The Lake of Dreams - Kim Edwards [13]
“What’s going on? Did you quit your job on the boat?” I asked.
Blake kept his gaze on the water, watching the rippling patterns change, a distant flock of ducks floating light on the surface.
“Not yet. I’ve agreed to pilot through the summer, but just the evening cruise. I might quit after that, though. I’m thinking about it. Art offered me a job. A good job. He stopped in a couple of weeks ago to ask me in person. Took me by surprise, I can tell you.”
I didn’t say anything, trying to sort out why this news felt so upsetting.
“Art’s helped Mom out a lot,” Blake went on quietly. “I know they always argued, he and Dad, and we were never close to Art growing up. But lately I’ve been thinking I haven’t been quite fair to him. Maybe none of us have.”
“Well, so what? When did anything between Dad and Art ever end up fair?”
Blake shrugged. “We were kids, Lucy. We don’t really know. Art probably feels bad about the way things turned out. It’s got to haunt him, being on such uneasy terms with Dad before he died. Suppose he’s just trying to make things right?”
I felt it then, the pull of the family history, an invisible gravity, almost irresistible.
“But what about sailing, Blake? You love to travel. What about winters on St. Croix? You’re just giving all that up?”
“Like I said, things change.” Blake glanced at me, embarrassed, assessing. “Long story short, Avery is pregnant. The baby’s due in October. So, I have to think differently now.”
I was too surprised to say anything at all.
“That’s right,” Blake said. “We’re having a baby. Good wishes appreciated.”
“Sorry. I’m sorry, Blake. Of course I’m happy for you. It’s just a lot to take in.”
He gave a small smile, nodded. “That’s okay. I had the exact same reaction, actually—stunned silence.” We stood in the wind off the lake.
“Are you happy about it?” I asked.
“Sometimes. It’s exciting, sure, but a surprise. The timing is bad for us both.”
Wind rattled the ropes on the dock, and I tried hard to remember Avery, a slight, energetic girl with dark brown eyes and hair.
“Look,” Blake said. “This thing at Dream Master, the way I see it—it’s just a job. Not a forever job, just a good-for-right-now kind of job.”
“Right, I get it. It makes sense.”
He smiled then, his charming old smile, and gave my shoulder a playful push.
“Water looks nice,” he said.
“Oh, you wouldn’t!”
“Wouldn’t I?”
He pushed me harder then, and though I could have kept my balance I grabbed his arm and let myself fall, dragging him in after me. We hit the clear, cold water and came up laughing, shaking bright droplets from our hair.
“Oh! It’s freezing!”
“It’s June—what did you expect?”
“Not to be swimming.” I skimmed my hand across the surface, sending a glittering arc of spray. Blake ducked, then sprayed me back.
“Truce!” I finally called, staggering out of the water onto the gray shale beach. Blake followed me up the lawn, catching my arm before we reached the driveway.
“Mom doesn’t know,” he said, looking at me seriously with the beautiful dark-lashed family eyes, blue irises mottled with green. “No one else knows. I promised Avery I wouldn’t say anything until she’s ready, so keep it quiet, okay?”
I nodded slowly. “Okay. I won’t say anything.”
“Thanks. Hey—it’s good to have you home, Luce.” He gave me a hug as we reached the driveway, and then headed toward his truck.
“Aren’t you even going to dry off?”
“I’ll drip dry,” he called back. “And I’ll see you later, okay? Welcome back.”
I waved, watching him pull away and disappear.
Art had gone, too. I found my mother in the kitchen making up plates with chicken salad, lettuce, and grapes, working slowly because she could use only one hand.
“Just a light supper,” she said, and then she looked up and saw my wet clothes, my hair. “Oh, the two of you,” she said, laughing, biting her lips because it hurt her ribs to laugh. I could tell