Harvest Dreams by Jacqueline Fein-Zachary

Author:Jacqueline Fein-Zachary [Fein-Zachary, Jacqueline]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2023-04-02T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

June 1984, Cutchogue, Long Island

Kate knew he meant well, so she pushed herself to insist. “Jerome, I’ve got this.” She took the crowbar from his hands and waded into the pond. She wasn’t sure what was keeping the water from flowing from one pond into the other, but she had to find out. One week ago today, she’d graduated from college. She was on her own now and wanted to at least pretend she knew what she was doing.

“Here I go. I’m walking over,” Kate declared, as she waded through the water, holding the crowbar above her head. “At the grill.” Kate looked back to make sure Jerome was still out of the water and only watching. “Going under.”

Kate pulled the goggles down over her eyes, took a deep breath and sank down into the water. Though the water was murky from her shuffling around, she saw the problem in seconds and stood back up. “It’s just a big branch that’s stuck in the grill, collecting leaves. It’s blocking the flow. I can get it.”

Kate took another big breath and ducked back down. Using the crowbar as leverage, it took her only two tries to pry off the branch. She brought it up to the surface and held it up in triumph. “See…”

As she gripped the branch to show Jerome, Kate was startled to see someone standing right next to him. Someone who had not been there a minute before, someone who looked exactly like Sydney Barrett. She lowered the branch immediately, her heart suddenly pounding. She looked at Jerome for a reality check. He shrugged. Kate looked at Sydney. The damn woman was smiling.

Kate waded over, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed Sydney’s extended hand when Sydney leaned over to help pull her up and out of the pond. At home in Cutchogue after graduating, her mother had given her a third gift box from Sydney, sent from her hometown in Massachusetts. It had contained the message: Back in the US. See you soon! But with Sydney, of course, she hadn’t known when soon would be. Now, standing eye to eye with Sydney and totally self-conscious of her soaking wet and clinging clothes, her mind rushed to say something, however idiotic. “You’re here!”

“As promised.”

Jerome patted Sydney on the arm. “Hey, I thought you were in Paris. Welcome back!”

“I was,” Sydney answered, but nothing more.

“You two get reacquainted,” Kate said, leaving them by the pond. “I need to change.” She needed a few minutes to gather her wits.

“I’m going to say hello to Rachel. See you in a bit,” Sydney called.

Her mother. Kate had forgotten how tight Sydney was with her mother. And how much Jerome adored Sydney. She snuck a peak and sure enough, Sydney had her arm around Jerome’s shoulder. She was here, standing mere feet away.

Kate rushed to her cottage to shower and change. Toweling off, she made it to the edge of the bed and plunked down, her head in her hands. Oh my God.

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