Unforgettable Summer

by Catherine Clark

  Claire and I just looked at each other. Wow, she finally mouthed.

  “No kidding,” I said.

  “I thought you were gone for sure,” she whispered.

  “So did I.” I took a sip of orange juice and my hand was shaking from nerves. I’d dodged that bullet. At least . . . I was pretty sure I had. Maybe Mr. Talbot hadn’t seen Miss Crossley yet that morning. But he’d have to have been in on the decision to let Tyler go—so he must have kept our secret, as promised. Still, I didn’t like the idea he had something to hold over our heads. If we made one more mistake . . . Hayden and I would be gone, too.

  Sometimes there are things that you really don’t see coming. You think one thing is going to go wrong, and you’re completely relieved when it doesn’t. So you relax. And then something else hits you.

  I’d answered my cell phone while I was back in my room changing clothes for dinner. I figured it was a typical Mom call: Are you doing okay, are you eating right, are you staying out of trouble?

  The answers would be yes, yes, and maybe.

  But when I answered the phone, she paused for a second after saying hello, which isn’t like her at all. She usually begins talking a mile a minute. That made me worry.

  “Mom, what’s up?” I asked.

  “Honey, I’m afraid I have some bad news. Your grandfather—Grandpa McKenzie—”

  “What?”

  “He’s had a heart attack. He’s fine, really, but he’s in the hospital under the doctors’ care and everything’s stabilizing now. We don’t want you to worry, but we thought you should know—”

  “Mom, I’m coming home,” I declared.

  “Honey, that’s not necessary—”

  “Yes, it is.” I got kind of choked up trying to tell her that. I was about to start crying, but I didn’t want to because then she’d worry about me, too, and she had enough to deal with already.

  “Well, all right, but what about work?”

  “They’ll figure it out. Look, I’ll get there as fast as I can.” I glanced at my watch. It was after six already. “Which hospital, in case I make it in time for visiting hours?”

  “County General.”

  “Mom, I’ll have my cell on, so call me—give me an update—tell me stuff, okay?”

  “You sure it’s okay to leave?”

  “It’s okay, they’ll understand. See you soon.” I hung up the phone. Claire wasn’t around, so I scribbled a note to her. Then I threw a few changes of clothes into a duffel and ran downstairs and outside to the parking lot.

  I threw my bag into the backseat, then slipped the key in the ignition and turned it. Nothing. I tried again. No sound at all. A third time—and it sounded like an old person coughing. And then dying.

  Of all the times to have a completely unreliable car. I couldn’t stop swearing at it, but that didn’t help. I got out and pounded the hood with my fists. Then I grabbed my bag and ran over to the Hullery. It was nearly dinnertime. There had to be someone who could help me, loan me a car—I could beg Miss Crossley if it came to that.

  I raced inside and down the steps. I was hoping Claire and Josh would be there, but I didn’t see them.

  “Can anyone help me?” I said. Then I started to cry, and I hated crying in front of everyone, but I couldn’t help myself. “My grandfather—he’s had a—a heart attack. I need to get home and see him. My stupid car won’t start—does anyone have a car I could borrow? I’m a really good driver, and . . . I’ll pay you. Whatever you want.”

  “I don’t have a car here,” Richard said.

  “Neither do I,” Tara added. “I’m sorry, Liza.”

  Hayden jumped up from his chair. I hadn’t even noticed him at the other end of the room. “I don’t have a car here, but I can drive you to the train. It’s at seven, remember? If we hurry, we can make it.”

  I vaguely registered the shocked looks on people’s faces. I’d been so panicked that I hadn’t even remembered there was a train.

  “You can get pretty close to home, like New Haven, and get a connecting train, or else your parents or someone could pick you up somewhere along the line. Would that work?” Hayden asked as he came over to me.

  “Yeah—that’s great. Let’s go.”

  “Wait—I have to ask Miss Crossley, make sure it’s okay to take the van,” Hayden began. “After this morning—you know.”

  “You’re an authorized driver. We’ll call her on the way. I can’t miss that train!” I ran up the steps, with Hayden following me.

  “Are you and your grandfather close?” Hayden asked as we pulled out of the Inn parking lot. He’d just called Miss Crossley to let her know what was happening, so that was done, which was a relief.

  “Kind of. Being an only child—I’m sort of their focus sometimes,” I said.

  “Is this the grandfather who knows Mr. Talbot Senior?”

  I nodded. “Yeah.”

  “I’ll tell him about it when I get back, then. He’d want to know,” Hayden said.

  “Yeah, I don’t know if I would do that. Knowing my grandpa, he’ll try to keep this a secret. He wants everyone to still think he’s in excellent shape. Which he is, because he runs and swims and hikes. So this heart attack thing, it really doesn’t make sense.”

  Hayden reached over and put his hand over mine. “If he’s in great shape, that means he’ll recover really quickly.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. They’ll figure out what caused it, maybe give him some medication—”

  “What are you, a doctor now?”

  “No, but I play one on TV.”

  I looked over at him and raised one eyebrow. I wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

  “Okay, so I’ve watched a lot of TV. And that’s what always happens. Totally curable thing,” Hayden said.

  “Right.”

  “It’s true,” he insisted.

  I stared out the window for the rest of the trip. I kept picturing my grandfather collapsing, or lying on the ground in pain. Where had he been when it happened? Was my grandmother there? I wondered. She was one of those tough-as-nails people, but even nails had their limits. I couldn’t wait to get home and hug her—hug both of them—tightly.

  Hayden and I got to the train station with about ten minutes to spare. I hurried to the ticket window and bought my ticket, then went back to the van for my duffel bag.

  “You can take off if you want,” I said to Hayden. He was standing beside the van, leaning against it. “The train’s on time for once.”

  “You’re kidding. That never happens.” He seemed a little disappointed, but maybe he was just stunned. “Well, that’s great. You’ll get home even faster.”

  I tried to smile, but I couldn’t.

  “Don’t worry about anything. It’s going to be okay. He’ll be fine,” Hayden said.

  I nodded, unable to speak. The reality of what I might have to face at home was sinking in.

  “I know you’re worried, but your mom said he was okay now. He’s in the hospital. They won’t let anything happen to him.”

  I nodded again, and this time felt tears spill down my cheeks. They wouldn’t stop coming.

  “Liza, don’t cry. Please don’t cry.”

  Hayden leaned down and gently pressed his lips against my cheeks, softly kissing the tears. He gathered me in his arms and pulled me close. I rested my head on his chest, and he put his chin on top of my head.

  I didn’t move. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to.

  And then I heard the train coming, and I grabbed my duffel and ran.

  CHAPTER 15

  My grandfather peered at me through half-awake eyes. My aunt and uncle picked me up at the train station, and I insisted on being taken to the hospital right away. Visiting hours were over by the time we got there, but the nurse said she would let us in anyway, for fifteen minutes.

  “If you really want to get out of work, Liza, there are easier ways,” my grandfather said.

  I rushed to his side and wrapped my arms ar
ound his shoulders. “Grandpa, are you okay?”

  “I’m perfectly fine,” he said. “How are you? And what are you doing here?”

  “Mom called—I had to see you. She said you’d be all right, but I wanted to see for myself,” I said.

  My parents had decided to sit outside in the waiting room with my aunt and uncle, who’d brought them a late dinner from the outside world.

  “They’re keeping me here overnight for observation. Isn’t that ridiculous? What will they learn by observing me?”

  “That you’re a stubborn old man who hasn’t had a checkup in three years,” my grandmother said. “That’s what.”

  My grandfather ignored her. “So. How are things at the Inn?”

  “Oh, fine,” I said with a smile.

  “Fine? That’s all you’re going to tell me about one of my favorite places in the world?”

  “Well . . .” I hesitated. “I’m not really here to visit and chat, you know. I’m here to see how you are!”

  “You’ve seen. I’m fine. Now tell me a story to take me away from all this.” He swept out his arms, knocking a plastic water cup off the tray beside his bed.

  My grandparents are the ones I confide in most. They don’t tend to overreact the way my parents could. Platinum hair? Jet-black hair? Belly-button piercing? All fine. Or at least not freakworthy. My parents, on the other hand . . . They’d only agreed to let me go away for the summer after my grandparents persuaded them to.

  Sometimes I know that what I’m telling my grandparents is going to go straight back to Mom and Dad, but there have been enough times when they haven’t done that, so I still basically trust them.

  Still, was I ready to tell them about Hayden?

  “Don’t we have more important things to talk about? Like how you are?” I asked my grandfather.

  “That’s boring. Give us something so we can live vicariously. I’m cooped up in this hospital room when I could be at the beach,” Grandpa complained. “What does Bucko have you doing for work? Bill, I mean. Mr. William Talbot Senior, to you.”

  “Didn’t Mom tell you? I’m the official Tides Inn gofer.” I explained the various jobs I’d been called on to perform so far.

  “Sounds interesting,” my grandmother said. “And what about your social life? Friends?”

  “Everyone’s been nice,” I said.

  “And what about Mark?” my grandfather asked.

  “Don’t pry,” Grandma said.

  “Too late,” Grandpa replied.

  “Mark and I? We’re on a break.”

  “What does that mean?” Grandma asked.

  “It means . . . I probably have to go talk to him while I’m home. I think I met someone who’s . . .”

  “Perfect for you?”

  Was he? I thought about the way Hayden had held and kissed me that night while we waited for the train. “Yeah, maybe,” I said.

  “We’ll be the judges of that. What’s his story?” Grandpa asked.

  I laughed. “You’re so vague, Grandpa. I never know what you’re getting at.” I rolled my eyes at him.

  “Spill,” he said.

  Thankfully the nurse came back into the room just then. “It’s really time to go,” she said to me.

  “I’ll spill tomorrow,” I promised. “Right now you get back to sleep—I’ll come by again in the morning.”

  I went to find Mark at his uncle’s boat factory at 6:45 a.m. As I drove there in my mom’s car, I tried not to think about the Inn, but I couldn’t help wondering about everyone there and when they’d be getting up and what they’d be doing today. I’d been home for less than twelve hours, but it felt like the longest night in history. I really missed Claire and Hayden and Miss Crossley.

  Just kidding on that last one.

  I’d tried calling Hayden to tell him everything was okay, but never reached him on his cell. I hadn’t spoken to anyone back there yet.

  Anyway, I figured catching Mark as he got off his work shift was a good idea. He couldn’t avoid me, the way he could if I called ahead. Not that he would, necessarily. But I wasn’t sure.

  I was sitting on one of the picnic tables outside the factory when he emerged into the early-morning haze. He seemed a little out of it as he rubbed his eyes and focused.

  “Yeah, it’s me,” I said, giving him an awkward little wave.

  He said good-bye to his buddies and came over to me.

  “Peace offering,” I said as I held out a large cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee to him.

  “Thanks. I think.”

  “I brought doughnuts, too,” I said, pointing to the bag on the table. “And a muffin, and a bagel, and—”

  “What are you doing here, Liza?” He narrowed his eyes as he slid onto the bench seat across from me. “After all that, don’t tell me you quit. Did you quit?”

  I shook my head. “No. Not a quitter.”

  “Right,” he said. “SATs. Volleyball. Et cetera.”

  “Right. So how’s your summer been?” I sipped my coffee and reached for the bag to fortify myself with a honey-glazed.

  “Are you kidding?” Mark asked.

  “No, I’m interested.” I tore off a piece of doughnut and put it into my mouth.

  “Well. It’s been fine. I guess. I work. I hang out. The usual.” He took a blueberry muffin from the bag. Maybe I was here to tell him we were over over, but at least I’d brought his favorite flavor muffin. I wasn’t completely horrible. “You?” he asked. “How’s the summer?”

  “Same as yours. Working, hanging out.”

  “Is it the dream job you said it was?”

  “Yes. And no.” Enough beating around the bush; this was getting ridiculous. “Mark? The reason I came home is that my grandfather had a heart attack.”

  “What? No!” Mark gasped.

  “Oh, he’s fine. That wasn’t the big news.”

  Mark looked sort of like he wanted to hit me with the blueberry muffin.

  “I have something to tell you,” I said.

  “Yeah, well. Me too,” Mark said.

  I was thinking his might not be a compliment, so I decided to forge ahead. “I kind of met someone,” I blurted. “So—”

  “Me too,” Mark said, and this sort of sheepish smile crept up the corners of his mouth. Then we both laughed. “Some summer, huh?”

  “Hey, Hayden. Though you told me not to say that. It’s Liza. Just wanted to let you know everything’s okay. I’ll be back tonight—maybe you could pick me up? If you could call me, that’d be great. Okay, bye!”

  This was like the tenth time since I’d been home that I’d called and Hayden’s phone had gone to voice mail. I hadn’t left a message every time—but they were starting to pile up. I could see that if he was already out on the beach, he wouldn’t have his phone. But was he going to be working every second of the day?

  If so, I’d have to get a message to him another way. As much as I hated to do it, I called the Inn’s main number.

  “Thank you for calling the Tides Inn, my name is Caroline, how may I assist you?”

  “Hey, Caroline. It’s Liza,” I said.

  “Liza who?” she asked.

  “Liza McKenzie, who else?” She really killed me with this snobby attitude of hers. “Caroline, where is everyone?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Could you tell Miss Crossley I’ll be back tonight? I tried to reach her, but all I got was her voice mail,” I explained.

  “Oh, well, she’s busy organizing the wedding for next weekend. It’s Zoe’s sister, did you know that?” Caroline asked.

  “No. I had no idea,” I said.

  “It’s going to be so much fun,” she said.

  “Great. Look, could you please ask Hayden to pick me up from the train, you know, on the normal shuttle run to the station?” I asked.

  “Sure,” she said. “I can do that.”

  “Thanks a lot,” I said.

  “How’s your grandfather?” Caroline asked, seemingly out of the b
lue. She’d acted like she didn’t care, until now.

  “Fine, thanks,” I said. “He’s checking out of the hospital tomorrow, probably.”

  “Oh, good,” she sighed. “He was always so nice to me. Remember how he used to buy us all that saltwater taffy? And the time he and your grandmother took us to Block Island? That was so much fun.”

  “Yeah, he’s great,” I said, surprised she remembered and surprised she was being so nice to me for a change. “Hey, thanks a lot, Caroline. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

  “Travel safely,” she said. “Don’t let any weirdoes sit next to you on the train.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Okay, Caroline.”

  As much as I’d loved seeing everyone at home, I couldn’t wait to get back. I wanted to see the ocean. I wanted to see Hayden.

  The train gradually slowed and pulled around the bend, up to the station. I was so anxious to get off of it that I was standing in the doorway with one of the conductors. “You know Hayden?” I asked. “The Tides Inn shuttle driver?”

  “I’m sorry?” he said.

  “Never mind.” I grinned as I saw the van parked in the passenger pickup area. I couldn’t wait to tell Hayden that I’d cleared things up with Mark, that we weren’t on a temporary summer break anymore—it was permanent. That meant I was really, actually free to date Hayden.

  I hopped off the last step onto the platform and walked toward the Tides van. Then I started to run, with a big smile on my face.

  And then the driver’s side door opened.

  And Miss Crossley stepped out.

  “Liza, about time you’re back. We need you desperately. Hop in.”

  Funny, that’s what I was hoping Hayden would say. Liza, about time you’re back. I need you desperately.

  I tried to hide my disappointment as I stepped up into the van. “I thought maybe Hayden would pick me up,” I said. “Isn’t he the official shuttle driver?”

  “Yes, but he’s busy manning the pool tonight because Lindsay had a family emergency, too, and everything’s just chaos,” Miss Crossley said. She put the van in gear and we pulled away from the station. “Glad everything turned out well at home. Now. About your schedule for the next few days.”