Beach Rental(51)

Luke asked, “Are you all right?”

Juli looked at him incredulously. She sneezed.

“You were falling.”

“Thanks for helping.” But she didn’t say it nicely.

Luke grinned. Water dripped from his hair onto his cheeks and nose. The water that hit him mid-chest reached her shoulders.

“Miss, give me your hand.”

Juli looked up to see a man she didn’t know. There were mostly unknown faces in the growing crowd. Jake and Anna were pushing through them.

Luke nodded at her. She held her hands up. The rescuer wrapped his fingers around her wrists and Luke put his hands on her hips to boost her. The sure strength of his hands on her was so unexpected she nearly fell back again. Her rescuer pulled and Luke pushed and Juli found herself back up on the dock, her sneakers squishing. Her wet shorts had worked up around the tops of her thighs and she tugged at them hastily.

She looked back for no good reason and saw Luke watching her. Jake crossed her line of vision and held out his hand to Luke.

“Need help?” Jake asked, openly laughing.

Luke reached up and grasped Jake’s hand. With his other hand he braced himself on the edge of the dock, brought up his foot, then pushed backward. Someone screamed as Jake windmilled into the Sound.

Anna wrapped an arm around Juli and led her out of the way as the rescuer, also anxious to be out of the way, was bumped by someone else, and he, too, went in with a splash.

“Men,” Anna humphed. “Come with me.”

Someone handed Juli a towel as they walked up the slope.

“Are you okay, honey?”

“I’m fine.” Juli rubbed her face against the towel and patted her neck.

“Come on in. I’ll get you a sundress or something. You’re a few inches shorter than me, but it shouldn’t matter.”

“No, please. Don’t go to any trouble. I’ll drive home.”

Anna made a rude noise. “Like that? I should say not.”

Juli pushed off the wet sneakers and left them by the porch door. The porch smelled like heaven. The empty tables were now arrayed with chafing dishes. Juli and Anna dodged caterers as they made their way through the kitchen.

Anna hustled her down a hallway and pointed her to the bathroom. “Go dry off. If you want to shower, go right ahead. I’ll be back in a jiffy with something for you to wear.”

The extra weight in her pocket caught her attention as she shed her shorts.

“My phone. Oh, no.” She stopped in the middle of undressing and tried to dial Ben. Nothing. No signs of life. She would’ve pulled her wet shorts back on then and there, but Anna knocked and handed in a sundress, cut full and colorful. Juli pulled the dress on over her soggy undergarments. She only needed to wear them long enough to drive home. She was thankful—so totally thankful—that her keys hadn’t fallen out of her pocket and gotten lost in the ooze.

Juli grabbed up her wet, tangled shorts and shirt and barreled out of the bathroom.

Anna rushed after her, “What’s wrong?”

Bless Anna. Juli didn’t want to be rude or worry her. “I’m sorry, but I have to go home right away.” She talked as Anna followed her to the front door.

“Juli? What’s wrong?”

“My phone. It isn’t working.”

“Well, I don’t know, but maybe after it dries out….”

Juli wiped at her eyes. It seemed like water was still dripping. “It’s Ben. He’s supposed to call if he needs me. He can’t call now.”

“It’s okay, Juli. He knows my phone number and I’m sure he’s fine. You wait right here while I get my keys. I’ll drive you home.”

“No need. I’m on my way.” Juli swiped at her teary eyes, again. She drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “I’m fine, really. I have to get home to Ben, that’s all.”

Beyond Anna, Luke was standing in the kitchen doorway where the ceramic tile was safe from water damage. He was staring. Suddenly, Juli was so self-conscious, she couldn’t bear it.

“Thanks, Anna. I’m sorry for all the craziness. Maybe you can save us some barbecue?” She painted a smile on her face and gave a last wave as she went down the steps, then half-ran in her bare feet across the lawns bordering the street, to her car.

The car was an oven and she’d never driven barefoot. It felt odd, as if it should be illegal. Maybe it was. She didn’t know. Didn’t care.

Back home, Juli stepped out of the car and danced on the burning hot black asphalt drive. Her feet didn’t stop moving until she entered the side door at the top of the stairs. No Ben.

He was probably upstairs. She was being silly. Guilty conscience? Probably. She shouldn’t have left him when he was feeling unwell, especially for something as silly as a cookout.