A Nantucket Wedding(80)

“Donations are always gratefully received. To rescue your husband took five team members, one S-92 rescue helicopter, and a team of Land Rovers over a period of five hours.”

“Oh, I had no idea—a helicopter!” For one hysterical moment, Jane wanted to ask if Prince William had flown it. Felicity would be thrilled! “Will I meet you at the hospital?”

“No. A rescue team liaison will be there.”

“Oh, good, but I wish I could meet you. You have been so helpful.”

“It was a group effort.”

“Yes, of course. Thank you. Thank everyone.”

When the connection to Derfel Aberfa was cut, Jane put the phone down and sobbed into her hands. Jane was aware that others in the train were staring at her as if she were an exhibit in a museum, and once she had herself more or less in control, she stood up and looked around the cabin. “My husband had a fall on Mount Snowdon. That was a liaison from the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team. They found him and he’s waiting for me in the hospital with only a broken arm.”

    Some of the other passengers applauded. Everyone smiled. Jane sat back down and began texting Felicity and her mother.



* * *



—

Alison found an empty slot in the short-term parking lot at Logan airport and neatly pulled in between two SUVs. She pulled down the visor, checked her hair, and sighed. Her dark hair always went hopelessly limp in the humidity. She dabbed on a gloss of pale pink lipstick, double-checked that she had her car keys in her purse. With this new car, she didn’t need to insert a key but simply put a foot on the brake and push a button. She kept trying to put the key in where there was no keyhole and every time she got in the car she felt as if she’d gone a little bit mad. She had to rearrange the habit of a lifetime, taking the key from the ignition, clasping it in her hand, getting out of the car, and locking it. Now she needed only to have the keys near her to start the car, but she had to have the keys in her hand to lock the car. A different pattern, different rhythm. It irritated her, and she was even more irritated at herself for minding so much. It made her feel old.

Well, she told herself, there’s a first-world problem if there ever was one. She stepped out of the car, smoothed the front of her dress, and headed for the terminal. Anya, the brilliant seamstress at Flore Bridal Gowns, was flying in today to fit Alison’s wedding dress. Anya was bringing Felicity’s and Jane’s as well, but Jane was over in Wales with Scott so the girls could try on theirs when they got to the island.

What an enormous relief it was that Scott was found with only a broken arm! Would Scott learn anything from his fall? Scott was so sure of himself, so unyielding, so doubt-free. Alison liked Scott, and she could see how Jane would love being with Scott. He was like a male Jane. But too much self-confidence was unpleasant; plus, it blinded people to the possibilities of other options.

    Long ago, once she’d started playing around on the Internet, Alison had taken a test to see what personality type she was. Big surprise: she was a Nurturer. Nurturers were warm, loving, giving, forgiving, maternal, helpful, blah blah blah, but Nurturers were never Leaders. Leaders were strong, powerful, assured, capable of having visions and making those visions come true. Leaders didn’t care if they were liked or if they hurt someone in their steady advance toward their goals.

David was a Leader. Obviously. He had inherited a company and made it a financial success. He was powerful and assured. But he hadn’t had to step on anyone else’s fingers as he climbed the ladder to success. He’d worked very hard for years. David was, Alison decided, a Kind Leader. He was the one who wanted their wedding to be a great celebration for his family and friends. Alison thought Scott was a Leader, and so was Jane. Could two Leaders stay happily married through the years? They would all have to wait and see.

Today everyone was safe. She needed to stop her brooding and focus on this day. After all, it was going to be exciting, and it was almost her duty to enjoy herself! Anya would arrive any moment, bringing with her Alison’s wedding dress.

The plane was on time. Alison waited, as agreed, by the baggage claim. And there she was, coming down the stairs from the gate. Alison smiled and waved. Anya was a serious woman who seldom talked about anything other than the gown she was fitting. Alison thought Anya was originally from Russia, but there was a sternness about her that kept Alison from inquiring. It would seem intrusive.

“Hello, Anya,” Alison said. “How was the flight?”

“Very nice,” Anya replied. “The gowns are in boxes. They will be here.”

They waited, and soon two large boxes and one small suitcase came trundling around on the conveyor belt. Anya and Alison wrestled them off. They weren’t heavy, but they were large and cumbersome.

    “Let’s get them outside and you can wait with them while I get the car. I’ll come around and pick you up.”

“Yes. Very well.” Anya was short and wide, with graying hair and dark eyes. Alison had seen Anya smile only a few times, all when Alison put on her gown and stood in front of a mirror in the marvelous dress.

It was a failing of Alison that she couldn’t sit quietly in the presence of another person. During the thirty-minute drive to the apartment on Marlborough Street, Alison worked hard to get Anya to talk, but finally gave up and babbled on about her wedding, the gowns, and Poppy’s decision to wear a floor-length pantsuit.