“How was the beach?”

“it was great. The sun felt wonderful, but the water kind of shocks you when you go under.”

“It always does. I don’t see how people can stand to be in it for more than a few minutes.”

Theresa hung the towel on a rack by the door. She spoke over her shoulder. “How’s the book?”

Deanna turned the book over in her hands and glanced at the cover. “Wonderful. It reminds me of how Brian used to look a few years back.”

Brian grunted without looking away from the television. “Huh?”

“Nothing, sweetheart. Just reminiscing.” She turned her attention back to Theresa. Her eyes were shining. “Are you up for some gin rummy?”

Deanna loved card games of any kind. She was in two bridge clubs, played hearts like a champion, and kept a record of every time she won a game of solitaire. But gin rummy had always been the game that she and Theresa played when they had time, because it was the only game that Theresa actually stood a chance of winning.

“Sure.”

Deanna folded the page with glee, put down her book, and rose from her seat. “I hoped you’d say that. The cards are on the table outside.”

Theresa wrapped the towel around her suit and went outside to the table where they had eaten breakfast earlier. Deanna followed shortly with two cans of diet Coke and sat across from her as she picked up the deck. She shuffled the cards and dealt them. Deanna looked up from her hand.

“it looks like you got a little color in your cheeks. The sun must have been pretty intense.”

Theresa started organizing her cards. “I felt like I was baking.”

“Did you meet anyone interesting?”

“Not really. Just read and relaxed in the sun. Most everyone there was with their families.”

“That’s too bad.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, I was kind of hoping you’d meet someone special this week.”

“You’re special.”

“You know what I mean. I was kind of hoping you’d find yourself a man this week. One that took your breath away.”

Theresa looked up in surprise. “What brought that on?”

“The sun, the ocean, the breezes. I don’t know. Maybe it’s the extra radiation soaking through my brain.”

“I haven’t really been looking, Deanna.”

“Never?”

“Not much, anyway.”

“Ah ha!”

“Don’t make a big deal out of it. It hasn’t been that long since the divorce.”

Theresa put down the six of diamonds, and Deanna picked it up before discarding the three of clubs. Deanna spoke in the same tone her mother did when they talked about the same thing.

“It’s been almost three years. Don’t you have anyone on the back burner that you’ve been hiding from me?”

“No.”

“no one?”

Deanna picked from the stack of cards and discarded a four of hearts.

“Nope. But it’s not only me, you know. It’s hard to meet people these days. It’s not like I have time to go out and socialize.”

“I know that, I really do. It’s just that you’ve got so much to offer someone. I know there’s someone out there for you somewhere.”

“I’m sure there is. I just haven’t met him yet.”

“Are you even looking?”

“When I can. But my boss is a real stickler, you know. Won’t give me a moment’s rest.”

“Maybe I should talk to her.”

“Maybe you should,” Theresa agreed, and they both laughed.

Deanna picked from the stack and discarded a seven of spades. “Have you been dating at all?”

“Not really. Not since Matt What’s-his-name told me he didn’t want a woman with children.”

Deanna scowled for a moment. “Sometimes men can be real jerks, and he was a perfect example. He’s the kind of guy whose head belongs mounted on a wall with a plaque that reads ‘Typical Egocentric Male.’ But they aren’t all like that. There are lots of real men out there—men who could fall in love with you at the drop of a hat.”

Theresa picked up the seven and discarded a four of diamonds. “That’s why I like you, Deanna. You say the sweetest things.”

Deanna picked from the stack. “It’s true, though. Believe me. You’re pretty, you’re successful, you’re intelligent. I could find a dozen men who would love to go out with you.”

“i’m sure you could. But that doesn’t mean that I would like them.”

“You’re not even giving it a chance.”

Theresa shrugged. “Maybe not. But that doesn’t mean I’ll die alone in some boardinghouse for old maids later in life. Believe me, I’d love to fall in love again. I’d love to meet a wonderful guy and live happily ever after. I just can’t make it a priority right now. Kevin and work take all my time as it is.”

Deanna didn’t reply for a moment. She threw down a two of spades.

“I think you’re scared.”

“Scared?”

“Absolutely. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I know how much David hurt you, and I know I’d be frightened of the same thing happening again if it were me. It’s human nature. Once burned, twice shy, the old saying goes. There’s a lot of truth in that.”

“There probably is. But I’m sure if the right man comes along, I’ll know it. I have faith.”

“What kind of man are you looking for?”

“I don’t know. . . .”

“Sure you do. Everyone knows a little bit about what they want.”

“Not everyone.”

“Sure you do. Start with the obvious, or if you can’t do that, start with what you don’t want—like . . . is it all right if he’s in a motorcycle gang?”

Theresa smiled and picked from the stack. Her hand was coming together. another card and she’d be done. She threw down the jack of hearts.

“Why are you so interested?”

“Oh, just humor an old friend, will you?”

“Fine. No motorcycle gang, that’s for sure,” she said with a shake of her head. She thought for a moment. “Um . . . I guess most of all, he’d have to be the kind of man who would be faithful to me, faithful to us , throughout our relationship. I’ve already had another kind of man, and I can’t go through something like that again. And I think I’d like someone my own age or close to it, if possible, as well.” Theresa stopped there and frowned a little.

“And?”

“Give me a second—I’m thinking. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. I guess I’d go with the standard clichйs—I’d like him to be handsome, kind, intelligent, and charming—you know, all those good things that women want in a man.”

Again she paused. Deanna picked up the jack. Her expression showed her pleasure at putting Theresa on the spot.

“And?”

“He would have to spend time with Kevin as if he were his own son—that’s really important to me. Oh—and he’d have to be romantic, too. I’d love to receive some flowers now and then. And athletic, too. I can’t respect a man if I could beat him in arm wrestling.”

“That’s it?”

“Yep, that’s all.”

“So, let me see if I’ve got this right. You want a faithful, charming, handsome, thirty-something-year-old man, who’s also intelligent, romantic, and athletic. and he has to be good with Kevin, right?”

“You got it.”

She took a deep breath as she laid her hand on the table.

“Well, at least you’re not picky. Gin.”

*  *  *

After losing decisively in gin rummy, Theresa went inside to start one of the books she’d brought with her. She sat in the window seat along the back side of the house while Deanna went back to her own book. Brian found yet another golf tournament and spent the afternoon watching it avidly, making comments to no one in particular whenever something caught his interest.

At six that evening—and, more important, after the golf tournament had ended—Brian and Deanna went for a walk along the beach. Theresa stayed behind and watched from the window as they strolled hand in hand along the water’s edge. They had an ideal relationship, she thought as she watched them. They had completely different interests, yet that seemed to keep them together instead of driving them apart.