An Invincible Summer (Wyndham Beach) by Mariah Stewart (e novels to read .TXT) 📕

all the work she’d done over the past few weeks. She went inside and grabbed the drugstore bag off the kitchen counter and went back out. She’d barely gotten three nails buffed and polished when she heard someone coming across the lawn.

She looked up to see a blond guy wearing cargo shorts, a Grateful Dead T-shirt, flip-flops, aviator glasses, and a goofy grin.

“Chris?” She narrowed her eyes, squinting into the afternoon sun. “Chris Dean?”

“Gracie Flynn!” He jogged the last fifty feet. “Honest to God, I thought I was hallucinating for a minute. You look just like your mom used to look, back in the day. Well, your mom with dark hair.”

“Don’t you know better than to tell a woman she looks just like her mother?” Grace screwed the cap back on the polish and put the bottle on the step. “I’d think a sophisticated world traveler such as yourself would know that.”

“You have me confused with that guy who calls himself DEAN. Besides, your mom was always beautiful. Like mother, like daughter.” He picked her up in a bear hug. “How are you, Gracie?”

“I’m good. You?” She leaned back to look at him, and he kissed her on the forehead, a loud smacking kiss, before setting her down.

“I’m okay. Hanging in there.”

Grace laughed. “Please. Don’t make me admit I know you’re an international superstar.”

“Not when I’m in Wyndham Beach.” He sat on the top step and pulled her down to sit next to him. “Here, I’m Emma’s kid who grew up two streets over and spent many summer hours pulling you and your sister around in an old red wagon.” He paused. “Is she here? Nat?”

Grace shook her head.

“I was hoping she’d be around. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her. How’s she doing? Your mom showed me pictures of her little girl. She’s a cutie.”

“Daisy’s the world’s most perfect three-year-old.”

“And the guy she was living with split?”

“Yeah. Jerk took off as soon as she told him she was pregnant.”

He was quiet for a moment, then said softly, “Bastard.”

“You have no idea, Chris.”

He blew out a long breath. “Natalie deserved better. And you?” He picked up her left hand. “I thought you were married.”

“Was married.” She made a face.

“Your choice or his?”

“Oh, his, definitely. As in his choosing to fall in love with someone else.”

“That sucks, Gracie. I’m sorry. You deserved better, too. He’s obviously a fool and an asshole.”

“What can I say? The Flynn sisters have shit luck when it comes to picking men.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with those Pennsylvania guys.” He put an arm over her shoulder. “What you need is some time out with some old friends. I’m on my way to Dusty’s to meet Ted for a few beers. Come with me.”

“Ted . . . Teddy Affonseca? He’s around?”

“Just for a few days. We try to get back home for the same few days a couple of times a year. This is one of those weekends. Come on, Gracie. He’d love to see you, I know.”

“Chris . . .” She paused. “I’m not the best company right now.”

“What are you talking about? You’re great company.” He took her hand and squeezed it. “I’m really happy to see you.” He glanced at the house. “My mom’s still here, right?”

“Yes. She and Liddy are out back helping my mom move some plants around. She didn’t tell me you were going to be home.”

“She doesn’t know. I thought I’d surprise her.” He stood.

“They’re out back planning Mom’s garden.”

“Coming with me?”

“I need to finish up something. You go on around. I’ll meet you here in a few.”

Chris trotted around the side of the house, and Grace finished giving her nails a quick polish, waved her hands to speed up the drying, then went inside, ran upstairs, and made a quick change into shorts that weren’t sandy and a tank top that didn’t have coffee stains dribbled down the front. She took a minute to brush her hair and pull it back into a ponytail. She made it to the porch with a minute to spare.

“You ready?” Chris came through the front door.

“I should run back and tell my mom I’m leaving.”

“I already told her.”

“Was Emma surprised to see you?” she asked as she stood.

Chris grinned. “You didn’t hear the screaming?” He took her arm. “Come on. Let’s head into town.”

“Maybe just for one beer.”

“Two beers. It’s not worth walking all that way for one beer.”

Grace couldn’t resist. She’d be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t flattered that Chris wanted to spend some time with her.

On their walk to the bar, she sneaked an occasional glance at him. He was taller than she remembered, and he’d filled out a lot since the last time she saw him. His hair had been longer, shaggier when they were in their teens, but now was well trimmed, a cut she knew cost a bundle. His five-o’clock shadow gave him a rugged look his younger self hadn’t had. Walking leisurely along Cottage Street, his hands in the pockets of his shorts, his eyes hidden behind his dark glasses, he could be any thirtysomething-year-old resident of Wyndham Beach out to enjoy an afternoon stroll.

Teddy was waiting for them at the bar and was obviously happy to see Grace. They exchanged condensed versions of their lives since they’d last seen each other.

“Long story short, I’m an actuary with an insurance company in Boston, married to a pediatrician, and father to three-year-old twin girls. I consider it a vacation when I get to come back here to check on my parents and spend a few hours with an old friend or two,” Ted told her.

“My sister, Natalie, has a three-year-old girl as well,” Grace told him.

At the mention of her sister’s name, Chris said, “Let’s call her. What’s her number?”

She seemed to remember there’d been something between Chris and her sister during their teen years—she was never really sure what that something was—but as far as she knew, nothing ever came of it. She’d secretly hoped that