The Summer of Good Intentions (37 page)

“Me too,” she said. “Me too,” she repeated, savoring the words like a sweet liqueur.

The next morning, Virgie called a
family conference, texting her sisters to meet her in the hotel restaurant by 8:30. She couldn't postpone her announcement any longer, and she was bursting to tell. She'd shared her plans with Jackson late last night, and now she needed to get the go-ahead from the rest of the family.

As soon as she stepped into the dining room, she spied Gloria sitting at a table across the room, reading the paper. Virgie went to grab herself coffee and said a quick hello to her sisters, who were already waiting in the omelet line.

“Mom, I've got something to tell you,” Virgie said, pulling up a chair. Gloria lifted her eyes from the paper.

“Good morning, dear. Are you feeling okay? Yesterday was a pretty dramatic affair, although I think your dad would have loved it.” Before her mother could continue, Virgie interrupted. She'd already decided it was best to cut to the chase.

“Mom, I don't want you to freak out, but remember the doctor's appointment I had in Boston?”

Gloria's eyebrows peaked into tight little arches. “Yes? I thought it went fine. No news? Isn't that what Maggie told me?”

Virgie wondered if she looked as guilty as she felt. She'd asked Maggie to lie when Gloria called the night after the appointment. It wasn't so much a lie, she told herself, as it was an omission of the truth. She simply didn't have the strength to weather Gloria's reaction, whatever it might be, to the news that she was only beginning to digest herself.

“Well,” Virgie began, searching for words. “Part of it was okay, but the other part, well, they do seem to think it's MS.” She was surprised by how easily the acronym slipped off her tongue. She took her mother's hand while Gloria gathered a sharp intake of breath.

“What?” she asked, pulling away her hand and covering her throat, her ringed fingers trembling. “But, I thought you were fine. I thought all the tests were negative.”

Virgie sighed. “That's what I'd hoped. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I needed some time myself to get my head around the news. And with Dad's death and then the house . . .” She stopped. “Well, it just never seemed like a good time to give you even more bad news.” While she'd been bracing herself for Gloria's reaction, Virgie realized now that it no longer mattered so much to her. Her sisters had already offered to help however they could, and there was Jackson.
Jackson, Jackson, Jackson
. It was funny—when she'd thought of his name back in Seattle it had been with a shiver of excitement; now the thought of
Jackson
was like a Zen mantra she recited to calm herself. Whether her mom wanted to help or not made little difference in the scheme of things. Virgie was not alone in this.

She watched while her mom worked to rearrange her face into an expression Virgie couldn't immediately identify. “Oh, honey,” Gloria said finally and pulled her into a hug. “Oh, my sweet, sweet girl. We'll get through it. Don't you worry. Everything is going to be just fine.”

And Virgie felt yet another small piece of her protective armor slipping away. Because whether or not she cared to admit it, weren't those the very words she'd been waiting to hear? She recognized now the expression on her mother's face, one she hadn't glimpsed in a long while: maternal love. She'd almost forgotten. Just then, her sisters joined them at the table, setting down oversize omelets.

“Everything okay?” Maggie pulled out a chair and sat.

“Yes,” said Virgie. “Everything's fine. I just told Mom the news.”

“Oh?” Jess arched an eyebrow.

“Yes, she did.” Gloria patted her hand. “We're going to take good care of her, aren't we, girls?”

“Of course we are,” said Maggie.

Virgie sipped her coffee. “That sort of brings me to the other topic I wanted to discuss.” She took a breath, then launched in. “I'm thinking of staying.”

“Oh, honey,” Gloria said, waving a hand in the air. “That won't be necessary. We can take care of things with Arthur's house. You don't need to worry about that.”

“No, as in sticking around. I want to move here and”—she paused again—“and live in Daddy's house.” She waited. “If that's all right with all of you, of course.”

“What?” Maggie asked, her voice catching in her throat. “Really? You're going to come back this way? For good?”

“But what about your job? About Jackson?” Jess, ever the practical one, pressed.

Virgie had been thinking about it all week. “I'm tired of all the stress. I've been wanting to leave the station for a while,” she explained. “I e-mailed my old boss at the
Portland-Press Herald
. He wants me to come in and start on a few pieces. Hopefully, it will turn into something full-time. I've got a little savings. I shouldn't have to worry about money for a while.” She paused. “I haven't told my boss yet. I wanted to hear what you all thought first.”

Maggie jumped up and leaned in to hug her. “That is the most fabulous news! And here you had me thinking it was something awful.”

“I'm sorry,” Virgie continued. “But the past few weeks have made me realize how much I miss you all. And with MS, well, who knows, but I could probably use a little help down the line. I don't want to be alone. I don't think I can do it alone,” she admitted, her voice quiet.

“Finally,” Jess said. When Virgie shot her a questioning look, she explained, “I'm just glad you realize you're not alone in this. That's what we've been trying to tell you since you were a little girl.” Virgie smiled, suddenly grateful.

“And Jackson?” her mother asked again.

“I'm going to fly back to Seattle with him. I need to arrange for movers anyway.” She hesitated, not quite sure she believed the words she was about to utter herself. “And Jackson . . . we're going to try things long-distance for a few months while I get settled out here. But”—she glanced around the table—“he says he's always wanted to come back East. He graduated from Dartmouth, so, maybe . . .” She shrugged. “Who knows, maybe he'll move out this way, too.”

“Well, there's certainly plenty of room in that house!” Gloria clapped her hands together. She sighed. “Just think: I'll have all my girls in one place again.”

“So?” Virgie's gaze traveled around the table. “It's okay with everyone if we don't sell the house? At least not right now?” It was remarkable to be asking such a thing, given the state they'd found the place in. But it was her home, where they'd grown up, filled with memories. How could she let that go? Arthur had left the house to the girls to dispense with as they pleased, the proceeds to be divided evenly. Virgie understood she was asking her sisters to forgo a possible financial windfall.

Jess leaned back in her chair and nodded, grinning. Maggie rested her elbows on the table and looked at Virgie dreamily. “It's perfect. It's what Dad would have wanted. I'm sure of it.”

“Then it's decided!” Gloria exclaimed.

“What's decided?” asked Jackson, who sidled up next to Virgie and set down a bowl of cereal. His dark hair was tousled, his eyes still sleepy. Virgie grinned at him. She couldn't help it. She couldn't stop.

Jess draped her wet towel over the shower rod. As chaotic and crazy and sad as this week had been, it had been a little bit of a break not to have to put dinner on the table or do the laundry or pick up someone else's towel. But she was missing her kids. She was missing Tim.

She packed her brush and toothbrush into the zipper compartment of her suitcase. Checkout time was in fifteen minutes. Tomorrow, Virgie would fly to Seattle with Jackson, but once she had movers set up, she'd be back this way.
Home!
The thought of Virgie—and possibly Jackson—living in Arthur's house made Jess smile. She knew Arthur would approve. And now Grace and Teddy would be able to see their younger aunt. They could visit the house in Maine. Perhaps there would be a wedding! All those memories that Jess had been sad to think the kids would miss out on could become a reality. Walks along the rocky Maine coastline, succulent lobster pulled fresh from the ocean, blueberry picking by the bushel.

She closed her suitcase and zipped it up, set her purse beside it on the bed. She surveyed the room one last time to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything. But aside from a few dirty towels and a missing handful of travel-size lotions that she'd heisted for the kids, the room appeared ready for the next guest. A text popped up on her cell, which lay on the bed, and she grabbed it. A picture of Grace and Teddy playing at the park this morning. They looked so happy.
Can't wait to see you!
Tim had typed underneath.

I love you guys,
she texted back.
See you this afternoon.

Jess checked her pocket for her room key and rolled her suitcase behind her as she closed the door. They'd all agreed to meet in the lobby to say their good-byes. When she stepped off the elevator, Gloria was already seated in a leather couch in the main gathering area. Virgie and Jackson sat across from her, engaged in conversation. Jess walked over to them.

“Jessica,” her mother said, “I was just telling Virginia and Jackson that I might fly out to help with Virginia's move. It seems a shame for her to fly back here before she's even had a chance to show me around Seattle.”

“Wow, Mom. That's great.” Jess didn't add that Virgie had invited Gloria to visit her about a million times in the last few years, and each time, Gloria had offered a convenient excuse for why she couldn't travel. Now she and Virgie exchanged looks as if to say,
See, all it took was your leaving Seattle to get Mom to finally fly there.
“Well, I, for one, can't wait to have you back on this coast,” Jess said. “When do you think you'll be able to head this way?”

Virgie glanced at Jackson. “Probably in a few weeks? I'll be driving out with the movers.” He nodded and wove his fingers into hers.

“I'm hoping I can join her sooner rather than later,” he added. “I've already started dusting off my résumé.”

“Did I mention I like this guy?” Jess smiled and headed over to the checkout line.

Just then, Maggie entered the lobby pulling a wheelie suitcase behind her. “Hi, gang.” She waved and pushed her sunglasses up on her head. Long blond waves framed her face. She wore a pink sundress and wedge espadrilles. Even after a funeral and a week's worth of housecleaning, Maggie still looked gorgeous. She pulled up next to Jess in line.

“Damn you,” Jess whispered. “Seriously, don't you
ever
look tired?”

Maggie smiled and batted her eyelashes. “You should see how many gallons of concealer I have on these bags.”

“Next?” The concierge motioned them up to the desk. “I hope you enjoyed your stay,” she said pleasantly as she took Jess's room key, then Maggie's.

“We did,” said Jess. “Thank you.” After they'd paid and Maggie took a package from the concierge, the sisters went to join the rest of the family in the lounging area.

“Well, it looks like this is it.” Maggie's voice cracked, and Jess suddenly noticed the tears streaking her sister's face. Maggie pulled a tissue from her purse and dabbed her eyes. “I'm sorry I'm such a softie. I've always hated good-byes.”

“Oh, Mags.” Virgie bounced up. “I'll see you really soon, okay? I love you.” And before she knew it, everyone was embracing and saying their good-byes.

Jess caught Jackson standing off to one side, his hands stuffed in his pockets, looking slightly at sea. “Don't worry. We almost never do this,” she reassured him across the group hug, and he laughed.

“Okay,” he said. “Good. I think.”

After a few more minutes, the family disentangled themselves. Virgie and Jackson were staying an extra night, and Maggie teased that Jackson better look after their sister or he'd have Maggie to answer to. Gloria would drive back to Boston after visiting some friends in town. “Till tomorrow, then,” Maggie said. It was an old saying, one she always liked to offer at the end of their holiday gatherings, precisely because she hated saying good-bye. Somehow it made the leaving seem easier. Maggie flipped her sunglasses back down on her face.

“Give those precious grandchildren kisses for me,” Gloria ordered.

“We will, Mom,” Jess said as she fell in step behind Maggie. They headed for the revolving doors, and Jess gave a little wave over her shoulder.

“See you soon!” called Virgie.

Jess couldn't recall the last time Virgie had looked so happy. Nor could she recall the last time all the sisters had been together outside of the beach house. Odd how Arthur's passing had precipitated everything. What a long summer it had been! And yet, what strides everyone had made. She thought secretly that Arthur was looking down on them, gratified to see that the mess of his life had become the very catalyst to bring them together again, to cast clarity on their own jumbled lives. It would be good to have Virgie closer to home. And in a strange turn of events, thought Jess, in losing Arthur, they'd gotten Gloria back. However loosely, their mother was knitted into their lives again.