An Invincible Summer (Wyndham Beach #1)(111)

“Did you have enough breakfast?” Maggie asked. “I can go in and . . .”

“We did,” Grace told her. “Thanks for leaving everything pretty much prepped.”

“Nana, Mommy said today I get to ride a carousel with big horses that go up and down.” She climbed into Maggie’s lap. “Do the horses bite? What color are they? Do they have horns like unicorns?”

“Yes, you will get to ride the carousel, but no, the horses don’t bite. We’ll have to wait and see what colors they are, and I don’t think there are any unicorns on Mr. Harrison’s carousel. I rode that carousel when I was a little girl, and so did your mommy and Aunt Grace when they were little.”

The sound of a car door slamming got everyone’s attention.

“That must be Joe.” Maggie lifted Daisy from her lap, stood, smoothed her skirt, and hurried into the house.

She went straight to the front door, then out onto the front porch. Joe approached on the sidewalk, his hand holding an uncertain Lulu, Jamey following behind with obvious reluctance. Maggie stood at the top of the steps to welcome them.

“I’m so glad you’re here. And you’re right on time.” She smiled and held out her hands to Joe. He kissed her on the cheek, and she noticed Jamey turn his head. “Come on in and we’ll get ready for the parade. We should leave in a few minutes.”

The threesome followed her inside, where they met Grace, Natalie, and Daisy.

“Hey, Natalie. Good to see you again,” Joe said. “And this must be Grace. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

Natalie offered a hug, and Grace a brief handshake.

Joe turned to his children. “Jamey, Lulu, meet your aunt Natalie and your aunt Grace.”

Lulu smiled shyly and offered a tiny wave. Jamey glared and half waved in their general direction.

Oh boy. It was clear both children felt unsure and awkward, not totally understanding their place with these three women who were new to them, a normal reaction. But Maggie had high hopes the activities of the day would go a long way toward helping them relax and enjoy themselves. The butterflies in the pit of her stomach may not have been convinced, but she covered her doubts so well no one would have suspected there had been a moment or two when she wondered if perhaps Grace had been right. Perhaps it was too soon. Maybe they should have taken more time to get to know each other. Was she trying too hard to make up for lost time?

Well, she thought, it’s a little late to examine my motives or question my wisdom.

“Guys, it’s going to be hot as blazes later, so you’re going to want to bring water to the parade. I do have a cooler we can take for water bottles, but I think starting out, we should each take a bottle.” She held a cool bottle out to Lulu, who whispered, “Thank you.” Jamey shook his head to decline, but Daisy walked over and took the bottle from Maggie’s hands.

“Mama says we have to drink lots of water when it’s hot,” Daisy told Jamey matter-of-factly, all but forcing the bottle into his hands. After he took it silently, she reminded him, “Now you say thank you.”

Being schooled by a three-year-old apparently stung. Jamey’s mumbled “thank you” was the first words he’d spoken since he’d arrived.

Maggie zipped up the cooler, and Joe stepped in to take it.

“I’ll carry that. Anything else you need?” Joe asked.

“No. I think we’re good.” Maggie pointed to the front door. “Lead the way.”

As if trying to escape, Grace was first out the door, but Joe, with his long legs, easily caught up to her on the porch.

“So Grace, Nat tells me you collect first editions. So do I. Is there any particular genre or time period you favor?” Joe asked.

“Oh.” Grace sounded as if she’d been taken off guard. “Well, I love the old detective mysteries. Mickey Spillane. Raymond Chandler. Dashiell Hammett.”

“Hey, me too! My autographed copy of The Maltese Falcon is my most prized possession.”

“I’m so jealous! I have a first edition, but mine is not signed.”

“Did you know Spillane wrote comic books before he wrote novels?”

“No!” Grace smacked him softly on the arm.

Joe nodded. “Superman. Batman . . .”

“My dad collected those from the nineteen fifties.”

“So did mine . . .”

Listening to the exchange, Maggie sighed with relief. It appeared Grace had forgotten her preconceived dismissal of Joe, and all it had taken was the discovery of a shared love.

“And we’re two for two,” Maggie muttered as she locked the front door.

Behind her, Natalie laughed. “Relax, Mom. It’s going to be a great day. Fourth of July in Wyndham Beach, and we’re all together. What could be better?”

They fell in step with the slow-moving group headed for the center of town.

Grace led the way, walking with Joe on one side and Daisy skipping along on the other. Jamey and Lulu followed close behind their father, not speaking, both looking slightly lost and clearly feeling out of place. Maggie hoped that would change by the end of the day.

Liddy and Emma stood at the curb in front of the bookstore. By the time Maggie caught up with her group, the introductions had already been made. Two blocks away, the parade was beginning to take form, the long line of participants snaking out from the town’s largest parking lot. Brett’s police cruiser was at the front, followed by the Mid-Coast Regional High School Marching Band and a caravan of convertibles carrying the mayor and other municipal leaders.