August

It was sweltering, the power was out in half the city after a series of thunderstorms. Peter carried a tray of lemonade onto the patio at June's. At least high up off the street it was cooler.

June, Neal, and Elizabeth sat outside. They had put a kiddie pool out, and had their feet in it. Neal and El were lying back on the chaise lounge, Neal's shirt off, gazing at the cloudless blue sky. June was reading, wearing big sunglasses. Samantha was spending the day with them, she was running around the patio, playing with Satchmo and Bugsy, who were both panting, tails wagging enthusiastically.

Neal looked up when Peter came out, and smiled. Peter handed June and Samantha their drinks first, and then held the tray out to Neal and Elizabeth. They sat up, and took their drinks, the outsides already sweating heavily. Peter took his own cup and put the tray on the ground, then joined Neal and Elizabeth on the lounge.

He kissed Neal, and then Elizabeth. Neal had already had a sip of the lemonade, he tasted like sugar and citrus.

He watched Samantha play tug with Satchmo and a rope, Bugsy hanging on to one end of it. He looked at Neal and Elizabeth, who were also watching. Neal gave him a big, genuine smile. Elizabeth drank from her cup, her eyes crinkled with joy as well.

"Ow!" Peter looked back at Samantha. She had tripped, and skinned her knee. She sat on the stone, looking at the scrape, her lower lip trembling, threatening tears. June put her book down, and started to get up, but Neal had already handed his lemonade back to Peter. He got up with a big effort, and shuffled the few feet over to Samantha, then sat down next to her. He got her to bend and straighten her leg, and smiled, "your knee is okay. It's just a scrape. Probably hurts, though, right?"

Samanatha nodded.

"Let's go clean it up and get a bandaid."

"Okay," said Samantha, and got to her feet. Neal tried, but he didn't actually get off the ground at the first attempt. Samantha giggled, and grabbed Neal's arm, pulling up on him, "come on, Neal."

Neal got up, making a show of Samantha's tugging seeming to help, "okay, let's go."

He hobbled back over to the lounge where his wheelchair was, sat in it, and went with Samantha inside to clean up her knee. Peter looked at Elizabeth, who was beaming. He kissed her, and she kissed him, murmuring, "he's so good with Sam."