Page 5 of Homecoming

“Final approach,” Slim said from the cockpit. “Prepare for landing.”

Their friend brought the plane in for a smooth landing five minutes later.

“Welcome to Trenton, Maine,” Erin said, “where the local time is five twenty-seven, and the temperature is a seasonable sixty-eight degrees.”

“Trenton?” Dan asked.

“It’s a bit north of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island.”

“Ah, another island. I forget that Bar Harbor is on an island, too. And you pronounce it asdessertrather thandesert?”

“Yep, that’s the French pronunciation, and unlike Gansett, this island has a road to the mainland.”

Slim brought the plane to a stop outside the terminal and cut the engine. “Sorry for the rough ride, guys.”

“We blame Hurricane Ethel for that, not you,” Dan said. “Thanks again for bringing us.”

“No problem. We’re going to spend the night up here and check it out. Neither of us has ever been. Where should we stay?”

Kara suggested a few of the local hotels. “They should have vacancies since the high season is over and leaf peeping hasn’t started yet.”

“Sounds good,” Erin said. “I can’t wait to see Bar Harbor.”

“It’s pretty,” Kara said with a decided lack of enthusiasm for a place that’d brought her far more pain than pleasure in the last few years she’d lived there. As Slim helped them out of the plane, Kara said, “Text me if you have any questions about anything.”

“We’ll be fine,” Slim said. “Take care of your family, and don’t worry about us. And when you’re ready to come home, give me a ring. I’ll pick you up.”

Dan shook his hand. “Thanks again.”

“Any time.”

They both hugged Erin and then walked together into the terminal to meet Kara’s grandmother, Bertha Lively. Her face lit up with delight when she saw them coming with their friends.

Kara hugged her very best friend in the world. Her grandmother had a weather-worn, perpetually tanned face from a lifetime on the water, blue eyes and short, curly white hair.

“I’d say I’m glad to see you, but not under these circumstances,” Bertha said.

“Likewise.” She pulled back from Bertha to let Dan hug her. They’d met once before in Boston. “These are our friends from Gansett, Slim and Erin Jackson. This is my grandmother, Bertha Lively.”

Bertha shook hands with them. “Such a pleasure to meet my Kara’s friends.”

“For us, too,” Erin said. “We’ve heard so much about you and your lobster boat.”

“Oh shoot, it’s nothing special.”

“Yes, it is,” Kara said. “It’s very special, and so are you.”

“You’re already my favorite grandchild. No need to suck up.”

While Dan, Slim and Erin laughed, Kara wanted to cry with relief from seeing her beloved grandmother. The scent of Jean Naté brought back a million of the best memories from her childhood.

“Slim and Erin are spending the night.”

“I’d offer to drive you, but I’ve got the pickup,” Bertha said.

“No worries,” Slim said. “We’re renting a car.”

As they hugged their friends and said goodbye, Kara wondered when she’d see them again. This day hadn’t turned out like she’d thought it would when she woke up snuggled up to Dan in bed on Gansett Island. When she’d gotten dressed for the wedding, she certainly hadn’t expected to be sleeping at Bertha’s house in Maine that night.

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