The corner of Julia’s mouth turned from frown to naughty smile at the news that Kona was coming for lunch, while Evan smacked his forehead in disgust, just like his daddy always did when he was astounded by other people’s idiocy.
Chapter Fourteen
Conscious Coupling
Thursday, June 15
At the end of Katie’s third week in the Hamptons, George arrived at the cottage at 3:00 p.m. bearing bags of succulent blackberries and cherries he’d picked up at his favorite Halsey farm stand. From her room, she heard the sound of the kitchen faucet running. She walked out to find George flipping berries in a colander. He took a bunch of bright wildflowers out of newspaper and placed them in a mason jar.
“George, this is really kind. I don’t need flowers.”
“You do, actually.”
“Thanks.” Katie smiled at him. “Okay, maybe I do. I love them.”
“And I promise this is the last time I come here unannounced. I wanted to take you to the new tutor client, and then for a Kir cocktail on my favorite bayside spot, Sag Harbor Point. We’ll have oysters and watch the sunset after your session.”
“How could any woman say no to that?”
“And I want the sitter next door to understand the rules in this house when you all are here.” He then pulled her toward him and kissed her forehead, keeping his mouth pressed against her for a long while, expressing that he wouldn’t be letting go any time soon.
“Did you go for a swim?” she asked. He smelled clean from his afternoon shower.
“Of course. In the ocean. After a brutal tennis match I’ve been losing since boarding school. My friend Oldie was captain of the team, and I never caught up. Still trying.” He laughed. “You know . . . boys.”
“I know. I got one, but mine isn’t such a competitor. He hates it actually.”
“Let me work on that this summer. There’s plenty of sports at the club for the kids. It’ll be good for him. He likes Cynthia, right? She could organize some games,” George asked, referring to the sitter next door. “That family has lived in that house for thirty years. She’s the grandchild of the owners, and worked for the club a bit as a waitress and she’s a good young woman.”
“We like her so far. I feel more comfortable that you know her.”
“Did she stay while you found the windsurfing bay the other day or did you bring Huck?”
“No, I got her, it was a godsend. The southwest wind is the prevailing wind in summer at Napeague Harbor. It comes up in the afternoon at about fifteen miles per hour. It funnels in there nicely, just like it does back home in the Columbia Gorge. But, it still feels very different here when I’m on the board.”
“How come?”
“I can’t quite define it. I’ll let you know, though.”
“Did you get an instructor? They have a shack out there of some kind where they teach.”
“Nah, I do it alone, that’s the whole point. Just me and the boom and the sail. There’s people out there, about thirty the day I was there, so we watch out for each other. But I love it, it’s like an elixir, I told you that.”
“That’s why I wanted you to try it in the Hamptons first thing. And good you feel secure with Cynthia here. I went by this morning to their house. I asked they check on you often to make sure all is okay over here when I’m in the city.”
“George, you’re being an angel.” Katie grabbed the back of his belt and brought him toward her. She rubbed her pelvis hard against his. “I love flowers and berries, you know that, but I can drive alone to the tutor appointment if you want to get stuff done before dinner. What do you think I do out West? I find places on my own, there’s Google Maps when I’m lost, I drive all the time to . . .”
“I think you manage brilliantly.” He swayed back and forth, pushing his body back into hers, allowing into his mind the possibility there was time to ravage her now without the child knowing. “You raise that gorgeous boy on your own, you turned your degree into a career, and now, you take a chance at a new life. Maybe even a chance at real happiness after a terrible spring. I never knew your mother, but I know she’d want that and more. Maybe I even hear her saying that now.” He cupped his ear toward the sky as if he were listening to her mother from above. Katie smiled hard at first, but then blinked the stinging out of her eyes. He kissed a tear away that ran down her cheek. She tried to pull back, but he’d have none of it. “You’re not going anywhere.” He pushed her against the old fridge with the rounded front door. “I’m here for you. Any way you want. You can discard me as a lover, and I’m still here for you. It’s a wonderful community to start a life. When you do your new tutor client session today, pretend it’s for real and you’re getting that full-time gig in Bridgehampton.”