Page 46 of A Nantucket Wedding

She was being foolish. Negative. It was a glorious summer day, she was engaged to a man she adored, and their families were becoming friends. Of course there would be a certain amount of discord—they were all human beings, after all. What Alison needed to do was to focus on being a good hostess. She’d already spoken with the housekeeper about fresh sheets on the beds and fresh towels in the bathrooms. Alani had also stocked the cupboards and refrigerator with the basic necessities. Later, Alison would go off to Sayle’s to see what fish was fresh and to buy fresh vegetables at Moors End. Once she was back on the island, she knew she’d feel more optimistic.

—

And with the children came the bliss. Alice, Luke, Daphne, and Hunter thundered into the house with whoops of joy at being back on the island. Felicity’s two threw themselves at Alison, hugging her so hard she almost fell over, while Daphne, child dictator, waited impatiently behind them, reminding them that they had to change into their swimming suitsnow.

“You can’t go to the water yet,” Poppy said. “I’m exhausted from the trip.”

“I’ll go down with them,” Felicity volunteered.

“And I’ll go,” Jane said.

“I’ll go, too,” Scott said. “Just let me change my clothes. Unless you need help with something, Alison.”

“No, I’m fine. Please, go, swim.”

“Thanks.” Jane kissed her mother. She was bubblier, brighter than usual, perhaps because Scott was with her.

“There are beach towels on the table on the deck,” Alison called. To Poppy, she said, “Now that you’re all here, I’m going off to buy fresh veggies. Is there anything you need?”

“Just a nap.”

“Yes, of course, Poppy. Have a nice long rest.”

—

Alison had spent some time researching recipes and planning to be ready to feed the family three times a day. She decided she’d cook what she enjoyed cooking and buy the rest. She couldn’t expect everyone to like the same things, so she made sure there was a variety. She bought fresh tuna to marinate in olive oil, ginger, and garlic for grilling, and crimson vine-ripened tomatoes, and Bartlett’s potato salad and macaroni salad, and newly picked carrots, which she’d cook with butter and a touch of brown sugar to tempt the children, and an enormous bag of peas in the pod. The children loved popping open the pods and eating the fresh sweet peas. A fruit torte from the Nantucket Bake Shop. She bought ice cream bars for the children, and she stopped at the liquor store to stock up for the adults. At the last moment, she tossed in several bags of chips.

When she returned to the house, she was surprised to see Scott waiting to help her unload.

“Oh, you don’t have to do this, Scott, I can manage,” she protested.

“I think I really have to do this,” Scott said with a twinkle in his eye. “You’ve bought so much food, and you’re so terribly old, I’d feel guilty if I allowed you to carry all these bags without my help.”

Alison cocked her head and studied her son-in-law. “You’re not a beach person,” she concluded.

Scott grinned. “I guess not. I did try. I watched the children so they wouldn’t drown. Everyone else is down there now, tossing the beach ball around. They’re like an amoeba, everyone in one big blob.”

Grinning, Alison nodded toward the hatch. “Those bags are the heaviest. Since I’m so terribly old, I’ll go on in and be ready to unpack.”

While Scott brought in the groceries, Alison went out on the deck to look down at the beach. Sure enough, everyone was engaged in some kind of spontaneous game that seemed like a combination of volleyball and football. She could hear the squeals and laughter, and she smiled, wanting to snap a memory of this, her family and David’s, playing on the beach. Maybe the weekend wouldn’t be so bad, after all.

—

Late in the afternoon, the “Beach People,” as Alison and Scott nicknamed the others, came trudging up to the house, sunburned and hungry and tired. They all took turns getting the sand off in the outdoor shower before running into the house for a proper wash and scrub, and soon the scent of strawberry-kiwi shampoo drifted through the house. Alison sent the children down to the lawn to shell and eat the peas, while the adults relaxed on the deck with cool drinks.

Scott offered to grill the tuna, Jane and Felicity took over preparing everything else, and finally all ten people were at the table, with Luke sitting on pillows, squeezed between Felicity and Alison.

“Too bad David and Ethan couldn’t come this time,” Felicity said.

“And too bad Noah couldn’t come,” Alison answered. “Someday we’ll get everyone here at the same time.”

Jane laughed. “I can’t even imagine how much fun that will be.”

Or not,Alison thought.

Patrick spoke up. “So, Scott, Poppy tells me you’re a lawyer.”

“That’s right,” Scott began. “I work for—”

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