“Oh, how awful. Please give him a hug from me when you see him. Was he very close to his mother?”
Kristen nodded. “They both are. He’s devastated and in shock right now. I wish there was something I could do for him, but he needed to go alone. They need to spend as much time with her as they can. It sounds like it’s aggressive and she won’t have long.”
Lisa’s eyes watered and she pulled her daughter in for a hug. Angela felt her own eyes get misty, too. Life was so unpredictable.
“I think you were going to be stopping by Tyler’s house later today to clean?” Kristen asked.
“Yes, but that’s no problem. He can just get in touch when he’s back in town.”
“Actually, he’d like you to still plan on cleaning today. I have a key so can meet you there. My house is right next door. He was going to wait, but I suggested that he still have you come. He’s a recovering alcoholic, so I thought it might be nice for him to come home to a clean house after all this, anything to lower his stress.”
“Perfect. I’ll plan to meet you there, then.” She agreed with Kristen. A clean house would be soothing for Tyler, and one less thing to worry about.
Angela stopped home after she finished cleaning the rooms at the Inn. Only four of them were rented and everyone went off to explore the island early, so she was able to get in and out fairly quickly. It was just before noon when she arrived home and she was pleased to see a crew of guys there working on the roof. She waved at them as she went inside and relaxed for a bit before she had to head over to Tyler Everly’s house at three-thirty.
After a quick peanut butter and jelly sandwich, she decided to do some organizing and cleaning. Her grandmother’s house was clean, but there was a lot of stuff Angela needed to go through and decide whether to keep, throw out, or sell.
She started in the small office. The walls were lined with books, most of them in good condition, and some were even leather-bound collector’s editions. Her grandmother had clearly enjoyed reading. She also had an old-fashioned Olympia manual typewriter on the polished cherry wood desk. Angela slid a sheet of paper in the machine and hit a few keys. They clanged loudly but left clear ink impressions on the paper. The ribbon was in good condition, which meant it was fairly new. Apparently her grandmother had actually used this typewriter on occasion.
She leaned back in the soft leather chair and opened the slim top drawer of the desk. There was a pile of letters in it that were unopened and had ‘return to sender’ stamped on them. Angela looked more closely and saw that they were addressed to her mother. She checked the dates and they were all from before Angela was born.
Her eyes welled up unexpectedly as she found the first letter and slowly opened the envelope. The paper was delicate and yellowed with age. She carefully slid the letter out and unfolded it. The message inside was short and bittersweet.
“Chrissy,
I know we’ve had our differences and I don’t agree with how you’ve lived your life, especially these past few years, but you are my daughter and my life is better with you in it. It’s killing me not knowing how you are or where you are. Please, let me know you are okay. Call me or write to me. I’ve tried repeatedly to call you, but the number no longer works. I miss you and I hope you know, no matter what, that I will always love you.”
Angela’s tears fell freely as she finished reading the letter, and she took a deep breath before opening the next letter and the ones after that. They were all similar, with her grandmother imploring her mother to get in touch. The only different one was the last one, written a year after the first.
“My dear Chrissy,
I don’t know where you are or how you are and it terrifies me. This is the last letter I will write because it has become apparent that my letters are not getting to you. I kept writing, hoping that they might somehow find you, but if they had, I think I would have heard from you by now. I won’t stop trying to find you. If you do by chance receive this, please know that I love you and I want to hear from you, whenever you are ready to get in touch.”
Angela slowly closed the desk drawer and sighed. So, her grandmother had tried to reach her mother. She guessed that Chrissy had already moved on before the first letter came. They’d been kicked out of so many places when Chrissy couldn’t come up with the rent. What Angela didn’t know was what had happened initially. How had her mother fallen out with her grandmother?
Maybe the answer was somewhere in the house, tucked away in another drawer. Or maybe she’d never know? Angela didn’t have the energy to keep looking just yet, though. That could wait for another day. She needed to process knowing that her grandmother had tried so hard to find her mother. It was bittersweet knowing that she’d tried and they’d never managed to reconnect.
Angela met Kristen at Tyler’s house a few minutes before three thirty. After she opened the front door and they went inside, Kristen set the keys on the kitchen counter.
“When you finish up, please lock the door behind you and drop the key off at my place. I’m right next door.”
Angela had seen the path to Kristen’s house when she arrived. It was just a few steps away, and looked almost identical.
“Our houses are pretty much the same, but you’ll see when you stop by later that the interiors are very different. Tyler’s is much darker, more masculine. Abby is coming by later, too. You should stay and have a glass of wine with us if you don’t have plans? Well, with me. Abby’s still not drinking, because she’s breastfeeding.”
“Thanks, I’d love to.”
Kristen let herself out and Angela got to work. Tyler’s house was quite a bit smaller than Philippe’s so it wouldn’t take her as long. It was her first time cleaning it, though, and she wanted to take her time so the house would be fresh and as clean as possible when he returned.
Tyler wasn’t as messy as Philippe clutter-wise, but it didn’t seem like the house had been dusted or vacuumed in a long time. There was plenty for Angela to do and she spent the next few hours scrubbing until every surface gleamed.
At a few minutes past six, she locked the door behind her, put her cleaning supplies in her car and walked to Kristen’s house. Kristen hollered for her to come in when she knocked. Abby was already there, sitting in Kristen’s kitchen, sipping a cranberry and soda water and watching Kristen toss a big bowl of pasta and sautéed vegetables with grated cheese. Whatever it was smelled amazing. She set Tyler’s keys on the kitchen table. Kristen glanced up from the stove and smiled.
“Thanks. There’s a bottle of red wine open, if you want to pour yourself some. Glasses are in the cupboard by the stove.”
Angela did as suggested and settled into a chair next to Abby.
“What are you making?” she asked Kristen.
“It’s my famous kitchen sink pasta. I just cooked up all the veggies I had in the fridge and tossed it all together with a little garlic, olive oil and cheese. Please say you’ll stay and have some with us. There’s tons of it.”
Angela’s stomach grumbled and she hoped they couldn’t hear it. “Sure. It looks wonderful.”
Kristen plated up some pasta for each of them and they gathered around her kitchen table. Angela glanced around the room as they ate. Kristen’s house did look very different inside. Hers was much lighter and more colorful with some gorgeous paintings, both on the wall and strewn about the room.
“Did you paint all of those?” Angela asked. She knew that Kristen was a full-time painter, but her work was really breathtaking.
Kristen smiled. “I did. Sorry for the clutter. They’re not usually all over the room this much, but I brought some out of my studio to try and decide which ones to bring into town for an upcoming show.”
“Did you know Tyler before he bought the cottage next to yours?” Angela asked. She thought it almost seemed like the best of both worlds. To live so close, yet have their own space.
“No, not really. I knew his brother, Andrew. He bought a gallery downtown and we met when I literally
ran into his car coming out of the market. There wasn’t any significant damage, just a minor scrape, and he suggested that I repay him by bringing some paintings into his gallery. I ended up having a show there that went well and I think we went on a date. We actually had a lot in common, but the timing was terrible.”
“She’d just broken up with someone and then decided to take him back,” Abby added. It was clear from her tone that Abby hadn’t been in favor of that.
Kristen sighed. “It was complicated and I felt I owed it to Sean to give our relationship one last shot. He finally took the step to file for divorce and I thought maybe that meant things would be better with us. But they weren’t. And then Tyler moved in. I wasn’t even looking for a new relationship then.”
“They say that’s when it always happens, when you least expect it.” Abby smiled and reached for another scoop of pasta.
“Are you seeing anyone, Angela?” Kristen asked.
“No, I’m very much single. It’s just me and my cat, Sam. I’m not really focused on anything serious right now. Maybe after I move home to San Francisco and finish college. I only have two classes left. I kind of feel like my life is on hold until then.”
Kristen nodded. “I can understand that. You want to get settled in your career first.”
Abby looked thoughtful. “Do you have to go back to San Francisco? You own a home now here. Maybe you could finish your classes online and start a career here. If you like the area, that is? I know living on an island isn’t for everyone.”
Angela hadn’t even considered the possibility of staying on Nantucket. She thought about it for a moment and quickly dismissed the idea. It didn’t make sense for her.
“San Francisco is where I’m from, and what I consider home. Even if I did decide to stay here, I don’t think there are any job opportunities in my field. Are there any software companies on Nantucket that would need an entry-level marketing person?”
Abby and Kristen looked at each other and laughed at the same time. “Probably not,” Abby said. “There are lots of small businesses here, but it’s mostly tourism, retail and services. No tech companies that I can think of.”
“Oh, well. It was a nice thought,” Kristen said as she added a splash more wine to their glasses.
“Have you heard from Tyler? Did he make it home yet to see his mother?” Abby asked.
“He called just before you got here. He’d just seen his mother in the hospital. It’s such a sad situation. I’m going to miss him, but I’m so glad that he and Andrew will be with her through the holidays.”
“Had she been feeling sick for a while?” Abby asked.
“No, that’s the scary thing. She was fine, and had even called Tyler the week before to say she wanted to plan a family trip. A cruise, I think. She had a sudden, severe headache, went to the ER and now this.”
“That is scary,” Angela agreed.
“It really makes you think. You never know what the next day will bring so it’s important to make every day count.”
Angela silently agreed, thinking of the day the letter arrived and how her life had changed so much in one day, though fortunately it was for the better, unlike Tyler’s poor mother.
11
Philippe almost didn’t hear the knock on the door. He was so deep into the scene he was writing that he’d lost all track of time. When he finally heard the knock and glanced at the time, he was surprised to see how late it was—nearly three o’clock, and he knew it must be Angela coming to clean.
His stomach growled as he went to let her in. He’d worked straight through lunch and now that he was aware of the time, he was suddenly starving. He didn’t want to lose momentum, though. Normally he’d head out and go downtown but he didn’t want to take the time to do that today.
When he opened the door, Angela stood on the front step in her Nantucket sweatshirt, faded jeans that fit her like a glove and her hair in a high ponytail. She smiled when she saw him.
“Did I interrupt your writing?”
He nodded. “Sorry about that. Hope you weren’t waiting too long? Time got away from me today.”
“Not long at all,” Angela said as she walked inside. “I hope it means the writing is going well?”
“Well enough, yes. I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to stay here and hole up in my office. I’ll stay out of your way—and don’t worry about cleaning that room today.”
“Are you sure? I could go through it quick now?”
Philippe hesitated for a second, torn between diving right back in and taking the time to find food and have the room cleaned. His stomach rumbled again.
“That works. I’m going to make a quick sandwich while you’re in there.”
Angela went off to clean and Philippe opened his refrigerator, staring inside and debating what to have. His eye fell on an unopened package of sliced turkey and the decision was made. Five minutes later, he’d inhaled a turkey sandwich and was on his second handful of chips when his phone dinged with a notification. It was from his agent in L.A. and had the news he’d been waiting for.
P-Good news and bad news. Good first—we got our first choice for the lead—Cameron Davis signed on, which is fantastic. But—he’s not available for almost a year, so we’d have to push our start date way out. Let me know if you’re okay with that.
Philippe grinned from ear to ear.
He texted back.
“I am very much okay with that. Thanks for the good news.”
He was thrilled because it meant no travel for nearly a year.
When Angela finished vacuuming in his office, he was still smiling.
“You’re looking awfully happy,” she commented as he walked back toward his desk.
“I just got some good news. Looks like I won’t have to travel any time soon.”
She smiled back. “That’s great news. I love to travel occasionally for fun, but I wouldn’t like to have to do it all the time for work. I like being at home.”
“I do, too.”
Angela continued on to clean the next room and Philippe fired up his laptop, quickly getting lost in his story again.
Before he knew it, there was movement outside his office and Angela leaned in to say goodbye.
“I’m all done. I’ll see you next Tuesday?”
Philippe stood and stretched. His muscles were stiff from sitting for so long. He was done for the day, too. He’d hit his limit and needed to fill the well to start again tomorrow.
“Yes, we’re on for Tuesday. Let me get your check.” He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a checkbook, wrote a check and handed it to Angela. His phone chimed that he had incoming mail and he glanced at it. It was a reminder email from the Nantucket animal shelter that one of the two cats he’d looked at was still available. It seemed like a sign that the email came the same day he found out that he didn’t need to travel anytime soon.
“What do you think of Mandy?” Philippe turned his phone so that Angela could see.
“Aw, she’s so cute! Are you thinking of adopting a cat?”
“I am. Do you think it’s a good idea?” He remembered how Jessica had reacted at the suggestion.
Angela nodded. “I’m a cat lover. I have an older cat, Sam, that I adopted years ago from a shelter. He’s great company. You should go get her.”
Philippe grinned. “What are you doing right now? Want to come along for the ride? Make sure I’m choosing the right cat?”
“Sure. But you really can’t go wrong. Shelter cats make the best pets.”
She followed Philippe outside, put her cleaning supplies in her car and then hopped into his black Jeep.
“I adopted Oscar, my last cat from the shelter here soon after I moved to Nantucket. He died just a few months ago. I knew I wanted to get another one, but wasn’t sure what my travel schedule was going to look like. I didn’t want to adopt a new cat, then have to leave it behind for a month or longer.”
When they arrived at the shelter, an older volunteer
wearing a name tag that said ‘Helen’ was out front and smiled when she saw them. They told her they were interested in seeing some of the cats. She led them into a big room where there were several cats lounging around and others sleeping. A fluffy, small cat with brown and gray fur and pretty green eyes immediately walked up to Philippe and rubbed against his leg over and over.
Helen smiled at the sight. “She likes you. Mandy’s usually a little standoffish with most people. She’s five years old and came here a few weeks ago with her daughter. They were left behind when their family moved.”
“How can people do that? Animals are family members, too!” Angela reached down to pat Mandy and the little cat rubbed her head against Angela’s hand. “She’s so sweet.”
“Her daughter was adopted immediately, but not as many people want the older cats.”
“I’ll take her,” Philippe said.
“Are you sure? You don’t want to look around at all the others first?” Helen asked.
“No, she’s the one I came for and it looks like she picked me, too.”
Helen led them back out front to process a pile of paperwork and collect a check from Philippe that covered the shots and vet check-up that Mandy had received.
“Did you bring a carrier?” Helen asked.
“No. I can run home and get one, though.” He still had Oscar’s somewhere in the house.
“I think we might have an extra one. Let me check.” Helen walked out back then returned a few minutes later holding a pale blue cat carrier. It was the soft, collapsible kind. Philippe walked out back and looked around for Mandy. As soon as she saw him, she came running. He set the carrier down, opened the door and Mandy didn’t hesitate. She strolled right into it, walked in a circle once before she flopped down and began to give herself a bath.
“Well, isn’t that something,” Helen said. “It’s not usually so easy to get them into a carrier.”
Nantucket White Christmas: A feel-good, small town, Christmas story Page 6