Surfside Sisters(76)

They were on the curve of road that took them past Sesachacha Pond. The pond was often breached by the ocean storming over the small sand barrier between them. On the other side of the water, several summer houses stood, their lights twinkling like lightships, and every few seconds the beam of the ’Sconset lighthouse would flash.

    “Gray,” Keely said impulsively, “pull over here. At that small overlook.”

“It’s a nice spot,” Gray said, turning off the engine and reaching to put his arm around Keely.

She pulled away. He had misunderstood her intentions, and it was her fault.

“Gray, wait,” she said quickly. “I need to tell you something.”

Gray drew back. Immediately, his guard was up, an invisible shield Keely could almost see.

“Gray, I’ve been…seeing someone since I’ve been home. His name is Sebastian Maxwell. He’s Isabelle’s brother. I know I’ve spoken about her. I would have told you about Sebastian before, but I didn’t know that he’d be here, I didn’t know that he…he loves me. I don’t know what’s going to happen, especially because his father had a stroke last night. I can’t expect to talk about the future with Sebastian now, and I don’t want to mislead you.”

Gray stared out at the water, his face impassive. “What you’re saying is that if you have the chance to be with this…Sebastian…you will take it. Between me and him, you choose him.”

Keely looked down at her hands. “Yes, I suppose that’s what I’m saying. I’m sorry.”

Gray was quiet for a long time. Then he said, “You told me about Isabelle. Once, for most of your childhood, your best friend. Then she stole your boyfriend.”

“Yes, that’s right. I was angry with her when she married Tommy. She suddenly just snatched him back, without even telling me. And to be honest, Isabelle was upset with me when Rich Girl came out. Mostly because I sort of won, because I had a book published. Also because she probably thought a lot of the rich girl was based on her, and it wasn’t really, although I did use bits and pieces of her life, her clueless sense of entitlement. But I really hope we’ll be friends again.”

    “That family means a lot to you,” Gray observed. “Maybe too much? Keely, I want to marry you. I want to spend my life with you. I don’t say that lightly. I’m not going to run away. I can be patient. I can wait while your friend’s father recovers from his stroke, until you have time to speak with Sebastian about your future.”

“Gray…”

“It’s okay, Keely. I’m okay. We’re all right.” He reached for the ignition button and started up the car. He pulled back onto the narrow, winding road.

After a moment, Gray continued, “And let’s say you marry this Sebastian. Will you live on the island? Permanently?”

“Probably, well, definitely. But it’s not definite that I’m going to marry Sebastian. It’s all very complicated. His father—”

“Listen to yourself. If you marry Sebastian and live on this island, you’ll be constantly in touch with his family. You’ve told me that islanders are close. You told me once that the best thing about living here is that everyone knows you and what you’re doing, and the worst thing about living here is that everyone knows you and what you’re doing.”

“I remember saying that, yes,” Keely said quietly.

“Maybe you should give some serious consideration to what it would be like to live your entire life here, instead of in New York.”

“I do love the city—”

“I could always buy a house here, Keely. A summer house. We could come here for Christmas, Thanksgiving. You wouldn’t lose your island completely.”

In a very small voice, Keely said, “It isn’t only the island I love.”

As if he hadn’t heard her, Gray said, “And that house. The Maxwell house. I could buy it. I could offer enough money so they’d sell it in a minute. Then you could have that house for your own.”

“That house?” Was Gray trying to bribe her with his money?

    “You’ve told me how much you love that house. How you longed to live there when you were a child.”

“But I’m not a child anymore, Gray. I’m a grown woman, and I love Sebastian, for better or worse. Gray, I do care for you. I admire you, I enjoy being with you, and I’m so—”

“If you say you’re so fond of me, Keely, I’m going to stop the car right here and make you get out and walk home in those wretched high heels.”

Keely was surprised at the lightness in his voice. He didn’t sound hurt or angry. He sounded almost amused.

“Gray, please…I do care about you.”

“And I love you, Keely. I think I love the real you. I know you as you are now, an adult, a brilliant, capable, well-read, knowledgeable woman. You’re not the child you once were.”

“You think that being on the island makes me feel like a child again. Funny, because Fiona wanted me to come here to write because she thought it would make my work better, that being here is magical for me.”

“We all have our magic spaces and places,” Gray said. “But real life can’t be magic all the time. Sometimes it’s damned hard work.”