Page 82 of Stony Point Summer
“Good, good. Eva and Matt are busy with their daughter, Taylor. They’re still at Eva’s parents’ place, on the marsh. And you know that Matt’s been a state cop for a few years now.”
Shane nods while sipping his beer.
Neil spins his tall glass. “Me and Jason? Hell, we can’t keep up. Barlow Architecture is really getting a name for itself, I tell you. Got a few cottage renos booked.”
“No shit. Good for you.” As he says it, Shane tips his glass to Neil’s in a toast.
“Yeah, thanks. Not sure why my brother kept working with me after he got his master’s from Yale a few years back. Could’ve written his own ticket.”
“Yale? Damn. Jason did all right.”
“He did.”
Shane turns and waves to a fisherman walking in just then. The guy looks like he came straight off a boat: tired, a little disheveled, duffel in hand. Turning back to Neil, Shane hesitates before asking, “And Maris?”
“Maris. Hm. Last we saw of her? Must be five years ago now, at that Foley’s party when the joint closed down. Yeah. It was the time when I called you, asked you to make the trip.”
“I remember.”
“Too bad you missed that one. Was a good party.”
“So Maris didn’t stick around afterward?”
“Nah. She left that weekend for a job in Boston, I think. Started her fashion career and never looked back. From what Eva says, she’s a denim designer out in Chicago now. Left our little beach town but good.”
“But I thought she and … Oh, never mind.” Shane looks across the table at Neil. “And what about my brother?”
“Kyle?”
“Yeah.”
“You seriously haven’t talked to him in all this time?”
“Not since our father died.”
“That’s tough, man. But Kyle’s okay. I see him around.” Neil takes a long breath while sitting back in his chair.
As though reading some agitation in Neil, Shane gives a short laugh. He squints at Neil, too, eyeing the shadows beneath his eyes. The drawn face. “What,” Shane says. Doesn’t ask. Says. As though heknowssomething’s up.
“I kind of got a problem with him.”
“With Kyle?”
“Little bit.”
“You going to spill it?”
Neil takes a long swallow of his beer. “I’m in love with your brother’s girl.”
Shane? He nearly gags on his own beer with that revelation. “Say that again?”
“Yeah.” Neil does it, just slightly, but he raises his chin in some defiance. “With Lauren.”
“Lauren? You mean, they’restilltogether?”
“Wedding date’s set for September.”
“Shit. They’re getting married.” Now it’s Shane who sits back. “Then they must be pretty solid, no?”
