Love Lost on Cloud 9 by K.C. Brote

Author:K.C. Brote
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, suspense, domestic thriller, domestic suspense, fiction, women's lit, domestic life, family life fiction, 1970s, seventies, music in fiction, classic rock, contemporary fiction, nh fiction, abandoned amusement park, twins, dj's, marriage, love, secrets, small towns, married life, trust, friendship, sisters, neighbors, lake life, summer reads, airplane reads, summerbooks
Publisher: Hummingbird Press, LLC
Published: 2023-05-23T00:00:00+00:00

28

SHARON AND KIP GRIPPED one another’s hands tightly as they approached the small gathering of people on a large brick patio overlooking the pond. Ramona Dolan appeared in the sliding glass doorway of the large house about twenty feet away, wearing a hot-pink-and-yellow caftan and a chunky plastic necklace of yellow-and-lime-green beads. She was barefoot, gliding across the lawn with a tray of cocktails in Polynesian-themed barware. She smiled large when she caught a glimpse of Sharon and Kip clinging to the shadows on the edge of the patio.

“The Walshes made it!” she cried out, and all eyes turned to the young couple. “Come on in, join the party,” she encouraged, placing her tray on a round wooden table.

Kip and Sharon had no choice but to smile and step forward into the spotlight. Sharon waited for Kip to take the lead, as he normally would in social situations, but he seemed unable to speak.

“Everyone, this is Kip Walsh, from the radio. And his beautiful wife, Sharon, who saved Vic from choking at Charlotte’s last weekend.” Ramona had a voice that pierced through all other conversations. Everyone looked at the new couple and offered a short round of polite applause.

“Thanks for inviting us, Ramona,” Sharon finally said. Ramona approached and leaned in for hugs from both of them. They complied.

“Come in, come in, make yourselves comfortable,” Ramona continued. “There’s drinks over there, and some finger foods over on the table, if you feel like noshing a bit before the main event.”

“The main event?” Kip asked nervously. His eyes were wide and he gulped hard.

“The lobsters, silly,” Ramona laughed and reached out to squeeze Kip’s forearm playfully.

“Right, right,” he said, his cheeks flushing scarlet. “I think just a beer for now.”

“That sounds good,” Sharon agreed with him, and shot him a look as if to say, keep your cool, man.

Ramona released them to the cooler by the round table and was off like a shot to greet another couple arriving by way of the driveway on the side of the house, pink-and-yellow silk fabric flowing against the green grass of the hill as she rushed away. Kip dug through the cooler, pulling two Narragansetts from its depths, and handed one to Sharon.

“I feel so underdressed,” she whispered as she took her first sip.

Her white cotton shorts and red halter top seemed perfect for a cookout when she was at home, but now, surrounded by women years older than her in flowing silk fabrics, wrists and necks and fingers adorned with colorful beads and baubles, Sharon wondered what strange, alternate version of Nettlestone they had crossed into when their boat pulled up to the dock.

“You were the one who wanted to be here,” Kip said. “Smile, here they come.”

Sharon sighed quietly and tried hard not to roll her eyes at her husband. She flashed a smile to the couple approaching them and stood up straight.

“We’ve heard so much about you. It's nice to finally put faces to the names,” the woman said, reaching out to shake Kip’s hand.

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