Page 119 of The Summer We Started Over

They hustled out to the car, slammed doors, fastened seatbelts, and Barrett drove quickly to town.

“Preschool starts tomorrow,” Eddie announced. “New clothes time!”

“I used to love getting new clothes,” Barrett reminisced. “And a new pencil case. New notebooks. I can almost remember how they felt, so soft and yet official.”

Barrett dropped Eddie and Bobby at the brick entrance to the Hy-Line, drove around the block, and parked in her secret place. She walked against the flow of travelers headed for the ferry, and stepped into her shop. On these last days of summer, she was putting out new items for the coming fall and winter. Deep blue cashmere cardigans, blue wool and silk shawls swirling with violet and gold, clever hats made from turquoise felt and adorned with narrow gold hatbands. Throws and blankets in cobalt striped with white, hoodies patterned with smiling whales, and many pieces of Paul’s work, carvings of a pale mermaid rising from blue waves.

Her father would have risen early and taken a cup of coffee into his study to work on his book. He’d arrive at the shop at noon to give Barrett an hour’s break. Barrett would meet Paul in town or at the beach for lunch. It surprised her how much they had to tell each other when they’d just spoken last night.

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Eddie and Jeff, Barrett and Paul, Dinah and Bill were all sitting on the back porch of the farmhouse on an early September evening. Everyone had prepared his or her own drink and Eddie had set out a bowl of chips. Bobby had climbed to the top bar of the fence and sat calmly having a conversation with Duchess, who hung her head low so that Bobby could scratch behind her ears.

Dinah announced, “Bill and I have discovered we enjoy living together, waking in the same bed, and so on. Deep breaths, darling,” she told Bill as they all watched him turn crimson.

Eddie said, “Jeff and I are almost ready to move into the Tom Nevers house with Bobby.” She glanced at her sister. “That will leave Barrett living alone in the big farmhouse, but we can’t sell it. It belongs to Bobby. He has memories here. He feels safe here. Plus, he has his rituals with Duke and Duchess, and we’re considering giving Bobby riding lessons when he turns four.”

“Lucky boy,” Barrett said, then caught herself. “Lucky in some ways.”

“Anyway,” Eddie continued, “Barrett, the farmhouse is yours.”

“Wait. It’s your house, too,” Barrett argued. “It wouldn’t be fair. I mean, financially. Should I pay you rent?”

Dinah threw her hands up. “My darling young women, you are straying into Agatha Christie territory where relatives fight about money and eventually murder someone.”

Barrett laughed. “I don’t think we’re that bad!”

“You’re right, Dinah.” Eddie reached out and took her sister’s hand. “Dad’s going to sign the deed for the farm over to Bobby and you and me, and both of us as executors for Bobby until he’s twenty-five. Jeff’s house is perfect for us and Bobby, but we know Bobby wants to spend time with you and Duke and Duchess. You should remain in this house and have a bedroom for Bobby. If you want everything legal, we’ll have our lawyer draw up a document saying that you’re renting the farmhouse from Jeff and me for something like one dollar a year.”

“May I suggest something?” Paul leaned forward.

Barrett wanted to go over and sit on his lap.

“Of course,” Eddie and William said at once.

“I have accepted several expensive commissions for my carvings. The garage I rent is too small for what I want to do. Why don’t I rent your barn for my studio?”

Barrett said, “What an excellent idea!”

“I agree,” Dinah chimed in. “No one has come out in weeks. Thishouse looks fairly tidy, and the books that weren’t bought this summer can go to the Take-It-or-Leave-It at the dump.”

“Genius!” Eddie stood up. “This calls for ice cream. Barrett, come help me.”

The sisters hurried into the kitchen and opened the freezer. Several pints of different flavors of ice cream were waiting. Barrett helped set them on a tray. Eddie dug out big and small spoons. Barrett added paper napkins.

They paraded triumphantly back to the porch. Bobby noticed the ice cream. He climbed down the fence, got his Klondike bar, and returned to the fence where Duchess was waiting.

Everyone sat, hypnotized by the seduction of ice cream.

Barrett and Eddie watched Bobby carefully eat all the chocolate before handing out the vanilla ice cream to Duchess. She took a bite, whinnied, reared up, and galloped away.

Duke placed himself in front of Bobby, wagging his tail and begging.

“Okay,” Bobby said. He gave the ice cream to the dog.

“Bobby,” Barrett called. “Come get a new ice cream bar.”

“And don’t give any other human food to Duchess,” Eddie added.

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