Page 111 of The Book of Summer

Daddy came out to Cliff House for the last weekend. Not because he wanted to, despite what he said, but because he had to.

Who else would help Ruby close it up? Mother, dead. Two brothers and one husband, in the service. No able-bodied men to hire because they were fighting, too. Even Mary was gone, training in Washington just as she’d threatened to do. Ruby hadn’t thought she’d actually leave, but it seemed Mother’s death was the kick Mary was waiting for.

The U.S. Needs Us Strong,Ruby repeated to herself over and over, so she didn’t fall into a sobbing heap on the floor.Red, you keep doing your thing.

“I’m going back with you,” Daddy said, three days ago, when they’d gathered at the Youngs’ house on Commonwealth Ave. mere hours after burying Mother in Boston. “We’ll close up the summer place together.”

Ruby could almost hear Mother screaming blue murder. As good as Daddy looked a week before, he’d aged a decade in but seven days. Ruby was pregnant but nonetheless in much better shape to close Cliff House, no bones about it. Alas, without the gentle guiding voice of Mother, Ruby couldn’t quite find her way.

And so Philip Young returned to Sconset with his daughter, so they could conclude the season together. On the final night, they danced at the club like it was any old summer. Dad made a good show of standing tall, though he was brittle through his suit. As the band played “Someone to Watch Over Me,” Ruby bit down on her tongue to control her tears.

“Gorgeous night, eh petal?” Daddy said, trying to keep Ruby moving across the floor.

“Lovely,” she answered, then clenched down harder.

“Sarah adored Labor Day Weekend.”

Ruby nodded, once again hearing her mother’s voice in her mind.

“What are you fussing about, Ruby?” she’d say, for Ruby was always a little boo-hoo at that last oyster party and during the farewell dance. “Theend? Why, Ruby dear, the end is the best part. All the sugar is at the bottom of the cup.”

Of course, there was hardly any sugar left in America these days.

Insides trembling, Ruby rested her chin on Daddy’s shoulder so he could not see her face.

“You hear from Mary yet?” he asked.

“Not since the funeral. I’m glad things are going well for her.”

Gosh darn it, Ruby missed that old gal, their favorite wet sock. Everyone needed a straight man and Cliff House had lost hers, for now. Another part Ruby would have to play. Jesus, this cast was getting slim. Ruby wondered how much more she’d have to take on.

“P.J. must be proud,” Daddy said, spinning his daughter as much as his whittling strength would allow.

“We all are,” she said.

Daddy spun her again and Ruby let her weary body be dragged along. Lord, was she tired. Every piece of her was heavy and untethered. Even Ruby’s stomach, so often jumpy from the babe, was melancholy and still.

“And how is Sam?” Daddy asked. “Bound for the South Pacific, you said?”

“Yes, sir. Should be en route, aboard some newfangled vessel. They christened it with champagne and everything. The finest ship ever built, or so they claim. It’d better be anyway.”

Funny how Ruby once regarded a ship as safer than a tank or plane. Meanwhile, the papers contained a never-ending barrage of reports about shot-up and sunken battleships. Ruby never considered that on a boat you could get pummeled from the water, shore, and sky.

“The latest and greatest is the right spot for our Sam,” Daddy said. “Of course it’ll be impossible to completely relax until they’re all home.”

Ruby sighed. Daddy was making her feel worse, the poor lug. Mother said half his sweetness was in his scientific nature, the very black-and-white of him. He never knew the right thing to say, which was aggravating but made him real and true.

“Yes,” Ruby said. “Peace seems very far away.”

As Daddy turned her around, Ruby caught sight of a military man standing at the edge of the dance floor. He was in a blue coat and black pants, his golden belt and buttons sparkling in the ballroom lights. With his cropped black hair and regal air, Ruby had to catch herself. For a second, she thought it was Sam, even though he would’ve been togged out head to toe in blue.

“Daddy, who’s that fellow?” Ruby asked.

The man was strange, but not a stranger, which made it odder still. He was an army man, judging from the garb.

“What’s that?” Daddy said.

“Who’s that man?” she asked again. “That officer?”