Page 58 of The Summer We Started Over

“Nice,” Eddie said. She was slightly flustered—no, she admitted to herself, she was very flustered, almostgiddyto see Jeff. He wore carpenter’s pants and an ancient Rolling Stones T-shirt. He had wood dust in his hair and a cut on his hand and a sensational sunburn on his cheeks and nose. An odor of wood and sun and cinnamon drifted away from him, and when he smiled, his teeth were snow white against his sun-chapped lips.

“Have a seat.” Eddie gestured to the chair next to her.

Jeff set the six-pack on the table, wrestled a couple free from the plastic rings, handed her one and popped open one for himself.

“Man,” Jeff said. “I’m tired.”

Eddie studied him. The urge to step off the swing and throw herself on his lap was strong, but she stifled it. “Your lips are chapped.”

“Ha!” Jeff laughed. “Do you want me to apply a little tube of lip balm while I’m carrying a two-by-four up the ladder?”

“Maybe not my best idea,” Eddie agreed. “How’syourhouse coming along?”

“I’m ahead of schedule with it, actually. These long summer days allow me to hammer a few nails early in the morning and again after work with the crew.”

“You look tired,” Eddie told him.

“Really?” Jeff smiled and cocked his head. “I looktired? What do you think, is it a good look for me?” He flexed his arm.

“I have to admit, your biceps are impressive.” Eddie wanted to reach out and hold his hand. Her brain flashed:Get hold of yourself, girl.

Jeff’s eyes darkened. Eddie was washed over with desire.

She grabbed the first safe topic she could think of and blurted, “Barrett’s shop is doing really well!”

Jeff gave her a sideways, knowing smile. “Tell me.”

Eddie talked about her sister, and then about her father, and then about Dinah. Jeff talked about his co-workers and his parents. Duke sat at his feet, gazing up at him with adoring eyes. Duchess approached the fence and muttered sweet nothings at Jeff.

Honestly,Eddie thought,does the man give off acome kiss mescent?

After that, Jeff came over at the end of every day—hisend of the day was after nine o’clock when the sun set and the builders couldn’t see to work—and they sat on the porch drinking beers and talking. There was always something to talk about. For some mysterious reason, this summer cars and SUVs were slamming into trees and buildings and flipping on their sides, or upside down, like turtles helpless in their shells. Were people going too fast? Was that even possible on Nantucket, where the highest speed limit was forty-five miles per hourfor about ten miles? Drew Barrymore had eaten at Millie’s in Madaket. Bill Belichick had hired Captain Tom for a day of deep-sea fishing. Sharks were circling the island.

Sometimes Dinah would join them on the porch for a chat. She spent much of her day at the library, writing, and she often ate lunch and dinner at one of the many restaurants in town. She scraped her hair back in a bun, wore no makeup, and walked around town in a T-shirt, sneakers, and a baseball cap, and it worked. No one recognized her, and she found it amusing and slightly disconcerting. Occasionally, she would agree to speak at the library or at a local book club, and then she wore one of her summer dresses and “just a few” diamonds in a necklace or hair clip.

William and Dinah seldom crossed paths. William woke early, with Barrett. They had breakfast, Barrett left for her shop, and William secluded himself in his study to write. Eddie and Dinah woke at seven-thirty, had breakfast, and went their separate ways, Eddie to the Book Barn, Dinah to town. In her rented Mercedes convertible, she zipped into town, often returning home with bags filled with fruit and expensive cookies for everyone.

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Saturday night, Jeff didn’t come over. He didn’t text her to let her know he wasn’t coming over. He’d come every night for the last two weeks and Eddie felt hurt by his absence, even though she knew she shouldn’t.

She made a meal of cold sandwiches and salad but wasn’t hungry. She felt so down, so bored. She decided she could use a little playtime. Their father was in his study. Dinah was eating dinner out with a new friend. Barrett had closed her shop for the day and lay on the sofa with her feet on a pillow.

“Let’s go to the Box,” Eddie suggested.

Barrett yawned and stretched her arms. “Really? I don’t know if I have the energy to stand up.”

“Maybe not, but I’m sure you have the energy to dance.” Eddie tickled her sister’s bare feet. “Come on.”

They quickly slipped into jean shorts and tank tops, pulled their hair up into high ponytails because they knew the bar would be hot, left a note for their father, and raced out the door.

The place was booming when they arrived. They walked into a pulsing wall of noise, went straight to the bar, and ordered margaritas. A country-western band was playing. Everyone was dancing, shouting, flirting, laughing. Barrett was quickly surrounded by people who’d met her at the dress shop or the restaurant. Eddie was ordering her second drink when Barrett pulled her out on the crowded floor.

“You’re the one who dragged me here,” Barrett yelled. “You have to dance!”

“Let’s do this!” Eddie shouted back, and let the music take her.

The cover band was playing Aerosmith, music that was impossible to stay still to. Eddie and Barrett danced, screaming, letting go. Eddie felt Jeff’s presence before she saw him. The hair on her arms stood up like an early warning signal.

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