A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

Author:Beatriz Williams [Williams, Beatriz]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780399162169
Google: Oc_0_-IVxF8C
Amazon: 039916216X
Goodreads: 16158535
Publisher: Putnam
Published: 2013-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

ONE BY ONE, the stockbrokers and mistresses dropped out, done in by the heat, splashing into the ocean to cool off and watch the duel between Graham and Nick, supplemented by Norm and Budgie and two tenacious others. The tide was rising, compressing the field of play. We moved our blanket back, to give them a little more room.

“They really should stop,” I said, stubbing out my fourth cigarette with trembling fingers. “It’s far too hot. Someone’s going to collapse.”

Aunt Julie said: “I doubt they’ll stop until someone does collapse.”

At that instant, one of the remaining stockbrokers let out a yell. One of the women ran to him, screaming, and bent over his foot. “He’s stepped on a shell,” she announced. “He can’t play.”

“Well, that’s it, then,” said Nick. The stockbroker played on his side.

“No, it’s not,” said Graham, whose team was losing by six points.

Budgie put her hand on his arm. “Don’t be silly. We’ve played long enough. We’re out of people.”

Graham looked at me. “Lily can play.”

Everyone turned to me. I was in the act of lighting another cigarette. I looked back and forth between Nick and Graham, put down cigarette and lighter, and shook my head. “Oh, no. I’ve never played football.”

“It’s easy. Nick will do all the work. Won’t you, Nick?” Graham raised his eyebrows at Nick.

“Let’s just call if off, all right? I’ll forfeit. You win.”

“Oh, no, you don’t, you damned . . .” Graham stopped himself.

Nick said coldly: “For God’s sake, Pendleton. It’s scorching out. She doesn’t want to play.”

I jumped up. “You know what? I’ll play.”

A halfhearted cheer rose up around me. I dusted the sand off my legs and walked over to where Nick stood, frowning, bouncing the ball back and forth between his hands. “Are you sure, Lily?” he asked, in a low voice.

“Absolutely. Just show me what to do.”

“You don’t need to do anything. Just stay out of trouble.”

“Don’t be condescending. I came to play. I’ve been watching, I know what’s going on. Pass me the ball and I’ll catch it.”

“Do you know how to catch a football?”

“It can’t be that hard.”

Nick sighed.

“Look,” I said, “I’ve been catching practice balls for Graham all summer.”

“That’s baseball. You get to wear a glove in baseball.”

Graham cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted: “Should I send over some lemonade, ladies?”

“Pass me the ball, Nick. I’ll catch it.”

Nick met my gaze.

Norm Palmer hit his shoulder. “Come on, Greenwald. Let’s get started.”

“All right,” said Nick. “Palmer, you run across, like I’m throwing to you. Lily, just run straight down the side, the right side. Ten yards and turn around. Hold your hands like this, Lily.” He showed me, making a triangle with his forefingers and thumbs. “Keep your palms soft, your fingers soft. Let the ball do the work. Got it? On three.”

I had no idea what On three meant. We lined up in the hot sand, Norm and Nick and me on Nick’s right side. Budgie winked one round eye at me. She was sweating, but with a kind of delicate female dewiness, a sheen over her glowing skin.

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