September 3rd, 2001 –
The Labor Day weekend was a time of retreat for Janet and Neil, and over the past seven years since Tom moved out, they"d spent their time in the cottage June had willed to her years ago. This year, they decided to have family join them by the ocean along with Cleo, their Basset tri-color hound. The dog had grown from the floppy puppy he"d been four years ago into a fifty-five pound, nose-to-the-ground eating machine.
This year Jessica joined them. She and Nate spent much of their time together. At seventeen, Jessica had become a stunning brunette beauty. Her smile could get Nate to do just about anything she wanted, and Janet wondered more than once what that had led to despite her best efforts not to think about it.
Jessica stood beside her washing celery for the
