Page 67 of On Fire Island
“Still no shoes.”
“Well, that’s a good sign—hard to walk barefoot in the big city.”
“My dad’s coming to watch the big game tomorrow—so we’ll see what happens with him and my mom.”
There had been no word of the apology letter since Tuck’s last visit. I was the only one who even knew that Renee had read it.
“Are you hoping they’ll get back together?”
“All I’m hoping is to survive the next two years and then get into a good college somewhere far away.”
I wasn’t surprised he said that. Many kids I knew in high school whose parents divorced got as far away as they could when it was time for college. Collateral damage runs deep when these things aren’t handled well, and this divorce was most definitely not handled well.
Bea and Shep returned in time for batting practice. And Renee, who had taken her usual spot on the stands,New York Timesin tow, jumped from the bleachers at the first sight of her old friend Bea. They embraced and separated to get a good look at each other before embracing again. Underneath a spattering of fine lines and errant grays were the same two kids who spent their childhood summers painting shells and playing walkie-talkie hide-and-seek up and down the streets of Bay Harbor.
I was eager to hear what Renee had to say to one of her oldestfriends. I knew they hadn’t stayed in close touch over the years. Renee was not the greatest keeper of girlfriends; she claimed she didn’t have much use for more than one or two at a time. But she clearly loved Bea, and that hadn’t changed.
“God, how long has it been?” Bea asked.
“Well, I saw you at your mom’s funeral.”
“I wasn’t really all there then. I’m so sorry about Julia; I know how close you were.”
“Thank you. She was my adult version of you—my summer sister—come sit.” She added, “Matty’s on deck.”
They climbed back up into the bleachers, and I copped a squat next to them, eager to be in on their catching up.
“So—word is you’re seeing someone,” Bea said.
“I don’t know if I would say that. But I did meet a really nice guy who is the polar opposite of Tuck.”
“In what way?”
“In every way you could imagine.”
“You seem smitten,” Bea observed with a mischievous smile.
Renee turned red—red as a tomato, and I knew right then and there that she had let herself go with Gabe. If I were around, there is no doubt she would have spilled all the tawdry details to me, like a kid descending from her first roller-coaster ride. I recognized the look on her face before Beatrix even asked the question. I remember a time, at the beginning of mine and Ben’s relationship, when I felt closer to him, sexually, than I had ever felt to anyone before. Truly naked. We would make love so intimately that I would find myself daydreaming about it the next day with that same look on my face. I’d be at work, in the middle of a meeting, and feel my cheeks redden with warmth.
Tuck Tucker had little chance of winning her back now.
Renee got herself together.
“I’m not sure about that, but I will say that in the short time I’ve known him he’s taught me how to slow down and be in the moment. Yesterday we spent the day on the beach and came home around three, sunburned and sandy. We showered and climbed onto my bed for a nap. I swear it was my first nap since I was a little kid. And even then I wasn’t a big napper. It was perfection.”
I was a big fan of that post-beach nap when you lie down on top of your covers, sunburned and squeaky clean and drift off till dinnertime. People are always touting the disco nap and the catnap, but I’m telling you—this isthenap. It just needs a catchy name.
“Well, I can’t wait to meet this guy—he sounds like just what you need right now. Bring him to dinner at my dad’s house tonight? Eight o’clock?”
“I’d love to!”
Renee reached out for another hug. “So happy to see you, Bea.”
“Me too—I’m so happy to be here.”
thirty-seven
Bea’s Secret
