Page 18 of Hibiscus Heights

This house held forty years of memories of holiday gatherings and birthday parties. It was hard for Grant to see it go, too.

“You and Dad entertained a lot, with people visiting for weeks on end.”

Kitty sipped her tea, looking thoughtful. “We loved doing that. But our siblings are gone now, and your cousins live around the world. They’re all too busy to visit.”

“Times change,” Grant said. How well he knew that.

Kitty put her cup down. “I’ve been thinking that we could surprise your sister on Crown Island and spread your father’s ashes on the waves. He loved sailing those waters even more than the San Francisco Bay.”

“But we have a lot to do here.”

“All this can wait,” Kitty said, waving her hand. “Jock was happiest on the island, with all of us together and hardly a care in the world.”

Grant tried to imagine returning to Crown Island after all these years and saying goodbye to his father.

“It’s been a long time,” he said quietly.

“That’s exactly why we should go.” Kitty stared through the windows as if looking into the future.

“Or we can look at some photos.” Grant rose to retrieve the photo album they’d been looking at from the desk. As he did, a small photo slipped out, and he bent to retrieve it.

He caught his breath at the image of someone he used to know. Quickly, he pocketed the photo.

While his mother gazed ahead, Grant looked back. A tiny spark he hadn’t felt in years flared within him.

Kitty pushed her cup away. “Let’s get out and have lunch at that cafe on Main Street you like so much.”

“Sounds good to me.”

After freshening up, they drove the short distance to the town center of Tiburon and past the impressive silver sails sculpture, Coming About.

“Would you stop over there first?” His mother motioned toward a private postal shop. “I’d like to pick up the mail while we’re here.”

“I’ll get that for you.” He pulled his SUV to the curb and stepped out onto the sidewalk of the charming village. His parents had traveled extensively, so they’d retained a private mailbox for mail delivery.

A woman at the counter looked up. “Good to see you, Grant. How’s your mother?”

“She’s feeling better, thanks for asking. We’re off to lunch at Sheri’s Cafe.”

“It’s a sweet day to sit outside. I just put mail in her box.”

Using the key his mother gave him, he opened a small door on a bank of brass mailboxes. He brought out a few pieces of mail and a couple of magazines.

One caught his eye. What a coincidence, he thought. He started back to the car and opened the door.

“Here’s your mail. And check out that magazine.”

Kitty picked up the glossy periodical and opened it. “The Majestic Hotel. Such a lovely place. This is another sign that we should visit.”

Grant grinned at her. Like the small, steady stream that cut its way through mountains, his mother would eventually have her way.

He touched the photo in his pocket like a talisman. “I’ll check airline tickets after lunch.”

His mother beamed with long overdue happiness. “Who knows what good trouble we’ll get into? I’ll pack Jock right away. He would be so pleased.”

5

Deb stared at the mirror on her mother’s vanity while raucous laughter floated inside. Her brothers were still telling stories on the deck. She’d heard most of them before, and Matteo was waiting for her at the Ferry Cafe.

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