One Summer

by David Baldacci

  “Thanks, Jenna. I can’t exactly go bra shopping with my dad.”

  “No, I guess you really can’t.” She smiled mischievously. “Though it might be kind of fun if you did. Just to see the former tough-as-nails army ranger squirm over cup sizes.”

  Mikki was looking down at all the items and mentally calculating the prices. Her face turned red. “Uh, I’m going to have to put some of these things back.”

  “Why?”

  “I… I don’t have enough money.”

  “Sure you do; I just gave you an advance on your salary.”

  “What?”

  “I do it with all my new employees, or at least the ones turning sixteen who want something new to wear.”

  “I’m not looking for a freebie.”

  “And I’m not giving it. This will be deducted from your paycheck in equal installments over the next sixty years, young lady.”

  Mikki laughed. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. Seriously, you’re a really good waitress and a hard worker. That should be rewarded.”

  After they left the shop, Jenna said, “How about an ice cream? I’ve got something I want to talk to you about.”

  They sat outside on a street bench with their cones.

  “First things first. I spoke with your dad about the talent competition, and he’s completely fine with you entering.”

  “Wow, that’s great.”

  “Although he did wonder why you didn’t just come and ask him directly about it.”

  “And what did you tell him?”

  “I played dumb and basically dodged the question.” She licked her cone and seemed to be choosing her next words carefully. “The lighthouse?”

  Mikki sighed. “What about it?”

  “Your dad spends a lot of time out there.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “Well, aside from your miserable expression, I just know; let’s leave it at that. Now, have you ever been out there with him?”

  “No.”

  “Why?”

  “I just don’t; no reason.”

  “You resent it?”

  “Resent a stupid building? That’s a dumb question,” she said irritably.

  “Is it?”

  Mikki finished her ice cream, wiped off her fingers, and threw the trash in a bin next to the bench. “Look, if he chooses to be out there instead of with his family, who am I to rock the boat?”

  “I think you just answered my question. You know that was your mom’s lighthouse?”

  Mikki scowled. “Yeah, my mom when she was a little girl.”

  “So you think it’s odd he seems so…”

  “Obsessed? Yeah, a little. What would you think?”

  “Hard to say. Now, tell me about what those jerks were yelling at your dad on the street that day. Miracle Man?”

  Mikki looked uncomfortable and drew a long breath. “I don’t really want to talk about that.”

  “Please, Mikki. I really do want to help. But I need to know.”

  Mikki took the next few minutes to fill her in.

  Jenna looked thoughtful. “So basically the tabloid made everything up?”

  “Well, that’s what my dad says.”

  “And you believe a newspaper that makes millions selling lies over your father? How does that make sense?”

  Mikki refused to look at her. She said, “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.”

  “That makes even less sense.”

  “Easy for you to say. It wasn’t your family getting destroyed.”

  “No, but let me put on my lawyer hat for a minute and analyze this.” She paused, but only for a moment. “Your dad loses the woman he loves in a tragedy that was really no one’s fault. Then he loses the rest of his family and is left to die alone. Instead, he somehow finds the strength to beat a certain death sentence, brings his family back together, and tries to make a go of it as a single parent. And then a bunch of gut-wrenching lies get spread all over the news and people are calling him terrible things based on those lies, and he has to just stand there and take it.” She stopped. “What an evil guy your dad is.”

  Jenna looked over to find Mikki staring down at her feet, a stunned expression on her face.

  “I guess I never looked at it that way,” she said after a long silence. “I can see why you were a lawyer.”

  “It’s the hardest thing in the world to put yourself in someone else’s place, try to really feel what they feel, figure out why they do the things they do. Especially when it’s easier to stick a label on something. Or someone.”

  “And the lighthouse?”

  “Lizzie loved it at some point in her life. It was important to her. She wanted to see it work again. That’s good enough for your father. He’ll work himself to the bone to try and fix it.”

  “For her?”

  “Your dad isn’t crazy. He knows she’s gone, Mikki. He’s doing this for her memory. At least partly. This is all part of the healing process; that’s all. Everyone does it differently, but this is just your father’s way.”

  “So what do you think I should do?”

  “At some point, find the courage to talk to him.”

  “About what?”

  “I think you’ll figure it out.”

  Mikki laid her hand on Jenna’s arm. “Thanks for the ice cream. And the advice.”

  “You’re very welcome to both, sweetie.”

  49

  On Saturday night Jenna helped Mikki get dressed in her new clothes and did her hair. She pinned most of it back but let a few strands trickle down Mikki’s long, slender neck.

  Cory and Jackie were sitting on the couch together watching TV. They both stared wide-eyed at their sister when she came down the stairs followed by a proud-looking Jenna.

  “Mikki bootiful,” said Jackie.

  Cory didn’t say anything; he just kept staring, like this was the first time he’d realized his sister was a girl.

  Sammy came out of the kitchen, saw her, and said, “Wow. Okay, people, heartbreaker coming through, make room. Make room.”

  Mikki blushed deeply and said, “Sammy, knock it off!”

  “Honey, take the compliments from the men when you can,” advised Jenna.

  Sammy yelled, “Jack, get your butt in here. There’s big trouble.”

  Jack walked in from the kitchen and froze when he saw her.

  Mikki took in all the males staring at her and finally said, “What?”

  “Nothing, sweetie,” said Jack. “You look terrific.”

  “Jenna helped me.”

  Jack flashed her an appreciative look. “Good thing. I’m not really all that great with hair and makeup.”

  Jenna chuckled. “Gee, don’t they teach that in the army?”

  “So where are we going?” asked Mikki.

  “Like I said, dinner with the family. To celebrate your sweet sixteen.”

  She looked at Cory and Jackie watching cartoons and munching on cheese curls. Jackie’s face and hands were totally orange and sticky. Cory let out a loud belch. “Great,” she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.

  Sammy looked at Jack. “Hold on a sec. You said we had to finish that job tonight. Promised the lady. Remember?”

  “Oh, damn, that’s right. What was I thinking?” Jack slapped his forehead in frustration.

  Mikki scowled, “Tonight? What job?”

  Jack looked stricken. “A big one. I forgot, honey.”

  Mikki’s face flushed and her eyes glistened. “Dad, it’s my sixteenth birthday.”

  “I know, sweetie, I know. Thank goodness I had a backup plan.”

  “What?”

  He opened the front door, and Mikki gasped.

  Liam was standing there dressed in pressed chinos and a white button-down shirt. His face was scrubbed pink, and he’d even combed his long hair. In his hand was a bouquet of flowers.

  Mikki looked from him to her dad. “Uh, what is going on?”

  Jack grinned. “Like you
really wanted to go out on your sixteenth birthday with your old man and two little brothers? Give me a break.”

  “That would’ve been fine,” she said, trying to keep a straight face.

  “Yeah, right,” scoffed Sammy. He turned to Liam, who hadn’t budged an inch. “Well, get in here, son, and deliver the flowers to the lady.” He grabbed Liam’s arm and propelled him into the room.

  Liam handed the bouquet to Mikki. “You really look great,” he said shyly.

  “Pretty slick yourself.” She eyed her dad. “How did you possibly manage this without Cory or Jackie squealing?”

  “That’s easy. I didn’t tell them. But Jenna was a major co-conspirator.”

  Jenna did a mock curtsy. “Guilty as charged.”

  “So, what’s the plan?” Mikki asked.

  “Like I said, dinner. For two. Reservations have already been made.”

  Jenna amended, “Not the Little Bit. At the fancy restaurant in town. I know the owners really well. They’ve got a great table picked out for you and a special menu.”

  “Wow, I can’t believe this is happening. I feel like Cinderella.”

  Jack put his arm around his daughter. “Nice to know I can still surprise you.”

  “Thanks, Dad. Well, I guess we better go,” she said.

  “Wait a sec,” Jack said. “Close your eyes.”

  “Dad!”

  “Please, just do it.”

  Sighing heavily, she closed her eyes. Jack slipped the necklace from his pocket and affixed it around her neck. “Okay.”

  She looked down and gasped. She rushed to a mirror hanging on the wall.

  “This was Mom’s necklace,” she said in a hushed tone.

  Jack nodded. “I gave it to her on our first wedding anniversary.”

  Mikki turned to look at him, tears glimmering in her eyes.

  “Happy birthday, baby.”

  Father and daughter shared a lingering hug.

  After Liam and Mikki had gone off on their date, Jack stood on the front porch staring at the sandy yard. Jenna joined him there. Jack’s eyes were moist, and he wouldn’t look at her.

  “You okay, Dad?” she asked.

  “They grow up fast, Jenna.”

  “Yes, they do. But growing up is okay. What we don’t want them to do is grow away from us.”

  “You’re pretty good at this parenting thing.”

  “You do something solo long enough, I guess you either get good at it or you crash.”

  “So there’s hope for me?”

  “I’d say definitely.” She slid her arm through his. “She’s a great kid, Jack.”

  “Because of Lizzie.”

  “Give yourself some of the credit. You did good tonight, Jack Armstrong.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Yeah, I really do.”

  50

  Mikki and Liam had just finished dinner when he excused himself to go to the restroom. A few seconds later, Mikki was stunned to see Blake Saunders walk up to her table.

  “What are you doing here, you weasel?” she snarled.

  “I work here.”

  “You work here?”

  “Busing tables. Sweat Town, like I said.”

  “Gee, doesn’t sweet little Tiffany give you an allowance?”

  “Look, I know you’re upset, and you have every right to be.”

  “You’re wrong, Blake. If I were upset, that would mean I cared, and I don’t. You had your stupid fun, but Liam could have really gotten hurt.”

  “I pulled those two idiots off him, in case you didn’t notice. I was on top of him to protect him. Nobody was supposed to get hurt. But then you jumped on my back and basically scratched my face off.”

  “Hey, let’s not forget that none of it would’ve happened if you hadn’t set me up. And why exactly did you do that?”

  Blake looked down. “Because of what you did to Tiff. She was upset. She wanted to get back at you.”

  “And you do whatever Tiff tells you to? That’s beyond pathetic.”

  “Yeah, I guess it is,” Blake admitted.

  “Look, you’re not going to fool me with your ‘I’m all sorry’ act. Okay? So just save your breath.”

  “Did you put the glue in her car seat?”

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Well, in case you were wondering, she was pissed. She had to take off her pants to get out of the car. And she hadn’t bothered to put on underwear. She had to run up the steps to her house. But she slipped and fell over into the bushes, scratched her rear end up good. At least that’s what my mom said. Guess all the hired help got a good laugh about that later.”

  Hearing this, Mikki could not suppress a grin. “It’s nice to know that bad things do happen to bad people.”

  “I heard you entered the talent competition.”

  “That’s right. Me and Liam. I’m sure you’ll be there to root on precious Tiff.”

  “Actually, I hope you kick her butt.”

  He turned and walked away.

  After leaving the restaurant, Liam and Mikki drove to the beach, parked, took off their shoes, and walked along the sand.

  “I never saw the ocean before coming here,” said Mikki as she drew close enough to the water to let it cover her feet.

  “Mom and I have always been close to the water. Well, pretty close.”

  “I really like it here. I didn’t think I would after living in the city all my life, but I do.”