Page 4 of Our Secret Summer

Dylan was taken aback by her directness, but part of her also appreciated it. She took a sip of wine, gathering the courage to declare the amount.

“Half a million dollars.”

“Oh, damn.” Raffo’s voice wasn’t so evenly deep any longer. “Oh, fuck, I’m so sorry.”

“It was my own fault. I got greedy. I invested too much and I just kept going, ignoring the warning signs.” She cast her gaze over the deck, then let it land on the soothing water. “Apart from taking a long vacation, I had big plans for that money. I quit my job and I wanted one last hurrah for my career. One last adventure before retiring.” She turned her palms upwards. “I’m going to have to sell this place to make up for what I lost.”

“Fuck. I really am sorry, Dylan. But, um, you may have put your money into it, but you didn’t cause the currency to crash.”

“That’s irrelevant.” Dylan found it impossible to show herself kindness when it came to this. “I got dollar signs in my eyes and was convinced I could make some easy money. I couldn’t have been more wrong. That’s all on me.”

“This might irk you under the circumstances,” Raffo said. “But in the end, it’s just money. You’re healthy. Your son is healthy and happy. And you’re a good-looking woman. I mean, things could be worse.”

Dylan broke into a chuckle, despite how she felt about herself. “I could be ugly?” she joked.

“For instance.” Raffo shot her the kind of goofy smile that obviously didn’t come natural to her. “When I met Mia, I’d only just found the courage to start painting. I had nothing. I worked three minimum-wage jobs just to keep afloat.” She briefly pursed her lips. “My paintings sell for six figures now, thanks to Connor. My point is that money comes and goes, but what difference does it even make when the rest of your life is falling apart?”

“It makes a big difference when you’ve just lost half a million. I’ve always made good money, but five hundred thousand bucks is a hell of a lot to no longer have in your account.” Dylan huffed out some air. “But it’s not just the money. It’s the shame. I’m so ashamed of what happened. Of how I let myself get carried away. How I, basically, lost my sanity. That’s the biggest reason I haven’t told Connor yet. I won’t be able to bear the look on his face.”

“So you’re hiding out here.” Raffo nodded thoughtfully. “I’m sorry if I sounded flippant earlier. That was not my intention. My relationship with money is very up and down and I should know that everyone relates to it in their own weird, special way. I get why you haven’t told Con. You don’t want him to think any less of you.”

Dylan managed a small smile. “It’s a relief that I don’t have to worry about Connor’s money situation, what with his gallery representing you and your paintings selling for such big amounts.” It certainly hadn’t always been this way and Dylan had loaned her only child plenty of money when he’d just started his gallery.

“The art world is all about capitalism now,” Raffo said, the tone of her voice betraying her ambivalence about that.

“Congratulations, by the way. I love your work. Connor gave me one of the paintings from your first show at his gallery. It’s so incredibly joyful. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that your work achieves higher and higher prices.”

“Thanks,” Raffo all but mumbled.

It surprised Dylan that Raffo found it so hard to take a compliment. Her star had been on the rise for several years—surely she must be used to it by now. But, of course, Raffo had lost her mojo.

“No pressure, okay.” Dylan pointed at a spot beneath the porch that got great light during the day. “But you can set up your things over there, if you want. I’ll give you all the privacy you need.”

“Thanks.” There was a note of something deeper in her voice. “If I decide to stay.” Raffo waggled her eyebrows.

“If you decide to stay.” This dinner with Raffo had been such a welcome change from Dylan being on her own all the time, she truly hoped Raffo would linger a while—even if it meant not telling her best friend about it. But maybe it was too much to ask.

“I’ll stay a couple of days, anyway.” Raffo gazed at the spot that Dylan had just indicated. “I just want to clear my head. Go on a few hikes. Have a couple of swims in this allegedly magical lake. Get a few nights of decent sleep.”

“Anything you want.”

“Well.” Raffo painted on a devilish grin. “I was welcomed by a half-naked lady who then proceeded to cook me a delicious dinner, so I’m off to a wonderful, if slightly surprising start.”

Dylan smiled, again, considering that she and Raffo could help each other put their respective issues into perspective. And that might—indeed—be wonderful, if slightly surprising.

CHAPTER 5

Raffo wanted to call Connor so badly. A couple of times, she picked up her cell and her finger hovered over his number. But she had agreed to keep Dylan’s secret. Lovely, sweet Dylan. Raffo couldn’t tell anyone that she had walked in on her best friend’s mother half-naked, and had subsequently spent a lovely evening with her. Maybe it was for the best, even if she and Connor had the kind of relationship that didn’t harbor many secrets—Raffo knew more about Murray, Connor’s boyfriend, than she ever wanted to know. In return, Connor knew all the details of Raffo’s failed open relationship with Mia—not that Raffo had taken much advantage of the opening up part of their decade-long affair.

As she brushed her teeth, and looked at herself in the mirror, she concluded it might be easier to hide out in Big Bear to keep Dylan’s secret than to go back to Los Angeles, where she actually had to face Connor and would actively have to lie to him until his mother told him where she really was. Staying here protected her from doing that—and she still had to get her mojo back.

On top of all that, if you could judge such a thing by one evening spent together, Dylan was wonderful company. Although that shouldn’t come as a surprise to Raffo. Connor only ever spoke highly of his mother. They were thick as thieves, which is why it surprised Raffo that Dylan would keep such a big thing from Connor.

She texted Connor that she had arrived safely at his mother’s house in Big Bear Lake, but wouldn’t be able to speak to him on the phone due to spotty cell and internet service. She added, to cover her tracks more, that she was happy to be off the grid for a while—perhaps it would enable her to paint again quicker—and thanked him for the opportunity to stay at his mother’s house. It didn’t feel totally right—of course it didn’t—but Raffo was here with Dylan, so she had to follow her rules.

As she got into bed, she did hope that Dylan would come to her senses and tell her son sooner rather than later. Maybe she could talk to her about it tomorrow, after she’d told her that she had decided to stay a while. To take things easy and enjoy a slow, unhurried, stress-free pace of life. With Dylan as unexpected but pleasant company.

For the first time in a long while, Raffo fell asleep almost as soon as she closed her eyes. Yet another reason to stay.

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