He collapsed on the sand, and Daria sat down next to him to watch Zack and Kara play one-on-one. Daria’s thick hair was loose and blew around her face in the ocean breeze.
“I saw you at work today,” Rory said.
“You were up on a roof, working on a deck.”
“Oh, yeah,” she said.
“Where were you? Driving by?”
“Uh-huh.” He still remembered how she looked up there.
“I was driving back from St. Esther’s. I had an appointment with Father Macy.”
She shifted on the sand to look at him.
“You did?” There was unmasked disapproval in her voice.
“He called me,” Rory defended himself.
“Oh,” she said.
“Well, how’d it go?”
Rory sighed.
“That man does not like me,” he said.
“What makes you think that?”
“Well, he’s sure not going to give me any information about Shelly’s adoption.”
“He cares very deeply for Shelly,” Daria said, brushing her hair back from her cheek.
“He’s trying to protect her.”
“Yeah, yeah. That same old song and dance,” Rory said tiredly.
“Nobody wants me to pursue this, except Shelly herself.”
“And Shelly doesn’t”
“Doesn’t know what’s good for her,” Rory finished the sentence.
“I
know that’s the party line. I just don’t buy it. I started wondering today if you know more than you’re letting on. If you’re trying to protect someone. “
“I’m trying to protect Shelly,” Daria said.
“She’s the only one I care about.” She shut up then. Zack and Kara were batting the volleyball back and forth in an easy rhythm, and Rory grew uncomfortable with the silence between Daria and himself. She was first to break it.
“I’m going to Rodanthe tomorrow,” she said suddenly.
“Rodanthe?” He thought of Grace.
“Why?”
“That’s where the pilot lived,” Daria said.
“I got the name and address for her parents, and I’m going to pay them a visit.”
“You move fast,” he said.
“Have you spoken to them yet?” “No, I thought of calling them first, but I think a face-to-face meeting would be better.” She was staring toward the ocean, stoic determination in her eyes.
“It’s going to be hard,” he said.
“Yes,” she agreed, “but so is not knowing how they’re doing.” She looked at him.
“I’m glad you pushed me to do this, Rory,” she said.
“At least, I’m glad right now. We’ll see how I’m feeling tomorrow night after I’ve seen them.”
“Well, while you’re down in Rodanthe, say hi to Grace for me. My mystery woman.” He lifted a handful of sand from the beach and watched it flow through his fingers.
“She doesn’t know what she wants. I was wondering about that illness she had. Maybe it was breast cancer.
Maybe she had a mastectomy. “
“You mean … you… Wouldn’t you know by now?”
He was confused for a moment, then realized what she meant and laughed ruefully.
“No, I wouldn’t know. I told you, she keeps me at arm’s length.”
Daria’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Still?”
“Still. She seems to want to be with me, but she shies away from physical contact. I don’t know if she’s still got
