Page 60 of Ghost on the Shore

We head back out, plates piled high with couscous and stewed lamb, but she’s swatting at her ankles inside of two minutes.

“Let’s go back inside. The mosquitoes are eating you alive.”

“Do you mind? It’s so nice out tonight but the bugsaregetting a little pesky.” She passes as I hold the back door open for her. “They used to attack Aunt Viv, too. She’d tell me they only like the sexy people.”

“She sounds like she was a pretty funny lady.”

“She was like a warm hug personified. Viv never had children, which is a shame. She would have made a great mother.”

We eat in comfortable silence for the next few minutes, with me sitting there thinking to myself that I do indeed like Moroccan food.

“This is delicious, Grace.”

“I’m so glad you like it. I took some up to Sky and Leo’s for a pot-luck they had last fall and Olivia devoured it. She’s the only five-year-old I know who’d eat this.”

“I think she’d eat a shoe if you were the one cooking it.” Grace looks amused when I tell her, “I couldn’t help but notice at the party that she’s really attached to you.”

She covers her mouth with her napkin, laughing. “She is but I have no idea why.”

“Libs looks at you like you’re a rock star or something.”

“I think it’s just a dance phase kind of thing.”

“A dancer, huh? Yeah, you looked like you were hard core when you were showing her the moves.”

She shakes her head and waves me off. “I bailed out of the ballet world when I was fourteen. Ididminor in dance theory back in college, but I don’t consider myself a dancer.”

“What did you want to do with your degree?”

She shrugs. “Exactly what I am doing, I guess. I teach English literature and creative writing, and I coach our high school dance team.” She pauses then adds, “I do love certain aspects of my job, but I feel restless lately. I can’t really put my finger on why that is.”

“Did you grow up here?”

“Philly.”

“Not like this is so far from there, but—”

“But at the same time, it’s worlds away. I know. It’s just that I needed a safe place to land after college and Aunt Viv was my safe place. My parents got divorced when I was in high school, they both remarried, and their new houses never felt like home.” Grace tilts her head to the side. “Are your parents still married?”

“Nearly forty years and still going strong.”

“That’s awesome. And you’re from where?”

“Pittsburgh...The burbs.”

She lays her fork down, rests her elbows on the table and perches her chin on her hands. “So?”

“What?”

“So tell me your life story, Owen. You’re on your second glass of wine. Maybe I’ll get some secrets out of you this time.”

“I guess that’s only fair.” I rub my hands together. “All right. I grew up the oldest of three kids. I have two younger sisters. I went to the Naval Academy, served two tours overseas, came home missing an appendage.”

She laughs at that line and I’m oddly grateful for her sick sense of humor.

“I was going to study law but decided against it. I love reading and writing about history, so teaching seemed like a natural fit.”

“What else?”

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