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

tell.”
    “I’m not going to pull a Mom, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    “You’d better not!” Abbie glared at her sister. “Suck it up, Emma. It will get better.”
    “Will it? I don’t know. I don’t even care.”
    “But you will. You’ll get over it. Lots of people—”
    “How do you know?” Emma shifted in her chair so she could zing a glance at Abbie. “When have you
ever
made yourself vulnerable to a man? When have you ever lost your heart?”
    “Get back, Jack!” Abbie said. “For your information, I’ve been involved a few times.”
    “Really.”
    “Really.”
    At the same moment, Abbie and Emma turned away from each other and took a huge swallow of wine. Aware of their parallel actions, they both laughed.
    “So why did you never tell me about any of them?” Emma asked.
    “I don’t know. I’ll admit I never was really serious about anyone.” She studied Emma. “How long are you planning to stay here?”
    “Planning?” Emma snorted. “I honestly don’t know. I can’t think about it. Hell, I can scarcely move. Plus, it’s not like investment firms are searching for young brokers. I’m worthless, you know?”
    “Don’t say that!” Abbie snapped. “You’re not worthless.”
    “I am, though. It’s the truth. Might as well face it.”
    “Oh, Emma—” A movement at the end of the garden caught Abbie’s eye. “Is that The Dreaded Seductress?”
    For a moment they were silent, like hunters spotting prey. The woman came out of the Playhouse with a clear plastic bag in her hand, walked around the garage to the other side where the trash barrels were kept, and returned empty-handed. She was short, slender, and blond, but they were too far away to tell whether or not she was pretty. She wore khaki shorts and a black tee shirt.
    “She looks pretty normal to me,” Abbie observed quietly. “Have you met her?”
    “I haven’t,” Emma said. “I don’t especially want to.”
    “You don’t especially want to do anything,” Abbie reminded her.
    “That’s true.”
    The woman didn’t seem to notice them. She walked around the Playhouse, studying it, stopping here and there, nodding to herself.
    “What’s she doing?” Abbie whispered.
    “Well,
I
don’t know, do I?” Emma frowned. “Maybe she’s going to paint the trim? It certainly needs it.”
    “But why would
she
paint the trim? She’s only renting. How long is she renting for?”
    “The summer, I think. I admit, I haven’t exactly paid attention to anything Lily or Dad said recently.”
    “Dad must be worried about money if he rented the Playhouse.”
    “I think he is.” Emma began to cry. “I was going to take care of Dad. I had a special savings account earmarked for him. And it all just—
went.
”
    “Oh, honey.” Abbie reached over and took her sister’s hand. “No one ever expected you to do anything like that.”
    “But I
want
to!”
    “I know. But come on. Dad’s not that old. He’s what, fifty-two? And you have to admit, he looks ten years younger.”
    “And I wanted to give him grandchildren.”
    “You will. ’Course you will. You’re not even thirty yet. You’ll meet someone new.”
    “I don’t think so, Abbie. I’m so tired. I could go back to bed right now.”
    “Maybe you should see the doctor. Maybe try an antidepressant?”
    “Yes, because meds work so well for our family.” Emma stood up. “I can’t do this anymore. I’m going back to bed.”
    “I’ll call you for dinner.”
    Perhaps she shouldn’t have mentioned antidepressants to Emma, Abbie thought as she sat alone in the garden. It was a tough subject for them all. But Abbie couldn’t help but worry about Emma and she knew Lily was right to call her home. Emma had always been the determined one, the ambitious one, the optimist. Seeing her like this was just wrong. Abbie didn’t think
she
had the depression gene, if there was such a thing, but Emma was close to the mark when she accused Abbie of not