Page 56 of Sandbar Storm
“That’s, that’s very sweet.”
“Are you kidding? You’re a legend. We’re going to get you in here, and we’ll get this handled.”
“I, uh, I don’t know what to say.”
“Try not to worry. It’s going to be fine.”
She was oddly not worried. She was resigned. Viv had believed this would happen, and it was happening. She had an ache in the back of her ribcage.
She knew what it was. Sheknew.
But before she had it in black in white, she was going to take the day off.
Siena was out with Cole. Tag was in Detroit, meeting with his racing team, and Viv was free to do what she had done back in her youth.
The Sandbar Sisters were going to float all day. Goldie, J.J., and Viv had a date on the raft at Nora House.
Viv wore her newest kaftan, a flowy chiffon that happened to be the same color as her stylish mango sandals. She packed a change of clothes, a sweatshirt and shorts for if she got cold, and four more kaftans crafted especially for her friends.
She had a sensible Lands End one-piece bathing suit on under the kaftan. It covered everything, didn’t ride up, and looked more athletic than matronly, she hoped. But in the end, she didn’t really care. So much of her life had been designing and selecting the right clothes to impress or intimidate. Today, and since she’d been in Irish Hills, she wanted ease. She wanted flow. Her current ensemble did the trick.
Viv also arranged to have her own car. She’d called the local rental place, told them what she wanted, and it was here. She would drive herself to Libby’s, and tomorrow she’d drive to the University of Michigan.
Siena didn’t have to be her mother’s hearse driver anymore.
Viv was the last to arrive at Nora House. Viv wanted to joke that she was the late Vivian Blackwood but decided Tag would think it was funny, but her girlfriends might scold her for being dark. She amused herself with the line but didn’t speak it.
Viv let herself in through the kitchen.
The Sandbar Sisters were all on the back porch. The day was going to be warm and sunny, the perfect day to catch rays on the raft.
Before she walked out to them, she paused to remember another moment, back in 1989. Memories flooded back to her more and more each day. She let them come.
They were easier than what was next.
Viv 1989
Viv was decked out in her own creation.
Brock Lancaster had asked her to the fireworks at the club, and she wanted to make a splash. He was the coolest thing going this summer on Lake Manitou.
He belonged to the Irish Hills Country Club. Libby was the only one Viv knew who actually belonged to the club. Goldie said it was for old money gentile types. Viv had no idea what that meant. Goldie had lived here forever too, so she should know. J.J. said her mom could barely afford the “claptrap” they called home, no way could they afford Irish Hills Country Club. Hope’s family were farmers. They, too, had no interest in the fancy club.
But Viv did have an interest. Her dad deposited them here in the summer and left. He wasn’t into golf or even summer. And her mother spent the summer sunning with her friends. Her mom said, “go outside and play,” but what she really meant was, “leave me alone.”
That was fine by Viv.
Viv wanted to go to one of the fancy socials. She had an idea of what was in style and what looked cool, but she didn’t have the actual experience of having a reason to dress up. This was an actual date, and she was going to go to the club with Brock Lancaster.
She had to pinch herself. Brock had shown up to Irish Hills this summer, and they all had a crush on him. Goldie liked to say he looked like John Taylor from Duran Duran. She was right. He had that kind of smile. Viv’s knees felt like Jell-O anytime she saw him.
Somehow, he’d noticed her and asked her to this dance.
Hanging out with Libby, who looked like a model, and Goldie, who looked like a toothpaste commercial, Viv was not the first one a boy would notice. Which, up until last summer, she could not care less about. But then she got a crush on Todd Stromway, and he totally didn’t know she was alive. She liked Randy Barton, but he used her to meet Goldie. Total loser.
Finally, this summer, Brock Lancaster paid attention. Viv knew she looked cute in her new bathing suit when they first met Brock out on the lake. And she also knew that Libby had a boyfriend, Hope was not interested in “lake guys,” and J.J. was just too much of a cut-up to take any dating idea seriously. Luckily, Goldie was home sick the day they crossed paths with Brock. All the stars had aligned, and Brock Lancaster asked her if she wanted to go to the club dance and then watch the fireworks.
Yes. Yes, she did. And she knew just what she was going to wear.
