The Path Back Down (July 26)

Rob saw Lili walking to the water’s edge from her parents’ home. Plainly, no one had been in when she called. She had moored a rowboat from Big Pine Lodge at the dock but, before she set out again, he invited her to climb up on the rocks for a consoling view over the Bay. – “We can sit there for a while and think of other things…”

“This is a wonderful place, Rob.”

“Hank and I found it a long time ago. I still come here now and then.” … They sat there to enjoy the panorama, “Then abruptly she jumped up.

“Rob! I’ve got to get back to Mrs. Birmingham. I told her I’d just try to look in on Maman.” …

“She bounded off with little care for the hazardous pitch of the path back down. … From where [Rob] sat, [he] could see her untie the punt and push off. She rowed with a fluidity that comes only with years of life along the water.” (‘Providence Point,’ pp. 208-9)

Moments like this rarely seem noteworthy at the time, but somehow they stick in the memory. Most likely you can recall similar examples of your own. If so, why not share one in a Comment?

(Illustration generated by AI)