Page 81 of The Book of Summer

“Good Lord, who said anything about ‘giving it up’?” Topper’s bluebell gaze suddenly went dark. “Not that it’d be any of your business if she had. Listen, Red. Fast or not, Hattie is a helluva gal but she’s a different breed from you. Not bad, not good, just different. And different is all right to be. Don’t let anyone claim otherwise.”

Topper stood.

“I’m not sure what she told you,” he said. “About us or me or anyone else. But the same prescription doesn’t apply to everyone. Don’t go judging her or anyone else too hastily.”

“I’m not judging,” Ruby said, though promptly realized that’s exactly what she’d done. “Topper, are you mad? I didn’t mean to…”

“Mad? At you? Never! Now then, I’m about three and a quarter whiskies past my limit so I’d better get myself to bed to avoid passing out in some scurrilous place. Mother will never get over having to extract me from the privet hedge the summer before last.”

He bent down and kissed Ruby on the noggin.

“Go to sleep, kid. It’s going to be an early morning.”

Topper turned back toward the house.

As he went to open the door, Hattie materialized on the other side of the glass. She waved at the both of them.

“Speak of the devil,” Topper said over his shoulder.

After a sly wink, Topper opened the door with a flourish. He took an exaggerated bow, just as he had the night of the Independence Ball, when the girls were exhausted, sun-chapped, and reveling in their tennis tournament win.

“Mademoiselle,” he said. “We were just gabbing about you.”

“Rats! I missed the dirt.” Hattie pecked Topper on the cheek. “What’s wrong, leaving so soon?”

“I’m leaving one way or another,” he said. “Better to be deliberate about it. Night-o, dolls. Have the sweetest dreams.”

As the door clicked behind him, Hattie plunked down beside Ruby, in the exact spot Topper had been.

“Hiya Rubes,” she said. “What a shindig. Hard to believe the summer’s over.”

“Yup,” Ruby said.

“It’s been such a gas, Ruby. I’m so glad to have met ya. Who knew charity work could pay off like that? I was awfully skeptical about the whole Grey Ladies biz but it ended up being the best danged thing I could’ve done.”

“Oh, thanks,” Ruby mumbled, careful not to meet her friend’s eyes.

“Look, pumpkin.” Hattie placed a hand on Ruby’s knee. “I know you want more between your brother and me—the rings and the gown and the luncheon for hundreds. And, Lord, Topper’s a handsome guy who’s a kick and a half. I can see why you love him like you do. But it’s just not going to happen between or betwixt us.” Hattie shook her head. “Breaks my heart to think the poor sap’s gonna ship off soon. He’s too sweet a guy to fight, I’ll tell you what.”

“Then make himstay,” Ruby said, her voice coming out in a drawn-out whine. “He has nothing tethering him to the States.Yoube that person.”

“I can’t do much about the draft…”

“But he does defense work! He could drum up a reason to defer.”

“Babydoll.” Hattie squeezed Ruby’s leg. “I know you don’t want him to leave, and I understand entirely. But you can’t keep him here, and neither can I. I’m not what he wants.”

Not what he wants? He surely wanted her in the butler’s pantry, Ruby had to fight herself from saying.

“Golly, Rubes! Don’t look so glum. No hearts are broken, if that’s what you’re thinking. Topper and me, we’re working from the same page. We’ve had a grand time but here’s where it ends. Do you feel me?”

“I guess,” Ruby said with a grumble, though she didn’t “feel” her at all. “I thought I saw something more. Something different.”

“Yeah.” Hattie glowered. “I suppose you did.”

“So where will you go?” Ruby asked. “From here?”

“Now, that is a story. Tomorrow I’m bound for New York City. That’s right, your closest gal Hattie Rutter is going to be a true Manhattanite. Can you stand it?”

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