Hilton Head 750

HILTON HEAD 750

"Think about it, John, Huntsville, Alabama, or Plano, Texas. They are both great opportunities, and both are available immediately."

"I promise I'll pick one by Monday and be ready to leave. I appreciate the change and the new challenges."

"You and the wife are going to Hilton Head again?"

"Yeah, this is the fifth time. The wife likes the flea markets, and I get to hit a little white ball around."

"I thought you were a par three guy. Do they have any par three courses there?"

"No, but I get to play the regular courses with my short gear."

"Well, have fun and call me as soon as you decide."

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Dick, Danny, and Dwight all married my wife's sorority sisters. I guess Carla, couldn't find a guy whose name started with a 'D'. Carla and I were only married for about four years. I always felt like an outsider, even though they tried to include me. Dwight had a Honda Odyssey, so the D's all drove together. I preferred that, because I could give my '81 RX7 a real workout. Most of the Rotary Rockets had been retired by now, but I kept mine up and running. The faster I went, the smoother the engine.

"Carla, are you going to be looking for anything special this trip?" I was just trying to start a conversation with my wife.

"Trivets! I would like to get four or five new ones. You can never have enough trivets." Carla laughed at her own stupid little joke. She already had almost a hundred of them.

I wanted to talk to her about the upcoming move, but I was hesitant to bring it up. Things had not been going well between us lately. She had become snippy and a bit distant. I started noticing mysterious phone calls and hushed conversations with her sorority sisters. I convinced myself I was being paranoid, but that didn't make it better. Any contacts I had with the 'D's' seemed a bit stressed. The final straw came when the name 'Dennis' popped up. We, or should I say I, did not know anyone named Dennis. I had a strange feeling that Dennis was a blast from the past. I had no proof of anything and no indications.

Dwight made all of the arrangements for us at the Holiday Garden Inn. He liked the free breakfast they offered. I didn't care one way or the other.

The table conversations at supper that evening were interesting. It seemed to reek of innuendos that I didn't get and inside jokes that went over my head. I felt more like an outsider than I did normally.

Danny had a good starting time at a local course, and the Holiday Inn valet service was available to get us there. The girls were taking the Odyssey and had the first day all mapped out. I felt uneasy. Carla got a phone call while we were eating. Since all her friends were here, who the hell would be calling? She quickly ended the call.

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I took the usual razzing at tee-off. My small canvas bag held a three-wood, a four-iron, and a putter. That is why it took me twice as long to play a round as it took the other guys.

They were being a bit more snarky than normal. I could tell that something was up. As we approached the ninth hole, I pulled out my cell phone.

"Who are calling, John?" Dick seemed to be trying to look at my phone.

"Not calling anyone. Just checking some locations." That brought a few light chuckles.

"So, where is the little lady?" Danny asked with a slight smirk, indicating that he knew something that I didn't..

I looked at the three of them and smiled. Well, Carla's phone is at a flea market in Crestview, but the AirTag shows that she has been at the Sunrise Marriott for the last two hours. How is she going to find any trivets there?" I smiled again.

The three of them just stood there. The smirks were gone. There were no more snide remarks. Dwight went a few steps away and made a phone call.

"By the way, who the hell is Dennis?" I picked up my bag and went into the clubhouse. I didn't have a car, so I had to call an Uber.

Twenty minutes later, the Mazda was screaming down the highway.

I called my Boss and told him 'Huntsville'.