Summer Island

“Thats good news. So, hows the comedy biz?”

She took a smaller drag this time, breathed in, held the smoke in her lungs, then released it. After that, they passed it back and forth. “Im not funny enough to make it big. ”

“Youre a riot. You always cracked me up. ”

“Thanks, but thats like being the prettiest girl in Paducah. It doesnt make you Miss America. The funniest girl on Lopez Island isnt going to knock ”em dead on Leno. Sad truth. "

“Are you giving up on it?”

“I guess so. I think Ill try my hand at writing. ” She giggled. “Get it-try my hand at writing. ”

Eric laughed with her. “Its not like you can try your foot,” he said between bursts of laughter. They both knew it wasnt funny, but just now, with the sweet smell of pot clouded between them, it seemed hilarious. “What kind of book will you write?”

“Well, it wont be on the joys of sex. ”

“And it wont be on fashion. ”

Ruby shot him a look. “Very funny. I have my mother to rag about my appearance, if you dont mind. Hey! Thats what Ill write about. Dear Old Mom. ”

Eric laughed more quietly this time. Snuffing the joint out, he leaned back on his elbows. “Somebody should do a book on her. Shes a saint. ”

"I must be so high Ive lost my hearing. I thought you said she was a saint.

He turned to her. “She is. ”

His face seemed to loom in front of her, two sizes too big. His pale blue eyes were watery, rimmed in nearly invisible strands of red. His full, almost ferm nine lips were colorless. And suddenly she couldnt pretend, couldnt make small talk. “How are you, . . . . . . . really?”

“Its what the docs call end stage. ” He smiled weakly. “Funny, they come up with a euphemism for every step of the illness, but then, when you really need a little lip gloss to cover everything, they call it end stage. As if you need another reminder that youre dying. ”

Ruby brushed the fine, limp strands of hair from his face. “I should have stayed in better touch with you. What happened between Dean and me, I shouldnt have let that extend to you, too. ”

“You broke his heart,” Eric said softly.

“All of our hearts got broken that year I guess, and the kings horsemen couldnt put us back together. ”

He touched her cheek. “What your mother did . . . it was really fucked. But youre not sixteen anymore. You ought to be able to see things more clearly. ”

“Like what?”

“Come on, Ruby. The whole island knew your dad was screwing other women. Dont you think that makes just a little bit of difference?”

So it was true: Everyone did know. “Caroline and I didnt do anything and she left us, too. ”

There it was, the thing she still couldnt get past.

“Ive gotten to know your mom pretty well in the past few years, and let me tell you, shes great. Id give anything to have a mom like her. ”

“Jet-set Lady had troubles with your lifestyle, I take it?”

“No. No trouble. When I told my mother I was gay, she said she never wanted to see me again. ”

“How long did that last?”

“Shes not like your mom. When my mom said Get out of my house,” she meant it. I havent seen her since. "

“Even now?”

“Even now. ”