Page 78 of Stony Point Summer
“Don’t we all.” She gives a small smile, all while clutching a tote close. And standing still.
“It’s good to see you, Maris.” With that, Shane walks to her. When he bends to give her a hug, she reaches this way, he that, and they get a little tangled up before that light hug happens.
“See? I won’t bite.” Shane waves her over as he crosses the porch and leans against that half-wall. “Stay awhile.”
“Okay. Okay, for a few minutes maybe.” Maris walks to the distressed painted table, where she sits. When she puts down her tote, a folder spills halfway out.
“Can I get you anything?” Shane asks.
“No. I’m fine,” she tells him while scooping her papers back into the tote. “Not really sure why I, well …” She sets that tote aside and simply looks over at him.
Shane nods. After a quiet second, he asks, “How’d your week go?”
She does nothing but take a long breath. Says no words. Gives no smile.
“Loaded question?” Shane presses.
“Well. Honestly? This week feels like it’s been a year, actually.”
“Ayear? And not in a good way, I take it.”
“Not really.”
Still leaning on the half-wall, Shane crosses his arms in front of him and squints at her. “Jason’s not back then?”
She shakes her head. “Not yet. We’re taking our time. Talking. Okay, and you probably won’t believe this one … Dating.”
“Dating?”
“Not other people,” she says with an easy smile. “Dating each other. It’s something we never had the chance to do before. So, it’s … interesting, the things we’re learning this way. And we’re having some fun with it, too.”
“I’ll bet.”
“But keep it between us?”
“Of course. You know I’m not one to talk.”
And he’s not. Which is why he’d never tell Maris his words to Jason when he chased him down a week ago. Words said on Ted Sullivan’s deck. Words about Jason’s very life with Maris.Don’t fuckin’ blow it, Shane tossed over his shoulder as he left.
“So Barlow’s coming around?” he asks instead.
“He really is, after a tough summer for him.”
“Been there, I get it.”
“There’s that, and other things going on. Plus, Jason and I are both really busy working.”
“He has a TV thing, right? Hosts a cottage reno show?”
“Castaway Cottage. And it’s full speed ahead after the Hammer Law lifts. They’re doing over the old Fenwick cottage on the beach.”
“No kidding. The grande dame of Stony Point.”
“You got it.”
“I met Carol one night, a couple weeks back. Carol Fenwick.”
Maris nods.
