Summer People Read Online Free PDF Page B

the kids. Last night I had dinner with the Fredericks. I’m as busy as I want to be. And guess who arrived last week?”
    “Who?”
    “Marc.”
    “Marc, he hasn’t been up in years. How long is he going to stay?”
    “I haven’t talked to him yet, but the rumor is that he’s divorced, and he’s quit his job….”
    “You’re kidding,”
    “And he’s permanently up here, at least that’s the story.”
    “You sound very pleased. You always were sort of sweet on him, even though…”
    “Even though what, Mother.”
    “You know, his, his,”
    “Age? Having trouble saying the “A” word?”
    “Well, there is that.”
    “And how much older was father?”
    “Let me think, about the same, but….”
    “But what?”
    “You’re an incurable romantic. But so am I. And you know how much I’ve always adored Marc. I was so disappointed when he married that horrid, what’s her name?”
    “Elaine.”
    “Yes, that’s right, Elaine. What he ever…” there was a long pause. “Elaine is quite beautiful, and very bright, but not someone I’d ever want to spend time with.”
    “I thought I’d drop by and see Marc. Maybe this afternoon.”
    “Lisa, go slowly. Divorced men are at loose ends for a while. But I agree, Marc is very special. I can see why you’re attracted to him. You know I never disliked your Chris, but Marc is…is much more substantial, there’s more…well I better shut up before I get myself in trouble.”
    “So you won’t be shocked if I start dating Marc.”
    “Oh, Lisa, not shocked. You know that. It just takes me a while to get used to things. And when you see him, give him my love.”
    “I’ll do that.”
    “And stay in touch, dear. I’ll try you this weekend.”
    They said their good-byes, and Lisa put the phone on the table. She had a gentle smile on her face as she picked up the iced tea and gazed far out into the lake.

    ********************

    Marc sat on the floor of the living room unpacking boxes of books and sorting them into stacks. He had planned to do this earlier in the day, but the day had been hot, and he found excuses to work outside.
    A knock at the screen door on the front porch interrupted his concentration. The brilliant sun, reflecting off the lake, streamed in around the person centered in and framed by the doorway. A figure, female, looked in at him. Marc tried to make out the silhouette.
    “Hi, are you receiving visitors?” a not unfamiliar voice inquired.
    “Come on in,” Marc replied, squinting to see the visitor. “Is it little Lisa?”
    “Little Lisa, no. Little Lisa grew up years ago,” she replied with a sarcastic laugh as she entered. “It’s thirty-something Lisa.”
    As she moved away from the sun’s glare, Marc could see her clearly. “I guess it was a whileago. You know how it is with summer memories. Somehow we expect everything up here to be frozen in time. Do you want something to drink? I’ve got iced tea and beer.”
    “I’ll have the tea. Don’t get up, I’ll get it.”
    “It’s in a pitcher in the fridge, and there are glasses in the drying rack.” Marc watched as she walked to the kitchen to get the tea. She was very tan, and in profile, very thin, thinner than he had remembered. His memories of Lisa were of short hair, but now she was wearing it past her shoulders in the ordered chaos of current fashion.
    “Do you want some?” she called.
    “No, I’m still working on a warm beer.”
    When she returned to the living room, she settled in an overstuffed chair, rolling her legs under her.
    “Is your mother here?” Marc asked.
    “No, she and my stepfather are in Cornwall. They bought an old mill on the coast near Tintagel that they’re fixing up. I don’t think they are planning to come back to the States until Thanksgiving.”
    “Michigan not exotic enough?”
    “It’s not her idea; you know how much she loves it here. But Elliot wants a place that’s theirs together, not something left over from an earlier