Page 138 of The Book of Summer

“My mental health is just fine.”

“This?” Bess points to her drink andGone with the Wind.“This is not grit, Cissy. This is giving up. You’re giving up, throwing in the towel. The mother I know is incapable of defeat. And don’t you still have a bluff to save? They’re going to put in the geotubes and itisabout the entire shoreline, right? Not just your house. Don’t prove Chappy right on this one. Don’t give that jerk the satisfaction.”

Bess catches eyes with Evan.

“Sorry,” she says with a wince.

He holds up both hands.

“Understood.”

“And Grandma Ruby?” Bess says, growing screechier by the second. “She’d be hot as a fired pistol. Stop your complaining, she’d tell you. For God’s sake, pull yourself together and get on with your life.”

“You don’t know the first thing about it,” Cissy says.

Bess thinks of the articles, and what Evan told her. It’s possible Ruby soldiered on with an alcoholic husband who was also a semicloseted homosexual. Then again, perhaps it wasn’t soldiering on. Maybe it was stubbornness and she chained herself to that marriage, sure as Cissy has with Cliff House.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Cissy says, scooting a hand beneath her rear. She produces a phone. “Your father is looking for you. He caught an earlier flight so you’ll have to pick him up. Soon, I think. Though I can’t remember the details.”

“Fucking hell!” Bess wails, then kicks in a few other swear words.

She’s never been much of a curser but Nantucket with its wind and sea lore has brought the sailor right out in her.

“I’m so tired and I can’t even…”

Evan walks over and puts a sturdy arm around Bess. On the chaise, Cissy wiggles to make herself comfortable. She picks up her book and begins to read.

“Oh my God! Mother!”

“Listen,” Evan says, rubbing her shoulder. “You need to take a nap. Shake this off.”

“But my mom!” Bess stomps a foot and Cissy releases a little snigger. “And my dad! Who, apparently, needs a ride from the airport.”

“I’ll take care of them both.”

“But…”

“It’s fine.”

“But…”

“It’s fine,” he says again.

Bess thinks that he might actually mean it.

“Be forewarned, Evan,” Cissy says, peering over the top of her book. “Dudley’s never been a big fan of yours. So, you know, don’t take offense to anything he might do.”

Evan yanks Bess toward the door before she completely loses every last bit of shit she has.

“Ignore her.…”

“By the way!” Cissy calls, always with a final directive. “Felicia’s present is on the dresser in my bedroom. Please bring it with you to the wedding since I can’t be there tomorrow.”

Bess makes a hard about-face, ready to charge the woman. Luckily, Evan is swift to stop her.

“Keep walking,” he tells her.

“Oh my God,” Bess says again, tears bubbling as he leads her inside and to the downstairs guest room.

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