choice of place for a summer holiday: Giselle dreamed of Barcelona, and Carter dreamed of Monte Carlo, although he did not intend to spend money in a casino. So the husband and wife waited for the day when their niece would graduate from school and decide on her choice of profession. As a result, both lost because Kayla decided to become a cardiologist.
They studied at the same university with Roger and shared a rented apartment. Overall, their lives have changed little. Kayla was busy around the apartment, cleaning, cooking and ironing. Roger spent a little more time at the university because he was part of the cycling team. Kayla was involved in swimming, but did not strive to reach any sports or professional level, but rather did it for her own pleasure.
– Heartstone is listening – Rebecca answered.
– Dispatcher, how are you?
– Fine. Should I call mom? Oh wait…
Ines answered the phone, after which Rebecca ran back to the TV.
– Hello – Ines greeted. – How is it?
– Fine. Better tell me why Rebecca left me?
– Um… don’t pay attention. The commercials are over.
– What does she watch?
– “One Hundred And One Dalmatians”. Hang a little. – Ines turned in the direction of the open window and shouted:
– Mom!
– Yes?
– Boston’s on the line!
– I’m coming now!
Ines returned to the conversation:
– So, what news?
Roger sighed and replied:
– News? I haven’t won a gold medal yet. I still haven’t cut up the patient. I didn’t meet my love either; all around are bitches. And so everything remains unchanged.
– How’s Kayla?
– Like at a resort – Roger said and looked at Kayla standing at the stove, who showed with a sarcastic facial expression: “I’ll talk to you later, you first-class freeloader”. This brought a slight smile to Roger’s face.
Giselle answered the phone.
– Roger?
– Hi, Mom.
– Hello dear. How are you?
– All according to plan.
– How was it at the university?
– Well, it seems they are not going to kick me out yet.
– This is good, because if they kick you out of the university, then dad and I will kick you out of the house. – Giselle said with an absolutely firm face, although in her heart she laughed a little. She always understood Roger’s humor in a way that the three girls did not. How is Kayla?
Roger looked at his cousin.
– Kayla? Experimenting with food again. And at the same time, over my stomach, taking this opportunity.
At that moment, a dishrag flew at Roger and he let go of the receiver as soon as Giselle said:
– Pass the phone to her.
Kayla turned down the heat on the gas stove and walked over to the phone, straightening her long, wavy, chocolate-colored hair.
– Hello?
– Hi dear.
– Hello Aunt Giselle. How are you doing there?
– Alive and healthy. How are you?
– Everything is great. How is grandpa?
– Grandpa in a chair on the veranda. Basking in the sun. I didn’t wake him up.
– No-no. Let him rest. Kiss him for me.
– Necessarily. What are you cooking?
– I’m frying minced meat for julienne.
– You are my golden one. How’s the budget? Send more?
– It is not necessary. We have enough.
– Listen, Kayla, what about the holidays?
– Aunt Giselle, I have some difficulties. – Every year, Kayla and Roger took their exams earlier than scheduled so they could leave early and be in time for Giselle’s birthday. – We probably won’t make it on time and will be a couple of days late. You won’t be too offended?
– What are you talking about, sweetie? Of course not. Decide your affairs calmly and take your time.
– How’s Uncle Carter?
– All at work. They have something to do with a shortage of granaries there. He is engaged in the construction of a warehouse. The season is in full swing.
– As always. Say hi to him.
– I’ll definitely pass it on.
– How are things going with your paintings? Haven’t finished your collection yet?
– No, what are you talking about? There are still a lot of things that need to be finalized. But I think I’ll meet the deadline. – Giselle took a deep breath and said: “Okay, honey.” I will not distract you. Keep cooking.
Kayla smiled and replied:
– Fine. A big hello to Ines and Rebecca.
– I’ll definitely tell them, honey. I kiss you deeply. Bye-bye.
15. Beach, moon, sea of blood
Jerry Ings and Alexa Monroe decided to spend a late evening on the beach by the lake. To do this, Jerry requisitioned his father’s van. After graduating from school, their dates began to happen more often. Apparently, this summer Jerry and Alexa will go to universities located on different coasts of the country. A year ago, they seriously expected to enter the same university. But the card turned out differently. They saw separation as worse than any nightmare. Deep down, they both understood that parting for such a long period would probably mean the end of their love story. The years to be spent in different universities with thousands of students around will probably push them into other lovers, as a result of which they will forget about their four-year whirlwind romance. But in their hearts, hope was still far from dying.
They parked close to the boat station. Stopping right on the sand, Jerry put the handbrake on the van, after which his fingers released the lever and lay on Alexa’s smoky caramel hair, lowering down to her neck, casting a gaze into her honey-colored eyes. Alexa wrapped both hands around Jerry’s forearm and pressed it to his cheek. She was about to lean towards him, but suddenly stopped and said:
– Let’s go to the lake. The heat has already subsided.
– Let’s go to.
They stopped a few meters from the water and sat down on the sand. Alexa leaned against Jerry’s chest, wrapping her arms around his waist like a little girl cuddling a teddy bear before bed. Glancing somewhere into the distance between the stars and the lake, the opposite shore of which was too far to see even during the day, Alexa began to think deeply.
– You know, I was thinking, – Jerry began, – we’re not leaving soon. Maybe we can go somewhere? I’ll ask my dad for the Chrysler and we’ll head to Corpus Christi or Galveston. If you don’t want the Gulf of Mexico, we can choose something else.
Alexa didn’t make a sound in response.
– Do you hear?
A few more seconds passed before Alexa said:
– I didn’t know how… when…
Alexa hesitated for a long time. As a result, she