Summer People by Brian Groh Read Free Book Online

two-story, white stucco clubhouse sat beside the channel or “gut” connecting the cove to the bay, and as Nathan walked over, he noticed a small cluster of people, including Eldwin Lowell, the pastor, standing on the pavement near the water’s edge. He was an even heftier man than he appeared in his black robe, and was wearing dark sunglasses, his arms folded across his black polo shirt. His blond son was crouched beside him, picking at something in the lawn.
    Seeing them made Nathan think of Leah and compounded the uneasiness he was already feeling. It had been nearly two whole days since he had seen her. Last night, after waiting for Ellen to go to sleep, he hadwalked over to see if Leah might be interested in taking a walk. Eldwin’s wife, Rachel, had answered the door. She was a pallid, angular woman whose loose-fitting shirt and sweatpants hung from her like clothes on a rack. Frowning in the porch light, she’d told him that Leah had taken the kids to Brightonfield to see a movie.
    â€œOh, do you know what time you expect them back?”
    â€œNot too long from now,” Rachel had said, struggling to push back a panting black Labrador behind her. “Do you want me to tell her you stopped by?”
    Nathan had said yes, but Leah hadn’t come over to the house that evening, and the memory increased his self-consciousness as he stood in the sun-blasted parking lot, his hand shielding his eyes from the glare. He turned in place, surveying the grounds for signs of Kendra, and wishing that someone would approach him to tell him where to go. Walking toward the clubhouse, he hoped she would be inside, and if not, perhaps he could use the restroom to sit and think about what he should do. He was halfway up the porch steps, glancing through the glass doors, when Kendra appeared beneath him, rounding the corner of the building. Nathan called her name and she turned to squint through her sunglasses.
    â€œHey, Nathan, it’s good to see you. I was wondering if you were going to come.”
    She paused to grab the railing, but as Nathan came down the stairs, she started walking again.
    â€œYeah, no, I wouldn’t miss it. Is everybody else here?”
    â€œAlmost everybody. Do you mind walking to the car with me? I just need to get a few more life jackets out of the back.” She looked purposeful and radiant, dressed in khaki shorts and a white blouse that allowed Nathan to see the faint outlines of her bra. As she glanced down at her watch, a roll of flesh appeared beneath her chin, making her look momentarily older than Nathan remembered, and he felt an erotic tenderness for her. As they walked, Kendra said, “It’s supposed to be beautiful all day, thank God, and a decent wind, finally, too. Have you been sailing much this summer?”
    â€œNo, I haven’t. This is actually going to be my first time on a sailboat.”
    Kendra glanced at him, and said, “Oh, you’re kidding.”
    â€œNope. It’s been a lean life.”
    After a pause, Kendra said, “Well, I think you’re going to love it. You know, Lucien and I were just talking about how it’s too bad that your parents weren’t able to come up this summer; we would have loved to have taken them out with us.”
    â€œMy parents?”
    Kendra tilted her head and peered over the tops of her sunglasses. “Don’t tell me they didn’t mention going sailing with us last summer.”
    â€œNo,” Nathan said, laughing through an uncertain smile.
    Kendra laughed also. “Well, maybe they didn’t, but we had such a good time with them. Your father is hilarious.”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œOh, God, yes. You’ll have to ask Lucien about the night your father tried cooking swordfish.”
    â€œI’m not so sure my father was up here last summer.”
    Kendra tucked in her chin and frowned, “No, I think you’re mixed up. I know they were here