Summer by the Tides

by Denise Hunter

  “If you want to be obtuse . . . fine.” She narrowed her eyes on him. “It seems Gram has been awfully eager for the three of us to come together and reconcile. It seems she left our numbers awfully handy, and her helpful neighbor reached out to not just one of us, not just two of us, but all three of us.”

  “What?” Nora said.

  “You think Gram lured us here?” Emma said. “That she worried us sick like that on purpose?”

  “I have to admit,” Nora said, “it sounds just like the kind of harebrained thing she might do. Remember how she set up Mama and Daddy when they were dating and had broken up?”

  Emma crossed her arms. “Let’s not forget the time she went behind their backs and enrolled us in that music camp she was so excited about. They were furious.”

  Connor still held Maddy’s gaze—somewhat stubbornly, it seemed to her.

  “She didn’t own up to anything,” Maddy said. “But she may as well have. I can put two and two together easily enough.”

  “Your math’s a little off. I can’t account for your grandmother’s actions, but I can tell you that I only called you out of concern for her.”

  Connor pocketed his phone, giving the sisters a wan smile. “I have to go. But I’m glad your grandma’s all right. If you need anything, just let me know.”

  A few seconds later the front screen door slapped quietly behind him, and the muted sound of his footsteps receded.

  Emma turned a look on Maddy. “You’re being a little hasty, don’t you think?”

  “Why else would he have called all three of us when one of us could’ve easily handled the situation?”

  “Exactly what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Nora said.

  Maddy thought over the whole situation. Maybe she had jumped to conclusions. But it all seemed a little fishy. Besides, she just didn’t like the looks of Connor. To be fair, she didn’t like the looks of any man at the moment.

  “Well, whether he knew or not is beside the point,” Emma said. “What’s important is that Gram is all right.”

  “Exactly,” Nora said. It was the first thing the two had agreed on since their arrival. Nora pulled out a chair. “Come on. Let’s eat while it’s still hot.”

  They sat down to large steaming bowls of vegetable soup. They ate in silence, each seemingly lost in her own thoughts, nobody wanting to talk about why Gram might have lured them here.

  The soup was tasty for canned fare, but Maddy had lost her appetite. She was equal parts relieved and annoyed. With Gram, and yes, with Connor. Had this situation with Nick completely ruined her opinion on half of humanity?

  “I’ll stay and get the house cleaned up for Gram,” Nora said when they’d finished the soup. “I don’t have anything pressing back home. Did she say when she was coming home?”

  “She said her return flight is open-ended. I got the feeling she might stay put awhile. And believe it or not, she didn’t even mention cleaning out the house.” She’d been far too focused on the sisters’ relationship.

  “Do you really think it was all a scheme?” Emma said.

  “That’s exactly what I think,” Maddy said. “Why would she have called her home phone if no one was supposed to be here? And as soon as I confirmed we were all here she started on the whole family reconciliation theme.”

  “I’m familiar,” Emma deadpanned.

  “We’re all familiar.” Nora’s gaze flickered off Emma. “But some of us are too stubborn to listen to reason.”

  “As if you’re so much better. I haven’t heard from you since the Christmas card you sent last December. Nice photo, by the way. Paris looks so wonderful on all of you.”

  “At least I sent a Christmas card.”

  “See, this is just what Gram’s talking about,” Maddy said. “If she went to such great lengths to get us here, can’t we at least try? We used to be close. We’ve all moved on with our lives. It’s been twenty years, for heaven’s sake. Isn’t it time to put all this behind us?”

  Emma shot to her feet. She took her water glass and bowl from the table. “I’ll stay long enough to get the house in order. But I’m not interested in pretending the past never happened.” She set her dishes in the sink, picked up Pippy, and went through the kitchen door and onto the deck.

  Without a word Nora got up, placed her bowl in the dishwasher, and retreated to the living room.

  Maddy dropped her aching head to the back of the chair. If they were all staying in Seahaven, it was going to be a long few weeks.

  Chapter 6

  June 4, twenty years ago

  The sun felt divine against Maddy’s skin. Divine was her favorite new word, and it fit perfectly. She rolled over onto her stomach and sifted the sand through her fingers, losing herself in the familiar sound of the surf hitting the shore.

  A light wind was brewing, carrying the briny scent of the sea and rustling the sea oats. Beyond the rolling dunes, the beach cottage squatted on a rise, the white paint blinding under the noon sun.

  Mama and Daddy were still inside, lingering over their lunch, and Nora was probably somewhere with her nose stuck in a book. She came outside only under the cover of a beach umbrella, as her porcelain skin burned easily.

  Maddy couldn’t wait for Emma to arrive. Though there were ten years between them, they were still close. Ever since Emma had gone off to college three years ago, Maddy cried every August when summer at the cottage was over and she had to say good-bye. Good-bye to Gram, good-bye to the ocean, good-bye to Emma.

  Maddy wasn’t as close to her other sister, Nora, who sometimes seemed irritated by Maddy’s immaturity. But Nora could be helpful too. She was sensible, wise, and discreet, making her the best person to ask for advice. Daddy said Nora was twenty-three going on fifty.

  She even looked older than her years with her hair back in a bun most days and her librarian glasses perched on her nose. If Maddy had Nora’s long auburn hair she’d wear it down around her shoulders. But brainy Nora cared little about her looks.

  Nora and Emma, only two years apart, were the closest of the sisters, which drove Maddy crazy. Was it her fault she’d been born so far behind them? Sometimes the two of them would go on excursions that Maddy wasn’t deemed old enough to participate in.

  But Emma always made it up to her by treating her to an ice-cream run or looking for shells with her or taking her kayaking around Pelican Point. Still she’d wished many times that there wasn’t such a large age gap between them.

  This summer was sure to be different from others, though. Emma was bringing her fiancé, Jonathan, home from college. He’d already met the family—minus Nora, who’d been away at college when they’d visited the family in Charlotte. Maddy hoped he didn’t hog all of Emma’s time.

  Maddy didn’t see Nora until her sister lowered herself gracefully onto a beach towel. She had on a floppy straw hat, and her hair was down for once. She wore a grass-green one-piece that made Maddy wish God would hurry up and give her some curves.

  “You’re gonna get burnt,” Maddy said. “What’s the big occasion?”

  Nora gave her a wan smile. “Impertinent child. Mama and Daddy were having one of their quiet conversations, so I wanted to get out of the way. Besides, you’d better get used to hanging out with me. Emma will be otherwise occupied for the next three months.”

  Maddy scowled. “She’ll make time for us. We’ve known her a lot longer than Jonathan has.”

  Nora gave a wry chuckle, leaning back on her pale straight arms. “She’s in love, Baby Boo. That changes everything.”

  “Not everything.”

  “You’ll see,” Nora said in that annoying big-sister way.

  Maddy heard a squeal behind her and turned to see Emma running awkwardly through the thick sand, barefoot, arms outstretched.

  “We’re here!” Emma called.

  “Emmie!” Maddy jumped up and ran toward her sister, and a moment later found herself swallowed in a big hug. “I thought you’d never get here! We’ve been here tw
o whole days!”

  “We had to stop and see Jonathan’s family in Boston.” Emma gave her a big squeeze. “They’re not too happy we’ve stolen him for the summer.”

  Maddy was nearly as tall as Emma now, she realized. She’d grown a full two inches over the last year, making her five foot four.

  “You got taller,” Emma said, as if reading her mind. She drew away to embrace Nora.

  Whereas Nora was long and lean with subtle curves, Emma was built more like their mother, all soft and curvy. She was also the prettiest one, in Maddy’s opinion.

  “What?” Emma asked over Nora’s shoulder. “You’re out in the sun in the peak heat of the day? I can’t believe it.”

  “Why is everyone so concerned about my skin health?” Nora said, laughing.

  Good feelings bubbled up inside Maddy, widening her smile. She loved her family so much, and they had the whole wonderful summer ahead of them. Life couldn’t be better.

  Her eyes drifted behind Emma to where Jonathan stood, straight and tall. His short black hair was covered by a Red Sox cap, and his blue eyes squinted against the sunlight. He was very handsome, if a little overdressed in khakis and a short-sleeved button-down.

  He was almost thirty—ancient!—and he came from old money, whatever that meant. Even though he was a Yankee, her parents liked him. Daddy thought he was smart and ambitious. He was a mortgage broker (something to do with selling houses), and he worked from home. This summer he’d be working from the cottage, which surely meant Emma would be free to spend time with them.

  “Let’s see the ring,” Nora said in as close to a squeal as she’d ever get.

  Emma held out her hand, fluttering her fingers proudly.

  Nora and Maddy leaned dutifully over her hand.

  “It’s so big!” Maddy said. “And sparkly!”

  “Well done, Romeo,” Nora said, eyeing Jonathan from beneath long lashes.

  “Oh, I haven’t even introduced you.” Emma grabbed Jonathan’s hand, tugging him forward. “Jonathan, this is my older sister, Nora. Nora, this is the man I’ve been going on and on about on the phone.” She snuggled proudly into his side.

  Jonathan extended a hand to Nora, giving her a warm smile. “It’s a pleasure. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  “You too. I’m glad you could join us for the summer.”

  “Well, I could hardly turn down a summer by the sea with my girl.”

  “We have wedding plans to make,” Emma said. “And it’ll be ever so much easier if we’re together. You can help us, Baby Boo!”

  “Sure!” Maddy’s face went warm at the silly childhood nickname. It had never bothered her before, but she was nearly twelve now, and the name suddenly seemed terribly juvenile.

  “I’ll help too,” Nora said. “I can keep everything organized.”

  “Nora is an absolute wonder.” Emma looked up at Jonathan, popping a stick of chewing gum into her mouth. “You’ll see.”

  “I’ll just bet she is.”

  “Gum anyone?” Emma asked.

  “Still chewing that stuff?” Nora asked when everyone turned down the offer.

  “It’s an appetite suppressant,” Emma said.

  “She thinks she needs to watch her figure.” Jonathan, clearly disagreeing with the statement, gave Emma an affectionate squeeze.

  “I have a wedding dress to fit into. Let’s go find Mama and Daddy!” Emma dragged Jonathan away, leaving Nora and Maddy to tag along behind.

  Maddy tucked her windblown hair behind her ears. “He’s very handsome, don’t you think?”

  “He’s all right.”

  Maddy laughed outright. “Oh, come on! He’s totally hot and you know it.”

  “He’s almost old enough to be your father,” Nora said in that chiding tone.

  “Those blue eyes and that coal-black hair.” Maddy sighed dreamily and continued, mainly just to annoy Nora. “Not to mention those broad shoulders. I’ll bet he works out in a gym.”

  Nora’s chin notched up just a bit. “I can’t say as I noticed.”

  But later Maddy would realize that Nora’s words, like so many other things in her life, were just a big fat lie.

  Chapter 7

  Present day

  Connor locked the marina office and headed up the boardwalk, making the turn and continuing on to the restaurant. Sullivan’s Landing was a glorified crab shack located on the harbor adjacent to his marina. It wasn’t much to look at, with its fading red roof and wavy metal siding. The inside was also rustic and casual, but with a large covered deck, the real draw was the waterfront dining.

  The restaurant was crowded with locals every night of the week in the summer and bursting at the seams on the weekends. Sunset hour was especially popular, drawing tourists who were willing to overlook the primitive vibe in favor of the magical view.

  During the summer season they brought in local bands on weekend nights, and that kept a steady clientele until the joint closed at midnight. Under Cheryl’s management it had become the most popular hangout in town.

  Connor had never dreamed of being in the restaurant business, but when this one became available two years ago, his sister Lexie had talked him into it. She would manage the restaurant, she exclaimed passionately. She’d do all the work. He wouldn’t have to so much as lift his finger.

  She’d been twenty-one at the time, waitressing full-time at Patty’s Diner and managing the night shift. Connor had lost his wife the year before and didn’t have enough to keep him busy. Not busy enough to keep his grief at bay anyway, and he’d buckled under Lexie’s pressure. The baby of the family, she was a little spoiled and adept at getting what she wanted. Especially from him. Actually, both of his sisters knew how to wrangle their way with him.

  But he had to hand it to Lexie—she’d done a great job managing Sullivan’s Landing. She hired a terrific chef who’d fine-tuned the menu, keeping the local favorites and adding popular new items. She’d put up twinkle lights inside and out and added other touches that made it seem as if the rustic atmosphere was by design. New ceiling fans now hung over the deck, making summer meals much more tolerable.

  And then, barely a year into it, she up and decided she wanted to pursue an interior design degree. Well, what was he supposed to say?

  He’d lucked out by finding Cheryl to replace her right away, and ever since the restaurant had been a steady stream of income and little worry to him.

  Until now.

  He walked into the already busy restaurant and was immediately confronted with chaos. Two servers had called in sick, and the young girl hostessing was overwhelmed and looked ready to quit on the spot.

  Connor sent her for a break and took over her position. He could seat people. Anyone could do that, right? But thirty minutes later he’d given away tables that had been reserved by regulars and had to mollify them with free meals and promises of the very next available spot.

  He was relieved when the hostess returned from break looking ready to resume her job.

  He went into the kitchen next. They had a new cook in training, and the food was slow coming out, resulting in disgruntled customers. Two tables left before their food even arrived, one of them complaining loudly to him, “the manager,” as the other patrons listened in.

  By the time he’d finished swabbing the deck it was after one o’clock in the morning. He’d have about four hours to sleep before he’d have to get up to meet a six o’clock fishing charter and do it all over again.

  * * *

  Maddy snuggled up on the couch, her phone pressed to her ear. Holly had called well after midnight when she’d gotten home from her date with her boyfriend. Nora and Emma had turned in long ago.

  After the tense day, it was a relief to let off steam with her best friend.

  “So how long do you think you’ll stay?” Holly asked.

  “As long as it takes to get our stuff cleaned out and fix up this place. A month. Maybe a little more.”

  “Maybe the time away will do
you good. You’ve been working way too hard. I can check on your apartment and water your garden.”

  “That’d be great, thanks. I’ll have my mail forwarded and suspend the paper.” She didn’t have many obligations back home at this point, but her sisters were a different story. “I find it hard to believe Nora and Emma can take that much time away from their lives. I especially can’t imagine Jonathan agreeing to Nora’s extended absence.”

  “Doesn’t Emma own a bakery?”

  “She manages it. Still, I don’t know how she can be away that long either. But neither of them seems too worried about it. I honestly think sheer stubbornness is all that’s keeping them here.”

  “I don’t envy you, being caught in the middle.”

  “It’s no fun, I can tell you that.”

  “So, do you really think your grandma schemed to get you all there? That seems a little crazy.”

  “Oh, I know she did. In retrospect, I should’ve figured it out before she called. It’s just the kind of thing she’d do. Mind you, she only has our best interests at heart. But she clearly doesn’t realize how stubborn Emma and Nora are. I wouldn’t be surprised if, by the end of this, they aren’t speaking at all.”

  “That’s a real shame. I can’t imagine anything coming between Noelle and me for so many years, even a man.” It was true. Noelle had worked for Maddy at Pirouette, and the sisters were very close.

  “I think Nora still has a lot of guilt over stealing Jonathan, but she’s done trying to apologize. And you’d think Emma could forgive and forget after all these years, but she’s been steeping like a tea bag in the anger and bitterness.”

  “Maybe Emma is jealous of Nora’s life—it was the life she was supposed to have had. From what you’ve told me, Nora and Jonathan are living the good life, all the traveling and schmoozing and whatnot.”

  “I don’t know. It’s never really been about money or prestige for Emma. She’s more about fulfilling her passions, and she’s done that. She’s got a great husband and a satisfying job. Clearly all is turning out as it should’ve, so why won’t these two just put the past behind them?”