Surfside Sisters(96)

The summer days were hot and fine for swimming, and the sky blazed with stars at night. The Maxwells and Eloise bustled around taking care of Al. Keely got to hide away with her computer and write. If she kept up this pace, and she knew she could, she would finish the new novel before Thanksgiving. Keely and Sebastian were waiting until spring to be married. They wanted a proper ceremony, but most of all, they wanted Mr. Maxwell to be in better health.

    Keely was so happy she was terrified. Writing during the day, being with Sebastian at night—could this happiness last?

One afternoon she finished early. She showered, dressed, jumped in her car, and drove to Fast Forward to pick up two iced lattes. She’d surprise Sebastian at his shop with coffee and a kiss. The day was cloudy, almost cool, and brisk. Families in bike lanes struggled to pedal against the wind.

She turned into the parking lot and squeezed her car between two pick-up trucks. Keely thought she saw Isabelle’s red Jeep parked at the far end, so she wasn’t surprised when she entered the print shop and found Isabelle sitting near one of the desks with Sebastian.

Donna sat across from them.

The three glanced up when the silver bell over the door tinkled.

Keely paused. “It looks like I’m interrupting something serious. I’ll go.”

Sebastian stood up. “No, Keely, stay. This concerns you.”

“Oh, dear,” Keely said under her breath.

He crossed the room, kissed Keely on the cheek, and ushered her to the desk. He pulled a chair over for Keely.

Keely set the coffees on the desk and sat down.

“We’re talking about the house,” Donna announced, looking Keely square in the eye.

Isabelle continued. “And the future. Mom and Dad need to move into a smaller house. Everything on one floor. No stairs. Mom wants to simplify their lives.”

“Okay…” Keely nodded.

“So we’re discussing options,” Sebastian said. “They could sell the house and they’d have plenty of money to buy a smaller house on the island. And maybe they’d have enough left over, especially considering the IRAs and savings they have, to split the profit between me and Isabelle.”

    Isabelle took over. “But I don’t think they should sell the house. I think you and Sebastian should buy it from them for a dollar or something and live there. I’d hate for our wonderful old house to go to anyone who’s not part of the family. Plus,” she added with an embarrassed grin, “it needs a lot of TLC. I don’t think many people would want to restore it. They would just knock it down and start over.”

Keely blinked and shook her head. “You’ve skipped way ahead of me here. Don’t you and Tommy and Brittany want to take the big house? I mean, there are already three of you. You might have another child, even two or three.”

“Not for a while,” Isabelle said. “Besides…this is a secret, but Tommy is working on a deal to become partners in a marina out at Madaket. We’d want our own home, our real home, to be out there. Anyway, Keely, think about it. Does Tommy want to deal with keeping an old house in shape or does he want to spend any free time out on his boat?”

Before Keely could speak, Donna waved her hand dismissively. “I told you Keely wouldn’t like the idea. She’s far too busy with her work to want to take on that house.”

“Wait,” Keely gasped. “This concerns Sebastian, not me.”

Donna leaned forward, putting herself between Sebastian and Keely. “You’re going to marry Sebastian. You have a say in this matter. I can understand why you wouldn’t want our shabby old house. You probably have the money to buy a showplace.”

“Mrs. Maxwell—”

“Donna.”

“Donna, I love your house. I’ve always loved it. But I would do whatever Sebastian wants to do. If he wants your house, I’d be delighted to make our home there.”

“You’d have to pay market value,” Donna said. “But I suppose you make enough money to do that.”

    Keely exchanged glances with Sebastian, who said, “I suppose you and Dad would be good enough to be the mortgage-holders.”

Isabelle added, “And, Mom, since you and Dad gave us the money for Tommy’s boat when we got married, you’d have to give Sebastian and Keely an equal amount when they marry, and you could just not give them the money but deduct it from the down payment.”

Donna held out her hands in surrender. “Fine. Whatever. Sebastian, you really must take the house. It exhausts me. The thought of sorting through all the years of accumulated stuff…never in a million years would we be able to get the house ready to show.”

“Mom,” Isabelle said. “Even if Sebastian and Keely take the house, you still have to clear out years of junk…”

“Yes, of course. I know that. But if we don’t have to put it on the market, I can take my time.”

Isabelle said, “And of course we’d help you.”

Keely added, “I’ve gotten very efficient at clearing out old…possessions.”

Donna nodded. “I know, Keely. Your mother says you’ve been invaluable.” Her face changed, softening. “It’s daunting, you know, changing one’s life so completely. This is not where I thought I’d be at this age.”