Girls of Summer(16)

“Would you like some?” she asked.

“I really would,” Mack answered. “I don’t know why, but I make crap coffee.”

   “Sit down,” Lisa told him, gesturing to a chair. “I’ll get you a cup. Cream, sugar?”

“Black works.”

Her legs were curled up to the side, and when she swung them to the floor and rose, they were exposed. She pulled her kimono together, but the sash wasn’t as all purpose as a zipper, and she knew Mack was looking at her legs. She glanced at him, and she was right.

She did have good legs.

Flushing, she slipped past him into the kitchen. When she brought back the mug, he was seated, just looking around.

“Thanks,” he said. “Beautiful garden. And this is a wonderful space.”

“It’s waking up now,” Lisa said. Mack smiled, she flushed. “I’m cleaning out the fallen leaves and sticks. Oh, and I’ve been spraying the tulips. If I don’t, the rabbits eat all the flowers.”

Mack nodded, not speaking, his eyes intent on her face.

What was happening? Was this the eye contact thing people talked about? “Do you have a garden?” Lisa asked, a bit desperately.

“I guess you could say I have a yard. When Beth was a child, we used to plant flowers and stuff in the spring. Mostly I mow the lawn and water the old geraniums in the pots.”

“I have some ten-year-old geraniums. I bring them in to over-winter in the house. I’ll set them outside soon.”

“Sounds like you’re really good with plants.”

Lisa shrugged. “They’re easier to deal with than ceilings.”

Again, the eye lock. Then, oh of course, here came the hot flash.

“What are you reading?” Mack asked.

“The new Charles Todd mystery. Do you like mysteries?”

“Very much, and thrillers, too. I’m reading a Lee Child book at the moment.”

   “Yes, Jack Reacher…”

“Who’s your favorite mystery writer?” Mack asked. “I see you’ve got the new John le Carré here.” He turned the book to face him.

“I don’t consider John le Carré to be a mystery writer. He writes spy thrillers, don’t you think?”

As they talked, the sun slowly moved in the sky, its light brightening the porch, and, Lisa thought sadly, exposing every line in her face. Why was Mack here, she wondered. Maybe her presence was comforting, like a favorite aunt’s, or a teacher’s.

“Would you like more coffee?” she asked.

“No, thanks,” Mack said. “But what are you doing today? It’s warm and sunny. Want to get sandwiches at Something Natural and go out to Great Point?”

Warmth flooded through Lisa, and an extreme joy…and an equally extreme fear. “Oh, I’m sure you don’t want—”

Mack interrupted. “But I do want.” His cheeks reddened. “I’d like your company. Hey, I could have brought the stilts over tomorrow. The reason I dropped in was to see if you wanted to do something today, outside. Away from the house. With me.”

Lisa met Mack’s gaze and gooseflesh broke out over her entire body. Did he like her? That way? “Well, then, so yes, I’d love to. I’ll bring some cold beer and, um, cookies…but I need to get dressed. Just a moment…” She left the room. It was all she could do to keep herself from running up the stairs.

What should she wear? Jeans, sneakers, baggy cotton sweater—not that one with the V-neck, she didn’t want to show even a hint of cleavage, this wasn’t a date, this was…what? What was this? Could it possibly be in some weird way romantic? Oh, who was she kidding? She was ten years older than Mack. He was only a friend. She pulled on her sports bra so things wouldn’t jiggle when they bumped over the soft sand. A loose cotton sweater, and her L.L.Bean quilted vest. Everything tucked tidily out of sight.

   She hurried down the stairs. “Sorry to take so long.”

“No problem.” Mack held the door open for her, and they went out into the day.

They drove through the narrow roads out to the Milestone Rotary, turned left, and sped down ’Sconset road. They turned off toward Wauwinet, and soon were at the ranger station on the side of the road.

Mack had to let the air out of his tires at the ranger station so they could make the drive through the soft sand out to Great Point. It took them forty-five minutes to go about six miles, and the ride was so bumpy they couldn’t really talk. But the views of the pristine beach with the glittering ocean lapping at it mesmerized Lisa. Orange-beaked oystercatchers, piping plovers, and gulls scurried back and forth over the sand and as they neared Great Point, they saw seals swimming or sunning themselves on the beach.

Great Point was a spit of land stretching between Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic. The currents from the two bodies of water met with a gorgeous rolling turbulence that attracted seals, fish, and people. The lighthouse, seventy-one feet of stone painted white, had been first built in 1784 to warn sailors of dangerous shoals. In 1986, it had been rebuilt with new lenses and solar-powered panels to fuel the light.

“Oh, wow,” Lisa said when Mack brought his truck to a stop on the sound side of the point. “I haven’t been out here in a long time. I had no idea about the seals.”