“You guys okay over there?” Rennie asked. She got up, wiped the sand off the back of her yoga pants, and went to them. Jason started loading the briquettes while Bowie secured the legs with mounds of sand.
“We’re old,” Jason told her. Jason Randolph was the only one from their group of friends who’d left Cape Harbor and stayed away. He went to medical school and now worked as an ER doc in Seattle. He didn’t visit as often as he wanted but made sure to be here to see Grady.
“You may be old, but I’m not,” Rennie quipped. Although, at times, especially after a hot yoga session or a miles-long run, she felt old.
Bowie doused the charcoal with lighter fluid and then tossed a couple of matches in. The flames roared instantly and, after a few seconds, died down. It would be a bit before they’d be ready to cook.
Brooklyn appeared with an armful of blankets from the inn’s shed, which wasn’t far from where they’d set up. Rennie took half and set them on the driftwood logs. They were there for anyone to use. Bowie came over to Brooklyn and kissed her. “I’m going to get the fire started,” Rennie heard him say. It was her cue to run back into the house and grab her bag of provisions—everything she’d need to make s’mores.
When she and Simone reemerged, the group of people had grown, and everyone had clumped together. “I think Grady is in the mix,” Rennie said to Simi.
“I think you’re right. They’re liable to freak him out.”
Rennie watched the group from the outskirts, letting the friends and family congratulate Grady. It wasn’t until she felt a tap on her shoulder that she turned around. “Hey, Grady.”
He didn’t say anything to her. He wrapped his strong arms around her and lifted her off the ground. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to thank you.” Grady set her down gently and stepped away.
“All I did was help out a friend.”
“The fact that you even consider me a friend means everything to me. If it weren’t for you, I’d be in jail right now.”
Rennie briefly touched Grady on his arm. “I’m so happy you’re healthy and clean.”
The next to hug Rennie was Johanna, who held on to Rennie as if her life depended on it. “If you ever need anything, please let me know.”
I need your son to love me back, Rennie thought to herself.
“Dinner, tomorrow night at our house. I won’t take no for an answer.”
“I’ll be there, Mrs. Chamberlain.”
Johanna waved her hand. “None of this Mrs. crap. Call me Jo or Johanna. As far as I’m concerned, you’re family.”
Next, George stepped forward. He was much more subdued than his son and wife had been. He shook Rennie’s hand and thanked her before he went to rummage through the coolers. The rumor was George stopped drinking the day Grady went into rehab because he wanted to support his son and finally realized he hadn’t done a very good job of it.
Graham stood off to the side, watching Rennie interact with his family. When they made eye contact, she smiled and then diverted her eyes to the sand. She felt him approach but didn’t look up.
He placed his hand on her hip and stepped close to her. “Can we go for a walk?” Rennie nodded and finally lifted her gaze toward Graham. His green eyes sparkled, and his crooked smile was back. Graham led her away from their friends and toward a large rock formation, which formed different alcoves and inlets of water.
Graham found a place with privacy and motioned for her to sit on a rock while he stood next to her. He leaned against the rock with his hip and reached out to touch some strands of hair that had fallen from Rennie’s ponytail.
“I got your letter in the mail. I have to say, getting fun mail when it’s not my birthday or a holiday is quite the treat.”
Rennie smiled and let out a tiny laugh. “I can’t remember the last time I wrote a letter. Everything is text or email these days.”
“How’s the shack?”
She laughed harder this time. “Still the same shithole it was when we were in college, but very nostalgic. I’m glad I went. I needed the time away to clear my head.”
“Is it clear?” he asked, and she nodded. “That’s good . . . good.” Graham hesitated before continuing. “I want you to know I read your words a few times, actually. I wish like hell we could go back to the night we spent in the back of my truck under the stars. I had no idea what the hell I was doing. I just knew that every time I was around you, I had this ache, and you were the cure. I never wanted our first time to be in the back of the truck, but it was, and I’ve never forgotten that night. I should’ve told you then that I was in love with you. I knew from the moment I met you I wanted you to be my wife. I was embarrassed, though, because guys don’t talk like that, so I kept my mouth shut.