Page 59 of Summer Light on Nantucket

And another photo was attached, of Aaden now, grown and handsome, wearing that same high school letter jacket. He’d captioned the photo:It still fits.

Blythe allowed herself a moment to sink into the pleasure of memory. They had belonged to each other back then. They’d believed the world lay open to them, a smooth path through countless happy days. They’d believed their young love was eternal.

She straightened her shoulders. It was not the same now. It could never be the same. But Aaden had an apartment in Boston. He had to be there, sometimes, for business. That made a relationship seem possible.

But was that what she wanted?

Her desire for Nick was real and important. Did that mean it would be long-lasting? They hadn’t talked about a long-term relationship, and they hadn’t known each other for more than a few weeks. She wasn’t sure she could trust her own instincts right now. She’d been living a perfectly happy divorced life with her children, and soon she’d begin teaching. Was this the right time to even think of having a long-term relationship? She trusted Nick, but they were too old to go steady, which she wasn’t certain was even a thing now. Aaden was exciting, but she had to remember he’d left her before.

And, when she was honest with herself, she knewallthis was way out of her comfort zone.

She tied on an apron and began making stir-fry chicken. She wasputting together sliced fresh fruit for dessert when Daphne burst through the front door.

“MOM!I got to lead a group of kids on a beach walk today. By myself!”

“That’s wonderful, Daphne! Tell me about it. Which beach did you go to?”

Before Daphne could answer, Holly and Carolyn came in.

“MOM!” Holly waved a book in the air. “Guesswhat? Carolyn and I found two copies ofShipwreckedat the library! Do you think we were awful to take both copies? But now we can read it at the same time and it’s the third in Mary Alice Monroe’sIslandersseries and they have a boat.”

“I think it’s fine that you both checked out the same book,” Blythe said, but before she could say more, Teddy rushed in.

“MOM!Azey and I took the bus home and I’m starving! When do we eat?” Teddy clearly had been swimming all day. His hair was so coated with salt it stuck out all over his head like a porcupine’s.

“It’s almost ready. Take a quick shower first. Here—have a carrot.”

Teddy groaned and slumped away.

“MOM!” Miranda and Brooks strolled in from the family room where they’d been playingCall of Duty: Modern Warfare,a popular video game for Miranda’s age group and one Blythe disliked. She’d given in to her oldest daughter’s pleas but set a limit on the time they could play each day. “Me and Brooks found a brand-new game ofZombie Kittensat the Thrift Shop and we want Serena and Riley to come over and play after dinner, okay?”

“Brooks and I,” Blythe said.

“You don’t want to play this game.” Miranda drifted into the kitchen. “Smells awesome, Mom. Here, Brooks, put the plates around. I’ll do the silverware.”

Somehow all the children and Blythe managed to get settled at the table. At the last minute, Blythe heated two heavily buttered and garlic-salted baguettes for what seemed like a crowd of children.

Blythe told Brooks about his mother’s phone call.

Brooks said, “Cool. Thanks.”

Miranda’s face lit up. “Oh, Mom, you’re the best. We’ll be very good. We’ll do our own laundry, right, Brooks?”

Brooks said, “Um.”

Miranda whispered, “I’ll show you how.”

All these children, Blythe thought. The younger ones were truly stuffing their faces, as if they hadn’t eaten for days. Daphne continued to explain the beach tour: clamshell, skate’s egg case, and seaweed. Blythe listened, nodding, agreeing with anything Daphne said, because her second daughter knew much more about the beach life than Blythe ever would.

But Blythe knew more about human life. Children’s lives. This was her specialty, and now as she sat at the table, she had one of those sudden moments of grace, when she was amazed and humbled by all the healthy, tanned, energetic, mysterious life around her. How lucky she was. She had all she needed right here.

Later that night, after everyone else was in bed, Blythe wrote a brief note to Aaden.

Aaden, You look wonderful in that high school photo and you look wonderful now. Please give me time to think things through.

Love, Blythe

music

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