Free It's All in Your Mind by Ann Herrick Page A

mother would just sit there, trying to look sophisticated. It was all so ... gross." Nolan took a deep breath and blew it out. "You can understand why I don't want anything to do with families."
    "Oh, yes!" Poor Nolan. What a terrible home life. No wonder he didn't want to have anything to do with families. It would just remind him of how awful his was. He must have struck out on his own the first chance he got. He probably got a scholarship to Yale, but, even working while going to school, couldn't afford the full cost for four years. And when he dropped out, he survived by becoming a folk singer. It was all so tragic and romantic. "I understand, completely."
    "Good." Suddenly he jumped to his feet. "C'mon. Let's go for another swim."
    I would've liked to have stayed right there, enjoying the new closeness I felt with Nolan since he told me about his family. But it was hard to resist his enthusiasm.
    Nolan grabbed my hand, pulled me along behind him as he ran into the water. When we were waist deep, he gathered me into his arms, then, without warning, dipped us below the surface. I came up sputtering and wiping water out of my eyes.
    "Let's race!" Nolan said, and he was off in the direction of a buoy. Since he had a head start, it took me several seconds to catch up with him.
    "Slow poke," he said with a grin, when I finally reached his side.
    "You cheated!" I teased.
    "You're just looking for a fight."
    "No, I—"
    "C'mon. Let's go back to shore."
    I felt listless as I paddled more than swam back to the beach. Nolan seemed to misunderstand when I teased him. 
    It felt good to flop down on the blanket. It was not easy keeping up with Nolan. Fun trying, but not easy. It was nice to just lie on the blanket next to him, and relax.
    "Just ten minutes on each side, then we've got to go," Nolan said. "I've got a gig in New London tonight."
    I was disappointed our day at the beach would end so soon, but happy that Nolan had something lined up. I was sure he could use every penny he earned. "Maybe some time when you perform a little closer to Chatfield I could come listen to you."
    "You'd be bored," Nolan said.
    "No, I —"
    "Besides, I need to concentrate when I'm working. I can't be worrying about you, you know?"
    "I ... I suppose not," I said, though I was sure I would not be a bother.
    Nolan took my chin in his hand and gave me a kiss as light and tender as the summer breeze.  "Seeing you out in the audience, it would be too much of a distraction."
    My heart sang at the thought of Nolan being too distracted to sing if I were there. I meant so much to him that he would be too nervous to sing!
    Too soon Nolan was ready to leave, and we walked to where we'd parked . We kissed goodbye. Nolan blew me another kiss as he thundered off on his motorcycle. I watched until he was just a speck on the horizon.
    On the way home I spotted Caprice smoking and waiting at the bus stop in front of Shopsave. I pulled over, tapped the horn, and called to her. "Want a lift home?"
    Caprice tossed her cigarette on the sidewalk and crushed it with her heel. "Thanks," she said as she hopped in the car. "The bus is late, and I'm so tired of standing. My feet are killing me."
    "Oh, I'm sorry," I said, swallowing my guilt at having just spent such a glorious day at the beach. I knew how to cheer her up. "Hey, guess what! Karl is going to be home on leave next week." Caprice had always looked up to him as a big brother.
    "Really?" Caprice's eyes widened. "I haven't seen him for ages."
    "Mama's planning a big feed for Karl. She and Papa would love to see you. You'll have to come."
    "Okay.  Just let me know when, and I'll be there, even if I have to take a day off from work.  I've put in so may hours lately, they owe me time off."
    "I'll let you know exactly when as soon as Mama decides. Joel said he might drop by too."
    "Joel? You've talked to Joel about Karl?"
    I turned to go down the road to Caprice's house. "I saw him at the, uh, beach this morning.