A Nantucket Wedding(42)
Noah sighed. “Yes, I’ve read about that, too. You’re right. Look, I’ll try to clear off a weekend later this summer.”
“Oh, Noah, thank you!” Felicity moved around the table to embrace Noah.
“Look,” he said, pushing her away, “calm down. It’s not definite yet. And I need a shower and bed. I’m beat.”
“Of course,” she said. And she removed her arms from around his shoulders, and began to take his dishes to the sink.
fourteen
Saturday morning, as Alison boarded the ten-seater plane from Boston to Nantucket, she gave the other passengers a quick glance, wondering if she knew any of them. And wondering if any one of them flying to the daydream island was as cranky about it as she was.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like people; she did. She loved her daughters, in spite of their occasional tendency to squabble. She adored her grandchildren. She felt real affection for Ethan, who wasn’t coming this time, and she enjoyed Poppy’s husband, Patrick, who was coming. She was fond of Poppy’s two children, but she was nervous about any interaction with Poppy herself, because David hadn’t yet found the time to discuss his will with Poppy. Felicity’s husband wasn’t coming, and Alison knew Felicity was sad about that, especially because Jane’s husband was coming. But Alison was glad she’d have some time with Scott, who’d always seemed a bit aloof. Maybe she’d get to know him better this weekend.
Really, she was just a bit angry with David for making her face this weekend alone. He claimed the necessities of work, and when Alison had asked, reasonably and pleasantly, why Poppy wasn’t doing the work, David had simply replied, “Exactly.”
Alison felt like her life had become a chessboard with the pieces all tossed up into the air, landing in incomprehensible patterns.
Then she saw the island, an emerald jewel set in the sapphire sea. Each time she flew in, she was mesmerized by the sight of the shoals extending out from the island, and the three lighthouses, and the harbor where sailboats clustered. A ferry was slowly pulling away from the island and into the deeper waters on its way to the mainland.
She was being foolish. Negative. It was a glorious summer day, she was engaged to a man she adored, and their families were becoming friends. Of course there would be a certain amount of discord—they were all human beings, after all. What Alison needed to do was to focus on being a good hostess. She’d already spoken with the housekeeper about fresh sheets on the beds and fresh towels in the bathrooms. Alani had also stocked the cupboards and refrigerator with the basic necessities. Later, Alison would go off to Sayle’s to see what fish was fresh and to buy fresh vegetables at Moors End. Once she was back on the island, she knew she’d feel more optimistic.
* * *
—
And with the children came the bliss. Alice, Luke, Daphne, and Hunter thundered into the house with whoops of joy at being back on the island. Felicity’s two threw themselves at Alison, hugging her so hard she almost fell over, while Daphne, child dictator, waited impatiently behind them, reminding them that they had to change into their swimming suits now.
“You can’t go to the water yet,” Poppy said. “I’m exhausted from the trip.”
“I’ll go down with them,” Felicity volunteered.
“And I’ll go,” Jane said.
“I’ll go, too,” Scott said. “Just let me change my clothes. Unless you need help with something, Alison.”
“No, I’m fine. Please, go, swim.”
“Thanks.” Jane kissed her mother. She was bubblier, brighter than usual, perhaps because Scott was with her.
“There are beach towels on the table on the deck,” Alison called. To Poppy, she said, “Now that you’re all here, I’m going off to buy fresh veggies. Is there anything you need?”
“Just a nap.”
“Yes, of course, Poppy. Have a nice long rest.”
* * *
—
Alison had spent some time researching recipes and planning to be ready to feed the family three times a day. She decided she’d cook what she enjoyed cooking and buy the rest. She couldn’t expect everyone to like the same things, so she made sure there was a variety. She bought fresh tuna to marinate in olive oil, ginger, and garlic for grilling, and crimson vine-ripened tomatoes, and Bartlett’s potato salad and macaroni salad, and newly picked carrots, which she’d cook with butter and a touch of brown sugar to tempt the children, and an enormous bag of peas in the pod. The children loved popping open the pods and eating the fresh sweet peas. A fruit torte from the Nantucket Bake Shop. She bought ice cream bars for the children, and she stopped at the liquor store to stock up for the adults. At the last moment, she tossed in several bags of chips.
When she returned to the house, she was surprised to see Scott waiting to help her unload.
“Oh, you don’t have to do this, Scott, I can manage,” she protested.
“I think I really have to do this,” Scott said with a twinkle in his eye. “You’ve bought so much food, and you’re so terribly old, I’d feel guilty if I allowed you to carry all these bags without my help.”
Alison cocked her head and studied her son-in-law. “You’re not a beach person,” she concluded.