The Reef

made.”
    “Farrge says there’s no reason to delay it. He’s strong enough to make the trip, and the sooner he gets hooked up with this specialist, the better.”
    “That’s great, Matthew. Really. You’ll keep in touch, won’t you? Let us know about his progress. Marla and I will take a trip up ourselves as soon as you think he’s up to it.”
    “You’re . . . you’re the best friend he ever had,” Matthew said carefully. “It would mean a lot if you come to see him when you can manage it. I know he’s hard to deal with right now, but—”
    “Don’t worry about that.” Ray spoke quietly. “A man lucky enough to make that kind of a friend, he doesn’t toss it away because times are rough. We’ll come, Matthew. Tate’s decided to start college in September after all. But I’m sure she’d like to go up with us on her first break.”
    “She’s going back to college in September,” Matthew murmured.
    “Yes, Marla and I are pleased she’s decided not to defer after all. She’s so down about this whole business right now that I can’t think of anything better for her than getting back into routine. I know she’s not sleeping well. Tate’s so young to have to face all we’ve had to facethese last few days. Concentrating on her studies is the best thing for her.”
    “Yeah. You’re right.”
    “I don’t want to pry, Matthew. But I get the feeling you and Tate have had some sort of disagreement.”
    “No big deal.” Matthew signaled for another beer. “She’ll land on her feet.”
    “I don’t doubt it. Tate’s a strong-willed and sensible girl.” Ray frowned down at the circles of damp his bottle left on the bar. Rings within rings, he thought. “Matthew, I’m not blind. I realize the two of you were becoming involved.”
    “We had a few laughs,” Matthew interrupted. “Nothing serious.” He looked at Ray, and answered the unspoken question. “Nothing serious,” he repeated.
    Relieved, Ray nodded. “I’d hoped I could trust both of you to be responsible. I know she’s not a child anymore, but a father still worries.”
    “And you wouldn’t want her to hook up with someone like me.”
    Ray glanced over, met the cool derision in Matthew’s eyes with some surprise. “No, Matthew. I’d be sorry, at this point in her life, to see her hooked up seriously with anyone. With the right motivation, Tate would throw everything she’d hoped to accomplish to the winds. I’m grateful she’s not doing that.”
    “Fine. Terrific.”
    Ray let out a long breath. Something he hadn’t even considered had just jumped out and slapped him in the face. “If she knew you were in love with her, she wouldn’t be going back to North Carolina.”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I told you we had a few laughs.” But the compassion in Ray’s eyes had him turning away, dropping his face in his hands. “Shit. What was I supposed to do? Tell her to pack it up and come with me?”
    “You could have,” Ray said quietly.
    “I’ve got nothing for her but bad times and worse luck. Once I get Buck to Chicago, I’m taking a job on a salvage boat off Nova Scotia. Lousy conditions, but decent pay.”
    “Matthew—”
    But he shook his head. “The thing is, Ray, it’s not going to be enough, money-wise. Especially at first. I can pretty well square things here. Back in the States with the fancy doctor and the fancy treatment, it’s going to be another story. Farrge worked it so they’d cut us a break. Buck’s kind of an experiment,” he added with a sneer. “And they’re talking about social security and Medicaid or Medicare or some such shit. Even with that . . .” He swallowed more beer along with his pride. “I need money, Ray. There’s nobody else I can ask for it, and I gotta say it doesn’t go down real good to have to ask you.”
    “Buck’s my partner, Matthew. And my friend.”
    “Was your partner,” Matthew corrected. “Anyway, I need ten thousand.”
    “All right.”
    The mild tone slashed like a blade across the throat of his pride. “Don’t agree so fast. Goddamn it.”
    “Would it really help if I made you beg for it? If I outlined terms and conditions?”
    “I don’t know.” Matthew gripped the bottle, fighting furiously the need to hurl it, hear it shatter. Like that pride. “It’s going to take me some time to pay it back. I’m going to pay it back,” he said between his teeth before Ray could speak. “I need enough to set