Page 45 of Stony Point Summer
“Neil, man. What’s happening?”
“Neil. Shit.” A pause, a long breath, then, “What are you after?”
“What?”
“Come on.” Shane leans forward, elbows on the tabletop. “Haven’t talked to you, oranyonefrom Stony Point, in months. So what do you want?”
“Nothing, guy. Well, except your presence. If you could make the trip from Maine.”
“Get to the point, Barlow. Too tired for guessing games.”
“You just get back from lobstering?”
“Damn straight. After four days out, walked in the door to you ringing my phone.”
“Okay, well listen.” There’s a moment’s pause before Neil continues. “It’s just that next Friday? It’s the last hurrah at Foley’s old place, man. He sold the joint, and, well, everybody’s getting together in the back room. A little music will be playing. A little liquor will be poured. Some food. Good times. So, you know. Maybe you want to stop by.”
“Me? Why?”
“Everyone’sgoing. The whole gang. Jay. Paige and Vinny. Eva and Matt. And you should, too.”
“Livin’ another life now, dude.”
“I hear you. But hell, Maris will be there. Look, I know you guys split up in January. Heard it was a rough breakup.”
“Yeah, she got cold feet.” Shane takes a long breath. “I don’t know … Maybe I rushed things. Twenty-two years old, asking her to marry me. Jesus.”
“You shittin’ me, Shane? Youproposed?”
“Afraid so. Even bought the house here for us, after she said yes. Then things fell apart.”
“Damn. Didn’t know that.”
“And now you do.”
“Well, you two were tight, for a long time. You could catch up. Talk. Start over, even.”
“You’re asking me to go to Foley’s to talk to Maris? Am I hearing you right?”
“It’s not just Maris. I’m sure your brother will show up.”
“Kyle.”
“Right. With Lauren.”
“I haven’t heard from my brother since we had it out, Neil. Not one word. He was way out of line, some of the shit he said at the memorial service a few months back.”
“I know. He had the shiner to prove it.”
“Blaming me for our old man’s death. Accusing me of stealing the estate. Kyle can fucking go to hell for all I care.”
“Come on, Shane,” Neil persists then. “Maybe he just needed time. Emotions run high when someone dies. Months have gone by. Maybe Kyle’s cooled off and bygones can be bygones. You’rebrothers, man.”
“Doesn’t feel it. And hey, what’s Maris doing in Stony Point, anyway? She’s not working?”
“She graduated college, in May. Spending a few weeks here at the beach with Eva and Matt. And their kid, too. Taylor.” Another pause. “So, you should come. See everyone. We all go way back.”
“I don’t know. Been a helluva year.”
