Page 49 of Summer People
When he drops off a donut at my house in the morning, swearing they bought too many, I get glimpses of smiles when he walks away. And when he pulls off the road in town when he sees me walking and insists I hop in, I swear his lips tip up as I round the hood. Though by the time I climb in, he’s wiped the expression away. It’s like he waits until he thinks I’m not looking to enjoy the moment. I’ve found myself viewingevery interaction differently. Wondering what will bring about another smile.
It’s exactly how I thought my mother would have handled Fisher. That thought makes my heart float in my chest. Maybe the island really is helping bring her closer to me. Reminding me of who I want to be.
There’s still plenty of the old Libby left. I can’t imagine not being giddy when I open the door and find a package waiting. To my utter surprise, Amazon delivers all the way out here, twelve miles from shore.
The peach nail polish I ordered three days ago is currently being used as a prop in the play. “Should I actually paint Marty’s nails?” Sutton asks from the stage.
She’s playing the role of Frenchie, as well as Putzie and Mrs. Murdock. When I asked why we were doing a play with more characters than the number of residents on the island, Maggie looked at me like I’d lost my marbles. “Don’t worry, the townspeople will be in the chorus.”
“But who will watch the play?”
She smiled her adorable smile, like she found my confusion endearing. “It’s called a participatory performance.”
I googled the term later that night.
Now, Maggie glances at me for input.
I nod. “Not a bad idea. And the color totally goes with your skin tone.”
Rowan, who is playing the role of Marty, sighs heavily. “Why do I have to be agirl?”
From beside me, Maggie hollers back, “Fix that attitude. You’re supposed to be excited about the dance. She’s doing your hair and your make-up, and you get to wear a dress!”
“Oh goodie,” he grumbles.
As they run the scene again, Maggie looks at me, lips pursed. “You agree, right? They need to be more energized.”
“You’re asking the wrong person. While I used to love dressing up and doing my makeup, I’m perfectly content to slap on a layer of sunscreen and a pair of shorts and a tee before I leave the house.”
“Guess that’s good since you can’t really get any of the stuff you’re used to off-island,” Maggie says, her attention set on the kids. “I wish we had the good stuff. Or that I even knew how to use it.”
I shift in my seat and study her, confused by more than one part of that statement. “First, I can help you with your makeup. Show you some tricks. You don’t need expensive products if you know what you’re doing.”
Maggie’s green eyes lighten. “Really? You’d be willing to help me?”
“Of course. I’ll order what we need from amazon. It will be here in like two days.”
Maggie snorts. “What?”
“Amazon,” I say with a frown. Are there seriously people in this country who don’t have Prime packages delivered almost daily? “Ya know, the website that can deliver just about anything to your door?”
Maggie tilts her head, assessing me, then gives it a shake. “I don’t want you to waste your time. It’s not like I’ll ever have anywhere to go.”
“What about a date?” I suggest. “I always like getting pretty for a date.”
Maggie’s cheeks pink, and she looks away. “Oh, I’ve never been on one of those.”
Never been on a date? Wow. I knew Maggie was innocent, but she’s got to be in her mid-twenties like me. “Not even with Wilder?”
The pink turns into a crimson flush, and her expression oscillates betweenareyou fucking kidding me?toholy shit how’d you know?
And I do know. Her little crush on her best friend’s brother may be a secret, but I can see the way she looks at him.
Though I can’t imagine watching him with a different tourist every weekend is any fun. I’m at a loss for what to say, feeling like I probably just put my foot in my mouth, when Sutton squeals. “Fisher!”
The name alone should not send a frisson of excitement straight to my toes, but my heart takes off, nevertheless.
He stands in the doorway, the sun a halo of light behind him, exaggerating his rugged features. He grunts by way of greeting and dips his chin.
