by Nancy Thayer
“Oh, poor Donna.”
“But he didn’t lose consciousness. The doctors told us he had an ischemic stroke. That means a blood clot in the brain. The ER doctor administered an IV of something unpronounceable, alteplase something or other, that breaks up the clot and restores blood to the brain. Keely, I don’t even know what I’m talking about, really.”
“How is your mother taking this?”
“She’s freaked out. She’s been sobbing a lot. The hospital scares her. She can’t deal with seeing Dad with tubes in his nose and arm. I mean, of course, she was in there, talking to him and so was I, but they wanted him to rest, so now Mom’s down the hall, calling Isabelle.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
“I can’t think of anything now, but I’ll keep in touch. We’re really just waiting for the doctors to tell us something. Waiting to see how Dad is.”
“I’m so sorry, Sebastian. This is frightening.”
“Yes, and at this point we can only go from minute to minute. I’ve got to phone Eric and tell him to run the shop today. And Mom wants me to call some of Dad’s friends. And the office. Someone will have to take over his cases. I don’t know how long I’ll be up here. I don’t have a change of clothes…”
“I can help you. I can express mail you some clothes or shaving stuff, whatever you need. I could call some of your parents’ friends.”
“Thanks, Keely. If I stay, I think Isabelle will come up, and she can bring me what I need.” He cleared his throat, sounding on the verge of tears. “Keely, I’m almost more worried about my mother than about Dad. She was hysterical when we got into the helicopter.”
“Flying in a huge noisy machine like that must be scary.”
“No, no, it was because Dad was so helpless and…not himself. He was…making sounds. Sometimes he could get some words out, but they were slurred. We’re supposed to hold his hand, talk to him, and I do, and Mom does try, but it’s difficult for her.”
“I can understand that. Would you like me to have my mother call you? This is exactly the sort of thing she knows about.”
“Maybe. Let me think about it. Let me ask Mom. The doctors will tell us what to do.”
“Let me know if I can do anything. I’m so sorry, Sebastian. I’m praying for you all.”
“Thanks, Keely. I should go.”
* * *
—
Keely rose, pulled a light robe around her, and padded quietly into the kitchen. She made coffee. She took it out onto the patio and sat for a while listening to the morning begin.
Her first thoughts were for Al Maxwell and his family. She still resented the man for the way he’d treated her when her father died. How he had callously told her to leave college. But when she was younger, he’d been nice. Poor Sebastian and Isabelle…it didn’t sound as if Sebastian’s father’s life was in danger, but certainly that his life would change. Should she call Isabelle? But no. Keely wasn’t part of their family. It wasn’t the Maxwells she should be thinking about. She should be thinking about what to do with Gray when he arrived on the island.
Gray. Sebastian.
She had planned to tell Sebastian about Gray, that he was coming for a brief visit to see the island. She had planned to stress that he would be staying in a hotel, not with her. But she couldn’t tell Sebastian now. Compared to what the Maxwell family was going through, Gray’s visit wasn’t even on the radar of importance.
Still, she wished she could let Sebastian know Gray was coming. She didn’t want to seem to keep it a secret from him. She felt unsettled and irrationally guilty.
* * *
—
The day became one of those stop-and-start, restless days, when Keely couldn’t force herself to write and instead compulsively checked her phone to see if Sebastian had called. When Eloise drifted from her bedroom at eight, Keely nearly jumped on her, needing to talk with her about Al Maxwell. After that, they were both nervous, wanting to help the Maxwells, resigned to waiting for the phone to ring. The two women agreed it was the perfect time to use their nervous energy, so they gathered all the items they’d set aside for the Seconds Shop and delivered them, then filled the trunk once again with treasures for the Madaket Mall. Eloise kept up a running commentary, recounting all the people she’d seen over the years who’d had strokes and how they recovered and how necessary physical rehab was for the entire mind-body return to health.
Sebastian didn’t phone. Was that a good or bad sign?
In the afternoon, Keely checked her calendar on her phone and discovered there was a fund-raising event for the Maria Mitchell Natural Science Museum that night. She nearly wept with relief. This would be the perfect occasion for her to entertain Gray.
Gray called a little after three to tell her he was on the island and at the hotel.
She told him about the event that evening, cocktails, a full dinner, champagne.
Gray said he’d be delighted to attend with her. He’d pick her up at six-thirty. Keely’s stomach went all funny when he said that. Her mother’s house was so humble. During her visit, Keely and her mother had groomed the yard and planted blooming daffodils in the window boxes, so the place had a kind of cozy charm about it. But compared to Gray’s apartment, the house Keely had grown up in was, at best, modest outside, and as for the inside—well, Gray wasn’t going to set foot in her house!
This gala was the first big charity event for the island. Keely had guessed that some of the stylish summer people would already be on the island, so she’d packed a few evening dresses. Because the night was unusually warm and humid, she chose a chartreuse silk slip dress with a pale lavender silk shawl and her highest heels—wisely, the gala committee did not force their patrons to stand on a lawn. She put her hair up, wore eye shadow for the first time in days, and fastened dangling silver earrings in her ears.
“Goodness!” her mother said when Keely entered the living room. “I can hardly recognize you. My, you look stunning, Keely.”
“Thanks, Mom. Listen, call me if there’s any news about Mr. Maxwell.”
“Do you want me to answer it if Sebastian or Isabelle calls?”
“Yes. Please. Tell them I’m at a benefit. I’ll try to be home by eleven.”
“And Gray is picking you up here?”
“He is. But, Mom, let’s wait for you to meet him tomorrow, okay? I don’t know exactly what my relationship with Gray is right now. I mean, well, you know I’m seeing Sebastian.”
“An embarrassment of riches.”
“Well, certainly an embarrassment. I’ve got to tell Sebastian about Gray, and tonight I need to tell Gray about Sebastian.”
Eloise smiled. “Such problems you have.”
Keely waited outside for Gray to arrive. He’d rented a Mercedes. Of course he had. When he stepped out of his car, she hurried down the walk to meet him. He wore a lightweight navy blazer and white trousers. White bucks, a red tie, an all-American look. She pecked a kiss on his cheek and stepped back.
“You look absolutely ravishing tonight,” Gray said. “Maybe we should forget the benefit and go straight to my room.”
Keely laughed, as if he couldn’t mean what he was saying. “You look rather gorgeous yourself.”
“I’m glad you think so, Keely. I want to do everything I can to please you.”
Keely shook her head, stunned. This was an extraordinary event, this expression of his emotions, the depth of his feelings for her. She was overwhelmed. She didn’t want to thank him—she didn’t want to own the reason for his action.
“I’m speechless,” she said, and that was true.
As they drove out to ’Sconset, they talked of insignificant things. This was no time for Keely to bring up Sebastian, and no time for Gray to get serious with Keely. Once they were at the private club, its spacious rooms leading to remarkable views of the southwe
st part of the island, they were engulfed by other benefit guests. Waiters came by with trays of drinks. Gray chose a martini, but Keely stuck with prosecco, her old reliable bubbly pal that never got her drunk.
She was only slightly surprised that so many people at the party recognized Gray. Many people were from New York, and the luscious women, flashing with diamonds worth more than Keely’s mother’s house, came fluttering up to Gray to kiss his cheek. Their husbands shook Gray’s hand and patted him on the shoulder. They talked about the Yankees, about a benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that coming summer, about the stock market.
Keely studied Gray as he talked. No doubt about it, if he were cast in a movie, he’d definitely be chosen as the lead. It wasn’t just that he was broad-shouldered and handsome. He carried himself with a natural authority, almost a nobleness. And he deserved it.
The New York women eyed Keely cautiously until she told them she had a pied-à-terre in the city (it amused her to think of her tiny apartment in such terms) and that she was a novelist. Some of the women had read her book and loved it.
At the end of the evening, the valet brought the car up to the club entrance. Keely slipped inside and immediately removed her high heels.
“I’m in pain,” she told Gray, laughing. “No, seriously. I haven’t worn such high heels for weeks. I’d forgotten that it’s complete torture.”
“Wear comfortable flats,” Gray suggested as he turned out of the long private drive and on to Polpis Road.
Keely laughed. “No, thanks. I can deal with the occasional high heels when I’m here. Mostly I wear sandals. After all, it’s spring, it’s Nantucket.”
“But what about when you return to New York? I have a fond memory of you in short skirts and high heels.” Reaching over, he took Keely’s hand. “You have amazing legs.”
They were on the curve of road that took them past Sesachacha Pond. The pond was often breached by the ocean storming over the small sand barrier between them. On the other side of the water, several summer houses stood, their lights twinkling like lightships, and every few seconds the beam of the ’Sconset lighthouse would flash.
“Gray,” Keely said impulsively, “pull over here. At that small overlook.”
“It’s a nice spot,” Gray said, turning off the engine and reaching to put his arm around Keely.
She pulled away. He had misunderstood her intentions, and it was her fault.
“Gray, wait,” she said quickly. “I need to tell you something.”
Gray drew back. Immediately, his guard was up, an invisible shield Keely could almost see.
“Gray, I’ve been…seeing someone since I’ve been home. His name is Sebastian Maxwell. He’s Isabelle’s brother. I know I’ve spoken about her. I would have told you about Sebastian before, but I didn’t know that he’d be here, I didn’t know that he…he loves me. I don’t know what’s going to happen, especially because his father had a stroke last night. I can’t expect to talk about the future with Sebastian now, and I don’t want to mislead you.”
Gray stared out at the water, his face impassive. “What you’re saying is that if you have the chance to be with this…Sebastian…you will take it. Between me and him, you choose him.”
Keely looked down at her hands. “Yes, I suppose that’s what I’m saying. I’m sorry.”
Gray was quiet for a long time. Then he said, “You told me about Isabelle. Once, for most of your childhood, your best friend. Then she stole your boyfriend.”
“Yes, that’s right. I was angry with her when she married Tommy. She suddenly just snatched him back, without even telling me. And to be honest, Isabelle was upset with me when Rich Girl came out. Mostly because I sort of won, because I had a book published. Also because she probably thought a lot of the rich girl was based on her, and it wasn’t really, although I did use bits and pieces of her life, her clueless sense of entitlement. But I really hope we’ll be friends again.”
“That family means a lot to you,” Gray observed. “Maybe too much? Keely, I want to marry you. I want to spend my life with you. I don’t say that lightly. I’m not going to run away. I can be patient. I can wait while your friend’s father recovers from his stroke, until you have time to speak with Sebastian about your future.”
“Gray…”
“It’s okay, Keely. I’m okay. We’re all right.” He reached for the ignition button and started up the car. He pulled back onto the narrow, winding road.
After a moment, Gray continued, “And let’s say you marry this Sebastian. Will you live on the island? Permanently?”
“Probably, well, definitely. But it’s not definite that I’m going to marry Sebastian. It’s all very complicated. His father—”
“Listen to yourself. If you marry Sebastian and live on this island, you’ll be constantly in touch with his family. You’ve told me that islanders are close. You told me once that the best thing about living here is that everyone knows you and what you’re doing, and the worst thing about living here is that everyone knows you and what you’re doing.”
“I remember saying that, yes,” Keely said quietly.
“Maybe you should give some serious consideration to what it would be like to live your entire life here, instead of in New York.”
“I do love the city—”
“I could always buy a house here, Keely. A summer house. We could come here for Christmas, Thanksgiving. You wouldn’t lose your island completely.”
In a very small voice, Keely said, “It isn’t only the island I love.”
As if he hadn’t heard her, Gray said, “And that house. The Maxwell house. I could buy it. I could offer enough money so they’d sell it in a minute. Then you could have that house for your own.”
“That house?” Was Gray trying to bribe her with his money?
“You’ve told me how much you love that house. How you longed to live there when you were a child.”
“But I’m not a child anymore, Gray. I’m a grown woman, and I love Sebastian, for better or worse. Gray, I do care for you. I admire you, I enjoy being with you, and I’m so—”
“If you say you’re so fond of me, Keely, I’m going to stop the car right here and make you get out and walk home in those wretched high heels.”
Keely was surprised at the lightness in his voice. He didn’t sound hurt or angry. He sounded almost amused.
“Gray, please…I do care about you.”
“And I love you, Keely. I think I love the real you. I know you as you are now, an adult, a brilliant, capable, well-read, knowledgeable woman. You’re not the child you once were.”
“You think that being on the island makes me feel like a child again. Funny, because Fiona wanted me to come here to write because she thought it would make my work better, that being here is magical for me.”
“We all have our magic spaces and places,” Gray said. “But real life can’t be magic all the time. Sometimes it’s damned hard work.”
Keely nodded.
“You said that Mr. Maxwell had a stroke?”
“Yes,” Keely said.
“This will change the family dynamics. Some will show their mettle. Some will be unable to deal with it. A health crisis is always unsettling.”
“I understand. I won’t expect Sebastian to make any kind of significant decision in the next few months.” Good Lord, Keely thought. I’m beginning to talk like Gray.
They had arrived at Keely’s house. Gray turned into her driveway, parked, and faced Keely.
“I won’t push you, Keely. I’m willing to step back. I can wait. I’m willing to give you all the time you need. No conditions added.”
“You seem so cool about this, Gray.”
He smiled. “I have learned to be cool when necessary. Would you like me to walk you to the door?”
Keely blinked. So
he was not going to try to kiss her? It felt very intimate inside the car, the two of them turned to face each other, the night outside dark, offering privacy.
“No, no, you don’t need to walk me to the door, Gray. But I would like it if you and I and my mother could have dinner together tomorrow night. I’ve told her all about you. She’d love to meet you.”
“I’d love to meet her. I’ll make a reservation at Topper’s. I’ll text you the time and I’ll be glad to drive us there.”
“Lovely. Thank you.” Keely tilted her head, gazing at the handsome, formal man seated so near. “You’ve surprised me tonight, Gray.”
“I hope it’s been a good surprise.”
“I think it has.” In one quick move, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek, then opened her car door and hurried to her house.
* * *
—
From her chair in the living room, Eloise asked, “Did you have a nice time?”
“It was great,” Keely answered, her mind on other things. Keely picked up her phone, collapsed on the sofa, and scrolled through the messages.
From Sebastian: Dad’s doing well. They’re keeping him here one more night. Home tomorrow, we hope. Maybe to rehab clinic on Cape for him. Isabelle’s here. I’m taking care of Mom. We’ll be at the nearest Marriott tonight. I’ll call tomorrow.
From Sally: Hello, ma cherie, how’s it coming with the new book? Want to send me and Juan a few chapters?
From Janine: I loved meeting your Gray at the gala tonight. Your dress was smashing and he is hot! We were totally buzzing about him. Do tell all!
* * *