A Nantucket Wedding(6)

“You should take a nap when we get back to the house,” Jane suggested.

“A nap! In the middle of the day! That would be the height of luxury.” Felicity laughed. “To tell the truth, having a nice long nap right now, without anyone wailing for me or crawling into bed and kicking my stomach—”

“Noah kicks you in the stomach?” Jane asked jokingly.

“No, silly! I meant Luke. He doesn’t mean to kick me, but he’s only five, he’s trying to snuggle. Oh, and I do love my snuggle bunnies. Sometimes they climb in bed with me and the three of us cuddle like bears in a cave.”

“Where’s Noah?”

“Oh, he gets up early. He works even on Saturdays. I wish he wouldn’t but I know how much he wants his company to be a success.” Sounding wistful, Felicity added, “He does cuddle with us on Sundays. Or, I should say, the kids cuddle with him. They’re always so excited to have time with him, they just adore Noah, and they’re both fascinated by his bristly morning beard. Luke will touch it and cry, ‘Ow!’ and they all laugh like crazy.”

“That sounds wonderful.” Jane dropped her sister’s arm and began the single-file trek back through the low shrubbery up to the house.

In the kitchen, Jane filled a glass with artesian water from a bottle. Felicity, who thought such luxuries were wasteful, filled her glass from the tap at the sink.

Footsteps came from the hall.

    “Mom?” Felicity called.

“Probably not,” someone said, and then a tall and inordinately handsome man walked into the room.

Both sisters gawked. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a look of easy strength. Blond-haired, blue-eyed, he had a smile that would charm the birds off the trees. He wore jeans and a navy-blue and white striped rugby shirt and carried a duffel bag.

“You must be Jane and Felicity. I’m Ethan Gladstone, David’s son.”

“Golly,” Felicity blurted. “You’re handsome! And I can say that because I’m an old married woman.”

Jane shot her a wry glance, knowing that Felicity expected Ethan Gladstone to reply that she didn’t look old enough to be married. If a male was around, Felicity flirted.

Jane stepped forward, holding out her hand. “Hi, Ethan. I’m Jane, and my old married sister here is Felicity.”

Ethan shook her hand.

Lightning streaked up Jane’s arm, sparking through her torso.

What was that? Surprised and embarrassed—of course no one could see what she felt, but her body had just gone radioactive—Jane pulled her hand away, saying defensively, “And I’m an old married woman, too.”

Ethan’s mouth quirked in a sideways smile. “Ah, too bad. Because I’m a free man.”

Behind Jane, Felicity sighed. “Of course you are,” she said.

“Does Alison know you’re here?” Jane asked. She couldn’t help herself, she was speaking in her lawyer voice, her instinctive protection against all sorts of weaknesses. She tried to tone it down a notch. “I mean, I don’t think David will be down for the weekend.”

“I know. I didn’t plan to come, but a friend called. He’s putting his boat in the water and wants me to help. So here I am, and don’t worry, I won’t be in your way. I’ll sleep here, but the only sustenance I’ll ask for is a cup of coffee in the morning, and I know Alison makes great coffee.”

“Um, is one of the bedrooms yours?” Felicity asked.

    Bed, Jane thought. Ethan in a bed. She knew her face was now fire-engine crimson.

“Not really. We all just pile in wherever we can. You two should take the rooms with the water view. I’ve seen it plenty of times.”

“Oh, that’s so nice of you,” Felicity gushed.

Ethan tossed Felicity a careless smile and turned to leave the room. “I’ll put my bag in one of the bedrooms, and then I’m off for the day and most of the evening. See you all later.” He shot a glance at Jane and did not smile. Instead, he looked curious, questioning. Then he shook his head and left the room.

The sisters heard him whistling as he went up the stairs two at a time.

“Good grief,” Felicity whispered.

“You’re married,” Jane reminded her sister.

“And so are you!” Felicity shot back.

“We can’t just stand here drooling.”

“I know, but seriously, wow.”

Jane tried to collect her thoughts. “You’re going to take a nap, right?”

“I don’t know,” Felicity said, hugging herself. “I don’t think I could sleep now with him here. In a bedroom. Near my bedroom.”

“Well, we’ve got to do something,” Jane insisted in a whisper. “What would we be doing if he hadn’t arrived?”

“Arguing, of course,” Felicity teased with a grin.

“Oh, ha-ha.” Jane’s emotions were all over the place.

The front door slammed. Alison called, “Darlings! Come help carry in the groceries.” When her girls appeared in the front hall, she told them, “More groceries in the car, Felicity. Steak and bacon. Here, Jane, take this, it’s a heavy bag.”

“Ethan’s here,” Felicity said.

“Oh, good. He’s lovely. Is he staying for dinner?”