In the past three or four years, Henry’s psychiatrist had found a mix of prescription medications that kept Henry free from the worst of his manic states. It wasn’t perfect yet, and Henry still had to fight the demon of depression, which was why Valerie was so insistent that he try lithium.

  Yet, Robin thought, with fond amusement, Henry and James would always be rivals. Now as Robin watched, Susanna put the large bowl with the remains of the batter in front of Henry, also giving him the spatula to lick.

  “Hey!” James protested.

  “You get both beaters, sweetie pie,” Susanna said to her second son, handing him the batter-dripping beaters.

  As her mother turned back to the sink to rinse her hands, Robin imagined all the diplomatic, delicate negotiations Susanna had had to make over the years between these two alpha males.

  Something else was going on, Robin realized. Courtney was skulking around the edges of the kitchen, her back turned to the table as she took down a mug, poured her coffee, added a drop of milk and a spoonful of sugar, and remained standing, leaning against the counter, instead of sitting at the table as she usually did.

  James held out one of the batter-covered beaters to Courtney. “Want to lick one?” Of course, being James, he made it sound erotic.

  Courtney blushed. “No, thanks. Just coffee for me this morning.”

  Why did Courtney blush? Robin wondered. Courtney was used to James’s silliness. Something was going on!

  Was she right? Was something happening between James and Courtney? Robin had dreamed of this for years, so she was surprised at the thump of jealousy that hit her right in the stomach. Courtney was hers, her best friend, not another groupie drooling over James.

  “Great,” she said. “Bring your cup with you. We’ve got a lot to accomplish today.”

  “Okay,” Courtney answered easily, and walked past James without looking at him. “Bye, y’all,” she said over her shoulder.

  So maybe Robin was overreacting again. It was hard not to in this household.

  The June evening was balmy, warm, and slightly humid. All around the patio, terra-cotta tubs of flowers spilled their colors and fragrance into the soft air. The wide green lawn where they often played croquet or badminton had been transformed into a modern Camelot by the great white tent that had been installed today, ready for tomorrow night. Tall green privet hedges lined the boundaries of the Vickereys’ backyard, turning the space into an extension of the house, another room with the sky as ceiling. James had set up a CD player programmed to play songs from his mother’s younger days and the music floated into the air, bubbles of sound drifting around the conversation and laughter.

  Everyone was there. Everyone had been met at the airport, brought to the house, shown to a room, and invited to meet on the patio for a casual cookout. In the more comfortable, cushioned, wicker chairs, Dr. V sat with friends from Boston. On a floral-cushioned glider, Susanna was squeezed between her two best friends from college. They had already had a couple of James’s peach and Prosecco cocktails. Their cheeks were rosy and they were giggling like children.

  At one of the round tables, Quinn chatted with Susanna’s cousins, while his daughter, Christabel, barefoot and clad in a sailor costume she’d found at the thrift shop, danced by herself to the music. Henry’s best male friend, Jacob, talked with Valerie, probably about something involving blood and guts, their favorite topic, while Henry sat listening to whatever Lisa was babbling about. Robin and Courtney, Iris, and Pearl floated around the edges of the party, refilling wine glasses, putting out extra napkins, and making their own insignificant banter. Pearl was marvelously chic in four-inch heels and a little violet dress that set off her black hair and pale eyes. Courtney grinned as she watched Pearl’s eyes flick from Callum at the grill with James to James and over to Quinn, like a colorful raptor idly choosing her prey.

  Courtney tried not to look at James.

  The food was set out buffet style on one of the long tables, so people had to take a plate and serve themselves. When everyone was seated, Courtney noticed with amusement that while Lisa had taken a seat on Henry’s left side, Pearl had alighted on his right side, and was ignoring her food to turn her seductive attentions on Henry. Pleasant, good-natured Lisa had never met Pearl before, had no idea of the games Pearl liked to play. For a brief moment, Courtney thought of asking Lisa to help her in the kitchen where she could tell Lisa not to worry—Henry knew what kind of flirt Pearl was. He’d known her for years. But the thought passed. Courtney didn’t want to disrupt the table, and really, she needed nothing from the kitchen. Plus, Lisa needed to step up to the plate.

  Courtney sat next to Susanna’s cousin, a pleasant, slightly dowdy woman who talked relentlessly, as if no one had listened to her for years. It was actually restful to be blathered at, Courtney thought. She could concentrate on her food and simply nod at Gwen every so often. She knew James was at the other end of the table, with Christabel on his left and Valerie on his right. Christabel allowed herself to be entertained by Henry’s friend Jacob, who sat on her other side…Jacob, chubby, genius Jacob, who with surgical precision ate his hamburger with fork and knife.

  Candles had been placed down the length of the long tables and in the center of the round ones, but it was still daylight, that expansive summer light promising full harvests, sunburned shoulders, and hints of heaven. Conversation muted as people ate.

  Quinn called out, “Excellent hamburgers, James! Well done!”

  Susanna stood up. She rose, and stayed there, at the head of the longest table.

  “Hello, everyone,” Susanna said with a slightly nervous tremble in her voice. “I’m so glad you’re all here tonight. I want to thank you all for coming to my birthday party, but tonight I want to take the opportunity to say something especially for the group gathered here. Tomorrow evening will be a crush, I know, and what I have to say—” she paused.

  Courtney glanced at Robin, who shrugged her shoulders and looked worried. Dear heavens, Courtney thought, don’t let Susanna be sick.

  “I want to tell you all how much this birthday weekend means to me,” Susanna continued. “And especially, I want to tell my summer children how honored I am they left their busy, adult lives to come here this weekend. You all—Valerie, Jacob, Courtney, Callum, and Pearl—know I’ve called you my ‘summer children’ and I’d like to talk about that. I never meant to imply that you were my children. I know your own parents did all the hard work of supporting you, teaching you, turning you from squalling infants into civilized human beings. They had the responsibility, the burden. I had—well, I had the summers.”

  Courtney relaxed in her chair, and sensed how the rest of the party also surrendered their alarm and settled in for a pleasant speech.

  “I had you for the summers, and not to wax poetic, but it seems I had you for the summers of your lives, when everything was lush and bountiful, growing, flourishing, and playing. I’ve been able to watch you over the years as you changed from callow youths into students and then into the capable, admirable, generous grown-ups you’ve become.”

  Some people started to clap, but Susanna held up her hand.

  “Wait. I’m not finished.” Leaning forward, she said, “Jacob. Valerie. You two were my first summer children. You came home with Henry and worked for the summer and brought such pleasure to our lives.” Susanna took a piece of paper from her pocket and unfolded it. “Jacob, I hope you know I’ve been baking oatmeal cookies every morning just for you—”

  James burst out, “Oatmeal? More like raisin–pecan–coconut–cranberry–chocolate chip cookies! They were as big as these hamburger buns.”

  People laughed. Susanna nodded. “True. You all took them with you for your lunches, and I knew you were getting some fuel for your active bodies. Jacob, I watched as you grew stronger and stouter over the years—”

  “Stouter!” Callum yelled. “There’s a euphemism! How about fatter!”

  Jacob blushed but beamed happily.

  “—and I want to say this to you: I know you are working on pediatric surgical instruments and techniques I can’t even begin to comprehend. I’ll miss you this summer, and I’m so pleased you found the time to come today. And if you ever crave cookies, let me know at once, and I’ll make a batch and express-mail them to you.”

  Jacob nodded several times, fast, almost squirming beneath the attention from the table.

  “Now. Valerie. When you arrived that first summer with Henry and Jacob, you were a string bean, too. Such an intense girl. Well, you’ve grown into such an accomplished woman. I’m thrilled that you’re a general practitioner here on the island. I want you to know that I never told Henry about the man you had a crush on your junior year. Since it’s safe to mention it now, let me just say, what a relief that you escaped his clutches. With your brains and beauty, you’ll go far. But not, I hope, off the island.”

  The table went quiet. Valerie rolled her eyes and murmured, “Oh, Susanna.” Henry stared stonily at his plate, Lisa glanced beneath her eyelashes at Valerie, and finally James broke the tension by saying, “Good job, Mom, tell us all the secrets!” People relaxed and laughed. Courtney smiled smugly. She was certain she knew exactly what Susanna was doing: making Henry jealous of the man whom Valerie liked in junior year, reminding Henry that Valerie was an attractive woman who wouldn’t hang around while Henry behaved stubbornly.

  “Courtney.” Susanna turned her attention to Robin’s best friend. “I’ll admit I was quietly concerned when you arrived with Robin. You’re such a natural beauty and so clueless about it that you had men flocking around you like bees to honey.”

  Courtney knew she blazed beet-red all over her face and neck. She felt James’s eyes on her and went even hotter.

  “I loved all the rainy evenings when you stayed at the house and shared some of your studies with me. I never knew much about medieval literature, or, frankly, any kind of poetry. You taught me so much. You enriched my life. I’m proud of you for having a position at a university but at the same time I’m sorry you won’t be here in the East. I’ll miss you so much.”

  “Thank you,” Courtney replied softly. Oh, she would miss Susanna if she returned to Kansas. And maybe she wouldn’t have to. Her heart twisted with conflicting desires.

  Susanna moved on. “Callum. I think I should thank you for keeping James out of trouble, but if I did that, I’d have to admit that when James got into trouble, you were probably his partner in crime. I’m thinking of the Sunfish you swamped off Coatue and the Jeep that either you or James wrecked more times than I can count.”

  From the foot of the table, Dr. V grumbled incomprehensibly.

  “Now I think it’s safe to tell you that your parents and I were always in touch by phone or email.”

  “Good god,” Callum moaned while everyone else laughed.

  “You two boys got into so much trouble I couldn’t possibly make all the decisions without help from your parents. But we did a good job, don’t you think? You’re a significant force in your family’s firm. If you wreck our Boston Whaler, you can simply buy us a new one.” Susanna paused for the laughter. “So you see, you all, I’ve been able to keep more than one secret.” She aimed her gaze at Pearl. “Pearl. You’ll be glad to know that I did not tell your parents about all the times you came home at three in the morning looking, shall we say, a little under the weather.”

  All around the table, eloquent glances were exchanged. The children and the summer children were well aware that Pearl drank too much and equally aware that it was almost impossible to get in touch with her parents, who were always busy in some exotic country.

  “You and Iris have just graduated from college,” continued Susanna. “Your futures are ahead of you. I know you plan to travel around Europe this summer, but I want you to know you’ll always have a home here, summer or winter.”

  For once in her life, Pearl did not respond sarcastically. She very quietly said, “Thank you, Susanna.”

  “So that’s it!” Susanna glanced at her list, then put it on the table. “Thank you for letting me warble on. I want you to know that having summer children has been one of the most exciting, challenging, memorable, and wonderful times in my life. I love you all, and I’m old enough to be wise enough to know that love is rare and loving someone is a gift.” She lifted her wine glass. “Here’s to you, my summer children.”

  Everyone at the table toasted and drank. Susanna sat down, beaming at everyone.

  With a dramatic screeching of chair legs against the patio tiles, Christabel shoved her chair back, stood up, and with her chin high, strode away from the table. Every inch of her radiated fury. She went around the side of the house and disappeared from sight.

  Courtney couldn’t stop herself from glancing at James. Was he going to go after Christabel? Did he feel he needed to take care of her, to soothe and calm her? If so, anything he said last night didn’t matter.

  James was looking at his mother. His own face held a slight frown. All around the table, people murmured to one another, wondering what had happened to make Christabel storm away, and wondering what should be done now, and by whom?

  Quinn half rose from his chair. “Sorry, everyone, sorry. I apologize for my daughter’s rudeness. Please don’t worry—it’s just a, um, feminine kind of thing, you know.” By the time he finished speaking, he was bright red.

  But his awkward apology did the trick. Susanna smiled and nodded and the other women all made reassuring noises, and no one left the table to run after Christabel.

  Still, a tinge of discomfort tinted the atmosphere.

  Courtney spoke up. “Would you like to hear a really bad joke?”

  Everyone nodded and yelled, “Yes!”

  “Okay,” Courtney said. “A girl came skipping home from school one day. ‘Mommy, Mommy,’ she yelled, ‘we were counting today, and all the other kids could only count to four, but I counted to ten. See? one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!’ ‘Very good,’ said her mother. ‘Is it because I’m blond, Mommy?’ ‘Yes, it’s because you’re blond.’ The next day the girl came skipping home from school. ‘Mommy, Mommy,’ she yelled, ‘we were saying the alphabet today, and all the other kids could only say it to D, but I said it to G. See? A, B, C, D, E, F, G!’ ‘Very good,’ said her mother. ‘Is it because I’m blond, Mommy?’ ‘Yes, it’s because you’re blond.’ The next day the girl came skipping home from school. ‘Mommy, Mommy,’ she yelled, ‘we were in gym class today, and when we showered, all the other girls had flat chests, but I have these!’ And she lifted her tank top to reveal a pair of 36-Cs. ‘Very good,’ said her embarrassed mother. ‘Is it because I’m blond, Mommy?’ ‘No, it’s because you’re twenty-five.’ ”

  It was a terrible joke, Courtney knew that, and she couldn’t have told it with blond Christabel there, but some people laughed, and some moaned, and conversation started again.

  But Courtney peeked beneath lowered lids at James. He was staring right at her, smiling. She had done a good thing. She’d turned the party back into a party.

  —

  After dinner was over, people remained around the table, sipping another glass of wine, watching the sky slowly darken, talking, laughing, relaxing in the summer air.

  Courtney helped Robin and Valerie clear the table. Lisa stuck possessively to Henry’s side. Dr. V disappeared into his study. The kitchen was almost overpowering with brightness, and each time Courtney stepped back outside, it took her eyes a moment to adjust to the fading light.

  “Candles,” she murmured, trying to remember where the Vickereys kept them. She decided she didn’t need them—everyone had left or gone inside. She was alone in the velvet darkness of the summer night. And suddenly the richness of the sweet air, the infinite sky above her, and the salty breeze off the ocean overwhelmed her. She leaned against the side of the house, hugging herself to hold herself together, struggling to calm her emotions.

  She loved it here so much. She loved James so much. But what could she do? She couldn’t force James to trust the future and let her have his babies. She had no magic words or wand. She did have that astonishing proposal from Monty. Should she consider it rationally, unemotionally? Monty was a good man. He was handsome, and strong, and reliable. He loved her. Couldn’t she change the way she felt about him? Certainly she was fond of him, she loved him—in a way. Couldn’t she come to love him sexually and romantically? She’d read of that happening…

  As if summoned by her thoughts, James strolled up next to her. She knew that it was too dark here for him to see her face, and he had no idea that she was riding a wave of desire and despair.

  He leaned next to her against the house. “That was one of the worst jokes I’ve ever heard,” he teased.

  “Come on, give me some points for trying,” Courtney said, softly knocking his arm.

  James inhaled sharply when their arms touched. Simply that, bare skin touching bare skin, made her body beg for more. She knew his did, too. She could feel his longing. The simple connection was powerful between them.

  Courtney took his hand, and her need increased. She held his hand, palm to palm, as she said, “James, Susanna’s speech tonight was wonderful.”

  “I know. It gave me a lot to think about.”

  Courtney moved closer to him. Hurriedly, urgently, she said, “Yes, me, too. Susanna said that love is rare. That loving someone is a gift. I love you, and I know you love me. Please, James, if I’m brave enough to want marriage with you, and children with you, why can’t you be brave, too?”

  Calmly, James retorted, “Mom talked about her summer children. How she loves them. We could adopt children and love them as much as our own.”