Page 7 of The Summer Club

Morty’s brow creased. “Hungry?” He looked out at the ocean, then back at her. “This place is for sale.”

She’d seen the wooden sign out front. But surely he couldn’t be serious. “Is that why you brought me here?”

“Tish, it was pure luck! I didn’t even know it existed until you did. But now that we’re here…”

It was completely unlike any of the weekend houses Morty’s family had, and they had many. “But it’s so rustic. So small. Nothing like your family’s place in Sag Harbor. Or the one on the Hudson.”

Morty nodded. “Exactly the point.”

“I can’t even picture your family here.”

“Neither can I.”

“They’d hate it,” she told him.

“Indeed.”

So that was part of the appeal. Tish followed his gaze across the beach. It was too late. Morty had already fallen. “You want this place? For us?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m as surprised as you are, but something about it just feels right.” Morty laughed and threw his hands up. “It’s crazy, I know.”

It was crazy. “We live in New York. So far from here.”

“It’s only five hours.”

“Five hours!”

“Well, more like six.”

“Morty.” Tish shook her head and turned back for the path.

“Honey, don’t go.” He followed closely behind.

The sand was still hot, so she veered onto the grass, but it prickled her bare feet. “I’m hungry. And tired.”

When she reached her shoes at the end of the trail she bent to retrieve them. Morty waited patiently. Saying nothing.

They traipsed across the backyard and still he trailed behind her, despite the fact that they were no longer sharing a narrow beach path. She could feel his discouragement hovering like a cloud. Morty was always so much fun. And she was… so practical.

At the edge of the house she halted and turned to face him.

Morty’s hands were jammed in his pockets. He offered her a small smile. “Let’s get you to the hotel. You’re right, it has been a long day.”

The sun flickered through the pine trees, splashing them in gold. A swell of salt filled the air between them. Tish closed her eyes.

“We’re here,” she said.

Morty raised his eyebrows in confusion.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she said. “You like this place.”

“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I like what I’ve seen.”

“Don’t shrug. You do know. You like it and you’d like to see more of it. In fact, I’m betting you even love it.”

He pretended to consider this. “Love is a strong word.”

“Morty.”