The Gin and Chowder Club

Uncle Nate. I’ll be there.”

“The other tickets are for Isaac, your dad, and me. Isaac will have to miss school and get himself to Fenway too.”

“I’m sure that won’t be a problem,” Sam said.

“You will have to come the farthest,” Nate said to Asa. “Hope you won’t mind a long bus ride.”

“I won’t mind. I think that’s Ted Williams’s last home game. I would travel any distance to be there!”

“You’re right.” He smiled. “That’s why we’re going!”

Noelle had gone into the house through the front door to fix Asa’s present and now she and Sarah came out onto the porch. Sarah hugged Nate, who was still smiling. “I told you he would like ’em,” he said to her.

“Oh, I had no doubt he would like them! Just as long as he gets all of his work done,” she said, eyeing Asa.

“I will, Mom. Don’t worry!”

Noelle stood next to Nate with her hands behind her back. Nate put his arm around her shoulder. “I don’t know if your gift is going to be able to beat mine,” he teased.

“I don’t know either,” she teased back with a grin. “We’ll just have to see.”

Noelle held out an elegantly wrapped package. “Happy birthday, Asa,” she said with a twinkle in her dark eyes.

Asa struggled to hide his emotions. “Thanks,” he said, fumbling with the ribbon. He finally managed to untie it, and Martha made her way over to help with the wrapping paper. Under the delicate tissue paper was a white cotton T-shirt with forest green piping around the neck and each sleeve. On the left chest, also in green, was the Dartmouth insignia. Asa smiled, lifted the shirt out, and realized that there was something tucked inside. He unfolded the shirt and revealed the worn cover of an old book that he had seen once before. He looked at Noelle in amazement as he reverently picked up the signed copy of Leaves of Grass that Noelle’s grandfather had given her.

“You shouldn’t give this away,” he said in disbelief.

“I want you to have it,” she said. “That way, I’ll always know it’s in good hands.” She smiled warmly at him, hoping he understood exactly what she meant. Asa’s parents and Nate seemed oblivious to the deeper meaning of their exchange.

Asa searched Noelle’s eyes. He wanted to hold her, to say so much more. Instead, he just smiled and said, “Thank you very much.”

“You are very welcome.”

Nate broke the silence. “Well, I guess it’s a toss-up.”

Asa grinned. “You are both very generous. I can’t thank you enough.”

“Why don’t you try on the shirt?” Sarah suggested as Sam handed each of the ladies a glass of wine.

Asa nodded and took the gifts up to his room. He tucked the tickets inside the book and set it on his desk. Then he unbuttoned and pulled off his shirt, threw it on the bed, and pulled on the new one. He glanced in the mirror; it was a good fit.

When he came back down, Isaac and Jen had returned and Nate was telling Isaac about the tickets. “That sounds great. I’m sure I can get away.” Isaac elbowed him. “Hey, nice shirt!”

Asa elbowed him back. “Hey, thanks!” He found his drink, took a sip, and looked around for Noelle. She was standing by the stairs. Asa walked over, leaned on the railing, and looked out at the ocean swells. Noelle turned to lean on the railing, too, and her arm brushed against his.

“Be careful,” he warned softly, “I can’t handle too much bare skin…”

“Mmmm, I know.”

“Do you also know”-he hesitated and glanced around-“that I can’t get you off my mind?”

“I have that effect on men,” she teased.

“I want you so much,” he whispered.

Noelle eyed his drink. “I thought you didn’t touch that stuff.”

Asa looked down at his glass and absently wiped away the drops of condensation.

“I’m throwing caution to the wind.”

“Well, you have a long car ride tomorrow. You should take it easy.”

He gazed at her. “Noelle, I need to see you alone. Is there any way you can meet me later?”

She heard the longing in his voice and turned to look at him. She couldn’t help noticing how tan his face looked against the snowy white of the T-shirt and how bleached the summer sun had made his hair. She realized that he must have just had it cut, because there was a line of fair skin around his neck and in front of his ears.

“Nice haircut,” she teased, all the while thinking how good he looked. His eyes searched hers for an answer, and she knew she would have to give him one. She looked away, knowing he would be crushed if she declined.

“Asa, I-”she began to answer, but was interrupted.

“Noelle, Asa, turn around.” They turned and a light flashed. Grinning, Isaac said, “Mom wants some pictures- you know, for posterity.”

Noelle said, “Well, you can do better than that.” She put her arm around Asa, and he draped his arm over her shoulders. They smiled this time, and Isaac snapped the shutter again.

“Okay, perfect. Asa, come on,” Isaac called. “The guys are here, and we’re going out back.” Earlier that afternoon, Isaac and Asa had set up the volleyball net out by the picnic table in the yard. Isaac had also filled a cooler and set up some chairs.

“You’d better go.” Noelle nodded after Isaac.

“I will,” he said, waiting.

“Asa, I don’t know if I can get away, and honestly, I don’t know if it’s a good idea.” She paused and looked around. Then she looked in his eyes. “You have no idea how much I’m going to miss you- all of you,” she whispered with a sad smile. “And how much I would love to be with you again, especially tonight, but then what?” She shook her head and softly murmured, “ ‘More dark and dark our woes…’ ”

Asa closed his eyes and tried to control his endless roller-coaster ride of emotions.

Noelle put her hand on his shoulder, but then she withdrew it. “It’s so hard to stand here and not touch you,” she whispered. “Asa, please understand, if I don’t come, it’s not because I don’t love you-it’s because I do.”

He looked into her eyes. “Okay,” he said. He finished his drink and turned to go down the stairs.

46

After the sun went down, an autumn chill swept in. Gradually, the adults pulled on sweaters and migrated inside to warm themselves with another bowl of chowder. The sudden change in temperature surprised everyone and made them realize that the hazy summer days would soon be just a memory. In the cool night air, even the incessant scratching of crickets and katydids slowed. Isaac and Asa had built a fire in the outdoor fireplace, and the kids were all warming their hands and talking about their school plans when Sarah called them in for cake.

Isaac helped light the candles, and Sarah carried the cake in as everyone gathered around to sing. Noelle watched Asa’s face in the warm glow of the candles. She looked around at the group of friends who circled him, and her heart ached as she watched Nate across the way, smiling and singing too.

When the song ended, Isaac teased, “Wish for something good!”

Asa hesitated, looked up, and caught Noelle’s eye. He gave her a quick half-smile and blew out the candles. In the darkness, Noelle knew what he had wished for, and with all her heart, she wished it could come true.

Cake was being handed around the room when there was a tentative knock at the front door. Samuel opened it and found two pretty young women standing there.

“Hi, I’m Kate. Is Isaac here?”

Samuel invited them in. “He sure is,” he said, reaching out his hand. “I’m his dad.”