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Show 234 Robbie was right back, with the packages from the trunk loaded in his arms, Lynn transferred them to under the tree; and a couple of cherry pies, which Lynn also took; and his bottle of Scotch whiskey, which he proudly pulled from its brown bag. "There," he held the bottle up high so everyone could see, the light catching the shiny green label, the brownish amber of the whiskey, "For the drinkers with taste." "I don't see how you can stand that stuff," Peggy said from the doorway of the kitchen, a spatula in her hand. "Where's your taste, Peggy?" "Certainly not in that stuff." She turned back to the kitchen, with Robbie and Billy following her. There was shouting now from the back yard, where the kids were playing. And Sharon thought of when she was small, playing in the same back yard while dinner was cooking. How-long ago it was! She glanced up to see Lynn studying her-Lynn, too, had been listening to the children, she had read Sharon's thoughts exactly: "It's been awhile, hasn't it?" she said, "since it was us out there in the back yard?" She rose from her chair, to come over to the couch and sit beside Sharon. "You know," Lynn smiled-that pleasant, open smile which put Sharon completely at ease, "I'm shocked at seeing you. I can't get over it. Last time, you were-what? twelve, thirteen? And now you're all grown up. Peggy said you're a senior this year." "That's right," Sharon said: yes, she found herself liking this new woman, this new Lynn. She had not disliked her before-Lynn had never been unkind-there had just been little in common between them: five years is a large gap, a different generation, to a child. |