Page 67 of Summer Light on Nantucket

Her heart was fluttering like the hem of her silk dress.

What would she tell Nick?

She didn’t have to tell Nick anything.

Would she tell Aaden about Nick? Why should she? It wasn’t as if she and Nick had a serious relationship.

Her phone pinged.

It was Holly.

Blythe smiled. Her darling daughter. “Hi, sweetie, what’s going on?”

“Mommy!” Holly was almost screaming.

Blythe’s heart lurched. “Holly, calm down. Is something wrong?”

“Mommy, Grandmother’s acting weird! She’s shaking and she’s rolling or something. I’m scared!”

The world shrank to this moment, her child’s voice.

“Where are you, Holly?”

“In her dining room. Mommy, Grandmother fell on the floor. I don’t know what to do!”

Blythe didn’t think twice. “Holly, I’ll be right there. Call 911. Call Aunt Kate. I’m on my way. Two minutes. I’ll be there in two minutes.”

As she spoke, Blythe ran out of the terminal, got in her car, and tore out of the airport, joining the endless row of cars headed into town on Old South Road. It wasn’t going to be two minutes. She’d be lucky if she got there in ten.

She hit the media console to call Holly back. The line was busy. That was good, Blythe thought. Holly was calling people to help. Then her phone rang again. It was Holly, crying.

“Grandmother’s trying to say something but I can’t understand!”

“Stay with Grandmother,” Blythe said, trying to sound calm. “See if you can hold her hand. I’m on my way.”

“Mommy, she scares me.”

“Did you call 911?”

“Yes.”

“They’ll be there soon. Is Grandmother still on the floor?”

“She’s rolled up in a ball. Her face looks awful.”

“It’s okay. The EMTs will help her and she’ll be fine. Listen, Holly, could you be brave and try to let her know you’re there for her? Hold her hand or smooth her hair. Tell her she’ll be all right. Tell her help is coming.”

Holly whispered, “I don’t know.”

“Holly, when people are sick, they look scary. But try. Just pretend she’s a baby who’s having a tantrum. She needs to know she’s not alone. I’m almost there.”

Sirens blared. Blythe swerved to the side of the road. An ambulance passed her. Blythe drove behind it.

“I hear sirens!” Holly yelled a few minutes later.

“That’s the ambulance. I’m here, too.”

Blythe rushed out of her car and to the house. Already EMTs were bending over Celeste, evaluating her and speaking quickly to each other.

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