Page 78 of The Summer We Started Over

“Not really. I mean, the shop was really ticking over today. And people were so complimentary. It’s just…oh, you know, man trouble.”

Eddie set her elbow on the table and cradled her chin in her hand.

“Tell me.”

Barrett blurted, “Drew took another woman to the gala!”

Thank heavens she hadn’t told her sister about Dove’s letter. “How do you know?”

“Paul told me. He took Janny, even though he asked me first. In front of Paul, Janny reminded me that I had a date with Drew that night. She slimed her way into getting Paul to takeher.Then when I thought Drew was taking me, he told me he had to go with his parents. But today I learned that Drewhada date!”

“Oh, Care Bear, that’s awful.” Eddie wanted to race out of the house, find Drew Fischer, and slug him in the nose.

“It gets worse. Saturday night, Drew called meafterthe gala and asked me to go to the beach with him, and he wanted…” Barrett choked on her words.

Eddie prompted, “And did you?”

“No! I’m not anidiot. Or maybe I am. We were at the beach by the Creeks, and he kissed me, and he tried to…and I pushed him away.”

“How did he react?”

“He was annoyed. It was awkward. But, Eddie, I’m angry at Drew,but at the same time, I want him to like me.” Barrett shook her head. “Iaman idiot.”

Eddie was puzzled. When they were younger, she could always comfort Barrett with something sweet. A lollipop. Ice cream. But nothing sweet would taste good after the pool of maple syrup Barrett had devoured.

And Barrett was no longer a child, Eddie reasoned. “Barrett, it seems to me that Drew is pretty much playing around with you. I mean, how sleazy is he to take someone else to the gala and then try to mess around with you?”

Barrett sniffed back her tears. “I think he’s just really busy.”

“And you believe that.”

Barrett’s mouth bunched up like it did whenever she was arguing.“I don’t know what to believe.” She carried her plate to the sink. “Thanks for the dinner. I’m going to shower and go to bed. I’m exhausted.”

“Okay,” Eddie said to the empty room. She didn’t show Barrett Dove’s letter, and maybe that was a good thing. Barrett had enough to deal with today. Eddie rinsed Barrett’s dishes and put them in the dishwasher, and checked the kitchen.

That was the thing about family, she thought as she climbed the stairs to her own room. Eddie was afraid Drew would break Barrett’s heart. And Eddie could do nothing about that.

fourteen

Tuesday Barrett left early for her shop. She didn’t wait for breakfast—she’d had breakfast last night. It was quiet in town, the world just waking up. The farm trucks carrying leafy lettuces, heirloom tomatoes, and little potatoes were parked on Main Street. A few people ambled into the Hub and came out with a newspaper and a coffee. Restaurant workers biked into town, jolting over the cobblestones. The low hoot of a ferry horn announced that it was coming around Brant Point. Seagulls patrolled the boardwalk on Straight Wharf, waiting for crumbs. The sun was strong. The day was hot. Maybe too hot for people to go to the beach?

Her shop was an oasis of freshness. She congratulated herself on naming it Nantucket Blues, because blue signified cool, and she knew people would flock to her shop today.

At noon, Janny showed up, carrying an iced mocha cappuccino forBarrett. They chatted and unpacked new deliveries, and as Barrett had expected, they spent the day waiting on customers who lingered in the shop and bought several things, as if they could carry the icy air home with them.

During a lull, Janny asked teasingly, “Well, how are things going with my brother?”

Barrett had been placing a blue glass starfish on a soft bed of white cotton. She didn’t react immediately, turning the starfish this way and that to catch the light.

“Fine,” Barrett replied.

Just then, two women entered the shop. Thank heavens, Barrett thought. She was in no mood to talk to Drew’s sister.

The day had grown cloudy, with a feisty west wind that sent people’s bags, caps, and toys flying. Barrett was pleased to be crazy busy in the afternoon. A mob of teenage girls came in, cooing and giggling about the jewelry. A flustered young mother holding a small cranky child by the hand bumbled around, picking up things and putting them back in the wrong place. Barrett nudged Janny to get out on the floor and ask if she could help the woman. Men came in to buy their wives and daughters gifts and wanted them wrapped with a great big bow.

In the midst of it all, Drew called.

“I’m hoping you could close early so I could see you. I’ve got to fly back to Boston tonight. Couldn’t you close your shop at seven? Just this once? Please?”

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