“Thank you. Let’s head upstairs and I’ll show you to your room. Did you bring your dog?”
“Penny’s in the car. I’ll run and get her so you can meet her, too.”
Mia went and got Penny and brought her inside a few minutes later. Lisa immediately bent down to pet her.
“She’s adorable!” Penny lifted her head and twitched her tail, approving immediately of Lisa. Penny liked just about everyone.
They followed Lisa upstairs and she unlocked room number four, which faced the ocean. Mia let out a happy sigh when Lisa swung the door open. The room was perfect. It was spacious and pretty with pale yellow bedding, navy and white curtains and a big bathroom with white bead board. The overall feel was crisp and clean and beachy. A corner of the room was set up like a mini-kitchen, with a refrigerator and microwave and a small table and chair by the window. Lisa followed her gaze.
“I just had the Wifi upgraded, and it’s much faster now. There’s maid service in the morning and breakfast downstairs from eight to ten. Here’s your key. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you need anything.”
“Thank you. I’ll probably see you at breakfast tomorrow.”
Lisa smiled. “I look forward to it. I hope you’ll be very comfortable here.”
After Lisa left, Mia brought her bags in from the car and spent the next hour settling in, unpacking and putting her clothes in the chest of drawers and closet. Penny sat on the bed and watched. When Mia finished, she decided to go for a walk on the beach.
“Want to go outside?” Penny’s tail immediately twitched, and she jumped off the bed and ran to the door. Mia got her leash, hooked her up and off they went. It was a lovely day. The sun was shining, and it was warm enough that she only needed a light jacket. The beach was mostly empty except for a few other walkers and dogs. Mia strolled the length of the beach, stopping now and then so Penny could sniff around, or walk in circles before doing her business, which Mia immediately scooped up with one of the plastic bags that she always kept in her coat pocket.
A half hour later, they returned to the house. Mia took a deep breath before stepping inside. The air was cool and had a fresh, clean smell. It was instantly calming, and she was glad that she’d made the decision to move out of Izzy’s place. She hadn’t slept well the night before, and when she climbed the stairs, unlocked her door and stepped inside, a wave of exhaustion swept over her. The bed looked comfortable, and it seemed like a really good idea to lay down for just a minute.
She took her shoes off, then sprawled on the bed and pulled the soft comforter over her. Penny jumped up and settled on the pillow next to her. Mia reached over and petted her for a moment, then closed her eyes and let herself sink into a deep sleep.
She woke with a start and was surprised to see when she checked the time that almost two hours had passed. After a moment of panic, she relaxed and pulled her covers tighter around her. Her schedule was clear for the rest of the day. There was no one she needed to call or go see. Nothing until the next day at eleven.
There was plenty that she could do—fiddle with ads, follow up with people that had requested information a while back to see if they were close to a decision. But the thought of doing anything like that just made her more exhausted. Sometimes she fought these feelings, and other times she gave in.
Slowly, she swung her legs out from under the covers, stood and walked over to the window and stared out at the ocean, at the waves crashing against the shore. She cracked the window open a few inches and could hear the soothing sounds as the tide came in and rushed out again. Her eyes fell on the Keurig coffee maker and a small bowl with a few coffee pods and tea bags. Maybe a hot cup of tea would help her to come back to life a bit.
While the machine whirred and groaned as it heated up the hot water, Mia felt a wave of sadness rush over her. Her eyes welled up as she thought for the millionth time of her last day with Mark. It had been a Saturday afternoon, and she’d been sipping coffee and staring out the window of her condo, watching the boat traffic along the pier. Mark had walked up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. She loved when he did that and she leaned into him, feeling safe and happy in his arms.
He’d died less than an hour later. While she’d been visiting with her sister, he’d taken his new motorcycle for a ride. They said he’d been killed instantly by a food delivery truck heading for Stop and Shop. Mark had taken a corner maybe a little too fast, hit a patch of sand and slid right into the truck head on. The truck driver was devastated. It happened so fast that he didn’t have time to get out of the way. It had been such a perfect day, and then just like that, it was over.
It still often didn’t seem real. So often, Mia reached for the phone to call Mark when something good or funny happened, before realizing that she couldn’t call him ever again. And just like that her good mood would vanish, like a candle that had been snuffed out. It happened far less often now, but still from time to time, her mind seemed to forget that a year had passed, and the hurt would be fresh and raw again.
But, for the most part, it was getting somewhat easier. Mia forced herself to focus on happy thoughts as she sipped her tea, and her mood lifted. When she finished, she took a hot shower, dressed in her favorite old jeans and faded baby blue sweatshirt, blew her long blond hair dry and felt almost like a new person.
She took Penny with her as she ran some errands, going to the post office and supermarket to pick up some groceries, simple things like cold cuts, and soups she could heat up easily in the microwave. She worked a little for the rest of the afternoon, planning the rest of her week, and by dinner time, she decided to treat herself with takeout from Millie’s, which had the best scallop and bacon tacos.
She took Penny out for another walk along the beach after she ate and then settled in for the night with a good book and a little TV. After drifting off to sleep around eleven, she woke soon after to the sound of a woman’s scream and a loud crash in the hallway. She jumped out of bed and opened the door, concerned that someone might be hurt, and stopped short when she saw a woman about her age, struggling to her feet and laughing somewhat hysterically while a tall man with almost black hair fumbled with his key in the door next to hers. They both looked her way when her door opened and the woman laughed again, followed by a loud hiccup. The man looked apologetic.
“I’m so sorry. We’ll keep it down, I promise.”
Mia just nodded and watched as he swung his door open and helped the woman who seemed somewhat unsteady on her feet, get up and inside. The man looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place him. She closed her door and climbed back in bed. There was no more noise from the room next door, and Mia soon relaxed and fell back asleep.
* * *
Mia woke early the next morning, a little before seven, and felt rested and fully relaxed for the first time since she’d come back from her vacation. She’d left the window open a crack and fell asleep to the sound of the ocean. Penny stirred when Mia woke and once she changed, she took her out for a walk along the beach. They walked for almost an hour, the full length of the beach down to a pretty lighthouse and back. And by the time they reached the house, Mia was starving.
She set out food for Penny and then made her way downstairs to the dining room. It was just a few minutes past eight and she hoped it wasn’t too early. But Lisa was already in the room, pouring herself a cup of coffee. She looked up and smiled when she saw Mia.
“Good morning. Help yourself to coffee and juice. We have a bacon and cheese quiche today, some fresh fruit, muffins and bagels.”
Mia poured a mug of coffee, added a slice of quiche and some cantaloupe slices to a plate and sat down across from Lisa. A moment later, an older man joined them, but he just had a cup of black coffee. Lisa introduced them.
“Mia, this is my fiancé, Rhett.”
Rhett nodded and sipped his coffee silently while Lisa and Mia chatted. An older couple came in a few minutes later and joined them, too. They i
ntroduced themselves as Al and Betty Smith and they were excited to head out for a day of sightseeing.
“It’s our first time on Nantucket,” Betty said. “We’re thinking of seeing the Whaling Museum first and then shop for a bit before lunch. Al wants to do a walking ghost tour tonight. I wasn’t sure about that. What do you think?”
“I haven’t done the ghost tour, but people seem to enjoy it. The Whaling Museum is wonderful,” Lisa said.
Mia nodded. “I agree. And you can spend a few hours there. I did the walking ghost tour a few years ago, and I really liked it. There’s a lot of history and it’s a little spooky. Supposedly, Nantucket is very haunted.”
“See, I told you it would be fun,” Al said.
Betty laughed. “All right, ghost tour it is.”
They left a few minutes later, taking their muffins with them. Mia lingered over a second cup of coffee and helped herself to another sliver of quiche after Lisa encouraged her.
“I’m hungrier than usual this morning. Penny and I went for a long walk on the beach. It’s really beautiful here.”
Lisa smiled. “Thank you. I usually get a good walk in most mornings. Helps me feel less guilty about having that second slice.”
They chatted a bit more and when they finished eating, Lisa glanced toward the door. “I thought your neighbor would have been down by now. I wanted to introduce him to you. He seems like a nice young man, and about your age.”
Mia doubted her neighbor and his friend were going to be up any time soon.
“I heard him come home late last night. I wouldn’t count on him making it down for breakfast.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. Well, I believe he’s going to be here for a while, too. Funny thing, he checked in a week ago, but told me yesterday that he just closed on the condo next to yours, right before the fire. So, he’s having renovations done too and has extended his stay. What a small world it is.”
“Really? That’s interesting. What is his name? I wonder if I know him.”
“Ben. Ben Billings. His family owns a place here, but he said the whole family is in town and his sister is planning a wedding and it’s too crazy for him there.”
Mia smiled. So, that’s where she knew him from. It had been years since she’d seen Ben Billings. He’d been two years ahead of her and had gone to Buckley, the nearby private boy’s school. She didn’t know him well, but she knew of him. Everyone knew Ben Billings. He’d been taller, better looking, and richer than just about everyone. And even in high school, he’d had a reputation for dating pretty much anyone he wanted to. He was always in the society pages, going to all the important events, always with a different beautiful girl. So, she was surprised to hear that Ben was the buyer of the condo next to hers. She couldn’t imagine that he’d want to be on Nantucket for more than a few weeks.
Which was actually a good thing. She had an end unit, and if Ben wasn’t going to be there much, it would be nice and quiet. Just the way she liked it. And given the way he’d come home last night, it looked like Ben was the same as ever.
“I’m actually on my way to meet with his sister later this morning. She wants me to help with her wedding.”
Lisa’s eyes lit up. “How fun. I look forward to hearing more about it. I bet it will be a fancy one.”
Mia laughed. “Yes, I think it probably will be.”
Chapter 4
At a quarter to eleven, Mia drove onto the long, winding driveway that led to the Billings’ oceanfront summer home. As she came around the corner and saw the sprawling white house and expansive manicured lawn, she wondered if Bethany had considered having the wedding there. It would be a lovely setting, with breathtaking views of the ocean.
She parked next to a white Range Rover and made her way to the front door. Bethany swung the door open a moment after Mia rang the bell. She looked almost the same as Mia remembered, with shiny, straight blonde hair and expertly cut long layers that fell just past her shoulders. Her eyes were big and blue, and her lashes long and fake. But they were very good fakes. Her lipstick was a pretty shade of pink and when she smiled, her teeth were perfectly white. She was wearing a Lilly Pulitzer sundress in bright shades of peach and pink. And she was tan, very tan. Mia felt pale in comparison.
“Mia! It’s so great to see you!” Bethany pulled her in for an enthusiastic hug as if they were long-lost friends.
“You, too.”
“Come in! My mother is going to join us in a bit. I hope you’re hungry. We thought you could stay for lunch?”
“Sure. Thank you.” Mia didn’t have anything pressing the rest of the day.
Bethany led her into a screened-in sunroom that had stunning ocean views. A big round table was set with a pot of coffee, cream and sugar and a plate of what looked like homemade chocolate chip cookies. A stack of bridal magazines sat next to the cookies. Once they were both seated, Bethany poured coffee for both of them and encouraged Mia to try the cookies.
“Our housekeeper, Dorothy, made them this morning and they are insanely good. I had one, which was more than I should have. But have as many as you want.”
Mia nibbled one cookie and then another as Bethany chatted non-stop about what she envisioned for her wedding. Mia took notes, stopping now and then to clarify or to ask a question. Bethany mentioned that she wanted her reception at the Whitley Hotel, which was exquisite, but no more so than her own location.
“Have you considered having it here? You have plenty of room on the lawn and the views are spectacular. We could get tents and have it catered. It would be really lovely.”
But Bethany made a face at the idea. “I did consider that, but no. The Whitley is perfect. With their rolling lawns, croquet and exceptional service and food, it’s very Gatsby-esque. It will be just perfect.”
Mia tried not to smile. Bethany’s sprawling mansion was just as Gatsby-esque, but if she wanted the Whitley, Mia would happily make it happen.
Bethany glanced out the window. “I did think it might be nice to have a brunch here the next day, though. Maybe you could help with that and suggest a caterer?”
“Of course. There are a few that I work with often.”
Bethany’s mother, Lillian, joined them as Mia described the different caterers and their specialties. The resemblance between the two women was strong. Lillian had the same blonde hair, but hers was up in an elegant French twist. She wore a double strand of pearls around her neck, diamonds in her ears, and she was dressed head-to-toe in the palest yellow linen pants and a matching button-down shirt.
“I’m so glad you were available to help Bethany.” Lillian smiled and her eyes were sympathetic as she added, “I’m so sorry about your fiancé. It’s been almost a year now, I think your mother said?”
Mia nodded and felt a sharp pang of sadness at the mention of Mark.
“Thank you. Yes, it’s been just over a year.”
“I’m so sorry, Mia. I should have mentioned it earlier.” Bethany looked distressed.
“Please, don’t give it another thought. It’s been hard, but it’s getting easier as everyone told me it would.” She hadn’t expected Bethany to mention it as she hadn’t seen her in forever, and she knew, like most brides, that Bethany would be totally absorbed with her wedding and what she wanted.
Lillian nodded and changed the subject. “Your mother was telling me that you’re a year-rounder on Nantucket now. It’s lovely, but I can’t imagine being here in the winter. It must be so quiet. Do you think you’ll ever move back to the city?” Mia knew she meant Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and Mia had no desire to live there again. So many assumed that Nantucket was deserted, desolate and deadly boring in the winter, but to Mia it was anything but.
She loved the hustle and bustle of summer, but always looked forward to the fall when the crowds thinned, but the weather was still gorgeous. And then winter was snug and peaceful. She enjoyed the calm of the off-season, followed by the hope that spring brought along with the cheery yellow daffodils that covered t
he island.
“I don’t have any plans to move back there. I’m really happy here.” She looked up as the door to the sunroom opened and three giggling teenage girls tumbled into the room.
“I’m not sure if you’ve met my younger sister, Lila? She just turned nineteen,” Bethany said. Mia vaguely remembered that Lillian had divorced and remarried when Bethany was in high school.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Are you girls joining us for lunch?” Lillian asked.
But Lila shook her head. “We want to go into town and get pizza. Where are the keys to the Range Rover?”
“In the kitchen. But I’ll need the car tonight, so be back around dinner time.”
The girls spun around and went back the way they came in, chattering and laughing as they exited the room.
Lillian smiled. “I wish I had half their energy. Shall we go into the other room for lunch?”
Mia followed the two women into a pretty dining room with more gorgeous ocean views. Over a leisurely lunch of clam chowder and lobster salad sandwiches, served by their housekeeper, Lillian filled them in on all the city gossip. All the same people they knew that were engaged or having babies or having affairs. Even though Mia hadn’t thought about any of these people in ages, it was still fun to hear what they were all up to. New York seemed like another world from the life she was living on Nantucket. She really didn’t miss it.
“I bet your mother would love for you to move home?” Lillian said at one point.
And Mia laughed. “She does mention it often. I tell her that she should get out of the city more and come here. But she and my dad love the Hamptons. They have a place there.”
Nantucket Weddings Page 2