Jenna laughed.
Jamie and Vera walked by, and Jamie crouched beside the pool. “I’m going to help Vera get situated. She doesn’t want to come this evening, so it will be just us. Okay?”
“Sounds good.” Jessica waved to Vera. “We’ll miss you tonight.”
“Thank you, dear. Have a nice time.”
She watched Jamie escort Vera out of the pool gates and sighed, feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. She got out of the pool to lie in the sun, and her phone rang with an unfamiliar number.
“Hello?”
“Hi. Is this Jessica Ayers?”
“Yes.” She watched the girls fight over the raft she’d used.
“This is Steve Lacasse. You left me a message the other day.” His voice was energetic and friendly.
“Oh! Steve, yes, thank you for calling back. You had a baseball for sale, the one with Mickey Mantle’s signature all colored in with red ink.”
“Yes, but that’s been sold. Shipped it off the other day.”
“Yes. I know it was sold. I’m ninety-nine percent sure that was my father’s ball from when he was a child, and I’d like to contact the new owner to see if I can buy it from him. I was wondering if you could share his contact information with me.” Please, please, please.
“I’m sorry, Jessica, but I can’t give out any personal information. You can probably track him down on eBay.”
“Yes, I’ve tried that. Could you please pass along my information to him?”
“I suppose I could do that. What’s your email address?”
“It’s Jessica at BSO dot com, but could you please give him my phone number instead?”
“Darlin’, I’m not sure that’s a wise thing to do. Email is much safer.”
She smiled at his concern for her, but she hardly ever used email, and the less she had to rely on the computer, the better. “Thank you, yes, I understand that, but if you wouldn’t mind?”
He agreed, and Jessica hung up the phone feeling hopeful about finding her father’s baseball.
She lay down on the towel as Amy dried off a few feet away.
“Do you think I’m crazy to go out with someone a few years younger than me?” Amy laid her towel on her chair and tucked her wet hair behind her ears.
“I’m not the best person to give dating advice, but I’m younger than Jamie. I think you should follow your heart.”
Amy sighed. “I tried that.” She glared at Tony, who was nose deep in a novel. “I want to run down to the crazy store. Want to come with me?”
“What’s the crazy store?”
“Oh, right. Sorry. You know the two souvenir shops that are across the street from each other in South Wellfleet? Right on Route 6?”
Jessica shook her head.
“The ones with all the inner tubes and blow up stuff all over?”
“Oh, those. Yes.”
“We had a renter here once whose little girl called them the crazy stores, and it kind of stuck. Anyway, they have tie-dyed dresses, and I want to see if I can pick one up for tonight.”
An hour later Jessica, Amy, Bella, and Jenna came out of the crazy store with bags in hand. Jessica had a fun new dress to wear, which went perfectly with her new life. She’d bought Jamie a mood ring, and she’d picked up a cute beach bag for Vera.
When they got back to Seaside, Jessica heard Vera playing her violin. She walked around to the back deck of Jamie and Vera’s cottage to listen and found Jamie sitting with his back to Jessica, working on his laptop. Vera was playing “Czárdás” by Vittorio Monti, a piece that Jessica had always loved. She closed her eyes for a minute and let the music wash over her. Her fingers moved out of habit. She ached to play again. She opened her eyes as Jamie looked up from where he was working on his laptop and smiled.
“Hey, Jess.”
“Hi. I got Vera a little something. I’ve always loved that piece she’s playing.”
“It’s one of my favorites, too.” He reached for her hand as she stepped onto the deck and kissed her cheek.
“I saw this bag at the crazy store and thought Vera might like it for the pool.”
“The crazy store. You must have gone with the girls.” He held up the bag and showed it to Vera. “Look what Jess brought you.”
Vera stopped playing and joined them at the table. “That was very sweet of you. Thank you. This is lovely.”
“I’m glad you like it. I love listening to you play.” Jessica decided to wait and give Jamie his gift when they were alone. A mood ring wasn’t just silly. It implied intimacy, and she was still a little shy after what Amy had said.
“Thank you. Until my fingers won’t allow it, I’m going to play to my heart’s content.”
Jessica knew that feeling. She’d been working hard at ignoring the urge to pick up her cello. She focused on her father’s baseball to stifle the urge to join Vera. “Jamie, I heard back from Steve, and he’s going to give the buyer my number.”
“That’s awesome.” Jamie folded her into his arms and hugged her tight. “You might get that baseball after all.”
“I hope so. I’m going to run this stuff home. I want to call my father and catch up on a few things.”
“I still haven’t given you a lesson on eBay or the computer. I’m sorry that fell through the cracks. Want to do that now?”
She couldn’t tell if the desire in his eyes was her imagination or if he was making up an excuse so they could be alone and intimate again. She already missed the feel of him, and ever since he made the innuendo in the pool about being aroused, she’d been fighting memories of lying in his arms and being spoiled by his hands, his mouth, his body. Oh my. She had to go home before Vera saw right through her.
“That’s okay. You’re working and spending time with Vera. Hopefully, the buyer will call me, so there’s no rush.”
“Jessica, why don’t you bring your cello down and accompany me in a piece? I would love to hear you play.” Vera patted Jamie on the shoulder. “Go on, Jamie. Help her bring her cello down.”
“I don’t want to interfere.” Jessica couldn’t ignore the goose bumps racing up her arms at the idea of playing with Vera. Playing for Jamie was one thing, but Vera was an accomplished musician. She’d appreciate the musicality of Jessica’s style, which would be thrilling, but she would also notice her weaknesses.
“What do you say, Jess?” Jamie rose to his feet.
How could she say no to Vera? “Okay. Sure. Thank you, Vera.” They walked across the quad toward her apartment.
“Where are y’all going?” Bella hollered from her deck, where she was grilling. The smell of seasoned steaks rose around her cottage.
“Jess is going to play with Vera,” Jamie answered. “Come on over.” He turned to Jessica and lowered his voice. “You don’t mind, do you?”
“No, it’s fine.” She wasn’t sure if she was so nervous about playing in front of everyone, or because once she did, she might not be able to keep herself from playing again and again.
“I’ll bring steaks.” Bella hung over the edge of her deck and hollered, “Jenna! Pete! Jessica’s playing with Vera. Grab some salad!”