running? We could do it secretly. Take it slowly. Run at your pace. And eventually get you to the point where you and William could run together again.”
“I don’t think William is interested in running with me.”
“You’re wrong. He misses you.”
“He told you that?”
“No, but I can tell. He talks about you all the time when we’re running.”
“You mean he’s complaining.”
“No! He just talks about you. Stuff you’ve said.”
“
Caroline nods.
“Well-that’s nice, I guess.”
Actually, it irritates me. Why can’t William act like he misses me to my face?
I take the Yodel out of Caroline’s hands. “Your mother’s favorite is Sno Balls.”
I can just see Bunny sitting in the back of the Blue Hill Theater, peeling the pink marshmallow skin off the chocolate cake while instructing an actor to
“When I was a kid these used to come wrapped in foil,” I say. “Packaged up like it was a surprise. A gift that you didn’t know was coming.”
Like the Yodel, Bunny’s visit feels like fate.
Three days later, summer officially arrives. The kids are out of school and I am, too. Because of our finances we’re not doing much of anything this summer (except going on a camping trip to the Sierras in a few weeks). Everybody will be home all the time, except Caroline, who scored a part-time intern position at Tipi.
I take Caroline up on her offer to train with me and am now standing in the middle of the street, panting, bent over like an old lady, my hands on my knees, deeply regretting my decision.
“That’s a twelve-minute mile,” says Caroline, looking at her watch. “Good, Alice.”
“Twelve minutes? That’s pathetic. I can walk faster,” I gasp. “Tell me again why we’re doing this.”
“Because you’ll feel great afterwards.”
“And during I’ll feel like dying and curse the day I ever let you come stay with us?”
“That’s about right,” she says, bouncing on her toes. “Come on, keep moving. You don’t want the lactic acid building up in your calves.”
“No, noooo lactic acid for me. Just give me a second to catch my breath.”
Caroline squints distractedly into the distance.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Nothing,” she says.
“Are you looking forward to your parents coming?”
Caroline shrugs.
“Did you tell Bunny about Tipi?”
“Uh-huh.” Caroline does a quick stretch and then takes off at a trot. I groan and stagger after her. She spins around and runs backwards. “William told me you used to run a nine-minute mile. We’ll get you back there again. Pump your arms. No, not like a chicken, Alice. Tucked under your shoulders.”
I catch up to her, and after a few minutes she looks at her watch and frowns. “Do you mind if I sprint the last quarter mile?”
“Go, go,” I huff, waving her away.
As soon as she’s out of sight, I slow to a walk and take out my cell. I click on the Facebook app.
Kelly Cho
5 minutes ago
Nedra Rao
10 minutes ago
Bobby Barbedian
2 hours ago
Pat Guardia
4 hours ago
Phil Archer
5 hours ago
Boring. Nothing exciting.
Then I check Lucy Pevensie’s account.
John Yossarian
5 hours ago
I give a little squeal.
60
John Yossarian
1 hour ago
Okay I’m just going to ask. Are you flirting with me, Researcher 101?
Let me be the researcher for once. Answer my question.
You should probably stop.
No.
61
FESTIVE SWEDISH POTLUCK AT NEDRA’S HOUSE
7:30: Standing in Nedra’s kitchen
Me: Here’s the meatballs!
Nedra (
Me: And here’s the lingonberry jam to go with them.
Nedra:
William:
