Selena Fragassi

Summertime Living Is Easy

His favorite name was Gina. I often wondered if it was the reason he liked my name so much. “Nina, as in Nina Simone,” he’d say, playfully punching my arm before his voice trailed off into soft, meandering verses of “Summertime” as he exited the living room, tickling the keys of the piano as he walked out and leaving behind him a great big shadow of doubt.