The ball flew high over the fence, landing straight in the street.
“Out,” Steve shouted.
“No kidding, damn it” Edwin muttered quietly to himself.
“What’s up, bro, getting tired?” Steve teased.
“You wish!” Edwin answered, forcing a laugh.
“Are we talking or playing?” asked Lea, Steve’ wife. “We’ve only got half an hour left, let’s step it up!”
Kate groaned in despair at the mention of how much time was left. She could have sworn they’d been playing for at least fifty minutes already. And here this hyperactive woman was, announcing they had another thirty minutes to roast in the blazing sun. She looked longingly toward the shady, cool mini-golf course beyond the fence. A few young people, laughing, walked to the next hole, cocktails in hand. How much better it would be to play over there!
“Are you paying attention? I’m serving!” Lea called out sternly.
Edwin wiped the sweat from his forehead with his wristband. He just had to endure another half hour. If this restless couple could handle the heat so well, then he couldn’t complain at forty-five years old. But the sounds from the two-pool beach area on the other side of the court kept distracting him. The splashing of the presumably cool water reminded him again and again how much he hated suffering in the sun. Padel was a great sport, but not like this.
But then again, Steve and Lea were his biggest clients. He had no choice but to accept every damn invitation. He couldn’t understand why they always booked the court between eleven and noon, but if they, near seventy, could handle it, then he and Kate had to tough it out too. After all, they owed their luxury cars, the new pool, and the private school to this retired couple. No whining allowed.
Steve wanted to scream when Lea mercilessly reminded them how much time was left. Thirty miserable minutes to pretend to be in great shape despite his old age. How many times had he told Lea they should stop? Just stop inviting Edwin and Kate to play padel. Who knows? Maybe they’d be glad not to play anymore. Though, with how intensely those two ran around the court, maybe they actually enjoyed this sweltering heat.
Lea had this obsession that they had to be the best at everything. She thought that if they didn’t appear that way, Edwin and Kate would distance themselves. Kate had mentioned more than once that they were getting pickier with their clients. Apparently, a franchise with hundreds of stores had already approached them. If they took that job, there would be no time left for Steve and Lea. Something more than money had to tie them together. According to Lea, this was the recipe for keeping the business relationship strong. Edwin and Kate were the best, and it was their work that allowed the couple’s business to thrive even in retirement. But why did they have to strengthen that bond on Sundays between eleven and noon?
The older woman reveled in announcing exactly how many minutes of suffering were still ahead. She tried to block out the sound of water splashing on one side and the sneaky laughter and occasional clinking of cocktail glasses on the other. Why did they have to toast at every hole? Oh, how much better it would be to be over there!
She had planned it so well! When Steve suggested playing sports with Edwin and Kate, she immediately knew that the only way to avoid padel was through clever tactics. After all, Lea had hated any sport that involved running or jumping since she turned sixty.
She thought that by always booking the court at noon between the beach and the mini-golf course, one of them would eventually suggest how much better it would be to play under the shady trees. She was sure that after one round of mini-golf, everyone would prefer that to padel. But no!
Kate’s face clearly showed her pain every time she found out they’d only been playing for half an hour. Edwin was much more disciplined, but there was no way he was enjoying the scorching heat. It was Steve’s fault. He was trying to act like a big shot. She had told him a thousand times that, as a husband, the only place he needed to be the big shot for a few more years was in the bedroom. Steve had promised her he’d focus his strength there, not on any kind of competition. Yet here he was, running around like a crazed sheep. It’s noon, for God’s sake!