“I do remember!” She pointed at the rope. “I notice you added a wooden plank for their feet. No rope burns today?”
“Shoot, I didn’t put that on there for them. I did it for me. I’m almost thirty. Why would I want to hold my body weight up with my arms if I have the tools and skill to make a platform?” He laughed and raced over to the water’s edge, pulling his shirt over his head. He grabbed the rope and jumped up on the wooden piece. He hooted and hollered as he swung over the water and jumped in. Valerie laughed and clapped him on.
“Why didn’t we think of the wooden step when we were young?” Brad asked as he walked up to her.
“It is a clever idea. I’ll give him that.” She smiled up at him. He wore a pair of red swim shorts and a black T-shirt with horizontal white stripes. He clearly hadn’t shaved all weekend, and the stubble of beard on his face made her want to rub her hands on his cheeks. “Want to give it a go?”
She looked down at her outfit of a white tank top and denim shorts. She hadn’t even thought of packing a swimsuit. “Not particularly.” They watched as Jon swam to shore and shook his head to clear the water out of his hair. He picked his hat and shirt back up then jogged up to them. “The water’s a wee bit cold,” he said, rubbing his arms. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“The difference in May and July.” Brad laughed. “Dad said to tell you the ribs are ready to come off.”
“Yum.” He slipped his shirt over his head. “Been slow cooking them all morning.”
Valerie scanned the crowd and the decorations. More than a dozen tables covered in red, white, and blue tablecloths filled the yard. Vases filled with red and white flowers graced with small American flags sat in the center of each table. Under the large white tent decorated with American flag streamers sat tables filled with food. Someone had set up a volleyball net and a small group of teenage girls batted a ball back and forth. Kids flooded the dock with their fishing poles. “You guys did an amazing job. I love how you all came together and did this.”
“We work well together.” He pointed to his parents who sat in camp chairs talking to a group of friends. “And my mom trained us all well.”
She thought about her life in Savannah and what it was like outside the Dixon circle. “You have no idea how blessed you are, do you? Your family is special.” Her stomach growled. “I’m ready for some of those ribs.”
She felt Brad put a light hand on the small of her back as they walked from the lake edge to the tent that held the tables of foods. At the doorway of the tent, Brad had installed fans to help keep the flies at bay. As they walked in, she enjoyed the cool breeze they created. Immediately, she smelled the spicy tang of freshly grilled meat. She grabbed a plate and worked her way down the line of tables, adding a little bit of potato salad, fruit salad, and coleslaw to her plate, then a beef short rib.
Brad helped himself to a hamburger and a hot dog and dressed them both at the table that contained all the condiments and toppings. He grabbed a bag of potato chips, and they departed the tent through the blowing fans.
Brad frowned at the doorway. “I know there’s probably a better way to do it, but it was what I thought of Saturday afternoon.”
“I think it works fine.” She popped a piece of watermelon in her mouth. “I didn’t see any flies in there, and you and I both know the food would be covered if it was out here.”
“True.” They found two seats at a table next to Calla and Ian.
“Hey! Where’s Sami?”
“Swinging from a rope,” Ian said, nodding with his chin. Valerie looked where he gestured and saw Sami standing on the rope swing, laughing while Jon yelled at her to let go and fall into the water.
She and Brad started laughing. “She’s going to end up making Jon come save her,” Brad said. “It’s not safe to jump when it’s close to shore.”
“She’ll be fine,” Calla said, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “I’m trying to talk Ian into going with me, but he won’t.”
“Well, to be fair, I’m not twelve,” he joked. “Plus, I’m not wearing a suit.”
“Those sound like good excuses to me.” Brad laughed. “I’ll let Jon go and pretend he’s me.”
“Did you guys do that a lot growing up?” Calla asked.
“Only always,” Valerie said. “They couldn’t fool me, and they couldn’t fool their mom, so they didn’t get away with it too much. But they tried. Especially in school.”
“Ken tried to get me to take a test for him one time in seventh grade, but the teacher told us he’d have Valerie confirm identity so it didn’t work.”
Calla looked at Valerie. “How can you tell them apart? I tried the whole time I worked there, and never could tell except by how they were dressed.”
Valerie studied Brad’s face. “I see lots of subtle differences,” she said, somehow unable to tear her eyes from his gaze. Her heartrate skittered and she licked her lips. “It’s in the shape of their eyes and mouths.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Ian asked.
“Nope.” She finally looked away and felt like she’d broken a spell. She smiled at Ian. “But we were born within weeks of each other and I’ve grown up with them. Auntie Rose would tell you the same thing.”
“Mm-hmm,” Calla said with a raised eyebrow. “I’m sure it’s like a sister thing.”
“Hardly sister,” Brad remarked.
