“How do you know?”
“Because you have the drive. And you won’t let anything stop you.”
Lizzie turned. Her eyes were wet. “You really believe that?”
“Completely. Also, I read one of your short stories.”
Lizzie stopped short. “What?”
“I googled you and saw your website. They’re good. You’re good.”
Lizzie felt her cheeks turn tomato red. She’d never been good with compliments.
“Thank you. I hope they’re good. I’d like to make a living out of it.”
Sarah squeezed her hand. “You will. I know it.”
They left the house an hour later. Lizzie bought a postcard in the gift shop. Sarah bought her a book about Hemingway’s cats.
“Where to now?” Lizzie asked.
“Beach?”
They drove to Fort Zachary Taylor Beach inside the Truman Annex. It was quieter than the main beaches, less crowded. The water was impossibly blue.
They spread out towels and Sarah pulled off her cover-up. Lizzie was already running toward the water.
“It’s perfect! Come on!”
Sarah followed. The water was warm and clear. They swam out past the breaking waves and floated on their backs, looking up at cloudless sky.
“I want to show you the Truman Little White House museum,” Sarah said. “It’s here in the Annex. I love history. Sometimes I feel like I’m an old woman in a young body. Or maybe not young anymore.”
“You’re not old.”
“I’m thirty-five.”
“So?” Lizzie swam closer. “I think you’re perfect.”
They swam further out, away from the people at the beach and kissed there in the water.
“People might see,” Lizzie whispered.
“Not so far out. But we do have to be more careful. When we get back, let’s sit at the far side of the beach. And maybe try to act professional. At least until the lawsuit is over. You understand?”
Lizzie smiled at her and placed another kiss on her lips. “I do. I want to be open with you. I want people to know. But I also know that you need time to sort all of this mess out.”
“Thank you,” Sarah said.
“I should tell you, Chrisla knows.” Lizzie pressed her lips together. “Sorry. I was mad.”
Sarah took a deep breath but then nodded. “It’s ok.”
After swimming, they dried off and lay in the sun. Sarah dozed while Lizzie read her book. The heat was making Lizzie drowsy too. She set down her book and looked at Sarah sleeping peacefully, hair spread across the towel, face relaxed.
“I’m getting ice cream,” Lizzie said. “Want some?”
Sarah mumbled something that sounded like agreement.
