iends,ileoffherface
“isaidno”shefilledherglassoreer
“aheon,denise,youknoisenottolaugh”sharonsaiditsoseriouslythathollyfeltbadforsling
denisestudiedboththeirfaces,tryingtodecidehertheyuldbetrusted
“oh,ok,”shesighedloudlyandledsothingveryquietly
“ovingincloser
“honey,hearyou,youooquiet,”sharonsaid,pullingherchairincloser
deniselookedaroundtherestauranttokesurenobodyovedherheadintothelyingoutintheseaforsolong,bussunbut”
“oh,”sharonsaid,sittingbackinherchairabruptly
hollylookedaindoffdenisehadjustsaid
theree
“see,isaidyouhlaugh,”denisehuffed
“hey,laughing,”sharonsaidshakily
therehersilence
hollyuldnthelpherself“justkesureyouputplentyofsuncreanitsothatitdoesntpeel”thetfinallybrokedown
denisejustnoddedherheadandtostoplaughingshehadtoeinfact,hourslaterasshelayonthesofabedtryingtosleepshestilled
thelastthingsheheardbeforesheartrerkfroolly:“kesureyoulieonyourfront,denise”thisorelaughter
“hey,holly,”sharoneddoorrow”
“ean”hollyasked,yawning
“theletter”sharonreplied,surprisedthathollydidntreeriediately“donttellthatyouforgot”
hollyreachedherhandunderherpilloaroundfortheletterinonehoursheoopengerryssixthletterofurseshehadntforgotten
thenextinghollyaothesoundofsharonthrohetoiletshefollolyrubbedherbackandheldherhairback
“youok”sheaskedersharonhadeventuallystopped
“yeah,itsjustthosebloodydreaihadallnightidreaiandonaraftandallsortsofthingsithinkitseasickness”
“ihadthosedreatooiterday,it”
sharonnodded“ievergoingonaraftagain,”shesledweakly
denisearrivedatthebathrooooralreadydressedinherbikinishehadborroteasingher,asshedealofpain
ingpool,deniseandsharonjoinedthebarbiebrigadeportantletter
shepositionedherselfaalltheexadeherselffortableonherbeachtoorentactselvesintotheol,crystaloingandalreadythesun
hollycarefullypulledtheletteroutofherbagasthoughitostdelicatethingintheellsoftheessage
hiholly,
ihopeyourehavingaostoon,reergladyougottoseeitintheend
apparently,ifyoustandattheveryendofthebeayourhotel,andlookaroundtheertotheleft,youllseealighthouseioldthatsanypeopleknoisaidhi
ps,iloveyou,holly
hshakinghands,hollyputthecardbackintotheenvelopeandsecureditsafelyinapocketofherbagshefeltgerryseyesonherasshestoodupandquicklyrolledupthebeachtobtherockssosheuldseearoundtheer
andthereitwas
exabedovertherotalktooneanother
gerrysatbesideher
heyevenhaveheldherhand
hollyfelthappyenoughtoheadbaedlikeaverydifferentplacefroheoneshehadleftlastilyouttojohn,inginthecar
“oree
hollygaveherafriendsabighugandakissanddeherptyhousethereustysllinsideandshevedtothekitchenpatiodoorstoletthefreshaircirculate
shefrozejustassheuingthekeyinthedoorandstaredoutside
herentirebackgardenhadbeenrelandscaped
thegrassedfroergardenedandinthee
