call Samuel her future brother-in-law?"
"Yeah, you see the thing about that is, I may have proposed to her over the phone last week."
"May have?"
"See, I wasn't exactly asking her to marry me when I said I wanted to spend my whole life with her, but she seemed to take it that way, and I, er, didn't feel the need to contradict her."
Lillian returned with lemonade, and soon with dinner, and when that was done, she decided to take the three men on a sunset stroll on the boardwalk. She prattled on every location they passed, telling them some trivia about it, or something interesting that had happened to her there during her many years vacationing here. Chase walked hand in hand with her, sometimes laying his head on her shoulder. Eli could not deny he looked happy, but he did wonder how much of what Lillian was saying he was actually listening to.
As they were turning off the boardwalk to the sidewalk to go back home, Lillian spotted a dark car approaching them up the road.
"Oh! Oh! What great luck! It's him! It's Andrew Anderson's car! Mr. Caleb Anderson's son!"
"Oh my God!" cried Samuel anxiously.
Lillian got on the road and started waving down the car. It pulled over, the tinted dark windows not allowing them to see who was inside. A window in the backseat rolled down.
"It's probably best if only I approach," said Lillian. "He gets nervous when, er, overwhelmed by strangers."
In the shadows of growing night, Eli could only just make out the sickly little creature in the backseat of the car. He saw a small, pointed pale face, like that of a young boy, but superimposed with mean features that made him look much older.
After a few minutes conversation with Lillian, the window rolled back up and the car drove away.
"Isn't he wonderful! The poor dear. His, err, health issues don't allow him to drive on his own, but he likes to get his chauffeur to take him on rides every so often. He's so sweet, he always makes Jenkins pull over when he sees me. And guess what? I told him who you all were, and he invited us all over to his house tomorrow! Isn't he sweet?"
Perhaps he was, thought Eli, but he hardly saw it in his expression. Eli wondered why Lillian carried on about a man three years older than her, as if he were a little boy.
On the way home, Lillian pointed out the lights of the Anderson home across the bay. They lived on a tiny island, Indian Creek, notorious for being one of the most exclusive communities in the country. The island consisted mostly of about thirty houses, the cheapest of which cost $7 million, the most expensive 30 million. It was protected twenty-four hours a day by its own police force, and a boat patrol around the island. The island had houses owned by celebrities, pop stars, pro sports legends, big league coaches, senators, sheiks, TV personalities, billionaire investors, corporate moguls, developers, executives, CEOs, and the likes. Lillian had security clearance from Mr. Anderson to enter the island whenever he wanted.
Samuel listened attentively as Lillian explained all these things, eyes bright, mouth open, unable to believe he'd being going to a place like that the next day.