Page 83 of Surfside Sisters

Still, why hadn’t he called her first to find out if it was a good time for him to come to Nantucket? And would there ever be a good time for him to come to Nantucket? Should she tell him about Sebastian? Or would that be assuming too much too soon about her relationship with Sebastian? But even if things didn’t work out with her and Sebastian, did she really want a future with Gray? Could she truly love him? Marry him? Live with him?

“Are you still there, Keely?”

“Yes, sorry. I’m trying to remember my schedule for the next few days. Also, I have to check with my mother about her plans…Gray, let me call you back tomorrow.”

“Are you saying you don’t want me to come to Nantucket?”

“No. Maybe. I don’t know. It’s such a busy time…”

“Are you involved with Tommy again?”

“God, no! I haven’t set eyes on Tommy. I know I’ll have to see him sometime, but I don’t have feelings for him anymore, I promise.” As she spoke, Keely felt like a creep for talking about Tommy and not saying a word about Sebastian.

“I know what’s happened, Keely.”

“You do?” She stopped her pacing, suddenly overcome with guilt.

“You’ve fallen in love with the island again. You’ve become an island girl and turned your back on the city.”

“Maybe you’re right,” Keely said, grateful for his reasoning.

“That’s why I definitely need to come out there and remind you of all you’ve got waiting for you in the city.”

“Or, or, I could come in for a few days,” Keely said desperately.

“How soon?” Gray asked. “I really miss you, Keely.”

She nearly bent double with shame to hear such a reserved man speaking to her with honest emotion.

“I miss you, too, Gray.” She had to say that. She couldn’t not say that. If she were going to break it off with him, she couldn’t do it over the phone.

“I’m glad. Then I’m coming.”

Keely tried to sound normal. “Gray, tell me what you’ve done this week, at the hospital, I mean.”

“It was a busy week. And a good one. I removed a tumor from a six-week-old boy. It was benign, thank God. I also repaired and rebuilt the face of a two-year-old who’d been in a car accident. And—” He sounded sure of himself, and yes, a bit smug, and he deserved his pride for changing the lives of such tiny human bodies.

As he spoke, it occurred to her that her mother would love to talk with Gray about his work. She would be able to understand the technical side of it. She could speak his language, and it would cheer her enormously to be able to be back in that world of the hospital again, her world.

“Gray,” she said impulsively, “I’d love it if one night we could take my mother out to dinner. She’s a nurse, you know, and she’d be fascinated by all this.”

“I’d be very glad to meet your mother,” Gray said solemnly.

Oh, rats,Keely thought. He completely misinterpreted her reason for wanting her mother to meet him. But it was too late now.

“Good,” Keely replied.

“But not the first night I’m there. Let’s have the first night to ourselves. We need some time alone together.”

“I know.” Keely injected warmth into her voice.

“All right, then. I’ll email you my flight information. I’ve reserved a car at the airport. I’ll call you once I’ve checked into the hotel.”

“Great!” Keely said. She wanted to hit her head against the side of the house. “See you soon.”

After their call ended, Keely had to move. She walked around her mother’s garden. The flowers and shrubs were in shades of gray because of the lack of light, but their fragrances were strong.

She forced herself to think about Gray. About making love with him. He was a careful lover, as restrained in passion as he was in the rest of his life. He was diligent about pleasing her, but that very quality irritated Keely. She found him manipulative, as if he considered her similar to one of his patients. She did enjoy being with him, and he did take her places she’d never dreamed of going. But she didn’t love him. And she had to tell him that.

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