Page 15 of A Summer Mismatch
“What does she need?”
“If you have a moment, could you go out to the beach and get some pictures of the ocean for her?”
“With my phone? It’s starting to get dark.” Julia could do snap-and-shoot pictures, like anyone else, but she didn’t have any particular photography skills.
“Yes, but not in front of our house. She needs a picture more toward the community center. There’s a purple bungalow, and she wants it right in front of that, but not of the bungalow itself, just the ocean. And it’s okay if it’s a little dark.”
“O-kay.” Julia shook her head at the specificity. “What does she need the picture for?”
“A photo book she’s making for a great-grandchild on the way.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet. When’s the baby due?”
“There’s no baby on the wayyet, but she’ll have a great-grandchild someday, and she wants to get this book going.”
“A planner, I guess.” Was it Julia’s imagination, or was this whole thing as strange as it sounded? And Grandma Winnie was acting shifty too. She kept tipping her phone up to read incoming messages. It almost felt like she was trying to get Julia out of the house.
“That’s Nancy for you.”
“Oh, it’s Nancy!” Julia had only met her a few times, but she adored Nancy. “Does she want to be in the picture? I can swing by her bungalow and pick her up.”
“No,” Winnie said, a little too quickly. “Her heart condition. She shouldn’t be walking too much. This would be a huge favor for her, though.”
She hadn’t realized Nancy’s heart was so fragile. She frowned. “I guess I could do that.” Julia stood and slipped on her sandals. She’d seen a few eccentric things in her visits to The Palms—flamingos named after the Beatles, a costume-wearing alligator, and someone who walked their parrot in a stroller, for starters. Taking a random picture at a very specific place when it was already getting dark was the least of the eccentric things happening here.
Besides, a quiet walk along the beach didn’t sound so bad.
“Wait. Before you go, I made you something.”
Grandma Winnie went to the bedroom and came back a moment later with a gorgeous, flowy wrap-dress made with a dark, navy blue fabric that had a pattern with the faintest outlines of bright white shining stars. Julia couldn’t have designed a dress more perfect for herself if she tried.
“Try it on.”
Julia raced to the bathroom and put it on. It fit her perfectly, like all of Grandma’s creations. She did a tiny spin and loved how the waist hugged her just above her natural waist, but the fabric flowed easily around her legs.
“How do you always know, Grandma?” She hugged Grandma Winnie. “I love it!”
Grandma Winnie checked her watch. “Hurry. You’re going to miss the good light. Here’s a piece of gum.”
“Gum?”
“Garlic bread,” Grandma Winnie explained. Julia covered her mouth and then slipped the gum in.
Julia popped her head into the front room to check on Cameron and Grandpa, who had moved on from watching the game to playing a round of Trouble.
“I’ll be back in a minute.”
Grandpa waved her away. “Take your time. Cameron is in for a whoopin’ at Trouble tonight.”
“No, I win.” Cameron set his device in his lap and held his hands up in a premature victory cheer.
Julia slipped out as they continued to argue about who would win.
The night was gorgeous. A gentle breeze came off the ocean, cooling everything down just enough to make her wish it could be like this all the time. The salty ocean scent gusted around her, and she slipped her shoes off and pressed her toes deep into the sand with every step. Diamond Cove had the softest sand.
She walked closer to the water, letting the waves roll over her feet and up to her ankles as she headed toward the purple bungalow. In the distance, she could see families packing up their beach gear as the sun went farther down in the sky, and a couple of elderly fishermen sat together, their lines not in the water anymore, but they talked and laughed.
She got to the purple bungalow and turned to face the ocean. It was just light enough to still get a good picture. She pulled her phone out and took pictures of the ocean from a few different angles. She got in the picture herself and took a selfie. She liked how she looked in it: her long brown hair flowing behind her, her makeup still—miraculously—in place, and the peaceful smile on her face.
