When the Stars Sang

by Caren J. Werlinger

  Molly’s mouth dropped open.

  “It’ll be twenty-five years week after next,” he said softly.

  “I forgot.”

  He dropped his head to look down at his hands. “Lucky you.”

  “Oh, no, Aidan.” She shifted the throttle to neutral, letting the boat drift as she joined him on the bench seat and draped an arm over his shoulders. “I never… I just forgot the date.”

  “I promise you, she hasn’t.” He sat up, scrubbing his hands over his face. “But it’s also her birthday.”

  “Yeah, it is.” Molly thought. “Do you get days off?”

  “I haven’t asked for any. It’s our high season.”

  “I know, but just an overnight on Little Sister. Bobby and Fred can handle that without you.”

  He blinked. “Sure I think that would be okay. Why?”

  Molly slapped him on the back and returned to her seat. “Because we’re gonna have a céili. It’s time for her tar abháile.”

  THE WINDOWS WERE THROWN open and a wonderful breeze drifted through the screens. Even from outside, Kathleen could smell the aroma of Louisa’s orange-cranberry bread as it cooled. It was one of Molly’s favorites. She cut some of the green leafy lettuce, and picked a bowlful of strawberries along with a couple of small onions and radishes for a salad. Blossom lay nearby, gnawing on a stick.

  She’d been such a bitch to Molly the last few days, and this morning had capped it off.

  I should just tell her. Tell her what Dad said. Why am I keeping it a secret?

  But it wasn’t that easy. She knew what Molly’s answer to Michael’s ultimatum would be, but she needed to think this through on her own. Molly and Rebecca and the others seemed confident his lawsuit had no chance of winning, but even so, what if it did what he said, broke the island after years of court battles? Or forced them to reveal the existence of the treasure? What if she could have prevented it by simply leaving?

  She carried her harvest into the kitchen and plopped into a chair.

  Simply leaving. Except it isn’t simple at all.

  Maybe Rebecca had been right about refusing to bond her to Molly. The damned woman could read the future.

  She looked around. Everything about this cottage, this island, felt like home now. More of a home than any she’d ever known, at least since she was ten. For what felt like the millionth time, she forced herself to consider what she would do, where she would go, if she were to leave Little Sister.

  Going back to Susannah was unthinkable. Going back to her parents’ house was even more unthinkable. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d actually spoken with her mother.

  A grinding noise distracted her, and she bent over to see Blossom, lying under the table, still chewing on his stick.

  “You silly dog.”

  She pulled the stick away from him and tossed it out the back door. He glared up at her, his expression of indignation clear. She got a large carrot out of the fridge and snapped it in half.

  “Chew on this.”

  He accepted it and turned three circles under the table before lying down to munch on the carrot instead.

  “And you played me perfectly, didn’t you?”

  She washed the vegetables and made a salad, chopping up the other half of the carrot, then cleaned and cut the strawberries into the salad as well. She had chicken marinating in the fridge to bake later. Glancing at the clock, she realized she had no idea where Molly was or when she would be home. Times like this, she missed cell phones, and she understood why Jenny had gotten in the habit of making things that could be kept warm for hours if need be.

  She stopped abruptly at the comparison, at the thought that she was becoming so domestic. That was something she’d never wanted to be, but this felt… good. Making food for someone she loved. Working at home where she could throw a load of laundry in the washer in the middle of an edit or go for a walk to clear her mind and come back to her work when it suited. This was the life she wanted, and she was furious with her father for trying to take it away from her.

  The familiar rumble of the Toyota sounded from the driveway, and Kathleen quickly wiped her wet cheeks.

  Hurrying to the front door, she watched Molly get out, admiring her long, lanky body and tanned face. She found herself the last few days looking at things as if she might never see them again.

  She stepped out onto the porch and, the instant Molly climbed the steps, wrapped her arms around her.

  “I love you so much,” she murmured.

  Molly held her tightly. “I love you, too.”

  “I am so sorry about this morning. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you hadn’t come back at all. I thought you might not.”

  Molly pulled away and looked at her. “That’ll never happen. But I’m sorry I haven’t been more aware of things.”

  Kathleen’s eyes widened. “Things?”

  “Yeah. Aidan reminded me what time of year it is.”

  “Oh.” Kathleen backed away. “That.”

  Molly frowned. “Isn’t that what’s been bothering you?”

  “Well, yes, of course.”

  Kathleen turned to go back inside, but Molly grabbed her hand. “There’s something else.”

  “I’ve got to get the chicken in the oven.”

  Molly let her go, but when Kathleen went inside, Molly didn’t follow. Kathleen glanced back to see her sitting on the porch. With a resigned sigh, she slid the pan with the chicken into the oven and went out to sit beside her.

  Molly waited.

  “I talked to my father.” Kathleen kept her gaze fixed on a butterfly flitting about one of the azalea bushes. From the corner of her eye, she saw Molly turn to her but, still, she said nothing, waiting for Kathleen to continue. “Last week. I asked him why he was doing this to the island.” She bit her lip for a moment. “He said we deserve it.”

  She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees, staring down at her sneakers. “He said if I left Little Sister, he’d drop the lawsuit.”

  A definite chill emanated from Molly’s direction. “And you’re thinking about it?”

  “How can I not?” Kathleen took her glasses off and pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. “If I left, you’d all be safe.”

  “Bullshit.” Molly shoved to her feet and stomped down the steps. She picked up a stick and snapped it, but Kathleen had the feeling she was envisioning breaking something else.

  Blossom, thinking this was a game, danced around, racing away from her a few steps and then twirling circles. Molly threw one piece of the stick, and Blossom raced away to seize it, but then flopped down to chew on it.

  Molly turned to face Kathleen, her fists on her hips. “What do you want to do?”

  Before Kathleen could answer, she held up a hand. “Not what do you think you should do, or what does anyone else want you to do. What do you want to do?”

  Kathleen slid her glasses back in place. “I want to stay. With you. In our cottage. In the home we’ve made here.”

  Molly dropped her fisted hands and climbed the steps to sit again. She reached over to take Kathleen’s hand.

  “Okay then.”

  Kathleen held Molly’s hand, their fingers intertwined. “That’s it?”

  Molly squeezed. “He has no power here. None except what you give him. Remember that.”

  Kathleen raised Molly’s hand to her lips. “I don’t deserve you.”

  “Hey.” Molly touched her other hand to Kathleen’s cheek. “That’s not how it works. Love that has to be deserved or earned was never love to begin with.”

  Kathleen stared into those beautiful eyes and saw in them Molly’s faith—a quiet, unshakeable faith that was as much a part of her as the swirling colors in her eyes, the part of her that had been instilled and nurtured by Jenny and Joe and the people of this island. Kathleen knew its roots were as deep as the island itself.

  She buried her face in Molly’s neck, letting herself sink into Molly’s strong embrace. She fel
t the truth of those words but wondered if she could ever make herself believe them.

  SUDDEN LIGHT FILLED THE bedroom as Molly slid the curtains open. Kathleen scrunched her eyes shut, rolled over, and tried to pull the covers over her head.

  “Oh, no you don’t.” Molly yanked the covers back down. “Time to get up. Got things to do.”

  “What things?” Kathleen mumbled.

  “You’ll see. Get showered. Quick. I’ll get coffee started.”

  Molly gave her a light swat on the butt. She and Blossom hopped down the stairs. Outside, he ran into the trees while she breathed deeply of the morning. It was going to be a beautiful day. Perfect.

  When they went back inside, there was no noise from upstairs.

  “Go jump on her,” she said.

  Blossom raced up the steps. A second later, Molly smiled as she heard a startled “Shit!” Blossom trotted back downstairs, looking very pleased with himself.

  “Good boy,” Molly said, giving his ribs a thump. “Let’s get breakfast.”

  A half hour later, Kathleen was still grumpy, clutching her travel mug as Molly drove to the marina.

  “Are you going to tell me where we’re going at the butt crack of dawn and why Blossom isn’t coming?”

  “It’s way past dawn, and we’re going to Big Sister. I have to deliver the Runabout. And after forty hours of work sanding and varnishing that boat, I don’t want any dog claws on it. He can spend the day tormenting Minnow.”

  Kathleen perked up a little. “We’re going to Big Sister?”

  “Yup. You packed your backpack for the day like I told you?”

  “Yes, but we’re going to be there in a couple of days for the wedding.”

  “I know.” Molly grinned. “We haven’t been off the island for months. And the wedding day will be all about Brandi and Matty. We’re going to make a one-day holiday of it.”

  Joe was waiting for them at the marina. The little boat, her rich wood gleaming, bobbed gently as if she were eager to be off.

  “I’m gonna miss this one,” Molly said. “She’s a beauty.”

  Joe held the keys out. “They paid half in advance. If they don’t pay you the rest today, they don’t get these.”

  “Right.” Molly flashed her wallet with her sheriff’s badge. “I don’t usually have any trouble collecting.”

  “That’s my girl.” Joe offered Kathleen a hand as she climbed in. “Have a good day. See you tonight.”

  Joe and Molly exchanged a look. She hopped down into the boat and settled herself in the driver’s seat. She turned the key, and the engine purred.

  “Love that sound,” she called back to her dad. “Might have to get me one of these.”

  He shrugged as he untied the line from the cleat and tossed it in. “Find one that needs fixing and make them an offer.”

  She pushed the throttle, and the little boat began to ease away from the dock.

  “Don’t forget to pick up the cruiser!” he yelled.

  Molly gave a wave over her shoulder.

  “What’s the cruiser?” Kathleen asked from the passenger seat while she secured her life vest.

  “Our next project and our way back here. As if I could forget.”

  She kept to a slow speed that didn’t create a wake as they made their way through the island’s harbor.

  Kathleen ran her hands over the new red leather upholstery. “This is beautiful. You and your dad did all this?”

  “Yeah. Most of it. The boys helped some.” Molly patted the console. “Not bad for a boat built in 1937, huh?”

  Once out on open water, Molly snugged her sunglasses on her face. “Hold on.”

  She pushed the throttle forward, laughing as the boat’s engine roared and the sleek craft shot forward.

  “You okay?” she asked over the noise of the wind.

  Kathleen nodded, the cords on her neck rigid. Molly reached for her hand. Kathleen held it tightly at first, gradually relaxing.

  “You put both hands on the wheel,” she said.

  Molly laughed again and released her hand. Kathleen settled more comfortably in her seat, looking around and seeming to enjoy the speed as the Runabout cruised over the water.

  It felt like no time at all before they were pulling into a private boathouse below an enormous mansion on Big Sister. Molly eased up to a new-looking dock and moored the boat. She held it steady while Kathleen got out. With one last lingering inspection, Molly climbed out and reached for a phone mounted on the wall.

  “I’m sure going to miss this boat,” she said with a sigh as she dialed the house.

  By the time the happy owner had looked the boat over and written her a check—which Molly accepted with an ostentatious display of her badge when she tucked the check into her wallet—the sun was well up in the sky.

  Kathleen and Molly peeled off the light jackets they’d worn and stuffed them into the backpack.

  “Where are we going now?” Kathleen asked.

  “You’ll see.”

  “Why are you being so mysterious?”

  But Molly just grinned and led the way through the beach castle’s landscaped yard and out to a cul-de-sac beyond, where a yellow Jeep was waiting. She fished around under the running board and found a magnetic key-holder.

  “Get in.”

  “What is all this?” Kathleen asked as she climbed into the Jeep’s passenger seat to see an insulated cooler in the back seat.

  “Picnic.”

  “A picnic? How did you—?”

  “Brandi.” Molly grinned as she put the Jeep in gear. “Nice to have connections.”

  She drove out of an impossibly expensive community of other beach mansions. In a few minutes, they were in an area of dunes devoid of houses.

  “They haven’t built here?” Kathleen asked, her head swiveling as she looked around.

  “Not yet.” Molly shook her head. “This has been designated a bird sanctuary, the only protected area left on this island. But there are some people who keep trying to get permission to build. We’ll see how long it is before they cave to the money.”

  She stopped to put the Jeep into low four-wheel-drive. “Hold on.”

  Kathleen gripped the handles inside as the Jeep bounced over a dune creased with other tire tracks and out onto the beach.

  “You can only get to this stretch with real four-wheel-drive,” Molly said. “Even then, it’s easy to get stuck.”

  She steered the Jeep nimbly along the beach, staying out of the softer sand, and arrived at a point that was completely isolated.

  “Look at this view,” Kathleen said as they got out.

  Molly leaned against the Jeep and watched her—the wind playing with her auburn hair, the huge smile on her face as curious gulls circled. “I’m looking.”

  THE SUN WAS HALFWAY to the horizon by the time they chugged out of the marina.

  “The lunch was wonderful,” Kathleen had said to Brandi when they brought the Jeep back. “Thank you so much.”

  Brandi beamed. “I’m so glad you liked it. I packed it myself.”

  She showed Kathleen a photo of her wedding dress while Molly ran to the bank to deposit the check.

  “You’re going to fit right in with this family,” Molly said with a quick hug when she returned. “We’ll see you in a couple of days.”

  Brandi had sent them off with a wrapped pie. “For tonight.”

  Kathleen glanced back at the pie, sitting with her backpack on the floor of the boat now as Molly steered the launch past a line of buoys. “What did she mean, ‘for tonight’?”

  Molly shrugged. “Guess she was just sending something home for Mom to serve with supper tonight.”

  “Oh.”

  Kathleen turned around, facing the ocean stretching out before them. Little Sister was barely a dot on the horizon.

  The only shadow on the entire day—other than being awakened too early—was that Molly hadn’t acknowledged once that she remembered it was Kathleen’s birthday.

&
nbsp; The day was wonderful, she reminded herself. Stop being stupid.

  But there it was, a little gnawing remnant of the hope that someone would finally remember this day for something other than the only thing anyone ever did remember. Twenty-five years. How was that possible? She felt guilty even wanting this day to be more about her than Bryan. A birthday couldn’t compare with his death.

  She settled into the cracked vinyl seat of this boat, her jacket pulled close against the cooling air.

  “What’s wrong?” Molly asked.

  “Nothing.” Kathleen heard the grumpiness of her voice and forced a more cheerful note. “Are you sure this thing will get us back?”

  Molly grinned. “Not completely. But I made sure the radio works. Just in case. And if we have to drift around out here for a while under the stars, I’m sure we could find something to do.”

  Kathleen felt her cheeks warm. “One track mind.”

  “Not one track, but it’s the main track.”

  Kathleen chuckled. “Thanks for a nice day.”

  Molly opened her mouth to say something but seemed to change her mind. She just smiled. “You’re welcome. Settle back and enjoy the ride.”

  Kathleen hunkered down in the seat. As the cruiser chugged along, the wind grew cooler. Molly was still in slim-fitting shorts and a T-shirt that showed off her back and arm muscles. Kathleen tilted her head as she reconsidered the whole getting stranded under the stars thing.

  Her stomach rumbled. Their picnic was hours ago, and there had been a lot of hiking and shopping since then. That pie back there was calling to her.

  Although it sounded as if it were on its last leg, the cruiser brought them safely into Little Sister’s marina, where lights strung above the dock weren’t the only thing to welcome them.

  The ferry was still there, a queue of people waiting to board.

  Molly eased the boat up to the dock and jumped out to secure the line to a cleat. The office was dark, too.

  “Where is everyone?” Kathleen asked as she handed over the pie and the backpack and then climbed out of the boat. “What’s the ferry still doing here at this hour?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Sudden footsteps thumped in their direction as Fred jogged toward them as fast as he could.