“Ewww,” Leefe breathed. “That was slick. Is that a minnow?”
Clary nodded, holding up the sinker with the red and silver shiner. “This is to hold the line down, so it doesn’t stay on top of the water. We’re well over thirty feet.” She handed the pole to Leefe. “Let the line out, right over the side of the boat.” She showed her how to release the line. “Okay, that’s enough. Now, you wait.”
“How can a fish see a tiny minnow in all this water?”
Clary shrugged. “Who knows? But the shiner, the lure, catches their attention. You fish at different depths, depending on where the fish are. Keep your fingers on the line, to feel the tug when the fish hits.”
“Will the fish swallow the minnow?”
“Sometimes.” Clary checked the dials. The anchor had set so the drift was minimal.
“But how can we throw it back? I mean, don’t you have to get the hook out?”
“It’s usually in its jaw or mouth. If not, you cut the line and toss it back. It’ll survive.”
“Good. I don’t want to rip up the insides.” Leefe went back to watching her pole, fully intent on the line.
Clary put her arm around the seat. Leefe smelled delicious, her soap and lavender scent mixing with fresh air, and wanted to touch her in the worst way. Instead, she traced South Port’s miles of beach, trees, and houses.
There was the beach where her father always sat and her mom would flirt with him. She’d wear that blue bikini, hardly a scrap of cloth actually. They’d probably been younger than she was now. She set this moment solidly in her memory to relive when she was back in Iowa. She looked at Leefe. Iowa? She’d have to leave after the summer. She glanced back at Leefe with a sinking feeling in her stomach. This was part of what Jesse had been trying to say.
“I felt something,” Leefe said.
Clary saw the tug on the line. “Give it a firm, steady pull. Set the hook.”
Leefe did and the line sang. Clary laid her hand over Leefe’s on the reel. “Reel it in but not too fast, just keep steady pressure on it.” She made sure the tip of the rod was up. Finally, there it was. A small striped perch, about ten or eleven inches long.
“It’s too small isn’t it?” Leefe held it up to get a good look.
“Wait,” Clary said and took several first-fish photos, smiling at Leefe’s radiant grin. “I’m sending your fish photos to your phone.”
After they got the fish back in the water, Clary showed Leefe the minnows. “Grab one that looks lively.” She pointed at one as she held the hook. Unsure that Leefe had the stomach to do this, she started to help, but Leefe slid the hook in without hesitation and then dropped the line over the side of the boat.
Clary rummaged around in the cooler for an apple and tipped her head back. What little was left of the sun warmed her. Leefe’s leg against her own was warm too. “Leefe, who’s Linda, the woman who owns The Docks. Jesse said I should ask you about her.”
Leefe turned to her with a sigh. “Linda is a good friend, but she was also my first and only girlfriend. It didn’t last longer than a couple of months and then, it just…stopped. I got up in the middle of the night and slept on the couch. It would have been, I don’t know, dishonest to stay in her bed when I no longer cared. Honestly, I have no experience with relationships. My feelings for Linda confused me, a lot.” Leefe stared at the water for a minute. “Did Jesse say I was mean?”
“I think she was implying you’d done something wrong.”
“Jesse’s never said anything about Linda to me, but she’s said a lot of other things.” She shook her head a little. “Jesse can be so terrible but, in the next moment, be completely different. The man who attacked me trashed my place, and Jesse cleaned it while I was in the hospital, and even left food. I was grateful, believe me. So, sometimes she’s helpful.” She glanced away, at the line. “Then other times, it’s like I’m invisible, and she gives orders, like down at the square when Devi was hurt. I never know which Jesse I’m going to get.”
“I’m sort of having the same problem with her,” Clary said.
Leefe swiveled, almost into Clary’s arms. “You are? She told me to stay away from you,” she said and began to laugh.
Clary laughed too. “She said the same about you. Jesse and her control problems. I talked with Beverly this morning. Apparently, there are things I don’t know about my friend, and Beverly didn’t tell me, which is fine. Everyone deserves secrets. I have a few but nothing to scream over.”
“Clary, the night I was in your bedroom, what did you do?”
“Yelled.”
“That too, but you jumped out of bed without clothes.”
“I did?” She thought back to that night. “I did not.”
“Yes, you did.” With a little smile and a look from under her eyelashes, Leefe said, “Believe me, I remember.”
Clary buried her face in her hands, laughing. “Oh shoot, you’re right. I remember.”
“That’s all this business with Linda is about. Teenage drama. If I told Jesse and her friends about you in the bedroom, can you imagine how they’d talk? Sometimes they get a case of that, like a virus. It’s only smoke and mirrors, but they use it like an axe.”
Clary nodded and then saw the look on Leefe’s face. “Was there something else?”
“Can I ask a personal question?”
“Fire away,” Clary said.
“Why did that woman leave you and take the little girl?”
Her mouth suddenly dry and heart accelerating, Clary tossed the apple core into the waste bucket. Beverly was right. Leefe didn’t pull punches.
“I don’t know,” she said softly, almost to herself. “I’ve never known because Robin won’t talk to me. She was distant before she left.” She met Leefe’s eyes. “I hoped I could figure it out while I was here.”
“I keep running it through my mind, and it doesn’t make sense. Why do you—” Leefe jumped up. “Clary, a big tug,” she said, gripping the pole in both hands. A large fish arced from the water in front of them.
“There’s only six-pound test line on that pole,” Clary said and scrambled up, wrapped her arm around Leefe, and held her against her body, the other hand over the rod. They fought the fish together, and tried to keep the line intact, but it snapped. Stumbling backward a step, they went down with a thump, knocking the breath out of Clary.
On top, Leefe laughed the first truly free laugh Clary had heard from her. “You didn’t tell me this was extreme sports.” She turned over, stared down into Clary’s face, and leaned down.
Fighting for breath, Clary dropped the pole and held on. The kiss was hot and sweet, and the warm hand on her bare stomach ignited her body. Leefe started to lift up, but Clary held on.
A boat’s big horn blasted, and Clary’s racing heart almost burst out of her chest. They both sat up and peered over the rail at the Coast Guard. A uniformed woman with a bullhorn frowned at them. “You ladies okay?” Clary saw her take a closer look. “Sorry, we thought your boat was unattended.”
“It’s attended,” Clary yelled across the water and held up the pole with the empty line. “We just lost a big one.”
“Okay, better luck with the next fish.” The woman turned back to the cabin, and Clary heard laughter. She sank back onto the deck, staring at the sky above her, relishing the bright feeling. And home. And fishing. She rolled over to an elbow and looked at Leefe. And Leefe.
“They saw us,” Leefe said, watching the boat leave.
“Sure, but do you care?” Clary smiled and ran her hands through the silky, thick black hair.
“No, I never have.”
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?” Clary touched Leefe’s cheek and gently traced the jaw. She’d give anything to do more than kiss her.
Leefe blushed deeply. “Could I have one of those beers?” she said in a low voice.
With two bottles in very shaky hands, Clary handed one to Leefe. “You don’t drink, or not that I’ve seen. Any reaso
n why?”
“Beverly would blame the Ellis family, and she’s probably right.”
“In that case, you might as well look like a two-fisted drinker. Hold my bottle while I reset the fishing line. We’ll give it one more shot.” Clary bent over the tackle box. She had a lot to learn about this woman. “Watch, Leefe. I’ll teach you how to tie a cool knot.”
Chapter Nineteen
It was fully dark by the time they docked the boat. June moths circled the big lights in the humid air, and Leefe got her first up-close look at Zip’s huge boat next to them. She’d watched this area many times from above but, down here, the docks were unknown territory. Not entirely comfortable, she felt a little off-kilter from the beer.
Clary hitched the rope to the dock with a quick, capable move, and began to stow gear. She bent over Leefe from the dock above, her bare stomach close, and Leefe remembered her hand on that skin, the casual touch in the boat that hadn’t felt casual at all, and Clary’s warm, insistent kiss, wrapped in a sort of promise. Clary kissed like it meant everything in the world.
“You didn’t fish,” she said as Clary pulled her up onto the dock.
“I will when we do this again. Andy won’t care if we use his poles. In fact, would you like to learn to drive this boat? Lessons are free, a one-time deal this summer only.”
“Never pass up a bargain,” Leefe said, watching Clary secure the tie-downs. “I like the lights on your boat.” The green lights had been especially lovely, as had the colors on the shore.
“Hey, Leefe. Clary.” Zip leaned over the railing, looking down on them, her short, dark hair falling forward. A light came on in the big boat, followed by music. Leefe recognized the lone trumpet immediately. It was Chris Botti, something she’d loaned to Zip.
Clary lifted the cooler, standing beside Leefe. “Hi, Zip. You alone?”
“Not exactly. How was it out there?”
“Nice. Thanks again for the dock space.”
Leefe heard a woman’s voice in the background.
“Come on up,” Zip said.
“Do you want to?” Clary turned to Leefe, her voice low. “I didn’t know you knew her.”
“She stops by for a drink or conversation.”
Clary gave Leefe a look. “Zip stops at your house?”
“Since last winter, and it’s only for conversation and company. Jesse knows, but not Kaye.”
“All right, let’s go up. I heard a woman’s voice.”
“I did too. Wait. Let me fix your shirt.” Leefe unknotted Clary’s top. “We don’t want them saying you were just getting dressed.”
Clary gave a little snort. “Too late. They all know I worked my way through college as a stripper.”
“You were a stripper?” Leefe stopped.
“No.” Clary grinned at her. “I lied, but I’ve always wondered what that would be like.”
Leefe shook her head and followed until Clary stopped so fast that Leefe almost ran into her.
“Piper?” Clary said.
“Thanks for coming up,” Piper said. “I need company tonight.”
Zip nodded at them from behind the bar and handed Leefe a bottle of water. Leefe nudged a chair close to Clary.
“You two were on the lake?” Piper sat on the other side of Clary.
“I was testing Uncle Joe’s boat. First time it’s been out this year, and Leefe’s never been fishing, so that was fun. She caught a small perch, then something much bigger. Not sure but it was probably a trout that broke the line and, like the expert fishermen we are, we fell down.” She took the short beer that Zip handed her, starting to laugh. “Then the Coast Guard stopped us, and it’s the first time they’ve ever approached me on the lake. They said the boat looked ‘unattended.’ It was, sort of. We were both flat out, on the deck.”
Piper’s eyes widened, and she grinned. “Get out. You were flat out on the deck?”
“We fell down when the line broke,” Leefe said, on guard. Would they make an issue out of this? Clary took her hand as if she knew what she was feeling.
“I’ve been on the deck a few times,” Zip said. “One night, just beyond the lighthouse, Kaye and I got so drunk that I refused to move. We slept onboard that night.”
Where was Kaye, Leefe wondered. “Are there laws about drinking on the lake?”
“You’d better believe it,” Zip said. “They’re discreet, but the fines aren’t.”
Clary leaned toward Piper. “Have you been crying, and are you drinking?”
“One of Zip’s special margaritas.” Piper held up the glass.
“But definitely crying,” Clary nodded.
“It’s Jesse’s usual crap,” Zip said and sat next to Piper.
Leefe took a closer look at Piper’s pretty but tired face. She’d seen her around town, but never met her.
Piper turned as if reminded. “Leefe, we’ve never spoken.” She held out her hand. “Thanks for agreeing to help with our classes this summer.”
Leefe took the offered hand, and Piper gave her a friendly smile.
“What’s up with hell-to-handle-Lowden?” Clary said.
“We were arguing, something we do way too much of these days. She won’t even answer her phone tonight. I went to your house, but you were gone, so I came down here, looking for someone to talk to, and Zip put up with me. Admit it, everyone. Jesse is way above-average crabby. Clary, is it true you two argued last night—actually, fought—at the police station?”
“I’ve had so many arguments with Jesse that the only thing I noticed was…” Clary glanced at Leefe, gripping her hand a little harder. “She’s more impatient, even mean.”
“I agree. Did you all see that argument between my lovely Kaye and Jesse on Facebook?” Zip said sarcastically. “Then Felice got into it. I think I’m the only person Jesse hasn’t argued with lately.”
“Facebook? Is that the kid thing on the computer?” Leefe said, not sure what they were talking about.
“And all of them acting like kids,” Piper said. “The photo Kaye posted got Jesse in trouble on the job.”
“I’ve never seen Facebook,” Leefe said. They all turned to her. “Well, I haven’t,” Leefe said, and looked at Clary. “Have you?”
“Only for my classes, and they’d better behave,” Clary said. “I stay away from social media. Robin practically lived on it, and I’m fairly certain that’s where she met the guy.”
A light, cooling breeze moved across Leefe, and she realized there was no moon tonight. The remnants of the beer sifted through her as she looked at the boat. It was beautiful, and the deck shone, cleaner than any of the floors in the Ellis or county home. And no one had ever held her hand as carefully and possessively as Clary was right now. Don’t let yourself want this, she told herself. Normally, these people wouldn’t even notice her. Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Piper was the only person she didn’t know. Zip was a friend. And Clary? Clary was completely unexpected. Clary had called her beautiful. No one had said that to her. Ever.
“Do you want me to try to call Jesse?” Clary said, but Piper shook her head.
“I don’t think it would do any good. All the hours she’s working are killing her, and maybe that’s all it is, exhaustion. I’m worn out too, and probably should go home.”
“We’ll give you a ride,” Clary said.
“No, I have my car.”
Everyone stood at once. “Thanks for the beer, Zip,” Clary said. “What can I do, Piper?”
“I just needed a shoulder tonight.” Piper gave them a lopsided grin. “Thanks to all of you for being here.”
Clary hugged Piper, and Leefe smiled because Piper had included her. She’d looked right at her.
*
Clary drove away from the river, angry at Jesse all over again. She glanced across the car. “Did you like the fishing?”
“That big one was fun,” Leefe teased.
“Let’s do that again.” Clary returned the grin. “Do you need to go to the day care now?”
“No, Albie’s fine or she’d have called. It’s sort of what you said about that book you want me to read. I need another opinion, and Albie’s good at that.”
“Let’s walk out on the jetties and talk for a bit…it’s a beautiful night. I used to come out here with my grandmother, the one I’m named for, and I love this.” They left their shoes and Kozol’s book on Leefe’s deck, walking hand in hand to the end of the first jetty.
“Piper’s not having a beautiful night,” Leefe said.
“No, she’s not.” Clary took a deep breath. “Would you like to help?”
“What could I do?”
“Part of Jesse’s problem is Sharon. I wasn’t here. I had just finished my degree in England and getting ready to come home. Do you know anything that might have made Sharon run away? If I knew, I might be able to calm Jesse down.”
“I don’t think so. I told the police everything and Jesse’s read all of that.”
Clary settled Leefe’s back comfortably against her, an arm around her waist with the other arm over Leefe’s shoulder, pointing out to the horizon. “See that blinking green light out there?”
“I look at that a lot. I know it’s a signal. A warning?”
“Exactly, around two miles out, and what’s left of the oldest lighthouse in South Port. They tore it down decades ago. It sits on a reef and warns boats against the rocks. That’s Jesse, right now. She’s blinking. The next time we take the boat out, I’ll show you. Here, turn around so I can see your face.” She put her hands on Leefe’s shoulders and tried her best smile.
Leefe nodded. “I was living at the women’s shelter downtown, working at the hospital. Every day I’d pass that store, The Green Cabbage, and look at all those crazy things Sharon had on display. I worked nights so I’d be walking by just as she was closing up. One night, she introduced herself and asked for help unloading boxes. After that, I began to stop in. Later, we helped Linda out at her new bar. I really liked Sharon’s weird humor and laughter. The first time I heard Maureen laugh, I thought it was Sharon.”
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