Summer Beach Reads 5-Book Bundle: Beachcombers, Heat Wave, Moon Shell Beach, Summer House, Summer Breeze Read Online Free PDF

Armchair theater, concerts, community events like the spelling bee.”
    Abbie tilted her head. “Are you really so busy off-season?”
    Suddenly Lily felt under attack. “I run the house, too. I buy groceries, I make Dad healthy dinners, I vacuum …”
    “I know, I’m just wondering … The curtains need to be washed, and stuff like that.”
    Emma walked into the room, wrapped in a towel, her brown hair curling around her face, smelling wet and strawberry-scented from the shampoo.
    Abbie ran her hand over her forehead. “You know, I’m whipped. I mean, I started the day in London, and it’s nine o’clock in the evening for my brain. Jet lag must be catching up with me.”
    “Take a nap,” Emma said. “I don’t feel like going out, anyway.”
    “Actually, I think I will take a nap.” Abbie stretched and yawned. “Emma, would you wake me in a couple of hours? I want to get back on U.S. time.”
    “Sure.” Emma dropped her towel on the floor and slipped into her bed. She reached for the clock on her bedside table and set the alarm, then slid down between the covers, turning her back on her sisters.
    “See you in awhile,” Abbie said over her shoulder as she left the room. “Man, it’s really hitting me. I’ll unpack later.”
    Lily stood for a moment, then she left the room, too, mumbling, “You could have said thank you for changing the sheets.”
    Emma must not have heard her, for she only said, “Pull the door shut, would you, Lily?”
    Suddenly Lily found herself alone in the hall. The doors to both sisters’ rooms were shut, as blank and forbidding as they’d been when they were teenagers gossiping about exotic secrets while silly little baby Lily, too young to be included, hung around in the hall,waiting to be invited in, hoping to overhear even one intimate word.
    Well, she wouldn’t be like that! She had a life! She had work!
    But she’d turned in her column this morning, and tonight, Tuesday night, nothing was happening on the island. It was still too early for the big parties, galas, fund-raisers, even for the art openings.
    Well, then, she had friends! Clattering down the stairs, she yanked out her cell phone and punched in Carrie’s number. Carrie was always at home with her baby and eager for adult company.
    “Hey, Carrie, I thought I’d come over for a while.”
    “Hallelujah! I haven’t had a real conversation all day. And Tommy’s going to be out fishing until dark.”
    “Need anything? Wine, pizza?”
    “If I have to eat another pizza, I’ll go mad. So will Tommy. I never seem to have the time or energy to shop for real food, let alone cook it.”
    “Tell you what, I’ll stop at the grocery store and pick up some pasta and mussels and clams and fresh parsley. You have olive oil and garlic, right?”
    “I do. You’re going to cook dinner for me?”
    “I can’t do anything fancy, but I can do a mean pasta with seafood.”
    “I utterly love you. I will give you my firstborn child. Really.”
    Lily laughed. “See you soon.”

6

Abbie
    After their naps, Emma and Abbie sat on the back deck, sipping red wine, enjoying the soft evening air. Emma wore khaki shorts and a loose cotton shirt and her brown curls frizzed because she hadn’t blown her hair dry.
    Abbie had napped and showered and pulled on an old sundress she found in her closet. Her head buzzed with jet lag and her stomach grumbled.
    “Where’s Lily?” Abbie wondered. She hooked a wicker stool with her toes and dragged it over to rest her feet on. “Has she organized anything for dinner?”
    “I have no idea,” Emma replied listlessly.
    Emma weighed less than Abbie had ever seen her, and she had dark circles under her eyes. She’d always been organized, energetic, determined. It was just wrong, having her seem so defeated. Abbie considered her next words carefully, then said, “Lily’s worried about you, and I can see why.”
    Emma twitched in her chair. “I’m fine.”
    “Yeah, I can