afternoon. But I’d love to get together properly. Can we maybe do dinner?”
“I would love that,” I say, and we spontaneously move toward each other and hug, and I am so enormously grateful for this newfound relationship that when we pull away, my eyes are filled with tears.
* * *
“So,” says Sam, waiting at the end of the wharf, examining me carefully as I walk up to him. “Who would have thunk it? She didn’t spit in your eye and cast a spell on you.”
“Quite the opposite. The one thing I never expected was the warmth, Sam. She’s as warm and lovely as she used to be.”
“Even though you shagged her boyfriend?”
I groan and cover my eyes in shame. “Can you not? I’d really much rather forget about that. Anyway, there’s still the sister to contend with. Apparently she has allowed the girls to meet, although no mention of wanting to see me.”
“You never liked the sister though, right?”
“She never gave me a chance. But no, she’s not the kind of woman I generally warm to. At least she wasn’t, all those years ago. She’s cold, and imperious. She always made me feel less than.”
We cross the cobbled street behind two women in very high wedge sandals. “God!” I whisper to Sam, grateful for my flip-flops. “What are they thinking, wearing heels in Nantucket, for God’s sake?”
“They’re thinking a twisted ankle would be an excellent souvenir from their trip.” He rolls his eyes, and I laugh. “I’m starving, Cat. Can we go somewhere and grab lunch?”
I whisk him off to Sconset, which he completely falls in love with—the gorgeous little village with its pretty store and restaurant, the tiny cottages covered in climbing roses.
We go to the Summer House, which he instantly pronounces his favorite place on the island thus far, partly, I am sure, because everyone here seems to be clad in designer labels equal to his own.
“Now it feels like a holiday,” he says, as we find a table next to the pool and watch all the glamorous people having lunch around us. “This is definitely my kind of place. Isn’t that John Kerry over there?”
I turn to look, just as my phone buzzes with a text from Annie.
Mum, can I go to Brant Point with Trudy? She’s meeting a crowd of friends. Please!
I pass the phone over to Sam, let him read the text. “What do you think? Okay?”
He frowns at me. “Why would you say no?”
“Trudy’s sixteen. She’s quite a bit older than Annie. I suppose I’m just worried about Annie getting up to … stuff.”
“Like you used to do?” He laughs.
“I suppose so. Even though Annie doesn’t seem nearly old enough. I just worry that she might be led astray.”
“Stop worrying so much. Let her go. This is what you wanted, that she would bond with her cousin and have an amazing vacation with kids her own age. This is going to be much more fun for her than hanging out with us, however much she loves us.”
I sigh. “You’re right. Of course you’re right.” I reach out for the phone, tap away on the screen.
Are you having a good time?
OMG! The BEST! She’s AMAZING!
Do you have enough money?
Yes. Love you xxxx
Love you more. XX
“And there she goes, out into the big wide world,” says Sam when I show him the text. “Boys, booze, drugs. It’s all out there waiting for her.”
“Oh, fuck off,” I say. “Thanks for playing into all of my fears.” I take a deep breath. “This is Annie we’re talking about. She’s not about to launch herself into a life of debauchery. Anyway, Trudy seems lovely. I’m glad she’s having a nice time. Why don’t you finish the burger and we’ll go to the beach?”
* * *
I pick Annie up from the beach at Brant Point at six. She has already texted, over and over, begging to stay later, but I tell her we have two weeks for her to see her new friends, and she can always go back later. I have made a reservation at the Galley tonight, and it’s special, and expensive, and a treat for all of us. I want Annie with us.
“So?” Sam asks when Annie climbs into the car. “I see there were quite a crowd of kids with you. Nice kids?”
Annie is beaming, in a way I’m not quite sure I’ve ever seen her beam before. This is my quiet, unassuming, bookworm of a child. She’s never been interested in socializing, or partying, or