Page 66 of The Book of Summer

Ruby was confused. Weren’t those the precise things you started a marriage by?

“You know Daddy worries about you,” she said. “He thinks you’ll never settle down. If you’re so certain he’s sick, you could make him a happy man.”

“He does worry about that,” Topper said with a nod. “But there’s nothing I can do about someone else’s stress. Anyhow, if I did propose to Hattie, she’d sock me in the chin.”

“See? You’re a perfect match!”

“Sweet girl, I know you want the best for me. And for Hattie. But a hasty engagement is as far from ‘the best’ as you were from the fairway on hole five.”

“Hey!” Ruby gave him a jolly punch to the arm. “That was uncalled-for.”

“The truth hurts, eh?”

“And Iespeciallydidn’t relish you snapping a picture of my failure.”

“No one would believe it otherwise,” he joked. “Come on, a foursome is approaching. We don’t want them complaining about a girl on the course.”

“I know those old toads and could beat any of them on my worst day.”

“So, today then?”

Ruby growled at him.

“The man with the pipe has a fifteen handicap,” she said, “but likes to think it’s five.”

Topper chortled and hoisted his golf bag onto his right shoulder. Then he swung it behind him, holding on with both arms. He looked like the exact kind of person Hattie Rutter should end up with. Thanks to the war, people were getting married brashly these days. Why couldn’t those two join the trend?

“Her birthday’s coming up,” Ruby said as they approached the eleventh hole. “Hattie’s.”

“I think she mentioned something along those lines.”

Topper held a hand over his eyes and scanned the fairway.

“I was thinking we could throw her a party. Next Friday night is free. Wouldn’t that be a gas?”

“Sure, why not? I’m always game for a fiesta.”

“I expected a tick more enthusiasm.”

“I’m not sure what you’re searching for, Red,” he said, squinting at her, “but you should do it, if you want.”

“But I…” Ruby started, though she had no real way to finish. She sighed. “Okay, maybe I will. You’d better show up.”

“Of course I’ll show up.”

Topper removed a ball from his bag and spun it a few times before placing it on the tee.

“There’s a chance, though?” Ruby said as he set up for the shot. “I mean, one day. If you keep dating and everything continues on this path?”

“A chance for what, exactly?”

“That you could propose.”

“Geez-aloo, what a question.”

Topper closed his eyes and waited a big thick while before finally looking at Ruby again.

“I hate to tell ya, Red. I know you have your sights set on this. But as to whether there’s a chance we’ll get married… I’m sorry, I just don’t think there is.”