Page 66 of Summer After Summer

Sophie’s mouth turns down. “I remember her being happy. Don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do. But we were kids …”

“Maybe ask Aunt Tracy? She’d know if anyone did.”

“Good idea.”

“You don’t have to dig up the past, you know. You can just recycle it.”

“You’d be okay with that?”

“Mom died a long time ago.”

“You’re right. She did.” I stand. “I’m going to take my shower. And then maybe a nap.”

“Aunt Tracy said there were workmen up in your room? Something about installing air-conditioning.”

Ash had come through. Thank God. “That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”

When I get upstairs, the workmen are just leaving, and I can already feel the cold air spreading like a welcome storm. I strip out of my clothes and take a long bath, stretching in the heat, then rinse off in the shower. By the time I get back to my room, it’s almost cold. I decide to succumb to the exhaustion I feel and take a nap, snuggling into my blankets, leaving the air on high.

When I wake up hours later, I’m starving, and it’s the middle of the afternoon. I feel disoriented, and when I check my phone, I’ve slept until almost three.

I change into some clothes that will do for the five PM drinks and resolve to unpack the rest of my things. Everything in my bags is a jumble, and I need to put some order to it.

But first I need something to eat.

I find Aunt Tracy in the kitchen, kneading a loaf of bread on the counter.

She smiles at me like the proud parent she is. “You must be hungry.”

“I’ll get something. Keep making your bread.”

I open one of the fridges, rooting around until I find some sandwich things. I pull them out and line them up on the counter: whole grain bread, shaved turkey, cheese, mustard, mayo, lettuce. My comfort sandwich from childhood.

“Do you want one?”

She comes over to stand next to me. She’s wearing a linen shift dress and Roman-inspired sandals, her hair flowing loosely. “That is tempting.”

“Consider it done.”

She kisses me on the cheek. “Did you have a good sleep?”

“Did you hear about the air-conditioning?” She nods. “It was heaven.” I pull out four slices of bread and start assembling the sandwiches. My mouth is already watering. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

“I mean, for the usual reasons, but also because I had a question.”

“Anything, my love.”

“Was Mom happy? I mean before she got sick.”

“Why do you ask?” Tracy walks back to her bread and starts to kneed it again.

“I guess it’s going through her things … She and William were so young when they got married …”

“Is this about Fred?”

---