A WHISPER OF ETERNIT

Page 52



He was standing on the shore, grinning, when she emerged from the water. "You could have been a gentleman and let me win," she said, shaking the water out of her hair.

"I thought about it," he said, "but then I decided you'd rather lose honestly."

"You were right." She walked up the beach toward her blanket, and he followed her. "How soon do you have to go to work?"

He glanced at his watch. "I've got a few minutes."

She plopped down on the blanket. "Want to keep me company until then?" "Sure." He dropped down beside her. "Are you doing anything tonight?"
"Not really."

'  Wannago to the movies?" "I'd like that."

"Great! Pick you up at seven?"

"All right.How long have you been a lifeguard?"

"Since I got out of high school.I'd do it all year, if they'd let me."
"What do you do in the winter?"

"I work over at the Y. I teach kids how to swim, hold classes in self-defense, and if there's enough interest, I teach tai chi."

"You look like you lift weights."

A faint flush colored his cheeks. "Yeah, well, I do that, too." "So, why don't you live in D.C. with your folks?"

"They expect too much of me, you know? I mean, I think it's great that my brothers all followed in the old man's footsteps, but I'm just not cut out to be a cop.Or an accountant, for that matter. I'm afraid I'm a big disappointment to both of them."

She laughed. "I'm a big disappointment to my folks, too. They were hoping I'd marry a doctor or a lawyer and give them a dozen grandchildren."

"How about a lifeguard?"

She laughed again, only to break off abruptly when he didn't join in. "You're not serious?"
He nodded." ' Fraid so."

"But we just met, and…"