I Couldn't Love You More by Medoff Jillian

Author:Medoff, Jillian [Medoff, Jillian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 2012-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

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Wyatt Island is the perfect location for viewing the Atlantic Ocean. The rich oilman’s house is at the very tip of the peninsula, where the land rises higher than anywhere else on the coast. The beach near his development is public, and once you pass through the parking lot, it’s maybe twenty-five yards down to the edge of the water. But the blacktop sits on the island’s highest point, giving you a panoramic view of the sea.

The shoreline off South Carolina is smooth, and the sand is soft. As we trudge down toward the water, I shield my eyes and look out toward the horizon. Miles and miles away, a pocket has formed where the sky and water meet. It’s a breathtaking sight, but also humbling, as though I’m looking at the precise spot where the world ends.

It’s still overcast and very windy, so the beach is empty. Other than clusters of senior citizens power walking on the sand and a few scattered mothers with young children, we’re the only ones here. There’s a sign that warns us to swim at our own risk, but it says nothing about not swimming at all, so we shake out our towels and set up camp.

“I don’t want to be so close to the water,” my mother says, to which Grant agrees, so we split into two groups. Grant and my mother put up their dolphin umbrella as far away from the shore as they can get without sitting in the parking lot. They’re both reading the paper, which they’ve folded into squares like subway commuters. Down by the water, several yards away, the girls and I are hanging out with Maggie.

We’re here for an hour before the rain clouds move out. The sky clears up and some blue peeks through, but the wind still snaps, whipping our hair around and blowing sand everywhere. The air is warm, though, so we all stay put. At different times, Charlotte and I go into the water, both of us braving the choppy waves. Maggie dives in, too, but surfaces with her bikini top all knotted up and her bottoms falling off.

“It’s rough out there!” she says breathlessly, wiping her face on a towel. “I almost lost my suit! You guys were smart to wear one-pieces.”

Hailey looks nervously at the waves. “I only want to go in with you, Mommy.”

“I can go in by myself!” Gail declares.

“Maybe.” I force myself to stop thinking about Hailey struggling in the Marriott pool. “We’ll see.”

For the next half hour, Hailey, Gail, and Charlotte crouch on the sand and dig wet holes. Maggie and I sit on towels next to them and stare at the water. I turn to see my mother standing next to the dolphin umbrella, holding her bag. Cupping her hands, she shouts to me, but I can’t hear her in the wind. She gestures toward the house. I wave to her and then to Grant. Grant waves back and returns to his paper.

A few minutes later, Gail says she has to go to the bathroom.

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