An Invincible Summer (Wyndham Beach #1)(73)

“You’re always welcome here. Anytime.” Natalie walked her sister to the front door, where Grace had left her overnight bag. “Next time you need to teach me how to make a killer omelet like the one you made this morning.”

“Aw, you make me almost sorry for all those times when I was so mean to you when we were kids.” Grace picked up her bag, then turned to hug her sister. “Almost.”

Natalie laughed. “Stay well, you. Drive safely.”

She stood in the doorway and watched Grace drive away. When the car disappeared around the corner, Natalie closed the door and went into the kitchen to clean up from breakfast. Then she carried in her laptop and set it on the table. She checked email—so few since school ended for the semester. One student who wanted to argue his grade, another who thanked her for helping him improve his listening and reading skills. One from Glenn Patton, asking if she’d like to go with him to the Mann Center on Sunday afternoon for a concert. And one from Joe Miller, her would-be half brother. She clicked on his email and began to read.

Natalie,

Well, I haven’t heard back from you, so I’m assuming you have decided not to be in contact with me. I understand, and it’s okay. I do have something exciting to share with you, though, before I disappear from your life (unless you change your mind someday). I have been in contact with my birth father. I spoke with him over the weekend. We will be getting together sometime soon, and I am beyond happy. Nervous, but happy. I hope you’re happy for me. He told me I have not one, not two, but three younger sisters! Mind blown!

I’m still hopeful that one day things might work out that I could meet you, too. A guy can’t have too many sisters.

“Wait, what?”

Confused, Natalie read the email again. “That’s impossible. Dad’s been gone for two years.”

And then she noticed the PS several lines below Joe’s name.

By the way, the genealogical site has identified several second and third cousins. Do you know a Polly Wakefield Drummond? Or a Claire Lloyd Anderson?

Natalie slumped back against the pillows.

“Holy shit.”





Chapter Fifteen


MAGGIE

“I think I want to move some of the iris over by the garage,” Maggie told Liddy. “I think the purple flowers against the weathered gray wood will be stunning.”

“Okay. Let me get a shovel.” Liddy sat on the bottom step of the deck, looking over the array of garden tools Maggie had laid upon the grass.

“We’ll use the new spade. It’s the one with the blue handle.” Maggie pointed to the tool, and Liddy held it up. “Yes, that one.”

Liddy handed over the spade and Maggie proceeded to dig up the clumps that had sat neglected under the shade of a forsythia that had been permitted to grow wild and unchecked. Earlier that morning, she’d pruned the shrubs to a more manageable size and shape, and it was then she’d discovered the iris.

“These must have been my mom’s,” Maggie said as she dug. “She used to have a patch of them. She loved iris. And I see they’ve done their thing and multiplied. There must be fifty or sixty plants out here.”

“Well, since it appears the previous owners didn’t do much gardening, they probably were your mother’s. I know iris can hang on for a long time even under poor conditions. But they’ll be happier over there in the sun.”

“I’ll have to divide these clumps before I can replant them.” Maggie wiped the sweat from her forehead with her forearm.

“Want me to dig a bed next to the garage so all you have to do is drop in the tubers?”

“That would be great, Lid, but you don’t have to. You can sit and watch.” Maggie knew there was no way in hell Liddy would sit in the shade and watch Maggie work.

“What, and miss an opportunity to tell everyone how you worked me like a dog? Ha. Not a chance.” Liddy picked up a shovel. “I think the iris should go right here.” She pointed to a short stretch of ground along the side of the garage.

“Perfect.” Maggie began to divide the clumps.

“Where’s Grace this afternoon?” Liddy dug in and turned over a shovelful of dirt.

“She went into town to pick up some things from the general store and the wine shop. Natalie and Daisy will be here tomorrow afternoon, so we’re planning a reunion dinner.” Maggie smiled at the thought of seeing her daughter and her granddaughter again.

“How long are they staying?” Liddy bent down and shook dirt from a clump of grass, then resumed digging.

“Natalie wasn’t sure. I told her I’d love to have them, but if she wanted to leave and then come back, she was welcome to do so. Whatever fits her schedule.”

Liddy knelt to remove some weeds, and Maggie stood watching her.

“What?” Liddy asked without turning around.

“What what?”

“What is it you’re not saying?” Liddy stood and leaned on the shovel. “I can feel your eyes on my back, and it’s spooky. Out with it.”

Maggie sighed. “It could just be me. But I got this strange feeling from Nat last night on the phone. Like there was something she wasn’t saying.”

“Maybe she has a new boyfriend,” Liddy suggested. “Maybe she’s running off with Chris and wants you to know before the tabloids get their hands on the story.”