Driftwood Lane (22 page)

Meridith checked her watch. “We should get the show on the road, kids.”

“Wait, I have to get something.” Noelle sprinted into the house.

“Me too,” Max said.

Ben rubbed Piper behind the ears, and the dog gazed up at him with half-lidded ecstasy. “I wish she could be in the Daffy Dog Parade.”

“Me too, honey,” Meridith said. “When’s the last time you tried to take her from the yard?”

Ben shrugged.

“Why don’t we try again? Maybe she’s outgrown her fear.”

“Okay.” Ben retrieved Piper’s lead from the garage while Meridith removed Piper’s computer collar and walked to the street. Piper stopped at her boundary line.

Ben returned with the lead. “Sit, Piper!” When the dog complied, Ben attached the lead. “Okay, let’s go!” He pulled the leash and started walking, but Piper resisted the tug. “Let’s go, Piper!” Ben tugged again.

Piper didn’t look like she was having fun. Her eyebrows scrunched up, and she wouldn’t look at them.

Meridith squatted at the edge of the street. “Come on, girl!”

“Let’s go for a walk!” Ben said.

Piper squirmed, her tail almost wagging.

“She wants to come,” Meridith said.

Ben tried pulling the dog with his hands. Piper’s front paws dug into the ground, her back legs braced against the forward momentum. It would’ve been amusing if it weren’t so pitiful.

“I don’t think it’s going to work, Ben.”

“Dumb dog.” Ben sighed.

“She’s not dumb, she’s just well trained. The last time she tried to leave she experienced pain, and she doesn’t want to repeat it.” Meridith replaced Piper’s collar. “We’ll work with her later, when we have more time.”

The screen door slammed, and Jake appeared in jeans and a T-shirt. He padded down the steps and appraised the Galaxie. Piper ran to meet him.

“Not bad,” Jake said when they neared.

But when Meridith looked at him, he was staring at her. His eyes still looked sleepy, his hair poking up at odd angles. She ran her hand down the length of her own hair.

Max and Noelle trotted down the porch steps. Noelle climbed into the convertible and hung a gold cross necklace from the rearview mirror.

“Mom’s necklace,” Ben said.

Max climbed in the other side and looped his dad’s ball cap over the mirror. “And Dad’s hat,” he said.

Noelle fingered the cross. “They should get to come too.”

Meridith swallowed around a knot in her throat. Jake was watching the kids with an expression she’d never seen. His tenderheartedness surprised her.

She cleared her throat, blinking against the ache behind her eyes. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

The kids piled into the car while Meridith retrieved her purse and the picnic basket. Jake was watching from the porch as she stowed it in the trunk.

“Can Jake come too?” Max said. “There’s room.”

Meridith was searching for an excuse when Jake jumped in. “Can’t, guys. Haven’t showered yet. I’ll keep my eye out for you in the parade, though.”

By the time they arrived at the car staging area, there were dozens of antique and classic cars in line. Once they had a spot, the children got out and found friends to talk with as they walked around checking out the decorations.

Meridith stayed in the Galaxie, surveying the festivities. Mrs. Goldman had told her Daffodil Weekend was a big deal, but Meridith hadn’t anticipated the huge crowd, or the overwhelming sight of so many daffodils.

When her phone rang, she saw Rita’s name on the screen. “Rita, hello.”

“Good morning, honey!”

Meridith couldn’t help but smile in response to her friend’s sunshiny attitude.

“Are you lined up?”

“Lined up and ready to go.” Meridith watched Ben and Max playing with a friendly black Lab. Noelle chatted with a friend three cars up.

“Do you have plans for the tailgate picnic? I made a ton of food, and we’d love for you and the kids to join us.”

The picnic was held on the lush lawns of Sconset after the parade. “Our basket is in the trunk, but we’d love to join you.”

“Great. Look for our car when you get there, and give me a jingle if you can’t find us. I have to go, the gallery is packed!”

“We’ll see you then.” Meridith said good-bye and hung up. The children would be glad for the company. Especially Noelle, if Rita’s son was present.

She was glad they’d decided to be in the parade. She knew from the books on grief that the festival was a milestone event, and the children were using it to honor their parents. She looked at the cross and cap dangling from the mirror. She also knew the festival could trigger a resurgence of loss, and she was glad they were joining Rita and her family. The distraction could be just what they needed.

A chilly breeze blew through the window, ruffling her hair. She took a deep whiff of the flower-scented air and relaxed into the white leather seat, letting the car glide toward Sconset behind a black antique Ford.

The children had settled in their seats, the excitement of the parade draining away as Nantucket town faded in her rearview mirror.

A For Sale sign in a landscaped yard caught her attention, turning her mind back to the previous evening when she and the Goldmans had sat on the porch sipping hot chocolate after the children turned in. They’d inquired about Summer Place’s future, and Meridith had confided that she was selling.

“We’ve talked over the years about buying a bed-and-breakfast now that I’ve retired,” Mr. Goldman said.

“Summer Place is like a second home to us. Wouldn’t that be great if we could work something out?” Mrs. Goldman said.

They’d talked over an hour, and Meridith was thrilled. If the Goldmans bought it, she wouldn’t have to put the place on the market, wouldn’t have to pay a Realtor fee, and the house would go to familiar people. She thought that might help the children adjust to the idea of moving to St. Louis.

The thought of returning home brought her to Stephen. Though the topic of the children hadn’t resurfaced all week, their conversations had been stilted.

When she answered his calls, a strange sensation welled in the pit of her stomach, a sort of weighted feeling she was eager to be rid of. She needed to clear the air. But every time she considered broaching the subject, she remembered Stephen’s words.
I guess you have a choice to make
.

Maybe he was waiting on her. The real problem then was that there was no choice, no decision. She couldn’t abandon the children. How could she let her siblings go to foster care, possibly separated? Why couldn’t he understand that?

These thoughts had circled her mind all week, always ending in that heavy-weighted feeling and the realization that, regardless of the ring on her finger and the promise it implied, her relationship with Stephen might be over before it had hardly begun.

The car in front of her braked as they entered the town of Sconset, and Meridith pulled to the side of the road behind the long line of cars.

“There’s the Lawsons’ car.” Max pointed across the street.

Rita had seen them pull up and was waving as they exited the car. The kids ran to catch up with the Lawsons, and Meridith retrieved the cooler from the trunk.

She made her way across the street and wove between cars and people, crossing the lawn. The weight of the cooler strained her arms.

Rita’s son, Brandon, was jogging toward her, no doubt on a mission to take her load. But he was still twenty feet away when her foot hit a dip in the ground. Her ankle turned and her leg crumbled under the heavy weight of the cooler.

Jake wandered down the Sconset street. The smell of grilling burgers wafted through the air, tempting him. He scanned the crowd of people and tangle of parked cars and lawn chairs.

The kids had begged him to join them for the picnic, but it presented a challenge. What if someone mentioned his niece and nephews in front of Meridith? What if they mentioned his cycle or the fact that he usually wasn’t back from the mainland in time for the festival? What if they offered their condolences on Eva’s death?

“Hey, Jake! Come join us,” Willow called from a knot of people clustered behind a black ’72 Chevy.

Jake approached the group and shook Wyatt’s hand as his friend stood. “Sweet ride.”

“Wish it were mine,” Wyatt said. “Got plenty of food.” The smell of garlic and something sweet seconded his offer.

“And my cousin from Boston is here.” Willow winked. “She’s dying to meet you.”

Before he could decline, a tall, honey-haired woman appeared. Willow introduced them, and they chatted a moment before the cousin went to help Willow set out the food.

“Pull up a chair,” Wyatt said. “I wasn’t kidding when I said we have plenty.”

“Thanks, but I’m looking for Meridith and the kids. Have you seen them?”

Wyatt gave him a look. “They’re over that way with another family.” He leaned in close. “Dude.” He gestured at Willow’s cousin, who was fighting the wind with a checkered tablecloth.

Jake had already forgotten her name. “Kids are expecting me. I’ll catch you later.”

Wyatt shook his head.

By the time Jake stumbled upon Meridith and the kids, his stomach was rumbling. They were situated in a circle of lawn chairs, a red-and-white cloth spread in the middle. He was relieved when he didn’t recognize the family sitting with them.

“Jake!” Max was the first to spot him.

“Did you see us in the parade?” Ben asked.

“Sure did, little man. It was the best car there.”

“Have you eaten?” Meridith asked.

“No, ma’am.” He noticed Meridith’s foot propped on a cooler, a bag of ice over the ankle. “What happened?”

“Oh, she took a little stumble,” the brunette woman offered.

“You okay?” Jake lifted the Ziploc bag. Her ankle was almost purple. “Ouch.”

“Told you I was clumsy.”

The word took him back to the dance lessons, and he could almost feel Meridith in his arms again.

“Don’t think we’ve met.” A bearded man stood, offering his hand. “I’m Lee Lawson.”

“Jake. I’m working on Summer Place.”

“I’m Rita, a friend of Meridith’s.” She shook his hand, then gave Meridith a peculiar look before introducing her two teenagers. “We’ve already eaten, but we have plenty of leftovers. Let me fix you a plate.”

Lee set up another lawn chair beside Meridith, and Jake discreetly pulled it a few feet away, behind the Lawsons’ car, where he could hide from anyone who might know him. He tugged his ball cap lower for good measure.

By the time Jake sat, Rita was setting a loaded plate in his lap.

“Thanks, appreciate it.”

The turkey club hit the spot, settling his empty stomach. The group talked about the festival and which cars they’d voted for.

“There’s Martin O’Neal,” Lee told his wife. “Haven’t seen him all winter.” He went to talk with his friend.

“Can we walk around?” Noelle asked.

“Yeah, can we?” Ben asked.

Max and the Lawson girl stood.

Meridith scanned the crowd. “Oh, guys, I don’t know. It’s so crowded, and I can’t go with you.” She gestured to her ankle.

“I was about to suggest a walk.” Rita stood. “Jake can keep you company.”

The group was off and walking before Jake could finish chewing his bite of cranberry salad. He watched them go, watched the Lawson boy settle in next to Noelle. She elbowed him, laughing.

Rita took Benny’s hand, and Max stole the hat from the Lawson girl’s head. She chased him a few feet before recapturing it.

“I think they’re going to be okay,” Meridith said. She’d shaded her eyes with her hand, watching them. Despite the ankle that must be throbbing, she looked at peace.

He remembered when the Galaxie had come into sight earlier. He’d been standing in the crowd lining Main Street, catching up with people he hadn’t seen since fall. They’d been near the end of the parade behind a black antique Ford. But once his eyes caught on the Galaxie, everything else faded away.

The kids waved at the crowd, all smiles. Even Meridith’s face was wreathed in joy, obviously enjoying the Nantucket tradition. His breath had felt stuffed into his lungs for just a moment. They looked . . . like a family.

“Don’t you think they’re going to be okay?” Meridith’s question belied her former confidence.

“Kids are more resilient than we give them credit for.”

“What do you know about kids?” Meridith teased.

“Used to be one.” He traded a smile with her. “Pretty cool what you did for them today.”

Meridith took her hand down, looked at Jake. Those green eyes were downright mesmerizing.

“I didn’t do anything.” She shifted the ice pack. “I couldn’t believe it when Noelle and Max brought out those mementos. Pretty smart kids.”

“Pretty smart big sister.” More and more he was coming to see it. If he could only understand why she’d take them from their home. But he didn’t want to think about that today. Would rather think about the way the sunlight made copper sparkles in her hair. Or the way her nose turned up ever so slightly on the end.

“I worry about them, you know?” she said. “It’s tough being a kid.”

“For some. Others are more blessed.”

She cocked her head at him. “Not you?”

He wondered how she knew that.

“You mentioned a foster mother once.”

When they were dancing. He remembered now. “Not me.” He tried not to think about it and mostly succeeded. “I was in foster care most of my childhood—parents died young.”

“Like my siblings’.”

He nodded. Being separated from Eva was the worst. He’d been too young to understand, but old enough to feel responsible, even if he was the younger one. At first they’d seen each other regularly, but busy schedules had gotten in the way, and soon he’d lost track of her.

“I was pretty tough, though,” he said. “Made it through with only a few scars.”

“That I can believe.”

Her smile made him want to stare at her all afternoon. He thought of Willow’s cousin. Her beauty was no rival for Meridith’s pixie chin and guileless eyes.

“I’ll bet you were a handful,” she said.

“Got myself into a few scrapes.”

“I knew it. You were a rule breaker.”

“What do you mean, ‘were’?” He shrugged. “I was good at not getting caught, made the most of it.”