Page 86 of Summer Light on Nantucket

“That’s between you and Miranda.” Blythe didn’t want to know any more details about their intimate relationship. She said, “I assume you have enough money to pay for tickets to movies and so on.”

“Yes, absolutely.” Brooks shifted in his chair. “Can I still eat lunch at the snack bar at the club?” Before Blythe could answer, he blurted, “I mean, thank you very much for letting me stay here for the summer. I’m very grateful. Maybe sometime I could treat you and the family to dinner?”

Blythe had seldom seen a guy look so miserable, and she liked him for it. And it had been only a kiss.

“It would be very nice if you treated us to dinner sometime, Brooks. Yes, you can eat at the snack bar. And I have an idea. Do you play tennis? Do you like to sail?”

His eyes lit up. “I haven’t sailed but I’d like to. And I’m not very good at tennis.”

“All right. Let’s sign you up for some lessons at the club. Tennis and sailing. All right?”

Brooks nodded, amazed. “I can pay for the lessons.”

“Nonsense. Let’s go to the kitchen. My laptop is there.”

She unfolded from the sofa and led the way. Sitting companionably next to Brooks, she opened her laptop. Together they organized a full schedule of lessons for him for the rest of the summer.

“You’d better get ready,” she told Brooks. “First tennis lesson is in an hour. I assume you have white shorts, shirt, and tennis shoes.”

“I do. I’ll go change. And thank you, Mrs. Benedict. Thank you so much.”

She could see that he almost hugged her but instead blushed scarlet.

“You’re welcome. And this should keep you out of trouble.” She gave him a look she often gave her children, a warning wrapped around affection.

Brooks nodded and went up the stairs, two at a time, to his very small room.

—

The next morning, Celeste was allowed to come home. Bob and Teri returned to Boston. Kate moved in with Celeste for a few days to help her, because she was supposed to rest.

Blythe stopped by that afternoon to see Celeste. She brought flowers from her backyard, already trimmed and placed in a glass vase, and a box of chocolates, and several glossy entertainment magazines.

Celeste met her at the door.

“Where’s Kate?” Blythe asked.

“She’s gone out to Bartlett’s for food and wine. And yes, it’s fine for me to be left alone. In fact, I prefer it that way. No, I don’t mean you should leave. I just don’t enjoy peoplehovering.”

“Well, then, look what I’ve brought you. It seems the rogue of the royal family is in the news again.”

Celeste laughed. “Just what I need.”

Blythe made iced tea for them to sip while they skimmed the new gossip. For a while, Blythe didn’t worry about her children, but after she kissed Celeste goodbye and walked home, the worries came flocking back, landing on her shoulders like squawking crows.

—

Over the next week, life returned to almost normal. Daphne spent the days with Lincoln. The other children played tennis and sailed and swam, coming home to shower and devour whatever Blythe had set out for them. Celeste returned to her normal healthy self.

One morning, it rained. Everyone slept late. It was almost nine when Blythe pulled on sweatpants and a big shirt and went to the kitchen for coffee.

She was shocked to see Brooks sitting at the table, a plate of toast in front of him, his head bent over his iPhone.

Before she could say anything, Brooks said, “I’m sorry I’m still here, Mrs. Benedict. My tennis lesson was canceled because of the rain and I think my sailing lesson will be canceled, too. I’m just trying to find where I can go…I’m checking on what time the library is open.”

Blythe poured a cup of water and popped a recyclable pod of coffee into her Keurig. “Brooks, you don’t have to stay away from here every minute. I appreciate that you’ve made yourself mostly scarce, but I don’t want you to feel homeless.”

“I’m still sleeping here. I’m just trying to stay away because I know—”

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