Now she stood outside Nantucket Blues, locking the door, when her thoughts made her stop and look at her window. A silver and turquoise necklace lay against a blue silk shawl. A suncatcher made of spangling blue stars and planets dangled over a pillow silk-screened with blue waves.

  What was wrong with her? She was upset because people kept coming into her shop?

  Of course she had hard days and difficulties, but who didn’t? She had created this blue world, and it was surprisingly successful. Most businesses took three years before making a profit. She was already turning a profit, and she hadn’t even had time to devote to her online shop. She loved her family, and in a different way, she loved Paul, but right now, for better or worse, she loved this eccentric little shop, and she wasn’t ready to give it up for anything.

  Barrett caught her reflection in the shop window and had to laugh. She looked like a short, slender, bad-tempered bluebird.

  “You should be ashamed of yourself,” Barrett told her window-self. Poor Dove was dying, and Bobby was about to lose his mommy, and here she was grumbling around because she was tired. She tested the door to be certain she’d locked it, and started walking to her car.

  Her phone buzzed. Automatically, she said, “Nantucket Blues.”

  “Hi, is this Barrett Grant? I’m Olivia Jayce, a contributor to the magazine Cape Cod Life. I’ve heard so much about the shop and I’d love to do a feature about it for our next issue.”

  Really? Barrett refrained from squealing like a little girl. In the most professional and friendly tone she could summon, she said, “That’s great.”

  “It won’t come out until October,” Olivia said, “but Nantucket seems almost as busy in the shoulder seasons, and this should bring you some business.”

  Barrett sat right down on a bench overlooking the boat basin. “That’s wonderful. What do I need to do?”

  “Let me interview you,” Olivia said. “I’ll take a few good photos, too. Would next Monday work for you?”

  “Absolutely,” Barrett said.

  They talked some more, then ended the call, and Barrett still sat on the bench, gazing out at the harbor. White sails against blue water. Puffy white clouds floating in a pastel blue sky. A pretty young woman leaving Peter England’s clothing shop in a blue and white striped dress.

  The thing was, Barrett thought, how amazing the timing had been with that phone call. As if the universe itself was encouraging her, supporting her. She was going to be interviewed! A photo of her shop would be in a magazine! She couldn’t wait to tell everyone, and she hoped that Dinah would be so excited she’d treat them all with another bottle of expensive champagne.

  * * *

  —

  Eddie was going crazy waiting for Barrett to come home, and finally, at nine-fifteen, she saw the headlights of Barrett’s Jeep flash across the drive.

  Eddie raced out to meet her sister.

  Barrett stepped out of the car. “I have so much to tell you!”

  Eddie squealed, “I have so much to show you!” Taking Barrett’s hand, she led her toward the back of the house.

  “Are you nuts?” Barrett asked.

  “Sssh,” Eddie whispered.

  “Where is Dove? Where is Bobby?”

  “They’re in bed. Duh. It’s after nine. Now, you and I are going to calmly walk up the steps of the back porch.”

  Barrett followed Eddie around to the back porch.

  In the gentle light of the moon and the bolder porch light, their father and Dinah were sitting side by side on the wicker porch swing. They were holding hands.

  “Get out of town,” Barrett said.

  “I know, right?” Eddie agreed.

  “Girls,” their father called. “We can hear you.”

  “Come join us,” Dinah said.

  Eddie and Barrett went up the steps and settled in the white wicker chairs across from William and Dinah. Duke, lying near the door, thumped his tail in greeting.

  “You two are holding hands,” Eddie commented, as if reporting the weather.

  Their father smiled. It had been years since they’d seen their father smile like that.

  “We’re making plans,” their father said.

  Dinah fluffed her hair and scooted closer to their father. “I hope this doesn’t upset you, Eddie, but I’ve bought a house.”

  Eddie was speechless.

  “Where have you bought a house?” Barrett asked.

  “On the cliff,” Dinah told her.

  Barrett almost fell off her chair. “On a Nantucket cliff?”

  Dinah laughed. “Yes, darling. I’ve become very fond of this island, and also very fond of Bill.”

  “Bill?” Eddie echoed.

  “William. Your father. I like to think of him as Bill.”

  “No one ever calls our father Bill,” Barrett declared.

  “I know,” Dinah purred. “That makes the name special to me. To us.”

  “You and Dad are an us?” Eddie asked.

  William, aka Bill, spoke up. “Dinah and I have become very close. We’ve decided to work on a book together.”

  Dinah leaned against him. “Yes, a book about romance.”

  Their father explained. “Dinah is talking about romance. That doesn’t mean we’re not also talking about love.”

  “And I’ve rather fallen in love with Nantucket,” Dinah declared. “I’ve bought a house. My next few books will be a series of historical novels. I’m doing research at the Nantucket Historical Association, and I’ve already composed a timeline. Also, I’ll be working with Bill on our book.”

  Eddie clutched the arm of her chair. “What about New York?”

  “I’ll keep the apartment. We’ll probably go there occasionally to see the theater and so on.”

  “By we, you mean Dad, right?” Eddie clarified.

  “Yes,” Dinah replied sweetly. “Although you can use the apartment whenever you want to have a little city time. As for Nantucket, I’ve started the paperwork for the house. Eddie, you can live with me, or you can remain here with your family.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Eddie looked to her sister for help.

  “I’m stunned,” Barrett said. “Does that mean Dad will be living here sometimes?”

  “Yes,” their father said. “But this house is your house, and Eddie’s house, and eventually, Bobby’s house, and of course, Dove is invited to stay here as long as she wants.”

  “Have you spoken with Dove about this?” Eddie asked.

  “Not yet. I know things are complicated for her.”

  “More than complicated, Dad. She’s dying. She’s asked us to adopt Bobby—”

  William interrupted. “By us, who do you mean?”

  “So many us-es,” Dinah interjected lightly.

  Eddie began, “She means me and Jeff, because Jeff and I are getting married.”

  Dinah clapped her hands. “How wonderful, Eddie! I’m so happy for you. And hasn’t it worked out well that I’ll be here on the island, if you still want to work part-time for me.”

  Barrett held out her hands in a pause gesture. “You guys. This is a lot. And I haven’t been able to talk with Dove about the future.”

  Eddie turned to Barrett. “We’re not leaving you out, Bare. We want you to be with us, to help figure things out, but we know you need to be in your shop. Like yesterday was the first time Dove and I have gotten down to the real stuff, and we did that at Miacomet, and you couldn’t come because of your shop. I’m not complaining, just stating facts.”

  “I get it,” Barrett said. “I know it’s difficult for us to get together. I’m always working, and now Janny has quit because I dumped Drew. I mean, I did it nicely, and things weren’t serious between us anyway.”

  Dinah leaned forward, which gave everyone a lovely view of the pillowy tops of her breasts. “I think you are very serious about your shop, Barrett. Am I correct?”

  Do they thinking I’ve been playing? Barrett wondered. She said, “You’re right. I’m very serious about my shop. I don’t have all the figures yet, and the summer isn’t over, but I’m making an extremely healthy profit. And…” She paused dramatically. “Cape Cod Life magazine is going to do a feature article on me.”

  Eddie, William, and Dinah burst into such loud congratulations that Duke jumped up and ran around in a circle, barking. Duchess galloped up to the fence, whinnied, and raced away.

  When everyone settled down, Eddie asked, “When is the interview?”

  “Monday. Olivia Jayce is coming over from the Cape.”

  “What are you going to wear?” Dinah asked.

  Barrett laughed. “I haven’t even thought about that. I don’t even know if I should keep the shop open when she’s here. I won’t want to lose customers, but I’ll want to concentrate on the interview…”

  William spoke up. “I have an idea. Allow me to hang out with you in your shop for a few days, and when you think I’m capable enough, you could take a few hours off here and there for whatever you need to do, and I could be in charge of Nantucket Blues.”

  Barrett was overwhelmed. “That would be awesome, Dad.” Also, terrifying, she said to herself, but silently.

  “Good. Good.” William puffed out his chest and stood, ready to take on the world. “I think I’ll watch the news now.”

  Dinah rose with him. “I’ll go with you.”

  When Eddie and Barrett were alone, Barret whispered, “Do you think Dad can do it? Can I trust him to run my shop?”

  “I’m sure he can,” Eddie told her. After a moment, she added, “It makes me realize what enormous faith Dove must have in our Grant family to entrust Bobby to us.”

  “We’re his family,” Barrett said. “He belongs to us.”

  twenty

  Barrett woke early, before her alarm sounded. Reaching out, she clicked it off. She didn’t want to wake Bobby and Eddie, who were sleeping in the bed next to Barrett’s. Eddie’s arm was around the little boy, who was curled up against her.

  She chose some clothes and slipped out to the bathroom. When she was dressed, she went down the hall to Dove’s room and listened at the door. She thought she heard music. She opened the door and peeked in.

  “Come in,” Dove said.

  “I don’t want to disturb you.” Barrett spoke quietly and went to sit on Dove’s bed. She took Dove’s bony hand in hers. “How are you?”

  Dove took a deep breath. “Actually, I’m not good. I feel…really bad.”

  “What can I do?” Barrett asked.

  “Just don’t let Bobby see me this way. I don’t want him to see me all swollen and pathetic.”

  “Oh, Dove!”

  Dove clutched both of Barrett’s hands. “It’s okay. It’s all okay. Eddie will be Bobby’s mom and you’ll be Bobby’s amazing aunt Barrett. Plus, you have your own baby—Nantucket Blues. You’ve said you want to run it for years, maybe forever. Bobby can work for you someday.”

  Dove coughed. She struggled to sit up against her pillows, coughing, holding tissues to her mouth.

  Barrett fought to hold back tears.

  Dove gasped, “I think I’m going to have to go to the hospital soon.”

  Barrett hugged Dove, hoping she wasn’t hurting her. “Oh, Dove, I wish you were okay.”

  Dove slumped against Barrett, her emaciated body astonishingly heavy. “Barrett, I have to rest now.”

  “I love you,” Barrett whispered, trying not to cry.

  “Love you, too,” Dove responded, her eyes closed, sagging against the pillows.

  “Do you want me to get someone? Eddie or Dad?”

  Dove shook her head. “I have to rest.”

  * * *

  —

  Eddie roamed the kitchen. She’d heard Barrett drive away to open her shop. She’d checked on Dove, who was sleeping soundly. She’d given Bobby a bowl of cereal with a banana cut up in it. He was on the back porch, building towers with the colorful Legos, so she poured herself another cup of coffee and went outside to enjoy the coolness of morning. Duke was lying on his back in the shade of the wicker swing.

  For a while, she simply sat, listening to the slight sweet tune Bobby was humming as he clicked the plastic blocks together. Duke snored. Duchess was at the far end of the field, her tail flicking at flies.

  Eddie looked at her ring. It was as sparkling as the evening star. Soon she would start a new life, as Jeff’s wife and Bobby’s mother.

  Before that, she had to tell Dinah she wasn’t going to work for her anymore.

  As if summoned by Eddie’s thoughts, Dinah came out of the kitchen, a glass of iced coffee in her hand.

  “Good morning, everyone!”

  For a few minutes, Dinah sat on the floor and played Legos with Bobby. Then she rose and sat next to Eddie.

  “Could we talk for a moment?” Dinah asked. “We haven’t had a private conversation for days.”

  “Of course.” Eddie wanted to act cool and slightly insulted, but instead she was achingly happy that Dinah was here.

  “A lot has happened in the last few days. I’m taking Bill to view my new house today. I’d like to take you sometime.”

  “I’d like that. I think my father is happier than he’s ever been.” Eddie picked up a porch pillow and ran her fingers over the piping. She couldn’t look at Dinah as she asked, “But what about you, Dinah? Do you really love my father?”

  “Oh, yes. Please believe me.” Dinah smiled contentedly. “He makes me feel safe. He makes me feel beautiful, even without my makeup. I love him truly, Eddie.”

  Before Eddie could respond, Dinah continued. “I know this is a huge change for you. I’m praying that you and I can still be friends.”

  Eddie swallowed her pride. “But I won’t be your assistant anymore?”

  “Oh, sweetheart, what a dear question. You are the best assistant I’ve ever had. I’ll never forget your enormous kindness in inviting me to live here when I was afraid of the stalker. I’d love to keep you on part-time, for social media. Bill will take over my calendar, bookkeeping, and tax files. He’s very capable with that sort of thing.”

  “He is?” Eddie asked. “That’s the most shocking thing I’ve heard today.”

  “But what will you do, Eddie?”

  Eddie felt herself blush. “Jeff and I will get married, but before then, Jeff and I must get his house ready for Bobby and me to move into. We’re hoping to do that soon. Elementary school starts September sixth. Jeff and I have been talking with the school and a lawyer who will help us through the complications of adopting Bobby. It’s going to be fairly streamlined since Dove has spoken to the lawyer and signed papers. Bobby seems happy to be with us. Jeff is working day and night to get his house in livable shape.”

  “May I see the ring?” Dinah asked sweetly.

  Eddie held out her hand.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  “We’ll have a wedding with all the trimmings, but we might need to get married in the courthouse first, so we can have Bobby live with us.”

  A tower of Legos collapsed on the floor with a crackling sound.

  Bobby looked up. “Auntie Eddie, I want to go swimming. Can we go to the beach now?”

  “Sure, Bobby. Let’s go put our bathing suits on.” She knew Dinah wouldn’t want to join them, but Eddie asked, “Want to come with us, Dinah?”

  “I’d love to,” she said. “Let me put on a swimsuit and find my sunblock.”

  Eddie picked Bobby up and hugged him tight, kissing him all over until he giggled. She was so surprised and really thrilled that Dinah was going with them. She had to put her happiness somewhere, and as she held Dove’s little boy, Eddie thought maybe that was what children were for.

  twenty-one

  Barrett sat in her car, sobbing into a soggy Kleenex. This was the one place she could be alone. The one place she could keep other people out. All she had to do was lock the doors.

  Paul rapped on the window. “Barrett. Let me in.”

  He was the only person she wanted to be with, so she unlocked the door. Paul climbed into the passenger seat.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “No. I’m not okay at all. Dove is dying and Eddie is going to marry Jeff and they’re adopting Bobby and moving into the house Jeff built and Dinah is going to be Dad’s girlfriend and live in a big house on the cliff and I’m going to be left all alone with a dog and a horse.”

  Paul reached over to pull her into his arms. “You’ve got your shop.”

  “I know, you’re right, so why isn’t that enough?” Barrett couldn’t look at him, not now while her eyes were red and her nose was running and she felt like a human volcano.

  “Maybe you need me,” Paul said.

  She was so surprised, she stopped crying. Stopped breathing even, for a few seconds.

  She lifted her face to his. “What?”

  Paul gently smoothed her tear-wet hair back from her cheeks. “Barrett, listen. I know this is the wrong time to say it, but maybe it’s actually the right time. Barrett, I love you. I want to marry you. I don’t have a house yet, but I want to live on the island with you, even if we live in a…a rented apartment in the attic of an un-air-conditioned house in August.”

  “Oh, Paul.” Barrett laughed and cried at the same time. “That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”