Page 44 of Summer on Lilac Island

“They look like they’re getting serious,” Rebecca whispered to Gigi, nodding toward Eloise and Clyde, who were holding hands

while watching the fireworks. Rebecca seemed to be having a hard time with it.

Gigi felt strange about it too. She associated her dad with the Fourth of July. It was the holiday he most regularly came

back for. And in the earlier years before he left, he used to put Gigi on his shoulders as they watched the fireworks. She

always wanted to be as close to the flames as she could be, so she would reach out both hands, trying to touch them. One time

she’d been stretching so hard that she’d toppled right off her dad’s shoulders. He’d caught her by the ankle before she hit

the ground.

“They’re not serious,” Gigi said to Rebecca now, trying to reassure both of them. “It’s only been a few weeks.”

“But she’s already inviting him to family gatherings,” Rebecca said.

“Just let them figure it out themselves. You don’t always have to be the adult.”

“Actually, I do, given I am an adult. As are you.”

“Ah, thank you, I hadn’t realized,” Gigi said coolly. “I just mean be the kid for once. Let Eloise take care of herself.”

Rebecca stiffened at that and curled back into Tom on the picnic blanket.

Gigi glanced once more at Eloise and Clyde. Eloise’s head was tilted toward Clyde, as if she wanted to rest on his shoulder.

Gigi wondered what Gus would do if he saw. If he would get jealous enough to come visit and try to win Eloise back. Or if

he would just wish her well and go busy himself with a new woman, someone who wasn’t more attached to an island than she was

to him.

The temptation to find out was too strong.

Gigi snapped a subtle selfie with Eloise and Clyde in the background.

She sent it to her dad, along with a text she knew would get his attention:

Happy 4th! We’re watching fireworks with Mom and her new boyfriend. Hope all is well.

Then she stashed her phone in her pocket and watched another firework detonate.