Summer on Moonlight Bay

by Hope Ramsay

  “Wow,” Kaitlyn said. “Is that you?”

  “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence,” Sara said.

  “No, I mean—wow. You look different. Kind of…hot.” Easy for Kaitlyn to say. She was blonde and blue-eyed, with a sweet smile and all kinds of guys drooling at her feet.

  “OK, that’s it. I’m leaving,” Sara said, moving to escape the booth.

  “Don’t let the fact that Colton’s here bother you,” Gabby said, reaching out to pull her back. “Besides, you said he was really good about everything last Sunday when Nonna got lost.”

  “Yes, he was. Like a normal compassionate human.” She knew she wasn’t exactly being fair. He’d seemed genuinely concerned and…kind.

  “You’re just meeting Ken here for a drink,” Kaitlyn said. “He’s a nice guy, a microbiologist, and really smart, according to my aunt Millie.” Yes, it had taken Kaitlyn’s aunt Millie, a medical technologist, to find her a date in this town. That should’ve said it all. “Then you’re going to a nice restaurant.”

  Sara rolled her eyes. “I’m really grateful to you both for setting this up and supporting me, but I don’t need date coaching. I’m thirty years old!” They’d insisted she meet them here so they could help her relax before her date.

  “You’ve been with the same guy for a hundred years,” Gabby said. “Trust me, you need date coaching.”

  Why had she agreed to this? The sound of pool balls breaking made her turn. Colton had just made a shot and happened to glance up at the same time she happened to be looking at him. He did a double take. Oh God. She looked quickly away and nervously pulled up the halter part of her blouse. It was cute, but her boobs just didn’t fill it out like Gabby’s.

  “Stop fidgeting,” Gabby said. “Your boobs look great.”

  Sara took a sip of Gabby’s drink. What was he even doing here on a Friday night? Shouldn’t he be out revolving some poor unsuspecting female? Oh, why hadn’t she insisted on meeting her date anywhere but in Angel Falls?

  “You’re out of practice,” Gabby said. “We just want to go over a few things.” She pulled out a list.

  “You have a list?” How pathetic was she?

  “Yes. First, you look very nice.” She was wearing the outfit Gabby had told her to wear, a black V-neck sleeveless top that had a halter back and showed some skin and a little black skirt and heels.

  “You look terrific,” Kaitlyn said. “Girly.”

  She didn’t want to look girly. She wanted to be curled up with a good book on Nonna’s couch in her flannel pj’s.

  “We should be fixing you up, Kaitlyn,” Sara said. If only to get Kaitlyn’s mind off Rafe.

  “Don’t try to distract us,” Gabby said. “Rule number one. Don’t talk about work.”

  Sara frowned. “This guy is a doctor too, right? Maybe he won’t mind that.”

  “Don’t do it,” Kaitlyn said. “Show him you’ve got other interests.” She paused. “You do have interests outside of work, don’t you?”

  Sara swallowed hard. She used to—but lately? Hmmm.

  “What shows have you binge watched lately?” Gabby asked.

  “Seen any movies?” Kaitlyn asked.

  “What’s the last book you’ve read?”

  “Volunteer work. Done any of that?”

  Sara bit down on her lip. “Um, I’ve been busy?” she said.

  Her friends stared at her.

  “All right, I haven’t been that busy. I guess I mostly did what Tagg wanted. And this past year…was hard. I was a little off balance.” She had managed to watch all ten seasons of Friends. Did that count?

  “OK,” Gabby said. “You’re going to have to make some stuff up until you get a life.”

  “At least she got her nails done today,” Kaitlyn said. “That’s a start.”

  Sara looked at her nails. They were a shiny dark maroon. She had to admit they were pretty. “Look, you guys,” she said. “I just want you to know how much I appreciate this. I really want to start over with a fresh slate. Give people other things to talk about than my sad past, you know what I mean?”

  “That’s exactly what we’re going to help you to do. Don’t forget to sit up straight. Good posture. Think sexy.” Gabby rattled off more items from her list.

  Sara missed her comfy scrubs and beloved Danskos. She was worried that her skirt was too short and her heels were a little on the slutty side. But when Gabby telegraphed her the evil eye, she threw her shoulders back and sat up straight just to get her off her case.

  “The important thing is to be relaxed. And show him you’ve got a great sense of humor,” Kaitlyn said. “Don’t forget to smile. And let’s order you a glass of wine while you’re waiting. We’ll celebrate your making it through your first week.” Kaitlyn signaled the waiter while Sara racked her brain to think of a humorous anecdote she could relay in a relaxed, smiling way.

  The last funny thing had happened today in the office when her father got down on the floor of the waiting room to read a story to a toddler while his mom was with Sara for her annual gynecologic exam. Sara walked past the waiting room to see her dad and the toddler eating cookies and leafing through a picture book. Her dad was unconventional and sometimes old-fashioned, but he was a great doctor. But that didn’t seem like the kind of story that would exactly have a new date rolling on the floor.

  Oh God, she was out of practice and in trouble. Panic welled up to lodge in her throat. Her hands felt cold and clammy. She choked down a few sips of wine. Not much help. She hadn’t had a new boyfriend since she was eighteen. That was almost thirteen years ago! She didn’t even remember what to say on a first date—the last time it had been things like “Algebra sucks” and “I hope I pass my driver’s test.”

  Gabby glanced at her watch. “Rachel’s picking Nonna up from the senior center, so I’ve got to go. I’ve got Nonna covered tonight. Just have fun. Let loose a little. Everything will be fine.”

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Kaitlyn said, squeezing Sara’s arm.

  Gabby kissed her cheek. “See ya later,” she said with a wink.

  OK, there was no reason to panic. Sara fiddled with the stem of her wineglass. It was just a date. She could handle it. And she would get herself a life. Her friends were right, she spent too much time working. Now that she was out of residency, she’d have time to do the things she used to enjoy. Funny she couldn’t quite remember what those were. When she was dating Tagg, they used to see artsy films, go to lacrosse games, have dinner at expensive restaurants. She’d gone along with what he wanted. Where had she lost herself in the process?

  She must’ve been deep in thought, because she looked up to suddenly find Colton standing next to her booth. “Hey, Red. What brings you here tonight?” he asked, leaning casually on his pool stick. He took in her sexy black top, her nails, her makeup.

  Sara felt a hot blush creep into her cheeks.

  “I have a date,” she said.

  “Is that right?” The corner of his mouth twitched a little. “Funny, because this restaurant is only rated four stars, not five.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be just fine.”

  “Well, I’m glad to see you can let your hair down. A bit of advice—just be sure not to scare the guy with a bunch of talk about work. I know you probably think it’s a turn-on, but…not so much.”

  He was still needling her, just like back in the day, when he’d teased her mercilessly. What was his deal, anyway? “Colton, why don’t you just go back there and play pool like you’ve been doing every Friday night since high school? Geez.” Apparently the nice cop who’d been kind to her grandmother had left town.

  Suddenly a teenager with a crew cut barreled into Colton, wrapping his arms around him. It was Stevie Cox, one of her Down syndrome patients, whom she’d just seen in the office that morning. “Hi, Chief!” he said exuberantly. “Are you ready to play Ping-Pong with us? I’m going to win tonight.” Stevie looked around and saw Sara. Pointing at her, he said, “She’
s my doctor. Hi, Dr. Sara.”

  Before she could respond, he engulfed her in a Stevie-size hug too. Looking over his shoulders, she saw a group of gangly teenage boys gathering near the pool tables.

  “I didn’t know you played Ping-Pong,” she said to Stevie.

  “I’m really good at it too. I’m going to beat Chief. Right, Colton?”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that, Steve. I feel pretty lucky tonight.” Colton rotated his arm at the shoulder like he was seriously warming it up and smiled.

  And that smile. Sincere, not laced with sarcasm—just a simple, honest smile. And you know what? Seeing it wrecked her, down to her toes. It showed the countenance of a decent man. A man capable of spending time hanging out with teenage boys who probably needed a good influence, and it was in sharp contrast to the smart-mouthed wise guy he seemed to reserve only for her.

  “The guys are waiting,” Stevie said, pointing a thumb toward the back.

  “Why don’t you start warming up?” Colton said. “I’ll be right over.”

  “OK. I’ll tell everybody you’re coming.” Stevie turned to Sara before taking off. “Bye, Dr. Sara!”

  “Bye, Stevie,” she said. “Have fun.”

  “See ya around, Red,” Colton said to Sara, turning to go himself. “Gotta get back to my lame Friday night. Enjoy your date.”

  That was it? Before she knew what she was doing, she got up from the booth and followed him a few feet. “Look. I—I’m sorry I made fun of you.” He stopped in his tracks. “But you don’t always have to be so insulting.”

  He turned back to her slowly. “How am I insulting?” His stare burned a hole through her.

  She swallowed. “You treat me like I’m…a snob. Unable to let loose. Like I’m…frigid. And you seem to thrive on making me think you’re a jerk until I suddenly find out you’re…not. I was wrong about you. Maybe you’re wrong about me too.” Oh, why had she even bothered going after him? What was the point?

  His gaze drifted downward, to the hem of her short skirt, to her bare legs and heels, then swept back up to her face. The intensity of the look he shot her made her suck in a quick breath. A memory, jogged into the present, suddenly hit her full force. He’d kissed her once, long ago. Back in college, during the one and only time she and Tagg had broken up.

  She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to remember, but the memory surfaced anyway.

  Spring of freshman year, they’d shared a ride home from school—he’d driven, and for the first time things had been…different. For one thing, Tagg wasn’t with them, and his absence seemed to have unleashed a completely different Colton.

  They’d laughed and joked and actually talked for the first time. She’d ended up going with him that evening to his sister’s dance recital, where she’d sat between him and Cookie. It was odd to see him act fun and teasing to Cookie, and be a loving and supportive brother to seven-year-old Hannah. And it was clear by Hannah’s adoring looks that he was the moon and the stars to her.

  Sara begged off before the family pictures. She was glad to leave the stuffy auditorium and clear her head of thoughts she shouldn’t be having. With that dark, too-long hair hanging over his collar and falling adorably over his forehead, Colton was handsome in a dangerous way. Too handsome.

  Besides, she was still upset over the breakup with Tagg. After over a year of dating, she still hadn’t slept with him. Oh, they’d done plenty of other stuff, but as for sex—real sex—she’d held off. And he was getting upset with her. She didn’t know why she was so hesitant—she loved him. She’d known him a long time. But something held her back. Maybe it was that falling-in-love feeling that she missed, which had faded since the time he’d first noticed her, the first boy who thought she was pretty and appreciated her smarts and ambition.

  But those feelings weren’t supposed to last, were they? What was important was the fact that they had similar interests, similar goals and backgrounds. That was the stuff that made for a lasting relationship, right?

  But Tagg was getting irritated, frustrated. Looking at other girls. And they’d broken up. Fine, she’d said. Go date someone else.

  She’d gotten a quarter of a block away from the high school auditorium when she heard steps beating on the pavement.

  “Hey,” Colton said, catching up with her, barely out of breath, “how about some company?”

  Her pulse skipped again at the sight of him. Tall, just as recklessly teen-idol handsome, yet…different. Edgier. And very, very appealing.

  It was a gorgeous spring evening, unseasonably warm. It had rained earlier, so the smell of rain on top of growing things and spring blossoms was heady and fresh. Tiny pink petals and helicopters from the maple trees were stuck to the pavement as they walked along the old uneven sidewalks. The clouds were clearing, revealing a big yellow three-quarters-full moon, like a big peach with a bite out of it.

  Soon they approached the bridge, the showcase of the main street of town. At its entrance was a large brass sculpture of two angels leaning toward one another so that their bodies and arms together formed a heart. An endless photo opportunity for people who spent the day in town shopping, or came for one of the art shows or programs on the green below the bridge, or to attend the local theater or a speaker program at the popular independent bookstore downtown.

  Colton slowed his pace at the center of the bridge. Old-fashioned iron streetlamps flanked its sides. In summer the city hung baskets of flowers from them, but now, in early spring, they were bare. He fingered the decorative iron safety railing that rose up from the concrete. There were three padlocks attached to one of the iron posts. They had names written on them in permanent marker: Jon and Allison, Christopher and Heather, Matthew and Sigrid.

  “People are always doing weird shit like that,” he said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “They hook locks all over the bridge, then the fire department saws them off and tosses them.”

  “Why don’t they just let them be? It’s a cute idea.”

  “In Paris they had to saw all the locks off because they weighed more than forty-five tons. They made the bridge too heavy. Love is dangerous,” he said. Then he looked at her.

  Oh God, he was dangerous. The shadows of the setting sun brought out the strong lines of his face—his square jaw, his strong cheekbones. She’d always thought his looks were raw in a hard, mean way, but lately…lately he seemed different. Softer. Gentler.

  “And then there’s the stuff they throw into the river,” Colton said, curling his fingers around the rails and leaning over.

  “You mean like coins?”

  He laughed. “When I worked for the police department last summer, I had to put on a diving suit and scoop them all out. Three hundred fifty dollars’ worth. But you wouldn’t believe the other stuff I found down there.”

  “Like what?”

  “Boots. A stuffed animal. A muddy wedding dress. But the best thing was a time capsule.”

  “What was in it?”

  “A love letter.”

  “No!”

  “To a lost love. Someone who died fifty years earlier. People think this angel stuff is magic.”

  “Angel Falls needs a museum.”

  “You could be the curator. Every year you can dive in and find new exhibits.”

  “Ha ha. Very funny.”

  “That would be a different job.”

  “Well, I guess I’ve always been a little different.” Oh God, she’d said that out loud. How dumb.

  “That’s a good thing,” he was quick to say.

  OK, now she felt like she was living in an alternate universe. “Colton, I’m surprised you’d say that. Because for as long as I can remember, you’ve been giving me shit for just about everything.”

  “I used to think you were spoiled. That you grew up having everything you wanted, didn’t have to struggle for things.”

  She knew his father had died on the police force in Chicago. The rumor was that his mother had drunk
herself to death, but who knew. He never talked about that.

  “Do you want me to apologize for my family?”

  “No.” He’d turned and was staring at her. A slow steady hum buzzed through her limbs like an electrical current, making her weak and unsteady. All her senses were telling her to flee, but she couldn’t seem to move, so she just stood there and stared back at him.

  “I was an idiot in high school,” he said.

  His gaze dropped to her lips. Wait—was he going to—oh no.

  “For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re an idiot now.” Her voice sounded funny. Hoarse. A whisper.

  He turned back to the falls. The cheery sound of water splashed in the background, like nothing was amiss. Like Colton Walker hadn’t just apologized.

  “What will you do—after college?” he asked.

  “Go to med school, hopefully. And after that…I don’t know.”

  “You could go anywhere. Do anything you want.”

  “So could you.”

  He shook his head. “My knee ruined any chance of that.”

  “I’m sorry.” She was sorry. What else could she say?

  He tossed her a brief glance. To see if she meant it? But then he was back to looking at the water. “Don’t be. I’ll be coming back to take care of my grandma and Hannah. Maybe on the police force. If I can time it right and get a job in town, that is.”

  He had burdens she couldn’t even fathom. And he was right, her freedom was limitless compared to his. She’d once thought he was shallow, but she was coming to understand things were far more complex.

  “So I guess I’ll be a townie forever.”

  “I love our town. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

  She looked down at the falls too but suddenly felt his gaze on her, intense and as palpable as a touch.

  Then he leaned over and kissed her. His lips were soft and careful on hers, the pressure gentle but steady. That simple, chaste kiss made her heart squeeze, her breath catch. The world spun dizzily as her knees threatened to collapse beneath her, making her grasp his arms to steady herself.