Firefly Summer by Nan Rossiter

Author:Nan Rossiter [Rossiter, Nan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2016-05-18T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 31

Piper pulled off her running shoes, eyed the worn soles and tattered mesh tops, and decided she really needed to get new ones. She pushed them under the bench, leaned back, dripping with perspiration, and watched Chloe—lying on the cool tile floor—lapping up the last of her water. Wearily, she stood up to refill the bowl and immediately felt her socks soaking up water. “Great,” she said, shaking her head. “You should try to keep your water in your bowl,” she scolded, and Chloe thumped her tail in agreement.

“Hey, Mom,” Elias said, coming into the mudroom with his backpack over his shoulder.

“Hey,” she said. “Watch where you’re walking—the floor’s wet.”

“Nice,” he said, eyeing Chloe. “Did you do that?” he teased, and she thumped her tail some more—yes, it was me.

“Where’re you heading so early?” Piper asked.

“Flying lesson.”

“Oh, right,” she said, remembering. “Do you know where Dad is?”

“Running an errand.”

“Will you be home for dinner?”

“I’m not sure. What are we having?”

“Spaghetti.”

“I’ll be home,” he said with a grin.

“I knew that would work.”

He laughed. “Okay. See you later.”

“See you later. Text me when you’re back on the ground.”

“I will,” he said, pushing the screen door open. “Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

She watched as he pulled away.

“Moving on!” she said, turning her attention back to the day. She looked at the old Seth Thomas clock hanging on the kitchen wall. “First, coffee. Then, shower.” She walked over to put a pot on and was surprised to find one already waiting. She poured a cup and hurried up the stairs to shower.

She turned the temperature to cool, peeled off her running clothes, and looked at her reflection—her face, neck, and “bib”—the area below her neck that was permanently tan and freckled from a lifetime of wearing bathing suits and tank tops and getting too much sun—were even redder from running. She sighed, pulled back the shower curtain, climbed in, and let the cool water cascade over her head and shoulders. She quickly washed, and as she rinsed, she remembered reading how Katharine Hepburn had loved taking ice-cold baths and swimming in the frigid Long Island Sound year-round. Year-round! And she’d lived to be ninety-six—there must be something to the idea of shocking the system! Piper turned the knob a little to the right and laughed as the chilly water rushed over her head, and then she braced herself and turned it all the way to the right. “Woo-hooo!” she squealed in delight.

She heard the bathroom door open, and a moment later, Nat peered around the curtain. “What the heck’s going on in here?” he teased. “How come I didn’t get invited to this party?”

“You’re welcome to join,” Piper said, laughing, “if you can handle the temperature!”

Nat put his hand under the icy stream of water and shook his head. “Ha!”

“Chicken!” she teased.

“I’m not chicken,” he said, pulling off his T-shirt and dropping his shorts and boxers in a heap onto the floor. A moment later, he was shaking his wet head and pulling her against him.

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