Page 57 of The Summer Club

She had no choice now. “Hugh, do you have a minute?” She looked at the others. “I’d like to talk to Hugh, in private.”

Charley locked eyes with her. She’d not discussed this with him. She could see him lean in, trying to gauge whether he was needed. “If you could please call Andi down?” she asked him.

Outside, Cora sat on the front porch swing, the photo pressed between her fingers. The day was bright, the sun bright. She patted the seat beside her and Hugh sat down obediently. A moment later, the door opened, then closed. Andi looked between them. “Dad called me down. What’s going on?”

“Come sit,” Cora said.

With one child seated on either side of her, the swing felt snug and sun-warmed, like an embrace. As it should be, she thought. “I have something to show you both.” Cora held up the photo of Robert on the stone wall.

Andi gasped. “It’s him.”

Hugh said nothing.

“Yes. This is Robert,” Cora explained. “I thought you might want to see what he looked like.”

“God,” Andi said, studying the photograph. “Hugh looks just like him.”

Hugh scowled. “No, I don’t.”

He did, but Cora would not press him. “I found this down in the basement. There are more, if you’re interested.”

“What’re they doing, here? At Riptide?” Hugh asked.

She’d prepared herself for questions, but not that one. It gave away too much.

“Well, some things have a way of making themselves between the two houses.”

But she could tell they did not believe this. The truth was she didn’t want remnants of Robert in their family home back in Connecticut. It felt like a betrayal to Charley. It felt like a betrayal to herself, after what Robert had done to her, leaving her like that. But she’d known she needed to keep them for the twins. For that “someday” when she decided to tell them. Riptide had always been their safe haven, their escape. It made sense to store them there.

“I kept it here for both of you.” She looked between them. “Do you have any questions?”

“Well, yeah. What does he do? And where does he live, if you know?”

Cora shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. Like I said, we haven’t spoken since college.”

Andi bit her lip. “Not even a letter? Or a call?”

“Nothing.”

“But he knew about us.” It wasn’t a question, but Cora heard the inquiry in it. And it broke her heart.

“Yes, honey. He knew I was pregnant. And that I planned to have you. But that was all.”

“Were you surprised he never reached out?”

“In theory, yes. Robert was young and also a bit arrogant, I’m sorry to say. But I figured maybe when he grew up he’d wonder. Maybe he’d reach out.” It was true, but it was also something she’d feared. “But that kind of thinking can be dangerous. You don’t know what you’re inviting and so I left it alone. He did not reach out and neither did I. Maybe that was a mistake. But—you two had a father. A wonderful father.”

Andi was quick to reply. “We still do.”

“Yes.” Cora smiled with relief. “You still do.”

All this while, Hugh remained quiet. He wasn’t ready yet. “What about you?” she asked him.

“I’d like to show Martin.”

“Of course.” Cora held out the photo. She wanted Robert out of her hand. “This belongs to you now.”

“Oh, I don’t want it. Not to keep, I just meant…”