Page 107 of The Summer We Started Over

She laid the child down on her twin bed and carefully slipped inbeside him, snuggling him close. She was surprised at how little room he took. Grateful for the air-conditioning, she pulled a sheet up over her shoulder and tucked it around Bobby. She tried to stay awake, but the sweet sound of his deep breaths, accentuated by an occasional little snore, lulled her into sleep. When she woke, it was morning.

nineteen

Eddie was taking homemade cinnamon buns out of the oven when she heard footsteps on the stairs. Skipping and jumping—that was Bobby. Progressing more slowly—that was Dove.

“Oh wow, cimmamom buns!” Bobby yelled.

Eddie smiled. She was beginning to see why women liked to cook and bake.

“They’re still hot, so you have to wait a minute,” Eddie told the little boy.

Bobby threw himself on the floor and cuddled with Duke, who vigorously licked Bobby’s face.

“Is that okay?” Eddie whispered to Dove.

Dove nodded. “The experts say it’s all okay for little kids. It gives them immunities.”

Eddie made coffee for them all, put out plates and knives, and they sat at the table.

“How do you feel?” Before Dove could speak, Eddie said, “Tell me if you get tired of hearing me ask how you feel.”

“I slept really well,” Dove told her. “I’d like to go out to Miacomet again today, and Eddie, I’d love it if you could come with me.”

“We can absolutely do that.”

“Also…I wish Barrett could come with us.”

“Where are you going?” Barrett entered the room, dressed for her shop in a navy dress with white trim.

“I want to take Bobby out to Miacomet again. He loves the pond and it’s not so crowded as other beaches. I think it will be a good place to talk.”

“I can talk anywhere!” Bobby informed them.

“I’d like to go, too,” Barrett said. “Let me see if I can get Janny to work this morning.”

Janny answered her phone by screaming out, “Are you kidding me?”

“Janny?” Barrett flashed an amused look at Eddie and Dove.

“Who do you think you are, dumping my brother like that? I’m never coming near your pathetic little shop again.”

Barrett held the phone out so the others could hear Janny ranting about how wonderful her brother was and how fortunate Barrett had been to have him evenspeakto her and she was not spending one more minute in that stupid little shop.

When Janny stopped to catch her breath, Barrett said, “Do you want to pick up your last paycheck?”

Janny burst into full force sobbing. “How can I care about money when you’ve broken my brother’s heart?”

“Janny, I haven’t broken Drew’s heart. Maybe I hurt his pride, but you know he’s going to find another woman, someone of his…” Barrett remembered the word Janny would appreciate. “…caliber.”

“I don’t care. I hate you.” Janny clicked off.

Eddie poured her sister more coffee. “Goodness, Barrett, I had no idea that you and Drew were so involved.”

“We weren’tso involved,” Barrett said. “Whatever, I have to open the shop this morning. I’m sorry to miss out on going to Miacomet with you all. Can we all talk again this evening?”

“Of course,” Dove said.

“Of course!” Bobby echoed.

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