Page 167 of Key West Homecoming

“There’s one of mine in the cabin,” Maeve said. “It’s from before I started eating bread again. It’ll fit.”

“That’s very specific.”

“I keep emergency clothing on boats now. Key West has changed me.”

Emma changed in the cabin and came back wearing Maeve’s suit.

Jake looked up from his conversation with Patrick.

His expression made Emma stop.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“Jake.”

He smiled. “You look good.”

The compliment was simple, but Emma felt it anyway.

“Thank you.”

Maeve jumped in first. Emma followed.

The water was warmer than she expected. For a while, they swam around the boat and talked about nothing important.

Jake stayed aboard with Patrick.

At one point, Emma looked back and saw the two men sitting near the stern. Their voices were low enough that she couldn’t hear them.

“What do you suppose they’re talking about?” she asked.

Maeve glanced toward the boat.

“Patrick could be talking about engines, fishing or the meaning of life. His face looks exactly the same for all three.”

Emma laughed.

Maeve floated onto her back.

Emma did the same.

The water held her easily. She stared at the sky and thought about her mother.

Ruth’s last real vacation had been at a lake in Michigan. Emma had gone for four days because her mother insisted. Every morning, Ruth swam while Emma sat on the dock with coffee and watched.

At the time, Emma thought her mother was showing off.

Ruth had been fifty-nine.

She had two years left.

Emma was thirty-five now. Until this moment, she had never considered how young fifty-nine sounded.

Her mother had known she was sick. Emma hadn’t understood how sick.

Still, Ruth had gone swimming every morning.