Page 38 of Summer Light on Nantucket
After a moment, Aaden said, “Sure, the poor woman was probably driven mad by me. I was never home, it’s an old story, the man works day and night to keep the business thriving while the wife is alone with two wailing babies. There I was, working nineteen hours a day and giving no help to Eileen, but I was pulling the company out of the grave and into the light.”
He paused, picking up a pebble, throwing it into the water.
“That happens a lot,” Blythe told him. “Women with the home and children, men with the work.”
Aaden asked, “Is that the way it was for you?”
Blythe steadied the back of her head against the lighthouse. “No. And not because I was the perfect mother. No, I had plenty of help. Wonderful friends and babysitters at home. On Nantucket, Celeste, my mother-in-law, and her husband adored them and helped so much. And Kate, my sister-in-law, well, you’ve met her. She’s highly efficient and extremely dictatorial. And I was glad. Back then, I was grateful for her support.”
“And Bob?”
Blythe chuckled softly. “In the beginning, he came home in the evening and helped out. He diapered our children and walked the floors with them at night. As they grew older, he was busier with work, and of course he was being paid more, handling harder cases. We became sort of a partnership. Thank heavens for his parents. They love our children, and Celeste often came up to take over when I had the flu or was overwhelmed. I love Celeste. I’ve learned so much from her.”
“What about your parents?” Aaden asked.
“Oh, you remember my parents, Aaden. They were busy with their own careers. My father was a doctor and Mother taught. They were fond of Miranda and Daphne, but they were philosophically opposed to my having four children. They were shocked and disapproving.” She sighed. “For their birthdays my parents send the children oneannual subscription toNational Geographicto share. For Christmas, they donate money in the children’s names to several charities.”
“And now?”
“The children will be in school. I could continue to substitute teach. But I’ve been offered a job teaching English full-time in seventh grade.”
“Are you going to take it?”
“I don’t know. The children are growing up so fast. I want to make sure I can be there for them.”
“I understand. Still, I wonder, with Bob and Teri in your children’s lives here on Nantucket…what if you could get away and come for a week or two in Ireland?”
It was as if he’d reached behind his back and magically brought out a beautiful box with a golden latch. All she had to do was open it. For a few moments, Blythe couldn’t think. Two weeks away from her children? She thought of Pandora’s box. They had been clever, those old storytellers.
She reached over to put her hand on Aaden’s arm. Oh, what a warm, strong arm. “That is ashockingsuggestion. Truly, Aaden.”
“You’ve never been away from them?”
“No, not really. I’ve never even thought about it. I’ve never even had the time to think about it.” Suddenly, she shivered, as if she were on the very edge of a cliff high in the air and if she took one step forward, she would plunge into a vast unknown. “I don’t think I could, orshould,leave my children for two weeks.”
Aaden said, his voice very low, “Blythe, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shock you or frighten you. It’s too soon for me to ask such a question.”
Blythe forced herself to do the deep breathing she was counseled to do when she was confused. “Aaden, aren’t we too old for a…a fling?”
Aaden was quiet. Then he said, “Sure, that’s possible. But we’re not too old for a relationship.”
She felt trapped, caught, torn between hope and fear. “Oh, you Irish,” she said, almost angrily, “you and your bewitching words.”
“I want to bewitch you,” Aaden told her. “But I’m in no hurry. I’ve waited twenty-four years for you. I can wait for a while longer.”
The clock on the Old South tower chimed eleven times.
“I need to go home.” Blythe scrambled to her feet. “The children…”
Aaden rose, too, and he didn’t touch her, but he stood close to her. She could feel his warmth.
“Blythe. I had no idea you would be on the island when Arnie invited me. When I set eyes on you at the yacht club, I felt an electric shock. It was as if my eyes had been opened and I could see my future.”
Anxiety made her insolent. “You saw all that in one moment?”
Aaden did not back down. “I did.”
“That’s…a lot. Aaden, I think I should go home. I think I need to take a moment.” Blythe tilted her head back, studying his face. “I still love you. But I love my children…I love my life. I don’t think I’m ready to go to Ireland yet.”
