Page 96 of Summer Light on Nantucket

“I’m glad. You’re very welcome, you know.”

Brooks stared down at his plate, embarrassed.

Her heart went out to him. “Brooks, I enjoy your company and I know Holly is thrilled when you talk to her about sea gerbils, and I’m sure Teddy would like to play tennis with you. He’s really good, even though he’s younger than you are.”

Blythe had intended for her words to make Brooks feel better, but she saw how his eyelashes trembled. He was biting his lips to keep them still. He was trying so hard to be stoic, she thought he would pass out right in front of her if she said anything too kind.

“Plus, Daphne doesn’t like anyone and Miranda can be”—she stalled, trying to find a word that would make Brooks feel better without betraying her daughter—“sensitive.”

Brooks managed a smile. “You have a super nice family, Mrs. Benedict.”

Reaching out, she patted his arm. “And you are a super nice guy. Now, please, go. I can deal with the dishes.”

“Thank you.” Brooks fled the room.

For days after that, when Blythe saw him in the kitchen, they exchanged a few words. One evening he spent with Holly and her sea gerbils. He was always tan and clear-eyed, and Blythe knew she didn’t have to worry about his loneliness.

At last Blythe had that most blissful of possessions—free time. She could sleep late. She could eat an entire pint of ice cream in the middle of the day, sobbing as she watchedLove Actuallyfor the forty-first time. She could curl up with a book and read it straight through. She could go the beach and fall asleep, waking with a lovely tan and a red nose, and she could go out to dinner with friends.

Aaden called or emailed her every day. She knew she had to make a decision. How many people had the chance to reunite with their first love? Fate was offering her something precious and she couldn’t easily dismiss it.

One night she went out to dinner with Sandy.

“I really don’t know what to do. I don’t want to go to Ireland, but I’m struggling to let go of what was such a delicious, passionate love.”

“Well, remember that was when you were a teenager,” Sandy reminded her.

“True.”

“When you had no bills to pay, no stampeding herd to cook for. No children.”

Blythe tapped her lip with her forefinger as she thought, before sighing and replying, “Okay. You’re right. I don’t want to be away from my children, even on the days when they’re monsters.”

“Has Aaden suggested having the children live with you?”

“No. I’m sure he doesn’t include them in his vision of our future together.”

“But he has a large family over in Ireland, right?”

“Yes. Siblings, aunts, and uncles, millions of cousins. Oh, Sandy, what wouldyoudo if you had the chance to spend the rest of your life with your first true love?”

Sandy laughed. “My first true love was my horse. But if you’re thinking about being with Aaden, you probably should remember you’re not the girl you were the first time you fell in love. I mean, I’ve seen what a good mother you are, and I’ve heard about what an excellent teacher you are. You’re older. You’ve learned a lot.”

“Yes, I’ve learned a lot, but when does a person ever learnenough?”

“Sweetie, you’ve wandered off down an existential road, and I can’t follow.”

“Oh, my head hurts!” Blythe wailed.

—

The children checked in with Blythe every day, wanting to watch television—anything but the Red Sox, which they claimed their father was addicted to and would never share the television (she was well aware of this habit of his)—or to eat some of Blythe’s cookies or justhang out. They gave her the latest update of Celeste’s recovery—she was fine, going out, seeing Roland. They complained because Teri’s food was gross. They complained because their father arranged for them all to go on a whale watch, which meant an entire day riding in a twenty-four-foot skiff that bounced over the wind-driven waves that made Holly throw up and all of them seasick and they never saw one single whale but Miranda and Teri both came home with painful sunburns.

“Your father was trying to give you a special treat,” Blythe reminded them. “Don’t be so critical! I’m sure it was expensive.”

“Oh, we know it was expensive. He’s told us that twenty times,” Teddy informed her, scowling.

“Be nice,” Blythe ordered her children. “It’s hard to please everyone, and your father and Teri are doing their best.”

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