Page 60 of Harbor Lights

Con didn’t try to fill the pause. She had the feeling Majella had more to say.

“Audrey’s amazing. She’s a genius. Her ideas are so powerful. But…”

Con waited.

“Sometimes, it’s just nice to talk about nothing. Or to laugh about something inconsequential. I missed that after we…I…”

“So, you kept me around for the small talk?”

Majella’s head shot around. “Oh, God, no. Why would you think that?”

“That’s precisely what you said.”

“Not small talk. Normal conversation. Fun stuff. Audrey doesn’t have the greatest sense of humor.”

“I know, Majella. I’ve spent the last nine Christmases and countless other celebrations with her. But I don’t think it was her sparkling wit that drew you to her in the first place.”

Majella sighed. “We’ve talked about this before. Audrey and I were on similar career trajectories and…”

“Staying with the small-town doctor wasn’t going to get you there.”

“Oh, Connie.” Majella reached out for her hand and Con took it, squeezing slightly to let her know it was okay. Perhaps it finally was. They were on the motorway now, and they stayed hand in hand until Majella pulled off for the airport exit and needed her hand for a gear change.

“I have to visit less often.” She found it hard to say, but being unwilling to say the words was the reason she’d spent so many vacations in Cambridge.

“What do you mean?”

She shifted in her seat. “I need to get on with my own life, Majella. As you’ve got on with yours. I can’t rely on you for companionship. I have friends. They’re almost family. And I should be with them more. Like now, for Christmas. Sorry.”

“But I love your company, Connie. It’s my favorite thing about Christmas. Having you here.”

“You made your choice long ago. You don’t get to keep the parts of us that you liked the best and carry on with your other life. It’s not fair.”

They were pulling into the drop-off area of the airport now, and Majella pulled up way before the entrance.

She turned in her seat. “That’s not what this is.”

“It is, Majella. And it has to stop now. We’ll keep in touch. Maybe we could meet in London for the theater. But I can’t be a spare part you pull out for holidays.” She leaned over and kissed Majella on the cheek.

When she got out of the car, Majella’s eyes were wet.

“Bye, Majella. Take care.”

“Bye, Connie.” Her voice was small.

Con walked into the airport with her shoulders straight. Whatever the mess she had caused herself on the island, it was her mess, and she’d face it head on.

Through security and nursing a cup of coffee while she waited for her gate to be called, her confidence waned.

She flicked through the messages on her phone to the image Joey had sent yesterday: a selfie of them with Marianne and Denny, eating breakfast in their tiny kitchen.

Finally, a meal on our own. I love the holidays, but I’ll be glad when things get back to normal.

What was a normal day for Con? For the last few years, it had entailed working hard all day, then sitting at her dining table, or in the Harbor Lounge, alone. But more recently, normal had been carving out time to spend with Shiv—walks on the beach or working together on some DIY project. That was the normal she wanted. She just had to keep her nerve and work out a plan to get there.

She replied to Joey.

Surprise! Coming back early. I’ll be home by mid afternoon if you can spare an hour for a coffee? I need your advice.

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