When I start a book I skip ahead and read the last page first Always I don't read mysteries I hate surprise parties Marilyn Monroe smiles her gentle Yorkie smile She looks up at me and licks my chin as if she senses I can use some reassuring I wonder if she knows where we're going I've told her a million times I even showed her the countdown calendar I had on my computer and the real paper calendar Ihad hanging above my desk with all the days that had been X ed off in red marker We're almost there Mari I whisper Her ears perk up and she shuffles on my lap Sit sit A little while longer So all your clients know you're coming back my dad asks me Do you need to have an orientation for the dogs Get them ready for camp or anything I smile That's a good idea actually Maybe we should have some kind of easing in process like I had for preschool and kindergarten Everyone needs time to get situated to warm up Even dogs Life is like a freezing cold pool that way We all need to dip a toe before we jump in Good thinking Rem My mom pats my leg and I wonder if she's as excited as I am She's been coming to Seagate Island for over forty years now since her own childhood I wonder if this amazing anticipation 1 ever fades After year twenty do you start to get used to it I want to ask her but what if the answer's yes That it's not as exciting as it used to be If it is I don't want to
ReMUmmmyYYYYYY I hear someone yell as soon as we're off the boat and even though it s lovely to be welcomed this way the greeting is not from the person I hoped to see first Hi Mason I smile How your Was year Excellent And yours Great I look around Is Bennett here Micayla Mason Redmond Micayla's crush can't be here to greet me He must be looking for someone else He's nice and everything but we're not wait at the ferry kind of friends He reads my mind Micayla went into the pharmacy to get some more sunscreen She told me to wait for you and let you know that she'd be right out He clips the sunglasses attachment onto his glasses Anyway ciao'm going to be late for my Italian class Italian class School just ended Mason's probably only
been on Seagate for a day or two And he's already studying something I stand there holding Marilyn Monroe in my arms and watch Mason walk away I'm searching for Bennett out of the Corner of my eye when I feel an arm around my neck and smell the familiar scent of strawberry shampoo Micayla I turn around and throw one arm over her shoulders and we hug and sway with Marilyn Monroe sandwiched between US You're here You're here You're here She pulls back from the hug finally and puts her hands on her hips inspecting me And you look so fabulous You cut your hair And you didn't even tell me It was just a trim I explain No she insists Way more than a trim It's above your shoulders now And it already looks lighter from the sun It's Only June You look amazing I say Your braids are perfect Did you just get them done Uh huh We go back and forth about our hair and then a beach ball hits me in the head I turn to look around to see where it came from Sorry I wanted to get your attention but I guess that wasn't the best method It's Bennett My Bennett He's right here in front of me Royal blue mesh shorts and a faded gray T shirt A buzz cut with a tiny piece sticking up on the top of his head His shaggy hair is
Yeah not the best methodº is all I manage to say The only thing I can think about is how different he looks How much taller he's gotten How he's already tan and he's only been here for an hour Remy he groans Don't be so serious Get out of your New York City mind set and into your Seagate one Now He yells the last part in a joking way and hits me on the arm all playful like I smile Done and done Well go settle in Rem Micayla tells me Meet us at the stadium when you're done Bennett just organized a Welcome Back Ping Pong Tournament for all the kids whose parents are busy unpacking Genius idea I tell them Be there soon Bennett and Micayla walk in the other direction and Marilyn Monroe and I stroll to my house I've been here less than an hour and I already feel great There's something about the Seagate Island air As soon as it touches your skin you're rejuvenated Marilyn Monroe and I walk slowly taking in all the Seagate sights saying hi to people we know and stopping to pee a few times Marinot me I keep wondering how it was possible for Bennett to look so different so much older today I guess a lot can change in a year But why wasn't he waiting for me at the ferry I guess he was there soon after Maybe he was too busy setting up that Ping Pong tournament Maybe he was as nervous to see me as I was to see
