"I am serious, Julian.  Do not contact me if it is not an emergency.  If you do so, I will be forced to find a new manager.  But, if there is an emergency and you do not contact me, then I will do the same."<br/><br/>Gavin Logan listened to the words coming from the phone at his ear.  For a few seconds, the voice from the manager at the largest hotel he owned spoke rapidly.  Gavin nodded, though the person on the other end could not see him.  He hadn't used the video chat function.  "That's right, both Claire and I are taking some time off.  A week to start with, but it is possible that the vacation will be longer."<br/><br/>"What was that?   Oh, no, I don't believe we're going anywhere.  If there is an emergency, a call to the main house will be sufficient.  The beach house, Julian.  Yes."<br/><br/>The voice spoke some more.<br/><br/>"Well, do what I have asked, Julian, and you won't have any cause to worry.  I will check in on you now and then.  Goodbye."<br/><br/>Gavin took the phone from his ear and pressed the surface.  It disconnected the call and went to the main page of it's mobile operating system.  Gavin slipped it into his pocket as he glanced at the watch on his arm.  It was just after 1 PM.  Landon should have landed an hour or so ago by now, but there had been no call.  He had offered to go to the airport and pickup his college friend, but Landon had refused.  He had insisted on making his way to Gavin and Claire's house on his own.  Gavin had known better than to argue with his friend.  Every since he had joined the military, Landon had become more and more self-reliant.<br/><br/>Until just under a year ago, that is.<br/><br/>Now, leaving the military due to what had happened, his friend was in need of a place to stay.  There was no question that Gavin and his wife Claire would throw open their doors to their friend.  That was the reason he had arranged for them to take time off work, which, being the boss and owner, was easy for him to do.  So, there was no real world impediment to them being there for Landon.  The only real impediment was entirely between Claire and he.<br/><br/>Of course, what Gavin was planning could make it worse.  But, at this point, maybe, just maybe, it would help.<br/>