The Suite Spot (Beck Sisters #2)(56)

“I’d like that.”

Yōko pauses in front of the label for Sunshine Ale. “What’s this?”

“Oh! That was meant to be a surprise.”

“Green tea,” she says, covering her smile with two fingers. “He’s always been such a thoughtful boy.”

“He is.”

“You love him,” she says. A statement, not a question.

“I have made … mistakes when it comes to men,” I say. “Choosing the wrong ones or jumping too soon, so I’m learning to not use that word frivolously. I care about Mason very much, but he’s still working through some things, I think.”

“David and I were shocked when he told us that Jessica left,” she says. “We loved her. We still love her. But we understand that their marriage could not bear the weight of their combined grief. I want my son to be happy, and if you are part of that happiness, you are welcome in our lives.”

“Thank you.”

“Let’s not tell him I know about the beer,” she says conspiratorially.

“Deal.”



* * *



As morning gives way to a sunny afternoon, Maisie and Lillie run screaming through a sprinkler that Mike set up for them in the side yard. Local folks come and go, stopping at the taproom to sample Mason’s beer and sneak a peek at the first cabin. Daniel, Avery, and Leo show up with an American flag cake decorated with blueberries and strawberries, and not far behind are Daniel’s parents, Fred and Betsy Rose. Vivian and Lucy bring canning jars of spicy homemade pickles and a giant bowl of potato salad. Mason’s dad takes control of the barbecue, grilling hamburgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers for Didie, who doesn’t eat meat. As they get hungry, the older kids trickle in from biking around the island. And Rosemary swings by with a bottle of apricot cordial that she made herself from the tree in her backyard, the elders sipping it as they catch up on island gossip.

I’m watching Maisie play when my phone rings with a video call from Brian.

“Brian! Happy Fourth,” I say.

“Yeah, um—can I talk to Maisie?”

“She’s playing in the sprinkler. Maybe we can do this tomorrow instead?”

“You said I could talk to her anytime I want.”

“I know,” I say. “But she’s literally dripping wet and she’s not going to want to stop what she’s doing.”

“You can’t keep her from me. It’s not right.”

“Brian, it’s a holiday.”

He’s silent, and in the background I hear someone speaking. It sounds like his mother, but I can’t make out what she’s saying.

“I want to talk to Maisie,” Brian says, a sharp edge to his voice.

“Fine.” I cross the yard to where the girls, and now Leo, are sticking their faces directly into the sprinkler stream. There’s no point in making small talk with him, so I don’t. I turn the phone in Maisie’s direction so she can see his face. “Maisie, Daddy wants to say hi.”

She runs over and waves at him. “Hi, Daddy! I’m very busy playing with my friends! Bye!”

As she scampers back to the sprinkler, I turn the phone around. Brian’s mouth is set in a hard line, and he looks angrier than I’ve ever seen him.

“You did this,” he says.

“No, Brian,” I say, keeping my voice level. “You did this. Every time you brought Maisie home early so you could play video games or hang out with your girlfriend, you sent the message that there were things more important than your daughter. And you called during a holiday celebration.”

I hear Rosalie speak up again off-screen, but I can’t understand what she says. He glances away for a beat, as though he’s listening, and suddenly the screen goes dark. The whole conversation leaves me unsettled. Why would he choose today to kick up a fuss about not speaking to Maisie? What was he trying to accomplish? I try to call him back, but the phone goes straight to voicemail.

“Hey.” Avery yanks me out of my head as she walks up with a red Solo cup in each hand. I’ve seen her briefly since the night of book club, when she caught Mason and me making out in the taproom, but I’ve been so busy getting ready for today that we haven’t had many chances to really talk. She offers me one of the cups. “Brought you a beer.”

“Thanks.”

“What’s going on right there?” she asks, touching her fingertip to the spot of tension between my eyebrows. “Everything okay?”

“Nothing worth talking about.”

“Does Mason have anything to do with it?”

“No,” I say, scanning the property until I spot him playing cornhole with Mike, Daniel, and Owen. “He’s great.”

“Not to put too fine a point on it, but I knew it.”

I laugh. “You did.”

“And I’ve been trying very hard not to ask you for details,” Avery says. “Daniel keeps reminding me that it’s none of my business.”

“I haven’t been in very many relationships, but in the past, I’ve spent a lot of time feeling stressed out because I wasn’t getting what I needed in … any way,” I say. “What I can tell you about my relationship with Mason is that he keeps my anxiety at bay, leaving lots of room for the good stuff.”