Emily Franklin - Principles Of Love 06 - Labor Of Love by Emily Franklin Read Free Book Online Page B

swallow."Charlie?"

    "Yeah?"

    "A lot happened in LA," I say.

    He blushes. "How lame am I for not diving right into that barrel? My selfish behavior is only indicative of wanting to straighten things out with you--and with my family." He looks at me as he drives the truck into the center of Edgar- town, pulling into a loading space in front of the Whaling Church. It's a popular location for weddings, and there've been many times I've ended a shift at the caf� and walked onto the brick sidewalk for some fresh air to find I have a view of other people's happiness--the bride and her at tendants, little girls in dresses. I'm not someone who spends any time fantasizing about a wedding--it's just not that big a thing to me (I do think about the partnership, the mar riage, but the actual wedding doesn't occupy my thoughts). But seeing it here, in this special place, does make me smile. Today, though, the church is devoid of people, the sunlight changing, and my boyfriend waits for me to speak.

    "I don't know where to start." I look at him and un buckle my seat belt.

    He stays strapped in, clearly not joining me at Slave, and

    *) AVWdgd[AdkZ

    puts his hand on my shoulder."That's just how I started my speech to my parents when I told them about going back to Cambridge."

    "Oh my god--do not be one of those people who says they `go to college in Cambridge.' " I put air quotes around the phrase. "It's like `I go to school in New Haven.' Oh, re ally, what school might that be? We all know it's Yale. . . ."

    Charlie gives a small laugh."I will try not to fall prey to those stereotypical behaviors. Anyway . . . about the Silver and White?"

    "Are you asking me?"

    "Officially."

    I nod. "I never thought I'd know people who go to that, let alone be asked . . . but yes. Officially." The Silver and White is the island's premier summer closer event.Airy open tents are erected oceanside on Squibnocket Point, and the Vineyard elite mingle with the wealthy and wonder ful--some of whom don't summer here, but simply fly in for the event. For others who do spend several months of the year, the glittering silver and white colors are the first signal that the autumnal orange and reds are around the corner. They literally pack up the next day and leave the island before the grounds crew has rolled up the tents and put away the sterling silver�rimmed plates. The fact that I'll have nothing to wear to this event is the least of my

    ** :b^an;gVc`a^c

    concerns--first I have to come to terms with the image of going in the first place.

    In the sticky heat of the pickup, I feel lucky to be with Charlie. Glad he's open to talking about the future and his family, and only a tiny bit concerned that he didn't know he was being aloof and distant around the pool at his parents'.

    "I have to write a paper," Charlie says and laughs. "A paper! Haven't done that in a while. . . . It might take some time--and it's due on Monday."

    "Translation being: Don't freak out if I'm incommuni cado this weekend?"

    He nods and smiles. His eyes travel from mine to my lips and I can't help but mirror the gesture, focusing again on his mouth. He hasn't grinned from the side of it yet--and I wrinkle my forehead trying to figure that out. Doesn't Charlie do that? Doesn't his mouth curl up on one side when he's made a funny remark? I reach forward and twist his lips with my fingers, laughing while I do it.

    "Whatthehell?" He says the words smooched together while I play with his mouth.

    "Nothing," I say. "I just couldn't remember a certain expression."

    "Was it this?" Charlie twists his mouth. I shake my head. "Was it this?" He sticks out his tongue.Another head shake. "Was it this?" Charlie swoops in, grabs me, and right here--

    *+ AVWdgd[AdkZ

    in the middle of Edgartown, in a no parking zone, where brides say their I dos--we kiss.

    A few minutes later, I'm out of the truck. I walk around and stand on tiptoe so I can lean into the driver's-side win dow and kiss him