Page 44 of The Beachgoers
“You’re right,” Celia agrees to the crowd. “And much of our decision to delay openingstemsfrom Sal. The rowboat rides we offer here are non-negotiable. You see, Sal was my fiancé, the father of my daughter, and Elsa’s son—andhe loved to just drift on that wooden boat of his. Drift on the Sound, the marsh… and just be.” Celia scans the gathered guests. “That simple experience is intrinsic to the Ocean Star Inn,” she goes on. “And Elsa and I will do everything in our power to make those rowboat rides happen. If nothing else, for Sal. Which, of course, will take time with these unforeseen legalities. So we really appreciate your support and patience.”
Elsa catches Maris’ eye now, and when she does, Maris blows her a silent kiss. Elsa sees Cliff turn up his hands in sympathy. She sees Vinny shaking his head and Taylor talking to her mother, Eva. Everyone is upset. Faces are drawn; folks lean close whispering their concerns. Elsa sees it all. She sees Shane in the shadows as he watches Celia. She sees Celia, in her black sheath. A silky gold scarf wrapped around her hair’s topknot flutters in a gentle sea breeze. A loose gold chain belt glimmers around her waist. And coming to Elsa’s aid, her words strive to uplift.
“Someone here once mentioned getting through dirty days,” Celia says into the mic while finding Shane in the crowd. “Days when the skies darken and the waters get rough. So this is a dirty day for me and Elsa. And I’ve been telling myself,Don’t cry, don’t cry.” Celia swipes a tear away. “Because there’s a lot of good vibes and love here on these grounds tonight. And wereallyfeel it. So thank you, all,” she says, turning and squeezing Elsa’s hand.
Elsa takes that as her cue. She joins Celia and they link arms. “In the meantime,” Elsa continues, “as life has handed us lemons—not for the first time, may I add—well, I’ve gone ahead and madelimoncello!” She turns to Celia. “Help me pour and serve everyone a drink?”
Maris hurries forward. “I’ll help, Elsa.”
“Me, too,” Eva says, approaching Elsa and giving her a warm hug. “But why would you have gone through with all this tonight? It wassomuch work… for nothing.”
“Oh, Eva. I just could not cancel another event,” Elsa tells her niece. “It wasn’t in me to disappoint everyone that way.”
“Honestly, Elsa thought we could all really use a beachside gathering, together.” As Celia says it, a uniformed waiter approaches holding a tray of freezer-chilled shot glasses. Celia takes two and begins giving them out to their guests.
“But… the decorations,” Eva presses as she lifts lemonade glasses off the tray for the children. “The food, Aunt Elsa. This is a heck of a lot of undertaking.”
“It is. So I hope everyone here has enjoyed the hors d’oeuvres, and each other’s company, and that sweet salt air. And,” Elsa adds as she takes a glass from Maris, “that you’ll all join me in a toast to brighter days, when the inn eventuallydoesopen.”
“So there’s no ribbon-cutting tonight?” Jason’s sister, Paige, asks as she takes a shot glass.
“No. Not yet,” Elsa repeats. “But one day…”
“A toast, then,” Shane calls out, raising his drink.
Everyone on the veranda and lawn raises their glass of limoncello and pauses. It could look like a photograph, the way they go still. Only that sea breeze flutters the women’s summery dresses; the low sun leaves long shadows on the green lawn. All as they watch Shane this time, and wait for him to continue.
“The floor is yours, Elsa,” he says.
Elsa nods and raises her glass, too. “Thank youallfor coming. Neighbors, friends. I’m so glad we had eventhistime together this evening. Tonight, there will be no gala, no tour. But someday, the Ocean Star Inn’s doorswillopen. Tonight, we’ll toast to that future!” With that, Elsa sips her sweet, citrusy drink. When she does, everyone else follows. Some raise their glasses high, calling outSalute!Others touch their glasses together, declaring,Cheers!Afterward, the neighbors wander close, hug Elsa and Celia, and wish them well before leaving for their own beach cottages.
* * *
So it is done. Partially.
When only her core family and friends remain—everyone from Mitch and Carol to Jason and Maris—Elsa does it.
She springs the true surprise of the evening on them.
As everyone talks amongst themselves, Elsa steps off the veranda onto the sweeping green lawn of her beloved beach inn. Beyond the dune grasses, blush-red streaks line the horizon, and the sky deepens to a pale violet. It’s the most beautiful twilight hour of the entire summer.
Sonow’sactually the moment—not of the evening, but of this summer.
“Everyone!” she calls out from the lawn. “Drink up and finish your toasts. Hurry! Because wewillhave a wonderful dinner tonight,allof us gathered together.”
“Wait!” Maris glances left to right across the inn’s grounds. The slubbed fabric of her khaki dress flows around her. “What about Kyle and Lauren? Aren’t they coming?”
“They’re not here yet?” Nick asks.
Jason looks around. “Kylesaidhe’d be here.”
“Oh, Kyle and Lauren are here.” Elsa smiles. It’s a wicked smile, too. Then? Then she announces, “As a matter of fact, this evening is all theirs now.”
That’s not all she does, though. Elsa also motions for everyone to follow her—as she heads toward the secret path through the dune grasses to the beach.
