As soon as I hung up with Clara, I called Jack at the dock. “Hey,” I said as soon as he picked up. “I’ve got some news.”
“Good or bad?”
“I’m not sure yet.” I hesitated, my fingers absentmindedly twirling around the phone cord. “Remember how I said I might help you and George out this summer? Well, it turns out Clara’s niece is staying with her for a few months, and she needs someone to help her with algebra, so I told her I’d do it.”
“You mean Ellie?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
Jack chuckled lightly. “Small town. News spreads fast.”
“Oh. But it’s only for a few hours in the mornings, so we can still fish in the evenings.”
“That's fine by me,” said Jack. “Plus, I'm sure Ellie could use a friend. It can’t be easy being that far from home.”
My anxiety dissolved with Jack's understanding. “Thanks, Jack. You’re the best.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The next morning, I arrived at Clara's doorstep just as the sun topped the mountains. Clara welcomed me with her usual warmth and led me to the living room where Ellie was already seated by the window with a pile of books spread out before her.
“Morning, Ellie,” I said, offering her a friendly smile. “I’m Sara.”
She looked up from her books, her striking brown eyes wide with curiosity, and extended her hand. “Nice to meet you, Sara.”
Her accent, coupled with her contemporary fashion—a light blue shirtwaist dress with three-quarter sleeves, paired with cream-colored lace ankle socks and while buckled shoes—gave away her Northern roots. Not to mention she was undeniably beautiful. Still, I had hopes that beneath her polished exterior that she was just another girl in need of guidance and companionship.
“Clara mentioned that you're a math major at the University of Tennessee,” Ellie began. “That's impressive. I happen to be studying astronomy myself.”
“Really? That's so interesting! I’m curious by nature, so I’ve always found the stars fascinating—the mystery, the vastness, the beauty. I guess it’s the mathematician in me, but my focus has been on the numbers behind it all. How they come together to create this cohesive universe.”
Ellie chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “The cosmos is a magnificent combination of numbers and light, an eternal performance of physics and wonder. I suppose that makes us both seekers in our own way, doesn't it?”
I nodded in agreement. “Clara says you’re needing some help with algebra. Is that right?”
Her smile faltered slightly. “Maybe just a refresher. I got an A-minus this semester, which isn’t bad, but apparently not good enough for my mother.”
“I know what you mean. My mother is always on me about one thing or another.”
Ellie laughed at that.
“But don't worry. We'll get you up to an 'A' in no time. And who knows, maybe you'll end up teaching me a thing or two about the stars.”
10
The next evening,I took the path from my house to the dock, hoping to find Jack. Between my chores and helping Ellie, I’d had a full day, so I was ready to kick back and relax. But as I topped the hill, I noticed Jack talking to someone. I squinted against the setting sun, trying to make out the figure. The laughter between them floated across the dock like a bird in flight, settling around me, making my stomach twist in knots. As I drew closer, I realized that the person Jack was talking to was none other than Ellie. I stood frozen for a moment, my mind racing, trying to piece together what was happening.
Their silhouettes, framed against the crimson sunset, seemed to dance in my vision. Jack was leaning back on his hands, while Ellie, with her dainty figure and brown curls, rested against the rail. I could see her full cheeks dimpled in laughter from where I stood.
Jack, with his tanned skin and messy hair, glanced at her, his eyes full of adoration. Something akin to a stone dropped heavily into my stomach. The sight of them together struck an unexpected note of jealousy in my heart.But I couldn't help staring at the scene that had forcefully presented itself to me. Ellie's head tilted back in laughter, her hand lightly touchingJack's arm, and he looked at her as if she were the only star in his sky.
I watched helplessly as they got into the boat, and Jack started the motor. Part of me wanted to shout out, to make my presence known, but another part held me back. It was a powerful restraint, binding me to the shadows as I watched Ellie and him glide away over the rippling water, their laughter carried away by the cool evening breeze. And it was at that moment I felt a pang of loss that I couldn’t quite explain.
Bewildered and hurt, I raced home, retracing my steps along the dirt path now blanketed by evening’s shadows. Over the years, I had gotten used to being Jack's fishing partner, the one who shared his laughter and amusing stories as we killed time waiting for bites on our lines. Seeing Ellie in my spot, wearing the spare life vest I usually donned, was disconcerting. It wasn't just about fishing or the seat in the boat. It felt like Ellie had taken advantage of our burgeoning friendship and inserted herself into my place in Jack’s life.
“Home so soon?” Mother called from the kitchen as I burst through the front door. “I thought you were going fishing with Jack.”
“I thought so, too.” I stood in the doorway, watching as she deftly kneaded dough for chicken and dumplings. The warm, inviting smells of home no longer brought me solace. Instead, they seemed to underline the rapid shift in my world.