Part 2 (1/2)

I can barely hear their voices. ”I'm sorry I was rude,” she says, obviously not meaning it.

Joe shrugs. ”Beggars can't be choosers. I accept your apology. But I bet Glad put you up to it.”

Evvie has the decency to blush.

Joe says, ”She always was nicer to me.”

Isn't that the truth? Evvie, in true sisterly loyalty, humphs. ”Look, Joe, I just want to say, even though you've moved here, there's no reason for you to hang out with me. I have a life and it doesn't need you in it.”

”I'm sorry you feel that way. I'll try to stay out of your hair,” he says sadly.

”That's that, then. See you around.”I turn around quickly, so Evvie wouldn't see me spying.

Evvie walks away and heads for her usual seat around the pool, her shoulder still stiff. I a.s.sume her att.i.tude is as kind as he deserves.

”Oh, goody, here comes the gang,” Bella announces. She sweeps the piles of mail into a basket and heads for our appointed lounge chairs, which are around the three-foot-deep pool mark. These seating arrangements have been set in stone for years.

Sure enough, as if a bell rang, the usual denizens begin to arrive from all directions. The Canadians stake out their camp at the deep end, near the diving board. Hy and Lola plop down on their chaises, near the shallow end. Tessie and her new husband, Sol, who used to swim in Phase Three, take their seats next to the couple.

Barbi Stevens and her cousin Casey Wright are across the pool, directly opposite them. They immediately start rubbing sunblock on each other's bodies. My girls watch with fascination, knowing the ”cousins'” secret s.e.xual persuasion.

Oh, but here's something very new since we've been away. Irving Weiss arrives with Mary Mueller. They are carrying snacks, towels, and books to read. He now has a chaise next to hers. Irving, whose life has changed radically since his Millie went into an Alzheimer's unit at a local nursing home-Irving, who's always avoided the sun like a plague-now has become a wors.h.i.+pper?

There are the usual morning greetings.

As I walk past them to join Evvie at our usual spot, I have to ask. ”How is Millie?”

Mary's eyes tell me what I know already. But Irving is still in denial. ”Mary drives me over there every day. I stay all afternoon by her side. She seems to be doing a little better each time I see her. Sometimes I think my Millie recognizes me.”

I look around. I can see there are mixed reactions to this new ”couple.” I know everyone feels compa.s.sion for Irving, but there are negative responses to his spending so much time with Mary. Mary must be lonely, too, since her husband left her. Speculating on what they are doing or not doing together? I shake my head. What do they want from him? That he should sit in his apartment and cry all day?

Everyone settles in. Tessie drags a reluctant Sol into the pool. She splashes him playfully, he cringes, then she takes off, doing laps. Hefty as she might be, Tessie is lightness itself as she swims laps up and down the pool.

The Canadians, the ”s...o...b..rds” who come each year during the winter, read copies of their back-home newspapers and chat quietly amongst themselves.

Lola immerses herself in one of her endless collection of romance novels. Hy always leers at their lurid bodice-revealing covers. I bet they secretly turn him on.

Casey and Barbi have their laptops open and their hands fly across the keys.

Mary reads medical journals. She used to be a nurse and even though she's retired, she likes to keep up. Irving stares into s.p.a.ce. By his mournful expression, he must be thinking of Millie.

The girls are already in the pool. Ida and Evvie are doing kicking exercises along the edge. Bella and Sophie are humming little ditties from old musicals or other songs they remember, wiggling their fingers in time as they walk back and forth in two feet of water-their idea of strenuous exercise. I recognize the tune as ”Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” Tiny Tim, of course.

Hy, like some bird of prey, peruses the group, looking for mischief. His wicked, paunchy face lights on me. The perfect target. Not that I don't expect it. I hide behind my new Janet Evanovich mystery. Her books always make me laugh out loud. I brace myself. With Hy on the attack, there will be no laughter from me this morning. Only aggravation.

”So, Gladdy,” he calls out, loud enough for everyone to hear. ”What's the big news announcement? Bella dropped a spicy tidbit the other day. You and Jack Langford maybe ready to tie the knot?”

Trust me, I don't have to say anything. My girls will do all the talking.

Sure enough, they hop out of the pool, dripping and smiling, ready to reveal my secrets to one and all. Except for Evvie, who will try to remain loyal . . . until she, too, will succ.u.mb to the great idol, Gossip.

Sophie starts it. ”Well, you know they broke up.”

Bella: ”And then they made up.”

Sophie: ”And broke up again.”

Ida: ”Get to the point already. They are definitely an item and plans may soon be in the making.”

I pretend to read my book, but it's impossible to concentrate. I have to keep alert for damage control.

Barbi and Casey look amused. The Canadians always listen to our repartee; to them I imagine it's something like going on safari and watching the baboons at play. Terribly droll, what?

Bella blathers on. ”Gladdy doesn't have a ring, yet, but maybe . . .”

I shudder. I cannot bear the idea of my very private life being thrown to the hyenas. I pull my floppy sun hat farther down on my face.

Sophie adds, ”We're hoping to hear dates being mentioned . . . soon.”

Ida says smugly, ”A formal engagement might be announced one of these days.”

Sophie jumps back in. ”With a great big party possibly to follow. We think.”

Hy is chafing at the bit. He jumps up, his annoyance running over. ”So? So? This is your idea of news? Maybe this. Maybe then. Maybe soon. Maybe later. It's like pulling teeth getting facts out of any of you. Gladdy, 'fess up.”

Everyone turns to stare at me. I bet I'm doing a perfect imitation of a deer caught in the headlights of a two-ton semi. I remain in that trance, hoping it will be over soon and they'll turn on somebody else.

Evvie grins, knowing how much my silence is annoying Hy. ”Believe me, you'll be the first, or maybe the last, to find out.”

Lola the puppet bounces up and down with joy. ”You can tell us. When's the wedding date?”

That's it. Time to stop this. I turn to Hy, smiling insipidly. ”So, Hy, no joke today? I sure missed your jokes while I was away.”

What can I say? It's either that or me, and I want out of the spotlight.

Hy bows like the bantam c.o.c.k he is, and holds his arms aloft, embracing everyone with his largesse. ”Funny you should ask. I'm reminded of this joke. I look around me, and I see couples. Newly married couples.” He indicates Sol and Tessie, who simper back. ”New sorts of couples.” He looks toward Irving and Mary. Irving looks embarra.s.sed. Mary throws him a dirty look. ”And now love has resprouted. Phase Six melds with Phase Two.”

That's aimed at me. I smile, though it's more like a grimace.

Hy pulls Lola up. I guess this routine needs a stooge.

”There's this loving couple, see? Let's call them Hy and Lola.” He grins.