Rubys laughter rang out, and Nora felt a sharp tug of nostalgia. My girls, she thought. Suddenly it seemed like only yesterday theyd begged for Disco Barbies for Christmas.
Nora clapped her hands. "Get a move on, girls.
Were going sailing today with Dean and Eric remember; Ruby? Lottie has dinner planned for us around seven. "
Caroline turned green. “Sailing?” She rolled out of Rubys arms and dropped onto the floor; landing on all fours. She crouched there a minute, breathing shallo
wly, then she crawled toward the bathroom. At the door; she grabbed onto the knob and hauled herself upright. She turned and gave Ruby a pained smile. “First in the shower!”
“`Shit. ” Ruby sagged forward, buried her face in her hands. “Dont use all the hot water. ”
Nora smiled. “Its like old times around here. ”
Ruby angled a look at her; gave her a pathetical sloppy smile. “I dont remember tequila in grade school or all of us dancing to ”Footloose,“ singing at the top of our lungs, but-yeah. ”
“’You and Me Against the World,“ ”Nora said, her smile fading at the suddenness of the memory. was our song.
“I remember. ”
Nora wanted to move toward her, but she remained still. Last night, Caro had come back to Nora completely, but even in the midst of their laughter-a sob-fest, Ruby had held herself back. “Well, Im going to start breakfast and pack us a light lunch. Deans supposed to bring the boat around eleven. ” She waited for Ruby to say something, but when the si lence stretched out, Nora turned and headed downstairs, thumping down each step.
She was halfway down when she heard a car drive up. A quick glance at her watch told her it was nine thirty. Not dawn, certainly, but pretty early for the local islanders to be visiting.
Nora tried to hurry down the stairs, but with her cast, it was difficult. She felt like Quasimodo hurrying down the bell tower.
She made it into the kitchen just as a rattling knock struck the front door. She finger-combed her hair and opened the door.
Standing on her porch was one of the best-looking young men shed ever seen. He had the kind of beauty that made old women long for youth. Though she hadnt seen him since the wedding, shed recognize her son-in-law anywhere.
“Hi Jeremy," she said, smiling.
He looked surprised. “Nora?”
I guess its a shock to realize you have a mother-in-law. " She took a step backward, motioning for him to come inside.
He smiled tiredly. “Given my other shocks in the past twenty-four hours, thats nothing. ”
Nora nodded, unsure of how to respond. “Caroline is upstairs. Shes not feeling real well. ”
He looked instantly concerned. “Is something wrong? Is that why she left?”
“Tequila. Thats whats wrong. ”
He relaxed, even grinned. “So, you met Ed. ”
“It wasnt a pretty sight. Can I get you a cup of coffee?”
“That would be great. I missed the final ferry last night, so I slept in my car on the dock. My body feels like its been canned. ”
Nora went into the kitchen and poured him a cup of coffee. “Cream? Sugar?”
“Yeah, thanks. ”
She returned with the coffee, and handed him a cup.
“Thanks. ” He glanced toward the stairs. “Is she awake?”
The look he gave Nora was so utterly helpless that she said, “Ill get her. You wait here. ”