An Invincible Summer (Wyndham Beach #1)(28)

“Unlike the redheaded starlet I saw on his arm at the Billboard Music Awards a few months back. I bet she fell into his lap easily enough.” Grace reached across the table for the book Daisy was straining to grab.

“Just cut all that talk when Emma’s here, okay?”

“Sure, Mom. I wouldn’t do anything to upset her,” Grace said. “On the other hand, I’d have loved if we could have been included in that round trip to Charlotte.”

“Maybe next time,” Maggie told her. “This time is for the moms.”

Natalie turned to her mother. “When was the last time you were at a rock concert?”

Maggie turned and leaned back against the counter, thinking. “It was at the old Spectrum in Philadelphia, but I don’t remember what year. Your father and I and the Larsons went to see Steve Winwood. Warren Zevon was the opening act.”

“I saw my first concert there. Britney Spears. I loved that place,” Natalie said. “What a shame they knocked it down.”

“Progress, sister,” Grace told her. She turned to her mother and asked, “And what does the well-dressed fiftysomething woman wear to a rock concert?”

“That’s a good question. I’ll ask Emma what she thinks.”

“Oh gosh, look at the time,” Grace said suddenly. She lifted Daisy from her lap and stood her on the floor next to the table. “I need to go.”

“Where do you need to be at seven on a Sunday night?” Natalie asked.

“I need to check in on a couple of friends.” Grace walked into the hall and grabbed her coat from the closet. “Mom, thanks for dinner. It was delish, as always.”

“We should probably go, too.” Natalie guided Daisy in the direction of the hall.

“Come here, my Daisy girl. Give me a big kiss.” Grace scooped up the little girl and planted kisses all over her face, then handed her over to her mother. “Do you believe our mom scored front-row tickets to a major rock concert while we languish at home?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong with this picture?” Natalie struck an indignant pose.

Grace sighed. “Maybe if we’re lucky, she’ll remember to bring us those Tshirts.”

“Maybe.” Maggie slung an arm over Grace’s shoulder and walked her to the door. “If you’re really lucky, maybe Chris will autograph them for you.”

Natalie faked a squeal. “Oh, Gracie, did you hear that? Maybe we’ll get autographed Tshirts from our childhood friend.”

“Yeah, our childhood friend who grew up to be one of the hottest guys on the planet.” Grace opened the closet and took out her coat, which she slid over her arms. She reached back for Natalie’s and Daisy’s jackets, then tossed them to Natalie.

“You didn’t think he was hot back then. You just said you thought he was a PITA.” Natalie knelt to help Daisy into her jacket.

“You sure didn’t.” Grace smirked.

“I don’t remember either of you being particularly enamored of Chris when you were younger.” Maggie opened the front door and stood off to one side.

“Nat was.” Grace stood on the front step and grinned at her sister. “Deny it now, but there was a time . . .”

Natalie laughed. “We were friends. We were always just friends.”

“If you say so,” Grace whispered.

“Mom, is everything all right? Are you all right?” Natalie asked softly as she buttoned her jacket.

“Why, do I look ill? Am I pale?” She stepped in front of the hall mirror and examined her reflection. “Everything’s fine. Why would you ask me that?”

“You look great. You just seem . . . I don’t know, maybe just a bit distracted?” Natalie appeared to struggle to put her finger on what seemed off about her mother. “And you’ve been neglecting your plants.”

Maggie frowned, her hands now on her hips. “What are you talking about? I certainly have not been neglecting anything.”

“Mom, I pulled dead leaves off several plants in the sunroom. I don’t remember ever in my entire life seeing a dead leaf on anything green in this house.”

“I haven’t noticed any dead leaves,” Maggie protested.

“That’s my point. You’ve always been so meticulous about your plants. It just made me wonder if there was something on your mind, that’s all.” Chastised, Natalie softened. “It wasn’t an accusation. I asked because it isn’t like you not to notice. You haven’t been the same since you came back from Wyndham Beach.”

Maggie waved a hand as if to dismiss the conversation. She was pretty sure she knew why she hadn’t been the same since the reunion, but she wasn’t about to get into that with her kids. It was something she’d have to work her way through, something that had nothing to do with her daughters. Something she’d been avoiding thinking about. “I guess maybe I’m just distracted by the holidays being so close and your father not being with us.”

“Oh. Well, that makes sense.” Natalie glanced at Grace, who’d watched the exchange but hadn’t commented. “We’ll all be missing Daddy even more at Thanksgiving. Remember how he loved to put the turkey on that big white platter—”

“The one with the big turkey on it.” Grace nodded.