Page 43 of Pity Parade

Maybe what I need is a good run on the beach to clear my head. After changing into shorts and shoes, I head down the pier. Once I reach the sand, I get moving, and let the steady rhythm of my feet calm my inner turmoil.

Why do I suddenly feel an emptiness at not having my own kids? Why do I care if Trina has a boyfriend? Why in the world did I just buy a hundred and fifty acres of land in Elk Lake, Wisconsin?

Before I can answer any of these questions, I look ahead and ask one more. Why is Trina sitting head-to-head in the sand with Daniel?

CHAPTER NINETEEN

TRINA

Daniel and I only walk a short distance before taking a break. “Have you dated a lot in the last couple of years?” I ask him. While I realize this is none of my business, I’m starting to feel that old adage—once bitten, twice shy. Doubly so because Heath gave me the same song and dance about not wanting commitment. A girl can start to take that kind of stuff personally.

“I’ve dated,” he says. “But not a lot, and no one exclusively.” He smiles in such a way I get the impression he might finally be ready for something serious. “How about you?” he asks. “Has there been anyone special?”

Before I can answer, I look up and see Heath running straight at us. I quickly lean my head toward Daniel’s hoping he won’t recognize me, but it’s too late for that. Heath practically sprints the last several yards before coming to a dead halt in front of us.

“Trina … Daniel.”

“Heath,” I say nervously.

“Trina,” he repeats.

I’m tempted to point to the water and say “lake,” but before I can, Daniel asks me, “How do you know Heath?”

Heath doesn’t give me a chance to respond, before saying, “She’s my neigh-”

I hurry to interrupt. “We have mutual friends.”

“And we’re neigh-” Heath starts again.

I cannot let him tell Daniel that I’m renting the place he’s staying at, so I yell, “Naval enthusiasts!” Both men look at me like I’ve lost my mind which forces me to lie, “My dad was in the Navy.”

“Were you in the Navy too?” Daniel asks Heath.

“No.” Heath stares at me like he knows something.

“But he’s very interested in the Armed Forces,” I tell Daniel.

“Are you feeling okay?” Heath asks me.

I stand up and glare at him. “I’m great. How are you?” Meanwhile, I’m sending him a strong psychic message to walk away.

It soon becomes clear that Heath has no supernatural abilities because instead of leaving, he sits down next to Daniel. “I’m good.”

“What are you doing?” I demand.

“Taking a break from my run. Is that okay?”

Daniel doesn’t seem to think Heath’s behavior is odd because he looks up at me and asks, “Did you know Heath was staying the whole summer?”

“I think so,” I tell him. “I mean, we haven’t really spent that much time together.”

Heath’s eyebrows furrow. “We went out for a fish fry, and we were at Jamie’s that one night, and then there was coffee on the …”

I interrupt him and tell Daniel, “Heath knows my friends.”

Heath finally seems to get the hint that I don’t want him talking because he doesn’t contradict me. In fact, he doesn’t say anything which leads to a long, awkward silence.

Daniel finally smiles at me and asks, “You ready to go?”

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