That Summer Place by Susan Wiggs, Debbie Macomber, Jill Barnett - That Summer Place Page B

the world to just savor her mouth. It was the first time he’d kissed her since that night in the boathouse. She gave herself up to that kiss, because she felt it clear through to her heart.
    And it ended oh, so soon.
    He pulled his mouth away from hers, but kept his hand on the back of her head. He searched her face and gave her a tender smile. “You are a beautiful woman, Catherine, and though it seems impossible, you are more beautiful now than you were at seventeen. I know you won’t believe me, but those few lines on your face are the most beautiful part of you.” He shook his head. “Sweetheart, don’t regret even one of those forty-some-odd years.”
    And at that moment, Catherine wouldn’t have wanted to be seventeen again for anything.
     
    They had all gone on a hike that morning, even Catherine. And she hated every minute of it. But she never let on. Not one word of complaint, even when she lost her footing, smacked into a fir tree, and the needles poured down all over her.
    She deserved a medal for valor, or at least tolerance.
    They came home sweaty and muddy and all she wanted was a long shower and to never hear the word “trail” again.
    She’d headed straight for the shower and Lord, did it ever feel good. She stood there and let the water beat on her, then she grabbed the shampoo and poured it all over her head.
    “Mom?”
    For heaven’s sake! She couldn’t even take a shower in peace. When you became a mother, you lost all your privacy.
    Aly knocked on the door again. “Mom?”
    “What?” She turned and let the water beat on her back while she scrubbed her hair into a nice foamy lather.
    “Harold got out.”
    “He’ll come back, Aly. Stop fretting about him.” Silly cat.
    “He’s back.”
    “Fine. Now can I please finish this shower in peace?”
    “Harold’s in the bathroom with you.”
    “I don’t care, Aly. He comes in the bathroom with me at home, too.”
    There was a long silence.
    “Mom?”
    She took a deep breath. She really didn’t have much patience left. “Yes?”
    “He’s not alone.”
    Catherine stopped lathering her hair.
    She heard Dana whisper, “Did you tell her?”
    “Sort of,” Aly whispered back. “Come here, Harold. Come here. I got him!”
    Catherine pulled aside one small corner of the shower curtain and hollered, “There’s a snake in here!”
    “We know, Mom.” Her girls had opened the door less than an inch and she could see their eyes watching the snake through the crack.
    “Well, don’t just stand there! Do something!”

Sixteen
    H er girls did something.
    They got Michael.
    “Catherine?” His voice came through the door.
    The man of her dreams was on the other side of the door, ready to rescue her. She was naked, standing in the shower with a flimsy plastic curtain wrapped around her; it was the only thing between her and a long black snake.
    She swore under her breath, one of those words her mother would have killed her for saying.
    “Catherine,” Michael called out. “Are you all right?”
    “Just ducky.” She pulled the shower curtain even tighter around her. “There’s a snake in here!”
    “I know. I don’t want to open the door on it. Can you look and see where it is?”
    She peered around the edge of the shower curtain. Oh God…She took a deep breath. “It’s on the bath mat by the tub. You can open the door. Hurry. Please.”
    She hid inside the curtain the moment she heard him come in and close the door behind him. She waited, listening to the sounds on the other side. Finally she couldn’t stand it any longer. “Did you get it?”
    “Just a minute.”
    Oh God, oh God, oh God….
    “I have it.”
    “Take it far, far away, Michael. Really far away.”
    “I’m putting it in a cooler.”
    “That’s not far enough.”
    “It’s the Igloo cooler that locks.”
    She heard a sharp snap.
    “There. You’re safe now.”
    “Is it still in here?”
    “Yes, but it’s locked up tight.”
    “Do you want a cat?”
    He