“Mom.” Vivien refused to let Pittypat derail this. “We are not sending anyone home. For one thing, it would break Nolie in two. For another, you may own the property, but you cannot and will not blow in here and pull rank. This isourSummer House now and you are more than welcome. But you will not ruin what we’ve built.”
She looked over the little brown head and locked eyes with Vivien. “You’ve changed,” she said softly.
“Yes.” She lifted her chin. “I guess you can blame Destin.”
A slow, slight smile lifted her mother’s lips. “No blame. Credit. It’s a good change.”
“Hey, are you up here?” Eli’s voice came up the stairwell.
“Yes,” Vivien called, a little breathless from the genuine compliment and the sense that she’d not only passed the biggest test, she’d reached a milestone with Maggie. “We’re here. Come up.”
Her brother came up the stairs two at a time, followed by Crista. They both wore expressions of uncertainty as they walked into the alcove. Eli leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, and Crista folded onto the floor, looking up at Maggie.
“I’m sorry I lied,” she said, a hitch in her voice, but no actual tears for once. “I just couldn’t miss this opportunity for Nolie. She didn’t tell me you called.”
“I asked her not to,” Maggie said, stroking Pittypat’s little head. “Nolie’s a good girl.”
Crista sighed. “She loves you, Mama. We all do.”
Maggie tried to look mad, but right then, she didn’t look any more ferocious than the Yorkie in her arms.
“Nolie is going to go to third grade,” Crista said. “Because of?—”
“I know. Tessa. And I’m thrilled.” Maggie looked up at Eli. “And Jonah? A baby? A chef?”
“Yes to all,” he said. “You’re looking at a grandfather in a matter of weeks.”
“Congratulations, Eli. And what is this I hear about Kate?”
He tried not to smile, but couldn’t help it. “Whatever you heard, it’s deeper and stronger and not going away.”
She pressed one hand to her lips as if she had to try not to react, the other clinging to the dog.
“Mom, please.” Eli crouched down to look her in the eyes. “Please tell us what happened all those years ago. We need to know so we can…process and move on.”
“I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?” he pressed.
She took a moment to inhale, still petting the dog, looking past all of them in thought. “All I know, and this is the God’s honest truth, is that Artie turned Roger in to the police that last week while we were here. Why, how, and what he was thinking is a mystery to me. Doesn’t Jo know?”
Jo.Vivien had forgotten that Maggie called her “Jo” and the other woman had used “Mags.” No one else on Earth called them that, and for some reason, the fact that they both slipped into their ancient sorority sister nicknames gave her hope.
“She says she doesn’t know, either,” Eli replied. “She says the truth went to the grave with her husband and, I guess, Dad. And that Artie told her not to contact you for any reason, and not to ask questions.”
Letting out a slow breath, Maggie inched back. “Roger promised he’d tell me everything when he got out of prison, but…” She tried to swallow. “As you know, he never did.”
“But what was there to tell?” Vivien asked. “What was ‘everything’?”
“I don’t know,” Maggie said. “I swear I don’t.”
“Then why are you so mad at Jo Ellen?” Eli asked.
“Because Roger died and if he hadn’t gone to prison…” She whimpered softly, a little more of her bite gone. “I guess you all win and I’ll leave now?—”
“No.” Crista sat up and put her hand on Maggie’s leg. “Mama, I know you’re upset with me for lying, but Nolie is going down that boardwalk as the one and only flower girl in ten minutes. She literally helped come up with the idea for this event and she wants you there. She’s so happy you’ve come and truly believes you left Europe for the sole purpose of seeing her do this.”
Very slowly, Maggie’s expression softened even more. Her gaze warmed. Her jaw loosened. And she gave in to a slight smile.
