by CF Frizzell
“Not to worry,” Ellis said and fluffed Retta’s ears. “Mom has things under control, doesn’t she, pretty girl?”
Laura paced to the common room door and back. “No, I really am sorry. It’s none of my business. Maggie’s my boss and I have no right to butt in.” She stopped and turned to Ellis. “You two are just perfect for each other.”
Ellis wandered to the back door and patted Retta good-bye. “Thank you. I think so, too. I’m heading home now, but if you ever need anything here, don’t hesitate to call. Okay?”
Laura nodded. She took a noticeable breath to calm herself. “Thanks, Ellis. You’re the best.”
For the beginning of the walk home, Ellis took a little amusement in Laura’s fluster and tried to appreciate the emotional roller coaster of being nineteen. But by the time Ellis reached the waterfront, her thoughts had advanced beyond amusement to curiosity, with hints of envy and jealousy thrown in just to drive her crazy.
She settled into her computer nook, now determined to learn more about this Baltimore woman. She must have something that appealed, because Maggie didn’t date Tuck’r guests. Wouldn’t. And although neither she nor Maggie had used the word “exclusive,” each had made it quite clear they had no interest in dating anyone else.
A flattering photograph of a smiling Jill McGee, dressed in a classic black business suit, appeared on the screen. “Well, hello, Ms. McGee. Aren’t you the fox. Cavanaugh Resorts of Florida since two thousand six—in the Baltimore office of corporate acquisitions?”
She sat back in deep thought. Maggie wouldn’t date a guest, so are you an old business acquaintance? Did you once work with Maggie? Maybe you helped her incorporate her Valentin Enterprises or maybe you’re just a former classmate.
“No. Maggie went to Syracuse and it says here that you went to Wharton. Probably just an old friend, period, who knows her from…childhood, a neighborhood, friend of the family.” She rubbed her face hard. “What’s the big deal, anyway?”
Shaking her head at herself, Ellis went to the galley for a beer. “This snooping is ridiculous. I never checked up on Maggie, for Christ’s sake.” And she returned to stare at Jill’s bright green eyes, the thin rosy lips, and perfect pearly whites. “Hmm. You’re a very pretty lady, Ms. McGee. What do you want with Maggie?” My Maggie.
Without thinking, she found Maggie’s information, scant as it was. She knew all the details that came up, the Albany childhood, the education, the years of experience in real estate finance, like her father as Maggie had said. As expected, no personal information was available, yet Ellis couldn’t help but wonder how Maggie’s Valentin Enterprises originated—and if Jill McGee had been involved. She’d never Googled Valentin.
So when the basic details of the one-woman corporation materialized on the screen, Ellis froze in her seat.
“Myrtle Beach, Daytona, Key Largo, Tahoe, Beacon Hill…Jesus, Maggie. You’re a damn flipper. And now you’ve scored Nantucket. The house is just another notch on the belt, isn’t it?” She fell back into her chair. “Son of a bitch.”
A numbing buzz traveled through her chest and down her arms. She nearly dropped the beer bottle. Staring blankly at the words, she began piecing together a very disturbing picture.
“Of course you want your business numbers up. Some big shot like McGee wouldn’t give Tuck’r a second look otherwise. And that’s why she came back. To see how things have progressed.” She stood and climbed the stairs in a daze. “She came back to see if your latest numbers show Tuck’r is worth buying. And the sightseeing cruises did the job, didn’t they?”
Now on the bow, Ellis took a long swig of beer and sat. “Is that why you’ve been happy lately? Because you know Cavanaugh will be impressed? Bet they can’t wait to post another win, add that house—my house—to their list of assets. It’s a victory dinner tonight, isn’t it? So when do you shove off? Where will you go next?”
She snickered as she leaned back on her elbows. “Guess you were right, Hank.” She drank heavily. “All that care and interest in this place, the ‘top of the world’ bullshit, all of it served a purpose.” Was any of it real? “Find the fool in this picture.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Jill placed her palm over Maggie’s on the table, and the silver Tiffany band on her middle finger flickered suggestively in the restaurant’s soft lighting. She leaned forward slightly, eyes rising off Maggie’s lips to caress her face so intensely, Maggie straightened in her seat. When Maggie withdrew her hand onto her lap, Jill arched an eyebrow, probably more out of dissatisfaction than disappointment.
“Maggie. We need to do that serious talking tonight.”
“It must seem as if I’m avoiding it, but truly, I’m not. Tuck’r just would have had too many interruptions, and the Met earlier was so busy. Yes, of course, I want to do some serious talking.”
She moved her empty plate aside and drew her wine closer, intent on getting down to business. Jill’s posture indicated she had other business in mind, however, and Maggie’s irritation grew to a distracting level.
“I’m so glad to hear it,” Jill stated. “I’ve had my hopes up for weeks now.” She cleared her place setting as well, and leaned forward again. “You know, this Tuck’r business has brightened my days. Coming here, having you as a guide, getting to know you, has opened a whole new realm of possibilities, and I hope you’re as open to them as I am.” She touched her glass to Maggie’s. “We’d make a powerful team, you and I, explosive, I dare say. And I’m not just talking about Cavanaugh.”
Maggie sipped her wine and wondered what it would look like all over Jill’s Donna Karan suit. Oh, I can give you explosive. Getting a little ticked off should make things easier.
“If I’m hearing you correctly, I want you to know that I’m only interested in business. I’m flattered—and happily involved with a woman.” The image of Ellis at their table, so dashing in her outrage, nearly threw her off track. “And ‘this Tuck’r business,’ as you put it, has become something special to me, far from being just another in a string of projects. It’s opened a whole new realm of possibilities for me as well. And I’m not just talking about Cavanaugh either. I’m talking about career, Nantucket, and permanent residency. I’ve changed my mind, Jill. Tuck’r is no longer for sale. It’s my home.”
Jill blinked, then glanced around at the other diners as if everyone had heard.
“Well, that certainly was momentous.”
Maggie sipped again, as casually as she could considering her hand shook and her chest had tightened into rock. But she’d said it, all of it, and without missing a beat. “Momentous?” she repeated, and tipped her head to ponder the word. Not so frightening when it’s said out loud. “Yes, I suppose it is. Appropriate, however, because this has been a summer of momentous achievements, and I’m proud to say they’ve brought me more happiness than I ever expected.”
“Has this new person in your life influenced your decision to take up island life?”
“Oh, I’d be crazy to deny that. She most definitely has, but the decision, ultimately, was mine to make. No one makes them for me.”
“I have to say, I’m disappointed, Maggie. Cavanaugh had big plans for Tuck’r Inn.”
“And I appreciate all the time, attention, and resources Cavanaugh has lent the idea, your efforts especially, but this is the right decision.”
“You would have been pleasantly surprised by our offer.”
“I considered the possibility of a lucrative offer. And I admit to a lot of soul searching.”
“It’s not too late, of course. You would be financially free to produce any number of fine properties anywhere in the world—and Cavanaugh would be there for you—if you so wanted.”
“I’ve been jumping around the country for quite a few years, Jill, and I’ve found a place now that offers a new range of challenges, not to mention the woman who innocently opened my eyes.”
“You’re actually serious about staying? You’re miles and miles offsh
ore. What about family, shopping, career opportunities, the winters, all the things—”
“My career will be here with Tuck’r. As for everything else, yes, there will be challenges, adventures, but I’ve always loved them. Being here, even for these few months, has shown me what I’ve been missing, and I’m really excited about what the off-season has to offer as well.”
“You mustn’t be afraid to change your mind, you know. I’m sure Cavanaugh will always be interested in taking Tuck’r off your hands, should that time come. In fact, before you slip away from us completely, you should know that we’d love to have you join our team. You’re exactly the talent we need for the new properties we’re acquiring off the coast in Galveston. So I hope you’ll give that some consideration.”
“Galveston?” Maggie stifled a chuckle. The woman is impossible. “That’s quite a generous offer and I’m flattered, but I won’t be changing my mind. Nantucket has come to mean a great deal to me.”
“Well, I’m sure time will tell.”
“The time is right for me, Jill. Right now.”
Jill patted Maggie’s hand. “Why don’t we just leave that door open? How’s that?” Maggie started to repeat her position, but Jill rolled on eagerly. “I have to say, your determination in choosing a remote island in New England, of all places, is, well, fascinating, but there’s a wealth of more temperate, bucolic islands that could have captured your fancy.”
Maggie leaned back in her chair, glass in both hands as she considered Jill’s point. Like every off-islander I’ve talked to since Tuck’r began. Feeling compelled to enlighten her makes me what, if not a Nantucketter?
“Comparing a Barbados to Nantucket is like…apples to…to pinecones.” She laughed at herself. “Every aspect of this island is so irreplaceable. Its history is reverent. Your coexistence with the isolation, the cost, the weather, the ocean is something you have to earn every day. And that hard work nets you an opportunity for a future here. An opportunity you cherish. How islanders put all that into their daily routines is remarkable, and their pride is justified. It’s easy to see how it makes them happy, and I want some of that. I want to contribute, become a part of it. Right now.”
“You’re amazing.” Jill shook her head. “This is why you’re so successful. It’s not in your nature to quit.”
Maggie laughed lightly. “Like a dog with a bone, that’s me.”
“Okay, so I have to admit, this woman you’ve found is pretty damn lucky. I apologize for the…the…”
“The come-on?”
Amazing. She didn’t even flinch, let alone blush.
“You’re incredibly charming, Maggie, and in that dress, simply ravishing, and I’m sure you’d much rather be sitting here with your new love tonight.”
My new love. Yes, I miss her tonight. She should be right here with me. She should have heard all this from me already.
“Apology accepted. I haven’t had the heart to tell her about Cavanaugh. She’s a native islander, and to them, flippers on Nantucket are…well, the word ‘outcast’ applies in a big way, so I’ve wrestled with keeping all this a secret. To make matters even more complicated, Tuck’r used to be her family homestead.”
“Oh, good Lord. How ironic.”
“It makes her and Tuck’r twice as special. And I’m hoping she’ll forgive me when I explain it all—and be happy for us.”
*****
Maggie huffed out the window at the dismal-looking day and turned at the counter. Laura folded pillowcases in the laundry room, while Rachel sat immersed in the New York Times, working on her third cup of coffee.
“I’ve left two messages already.” She checked the clock on the wall. “I want to hear from her before I leave. Jill will be down in an hour.”
“You don’t have to take her to brunch,” Rachel mumbled from behind the newspaper.
“No, I don’t, but it’s the right thing to do.”
Rachel turned the page and spoke without looking up. “You two covered all the bases last night, didn’t you?”
Laura eyed them curiously, and Maggie wondered how she interpreted that.
“Thoroughly. And dinner was fabulous.”
“Must’ve been. I heard you guys come in. It was after one.”
“We talked about all sorts of things. She got her start working for a Trump company.”
“Oh, well, that says a lot.”
“Actually, once we dropped the shoptalk, she was very forthcoming and I enjoyed our conversation. I assured her she’s more than welcome at Tuck’r, and she said she’ll be back.”
Laura took a quick step out of the laundry room. “She’s coming back?”
“Whenever she’d like, yes. She’s only leaving early today because of this crappy weather.” Maggie checked the clock again. “I just wish Ellis would call me back.” Laura returned to the laundry and Rachel turned to another page. “You two are practically sulking. Is something going on I don’t know about?”
“Ellis stopped in last night,” Rachel said.
“We told her you’d gone out to dinner,” Laura added.
Rachel put the paper down and cleared her throat loudly. “We told her that corporate lawyer Jill McGee took you to the White Elephant for dinner.” Laura ducked inside the laundry room.
“So…did she get upset or something?” Maggie frowned at their silence and set her hands on her hips. “Did she?”
Laura stepped back out. “I-I may have said I didn’t like Ms. McGee…and—”
“And,” Rachel finished, “Laura may have led Ellis to suspect Ms. McGee had ulterior motives.”
“What?”
“Well, I-I just said that I thought she really liked you.”
“Jesus, Laura.” Maggie dropped her arms and spun to the window. “Jill did have more on her mind than business, but I quashed that stuff immediately. There’s nothing—” She turned around and glared at Laura. “You know better than to—”
“I know. I know.” Laura hurried forward. She dropped some of the linens and quickly scooped them up. “I’m sorry. I should never have opened my mouth. It wasn’t my place.”
“You’re absolutely right. It’s none of your business.”
“I’m so sorry, Maggie. But-but Ellis was so great. She said, ‘You do what you’ve got to do for business,’ and sounded eager to hear how your night went. I mean, she wasn’t jealous or anything. I-I told her—”
“What else?”
“That I thought you two are great together.”
Maggie shook her head and turned to Rachel for input.
“Don’t look at me. I was long gone.” She brought her cup to the sink and hip-bumped Maggie. “She’ll call. Don’t worry.”
“What’s she supposed to think, Rachel?”
“Hey, stop. Don’t blow this out of proportion. She’s all yours and she’s loving it. Too bad you missed her. She looked pretty hot, too. I love those tailored shirts she wears, nice and snug.”
Maggie slapped her arm. “Shut up. I did miss her. I should have invited her along.”
Rachel chuckled as she rinsed her cup. “Sure. Wouldn’t that have gone over big, considering the business you had to discuss.”
“Eh, you’re right.” She pointed at Laura, who still stood in the middle of the kitchen, seemingly afraid to take a step. “And you. You’ve got my head spinning.” The phone on her desk rang and Maggie cursed. “I have to take this.” She stalked into her office, only to return a minute later.
“That was quick,” Rachel said.
“The elderly couple due on the late ferry…Mrs. Olden would like an assist with all their luggage.” She took a light jacket off the hook in the mudroom. “Meanwhile, I have errands and a ton of shopping to do, and I want to get some of it done before Jill and I go to brunch.”
“Helping with the luggage is awfully neighborly.”
“That’s part of the Tuck’r Inn hospitality, dear sister. Do me a favor and call the airport, see if flights are still on schedule for Jill?
I don’t trust this weather.”
“I’ll do it,” Laura said, all too eager to please.
“Fine. Then get back to work. You’re on my shit list, missy.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Maggie grabbed her keys off the counter and Retta ran in at the sound, ready to ride. “Sorry, sweetie. You have to stay. I won’t have room for you when I’m done.” She gave her a little hug and spotted Rachel grinning as she turned to leave. “What?”
“You don’t trust the weather.”
“Well, I’m taking Jill to the airport after brunch, so it matters. Have you looked at the mist rolling in? It’ll be pea soup fog in a couple of hours, the way it’s building.”
“Spoken like a sailor.”
Maggie stopped short and smiled at the thought. “She’s rubbing off.”
“And rubbing never felt so good.”
Maggie gave her a shove and headed for the door. Rachel caught her by the arm in the mudroom.
“One sec. With Laura around, we haven’t had a chance to talk about last night’s business. How’d it go? Did Ms. Tits freak out?”
“You’re awful. No, she didn’t, and I was kind of surprised. She actually offered me a job with them. Hopefully, I got my point across, that I wasn’t interested. But she said Cavanaugh would welcome business in the future, if I wanted to pursue it—Tuck’r included. She wanted to leave it open for something more, but I declined and kept things professional. You would’ve been proud of me.”
“I’ve always been proud of you.” Rachel hugged her. “And I’m so happy for you.”
Maggie kissed her cheek. “Let’s hope my sailor is, too.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Ellis stopped at a trash bin on Main and threw the soggy paper bag away. The stuffed toy frog that had been in it went inside her jacket for safekeeping. Heavy fog had soaked through everything, and she grumbled about it as she continued toward the corner she couldn’t see.