Page 36 of Modern Persuasion

Fredrick sighed and looked away before I walked back to my beach chair, sat down, opened a book, and waited for it to get dark.

My father insisted someone related to the Kennedys did show up that night. I never saw anyone aside from the people who had been coming to the beach on the Fourth of July for years.

I spent most of the day deciding what to do about work, and I needed to talk to someone about it. Before the fireworks started, I had the sudden urge to sit next to Fredrick and talk. I had already drunk a few beers, and I was a bit intoxicated, but at the time, asking his advice felt like the best idea ever. Thinking back, I am shocked my first instinct wasn't to tackle him and make out with him.

I came close to doing it, and I moved my chair, but Dave followed me. When I tried to talk to Fredrick, Dave interrupted and started asking questions about my job and asking weird questions about hiding money. I was confused and annoyed with him. I had made the mistake of being too friendly and open with him. I felt like we were repeating that summer eight years ago after leaving Chicago. He seemed to have abandoned Elizabeth in favor of me, but I wasn't encouraging it this time. I wanted him to leave me alone.

Fredrick left the fireworks early, offering to help Tommy take the boys home when Thing Two had a meltdown that triggered Thing One to join his younger brother. When the show was over, I felt like an idiot. I had momentarily forgotten that Fredrick no longer loved me and wanted me. I had lost his good opinion of me a long time ago, and he had made it clear. Just because he was nicer to me didn't mean he wanted me around. I felt like a drunk and desperate fool. I was acting toward Fredrick the same way Dave was acting toward me.

"Tomorrow, you need to take me to the craft store," Louisa said as we packed up our stuff.

"Why?"

Louisa looked around and lowered her voice. "I need to look at wedding stuff. I need to decide what to make myself and what to buy. I have been on Pinterest, Emma. There are so many cute ideas!" She squealed the last sentence, and I wondered why she bothered lowering her voice.

"Louisa, you're the least crafty person I know," I said.

"Exactly! If there's something I need to make, I need time to perfect it. Please, please, please, Emma! We can go to the fancy yarn shop and maybe also look at dresses, and I'll buy you lunch. I promise something good for lunch too!"

I smiled, excited she wanted me to be involved. "Ok, you're driving then."

Louise bounced in place and rapidly clapped her hands. "Great! I'll pick you up at eleven!"

Chapter Twenty-Three

Mary was with Louisa when she arrived. I expected her to tag along. Mary would not want to be left out of any trip that included wedding planning. I pretended to be a bit hungover and wandered around the big craft shop. Louisa and Mary went directly to the wedding section while I made my way back to the inexpensive yarn. My coping mechanism has always been yarn. I had the sudden desire to knit blankets and was picking out the yarn when I got a text message from Penny.

Penny: Are you going to marry Dave?

Emma: What? No!

Penny: Oh, thank god. I was worried you had lost your head.

Emma: Why would you think that?

Penny: The woman who preps my meals just came in and told me the whole town is talking.

Emma: About what?

Penny: You and Dave - that you're in love?

Emma: Where the hell did that come from?

Penny: You were seen on the beach last night.

Emma: FFS FW was right there too!

Penny: Would Elizabeth spread that rumor?

Emma: Only if she thought she had something to gain.

Penny: I thought she wanted him?

Emma: Dave? She hasn't been paying attention to him.

Penny: Emma - what if he's spreading it? Maybe he's dangerous!

"Penny thinks who is dangerous, Emma?"