That Summer Thing

That Summer Thing
Pamela Bauer

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING RIVERBEND, INDIANARiverbend…home of the River Rats–a group of small-town sons and daughters who've been friends since high school. The River Rats are all grown up now. Living their lives and learning that some days are good and some days aren't–and that you can get through anything as long as you have your friends.Charlie Callahan is the original good-time Charlie. At least, that's what everyone thinks, especially Beth Pennington, and she should know. After all, she was briefly–disastrously–married to him. But even Charlie isn't laughing when they discover they share an inheritance left to them by Riverbend's favorite patriarch.Now they're forced back together to settle the strange bequest…and to deal with the problems of a troubled boy.

“Beth Pennington has no use for a houseboat.”

Charlie’s sister, Lucy, made a sound of disgust before continuing, “I don’t know why Abraham Steele left it to you and Beth in the first place. He knew you were divorced. And Beth’s afraid of water—or have you forgotten?”

Charlie didn’t want to admit there were few things about his ex-wife he had forgotten. “As soon as Beth comes home, she’ll sign her half over to me.”

“Beth’s coming back to Riverbend? I wonder why.”

Talk of Beth made Charlie’s breakfast stall on its journey to his stomach. He took a sip of coffee in an attempt to wash it down. “You sound like Mom—always trying to remind me Beth’s never going to be a part of my life again.” He pointed at her with a strip of bacon. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly losing sleep over Beth.”

“We’re just worried. She already hurt you once.”

Charlie was spared further discussion when a customer signaled for Lucy. He decided to make good his escape, but as he left the café, he glanced back to see his sister chatting with Evie Mazerik. Much as he wanted to think Lucy was talking to the cashier about work, Charlie had a pretty good idea they were discussing the one subject he didn’t want to share with the town. Beth.

Dear Reader,

Ask my dad about his youth and you’ll hear all about the guys from Thirty-third and Third Street in Minneapolis, just two blocks from the Mississippi River. They were the kids he played ball with, the ones he worked on cars with and with whom he sneaked down to the river for a swim. They were also the friends who introduced him to the girl he would marry.

Growing up on the Mississippi and hearing my dad’s tales, I felt an immediate affinity for the River Rats of Riverbend. There’s a mystique about life in a river town that has been part of American culture since Mark Twain plunked Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher down in Hannibal, Missouri, over a century ago.

I was delighted to be asked to participate in this series so that my very own River Rats, Charlie and Beth, could come to life and tell their story. Like my mom and dad, they fell in love as teenagers, but unlike my parents, they couldn’t make it last. Now, as adults, they have a second chance. I hope you enjoy their adventure on the river.

Sincerely,

Pamela Bauer

P.S. I enjoy hearing from readers. You can write to me c/o MFW, P.O. Box 24107, Minneapolis, MN 55424.

That Summer Thing

Pamela Bauer

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

For my wonderful sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and David Lingren

With a special thank-you to Courtney Burken

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Charlie Callahan: Contractor, temporary guardian and River Rat

Beth Pennington: Physician’s assistant, athletic trainer and Charlie’s ex-wife

Nathan Turner: Charlie’s fourteen-year-old ward

Abraham Steele: Town patriarch and bank president, recently deceased

Lucy Garvey: Charlie’s sister, Beth’s former best friend and waitress at the Sunnyside Café

Ed Pennington: Beth’s brother, lawyer and River Rat

Grace Pennington: Ed’s wife

Aaron Mazerik: Former bad boy, current basketball coach and counselor at Riverbend High

Lily Bennett Holden: Golden Girl, widow, artist and River Rat

Evie Mazerick: Cashier at the Sunnyside Café, Aaron’s mother

Dr. Julian Bennett: Town doctor, Lily’s father

Wally Drummer: Former basketball coach at Riverbend High, now retired

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE (#uaea634da-4ef6-53f3-9d42-18d5d1df7528)

CHAPTER TWO (#uc385c41d-9e0b-58ce-a11e-33cf5978b78d)

CHAPTER THREE (#u9059a9a8-629b-5793-b7c3-ad0114df4733)

CHAPTER FOUR (#u83842631-8b22-517b-94ce-6960c10a8678)

CHAPTER FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)

CHAPTER ONE