A Nantucket Affair (Nantucket Beach Plum Cove #4)(18)



“Hm. You do know that’s not entirely normal, right? People fight. You must still be in your honeymoon phase.”

Beth didn’t think so. “I don’t know about that. We just get along. Maybe it helps that we were friends for so long first.”

“Maybe. I am happy for you both. And maybe a tiny bit jealous. Jeff and I get along great, but we sometimes have rip-roaring fights. He can be a jerk sometimes.” She smiled and added, “And he’d probably say the same thing about me. But we both love each other dearly. It’s all good.”

Beth was glad that she and Chase never fought. She knew a lot of couples did and that it was normal and healthy, but she liked things the way they were. So far, their relationship was going as well as she’d imagined—better, even. A few friends had expressed concern when she’d told them that she was going back to working for Chase and that they were going to start dating. They worried that either their relationship or her job would suffer if they spent that much time together.

But that was one thing Beth had been confident about. She knew how well they worked together and she loved her job. She felt like a true partner to Chase and found real satisfaction in understanding his business and working with their clients. And there was no shortage of conversation between the two of them. Now and then, they laughed and said that they really should stop talking so much about work when they were home, but the reality was they both loved it, so it was something they were always eager to talk about. And now, with a few successful house flips behind them, there was even more to discuss.





Chapter 11





Kristen was surprised and pleased when Tyler called the day after she’d had the girls over and suggested dinner out at his favorite restaurant.

“I take it the writing is going well?”

“I’m a quarter of the way in now and the story is starting to hum along. It’s been a good couple of days and now I’m craving prime rib.”

Kristen laughed. She knew Tyler was like her in that when they were deep into their work, they sometimes forgot to eat.

“That sounds good to me. I’m just about done for the day, too, and heading into the shower.”

“Great. I’ll swing by around six.”

Tyler drove and when they reached the airport restaurant, it was busy but not as crowded as most places downtown would be. Crosswinds was a casual, pub-like environment and a popular spot for the locals. The food was reasonably priced and consistently good. When they were settled at their table, Kristen ordered a glass of cabernet and Tyler surprised her by ordering water.

“No O’Doul’s tonight?” He always ordered O’Doul’s non-alcoholic beer when they went out.

He smiled and she noticed he was tapping his fingers on the table. One of his nervous habits. She hadn’t seen him do it in a long time.

“Just not in the mood for beer. Do you know what you’re going to get?”

“I’m not sure.” She had barely looked at the menu and turned her attention to it so she’d be ready when Lori, the waitress that usually waited on them, returned with their drinks.

She set their drinks down in front of them a few minutes later. “So, do you need another minute or two to decide?”

“I’m ready,” Tyler said.

“I’ll do the chicken pot pie.” Kristen folded the menu shut. She’d had the pot pie before, and it was always good.

“Prime rib for me, medium.”

Lori put their orders in and a few minutes later, set down a basket of rolls and two salads.

Kristen reached for a hot roll. “So, the writing is going well now?” She was glad for him. Tyler had struggled with the beginning of his newest book and she knew it was stressing him out. He was quite a bit behind schedule.

“It is, finally. It’s starting to come together. I wasn’t sure if it ever would. It’s never been this hard before,” he admitted.

Kristen knew it was his mother’s death that had thrown him off in so many ways. He was still hurting from the loss, and it had affected his creativity, too.

“Is it starting to get a little easier?” She reached out, took hold of one of his hands and gave it a gentle squeeze.

He nodded, understanding what she meant.

“A little. There’s not as much darkness now. But it’s still hard. You know how close we were?”

Kristen nodded. Both Tyler and his brother, Andrew, had adored their mother and talked to her several times a week.

“That’s the hardest thing. If I’m having a good day or a bad day, I reach for the phone to call her and then realize she’s not there.”

“I’m sorry. You can always call me.” She wanted so badly to help, to take away the pain that was still so clearly reflected in his eyes.

He smiled sadly. “Thank you. It’s just not the same. You know what I mean.”

“I know. But if you’re having a rough day, it might help to talk to someone. Even me.”

He smiled slightly. “You’re right. It probably would.”

“How is your dad doing?” Their father was in his mid-seventies and still worked hard at a hobby he loved. He had a machine shop attached to the house and did all kinds of woodworking projects and carvings. Some of them were beautiful pieces of art that he sold at local galleries, and Andrew took some to his Nantucket shop.

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