Page 29 of Summer Reading

She shook her head. “They’re not island regulars. In fact, I think this is their first summer. They’re staying over in Chilmark.”

“Do you two know most of the residents on the island?” Ben asked. He glanced from me to Em.

“I used to,” I said. “But I’ve been out of the loop for a few years.”

“I know most of the year-rounders,” Em said. “Especially if they’re library users.”

Ben nodded. I figured he was trying to get the Vineyard vibe. There was no other place quite like it, maybe Nantucket, but each island had its own peculiarities. The Vineyard had six towns to Nantucket’s one, so the Vineyard was much bigger, and with so many tourists coming and going, it was a bit looser, less buttoned up than Nantucket.

“I hate to leave you with kitchen cleanup,” Em said. “But I have to go since I’m opening the library tomorrow.” She held out a wad of money. “Here are the tips from my station.”

“Keep them. Those are yours.” I said. I pulled the wad of bills Stuart had given me out of my pocket. “In fact, I owe you more.”

Em waved me off. “No, don’t even think it. You worked all week for that. I’m happy to have earned tips.”

I turned to Ben with the cash in hand. He shook hishead. “Same. I’m good with my tips and you can buy me a beer.”

“I’m not,” Tyler said. He held out his hand and wiggled his fingers.

“All right, but you have to finish earning it,” I said. I held a couple of big bills in the air. “If you pack up the car, these are yours.”

Sure I wanted to help my brother earn extra money, but honestly the adrenaline of the night, heck, of the whole week, was draining away, and I was actually exhausted. The thought of packing up all my gear made me want to lie down on the dirty patio and nap.

“Deal!” Tyler said. He snatched the bills and started counting his wad.

“Smart move.” Em laughed and waved at us as she left. She called over her shoulder, “Talk tomorrow?”

“Of course,” I said.

I glanced at Ben, wondering if he really wanted a beer or if he was just being nice. He was watching Tyler count his money and smiling at Tyler’s obvious glee.

“You might want to put that cash away before you lose it,” I said. Ugh, I sounded like such a nagging older sister. Mercifully, Tyler didn’t call me out for it.

“Right,” he said. He shoved the money in his pocket. When he glanced at me, he had a little frown in between his eyebrows. “So where did you learn to shuffle dance? I mean I’ve never seen Dad do anything like that.”

I laughed trying to picture our dad doing anything beyond a basic side-to-side sway. “Um, not from Dad, that’s for sure.”

I thought that would be it, but Tyler was staring at me expectantly. Clearly, he was looking for full disclosure. Ben was watching me, too, making me self-conscious.

“EDM was my thing in high school,” I said.

“Electronic dance music?” Ben made a face like he smelled something bad.

“Hey, don’t be judgy,” I said. “There was a lot going on in my life at the time.”

I did not look at Tyler, as I didn’t want him to know that he’d been one of those things.

“Such as my arrival,” Tyler said.

So much for protecting his feelings.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I was at a school dance, under duress, as I didn’t want to go, and this guy started to bust some moves that just blew my mind. He told me it was called shuffle dance and that it began in Melbourne, Australia, in the early eighties but had since merged with hip-hop to become something new. I could not get enough.”

“EDM, huh? Who were your faves?” Ben asked. The concerned frown in between his brows resembled Tyler’s, and I didn’t know if it was my taste in music or my love of dance that they both found so worrisome.

“To dance to? Avicii, Skrillex, or Alesso,” I said. “I think ‘Levels’ was my anthem as a teen.”

Ben looked dubious, while Tyler looked as if I’d started speaking in tongues. He had no idea what I was talking about. That’s what a fourteen-year age gap between siblings created.

---