Martin nods. “Yeah. She was stubborn.” I nod in agreement. “Anyway, eventually Nicole’s mom came over with a towel and Nicole climbed out of the pool with most of her dignity intact.”
“After that, Nicole was always careful to avoid Mr. Fitzroy,” Beth finishes.
“I’m not surprised. Did she get into trouble with her parents?”
“Not really. They thought she’d learned her lesson. She was mad at me for days after that. Didn’t speak to me because she blamed me.” He shakes his head, but he has a twinkle in his eye. “Beth got her to come ’round, eventually.” He smiles at her and she returns it. I wonder how difficult it is for Beth to remember those times when Martin’s heart belonged to someone else? He kisses her temple and Beth’s eyes flutter closed for a moment. “They were good times.”
Beth nods. “Yes, they were.”
“That sounds like something me and my sisters would have done when we were younger,” Max adds.
Beth and Martin continue to share stories of the three of them throughout the meal, giving me an insight into Mom as a teenager. Before her life got heavy and complicated. She sounds like she was fun to be around, not that she wasn’t fun. She would find ways for us to have fun at the park or at the beach. Simple things that didn’t cost money.
I help Beth clear the table and set up for dessert. As she rinses the dishes to stack in the dishwasher, I use the time while it’s only the two of us. “Thank you for inviting us to dinner. This evening’s been lovely.”
“You are more than welcome. We hope this is just the beginning, Molly.” I swallow down the lump that forms at her kindness and blink away the sting in my eyes. I refuse to cry again tonight.