Page 70 of A Nantucket Wedding

At some point, Alison must have fallen into a light doze, because it was after four when she opened her eyes. Yawning, she stretched, feeling wonderfully rested. She refreshed herself in the bathroom, brushing her hair, adding a touch of lipstick, and then she opened the bedroom door and stepped out into the hall.

“Well, I think you’re disgusting!” It was Poppy, hissing.

A man laughed. Alison’s mind sorted quickly and informed her: Ethan. Poppy and Ethan were downstairs in the front hall, arguing.

“Poppy, come on. Don’t be such a puritan. I’ve always flirted with women. You know that. It’s one of my hobbies.”

“I’m a puritan? You’re aslut.”

Ethan sighed and his voice was exasperated. “Give me a break. You’re just hormonal these days. You’re not seeing things clearly.”

“I’m seeing that you’re not divorced like you’re telling Jane and Felicity you are.”

“So? I’m separated. Moving toward divorce.”

“Yes, and how many years have you beenseparated?”

“We live in different countries. We’re both working,” Ethan said.

“Well, I’m going to tell Dad,” Poppy informed Ethan.

“That’s ridiculous. What are you, five years old? What’s Dad going to do, ground me? Besides, he’s got enough on his plate now, with you taking over the company.”

“What do you mean by that?” Poppy snapped.

“Calm down. I only mean it’s a big deal, stepping away from the family company. It’s a life passage. He’s stepping out of a lifetime as the chairman of a huge organization into being a retired old man.”

“Daddy willneverbe just another retired old man!” Poppy cried.

“I didn’t mean it that way. Come on, Poppy, let’s get a drink and chill. We’re getting way too dramatic about all this.”

“I can’t drink. I’m pregnant, remember?”

Their voices faded as they left the hall for the kitchen. Alison realized she’d been holding her breath. She absolutely did not want David’s children to know she’d overheard them. She wondered whether she should tell Jane that Ethan wasn’t actually divorced. But after all, Jane was still married to Scott.

The front door opened and her grandchildren thundered in, followed by Felicity and Jane.

“Swimming, yay!” Luke yelled, tossing his paper bag of new toys on the floor.

“Luke, no.” Felicity bent over to pick up the bag. “I told you and Alice if you kept on fussing you wouldn’t be able to swim anymore today.”

Aha,Alison thought, as both children went into fits of screaming.Here’s something I can help with.

Alison walked down the stairs and put an arm around Felicity. “Hello, darling.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I’ve always thought that one should never give a punishment to children that makes it even more unpleasant for the mother.”

Felicity gawked. “What?”

“If they can’t swim, what will they do with all their energy?”

“Oh,” Felicity said. “Right. Clever.” She knelt down and brought her children close to her. “I’ve changed my mind. You can go swimming now, as soon as Jane and I get our bathing suits on. Because you were fussing in the car, you can’t have dessert tonight.”

Luke and Alice exchanged glances, agreeing without words: This was a compromise they could accept.

“Fine,” Alice said. “I’ll put on my bathing suit.”

“You, too, Luke. And don’t leave your clothes in the hall,” Felicity told them.

twenty-one

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