Excerpt of Sarasota Dreams by Debby Mayne

Mary Penner lowered herself to the hot, moist sand, gathered the front of her skirt, and twisted it around her shins as she pulled her knees to her chest. She carefully tucked the folds of her skirt around her to cover herself. It was only May, yet the intensity of heat from the sun reflecting off the beach in Sarasota, Florida, sent droplets of perspiration trickling down her back. But she didn’t mind. Being here in a stable home, living among the Conservative Mennonite folks, and knowing her grandparents would always be there for her gave her a sense of peace—even if they wished she’d never been born.

Mary still had confusing and sometimes even bitter moments when she couldn’t put her past completely behind her. Today was especially difficult because it was the ninth anniversary of her mother’s death.

The gentle whisper of waves as they lapped the sand blended with the sound of seabirds on their never-ending search for food. Children scampered around blankets, sand buckets in hand. Teenagers and young adults lay sprawled on beach towels, catching the last of the day’s rays, their bronze bodies showing very little modesty. Years ago she would have been among them, but now. . .well, it embarrassed her.

Mary extended her arm and studied her shadow before she pointed her index finger and drew a figure eight in the slightly moist sand. That was how her life seemed sometimes—a double circle that started out as though going someplace, yet it managed to meet back up at the beginning. Just like her thoughts.

“Mary?”

She snapped her head around at the sound of the familiar voice. “Oh hi, Abe.”

He drew closer and squatted. “Nice day.”

“Yeah.” Mary sniffled and turned slightly away from Abe Glick. His presence had always created the strangest sensation—sort of a dread mixed with exhilaration in her chest. The stirrings of emotion confused her as always. “What are you doing here?”

Abe chuckled. “I was about to ask you the same thing.” He gestured to the sand beside her. “Mind if I join you?”

She cast a quick glance in his direction then looked back toward the water, hoping he wouldn’t notice her heat-tinged cheeks. “That’s fine.”

He slowly sat down and stretched his long, navy blue twill- clad legs toward the water. “It’s a mite hot today.”

“I don’t mind.”

A Frisbee zoomed a few feet past them, followed by a half- dressed teenage boy.

“Sorry,” he said. His gaze lingered long enough to satisfy his curiosity, then he took off after the Frisbee.

Abe nodded toward the kid, a half smile on his face, before turning to face Mary.

“So what are you thinking about?” Abe asked.

Mary shrugged. “Work. Family.” She paused to take a deep breath before adding, “Just everyday stuff.”

“I don’t think so.” Abe tilted his head back and let out a deep chuckle. “Based on the look on your face, I think it’s much more than that.”

Mary darted a quick look in his direction, then turned back toward the water. “Is it any of your business then?”

He lifted his hands. “Sorry if I offended you, but I did it innocently, I promise.”

His apology deflated her short burst. “That’s okay. I’m sort of touchy today anyway.”

“So do you wanna talk about it?”

Mary snorted and shook her head. “You are something else, Abe. Do you ever give up?”

“Giving up isn’t in the Glick vocabulary.”

“Okay, so what if I tell you I was thinking about the past?” Mary leveled him with an I-dare-you-to-ask-more-questions look. “Does that make you happy?”

He looked right back at her with as much of a dare as she had. “Ever miss your old life?”

“Never.” She paused as she considered his question. “I love being with Grandma and Grandpa. They’re good to me.”

“Indeed they are.” Abe’s sidelong glance at her heightened her pulse rate. “There was never any question about that.” He turned completely toward her and stared until she met his gaze. “Or was there?”

He asked too many questions, and she was growing more irritated by the second.

“No, of course not!”

“You don’t have to be so defensive, Mary. I’m not the enemy.”