Page 65 of Secrets at Seaside
“At least you weren’t feeling Jenna’s while we were sitting here,” Sky teased. “Go on, men. We can handle this. We’ll tell you where and when to show up.”
“Sounds perfect,” Caden said. “Come on, Evan. Let’s blow this taco stand.”
“I’m taking the schooner out. You guys wanna come?” Pete asked.
“Heck, yeah.” Tony kissed Amy; then the men headed toward Jenna and Pete’s cottage.
“There go our men,” Jenna said.
“Your men, my brother,” Sky reminded her. “This is going to be so fun. I was thinking, there’s this great little shop by my friend Lizzie’s florist shop. It’s got summer dresses that are fancy enough for a beach wedding, but not crazy fancy, so you can wear them again.”
“Sounds like we need a day in Provincetown to go over flowers, dresses…what else?” Jenna scribbled on the notepad.
“Oh, you know what might be fun?” Sky leaned in closer, her tone filled with excitement. “You guys could make a weekend out of it. Have your beach wedding, then take Pete’s boat to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard for a mini-honeymoon.”
“We just went to Martha’s Vineyard in May.” Bella tapped Jenna’s arm. “Remember? You and Leanna got those matching bags.”
“You did? I didn’t hear about that trip.” What else had Amy missed out on, and why did she feel like missing out on anything was missing out on too much? She wondered if she was feeling overly sensitive because of her impending move to Australia.
“I thought we told you about it,” Bella said. “Remember? We took the night ferry back?”
“And made out like teenagers on the upper deck.” Jenna raised her brows in quick succession.
“Made out like teenagers?” Amy felt like she’d been excluded from the prom.
“Don’t feel bad, Amy. I wasn’t there either.” Sky patted her hand.
“Jamie and Jessica will be back next week, but I’m not sure how long they’re staying. I know they’re bringing Vera,” Jenna said. “She should be here with us anyway.” She scribbled something on the pad. “I think Pete is meeting a new client the second weekend in August. Do we care if it’s a weekend or weekday?”
“I need to check Caden’s schedule, and weekends are out because of Leanna’s flea-market stuff,” Bella reminded her.
“I could run her booth,” Sky offered. “Oh, wait, then I’d miss the wedding. But I bet Carey would.” Carey ran a booth at the flea market where he sold old records and other music paraphernalia. He and Leanna were close friends.
“Is Carey here this summer?” Amy asked. “I haven’t seen him.”
“No, but he was up in April and said he was doing the flea market scene off Cape on Tuesdays and Wednesdays,” Sky explained. “He told Leanna if she and Kurt wanted a weekend off, he’d run her booth if she’d let him sell his records, too.”
April?Amy wondered what else happened in the months when she was gone. And after she married Tony and they moved to Australia, what would it be like when they all had kids? If she could have kids, of course.Of course we’ll have kids. Stop thinking like that. She had a feeling that she’d miss out on a lot. She envisioned the others getting together to talk about their pregnancies, all round bellies and glowing cheeks. They’d probably even make sure they conceived around the same time.
“Anyway, Amy is only here through August eighteenth before she goes back to work and I guess starts to wrap up her business—right, Ames?”
“Uh-huh,” she mumbled, thinking about leaving on August eighteenth. That was something else she and Tony had to discuss. She always left around that time. Would he come with her? Should she try to stay longer? Could she? What about her clients? There was too much to think about. She felt like she was drowning.
“So we’d better do it soon. And Amy’s moving in December, so…” Bella tapped her fingernails on the table.
Amy banged her forehead on the table. “I’m already feeling a little like an outsider during the months when I’m not here and you guys are all together. How bad is it going to be when I live in Australia?”
“Oh, Ames. It’s not that bad, and isn’t it only for two years?” Jenna asked.
“Itisthat bad.” Amy set sad eyes on Jenna. “I mean it’s not that bad when I’m busy running my business and not thinking about it. When Idon’tknow that you guys are taking fun trips and buying matching stuff.”
“It’s not like we’re excluding you or hiding it from you,” Bella reminded her.
“I know that. I just…I keep thinking about how it will be when we’re having kids, you know? I want to go through all of thatwithyou guys, not a million miles away.” Amy sat back and fidgeted with the edge of her tank top. “I’m also a little afraid.”
“What of?” Jenna’s tone was full of compassion.
Amy’s eyes welled with tears, and she turned away.
