My Mother's Gift: The Diary of Peggy Caples

Chapter 8

With the warm summer sun casting a golden hue over Ocean City, Peggy strolled down the bustling boardwalk, the aroma of Thrasher's french fries and saltwater taffy teasing her senses. She felt a gentle breeze caress her face as she made her way to the drugstore, humming softly to the rhythm of a band she had heard on the radio.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Sterling," Peggy greeted the elderly man behind the counter as she entered the familiar establishment.

"Well, look who it is," a voice emerged from the back room with a mischievous grin that caught her completely off guard. "Fancy seeing you here."

"George?" She had not expected to see him on the Eastern Shore, let alone working in his parents' drugstore. He hadn't even informed her he was in town. "What are you doing here?"

"Helping my folks out for a bit," George replied smoothly, stepping closer, "But enough about me – how have you been?"

"Fine, I suppose," she said, trying to regain her composure. The unsettling feeling in her chest could only be attributed to their unresolved tension. Her thoughts drifted to Ralph, wondering what he would think if he saw her now.

"We can do better than fine now can't we?" – George leaned against the counter, fixing her with an intense gaze –"I'm shooting for.. fantastic... and, I only know one way of doing that. What are you doing Thursday night?"

Peggy hesitated, weighing the consequences of accepting his invitation. There was no denying the allure of George's charm and charisma. But her heart belonged to Ralph, and she couldn't help but feel as though she was betraying him by even entertaining the idea of a date with George.

"George, I'm not sure..." she said, her voice wavering. The truth was, she felt torn between her loyalty to Ralph and the thrill of being pursued by someone as confident and alluring as George.

"Come on, it'll be fun," he persisted. "Just one night. What do you say?"

With a sigh, Peggy relented, intrigued by the excitement he promised. "Alright. Thursday night it is."

"Great," he replied, his grin widening. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too," she murmured, wondering if she'd come to regret this decision. As Peggy bid farewell and stepped back into the sunlit afternoon, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had just set something in motion – something that would irrevocably change the course of her summer.

Peggy and her friend Pat walked along the bustling Ocean City boardwalk, enjoying the warm morning sun and the sounds of seagulls overhead. Peggy's heart was racing with excitement, but she also felt a twinge of nerves in her stomach. In a few days, she would be going on a date with George, and the thought both thrilled and scared her.

"Do you really want to go through with this?" said Pat.

Peggy sighed and nervously played with the hem of her dress. "Honestly, I'm not sure," she admitted. "But what's the worst that could happen?"

"Alright, if you say so," Pat replied, though her eyes showed her concern. "Just promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise."

As they reached the drugstore where George worked, Peggy couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement at the prospect of seeing him again. But as they entered the store, disappointment settled in when she found George absent from his usual post behind the counter.

"Maybe he's off today," Pat suggested, trying to placate her friend's sinking spirits.

"Perhaps," said Peggy.

Later that afternoon, Peggy, Shirl, and Pat decided to head to the Pier Club for some much-needed fun and relaxation. The lively music and laughter of fellow beachgoers filled the air as they entered the club, the salty breeze tousling Peggy's hair.