I know all about that. Aunt Pam has a generator, though, so I can have heat if I want.”
Shit. “Well, that’s nice. Still, it’s not the same in the fall. Dull as death. And a young girl like you should be off having fun, enjoying yourself. Unless you plan on throwing big parties, shipping people out here? I have to say that if that’s the case, it would be a problem. We were really looking forward to the quiet this time of year.” There, he said it.
Hannah looked like she was going to cry. The girl was the spitting image of her father, the full lips, the height, and the dark hair. And the vulnerability, the “I care” he used to always be spreading around. In contrast, her mother Keeley was closed off, tough. Oh, and wild, a party-animal if there ever was one. Pure trouble. If Hannah was like Keeley in that way, they were in for it. They’d have to pack up and leave. Except Rose wouldn’t just leave. No, not a chance of that.
Hannah said, shaking her head, “I’m sorry, but don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not planning on having any parties.”
I’ll believe that when I see it. Give her a little push in the right direction, though. “Yeah, you did say you want to be alone, didn’t you? Well, you can count on us to keep out of your way. We look forward to October every year, only out here in the summer for repairs, open up the house. It’s October that we love, nice and peaceful. Good for thinking if that’s what you want to do. Actually, you couldn’t pick a better place to be a hermit, guess that’s why old Captain Hughes set up house on this little sandbar,” Phil said, reaching for his oars again.
He’d better go if he didn’t want Rose to see him talking to this girl. If he took too long away from their house, she usually went looking for him. If all went well, Rose might never know the girl was on the island.
He would find a way to make sure of it.
“Well, better get going. Lunch awaits. Good luck to you,” he said, giving her his best impression of an untroubled smile, and raising his chin to her in a nod.
He turned the boat around and rowed away, careful not to look back and encourage her in any way. Maybe she’d change her mind and go party it up in the Hamptons instead.
Chapter 8
Hannah watched Mr. McGrath pulling at the oars, the pink bald top of his head exposed and reminding her of a dyed Easter egg. If Easter eggs had brown hair around their edges and neat little tucked-in ears with still more hair growing out of them.
What a welcome committee! If she didn’t know he was living at the opposite end of the island, she’d seriously consider turning around and going back home. What a jerk! He’d practically told her not to stay on the island.
But of course, even if he was right next door, she’d still have the key to the kingdom – the off-limits Barefooter house was all hers. All hers and as much time as she needed to figure her mother out, to find a way to truly know her. There had to be something in that house that would finally gain her access to her mother, the woman who had always been a mystery to her.
Hannah was also sure that if she spent enough time in that house, that she’d figure out what the Barefooter’s secret was. The secret to their undying devotion to each other. The secret to how they lived like they did, always living life full throttle, always laughing together, so hard they sometimes peed their pants. Even now, as adults. She needed that secret, how to be more like the Barefooters, needed to find the carefree child she was convinced was buried somewhere inside of her. She couldn’t go on being so serious all the time. It made people shy away from her. Well, except for Daniel, but that was different. She wanted girlfriends, a whole gang of them just like the Barefooters.
Watching Mr. McGrath grow smaller as he crossed the lead, she decided he wasn’t a problem. She simply would stay on her end of the island.
Shit. “Well, that’s nice. Still, it’s not the same in the fall. Dull as death. And a young girl like you should be off having fun, enjoying yourself. Unless you plan on throwing big parties, shipping people out here? I have to say that if that’s the case, it would be a problem. We were really looking forward to the quiet this time of year.” There, he said it.
Hannah looked like she was going to cry. The girl was the spitting image of her father, the full lips, the height, and the dark hair. And the vulnerability, the “I care” he used to always be spreading around. In contrast, her mother Keeley was closed off, tough. Oh, and wild, a party-animal if there ever was one. Pure trouble. If Hannah was like Keeley in that way, they were in for it. They’d have to pack up and leave. Except Rose wouldn’t just leave. No, not a chance of that.
Hannah said, shaking her head, “I’m sorry, but don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not planning on having any parties.”
I’ll believe that when I see it. Give her a little push in the right direction, though. “Yeah, you did say you want to be alone, didn’t you? Well, you can count on us to keep out of your way. We look forward to October every year, only out here in the summer for repairs, open up the house. It’s October that we love, nice and peaceful. Good for thinking if that’s what you want to do. Actually, you couldn’t pick a better place to be a hermit, guess that’s why old Captain Hughes set up house on this little sandbar,” Phil said, reaching for his oars again.
He’d better go if he didn’t want Rose to see him talking to this girl. If he took too long away from their house, she usually went looking for him. If all went well, Rose might never know the girl was on the island.
He would find a way to make sure of it.
“Well, better get going. Lunch awaits. Good luck to you,” he said, giving her his best impression of an untroubled smile, and raising his chin to her in a nod.
He turned the boat around and rowed away, careful not to look back and encourage her in any way. Maybe she’d change her mind and go party it up in the Hamptons instead.
Chapter 8
Hannah watched Mr. McGrath pulling at the oars, the pink bald top of his head exposed and reminding her of a dyed Easter egg. If Easter eggs had brown hair around their edges and neat little tucked-in ears with still more hair growing out of them.
What a welcome committee! If she didn’t know he was living at the opposite end of the island, she’d seriously consider turning around and going back home. What a jerk! He’d practically told her not to stay on the island.
But of course, even if he was right next door, she’d still have the key to the kingdom – the off-limits Barefooter house was all hers. All hers and as much time as she needed to figure her mother out, to find a way to truly know her. There had to be something in that house that would finally gain her access to her mother, the woman who had always been a mystery to her.
Hannah was also sure that if she spent enough time in that house, that she’d figure out what the Barefooter’s secret was. The secret to their undying devotion to each other. The secret to how they lived like they did, always living life full throttle, always laughing together, so hard they sometimes peed their pants. Even now, as adults. She needed that secret, how to be more like the Barefooters, needed to find the carefree child she was convinced was buried somewhere inside of her. She couldn’t go on being so serious all the time. It made people shy away from her. Well, except for Daniel, but that was different. She wanted girlfriends, a whole gang of them just like the Barefooters.
Watching Mr. McGrath grow smaller as he crossed the lead, she decided he wasn’t a problem. She simply would stay on her end of the island.
Similar Books
