Summer Love Read Free

anyway.
    “Positive thoughts, Sim,” she told herself in a soft voice.
    Sabrina let go of the nipple and smiled as though encouraging her mom.
    “I can’t die, right? I have too much to live for.”

 
     
    You Seem Fine
    Three
     
     
    Simone spent the day with Sabrina. They went to the beach because Simone loved listening to the birds and the rushing sound of the ocean waves coming onto the sand. Then they ate lunch at a restaurant that overlooked the beach—well, Simone ate clam chowder and Sabrina ate a few oyster crackers and then napped.
    When they got back to their cozy house her mother was there, her Rover parked in front. She got out and helped Simone get Sabrina out of the car.
    “Did you forget your cell phone again?”
    Simone shrugged, unsure about whether she had it or not.
    Her mother clucked her tongue. “What if something happened? What if there’d been an emergency?”
    Simone was suddenly tense. She knew it was her mom’s job to worry, but it was irritating. “Nothing happened. I’m fine. Sabrina is fine. We’re fine.”
    Her mom nodded, knowingly. “Yeah, you seem fine,” she said sarcastically.
    Simone put her purse and her house keys on the table.
    “Sabrina, did you have fun with mommy?” Simone’s mom talked in her baby voice as she unbuckled Sabrina from her car seat. Simone watched Sabrina smile. Her daughter squirmed and lifted her chubby hands out to her mom. Simone’s mom took them and kissed them quickly, making Sabrina laugh. “I bet you did. Yes I do. Did mommy take you to the beach? Mommy loves the beach, doesn’t she?”
    Simone couldn’t help but smile. “Sabrina needs to eat. Do you want me to warm up some turkey and rice and then you can feed her?”
    Her mom waved her away. “Go take a shower. Sabrina and I have things under control.”
    Simone kissed Sabrina on the cheek and patted her mom’s arm. “Thanks.”
     
    ***
     
    The heat from the shower warmed Simone but even after fifteen minutes, her body wouldn’t stop shivering. It wasn’t because she was cold. It was because she was excited, scared, afraid, terrified, and… hopeful. She wanted to see Sam. Every part of her body, heart, and soul ached for him, for the way he talked with a slight accent, the way he’d made her feel… Up until he left, she’d never been happier.
    And for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why he’d left, what she’d done or hadn’t done to make him take off without saying good-bye or giving her a reason. That was the worst part, not knowing.
    Finally, after almost two years she’d get the opportunity to see him again. To see his face. Just thinking about it, about him, made her pulse beat faster and her lower belly flutter with memories.
    “Simone.” Her mom knocked on the bathroom door. She’d been in the shower a long time. Obviously her mom couldn’t shut down her concern. Simone had put her mom through a lot, especially in the past year. “Are you okay?”
    Simone sighed, pulling back the daisy shower curtain “Yes, Mom. Thanks. I’m fine.” She shut off the water and took her towel off its hook. 
    “No rush. Sabrina and I are going to bake some cookies.”
    Simone smiled into the towel. “Sounds delicious. Her favorite kind of cookie is oatmeal, just in case you’re wondering.”
    “Uh huh, just like her mom, I guess.”
    Simone wrapped the towel around her and wiped the steam from the mirror. “Yep.” She heard her mom’s footsteps pad down the carpeted hallway back toward the kitchen.
    Leaning against the sink, Simone stared at her reflection, the brightness of her green eyes, the auburn tinge to her eyebrows and lashes. Her cheekbones were high and protruded. It was a side effect of the drugs she was on—lack of appetite. A month after she had Sabrina she’d started on them. Her doctor had hoped they would slow the cancer so that she could have six months to recuperate after giving birth before staring chemotherapy.
    Weight loss hadn’t