Surfside Sisters(73)
First of all, she had to get her mother up and moving. That was one goal she could achieve.
Next, she would talk to Sebastian about Gray tonight. She would tell Sebastian that Gray was coming to the island. That no matter what happened between Keely and Sebastian—Sebastian was not to feel obligated by this—Keely was going to end things with Gray.
As soon as the thought popped into her head, Keely was swept with a sense of relief so palpable it seemed she’d drunk an elixir. It would be difficult talking to Gray, and it wouldn’t be that much fun telling Sebastian tonight, but she was determined to do it.
Clouds rolled in overhead that afternoon. The sky was dark, and a wind came up, tossing the trees, tearing petals from plants. Keely worked with her mother in the basement. They were almost finished there, and they didn’t want to go out in the unsettled weather. They could tell that any minute a fury of rain would plunge down, driving summer people and day-trippers and islanders alike into the safety of shelter.
Of course Eloise was ready to settle in front of the TV again, but Keely had a brainstorm.
“Mom, I’ve set my computer up on the kitchen table. Get your laptop and sit next to me and we’ll go shopping. You could use some new clothes.”
“Keely, I don’t have the money for new clothes. Or any reason to wear them, for that matter.”
“Well, I have the money to buy you a few things, and as long as I’m here, you’ll have lots of places to wear them. Art openings, theater, movies, galas…Come on. Join me. We’ll have fun.”
Keely made a pot of Earl Grey tea and poured them each a cup, set on a saucer, to elevate her mother’s mood. Eloise’s clothes were practical and comfortable. She wore clogs. She wore shapeless tops in neutral colors, as if she were trying hard not to be seen. She wore no jewelry except her wedding ring. Keely showed Eloise some clothing sites and suggested, gently, new possibilities.
“Oh, those are far too young for me,” her mother protested.
So Keely dragged her reluctant mother into her bedroom, took out the few dresses she’d brought from New York, and insisted Eloise try them on. Eloise carried more weight than Keely, and her weeks of inactivity had made her plump and baggy, so she insisted nothing of Keely’s would fit her.
Keely persisted. She managed to pull one of her looser sundresses over her mother, and all at once her mother smiled.
“This is a pretty dress,” Eloise admitted.
“Okay, wait.” Keely searched through her jewelry box and brought out a pair of small multicolored earrings. “Like? Or maybe this necklace?”
“I wouldn’t feel comfortable in too much jewelry,” Eloise said.
“Yeah, but look at this.” Keely slipped a necklace over Eloise’s head. “It’s so casual, and playful, all those little silver hearts and flowers. It’s so summery.” Keely laughed. “I have a genius idea. Let’s order this dress for you and we can have mother-daughter dresses.”
“Oh, silly,” Eloise chided, but she continued to preen in front of the full-length mirror, getting accustomed to the sight of herself in a pretty dress.
They spent the afternoon playing dress-up. Keely ordered several things online for her mother, including a luxuriously flowered silk robe. It would be one giant step to sanity to get her mother out of her hideous stained relic.
The rain continued to sheet down. It was one of those days that seemed like twilight all day long. Before Keely knew it, it was after five. Eloise collapsed in front of the television. Keely went into the privacy of her room to call Sebastian.
He didn’t answer.
Probably with a customer, Keely thought. She hoped that while she’d been shopping with her mother her own little brain would have worked out exactly how to deal with Gray without hurting him. But she knew she had to break it off with him in person, face-to-face. Which meant she had to talk with Sebastian about where they were headed as a couple. As much as she loved Sebastian, had always loved him, she was older and wiser now, and much had happened between her and Isabelle. What did Keely want? Could she live with Sebastian in an apartment above his shop? Could she bear to spend Sunday lunches with the family, with Donna Maxwell subtly insulting her?
Right now she had to focus on telling Sebastian that Gray was coming to the island. She would promise that she wasn’t in love with Gray, and wouldn’t sleep with him but would have a serious breakup conversation with him. Still, it would be awkward, talking to Sebastian about this.
Her phone buzzed. Sebastian!
“Sorry I didn’t answer right away. Listen, Keely, I’m sort of in a zone right now. I’m working on my scrimshaw piece, the one with the tall ships in a storm. I’d like to keep at it. Could I take a rain check on tonight?”
“Rain check sounds appropriate,” Keely joked. She was both disappointed and relieved. “Of course, Sebastian. I know how it feels to be in the zone. I’ll spend the evening with my mom. She’ll like that.”
“Good. I’ll call you later.”
Keely made a delicious mac and cheese and crispy green beans and a salad for dinner. She ate in front of the television so her mother could watch Jeopardy! Later, she persuaded her mother to play gin rummy with her at the kitchen table. When her mother drifted back to an old black-and-white movie, Keely decided she’d been a good enough daughter for the day and curled up in her room with a mystery.