All Grown Up(22)

“Your parents really loved Montauk. I’m sure they’d be happy you feel that way and can make new memories of your own.”

We were quiet for a while, taking in the waves crashing against the shore and the sun glistening along the water. Even though it was a warm, almost-summer day, the beach was pretty empty. The tourist season didn’t really start to peak until the kids got out of school, which was another week or two away.

“Yeah. They really loved their summer time at the house.” He brought the beer bottle to his lips and kept looking at the ocean as he spoke. “Life was busy when we were home in the city—they worked a lot. Time seemed to slow down out here, though.”

“I used to watch them together and envy their relationship. They were so sweet to each other, and it reminded me how far apart Ryan and I had grown.”

Ford looked over at me and smiled sadly. “They used to have Mason jars on the nightstands in their bedroom next door. During the summer, they’d write these short little love notes on slips of paper and put them in each other’s jars—one or two lines saying random things they liked that the other did that day. Then on Valentine’s Day every year, they’d come out by themselves to check on the house. They’d stay for one night and exchange jars.”

“Wow. That’s so romantic.”

“Yeah. And we always teased my dad that he was just too cheap to buy a Valentine’s Day present.” Ford chugged the rest of his beer and caught my eyes. “You know, my mom was a year older than my dad.”

“Is that so?”

He nodded. “Being attracted to an older woman must run in the family.”

I laughed. “I don’t think that’s a genetic trait, and one year is a lot smaller than twelve.”

“I did some Googling last week. Jay-Z is twelve years older than Beyoncé. Ryan Reynolds is eleven years older than Blake Lively.”

“Men have liked younger women throughout history.”

He wagged his finger at me. “I thought you might say that. So I’m prepared. Hugh Jackman’s wife is thirteen years older than him. Allison Janney’s boyfriend is twenty years younger. And Holland Taylor is thirty-two years older than Sarah Paulson.”

He definitely got credit for ingenuity. Luckily, I was let off the hook from having to respond by the sound of someone knocking at my front door.

“Valentina?” Bella yelled.

I went to let her in, while Ford stayed on the back deck.

“Hey.” I opened the screen door. “How did your interview go?”

“It went great. They offered me the job. But I need your help. I was hoping you could help me convince my brother to let me stay out here for the summer.”

Ford bellowed from the back deck. “Still can’t fight your own battles, huh, Bella?”

Her shoulders slumped. “Shit. I didn’t know he was here.”

I offered a sympathetic smile. “Sorry. But come on out back. And congratulations on getting the job.”

On my way out to the deck, I grabbed Ford another beer. Handing it to him, I took my seat without thinking anything of it.

Bella looked back and forth between us. “Well, don’t you two look cozy?”

I felt compelled to explain, even though we weren’t doing anything wrong. It wasn’t unusual for two neighbors to sit together and share an afternoon beer.

“My kitchen sink was leaking, and Ford fixed it for me. It took him hours. He just finished up.”

Ford looked over at me and shook his head. He knew what I was doing.

“What do you want, Bella?” he said.

She put her hand on her hips. “I want to stay. Your apartment is boring, and I love it out here. The restaurant hired me to work their busy shift—Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sundays—so I’ll be working all the time and won’t be able to get out of control.”

Ford sat up and scratched his chin. Bella took the opportunity to keep selling.

“Plus, Valentina will be out here all summer, so she can keep an eye on me.”

He looked over at me and pushed his sunglasses down his nose to meet my eyes. “You’re staying out here all summer? Not just weekends?”

I nodded. “I have to go into the city to take my teaching exam next week, but other than that, I don’t have any plans to leave.”

Ford squinted. I could see the wheels in his head turning. He rubbed his chin. “The entire summer, huh?”

I nodded hesitantly.

He looked at his sister. “You know what? Go ahead. Stay. I think it might be good for you to spend time out here this summer after all.” He flashed a mischievous smile. “In fact, I’m looking forward to spending as much time out here as I can, too.”

Well, that most certainly backfired.

***

Later that night, I was studying on the couch when Ford knocked on the door. “Hey. I have to head back into the city early tomorrow morning before traffic. I just wanted to talk to you about Bella.”

“Sure, come in.”

He looked at the books strewn all over and my pile of homemade flashcards. “Cramming for your exam next week?”

“Yeah. It’s on Thursday.”

“You know, I speak some Italian. Maybe I can give you a hand, if you need it.”

“You do?”