A Nantucket Wedding(48)

“I could scramble some eggs…”

“Give me about thirty minutes. I’ve been going over accounts and I want to finish.”

“Fine. I’ll unpack and have a shower.”

Alison stood under the hot running water for a long time, not thinking, but relaxing, catching her breath. She always seemed to be trying to think ahead, about ferry and plane schedules, whether she had enough food, enough beer, and where the grandchildren were…It was luxurious to be alone as she rubbed lotion into her arms and brushed out her wet hair. She slid into a light silk kimono and went downstairs and into David’s study. While David slowly put his computer to sleep and organized his desk, Alison poured them each a drink and handed one to David. He sank into a chair, sighing as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

“What’s wrong?” Alison asked.

    “It’s Poppy,” he said. He leaned back in his chair and ran his hands through his hair.

“Poppy? What’s Poppy?”

“She’s screwing up at work. I’ve found a load of errors, and I’m fixing them and now I have to go through everything. This isn’t like her at all. I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”

Alison laughed. “I know exactly what’s gotten into her. She’s pregnant, David! She’s building you a new grandchild. Cut her some slack.”

“I wouldn’t cut any other employee some slack, especially not the women. I’ve been lectured too often about equality in the workplace. Anyway, it can’t be the pregnancy. She wasn’t this scattered with the first two children.”

“Every pregnancy’s different.”

“Emma’s were the same. And she never got so absentminded.”

“Poppy and Emma are two different women. And from what you’ve said, Emma was never involved in your business.”

“But she was. Emma gave elaborate parties and dinners.”

“Now, David,” Alison said, keeping her voice light, “you’re just being perverse. Do you mean to say that hosting parties and dinners is equal to what you’re expecting Poppy to do?”

“Humph.” David did not lose any argument easily. He sipped his brandy and rubbed his forehead. “Okay, yes, of course you’re right. I suppose I do need to give Poppy a break.” He hesitated before admitting, “You know, I hate to say it, but I’m finding it difficult, handing the reins over to Poppy—not because she’s a girl—”

“—woman,” Alison softly corrected.

“—but because I’d find it hard giving over control to anyone. I know I don’t have the energy or quick wits I used to have, but I’ve spent my life building the company and it’s wrenching to give it away.”

For a long moment, Alison was quiet, thinking. “Okay, then, how about this? Why not wait until Poppy’s had her baby, and had a few months to enjoy her new child—babies are so delicious when they’re small. Plus, Poppy won’t get a good night’s sleep for a year. You must remember that from when you and Emma had your babies. Give yourself another year or two before handing the company over.”

    “But we’re going to travel, you and I, after our wedding. We’ve booked a cruise through the Baltic and up to Saint Petersburg.”

Alison smiled. “I think Saint Petersburg will still be there in another year or two.”

David stared. “You’re unbelievable. Any other woman would be furious to have to wait another year for a honeymoon.”

Alison cocked her head and looked stern. “Well, there is one condition.”

“Really? What is it?”

“You have to come to the island more often. I don’t mean just this summer, I mean all through the year. They’ve got so many fabulous events there, the Daffodil Festival, the Cranberry Festival, the Christmas Stroll. We should definitely come for those. Celebrations of each season. We should enjoy each day, every day. You know that saying about putting things you want to do on your bucket list and doing them before you die? I saw someone wearing a T-shirt that said, ‘I’M LIVING MY BUCKET LIST.’ Isn’t that clever? We don’t have to go on a cruise to enjoy life. You just need to ease up on work, come to the island more.”

David said, “Alison, your cheeks have gone red. Are you having a hot flash?”

“No, idiot, I’m excited! Excited about having you with me on that fabulous island. I enjoy my girls and grandchildren, and your family, too, but it’s you I want to be with.” Suddenly, she had a thought. “And, David! You could make Poppy co-CEO of your company. You could share the work. That would be good for both of you. She’d have time for her baby, and then she’d take over the tiller and you’d have time with me.”

“Okay, I see what you’re getting at. You really believe I should continue working for a year?”

“Actually, David, I think you should continue working for years. I don’t know why we didn’t think of this before, but the man I fell in love with is a lion, a tiger. You’ve built that company from a small enterprise into a towering success. You’re working with young techies on ways to increase your sales through the Internet, and I know you like to be hands-on. Gosh, why didn’t I see this before? You love your work! You shouldn’t retire.”