Page 86 of Summer People
Brad: This is fucking absurd. You? How the fuck could they nominate you?
Dad: Congrats, Libby! Please call me back.
Robin: The calls keep coming. We have a lot to discuss. Call me!
Robin: Libby! This is huge! Call me!
My phone won’t stop.It’s been like this for weeks, but this morning, everyone is extra determined to get my attention. Too bad my only concerns are here on this island. Hollywood can wait another day.
“The biscuits go to Ivy, and the lasso is for Farmer Todd, right?”
Cank shakes his head. “The lines, Libby. Not a lasso.”
“Hmm, that’s not what Fisher calls them.” With a shrug, I drop thelinesonto Putt-Putt’s back seat. She’s been busy helping me make deliveries all week. My goal has been to giveFisher a break with the hope that he’ll start working on my dock so I can take thePink Ladyout on the water.
No such luck yet. When he’s not busy doing his hacking stuff, we’re spending time with Sutton or locking ourselves in his room and getting lost beneath the sheets. It’s been the best summer of my life, and there’s no way I’ll let thoughts of the real world ruin it.
“Ivy needs the lines andFarmerTodd needs themuffins.” Cank emphasizes the nickname I came up with, like he thinks it’s comical.
But listen, there may only be sixty-eight people on this island, but if I don’t focus on descriptions, I’ll forget their names. It works for me for now, but if I plan on staying here, I’ll have to drop those soon. Also, he can call them muffins all he wants, but he’s wrong.
Maybe the biscuits are for the animals. They’re not fit for human consumption, that’s for sure. I learned that the hard way.
“Okay, Cank,” I call as I get into Putt-Putt.
When I put her into reverse, she makes a loud beeping noise the islanders have come to call my warning beep.
“Have a beautiful day.”
Cank’s laughter floats on the breeze as I putter away from the docks.
The late July days are nearly endless, and the weather has been beautiful. Maybe it’s time I convince Fisher to allow Sutton and me to finally do the Monhegan Goodbye.
My phone buzzes again, a call this time, but I ignore it as I pull up Spotify and navigate to the Summer People playlist. It’s full of songs that remind me of my time here. Some of the islanders still call me summer people, but they’remysummer people. My time with the folks of Monhegan is bringing back the joy I felt when I was here with my mom.
When Noah Kahan’s “Maine” starts, I can’t help but smile. I take the path toward the library at a steady pace, waving to my summer people as I pass.
“Hi, Libby,” Kennedy calls as I pass the inn. She’s outside with Lindsey, who’s wearing rain boots and jumping up and down in a kiddie pool.
Putt-Putt veers to the right as I peer over at them. Whoops. I grab the wheel with both hands, and when I try to straighten out, I overcorrect a little and almost veer into a fruit stand.
“Hi, Libby.” Maggie laughs as she jumps out of the way.
“Sorry!” I yell as I continue on.
Determined to make it to my destination in one piece, I force myself to keep my eye on the path in front of me and my hands at ten and two on Putt-Putt’s wheel like Fisher taught me.
He, of course, drives with one hand on my thigh and the other on the wheel. I won’t point out his hypocrisy, though, because there’s nothing I love more than Fisher’s touch.
An hour later, all my chores are done, and I head home. As I pull up the path to our houses, Sutton runs out the front door, her blond braids bouncing, her face covered in pink goo. “Libby!” she calls as I come to a stop. “What took you so long?”
“Sorry, pretty girl. I had to make some stops for Cank. What’s on your face?” I hold out a cookie that Cank’s wife sent along specifically for her. By some miracle, these are nothing like the biscuits, so I’m not concerned that she’ll break a tooth.
Sutton takes a bite of the black and white cookie. “Have you seen the news?” she asks, crumbs spraying from her mouth. She clutches my hand and pulls me into the house.
“Ah, hell.” Fisher turns away, reaching for a towel.
He’s not quick enough to hide the pink goo smeared all over his face too.
