A Nantucket Wedding(22)

She showered, pulled on yoga pants and a T-shirt, and carried her briefcase into their office.

“Almost done,” Scott said.

She unpacked her laptop. She’d thought she’d have time on the island to read through at least one file, but somehow she hadn’t worked all weekend. Like a drug, the need to work pulled at her mind. She could start—

“Done!” Scott rose from his desk chair, stretched, and yawned. “What shall we order in for dinner?”

She kept her back to him. “Whatever you want. And I’ve brought you the most delicious bread. I made it myself. It’s unbelievable. I’ll heat it up for you for an amuse-bouche.”

“I’ll tell you what I’d like to amuse my mouth.” Scott put his arms around her waist and kissed her neck.

“Oh, good,” Jane joked lightly. “I didn’t think you’d missed me at all.”

“God, I know, Jane. I’m sorry. But in my defense, I’m stressed.”

“You sound like a lawyer.”

“I am a lawyer.”

“You’re a husband, too.” She turned in his arms and looked up at him.

He smiled. He had a wonderful smile. “I promise to perform my husbandly duties later on, or even before we eat, depending on which of your appetites is stronger. I set the DVR to tape the Sunday morning show, so we can watch it while we eat.” He stepped back and checked his watch. “Time for a Scotch.”





eight


Rain was falling as the ten-seater plane began its shuddering wobble down the Nantucket runway. Felicity had no real dread of flying, but as they lifted off the ground into the clouds, she felt itchy with anxiety. She knew the pilot had instruments, but the dense white vapor around the plane was unsettling.

She closed her eyes and forced herself to focus on something positive. It had been sunny this morning and gorgeous at lunch today at the restaurant on the wharf. And it had been a good time for the three of them, much laughter, delicious food, and a sense that the coming summer might bring them all closer. For the first time in years, Felicity had felt a real affinity with Jane, perhaps because her perfect older sister with the perfect accomplished life wanted something Felicity had. But Felicity had also noticed the sexual tension between Jane and Ethan. They were only flirting, she reassured herself. Absolutely just flirting. Felicity scolded herself for being jealous that for once a man hadn’t chosen her over her sister.

    And she was taut with worry about Ingrid being with Noah and her children last night…the fear of infidelity hummed around her mind like a bothersome bee.

It was cloudy in Boston when the plane landed. Her clothes weren’t warm enough for the surprising early summer chill. Was she coming down with a cold? Why was she so dreary today?

Her spirits lifted when she came into the terminal.

Her children raced toward her. “Mommy Mommy Mommy!”

Alice hurtled herself toward Felicity, determined to get to her first. She wore a flowered shirt and plaid shorts and polka dot knee socks, because that was the way Alice liked to dress. Felicity noticed that no one, meaning Noah, had brushed Alice’s long blond curls today.

Luke barreled toward Felicity, tackling her at the knees, almost knocking her down. Squatting on the floor, her arms around both children, Felicity looked up at her husband. “Hi, there.”

“Hey.” Noah’s expression was stiff, fake happy.

She stood and kissed him. His kiss was cool, and he pulled away quickly. But then he had never been comfortable with public displays of affection.

In the Volvo station wagon on the ride home, the children talked and giggled so much Felicity and Noah couldn’t have any kind of a conversation, and that was the way it always was. But anxiety made Felicity reckless, and as they left Route 2 for the winding roads of their suburb, she said easily, carelessly, “So, I hear Ingrid came over last night.”

She was Noah’s wife. She’d lived with him for eight years. She could read even his unspoken words. His hands tightened on the steering wheel and his jaw tensed.

Alice burst out, “She brought us a huge pan of macaroni and cheese—”

Luke yelled. “Mommy, we watched Frozen. She gave us the DVD. Can we watch it when we get home?”

    “How nice of Ingrid,” Felicity said, smiling over the back of her seat at her children. “And how unusual for Daddy to allow you to watch a DVD.”

“I know, Mommy,” Alice agreed.

Noah glared at the road without speaking.

“Did you bring us any presents, Mommy?”

“No, sweeties, I didn’t have time.”

Noah pulled into their driveway. The children exploded out of the car, racing to the backyard where they were allowed to play while Felicity kept an eye on them from the kitchen. Noah unlocked the front door and held it open for Felicity as she entered.

Felicity dropped her backpack on the low chest in the front hall. Noah headed to his den at the side of the house.

“Noah, wait. I’d like to know…Could we talk about Ingrid being here?”

He didn’t turn to face her. “Let’s talk about it after dinner.” He went into his den and shut the door.

“Well,” Felicity said to the closed door, “now I’m really worried.”