The sun was baking hotter than usual that morning. West Point was bathed in its warm rays, forcing people who couldn't stand the heat to stay indoors. Most of the streets were deserted. Only in the city center was there any movement, and only because some residents were in the mood for shopping. It was hard to believe that summer was ending. August had turned out to be a much warmer month than July.
Julie was definitely one of those people for whom the excessive heat actually discouraged her and forced her to stay indoors. She even preferred it. For a week, she had been planning to return to her native New York. The city still held a strong pull for her, despite the nightmare she'd endured there when she'd lost both her parents a year ago. She still missed them; she'd lost everything she'd truly loved in her life. Now, as she arranged her things in the black suitcase on the bed in the bedroom, she thought about how wonderful it would be to go to her parents' grave again and be alone with them, to tell them what had happened in her life since she'd last been there. She was folding her black dress when Chris spoke up.
"Are you sure you want to leave now?" He was sitting on the bed, right next to the suitcase. He'd arrived first thing in the morning, an hour after Julie had opened her eyes, wrenching herself from a carefree sleep. They'd talked a lot in recent days. So his question didn't surprise her, especially since she'd confessed her feelings for Daniel.
"I think it's for the best, Chris," she replied after a moment of reflection. "Being around Daniel isn't that easy. And there, I'll be able to forget about him, even if just for a moment.
" "I don't understand! You love him and want to be with him. Why don't you tell him?"
Julie looked at him, then went back to packing her suitcase.
"I wanted to!" But you know damn well he didn't let me get a word in. I told you that.
"I know, but—"
"But nothing!" She interrupted him, sitting down next to the suitcase. "He said he wouldn't forgive me for that sudden departure. I won't beg him on my knees. I have my pride, and I long ago outgrew unrequited love affairs. It's good for soap operas."
She stood up and walked through the bedroom to the closet. She took two jackets off the hangers: one brown suede with black trim, the other all black.
"Which one do you think I should pack? The end of summer in New York is sometimes unpredictable."
Chris sat thoughtfully on the bed.
"Julie?" he asked as if he hadn't heard her earlier question. "What is it about New York that makes you drawn to it like a bee to honey? I was there with my father, and I didn't notice anything special about it."
The girl smiled at him, shaking her head. She went back to her suitcase and threw her jackets on it, then sat down.
"You'd have to live there for a long time. I don't really know what's so appealing about it. But tell me! What do you hear when you walk down the street, in West Point?
" "Hmm... I don't know." He pondered. "It's rather quiet here, someone talks every now and then. Unless I'm walking down the street at night, then it's dead silent...
" "Exactly." She caught on. "New York is completely different. It's always noisy there! The city lives 24 hours a day. And besides, you can remain an anonymous citizen there, unlike here, where everyone knows everyone else and everyone knows everything. No one pays you any attention.
" "And that's so exciting to you? 24/7 noise and everyone ignoring you?"
She sighed heavily.
"You wouldn't understand." She said resignedly. "I just love being there."
Chris got out of bed, stretching his numb limbs. He yawned loudly, then spoke softly.
"You have my blessing, kid. Just come back soon."
He smiled as Julie giggled.
"I still have to stop by Pres on the way home. Will we meet later?
" "Yes." She replied, standing up, then pointed to her suitcase. "I still have to pack a few less essential things. I'll save the most important things for last. Pick me up this afternoon and we'll go somewhere, okay?
" "Okay. Happy packing." He turned and left the bedroom. A moment later, he returned and poked his head over the threshold. "And as for jackets, a brown one will be better for you," he added with a smile at Julie's surprise.
She laughed.
"Thanks for the advice!" she shouted to the departing boy, then hurriedly hung up the black jacket in the closet.
On the dresser next to it were various framed photos of her, her parents, Daniel, and her entire group of friends. She took the largest one, the one of the elderly couple embracing. It had been taken when her parents were still happy, before her life fell apart. She took it with her on every trip. She placed it on a cream blouse in her suitcase, too.
Chris
left Julie's house, closing the door behind him. In the garden, he spotted Piper—Julie's three-month-old Rat Terrier. She was playing with a ball bigger than herself. He called her name. She reacted immediately, running up to him happily, wagging her tiny tail. Chris knelt on the brick walkway and began gently petting the dog, accustomed to his daily visits. Piper instantly lay on her back, revealing her pink belly, clearly eager to be petted.
"Smartie!" he said affectionately to the dog, which she responded with another energetic wagging of her tail. Chris petted her for a few seconds, then told Piper to run for the ball. The dog ran away happily and began jumping for the orange ball. The boy wiped the sweat from his forehead as he emerged from the garden in front of his friend's house. The heat was becoming increasingly oppressive.
He set off down the street directly adjacent to the harbor, which was swarming with the shrieking sounds of seagulls circling above the fishing boats, on which fishermen, stripped to the waist, were working tirelessly, loading their night catches into ice boxes.
The harbor was divided into two parts. The first, wider, was occupied solely by the fishing boats. These waters were almost completely deserted at night, when people took their boats out to sea for the night's fishing. The other half was occupied by yachts and sailboats, scattered around the roadstead, including the Tabernacle—the Whoppers' enormous yacht.
The other side was swarming with shops of all kinds, from a fish and chip shop to a currency exchange and a jewelry store.
It was in the latter shop that Brauni saw Arthur—the yacht owner's son—buying something. He was giving the seller money, smiling at him, and thanking him.
Chris was waiting for them outside the shop.
"Do you think she'll like it?" Arthur asked as he opened the door for Brauni.
"I'm sure she will. I'd be thrilled to get something like that," she said with a smile as she left. Then she suddenly saw her friend. "Chris! Hi!"
She looked pointedly at Arthur. He could tell she was panicking about how much Chris had seen and, more importantly, whether he'd misunderstood.
"Here you go!" the boy said ironically. "Beauty and the Beast!"
"Hi Chris!" "Are you sure? " Arthur said in a confused tone, not because of his sarcasm, but out of fear of seeing him in such a place. "Pres kicked you out of your bed so early?"
"I haven't been to his place yet! I'm coming from Julie's!"
Upon hearing the name, Brauni and Arthur exchanged another meaningful look.
Chris wiped his forehead with his sleeve.
"It's so hot today. I can barely stand
." "How's she?" the girl asked. "I heard she's leaving again. I have to visit her.
" "She's packing." Chris glanced at the small box his friend was clutching in his hand. "Did you buy anything?
" "Yes!" Arthur replied before Brauni could open her mouth. "Brauni was helping me choose tie clips. "
Chris frowned, examining them carefully.
"You're all strange." He glanced at his watch. "Well, keep plotting. I'm going to Pres. Ciao!" he said, then continued his walk along the harbor. To get to his friend's house he had to pass the entire bay and walk two more streets.
"Give him a kiss from us," Arthur sarcastically said to the disappearing Chris, then laughed merrily. "Phew! That was close!" he said to Brauni as they slowly began walking in the opposite direction.
"Tie clips?" she asked. "I wouldn't have thought of that myself."
***
Daniel opened the heavy glass doors and stepped inside the Marshalls' restaurant. The interior proved to be pleasantly cool. It was a true paradise and a refuge for those tired of the excessive heat. The interior was decorated in a tasteful Spanish style. To the right stood a long row of mahogany tables with benches on either side. Their arrangement recalled the décor of a dining train car. On each counter were the obligatory menus, condiments, napkins, and small, tasteful vases with small flowers. All of this was illuminated by atmospheric lighting. Opposite the entrance was a wide bar, behind which decanters and bottles of various alcohols were displayed on glass shelves. Next to it was a small window leading to the kitchen, through which ordered dishes were served. To the left, like the right, was the décor of a dining car, only slightly shorter. Behind the guest seats were three entrances: to the kitchen, a back room, and a bathroom. In the center of the restaurant were three tables with four chairs each. There were only a few customers there now. The heat had forced the owners to cover the windows facing the street. The scent of flowers mingled with the faint aroma of fried fish and seafood wafted through the interior.
Daniel approached the bar, where Anna stood with her back to him. She was wiping the glass, waiting for more activity.
"Hi!" the boy said, catching her attention.
Daniel was settling into one of the high stools at the bar when Anna turned around.
"Hey! I'm glad you stopped by. Any longer and I would have died of boredom here." "She placed her hands on the counter. "Can I get you anything?
" "Let's have the usual." He smiled at her. As she walked over to the icebox, he began to think of some sensible way to spend the day. However, the heat was killing every idea he had.
Anna set an ice-cold bottle of Redd's in front of him.
"Thanks." He said, then grabbed the drink and drank a little. He swallowed slowly, letting the cold liquid gently cool his tongue, palate, and esophagus.
"What are you doing today? I have to stay here until five, then Beverly will take over." She asked, watching him drink.
Daniel set down the one-third-empty bottle and looked at her.
"Honestly, I haven't yet come up with any sensible way to spend this hellish day.
" "They were forecasting cloudy skies for the afternoon, but so far, looking out the restaurant door, I hadn't managed to spot a single cloud."
He grinned. Then he took another sip of beer, savoring it. Anna turned away, returning to wiping glasses.
"How's Chris?" he asked after a few moments of silence.
"I don't know," she replied, continuing her work. "I didn't see him this morning. He must have left early. He probably went to your ex."
The last part of her statement sounded rather malicious. Daniel straightened suddenly. Lately, he'd preferred not to discuss Julie. However, he began to mentally interpret his reaction to Anna's statement. He didn't know what had bothered him more. Was it the fact that she'd mentioned Julie, or the fact that Anna's brother was visiting her every day?
She suddenly snapped her fingers in front of his nose, seeing his pensive face.
"Come back to Earth."
The boy looked confused and reached for the bottle again.
"I don't know why you don't do anything about it.
" "With what?" he asked, curious.
"With Julie! You're still thinking about her." She hesitated for a moment, then added, looking at him. "Don't wait too long, or you might lose her."
He wondered if Anna might have the ability to read his mind.
"What do you mean?
" "She's leaving in four days. I heard from Chris. Have you considered that she might not come back? "
Daniel fell into reverie again.
"I don't want to, and I won't do anything about it." He said after a few minutes of serious thought and analyzing his feelings. "Julie is a closed chapter in my life.
" "And so am I!" she added quickly, smiling broadly at him. "Or rather, what we once had together."
Daniel rose from his seat and pulled out his wallet.
"Don't say hop!" he muttered, searching for change.
"Ooh!" Anna snorted with laughter. "Where are you going now?"
He placed a bill on the counter and quickly slipped his black leather wallet into his back pocket. He slowly walked toward the exit, answering as he went.
"I don't know, I'll just wander around for a bit, or I'll just hole up in the house and not come out until those damned clouds appear in the sky. Hang in there," he said to the girl.
Anna laughed again. When he left, she sighed slightly and put the money in the cash register.
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