Page 73 of Surfside Sisters

“I didn’t know you were on the island,” Sebastian said.

“I’m not here for long. I mean, I still have my apartment in New York. I flew home to”—she swiveled her head, checking to see that her mother wasn’t near enough to overhear—“spend some time with my mother. She’s retired and miserable. I hope I can cheer her up.”

“I’m sure you will. And hey, I enjoyed your book.”

“You did? Why?”

“Because you wrote it.”

“Oh.”

“It’s a good book, Keely. Good writing. I enjoyed it, although I wasn’t crazy about the descriptive passages of Hope and Adam having sex.”

Keely blushed deeply. “That wasn’t autobiographical.”

“Yeah, it was.”

He had read her book. He thought she wrote well. He’d read passages she’d written about sex. So much heat surged through her she was afraid she’d explode.

“You seem to know everything about me, Sebastian. I’m impressed. Maybe you can tell me how long I’m going to be on the island.”

“I think you’ll be here for the summer. I think I’ll take you out to dinner like I’ve been waiting to do for a long time.”

Stunned, Keely took a sip of wine to give herself a moment to process his words.Sebastian wanted to take her to dinner.

“Hello, Sebastian.” Eloise approached the scrimshaw display. “I’ve read about your work. Congratulations.”

Keely restrained a sigh of relief. Her mother was as friendly and relaxed as she had always been.

Sebastian leaned forward and kissed Eloise’s cheek. “Mrs. Green, how great to see you. Thanks for coming.”

“Oh, it’s all thanks to Keely. Now that she’s home, I find I’m much more cheerful.”

“You know,” Sebastian said, looking directly into Keely’s eyes, “I feel that way, too.”

“I think she should stay,” Eloise said.

“I agree.” Sebastian’s mouth curled in a smile. “But maybe she’s too much of a city gal now. We’re too provincial for her.”

“You’re one to talk,” Eloise teased. “You lived in Sweden for what, four years?”

Her mother’s lighthearted interrogation of Sebastian gave Keely the courage to say, “And by the way, where is your Swedish girlfriend?”

“Ah, well, she’s remained in Sweden. We’re still friends.”

“Are you really here for good?” Eloise asked.

“I hope so. I’ve bought the print shop out on Old South Road. We do invitations, posters, newsletters, brochures…”

Eloise brightened. “Why, yes, I know right where you are. So you’ve got the shop to support you financially, and I’ll bet in the winter you have plenty of time for your art.”

“Exactly.”

“So tell me,” Eloise asked, “how did you get interested in scrimshaw?”

Keely leaned against the wall, smiling. Her mother seemed to be sliding right back into her normal, friendly self. Maybe Keely could stop worrying.

“Hello, Eloise. Keely.”

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