A Nantucket Affair (Nantucket Beach Plum Cove #4)(19)

“I think he’s doing better than I am, actually. He says he joined a local bereavement group and that it helps to focus on his woodworking.”

When Lori brought their dinners out, Kristen ordered a second glass of chardonnay. Tyler asked about Chase and Beth’s new flipping project and they chatted about that for a bit.

“I always thought it sounded like an interesting thing to do. Until something goes wrong unexpectedly, like their plumbing situation. And at least Chase is a contractor so he can do most of the work himself,” Tyler said.

“I know. Those shows never share that some houses don’t sell fast enough or end up a loss because of higher expenses. It’s way too risky for me. Though it does look fun, when it goes the right way.”

Tyler ate every bit of his prime rib and asked for the dessert menu, while Kristen packed up half her pot pie to take home. It was good, just too much and so rich. But she helped Tyler share a dessert. He ordered a special and it was very good—a peanut butter and chocolate ice cream pie with a cookie crust and hot fudge and whipped cream on top.

While he was happily polishing off the dessert and seemed in a somewhat receptive mood, she floated an idea that came to her earlier.

“You mentioned that your father was going to a bereavement group. Maybe you should look into something similar here? It might be good to talk to other people that are going through the same struggle.”

As expected, his immediate response was negative. “I think I’m probably too young for that. Isn’t it mostly for people who have lost spouses?”

Hm. Maybe it was. “I’m not sure, but you could check. If not a group, maybe a therapist or something? A professional to talk things out?”

“You mean therapy? Yeah, did that once. It didn’t help. At all.”

Kristen sensed a certain tone in his voice. Tyler was not receptive to the therapy idea or even the bereavement group. She’d drop it for now. But maybe she’d look into it and find out more.

“Aren’t you going to finish that?” Tyler glanced at Kristen’s glass of wine, which was more than half-full.

“I shouldn’t have ordered it. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but once I start eating, I always lose interest in the wine.”

Tyler shook his head. “I don’t know how you do it. I could never not finish.”

When they were done, he insisted on paying the check, as usual. Sometimes, if Kristen was fast, she could grab the check, and she liked to do that so it wasn’t always Tyler paying.

When they arrived home, she assumed that Tyler would invite her in. When he didn’t, she asked if he wanted to come over to her place and watch a little TV. She wasn’t ready for the night to end and normally after dinner, they would spend more time together.

But Tyler yawned. “I’m really beat. It was a long day today and I’m ready to crash. You don’t mind, do you?”

She wanted to scream that yes, she did mind. But that would be selfish.

“No, of course not. Sleep well.”

“Actually, do you want to come in for a minute? I have something I want to give to you. I picked it up the other day.” He suddenly had a bit more energy, and Kristen was intrigued as she followed him into his cottage.

“I’ll be right back.” He went into his bedroom, while Kristen waited in the kitchen and glanced around the room. It was a mess. Pizza boxes were on the kitchen counter and coffee table. A bag of trash sat in the corner, waiting to go outside, and mail was piled up on the kitchen island.

When he returned holding a large paper bag, he followed her gaze and made a face.

“I know, it’s a mess. I need to call Angela. I canceled her last week because I didn’t want to be disturbed. I was having trouble getting into the flow.” He handed her the paper bag with a shy grin.

“What’s this?”

“You mentioned that you needed some new inspiration and that you wanted to try something different. I was at the Nantucket bookstore browsing, and stumbled onto this and thought of you.”

Kristen peeked into the bag and drew out a gorgeous hardcover coffee-table book. It was an oversized collection of stunning Nantucket sunsets. The colors were vivid and the images so breathtaking that goosebumps swept across her arms. The images would be great jumping off points for a whole series of paintings. It was an incredibly thoughtful gift, and she felt her eyes grow damp.

“Thank you. This is incredible.”

“I’m glad you like it.” He leaned over and touched his lips to hers, and she kissed him back and hoped that maybe he’d changed his mind about wanting an early night. She wanted to keep kissing him. But after a moment, he pulled back and brushed a wayward piece of hair off her face.

“Thanks for coming out tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow.”





When Kristen left, Tyler locked the door behind her, went into his living room and collapsed on the sofa. He tried to resist the urge that had grown stronger throughout the evening. For ten more minutes, he resisted as his gaze kept drifting to the polished hardwood hutch and the bottom cabinet. He was simply too unsettled to have invited Kristen in for long—because he knew he was going to satisfy the urge, even as he tried to resist. He knew it was going to win over and if he was honest with himself, he’d been looking forward to it all day and all night. That’s why he didn’t have the O’Doul’s. Because he knew he was coming home to the real thing.