Page 46 of The Book of Summer

“Hello ladies,” one of them said. “Your girl runs a right ship. Made us sign some sort of book. Thought she was going to ask for a piece of jewelry as a security deposit.”

“That’s Mrs. Grimsbury for you,” Mary said. “Carries out her orders to the letter. Well, thank you for coming. There’s plenty of yarn on the table. Help yourselves.”

“So who’s this Topper person?” Hattie asked as the women went to choose their yarn. “Lord, what a name. Let me guess, he’s some kind of privileged milksop. Thinks the whole world is Harvard and summer homes. Wants to join the war because it sounds romantic but can’t tell the difference between a foxhole and the crack in his rear.”

“Hey!”

“That’s about the gist of it,” Mary said.

“Excuse me,” Ruby snipped. “Topper is my baby brother. His real name is Robert. He’s a senior at Harvard and he’s smart and handsome and…”

At once an idea formed. A glistening, star-shine of a plan.

Topperwassmart and handsome. And Hattie Rutter was ideal: gorgeous, well schooled, and with a sly side he’d not be able to resist. In sum, she was the exact kind of girl who could keep a fella from war, even Ruby’s little brother, who never stayed locked on one broad for long.

That was the problem, Ruby realized. Topper was anxious for adventure because nothing tethered him to the States. He’d be graduating soon and didn’t have a girl or any solid occupational plan. No wonder he wanted to fight. Poor boy needed some meaning in his life.

Ruby cleared her throat.

“Well, the first thing you should know about my brother is that he’s handsome as the devil,” she said.

“Acts like the devil, besides,” Mary added. “And watch out because he’ll snap your photo when you least expect it. Lord knows what he does with all the prints. I’m afraid to ask.”

“Topper is a gentleman of the highest order!”

“Of the highest order?” Hattie said. “What a shame.”

“Ruby can’t see it,” Mary said. “They’re Irish twins, ten months apart, but are like rascally little brothers Mark Twain might write about. Now, if you’ll please excuse me, I have more guests to greet.”

“Nothing wrong with a rascally sort,” Hattie said as Mary walked away. “But you’ll need to do better than handsome. Come out with it, Ruby. You’ve got something cooking in that brain of yours, any fool could see.”

“Well, yes,” Ruby said, eyes sparking. “I do have a scheme starting to bubble. Here’s what I’m thinking. The boys will be in town for the holiday on Tuesday. Why don’t we grab a bite together on the first? All of us? At the club?”

“A bite, huh? I s’pose Mary’s not on the guest list.”

“Well, no. It’d be Topper. And you. And me and Sam.”

“Wow,” Hattie said, and whistled. “Are arranged marriages still in fashion? Who would’ve thunk it?”

“No, no, no!” Ruby said, blushing madly. “It’s nothing like that. You’re a cosmopolitan girl, anyone can tell. I merely suspect the pair of you would get on like wildfire. You’re the two most interesting people on the entire blasted island.”

Hattie was perfect for Topper, patently perfect!

She possessed the face and the sophistication, with a hint of an adventuress lurking inside. She was basically European, so the proof was right there. If they did eventually marry, Ruby would have to relinquish her title of “Red” to the true redhead in the family. It was a price she’d gladly pay.

“Okay, Rubes,” Hattie said. “Why the heck not? I’d be pleased to join you and your brother for dinner. Sounds like a real gas.”

21

Tuesday Evening

They’d sat for dinner at the Yacht Club, though Cissy hardly touched her plate.

Her small appetite is customary, a byproduct of the time and effort expended planning and scheming. Cissy’s one of those people who proclaims, “I forgot to eat today!” And genuinely means it.

“Cis, are you sure you had enough?” Bess asks as they tromp along the road toward the Public Safety Building, where the Board of Selectmen meets. “It could be a long night.”

“Oh, sure! Plenty! That sea bass smelled great, didn’t it?”

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