Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(76)

The wind tousled his hair, and he shook it from his face. He was talking to someone, she could see his lips moving, but she saw no one else. Strange.

“I’m done,” Ben said, entering the kitchen. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing,” she said, but Ben was already beside her.

“He still working with Piper?”

“Working with her?”

Ben shrugged. “Trying to get her to walk on the beach, you know. Can I watch TV now?”

“Dinner’s ready. Can you call Max and Noelle?” Meridith slid on the oven mitts and grabbed the casserole.

“Max! Noelle!”

Meridith gave Ben a look. “I meant go get them.”

“Oh.” Ben shrugged and lopped off toward the dining room.

Ten minutes later they were at the table, the kids scarfing down dinner and complaining about school.

“There’s only a week and half more,” Meridith said.

“A week and half too much,” Max said.

“I hate school.” Ben blew on a bite of the casserole before shoving it in his mouth.

“Hard part’s over,” Jake said. “Man up.”

“I’m only seven!”

Meridith smothered a grin.

“And I’m not a man,” Noelle said.

“Duly noted,” Jake said.

Outside the window, Piper barked.

“Probably has a squirrel treed again,” Max said. “You’d think they’d figure out that Piper won’t leave the yard and build their nests next door.”

“Not for long,” Ben said. “Jake’s helping her.”

“Good luck with that.” Max scooped another helping of corn.

“Just needs a little coaxing is all,” Jake said.

Max shrugged. “I think you’re wasting your time. Dad tried that already, and she wouldn’t budge.”

“She’s too afraid,” Ben said.

Meridith’s eyes darted to Jake’s face, just a quick look.

But Jake was looking back, and the quick look stretched into long seconds. “I’m a patient man.” His brown eyes warmed under her gaze.

The double meaning kick-started Meridith’s heart. She couldn’t drag her eyes away until she felt warmth climbing her cheeks.

Meridith finished Ben’s scrapbook on Saturday morning, but she waited until the guests were out to dinner before she tucked the albums in separate boxes and called the children to Noelle’s room. She was pleased with the results and thought the children would be too.

Noelle clicked offline and rolled back from the desk. “What’s up?”

Max and Ben entered the room and flopped on Noelle’s unmade bed.

“What’s that?” Ben asked.

Meridith settled beside them and set the boxes on the floor. “I put something together for each of you . . .” Now that the moment had arrived, she second-guessed herself. What if the albums only made them sad? What if the memories deepened their pain, reminded them of all they were missing?

“What is it?” Max’s feet dangled from the bed, the strings of his tennis shoes flopping as he swung his feet.

“Well . . . I think I’ll just show you, okay?” She handed the first box to Noelle, the second to Max. “This one’s yours,” she said to Ben.

They lifted the lids, and Noelle was the first to see the album. The cover featured a photo of her standing between her mom and dad. They were gazing at her like she hung the moon while she smiled shyly at the camera.

Noelle ran her fingers across the photo. “A photo album.”

Max pulled his from the box and began flipping slowly through it. “Cool.”

“We each have our own?” Ben asked quietly.

“Yes.” Meridith watched them, her heart in her throat, as they flipped the pages reverently. “I found the photos tucked away and thought you might like to have them in an album.”

Noelle paused over a photo. “Remember going fishing at Hummock Pond?” she asked Max. “Mom took this right before you fell in.”

“Here’s one when we got Piper,” Ben said. “She fitted in my arms.”

Max flipped through his quietly, stopping at each page to study the photos. He tugged the bill of his dad’s ball cap.

Noelle wiped her eyes, but the curtain of her hair screened her face.

“Now if I ever start forgetting what they looked like,” Ben said, “I can just open my special album.”

“That’s a wonderful idea.” Meridith put her arm around his bony shoulders. She still wasn’t the most outwardly affectionate person, but it was getting easier.

They continued flipping through their albums, showing each other their photos and reminiscing aloud about vacations and holidays.

Meridith listened, enjoying the privilege of sharing their special moments.

When Max reached the end, he closed his album and set it behind him on the bed. “Thanks, Meridith.”

Ben hugged his album against his chest. “Yeah, thanks. I love it.”

Piper barked outside, and Max went to the window.

Ben popped off the bed and started toward the door. “I’m putting mine in my room.”

A moment later Noelle flung herself into Meridith’s arms. Meridith embraced her, ran her hand down the silky length of her hair.