Golden Girl(72)

Vivi’s publisher, “Mr. Hooper,” launches a coordinated social media effort: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The company puts a full-page ad in People magazine, an in memoriam to its “golden girl” Vivian Howe. In the center of the ad is a beautiful picture of Vivi sitting in the dunes at Steps Beach, photographed by Nantucket’s own Laurie Richards. Vivi is wearing earrings from Jessica Hicks and a soft, pale sweater woven at Nantucket Looms. The book cover is underneath. It’s a bit of a tightrope walk—are the Mr. Hooper people memorializing Vivi or are they trying to sell books?

Mr. Hooper has also made a sixty-second TV commercial, a montage of Vivi talking about Nantucket and her writing. At the end of the spot is a message that reminds everyone that Vivi has passed away and if they want to own a first edition of Golden Girl, the last Vivian Howe novel, they’d better BUY NOW. The spot runs during all the morning shows and millions of people see it.

Savannah Hamilton called Vivi’s publicist, Flor, to say that either she or JP would be willing to stand in for Vivi on Great Morning USA with Tanya Price. Flor nixed the JP idea right away—the country doesn’t want to hear a man speaking for a woman (those days are over), and especially not her ex-husband. Savannah, as best friend, might be better but Flor intimates that the only replacement the producers would go for is one of the children. Savannah rules out Leo and Carson right away—they’re both too fragile right now—and when Savannah asks Willa, she declines. She hasn’t been feeling well and she doesn’t want to travel. It’s a busy time at the museum. This, Savannah suspects, is all a way of saying that she’s terrified of going on live television in front of ten million people.

“But I’m not terrified,” Savannah said. “I mean, I am, of course, but I’m also willing to do whatever it takes to get Vivi to the top of the list. She didn’t like to say it out loud, but you and I both know, Flor, that it was her lifelong dream to get to number one.”

“Sales are looking good,” Flor says.

“Appearing on Great Morning USA would give the book a huge boost,” Savannah says. “I’m willing and able to appear on the show.”

“I’ll check with the producers and circle back,” Flor says, and Savannah, who knows every buzzword and phrase of the business world, understands that’s a no.



Everyone at Mr. Hooper as well as those of us here on Nantucket are holding our collective breath on Wednesday, July 21, at 4:55 p.m., right before the following week’s New York Times bestseller list is announced. We want Vivi to do well. The highest she has ever debuted is number two combined / number three hardcover with her previous book, Main Street Gossip. Can Golden Girl make it to number one? It’s anyone’s guess. The algorithm that the Times uses to determine where books land on the list is the biggest mystery in all of publishing.

Here on Nantucket, Savannah and JP and Willa gather around the kitchen island in Savannah’s house on Union Street, watching the screen of Savannah’s laptop. Flor has promised she’ll e-mail the list the instant it comes in.

It’s five o’clock. Savannah has champagne chilling in the fridge.

She refreshes her browser. Nothing yet.

At 5:01, JP says, “I remember the first time one of Vivi’s books hit the list. It was…”

“Along the South Shore,” Savannah and Willa say at the same time.

“I knew that. I was working at the wine store. What number was she then?”

“Fifteen,” Willa says. “I was horrified because I thought that meant she’d come in last.” She shrugs. “I mean, her name was all the way at the bottom.”

“And then The Angle of Light debuted at number seven,” Savannah says. “I took Vivi to the Galley to dinner to celebrate.”

“Main Street Gossip was so close,” Willa says. “Number two on the combined list behind Stephen King.”

“And Stephen King is the most famous writer of modern times, so he doesn’t even count,” Savannah says.

At 5:02, Savannah checks her e-mail. There it is, from Rivera, Flor: Bestseller List 7/25/21. Savannah clicks on the list.

Golden Girl is number two on both the hardcover and the combined list. Number one is a novel called Satan’s Weekend by someone named D. K. Bolt. The description says it’s the fifteenth book in the Gruesome Goth series.

“Gruesome Goth?” Savannah says. “That sounds dreadful.”

Willa says, “I should have gone on Great Morning USA. I’m sorry. I just didn’t feel up to it.”

Savannah pulls the bottle of Veuve Clicquot out. “Let’s drink this anyway,” she says. “I know Vivi would want us to.”

“You guys enjoy,” Willa says. “I’m exhausted and Rip is expecting me at home.”

“Oh, just have one glass in your mother’s honor,” JP says. “Number two in the country is nothing to sneeze at.”

“I’m all set,” Willa says. She picks up her canvas NHA tote bag, which is what she uses as a purse, and leaves.

“I’ve lost them,” JP says to Savannah after they hear the front door close. “They never want to hang out with me.”

“You can find them again,” Savannah says. She pops the cork on the champagne. “Have you broken up with Amy yet?”