Page 33 of A Novel Summer
“Oh, that’s such a good idea. I can talk to my family and see if they’ll contribute,” Kate said. “They were involved in something similar on the Boston waterfront a few years back.”
He reached for her hand. She was good for the town. And she was good for him.
“Listen, I know you wanted a soft launch today,” he said. “But maybe you’ll reconsider by next weekend. The town will be so packed for Fourth of July. It’s an opportunity to make a little noise.”
Kate sipped her wine, then set the glass back down. “Actually, I was hoping we could spend the Fourth in Boston.”
“Boston?”
She nodded. “I don’t want to miss the Boston Pops Fireworks. It’s one of my favorite traditions. I go with my parents and brother every year.”
This was news to him. But then, he was still getting to know her.
“Okay, we’ll figure it out,” he said.
“Oh, but that reminds me; thereissomething I want to do while we’re here. Did you know Anders Fleming is in town?”
“No,” he said. The name sounded familiar, but if pressed, he wouldn’t be able to say who he was.
She nodded, her lips curled in a subtle smile. “I remember readingDown with Dustmy sophomore year at Wellesley and thinking, okay—so this is what literature is. This is the bar. Anyway, he’s doing a reading with Land’s End at a private home next week. Let’s go?”
“Sure,” he said. “Let’s go.”
Justin had told Kate that the woman he’d introduced to her the night at Lombardo’s was his ex, and that she was running Land’s End for the summer. Kate was utterly unfazed by it. He knew he shouldn’t be, either. But one thing nagged at him: If she could come back for Colleen, why had she refused to come back for him?
When Shelby told Hunter her idea for the baby shower, she invited her to the house to discuss it. The Dillworths’ beachfront home was cavernous, with muted colors and minimalist furniture. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooked the sea, and the flawless acoustics softened the sound of steps across the hardwood floors.
Shelby had her own guest bedroom when she lived at the house all those summers, but they often ended up falling asleep side by side, talking into the earliest hours of the morning in Hunter’s room. Or dozing off on the deck only to wake up in the middle of the night and move indoors. Shelby knew there wouldn’t be any such casual intimacy tonight, and it was sad. Maybe it was a natural evolution, simply part of getting older.
“I can’t talk for long. I have a ton of reading to do,” Hunter said, leading her out to the back deck.
Shelby had work to do, too. She needed to keep putting down words. Sometimes, it helped her to think of her manuscript as a lump of clay. No matter how much of a jumble it seemed to be, chipping away at it bit by bit would lead to a shape, and then that shape would turn into something readable. It seemed impossible, but she would get to the end.
She’d thought about that on the way over; her book would eventually get finished, and she’d go back to New York. But Colleen might still be on bed rest. And when she was finally off bed rest, she’d have two babies to take care of. What would happen to Land’s End when Shelby returned to Manhattan? No wonder Pam and Annie were pessimistic.
“I was thinking,” Shelby said. “Maybe you can help out with the store when I go back to New York? I’m not sure what Colleen is going to do.”
Hunter frowned. “Um, I have to get back to work, too, Shelby. This summer is just a regroup for me. You’re not the only one with big plans.” She uncorked a bottle of Kim Crawford.
She wasn’t implying that Hunter didn’t have plans. She just thought it was possible to do two things at once, at least for a little while. When had their friendship become full of land mines? Had it begun beforeSecrets of Summerpublished?
They sat on brushed metal chairs on either side of a small table. They faced the ocean, the sun just beginning to set and turning the sky into a swirl of pastels.
“Okay, we don’t have to talk about the bookstore,” Shelby said. “Baby shower: What do you think?”
“I’m down for it. I’ve never been to one, but I guess we’ll figure it out. Did you tell her we’re planning this?”
Shelby shook her head. “I wanted to run it by you first. So, I figure we can get a guest list together, maybe cater it from Liz’s Café? And I don’t think she has a gift registry, so she’ll have a reason to start one now.”
“Sounds simple enough. We can have it here.”
“Amazing. Thank you!” Shelby had hoped she might offer, but didn’t want to be pushy about it. Her hesitation was another reminder of how things had changed between them. There had been a time when she could say anything to or ask anything of Hunter. “And do you have ideas about who to invite? I’m sort of out of the loop in terms of who she’s closest with now.”
“Sure. I can put together a list.” She leaned forward. “You’re quite the hostess this summer. I heard about the Anders Fleming reading at Duke’s house.”
Shelby nodded. “Great for Land’s End, right?”
“Do you remember when he spoke at the library?” Hunter said.
