Read Online The Summer House by Jean Stone - Free Book Online

and had a family of their own.
    She was tired of being the good sister. Maybe that was what drove her to wait until everyone had gone to bed, then climb out her window— climb out her window! —and head toward the beach, where this afternoon Joshhad said he sometimes walked his dog, Snuffy, at midnight.
    Hopefully, tonight would be one of those nights.
    Trundling down the moonlit path, Liz thought she must surely have lost her mind. It was bad enough she’d almost lost her leg when she’d crawled out onto the ledge of her second-floor bedroom then shimmied down the oak tree, scraping the inside of her thigh and turning her ankle a bit when she thumped onto the ground. But sneaking out with Mother and Father right there in the house?
    Yes, Liz thought as the path stopped at the cove that led to the beach, this was certainly not proper behavior for a young lady from a ridiculously expensive Boston girl’s school.
    She smiled in the moonlight.
    And then she heard panting and running—the sounds of a dog—followed by a splash into water.
    “Snuffy!” she called out without thinking and then put her hand to her mouth. She listened. For a few moments all she heard was the dog happily panting as he swam.
    Then, from a row of pine trees that curled around the water, she heard: “Liz? Is that you?”
    Her heart began beating so hard she thought she might faint. She pulled the sleeves of her sweatshirt down over her hands and bit her lip, suddenly realizing what she had done, suddenly realizing that she was here.
    “Liz?” he asked in a half whisper that floated in the near darkness.
    She took a deep breath. “Josh?”
    And then she saw him. He emerged a few feet from her, silhouetted in a sliver of moonlight, Adonis under the stars—the twinkling, broad blanket of silver Vineyard stars.
    “Liz?” he whispered again into the warm night air, the sound of his voice melding with the gentle lap-lap of low-tide waves on the shore.
    “Josh,” she repeated. “Yes, it’s me.” She swallowed with difficulty. Her breaths became small. She wondered if he would sweep her into his arms …
    “Hey,” he said, moving toward her. “What are you doing out so late?” He spoke with candor, clearly and directly. He did not sweep her into his arms.
    “Walking. It’s a beautiful night.”
    He studied her a minute, then turned toward the water. “You’ve never met Snuffy, have you?” He clapped his hands. “Come here, Snuffy. Come on, girl.”
    The dog bounded out of the water, wagging and dripping. She raced up to Liz and shook herself all over, spraying Liz with water.
    “Oh, shit,” Josh said. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”
    “It’s okay. It’s okay.” Liz laughed and brushed at her sweatshirt.
    “Snuffy, come over here. Sit. Stay.”
    The dog did neither, but jumped back into the water and resumed having fun.
    Josh ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry. God, I’m such an idiot.”
    Liz smiled. “Don’t say that. Snuffy was just being friendly.”
    “But you’re all wet. Your family will think you’ve been swimming …”
    “My family will think nothing,” Liz said. “They don’t know I’m not home.”
    He frowned.
    “I sneaked out of the house.”
    He smiled. “Why?”
    She shrugged and walked toward toward the water, clapping her hands softly. “Snuffy,” she called. “Come here, girl.” Snuffy bounded from the water again, shakingand wagging and soaking Liz further. Liz petted the top of her head. “Good girl. You’re such a good girl.” She slipped off her sandals. The wet sand between her toes was still warm from the day.
    “Are you in college?” Josh asked.
    Snuffy ran back into the water. Liz picked up her sandals. “No. Two more years.”
    “Snuffy loves you. You should be a vet.”
    “You said Snuffy loves everyone.”
    “Yeah, I guess I did. But if not a vet, what will you be?”
    She almost told him she was going to be a teacher. But that was what Father wanted her to be. Or,