Page 61 of The Summer We Started Over

“Janny’s running it today. She could open it tomorrow. We could spend the night together and I’d fly you back to the island tomorrow morning.” His eyes were dark with desire, and the invitation was tempting. “Or, she could be there for the weekend, and you and I could do anything we want.”

Barrett was irritated by Drew’s suggestion. She was making her living by running a shop that she hoped she’d have for years. Even decades. She had customers and friends and new objects to put out. And really, Janny couldn’t run the shop by herself.

Yet Drew was making puppy eyes at her. She smiled at him. “Stop it.”

“Tell me you’ll come with me someday.”

“Someday,” she whispered.Somedaycould be weeks, months, years away.

—

In the middle of July, Barrett invited Drew to dinner at her house. She wanted to explain to Drew that this didn’t mean she was getting serious, and it didn’t mean that it had a “meet the family” kind of importance, but actually, she did want Eddie to get to know him, because she valued Eddie’s judgment. Plus, she needed Drew to see how her family lived.

Eddie volunteered to make dinner. Barrett asked Janny to run Nantucket Blues alone until closing time at nine. She gave her a key so she could lock the door, feeling uneasy about this extreme measure of trust, even though Janny was over the moon because Barrett was going to be with Drew. Still, Barrett decided to phone Janny just after nine to be sure the girl had remembered to lock the door.

That night, Barrett raced home at five-thirty, took a shower, put on a cute sundress, and flew down to the kitchen to help Eddie.

Eddie was in the kitchen, wearing jean shorts and a halter top. Barrett winced when she saw Eddie’s clothes. She wanted her sister to look just a little morecovered,but she knew if she dared say anything, Eddie would probably stalk out of the house and drive away.

“He’s coming at six-thirty, right?” Eddie asked.

“Right,” Barrett said.

“We’re having a summer meal,” Eddie told her. “Grilled swordfish, potato salad, green salad, and strawberry shortcake.”

“That’s perfect!” Barrett peeked in the refrigerator.

“I actually made the shortcake for the dessert,” Eddie told her. “But I can’t improve on Reddi-wip.”

“What can I do?” Barrett asked.

“Set the table. Slice some limes for drinks. Put out a bowl of nuts. I’m going up to change.” Eddie noticed Barrett’s look of relief. “You thought I was going to meet him like this, right?”

“Of course not,” Barrett lied. “How many places shall I set?”

“Five, I guess. Me, you, Drew, Dad, Dinah.”

“Dinah’s eating here tonight?” Barrett tried not to wince.

“Do you have a problem with that? Would you prefer that I take her dinner on a tray so she can eat in the bedroom?”

“Don’t be silly, Eddie. It’s only that she usually eats out in the evening.”

“She wouldn’t miss this for the world. She’s eating here tonight so she and I can thoroughly discuss your new beau afterward.” Eddie flicked a dish towel at Barrett and went out of the room.

Barrett set the table with their everyday china, so she wouldn’t seem like she was trying too hard to impress Drew. She picked some vibrant zinnias from their backyard and set them in her favorite white ironstone pitcher, the one her grandmother had used. Their bright colors gave the table a homey, festive look. Or did they? Barrett stood studying the flowers, almost in a trance of anticipation, when her father came out of his study and Dinah came down the stairs and Drew knocked on the door, and Eddie raced to open it.

Eddie was wearing a plain linen dress in a light sand color and no jewelry. In one glance, Barrett realized this and knew Eddie was allowing Barrett to be the one to shine.

“Hello!” Eddie pulled the door open. “You must be Drew! Come in. I’m Eddie, Barrett’s older and much wiser sister.”

“Hi, Eddie,” Drew replied, stepping into the front hall. He wore khakis and a blue button-down shirt and he held a bouquet of sunflowers wrapped in the special paper of Flowers on Chestnut.

Barrett stepped forward. “Hi, Drew. Oh, thanks for these. Come in and meet everyone else.”

They gathered in the living room. Barrett made the introductions. Her father looked normal, in chinos and a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Dinah looked—well, Dinahneverlookednormal—like an actress trying out for the part of a forty-year-old Barbie. Her dress was pink, swirly, and extremely low cut. Actually, she looked fabulous. Eddie offered to put the flowers in water while Barrett got the drinks, and for a moment they were together in the kitchen whispering just like they had a thousand times before.

“He’s handsome,” Eddie said. “But what are you going to do with these sunflowers? They’re so big, and there are so many of them. They make your zinnias look pitiful. But if you put these on the table, no one will be able to see anyone else.”

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