LITMIR.BIZ

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up here alone with Allison.”

      Much like Greg, Caroline quickly shrugged off the worry. “It is the best thing for both of them, so I’m sure they will meet some people. Are you going to be staying long in Maine?”

      “No, we have to leave this coming Saturday,” Addy responded sadly.

      “Oh, what a shame. Allison seems like she loves your family, and Greg does, too.”

      Did Addy notice a twinkle in Caroline’s eye?

      “Listen …, since it is supposed to be cooler tomorrow, I want to make a deal with you.”

      Addy suspected Caroline needed a babysitter, too.

      “To repay you for being so nice to my brother, I want to do something for you. There is a small, old zoo with a few rides in York. That zoo has been there since I was a child. How about if I take your kids to York for the day?”

      Addy was confused. Did she mean she wanted Addy, Greg, and their children to go along?

      “Did Greg tell you I have a ten-year-old son, Alex, and an eight-year-old daughter, Sarah? My brother is completely devoted to Allison but hasn’t had a break in years. I do try to take Allison as much as I can, but she and Greg live in Boston, and I live in New Hampshire.”

      Addy was still lost … so she wants ME and both our sets of kids to go with HER to York for the day? That would be fun; Caroline seemed very pleasant.

      “I thought Greg and you might enjoy spending some time alone together away from the kids.”

      Caroline burst out laughing when she saw the look of terror on Addy’s face.

      “Have no fear. My brother isn’t an ax murderer; he asked me to arrange it this way, but don’t tell him I told you.”

      Addy was speechless. Greg wanted to be alone with HER? Didn’t he or his sister care that she was married? What did all this mean?

      “Maybe you two could have a nice dinner at the Gray Gull. It’s just a stone’s throw from here … or maybe not. You might just want to stay in and put steaks on the grill. I’ll take the kids around one o’clock and probably won’t bring them back until after dark. Don’t worry … I can handle a brood … I was a teacher before I got married.” Caroline laughed and rolled her eyes.

      Addy was suddenly terrified. What if Greg wanted to have a sexual encounter with her? She was so fat, while Greg had a perfectly toned body. Well, she was a grown woman and could refuse.

      She briefly drifted off into one of her self-absorbed comas. Caroline sat patiently then said, “Look, my brother has been divorced for three years now, and in that time, he has yet to spend an evening out with a lady. You may well be married, but your husband is obviously not around. It would be a harmless dinner. You both seem like you could use a little diversion.”

      Addy said, “I will have to ask the kids.”

      Caroline wrinkled her nose and scowled, mimicking how a mad face looks.

      “They don’t have any say. They are going to York whether they like it or not. I won’t breathe a word to the kids that you will be with Greg.”

      Caroline must be very liberal-minded. How could she set up her brother with a woman about whom she knew nothing? On the other hand, perhaps Caroline wasn’t liberal at all. Maybe she just wanted her brother to be happy at all costs.

      Addy went through the motions of preparing dinner and watching TV with the children that night. She finally worked up the nerve to bring up Caroline’s proposal to take them to the zoo in York.

      “Hey kids,” Addy blurted, “Allison’s aunt wants to take you to York to the zoo.”

      The kids were engrossed in a cartoon show and nodded distractedly. She didn’t think they heard what she had said.

      “Do you want to go to the zoo tomorrow?”

      Pete turned to her for a second and replied, “Sure,” while Mary and Jimmy nodded their heads in agreement. She would wait until tomorrow morning to let them know she was not going. If they decided they didn’t want to go, she could not force them. Otherwise, their memories would be vivid and unpleasant, and they might slip and tell Lionel. Addy tossed and turned all night. What if the kids changed their minds about going? Bless Caroline; at least she had tried.

      The next morning, Jimmy asked, “Hey, Mom, are we still going to the zoo today?”

      Addy rarely fibbed, but she said, “You know, I had coffee after dinner and didn’t sleep a wink last night. Would you feel comfortable going with Greg’s sister Caroline, her kids, and Allison?”

      “What about Greg?” Jimmy queried.

      Again, another lie. “Well, I think he’s going too.”

      “Sure Mom, stay home and rest. You always work so hard,” Pete decided aloud.

      Bless you, my dear Peter.

      At one o’clock, Caroline arrived at the door with her two children, Alex and Sarah. They appeared to be nice kids, just like Allison and Addy’s children. As the kids looked each other over, she sensed excitement from her three. This was not only their first vacation, but every day provided a new adventure. As the kids walked over to Caroline’s car, Mary asked with concern, “Where’s Greg?”

      “My daddy has an appointment today,” said Allison proudly, “but he said I can go with you guys.”

      Mary readily accepted Allison’s reply, while Caroline said, “Pile in troops. We’re off to York.”

      Caroline looked back at Addy, and out of earshot of the children said, “Stop worrying. I’ll take good care of them and will feed them dinner. Greg and you relax and have fun.”

      The decisive moment had arrived. Caroline, Greg, and she had all lied just to arrange some kind of clandestine rendezvous for Addy and Greg. Shame consumed Addy for a moment.

      What the hell are you thinking? All you wanted to do was kiss him.

      Maybe that was all Greg wanted, too. Or maybe he wanted no part of kissing her. Maybe he was a devout Catholic. Lost in her reverie, Addy was startled when Greg suddenly appeared at the door.

      “Hi, Addy,” he said rather shyly. “Don’t mind my sister. She’s always worried that I spend too much time alone so she’s up to her old matchmaking tricks. I told her you probably have a husband, but she didn’t care, so here I am. How about having lunch with me?”

      Addy breathed a sigh of relief. Lunch. She would not have to get undressed after all. Her heart beat joyously.

      “Sure, just let me change.”

      “Oh you can wear what you have on, if you like. The Gray Gull is casual at this time of day.”

      Greg never mentioned another word about her having a husband. They were simply two parents who needed a respite from their kids. The waiter at the Gray Gull led them to a table with a view of the ocean. Greg suggested she order the pecan-crusted haddock, one of the specialties of the house, if she liked fish. They both ordered that dish, and Greg asked, “Do you like white wine with fish?” Lying again, Addy said she did.

      Addy cut up her salad nervously, hoping not to have a long leaf of lettuce hanging from her mouth if Greg looked over at her. As they ate, they talked about where they had gone to college and what majors they had chosen. Addy was ashamed to tell him she had never used her English and Journalism major, nor had she ever fulfilled her dream of opening a bakery. She let him do most of the talking.

      “I had a double major at Boston College--architecture and THEOLOGY. Strange combination, right?”

      Addy suddenly felt girlish and witty. “Not really. Architects build structures and theologians build beliefs.” Oh God. What a stupid thing to say. He must think I am a complete ass.

      Greg chuckled. “My parents wanted me to

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