When dinner ended, her father helped her mother return to the bedroom. Ross helped Kailee and his mother carry dishes in from the dining room.

  “I’ll tidy the kitchen, start the dishwasher, and see myself out,” Heather said.

  “Mom, thanks! That was a fantastic meal. I’ve been missing your meatloaf.” Ross rinsed the beer bottles and tossed them into the glass recycling.

  Heather was at the kitchen sink, rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. “I’m glad you all enjoyed it. I don’t have a chance to cook for more than one these days, and this was fun.”

  Ross kissed the back of his mother’s head.

  “See you.” He opened the back door on the way to his apartment. “Want to watch some baseball, Kailee?” he asked, shooting her a look that indicated baseball wasn’t the first thing on his agenda.

  “Sure,” Kailee said, folding a dish towel and hanging it on the rack.

  “Kailee, could you wait a moment?” Heather asked. “I’d like to ask you about one of your committees.”

  “Okay.” Kailee paused by the door, suddenly feeling very much like the deer in the headlights.

  “I’ll go on up,” Ross said, and left.

  Heather cleared her throat nervously. “Kailee, is there a chance you’re pregnant?”

  “Are you kidding?” Kailee asked. “No, I’m not pregnant. Ross and I will have children, of course, but we want to wait until we’re settled, maybe in five years or so. Just because I barfed doesn’t mean I’m pregnant. Something must have been off with the crabs I had at lunch.” She knew her face was red with indignation.

  “I’m sorry I asked, Kailee.” Heather spoke in a low voice, not quite a whisper. “I was worried because when I was pregnant with Ross, I had terrible morning sickness. Actually, all-day sickness. Many women do.”

  Kailee thought, This is my life, and Ross’s. She said sweetly, “No worries. And thank you so much for tonight’s dinner.”

  “You’re welcome,” Heather said. She dried her hands, filled her totes with pans she’d already washed clean, and said, “I’ll go out with you.”

  Kailee opened the kitchen door, waved for Heather to leave first, and followed her out. Heather walked down to her car. Kailee waited until Heather had driven away to go up to Ross’s apartment.

  sixteen

  The evening of the Fourth of July on Nantucket was dazzling, and not at all what Heather had envisioned. As she was whisked by launch from the pier to the Hunters’s magnificent sloop, she met other guests who were all easy to chat with.

  Miles greeted them, helping them onto his boat. The location in the harbor was perfect for viewing the fireworks, drinks and finger food were set out in the cabin, and Heather had more fun than she’d had in a long time. Miribelle sat next to Heather for a while, talking as if they were old friends. Miles’s daughter, Emma, sang patriotic songs while her friend Angel played the fiddle. Emma introduced her to Angel, also at the Berklee School of Music. The fireworks were magical.

  Miles spent very little time with Heather. He was always surrounded by friends, although he did take a moment to say hello and to tell her how glad he was she’d come. The rest of the evening he was elsewhere, laughing, talking with other people. Often women. Often gorgeous young women in their thirties with glorious abundant hair swinging down their bare backs in their teeny-tiny sundresses.

  “They’re exquisite, aren’t they?”

  Heather looked up to see a woman in her sixties taking a seat next to her.

  “I’m Julia English, grandmother of that adolescent creature wearing little more than mascara.”

  Heather laughed. Julia’s hair was silver and she wore a caftan over what could be called, kindly, a voluptuous body, and long, clanging metal earrings.

  “I’m Heather Willette. Mother of Ross Willette—”

  “Who is Kailee Essex’s current boyfriend and an employee of Essex Construction.”

  Heather smiled. “You must know Kailee and her parents.”

  “I live on this island. I know everyone and their parents. I will not go so far as to say they are my friends.”

  Heather took a breath. “What do you mean?”

  “Surely, you’ve heard. Essex Construction has built several outrageously enormous houses that spoil the pristine view of the island and ruin the natural landscape, and he’s building more.”

  “I’m new here,” Heather admitted. “Isn’t there an ordinance or reviewing committee that limits the size of buildings on the island?”

  “There is. But we have no way of enforcing it. Lawsuits would bankrupt the town. These new billionaires want to slap us in the face with their money. If they could outline their new homes in neon lights, they would. Talk about shock and awe.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Heather paused, gathering her thoughts. “I don’t know Bob and Evelyn well, but I’m sure Essex Construction isn’t the only company on the island building luxury homes.”

  Julia smiled. “I like you. You’re not afraid of a discussion.”

  Heather laughed. “That’s because I’m only here for the summer. I’m simply enjoying this island, and this holiday night.”

  Miles approached the two of them, a bottle of champagne in his hand. “Let me top you up. The fireworks will start momentarily. Heather, I’m glad you’ve met Julia. She secretly runs the town.”

  “If only,” Julia replied.

  Miles laughed. “Heather, I’d love to show you the very best view of the fireworks.” He held out his hand.

  He led her through the crowd, past the cabin, and up to the bow of the boat.

  “Now,” he said, “we lie down and look up at the stars.”

  Heather paused. “If I fall off, I’ll land in the water.”

  “If you fall off, I’ll jump in and rescue you,” Miles promised.

  “Wouldn’t that be interesting,” Heather joked.

  Awkwardly she scooted toward the middle of the boat and lay back, head to foot touching the bow.

  “Wow,” she said. Like this, she sensed the water beneath them, a gentle rocking motion, making the sea seem alive. The world seemed bigger to her because of the darkness. It was slightly scary, but more exciting. She wore dark blue deck shoes, white capris, and a red tank top, all of them perfect for a national summer celebration.

  Miles lay next to her. He wore board shorts, a rugby shirt, and he was barefoot.

  Heather wished she were barefoot. She would slowly touch her toes to Miles’s. The sexual chemistry between them trembled like a storm cloud wanting to split open and release its wildness, but with a dozen other people on board, this was definitely not the time or the place.

  The air was hot and humid, so thick that earlier in the day people worried that fog would roll in, covering the sky, postponing the fireworks display as it had in previous years. But the sky remained clear.

  Above them, the fireworks exploded in multicolored spirals and whorls, drawing applause and screams of delight from the crowd on Jetties Beach. Other small boats were in the harbor, too, tied to buoys, some full of people drinking champagne right out of the bottle, some blasting American anthems from their speakers. “The Star-Spangled Banner” rang into the air just as an American flag in fireworks lit up the sky.

  The grand finale was a multitude of pinwheels, spirals, and screaming rockets that silvered the sky and slowly faded. All around them, boats sounded their horns, and on the shore, the crowd yelled with appreciation. The fireworks were over. The crowds began to disperse. Most boats motored back to their slips. The launch arrived to ferry guests back to land.

  Heather and Miles made their way back to the others.

  Julia approached, cocking her head, studying Heather. “Are you Miles’s girlfriend?”

  Heather grinned. “You should ask him.”

  Julia laughed, her hoop earrings swinging. “I’ll take you to lunch at the yacht club. Wednesday at noon. My treat.”

  “That sounds delightful,” Heather said.

  When the other guests were on the launch, Miles helped Heather on, and kept hold of her hand as they were sped over the water.

  “Want to sail away with me and spend the night?” Miles whispered.

  Heather smiled up at him. “Maybe next time.”

  Miles took her hand and helped her step up onto the wharf. “Don’t make me wait until the next Fourth of July.”

  They stood so close that she could feel his warm breath. “I want to kiss you,” Heather whispered. “But not here. Not now.”

  “Sometime soon,” Miles said, his voice low.

  Heather found her car, waved goodbye to the others, and settled in for her drive home. Who was she? she wondered. Who had she become? This woman who spoke her mind without hesitation to the sharp-tongued Julia? This woman who had held Miles’s hand and almost kissed him only a few moments ago?

  “It’s true that I’ve become braver,” Heather said, quite aware that she was talking to herself out loud in her car. “That doesn’t mean I was weaker when I was with Wall, or if I was, it wasn’t his fault.” She considered calling Christine, but it was almost ten o’clock at night, and Christine was probably at a party. Heather could call her tomorrow. Out loud, she said, “I really want to kiss Miles.” An imaginary firework went off in her body.

  At home, she let Sugar out to run around the yard while she sat on the patio drinking ice water. The air was slightly less humid than it had been on the water, slightly cooler. The fragrance of the geraniums she’d potted and put on the corners of the patio drifted through the air. She wondered whether Kailee was pregnant. If she was, what then? Well, that was for Kailee and Ross to decide. For now, Heather was taking things day by day.

  * * *

  —

  When she woke that morning, Kailee was nauseous, but she lay very still until it settled. She would not be sick today. She would be strong. She would make her father’s coffee, and she would prepare breakfast for her father and her mother and herself.

  She had just made the coffee when her father entered the kitchen.

  “Good morning, Dad,” she said, setting his coffee before him at the kitchen table.

  “Good morning, Kailee,” her father said. He had pouches beneath his eyes that hadn’t been there before her mother went to the hospital.

  “Did you check on Mom?” Kailee asked as she buttered the toast.

  “I did. She’s awake, but resting.”

  “Here’s your breakfast.” She set his plate in front of him and sat down to her own breakfast.

  “Kailee, it would help if you stayed here today. You could work on your mother’s emails—and before you say anything, I know you should be working with George, and you will be, but let’s get your mother back on her feet first.”

  Impatience rippled through her, but she knew her father was right. “That’s fine. I’ll stay here today.”

  Her father put his hand over hers. “I know you want to be in the Essex office. I want you to be there. But until the doctor gives your mother the all-clear on her health, we need you to help her.”

  It crushed her to see her father so worried. “Of course, Dad. I understand. I’ll keep watch on her, and when Gravity’s here, I’ll spend some time in Mom’s office.”

  Her father nodded and patted her hand. “Thank you.”

  Kailee stood up. “I’ll take Mom’s breakfast up to her.”

  She set a plate and an orange juice on the tray for her mother. She went up the stairs and knocked lightly before entering the room.

  She spoke quietly. “Good morning, Mom. I have your breakfast.”

  “Thank you, dear.” Evelyn was still snuggled down in her bed, and when she saw her breakfast, she didn’t sit up. “Just leave it here. I think I’ll sleep a little more.”

  Well, that was alarming. Her mother was never one to sleep late. Kailee set the tray on the other side of the king-size bed, smoothing out the duvet. She knew her father was sleeping in the guest room until Evelyn had recovered, but she worried about her mother being alone all night.

  “Can I bring you anything? Would you like me to open your curtains?”

  Evelyn laughed lightly. “You sound like a housemaid from Masterpiece Theatre. No, I’m fine, dear.”

  Kailee wanted to do something helpful. “Have you taken your pills?”

  “Yes. Your father helped me take them this morning.”

  “Oh, good. Well, call if you need anything. Your cell is right there on the bedside table.”

  “Mmm.” Her mother closed her eyes.

  “I’ll be downstairs,” Kailee reminded her. “I’m going to work on your emails and stuff.”

  Her mother opened her eyes. “Kailee, don’t think that work is less important just because it is done in the house.”

  “I understand.”

  As she went back down the stairs, she heard her father’s truck starting and the automatic garage door settling with a clunk. She heard the sounds of a ladder clinking and workers chatting as they prepared to paint the house across the street. In the summers, it seemed that every home on the island was being worked on. The people who lived here for the summer wanted every window shining, every picket fence freshly painted white, every rose blooming whether it was the plant’s blooming season or not. They wanted a dream, and Nantucket often was a dream, but only because people helped to make it that way.

  She went into her mother’s conservatory and began checking emails. The major charity events didn’t take place until late July and August, so that was a relief. Some emails were simply inquiring about her mother’s health, and Kailee answered as she’d been told to, saying that Evelyn was fine, and resting.

  She settled in and studied the trustees and staff of various foundations. To her surprise, several of her high school friends’ parents were on the list, and even one high school friend, who’d gotten a degree from Boston University in biology with a specialization in ecology and conservation, worked for the Linda Loring Nature Foundation. Gwen Parsons. Kailee had never been close friends with Gwen, who seemed to be a grind and an overachiever. Gwen’s parents lived in Madaket, and on weekends, Gwen was always out there, the east end of the island, helping her mother work in her bird sanctuary.

  Kailee sat back in her chair and thought. After a moment, she emailed Gwen and asked if they could meet for lunch someday next week.

  At noon, Kailee went quietly up the stairs to check on her mother. Evelyn was still sleeping, curled on her side, her breakfast untouched. Kailee texted her father to let him know Evelyn was still sleeping, and she went into her room to get her laundry basket.

  And then she lay down on her bed and fell asleep instantly.

  Two hours later, Kailee woke, feeling hot, sweaty, nauseous, and shaky. Maybe she did have the flu. She had to get NyQuil or DayQuil or aspirin. It wasn’t like her to sleep in the day, and she’d never felt this bad except once in her freshman year, when she’d gotten way too drunk and had a daylong pukefest of a hangover.

  She brushed her hair, made a face at herself in her private bathroom mirror, and started to turn away, but nausea overtook her. She leaned toward the toilet and vomited. Afterward, she rinsed her mouth and stood holding on to the sink, panting slightly. A few minutes passed, and she became steadier, easier within herself, the kind of normal she felt after vomiting.

  But she had to get some medicine. She must have caught something. There was always a flu going around.

  She brushed her teeth, put on lip balm, and went down the hall to check on her mother. Evelyn was still sleeping, but she’d changed position and kicked off her duvet. Should she really still be sleeping? Kailee had no experience with heart problems, except those involving men and love.

  She whispered, “Mom, are you okay?”

  Evelyn stirred slightly. “Mmmm. Just tired.”

  “Would you like some sparkling water? Some toast?”

  “No, thank you, dear.”

  Evelyn didn’t move as Kailee went around the bed and lifted the tray of uneaten breakfast food off the bed.

  When Kailee went down to the kitchen, Gravity was there, scouring the sink.

  “Good morning, Kailee,” Gravity said. “How are you? You’ve been looking peaked.”

  Kailee set the tray on the counter. “I’m fine. And Mom is still sleeping. How are you?”

  “I’m good, sweetheart.” Gravity concentrated on scouring a tough spot.

  “I’ve got to run an errand,” Kailee said.

  “Take your time. I’ll call you if we need you.” Gravity assured her.

  Kailee kissed Gravity’s cheek and went out to her Jeep and drove to Dan’s Pharmacy, only a few blocks away. She walked past the mascara and lipstick aisle—one of her favorite places on the island—and headed down the aisle for medicine. She stood studying all the possible choices for all the amazing problems a human being could possibly have, and decided to try the Pepto Bismol, even though the startling pink color made her want to hurl.

  “Hi, Kailee.”

  Kailee jumped a little, surprised to have someone speak to her when she was so deep in her own world.

  It was Heather. Of course it was Heather. Heather had nothing to do except appear magically wherever Kailee was. Heather looked bronzed by the sun, and her shorts and sleeveless top were the turquoise that Kailee considered her color.

  “Oh, hi, Heather. How are you?”

  “I’m fine, thanks. How’s your mother?”

  “She’s okay, I think.” Kailee paused. “Actually, she’s been sleeping all day.”