Beach House Reunion (Beach House #5)(82)
The weather on Isle of Palms, however, was still blissful. The ferry ride to Dewees was as smooth as silk. Tonight a merry group was heading for a small preview show of Heather’s paintings at the Dewees Community Center. Emmi and Flo sat with Cara and Hope inside the ferry in companionable silence, each enjoying the magnificent view of the sun setting over the Intracoastal Waterway. They were dressed to the nines for the event, Emmi in emerald green that complemented her fiery hair, Flo in crisp white linen and pearls. Cara wore a dress she hadn’t worn in more than ten years—a long black silk ablaze with Hawaiian red hibiscus flowers. Lovie had thought she looked so chic in this dress, with her dark hair worn up and a bit of red lipstick. Cara had seen the dress in the back of her closet and, thinking of her mother, slipped it on.
The rest of the troupe was sitting on the upper deck. Linnea and John had joined their coterie of friends, a group Linnea liked to call the Islands Surf Team. The boys had all known one another from childhood, and the women had found they had a lot in common. Toy and Ethan were having a rare night out without their kids. Cara was delighted to see Toy resplendent in red silk that delicately showed off her baby bump. Ethan’s cousin, Blake Legare, had joined them with his wife, Carson. Linnea had become especially close with Carson, a fellow surfer. Toy, meanwhile, had formed a tight friendship with Heather. Toy was teaching Heather about turtles, and Heather took Toy out for birding events. Cara smiled, thinking how nice it was to see the young people form friendships that could last lifelong. Sometimes life worked out that way, she thought. They all seemed to get along famously.
September was bringing changes for her as well. She stared out at the water and brought to mind for the hundredth time the long conversation she’d had with Kevin Mills at the South Carolina Aquarium.
“Penny for your thoughts,” said Emmi.
Cara swung her head around to meet Emmi’s green-eyed gaze. She smiled, knowing her best friend knew her so well she couldn’t keep anything from her.
“I was thinking about the job offer again.”
Flo overheard and leaned forward on the long, padded bench to speak past Emmi. “You should take it,” she said in her matter-of-fact manner.
Cara and Emmi shared a commiserating gaze. “I’m considering it,” Cara said, shifting Hope from her lap to the padded seat beside her. “Kevin was very complimentary. Still, that means working full-time with a child at home. I don’t want to fail.”
“You’ve never failed at a thing, from what I can tell,” Flo said.
“You’re working all the time anyway,” Emmi argued. “You call it part-time, but we both know you’re giving your consult business one hundred percent.”
“What’s holding you up?” asked Flo.
“Nothing’s holding me up. Kevin and I have begun a discussion in earnest. It’s an honor to be asked to head up a new department and it’s truly an exciting position. It’s as though all the years of advertising and marketing in Chicago, running the ecotour business for Brett, and doing public relations for the Tennessee Aquarium have prepared me for the breadth and scope of being conservation director.”
“You’re uniquely qualified,” Emmi said. “They’re lucky to have you.”
Cara loved Emmi for being her best cheerleader. “I’m the lucky one. Toy would have been an asset too. Still . . .” She paused to gaze at Hope, who had climbed to her feet and was looking out, spellbound by the scenery flashing by her window. Cara put her hand on the baby’s bottom to steady her, her heart pumping with affection. “There are ramifications to be considered for Hope, for our future.”
“Like what?” Emmi asked.
“You know how long I waited for a child. It’s hard to leave her behind.” She sighed and said, almost to herself, “I know she’ll be fine. I found a wonderful day care for her. So far she really likes being there. I think all the playdates with Rory made a difference.”
“Of course she’ll be fine,” Flo said. “She’ll be surrounded by love. From all of us. No child will be loved more.” She paused, reflecting. “I never had children,” she said. Her blue eyes were as bright as torches. “It was my decision. And I love children. I spent my adult life in social services helping them. In one way, I had hundreds of children—I gave my life to them. But I knew myself. I needed to work in a bigger picture. I wasn’t fit for staying home. Knowing that, I made choices. I’ve no regrets. And,” she said with a softening of her expression, “I had two special little girls who were like my own daughters.”
Emmi and Cara both chimed in with declarations of affection.
Emmi wiped her eyes. “Please, stop with all this emotion. You’re going to ruin my makeup.”
Cara laughed fondly at her bighearted friend.
Flo, by contrast, was never comfortable with displays of emotion. She shifted the sweater in her lap, then looked up again, her gaze clear-eyed.
“What I’m trying to tell you,” she said in all seriousness, taking time to look at both Cara and Emmi, “I’ve known you both all your lives. Cara”—Flo focused her attention on her—“you’ve always been an academic. A real go-getter. And frankly, you’re a bit citified too.” She put up her hand. “Don’t get riled. It’s who you are. You won’t be happy staying home, talking to children and baking cookies. Unlike Emmi, who was always good with art and crafts. She thrived being a full-time mom. And she was fortunate to have a husband who could support her.