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overmoneyed as his father often said。
His father spoke of money as evil； his mother spoke of it like a lost child。
Owen felt it was something like fire … to be feared and mastered。 It was what other people were given。
It's what he would be granted。
And these people tromping off the ferry had it。 They lived it。 They did not dream of getting off this island。 They dreamed of things beyond what Owen could imagine。
4
She never arrived； and he walked the long narrow wooden staircase from the beach up to the bluffs； and then he ran along the fringe of pines to the dirt path that went further up the rolling cliffs； and he didn't look back down to the water until he was at their property。
At the house； he went and sat in one of the wrought…iron lawn chairs and leaned back to gaze up at the sky。
〃Owen？〃
He sat up； looking around。 He rose from the chair； practically knocking it over； and there she was … at the third story attic window。
No； it was Mrs。 M。 Her auburn hair was swept back from her face； damp from the swimming pool； her robe fastened none too tight。 She possessed the air of having enjoyed life too much that day。 〃Owen？ It's good to see you。〃
〃Yeah； Mrs。 M； me too。 I didn't think you had got here just yet。〃
〃Oh； my husband still hasn't left his desk yet。 I've been here since Wednesday。
Good to be back。 I despise the city。〃
〃Survive winter okay？〃
〃Superbly；〃 she said； but in a way that meant its opposite。 Mrs。 M was a woman full of irony； he had known it for years。 Mrs。 M embodied the house：
beautiful； classic； and rich。 〃Do you want coffee？〃 she asked。
5
〃I saw you waiting for her；〃 Mrs。 M said。 They were in the sunroom off the kitchen； and Owen had just finished his first cup of cinnamon coffee。 He got up to pour himself another； but Mrs。 M interceded； she had a fresh cup； with cream； all ready for him。 He sat down at the table again。 She took the chair across from him。 He saw her knee emerge from her robe。 The hint of her champagne glass breasts； small but perfect。 Mrs。 M was in many ways more beautiful than her daughter； but still； his heart belonged to Jenna。
He did what he could to look at her face； but something in her eyes bothered him。 He looked； instead； at her silken arms。
〃You're in love with my daughter。 No； that's fine。 I've known it since you were both young。 Do you think it will lead anywhere？〃
〃Lead？〃 He said the word innocently； but she must've seen through this。
〃I don't know。〃
〃Yes； you do。 You're smart。 I've watched you grow up。 You're smart and handsome and wise。 But； do you think that she will have you？〃
〃I haven't。。。I haven't considered。。。〃 he stammered。
〃You're a remarkable young man；〃 Mrs。 M said。 〃She doesn't deserve you。〃 Then； she put down her own untouched coffee； and stood up from the table。 〃She gets in tonight。 After midnight。〃
〃How？ The ferry …〃
〃She has her ways；〃 Mrs。 M said。 She brushed something from the edge of her eye； and bed her hands through her hair like a mermaid would。
〃Fancy a swim？〃
〃Not today；〃 he said。
〃e on； just a nice long swim。 Have you been practicing all winter？〃
He nodded。
〃I thought so。 You ripple now。 You don't move； you ripple。 You're in better shape than he is；〃 Mrs。 M said； and then went to get her bathing suit。
6
e midnight； he saw the shroud of some sailboat press beneath the lights of the harbor。 He sat up on the bluffs and watched as she docked； as the sail came down。 No one stepped off the boat at the jetty。 Was it her？ Was this what Mrs。 M had meant？
He fell asleep in the cool wet grass and awoke at dawn。
And he knew。
Jenna Montgomery had found another。
7
〃Jimmy；〃 the guy said； his face gleaming； tanned； teeth so much thoroughbred he could've been in Pimlico； his eyes squinty； his nose small； his hair honey…blond from too much sun； and his handshake strong and sure and arrogant。 He looked rich without ever having to say it。 He smelled rich。 He probably tasted rich。 〃Good to meet you； Crites。〃
〃Owen。〃
〃You're not an Owen or a Crites；〃 Jimmy said。 〃You're a Mooncalf。〃
〃Mooncalf？〃 Jenna laughed； looking at Owen and then back at Jimmy。
〃That sounds ghastly。〃 She wore a bikini； but had a long towel draped about her waist that ran all the way to her ankles。 Her hair was wet and shining from a morning swim。 For a moment； Owen imagined how it would feel to untie the bikini top and press his face against her breasts。 For a moment； the image was in his mind； then； gone。
All Owen could think was： they'd slept together on the boat。 Jenna and this Jimmy character。 Jimmy had done it with Jenna。
Done it。
A sacred act if it was love。
A debased ritual； if it was lust and emptiness。
Which it had to be。
He tried not to imagine Jimmy drawing her legs apart； or the scent of passion that clung to them； the sweat and fever； as they joined together。
Tried not to imagine the thrusts。
〃Mooncalf reminds me of upstate New York； or Pennsylvania；〃 Jenna said with no little disgust。 〃Cows and chickens。 Amish in carriages。 Birthings and midwives。 Owen can't be a Mooncalf。〃
Jim snorted。 〃No； it's a beautiful name。 Mooncalf。〃
Owen remained silent； still numb from meeting the interloper。
〃Well； if he's a Mooncalf then what am I？〃
〃Kitten；〃 Jimmy laughed。
〃If I'm Kitten； then you're Cat。〃
〃All right； then I'm Cat。 Now； what shall we call this island？〃
〃Outerbridge；〃 Owen said。 〃Call it Outerbridge。〃
〃That's not the game；〃 Jimmy grinned； and damn if his smile wasn't dazzling。
Anyone would fall in love with this guy； anyone； man； woman； or dog； he was so damn attractive and warm； it made Owen want to walk away and forget about Jenna pletely。 〃The game is everything； Mooncalf。 It doesn't matter what things are。 You shape them into the way you want them。 That's how you gain mastery。〃
〃Mastery's the thing；〃 Owen said； faking a sort of blissful … and very nearly nonchalant … take on all of it。
I'll beat you； he thought as he watched his rival； this apollonian boy with his golden hair and squinty green eyes and the way he had arrogance that was absolutely seductive。
I will beat you； Owen made the oath then and there。 He glanced briefly up at the unfettered sun and prayed that if nothing else went his way in this life； he would beat down this Jimmy。
Then； Owen reached out and gave Jimmy's shoulder a friendly squeeze。
〃Just not big on games I guess。〃
Jenna laughed； 〃Owen； the game is called Paradise。 You rename everything to your liking。 Jimmy invented it。 Isn't it。。。marvelous？〃 She pecked the bastard on his ear。 Owen noted： the kiss went to his earlobe； and Jimmy barely had an earlobe。 His ear was smooth and rounded and touched down right behind one of his several dimples。
Jimmy laughed； shrugging； grabbing her around the waist and pulling her close to him。 〃Let's call the island Sea Biscuit。〃
〃No；〃 Jenna groaned。 〃That's terrible。 Terrible。 Owen； you name it。〃
〃Outerbridge；〃 Owen said。
It was noon； and they were at the jetty。 The sailboat bobbed gently with the current； and Owen finally took his baseball cap off。
〃There now；〃 Jimmy said； approvingly。 〃You look less like a little boy than like a man