Page 75 of The Sky in Summer
The cell sounds in my hand, and I jump. Damn. Barbra’s name appears along with my disappointment.
She starts talking as soon as we connect. “Get your ass out here. I’m in front of your house.”
For a few beats I consider refusing the sisterly command. But I am going crazy being in lockdown in my own mind.
“I’m coming.”
Shit. Even that makes me think of him. Of us.
Grabbing my purse, I head outside. There’s my champion waving like a mofo, with a happy look on her face. It makes me chuckle. So inappropriate considering my mood. So Barbra. I open the car door and slide inside.
“What the hell are you so happy about?”
“The fact you didn’t give me any shit about coming. How you doin’?” She touches my leg.
“Fantastic. It’s a fabulous day.”
For a half a moment she believes me. Then she smiles.
“You are so full of crap.”
“Drive.”
She looks out the side window and pulls away from the curb.
“Where we going?” she says.
“How do I know? You’re the one who invited me!” I say it a bit too sharply.
“Okay, okay. Let me think. No shopping, right?”
She gets daggers from me. That doesn’t stop her.
“How about the lake? Want to lay out in the sun and just chill? With the kids back in school, we have the place to ourselves practically. At least till three.”
I consider refusing because of the memories made there with Van. But it is better to rip the Band-Aid off. In the future I will have to be there with family. I don’t have the luxury of eliminating the trigger.
“Yeah. That’s good. You have towels?”
“Of course! Should we go back and get your suit? Mine’s in the trunk.”
“No. I’m not going in the water. These shorts will do.”
She reaches over and takes my hand. Just holds it as we drive. I let her.
We go the entire four miles in silence. She is smart that way. Knowing when to press and when not to. As we pull into the nearly empty parking lot, I feel the lump rise in my throat.Fight it!
“This is such a beautiful place. I’m glad we came,” she says lightly.
“Sometimes when I have to be in my happy place, I think of this spot.”
She makes a pout, like me having this as a happy place is sad somehow. Well, it is, but that is irrelevant. I ignore her empathy and get out of the car.
“Let’s go, I need the sun on me.”
It takes only a few minutes to get down to the shore and lay out the towels. Barbra reaches in her beach bag and brings out two waters and one bag of M&M’s. Passing me a bottle, she tears open the candy and spills a few into my palm.
“I always have one of these in case of an emergency.”
