Читать книгу Celia's Shadow - Sandy Levy Kirschenbaum - Страница 15

“Did you go out with Ramona last night?” Kate turned around from the front seat. She draped her arm around the headrest.

“Ramona AND her brother.” Celia curled her lips and scowled.

“I’m going to guess, by the expression on your face, it didn’t go well?”

“Nope. Not at all. What a weirdo.”

“What happened?” Kate moved her arm down and squeezed Celia’s knee.

“When I first got there, he seemed normal. He was polite and handsome. He got up when I arrived at the table. Pulled out my chair too. The whole chivalry thing. After I sat down, neither of them said a word.”

“What do you mean?”

“They didn’t speak. The only time the brother spoke was when I asked him questions. Then every time he said something, he punched his fist over his head and made a booping noise.”

“What do you mean, booping noise?” Tom shook his head curiously at his wife. She was surprised he was paying attention and joined the conversation.

Celia punched her fist in the air and mimicked Walter’s catchphrase. “Boop.”

“Come on. Are you exaggerating?”

“No. I’m not exaggerating or making this up. I counted how many times he said that word, and I think he said it a million times. Well, the million is a slight exaggeration.”

Kate poked Tom in the shoulder. “Do you believe this guy?”

Tom kept his eyes on the road as he turned in to Timmy’s parking lot.

The trio walked to the dilapidated old shack. Timmy’s had been the beach’s snack bar for years. The building was situated behind a bench-lined pebbled walkway.

“What flavors are you guys getting?” Celia read the list of flavors.

“Vanilla. How about you girls?” Tom stood at the counter and waited to place their orders.

“I’ll have coffee and moose tracks.” Celia reached for her wallet. “In a waffle cone, please.”

Kate pushed Celia’s hand down. “Put that away. Our treat. I’d like caramel turtle and black raspberry. Thanks.”

Celia scrunched her nose. “Caramel and black raspberry? Together?”

“Yes, together. I love both flavors. They don’t have to complement each other. It’s ice cream. It’s fun food. Tell me more about last night.”

They walked to the walkway and sat down on the benches facing the ocean.

“Another waste of time.” Celia licked the coffee ice cream from the top of the cone. She wiped a large drip from her shorts. “Why can’t I eat ice cream without it dripping all over me?”

“What did you do with Ramona and her brother?”

“Oh, Boop Boy? Not much. We went to the bar across from my office. I left as soon as I could.” She wiped another spot of ice cream from her shorts. “Why is mine melting this fast? Yours isn’t.”

“Even if you didn’t have a good time, I’m still glad you went out. It’s good to get out occasionally.” Kate used her napkin to wipe another drop from Celia’s leg. “I think the bottom ice cream wasn’t as cold as it should be. That’s why it’s melting so fast. The kid should have put that flavor on top.”

“Forget about my night with Boop Boy and his big-chinned sister.”

“What? What about her chin?” Kate closed her eyes for a second and shook her head.

“They both have unusually large chins. They’re attractive, but, as I said, they have big chins.”

A boat raced toward the harbor—its engine loud and disruptive. “He’s not supposed to be going that fast right there.” Tom pointed his finger to the boat, as the driver cut the engine.

“What did you guys do last night?” Celia quickly licked the ice cream as it dripped down the sides of her cone.

Tom snickered, and Kate squinted.

“Watched television. Caught a little Jeopardy!.” Tom took the last bite of his cone.

“I didn’t know there was parasailing around here.” Celia pointed to the person who soared high above a speedboat in the distance. “You’re still competing with each other for Final Jeopardy?”

“Yes, we are. Your little friend here is a sore loser. Aren’t you, Kate.” Tom touched Kate’s head and ruffled her hair.

“Don’t be so smug. You had a lucky streak, that’s all.” Kate smacked Tom’s hand away from her head.

“I think I should get another dog. Boop.” Celia punched her fist in the air.

Kate glared at Celia. “Don’t do that. That’s how bad habits start. You think you’re fooling around and then before you know it, you’re not conscious of doing it.”

“Don’t do what? Get a dog?”

“No! Don’t do that boop thing. It’s not funny, even as a joke. But I think you’d be crazy to get a dog now. You live in a third-floor walkup. Do you want to walk a dog at five o’clock in the morning in the middle of a blizzard? Boop. Boop. Boop.” Kate bopped Celia’s forehead three times.

Celia seized Kate’s hand. “You make a good point. I do love being comfy in my bed when it’s snowing.”

They watched the sailboats off in the distance.