Girls of Summer(65)

“Juliet—”

“Theo,” his mom said, “this meatloaf is delicious!”

“Theo,” Juliet said, “I shouldn’t say this, but Beth likes you.”

His mom said, “Well, that’s hardly a surprise.”

Theo gave Juliet a wary look. “What do you mean, likes?”

“I guess you’ll have to find that out for yourself,” Juliet said with a wicked grin.

“I love the way you put shredded cheese in the potato,” his mom said.

Theo sat there, confused and not even hungry.

“Oh, Theo,” Juliet said. “Don’t look so pathetic. I’m not trying to trick you. I was at the Ocean Matters office with Beth today, and she told me she likes you. A lot.”

“Close your mouth, Theo,” his mother said. “Now tell Juliet thank you.”

“Thank you,” Theo muttered to his sister. Then he ate both potatoes and at least half the meatloaf.



* * *



—

Theo wanted to ask Beth for a date, but he really wanted to do something different. Something special. Something that would set him apart from the other Nantucket guys. But he was committed to working all day, and so was Beth. The weather forecast was for rain, so a long walk on the beach was out. He flipped through the island weekly newspaper and came up with an idea. The Theatre Workshop of Nantucket was putting on Grease, which would be a lot of fun, and Laura McGinniss, one of their classmates, had the lead role.

   He called Beth and asked her to go with him the following night.

“That would be so much fun!” Beth told him.

His spirits soared like an eagle toward the sky.

The next night, Theo showered and dressed in a decent-looking button-down shirt and board shorts. He thought he looked okay, and not like he was trying too hard.

Beth had asked him to pick her up at the Ocean Matters office. He walked down to Easy Street and found Beth inside, working at her computer.

“Hey.” Beth gave him a great big smile when he entered the office. Theo wished he could freeze time right there.

“Hey,” Theo replied. He ached to kiss her, but first of all, he wanted to treat her right and not act like his normal gorilla self. Second of all, Mack was her father, and he didn’t want to make Mack mad.

“Sorry I had to work so late,” Beth said. “We’re really rushing to launch Ocean Matters.”

“I wish I could take you out to dinner after the play, but I’m not sure how long it will be.”

Beth busied around, hitching her shoulder bag over her arm, straightening a pile of papers. “Oh, don’t worry about eating. Let’s get ice cream cones and stroll the streets after the play. As if we’re tourists.”

“Good idea.” Theo thought Beth was like Tinker Bell, light and glowing and brightening everything she touched. He didn’t tell her that, though. She probably wouldn’t appreciate the comparison.

   They stepped outside. Beth locked the door and together they walked up the street to Bennett Hall. Dark clouds were rolling in from the northeast, and in the small harbor near the Steamship Authority, waves were beginning to dance in the wind. The wind whipped her skirt against her.

“Nor’easter on the way,” Theo said.

“I know. I love it. The drama!”

They stepped off the curb and Beth slid her hand around Theo’s arm. He almost fainted with happiness.

“So how’s it going, working for Mack?” Beth asked.

“It’s good. You know what, it’s really good. Your father is so organized, and quick to respond if a problem comes up. I haven’t seen him lose his temper yet.”

“I have,” Beth joked.

“How are you doing with your ocean group?”

“Okay, I think. Your sister got a fabulous website set up. I’ve started a Facebook page and an Instagram account. Of course the other environmental groups have pages on Facebook, so we’ve liked each other and already a lot of people have become friends on our page.”

“I hear Meghan Trainor’s coming for the fundraiser.”

Beth sighed. “Maybe. She’s interested and she’s going to get back to us, but we haven’t pinned her down for sure. I’ve found a date in early September that isn’t booked up for another event, so I’ve claimed it, but I can’t send out invitations, put out publicity, all of that, until she’s confirmed. Honestly, it’s a lot of work.”

“But you’re enjoying it.”

“I am enjoying it. A lot. Especially working with Juliet. Plus, it’s the right thing to do.”

Theo looked warmly at Beth. “You’ve always been the right thing girl.”

She flinched. “Well, that sounds like an insult.”

   “God, no, Beth, I didn’t mean it that way at all. I mean, like in high school you got all A’s, and you chose Atticus over me because he was the better guy.”

A long silence stretched between them.

“Chose Atticus?” Beth looked away. “That’s not the way it felt. Besides, you went with so many girls.”

“Yeah, I was kind of uncentered back them. But I was interested, Beth. I mean, if you and I had ever, well, if I’d ever had a chance with you, I’d have been so loyal.”