Page 28 of Sunset on the Solstice

With Billy nearing age six, he leaped into the stream without glancing back at her. His muscles were springy and alive, and he was a fully capable swimmer, having learned from his father during May and June. Evie and Penelope were more hesitant, standing on the edge of the stream, holding Shelby’s hands. “Let’s step in together, girls,” Shelby said.

The water was cold against her ankles, rushing around her thighs. Shelby closed her eyes for a moment, amazed at the relief that came over her.

It was then that she heard it. “Hi, neighbor!”

Shelby opened her eyes to find Vivian coming through the trees, waving her hand. Shelby’s heart sank. Since that fateful morning two months ago, Shelby hadn’t seen their neighbor Vivian, not till now. She’d often wondered if Vivian had decided to keep a wide berth. She’d wondered if she’d gotten the idea that Shelby had no interest in being friends. Shelby still cursed the fact that she’d let Vivian see the light bruising on her wrist. She prayed Vivian wouldn’t ask about it now, although Shelby was sure she could come up with some excuse easily.

Vivian stood on the opposite side of the stream. “How have you been?”

“Just fine, and you?” Shelby fixed a smile on her face.

“It’s been a good summer. A bit lonely,” Vivian said.

“What’s lonely?” Penelope asked.

Billy turned and looked at his little sister. “It means you’re by yourself.”

Vivian smiled. “That’s pretty close. But in reality, you can be alone and not lonely. They’re two different things.”

Billy scowled and seemed to take in the information. Shelby could see Jared’s expression all over his face. Billy was Jared’s twin.

Shelby knew that inviting Vivian across the stream was the right thing to do. “Would you like a snack?”

“I’m always a little peckish,” Vivian said, laughing. “It’s why I’ve never been able to lose those last ten pounds.” She stepped into the water, then crossed, making her way toward where Shelby and her kids stood.

Penelope released Shelby’s hand, as did Evie. Shelby told them to stay by the shore, where it was shallow, and she could keep an eye on them. Then, she got out to open the picnic basket. Her pregnancy nausea had been replaced with nonstop hunger, and she tore open two packages of cheese. She’d made fresh sourdough yesterday, which she sliced now on a cutting board.

“Did you bake that yourself?” Vivian asked.

“I did,” Shelby said, smiling.

“I’ve always been bad at that kind of stuff,” Vivian said. “You’d think, now that I have all this time to myself, I’d figure that out. But I buy my bread at the store. How lazy!”

Shelby wondered if Vivian was assessing her arms and legs for bruises. There were none, she wanted to point out, but knew better than to.

Vivian sat on the picnic blanket and put a piece of cheese on a piece of bread. Something in her expression reminded Shelby of her mother Rebecca, and she averted her gaze.

“You said you’ve been in the mountains five years?” Vivian asked, seeming to want to make small talk.

“Yes.” Shelby bristled.

“And where did you move from?”

Shelby considered if there was any harm in telling Vivian anything. Jared probably wouldn’t have liked Shelby talking about their past, but Shelby couldn’t see any harm in it.

“Jared and I met on Nantucket Island,” Shelby said. “He graduated from Harvard.”

“Oh! Fancy,” Vivian said.

Shelby didn’t know what to say. In reality, she remembered being amazed at how “normal” Jared’s Harvard friends were. They hadn’t seemed any smarter than her friends at Columbia. But they were more arrogant, more sure of themselves in the world.

“But being in the Wild West is no easy thing for East Coasters,” Vivian said.

Billy, Penelope, and Evie were happily splashing in the water, looking up at the sky.

“I think it’s good for them,” Shelby said.

“Ha. Maybe you’re right. But kids never question anything, right? And maybe they’re Montanans, now. Were you raised on Nantucket?” Vivian asked.