The Summer Everything Changed by Holly Chamberlin Read Free Book Online

thought that went without saying. See you later, alligator.”
    Louise smiled. “See you in a while, crocodile.”
    â€œYou guys should get married already,” Isobel said, when Catherine had gone. “You get along so well. It’s pretty cute.”
    â€œThat’s exactly why we won’t marry,” Louise replied, laughing. “Not enough arguing to keep things interesting. Well, that and the fact that neither of us is gay.”
    â€œYeah, but lots of women your age change teams,” Isobel pointed out. “Look at that woman who was on that old show you used to like. Family Ties . I heard that she’s with a woman now. And there’s the woman who played Miranda on Sex and the City . Cynthia Nixon. She’s legally married to a woman and they have a baby together.”
    â€œWell, that’s nice for them.”
    â€œYeah. I think it’s hormonal. Or maybe it’s that a lot of women finally feel safe being who they really are. No more having to hide behind a person that someone else thought they should be. Whatever the reasons, it’s perfectly normal.”
    â€œBe that as it may,” Louise said, “what do you mean by ‘women my age’?”
    Isobel smirked and shrugged. “You know. Old.”
    Louise made a playful swipe with the dishrag she had been using to dry a mug. Isobel squealed and dashed out of the kitchen.
    Louise was aware that her mood had lightened considerably since only an hour ago. She wasn’t alone in this new life after all. Yeah, the business of the inn was her responsibility, but there were people who had her back. There were people who had faith in her abilities and who were sure she would succeed.
    In fact, she felt pretty good about her life right then. She mentally reviewed the afternoon thus far: the lively conversation with James and Jim, Quentin’s generous offer to stop at the store, Catherine’s unexpected friendship, her daughter’s unconditional love.
    Jake and Amber? Jordan and Montana? Now all she had to do was get the bride and groom’s names straight.

Chapter 6

    CITYMOUSE
    Greetings and Salutations!
    Today, I would like to pay tribute to The Jimmies. (See Gwen’s portrait below. The Jimmies are sitting in the charming gazebo behind the inn, enjoying an early evening cocktail, or what they call a “liquid sociable.” Whatever it is, isn’t it a gorgeous shade of pink? And don’t you just love their full and beautifully kept beards??) Together and separately they have reinforced for me the commandment or rule or truism that style is all about being who you are, and if who you are is genuine, then you have great and ever-lasting style.
    But do you know how rare it is for people—okay, I’ll say it, especially girls! Especially teenaged girls! Don’t hate me!—to be comfortable in their own skin and to really know who they are and say “nope” to stuff that everyone else is wearing but that really isn’t true to themselves? (Wow. Did I get all twisted in theirs and themselves or what? Grammar can be brutal.) It’s rare. Really rare and sometimes it feels like it’s getting rarer, that everyone (exaggeration there) is copying everyone else (is that even possible?????) and that real, true, individual style is just not something you come across a lot.
    Like when LouLou and I take a road trip to Portland and walk down Congress Street and stroll down to Exchange Street and watch the boarders and art students and dropouts and guys and gals in their endless twenties, it’s like wading through a sea of sameness. How did it come to pass that hipness and hipsterism is now uniform? How did it come to pass that looking “cool” could be so deadly boring and repetitive? Sometimes I think that if I see one more porkpie hat I’ll start to scream and never ever stop! Just because something is declared “all the rage”—by some