Nantucket Weddings - Pamela M. Kelley Page 0,44
wearing matching pink flowered sundresses and orange flip flops, and they both had their blonde hair in a ponytail with a pink ribbon tied around it.
Sam handed Kate a six-pack of Sam Adams IPA and a paper bag. “That has all the fixings needed for s’mores.”
“Great, thanks. I love s’mores. I bet the girls do too, right?” The girls just stared at her.
“Becky, Sarah, this is my friend Kate. We grew up together, and this is her mom, Mrs. Hodges, and my friend Mia. Mia goes to the group with me on Wednesday nights. Say hello, girls.”
“Hi,” they both mumbled. But then Becky perked up and asked Kate, “Do you have hot dogs?”
Kate laughed. “Yes, of course. And burgers, too. Are you hungry?”
“I would like a hot dog, please.”
“Well, I can help you with that. Follow me and we’ll get you fixed up.”
Kate led Sam and the girls over to the grill area, where Jack was taking burgers and dogs off the grill and moving them onto a big platter. There were bowls of potato and pasta salad, potato chips, coleslaw and various condiments. Everyone made their way over, made a plate and found somewhere to sit. Kate and Jack had set out extra chairs on the lawn, and there was a long picnic table and a big round table as well. Mia noticed that Izzy and Will were deep in conversation and hadn’t gone for food yet. Sam and the girls were at the picnic table and Mia walked over to them.
“Do you mind if I join you?”
“Please, we’d love that. Wouldn’t we girls?” They both nodded, but neither said anything.
“They’re not usually this shy. I think it’s a little overwhelming, maybe with all these people,” Sam said.
“Or maybe we’re just hungry, Dad.” Becky smiled and then took a big bite of her hot dog.
Sam shook his head. “Becky’s definitely not my quiet one.”
“How’s your burger, Sarah?” Mia asked. Sam’s other daughter hadn’t said a word, but seemed to be enjoying her food.
“It’s really good!”
“We went and saw some big boats come in yesterday down at the pier. That was fun, wasn’t it, girls?”
“It was awesome! We saw some of the biggest boats ever. It was so cool,” Becky said.
Sarah nodded. “It was. We’re going again tomorrow to see them take off.”
“It was fun. I haven’t seen the Figawi madness in years. I forgot how crazy and busy it is down at the pier.”
Mia smiled. “That’s one of the things I love about my condo. Izzy usually comes over at some point over the weekend, and we can watch it all from my deck.”
“That must be fun. I bet you’re anxious to move back there. Any word on when that might be?”
“This Thursday, actually. Will is finishing a little ahead of schedule, which is great.”
“Can we go walk around?” Becky and Sarah were both done eating and bored with sitting.
“Take your plates to the trash can on the deck. Then yes, you can go exploring, but don’t leave the yard.”
Becky jumped up and Sarah followed. They ran to the trash can and dumped their plates, then took off roaming the big yard which led down to the ocean. From where he sat, Sam could keep a good eye on them. He’d barely touched his own food and turned his attention to it, polishing off a hot dog and a burger.
“They seem like great girls,” Mia said. They were cute and well-behaved.
“They are. I’m lucky.”
They chatted easily while they ate and Mia learned that Sam was a big reader, too. He liked mostly mysteries, and they liked some of the same authors. He was a big fan of Kate’s, of course, and he’d read every book that Philippe had written.
“The Nantucket Book Festival is coming up in a few weeks. You should go. Izzy and I usually check it out. There are always local authors doing signings and a big gala one of the nights, if you like that kind of thing. Some vendors I work with usually have extra tickets, so sometimes we go.”
“That sounds fun. Maybe we’ll check it out. They do something under a big tent, too, don’t they? Maybe the girls and I will find some kids’ books. They love to read, too.”
“I think they might.”
“You know, I’ve been thinking about the conversation at the Rose and Crown the other night. Ken seems like he’s ready to start getting out there, and it hasn’t even been a year for him. I’m thinking that maybe it really