I wish I’d never been nice to her. I went out of my way to help her out when she overflowed the bathtub, when her shade fell down, when she needed someone to hang a mirror, when the battery in her fire alarm started beeping and she had no idea how to change it. What does she do in return? She makes me look like a jerk. I’d told her about how wonderful the Jersey Shore is, and how my kids love to come visit their grandparents every summer. Next thing I know, she decides to rent a house at the Jersey Shore. What next, Cleo? he wondered. I’m sick of you. You used me and made my life miserable.

He lay back on his greasy towel and closed his eyes. The sounds of the surf, kids playing, even the lifeguard whistle, were soothing. Try and relax, he told himself. We’ll be going home soon. I won’t have to deal with Monique’s relatives again until next summer.

He felt himself drifting off. He could hear the seagulls flying above. It was so peaceful …

“Dizzy!” Monique screamed.

Dizzy bolted upright. “What? What? Are the kids okay?” he asked as he got up from his towel, slipped, fell back down, then got up again. He ran toward her.

“Yes, but look!” Monique said breathlessly, her hair dripping. She pointed up at the sky. A plane was flying overhead, dragging a sign advertising a garage sale. A sale featuring Cleo Paradise’s belongings. “Was Cleo Paradise at the Jersey Shore?” Monique asked Dizzy accusingly.

“I don’t know,” Dizzy lied.

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I’m sure. What are you, crazy?”

“It’s obvious she likes you. She was always asking you to help her in her apartment. Dizzy, I need this. Dizzy, I need that. She couldn’t change a lightbulb herself.”

“Likes me? She made fun of me in that movie. Besides, she always gave me a good tip when I did things for her. You know that.”

“I told you you spent too much time with her.”

“No I didn’t!”

“I think you secretly love the attention you’re getting from that movie. You say you don’t, but you do. It wasn’t that bad. What she did was cute and funny.”

“I don’t love the attention!” Dizzy growled. “I’m sick of that kind of attention! I’ve had it my whole life and I’m sick of it!” His head was spinning. I really am dizzy, he thought. I can’t stand Cleo and my wife thinks I’m carrying on a secret affair with her. That woman has made my life miserable in yet another way.

Monique’s dark eyes bore into his. “Every time you went out to get ice cream on this trip you were gone way too long.”