Page 42 of Summer Light on Nantucket

“Weird,” Miranda muttered as she returned to the kitchen. “Just weird.” But she was smiling.

Blythe was smiling, too.

—

Nick arrived at her house in a big red high-clearance Bronco.

“I didn’t know the Greens had a Bronco,” Blythe said, hauling herself up into the vehicle.

“They don’t. I rented this. I plan to drive out to Great Point this summer, and I need four-wheel drive.”

Blythe fastened her seatbelt. “Have you been there before?”

“Several times. I grew up in Boston and we spent many summers and holidays here.”

“So did I! I inherited my grandmother’s house, the one I lived in all summer.”

“You’re lucky to own a house here. We only rented. And not every summer.”

“Still, it’s surprising we haven’t met before.”

Nick glanced over at Blythe. “I’m glad we’re meeting now.”

“Me, too.” Blythe suddenly felt shy. “Have you always lived in Massachusetts?”

“I took a semester abroad in France my junior year of college.”

“That must have been fun.”

“Oh, it was.” Nick laughed. He was quiet as they made their way around the rotary and onto Milestone Road. More seriously, he said, “That was where I met my wife.”

“She was French?”

“Yes, but she wanted to study in Boston. She was another college student. A chemistry major. Very bright. Brielle.”

“Sandy told me you are widowed.”

“Yes. Five years ago.”

Blythe waited a moment. She sensed he would be okay with her question. “How did she die?”

“Cancer. All of medicine’s knowledge couldn’t save her.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Nick nodded. “It was a bad time. But she did it with such grace. Our son, Seth, is a cellist. She often asked him to play for her in her last days.”

“Sandy said you have another child.”

“Jason.”

“Is he a musician?”

The question amused him. “Oh, no. He’s tone-deaf. He’s a jock. He’s greased lightning on the field but in Bre’s bedroom, he couldn’t move without knocking something over. Brielle said she liked having him around. He provided comic relief.”

“Where are the boys now?”

“Jason’s on the practice squad for the Kansas City Chiefs.”

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