she was surprised that Hope had been willing to take that risk.
“Next year we’re doing high tea, in the city,” Hope informed her once the games were underway for the kids and the guests were mingling amongst themselves.
Gemma frowned at her sister, wanting to say that she thought the party was a success, but Hope quickly said, “They’ll be five then. Perfect age for that sort of thing.”
Gemma smiled. Of course. “I seem to recall we always did that for your birthday, didn’t we?”
Hope seemed to frown. “You’re right. We did. Meanwhile Ellie always got to have her party at the country club pool.”
“Well, she has a summer birthday,” Gemma pointed out, but she knew what Hope meant. When Ellie pushed for later bed times, she was met with heaved sighs and resigned nods of the head. Whereas if Hope or Gemma had asked, the answer would have been a firm and immediate “no.” Rules were rules in the Morgan household. At least, until Ellie came along.
“Have you spoken to her recently?” Hope asked.
Gemma was quick to shake her head. “I haven’t been good at keeping in touch with everything that’s gone on lately.” She felt uneasy thinking about her sister. They had exchanged words, last summer, at Gran’s service. Words that didn’t sit right with her and that she couldn’t take back. Still, she and Ellie had always gotten along, and surely Ellie had to know that tensions were high then. They were all grieving. And, of course, they were at their childhood home, under their father’s roof and his tight control over everything they said and did. They were tense and nervous, just like they’d been as kids.
“Service is always hit or miss on the island.” Hope smiled at a passing guest.
Gemma wished it were just that, but she had a feeling there was more to it. “She did call and leave a voicemail after she heard about the wedding…” She trailed off, hating that she’d now broached the topic when all she wanted to do was push it out of her head for an afternoon.
Hope nodded. She was the peacemaker, always had been. The role model. She made monthly calls to Ellie, even had it written on the calendar in the kitchen. Sunday nights were for calls to their parents, and even if she wasn’t able to reach them, Gemma knew her sister well enough to know that Hope was dutiful enough to try.
“How’s the book coming along?” Hope asked, and the eager smile told Gemma that her sister was trying to steer her off the topic of Sean in a helpful way. She had no way of knowing that she’d just brought up something equally prickly.
It was the dreaded question, and one that Gemma didn’t hear very often other than from her editor and literary agent, because she tried not to engage with anyone, especially of late. But this was her sister. She could be honest with Hope.
“Not well. I’m…blocked.” There, she’d said it. She didn’t know where her story was going. She didn’t know the ending.
“Still upset about Sean?” Hope frowned at her. “You know he’s not worth it. To just decide one day that he’d changed his mind? After committing? As painful as that is, it’s better to know that now than six years from now.”
Six years was how long Hope and Evan had been married. That was easy for Hope to say.
“Maybe you need a change of scenery. Something to get your mind off things here,” Hope said. Her expression suddenly lifted. “Why don’t you go to the lake house?”
Gemma frowned. “Evening Island?” It was far from convenient, and now was the time to buckle down, not take a vacation. Besides, there was the matter of Ellie to think about.
Still, Ellie was her sister, and they had to work through things eventually, and when she thought of the clear, cool water and the breeze flowing through the open window in her favorite room in the house, the one on the third floor that had the desk in the alcove, looking out over the lake, she felt her spirits lift.
“A change might help me to focus,” she said. Stop her from thinking of Sean at every turn, picturing their life in the four walls of the apartment they had all too briefly shared. “And it might help to spend some quality time with Ellie. If she’ll let me come.”
Hope gave her a smile. “Of course she’ll let you come. Besides, she sort of has