Page 17 of Paging Dr. Summers

“Over there.” Logan pointed.

“Great. Any suggestions?”

“I like the Billabong or Hyperfreak lines.”

“Those are some wild names,” I quipped. “I’ll try some on, and you can tell me what you think.”

His face contorted unnaturally. “That’s not necessary. Just pick something you like and make sure it’s snug, but not restrictive. It should feel like a second skin. I’m going to go over there.” He pointed aimlessly across the store. “I’ll meet you when you’re done.”

“All right. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Of course. Take your time.” He jetted off.

I watched him go, wondering how we were going to be lifelong friends if he kept running away from me. The night before, when we were having a great time talking about the stars and some of my favorite songs, he’d unceremoniously grabbed his telescope and had skedaddled. Did he have an aversion to fun, or wet suits, or was it me? I had a feeling it was me.

I DID MY BEST NOT to stare at Brooke in her wet suit that beautifully cradled every one of her curves as she played in the water with Eden and Sophie. They were all giggling and splashing each other. The late-afternoon sun seemed to shine its rays directly on my alluring neighbor with an infectious laugh and an almost childlike innocence to her.

Except she was no child. That wet suit spelled out that she was a woman in every sense of the word.

But it was her inner beauty I feared the most. She was anything but the hot mess she’d seemed during our first two meetings. She was lovely, and her candor put you at ease and would have you confessing all your secrets. I still had no idea why I’d told her about my brief career as a big band singer. If that ever got out, Eden would never let me live it down. Even Erica would have laughed about it.

The only reason I could fathom why I’d let my guard down and told her was that Brooke’s vulnerability invited vulnerability. Or maybe it was that smile of hers with the one dimple that filled me with a warmth I hadn’t felt in months. The warmth only women seem to possess.

Brooke even appeared to have some effect on Eden and Sophie. They looked so carefree, giggling and smiling in the water after Brooke had dared them to jump in with her. It was as if Brooke were reminding them that they could be happy. Not that long ago, it would have been me leading the charge into the water. It should have been me. I, morethan anyone, should have been trying to help my sister and niece heal. My own pain was getting in the way.

It made me curious how Brooke coped so well with her loss. So well that she could help others. Maybe that was her secret—helping others. In my work, I helped people every day, but it wasn’t the same. If I was being honest with myself, I wasn’t the doctor I used to be. I still gave high-quality care and my treatments were accurate, but I’d lost the personal connection I used to pride myself on. Hell, I’d even walked out on Brooke during her exam. I wasn’t proud of it, or of the man I’d become.

I doubted Erica would enjoy this version of me. I could hear her telling me to snap out of it. Not that she would want me to have these thoughts about my neighbor. She’d be the first to say, “You’re not going to be one of those guys, are you?”Those guysmeaning the ones who divorced her friends and then hooked up with or married younger women. It didn’t matter if it was an ego thing or a vain attempt to hold on to their youth—Erica had despised those men. And I refused to become one of them. But Erica didn’t need to worry. I hadn’t moved on from her.

Besides, after what I’d witnessed today at Granger’s, I was sure Brooke would have plenty of admirers this summer. She had half the employees enthralled with her as she cracked jokes about getting in and out of the wet suits. I had a feeling the male employees would have all volunteered to help her right out of them.

If I wasn’t mistaken, Jake, the general manager of the store, had asked for her number. He was in Eden’s high school graduating class. I didn’t remember much about him, but if you asked me, he came off as a tool today, the way he’d slyly worked into their conversation that he’d be happy to help Brooke with any of her sporting goods needs.

Not that I was acting much more maturely. I’d begged Eden and Sophie to come out with me while I taught Brooke how to paddleboard. The less alone time I had with her, the better. It didn’t matter that she wanted nothing more than friendship and that I enjoyed her company. I found her too attractive.

“Come on, Uncle Logan!” Sophie yelled. “Jump in!”

Jump in.Those words sounded like a challenge to me. I needed tojump back into life. At the very least, I needed to be more present for Sophie and Eden. So, I ran headlong into the lake and dove in. The frigid water smacked my face, but didn’t penetrate my wet suit. All at once, a surge of energy went through me. It was as if I’d finally shown up to the party. Feeling more like myself than I had in a long time, I went straight for Sophie and picked her up and held her above my head.

“Don’t even think about it,” Sophie squealed in delight while weakly protesting through her giggles. “You’re going to be so sorry if you throw me in the water.”

“Oh, really?” She didn’t scare me at all. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to . . . to . . . to . . .” She couldn’t control her laughter.

For a split second, I locked eyes with Brooke. She flashed that infectious smile of hers at me, making me almost drop Sophie. I wrenched my gaze away and focused back on my niece. I was coming to realize the power of Brooke’s smile, and I wouldn’t fall victim to it. If I did, who knew what else I might confess to her? Maybe that I’d auditioned forAmerican Idolonce and my voice had unnaturally cracked? Let’s just say it didn’t win me any votes.

“I’m going to make you do crafts with me!” Sophie tried to sound scary.

“I can live with that.” I tossed her in the water.

She came up spluttering, wiping her face with her hands. “This calls for glitter.”

Admittedly, glitter frightened me. That stuff ended up everywhere. My house would sparkle for months. But I’d pay the price to make Sophie happy.

While my sister’s mini-me tried to exact her revenge and dunk me, I couldn’t help but overhear Eden and Brooke’s conversation.

“I’ve been listening to your podcast for the last couple of days, and you’re amazing,” Eden showered Brooke with praise. “The episode where you told the story behind ‘Go Your Own Way’ by Fleetwood Mac—the way you spoke so poetically about one of your own breakups where the guy left you for another woman. It spoke to my soul when you said that ‘going your own way meant the start to a new adventure,but I just wish I didn’t have to be the collateral damage in their love story.’ That last part resonated with me so much,” Eden choked out. “Except for sometimes, I wonder if they intended to hurt me.”

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