Page 19 of Summer Light on Nantucket
Two years ago, Bob’s father died suddenly. Bob and Blythe took turns flying to Nantucket to help Celeste. For the memorial service, Bob and Blythe attended together with their children. For the next few months, Bob went to the island to help his mother with estate matters,although his father had, not surprisingly, taken care to be clear and specific with his will.
After that, when Bob returned to his life with Teri, Blythe invited Celeste to stay with her and the children for a week or two. During that week, Blythe and Celeste hadn’t talked about Bob and Teri, just enjoyed each other’s company. But the night before Celeste returned to Nantucket, after all the children were in bed and asleep, Celeste sat at the kitchen table with Blythe sipping Irish coffees.
“You know,” Celeste had said, “I’m going to have to be nice to Teri.”
The alcohol in the coffee was making Blythe maudlin. “I’m no longer your daughter-in-law.”
“No,” Celeste had agreed. “But you are now the friend of my heart.”
“Oh, that’s lovely.” Blythe tried to sniff back her tears.
“I’m also the grandmother of your children just as you are the mother of my grandchildren,” Celeste had reminded Blythe.
surprise
Now, Blythe sat with her ex-mother-in-law at the round table looking out at the yacht club’s dining room and foyer. Some people were still eating. Others were drinking coffee and chatting. The air carried the aromas of good food and the soft melodies of conversation.
Blythe leaned toward Celeste. “Talk to me. Pretend you’re telling me something serious. For example, someone we know died this year.”
Celeste understood immediately and turned her face to Blythe. “Who are you trying to avoid?”
“Sandy Green. She told me she’s bringing a man to dinner tonight and he’s widowed, and she wants me to meet him.”
“Ah.” Celeste quickly eyed the room. “I think that the man with the short hair is Hugh Green, Sandy’s husband, which means that the man with them, the man with wide shoulders is— Goodness, Blythe, you should meet him. He looks awfully nice.”
Blythe chuckled. “I’ll meet him after you tell me if Roland Wilson is your boyfriend.”
“We haven’t slept together, if that’s what you mean. We’re companions. Good companions. We’ll share a hotel room in Boston, but the room has two beds.”
“Okay,” Blythe interrupted Celeste. “Here they come.”
Sandy, her husband, Hugh, and their friend Nick arrived at the table. Sandy introduced everyone. Nick bent toward Celeste and shook her hand, giving Blythe a moment to study him. He was tall and broad-shouldered, handsome, tanned, athletic. Kind of Superman with a Clark Kent vibe. His eyes were a shade of honey ringed with cocoa, matching his shaggy, sun-streaked brown hair.
“And this is my best friend Blythe,” Sandy said.
Nick turned to Blythe. “Hello.” He had a beautiful voice.
“Hello,” Blythe said, and held out her hand. When she laid her palm in his, his fingers closed around her hand as if sending a secret code. Blythe blinked in surprise. Deep inside her, neglected chemicals woke up and raced around, rearranging and flinging themselves, ricocheting in her brain and body like sparkling jewels exploding from rocks.Well, hello,she thought.
“Won’t you join us?” Celeste asked.
Nick took the chair next to Blythe, and when he sat, his knee skimmed hers.
“What have you been doing on this beautiful day?” Celeste asked.
“We spent the day sailing,” Hugh said.
“That’s why they’ve got sunburns,” Sandy added.
That gave Blythe a reason to stare at Nick. Hewassunburned, and he was beautiful, in an outdoor guy kind of way.
Nick’s eyes met Blythe’s and held. She felt warm all over, as if she’d just come in out of the cold.
“Nick’s a middle school teacher!” Sandy announced, as eager as a mother introducing her child to a new classroom. “Plus, he’s a musician!”
Celeste leaned toward Nick. “How wonderful! What do you play?”
Nick gave his attention to Celeste. “Guitar, mostly. Also, fiddle. I sing sea shanties. I’ll be performing for the children at the club sometime this summer.”
