Page 91 of Summer Light on Nantucket

Humidity fell over the island like a sticky net. All the children left for the beach. Blythe spent the day shopping for groceries and bread, chatting with Sandy on the phone, and making a slow cooker dinner. She was happily folding laundry when her phone pinged.

Aaden.

She checked the caller ID. She let his call go to voicemail. She leaned against the dryer and listened to his message.

“My darling, I’m flying back to Dublin. I’ve got piles of work to finish. Please, come to Ireland. You know there’s a reason fate has brought us together again. I want to make my future with you. I know you will love Ireland. Please come soon. Please call. I love you.”

Blythe stood for a long while, staring at the small rectangular piece of technology that allowed Aaden to speak to her from across the miles. She didn’t understand how it worked, her magic phone that also took pictures. In a way, it was like her own mind, which now as she sat quietly brought up scenes from the past so vividly her body responded. Remembering her high school days with Aaden brought a pocket of pleasure to her days.

The front door slammed.

Her remembered world vanished.

Blythe knew who had come in from the pace of the footsteps. She knew there was something wrong.

“Teddy?”

“Yeah, Mom, it’s me, I’m going upstairs.”

Blythe rose and went into the hall. “Teddy. Stop. Look at me.”

Heaving an enormous sigh, Teddy glared at her from the stairs.

“You’ve been fighting,” Blythe said.

“No big deal.” Teddy went up two more steps.

“It’s a big deal to me if my son comes home with a bloody nose and a bruised cheek. Come down here right now and talk to me.”

Teddy slumped down the stairs and into the hall. He wouldn’t meet Blythe’s eyes.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Nothing,” Teddy growled.

At times like these, Blythe was sorry Teddy didn’t have a brother. She’d watched enough football to know that for most men, if not all men, an urge to hit something or someone was woven into their DNA. Maybe she had some of that DNA pop up when she was around Kate.

“Were you at the club?” she asked.

“No. At the beach. Jack Winchester shoved Scarlett under the water.”

“So?”

“So I tried to get him off her, and he hit me. But Scarlett came up for air.”

“Was Azey there?” she asked.

“Yeah.” Teddy grinned. “He took a video.”

“He took a video?” Blythe nearly fainted. How the world had changed!

“So if Jack tells his mom I started it, we’ve got proof that Jack was being mean to Scarlett.”

“I’m shocked.”

“I’m not always the one who started the fight,” Teddy said.

“I never thought you were.” Blythe took a moment to think. “I’m sorry you’re hurt, but you know where the first aid kit is.”

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