Page 56 of The Book of Summer

“Ummm…”

Ruby glanced toward the door, surprised to be suddenly frowning.

“Actually,” she said, “I’ll wait for Sam. We’ll be out in a minute.”

“Fine.” Mary sighed again. “But don’t ask us to save you a spot.”

***

The water carnival was no joke.

Every boat at the club was decked out in red, white, and blue mini-lights. A band played from a flotilla in the harbor while searchlights bounced between the land and sky. Colored flares lined the shores.

“Golly, what a scene!” Ruby cried, leaning more tightly against Sam.

He stood behind her, arms secured around her waist. Every once in a while, he nuzzled her neck and hair.

“Get a load of all the people!” Ruby said. “They’re dancing everywhere!”

“It’s a scene and a half,” Sam agreed.

With a smile on her face, Ruby picked through the crowd with her eyes. Surely somewhere in the middle of the festivities were Hattie and Topper. She grinned wider just to think of it.

“Oh, Sammy.”

Ruby spun around to face him, tucking both arms beneath his.

“Isn’t this night the tops? The laughter, the lights, the air itself. I’ll never be able to breathe enough of it in.”

She looked up at her husband, expectantly, but Sam didn’t answer right away. And in that flicker Ruby noticed his eyes. They were glassy, on another plane. Just like Mother’s when she was thinking of Walter. Ruby’s stomach dropped.

“Sammy?”

“The night’s grand, baby. Simply grand.”

He pulled her snug and rested his chin atop her head.

“You’re a light in this life, Rubes,” he said, his voice vibrating against her cheek. “There’s not a soul like you in all of Massachusetts. All of the world, I’d venture.”

With a happy little shudder, Ruby tried to catch his eyes.

“Tonight,” she said. “I’m thinking… tonight seems so filled with magic. So perfect and ripe. Perhaps now it all comes together.”

“What comes together?” Sam asked, crinkling his forehead.

“Tonight’s the ideal night to make a baby.”

Ruby blinked and at once Sam’s eyes went from glassy to full-out wet. Though Ruby’s peepers were plenty damp themselves, she understood at once that his tears were a different type.

“What is it?” she said, trying not to snivel. “You seem… sad.… Something’s wrong. Please don’t rain on my parade.” Ruby pointed to the harbor and then to the sky. “Either one of them!”

“Parades.” Sam shook his head. “That’s the whole problem, Rubes. Here we are acting jolly and carefree and an ocean away… Your brother is right.”

“Last I remember, you two weren’t exactly meeting minds on the topic. Lord almighty, can we avoid the war business for one night? One measly night?”

He gave a watery little smirk.

“Avoid the war?” he said. “An ironic request given it’s Independence Day.”

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