Page 102 of The Summer We Started Over

Eddie held her sister tight. “I know you’re afraid. I’m afraid. We’re all taking chances. It’s the only way life can be lived.” She kissed Barrett’s cheek. “Otherwise, we’d all just be hiding under our beds. Remember when we were small? We watched a scary show on TV and it frightened us so much we both hid under my bed until Mom enticed us out with grape Popsicles.”

“I remember,” Barrett said, half-smiling. “Grape was my least favorite flavor. Okay, you’re right. Sorry to be so freaky. I’ve got to get busy. I’ve got stuff to organize. Bills to pay. Hopefully, I’ll have more customers.”

Eddie asked, “Do you want me to hang out with you for a while?”

“No. Thanks. I’m fine. I’ll be better if I get some work done.”

Barrett walked to the front of her store. Blue surrounded her, and she saw two women lingering at her window.

“Okay, then.” Eddie slung her bag over her shoulder. “I’ll see you at home tonight.”

A young woman hurried into the shop. “Thank heavens you’re open! I’ve got to buy a present. I forgot today is my mother’s birthday and she loves your stuff.”

Her words worked like a magician’s wand on Barrett. She lit up. She smiled. “Sure. Let’s find something and I’ll gift wrap it.”

Eddie grinned. “See you later.” She left the shop.

Barrett turned to her customer. “What sort of thing are you looking for?”

“Oh, I don’t know. You have so many beautiful things in here. I want them all!”

—

Eddie pulled into the driveway. Duke ran out to greet her, tail wagging. The horse stood next to the barn, in the shade near the fence. As Eddie approached, she stood firm, waiting, and when Eddie reached over thefence to stroke her long soft muzzle, the horse extended her neck and closed her eyes, surrendering to the touch.

“You’re getting to like me, aren’t you?” Eddie said sweetly.

The horse snorted and tossed her head. Duke squeezed below the fence rails and ran up to the horse. Together, the two animals strolled to the back of the field.

Eddie opened the Book Barn and stepped inside. She scanned the eccentric shop, assessing the shelves. Dinah’s books were all gone, no surprise there. Good old Hegel and Nietzsche were still hanging out on the lowest shelf, next to the quilting books. Most of the children’s books were gone.

She walked around, straightening shelves, folding the afghan on the back of the chair. August was melting to an end. Eddie guessed there would be a lull for a few days, and then the newlyweds and the almost-deads crowd would arrive, and some of them might like looking at used books.

Eddie climbed on the high stool and leaned on the counter. She opened her computer to the shop page, then closed it. She had to face it. She had to stop putting it off. She had to decide how and when to tell Dinah she was staying on the island. Her fear was that Dinah would be hurt. Eddie genuinely loved her, and thought Dinah loved her back, in her own self-centered way. Eddie could almost predict what would happen. Dinah would fall apart, weeping that she couldn’t go on without Eddie, Eddie was the only assistant she’d had that really made a difference, and why couldn’t Eddie come back just for a month, to help Dinah get settled in the city again?

But Bobby was the most important person in the mix. At some point, probably within the next few months, Dove would die. She was failing faster than she’d hoped, and she had agreed that for the last few days she would go into the hospital. She would tell Bobby she was going on a trip.

Eddie’s heart ached at the thought of Dove and her “trip.” She couldn’t imagine how it would happen. But they would help Dove,and mourn her, and take care of her son. Eddie and Barrett and Bobby would stay in the farmhouse while Jeff finished building his house. At some point she and Jeff would make wedding plans. They would formally adopt Bobby.

What a terrifying thought. Eddie had to be a good mother. That was what shehadto do, and she was scared.

As if summoned by her thoughts, Dove returned home, parking her ancient Volvo near the house.

Eddie walked out to help her carry in the beach stuff, the picnic basket, the umbrella, the damp and sandy beach towels.

“How was it?” she asked.

Dove released Bobby from his car seat straps. Bobby hurtled out of the car and raced around the yard.

Dove leaned against the car, obviously exhausted, watching her boy run.

“We had a great time,” Dove said. “We both have sunburns here and there, and Bobby must have a bucket’s worth of sand in his bathing suit. I’ll make sure to take it off before we go into the house.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Eddie said. “Go on in, take a shower, take a nap. Whatever. I’ll hang with Bobby.”

“Thanks, Eddie.” Dove pushed off from her car and walked slowly to the house.

“Hey, Bobby!” Eddie called. “Come to the backyard with me so I can rinse the sand off your legs.”

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