It was time for their lives to begin.
SUSAN AND SCOTT WALKED hand-in-hand the following late morning as they weaved through the thick trees that lined the space between their home and the Sheridan house. Susan felt light as a feather; she hadn’t had even a moment’s headache in the morning, and she’d brewed a pot of coffee and eaten a baked croissant, one of the many that had been dropped at their doorstep that morning from the bistro.
They’d agreed to have brunch at the Sheridan residence with the sisters, Amanda, Audrey, Grandpa Wes, and, of course, Kellan, who’d spent the night at the Sheridan house. As they approached, they heard Kellan and Audrey in the midst of a funny argument about which was better — Cinnamon Toast Crunch or Lucky Charms.
“Obviously, you like Lucky Charms because you’re a teenage boy and you would prefer to take pleasure now than have regret later,” Audrey said as she flipped her hair behind her shoulder. “But Cinnamon Toast Crunch is good with every single bite.”
Kellan rolled his eyes. Susan realized, with a funny jump in her gut, that Kellan and Audrey would probably know one another and be friends with one another for most of their lives. That is, if they both decided to stay on the island. She willed that they would.
“Look at them! The newly married couple!” Christine called from the porch as they approached.
“I can’t believe you left and made us bring all the presents back here,” Lola said as they stepped up. “Do you even know how much you’re loved? You can probably fill that whole house up right now.”
Susan stepped into the living area to assess the damage. It was true: they’d practically had to stuff the Sheridan house full with gifts from other islanders. Scott whistled. “I guess we had better get to work.”
“I’m just about done making brunch,” Amanda said from the kitchen. She snapped several pancakes up into the air and then watched them ease back into the skillet.
“Hard at work, I see,” Susan said as she headed over to give her daughter a hug.
“Not all of us can take a break,” Amanda said as she gave her mother a huge brilliant smile. “But I’m glad you’re taking a week off of work. Me and Bruce can hold down the fort.”
“I know you can,” Susan said.
Grandpa Wes appeared after that. He wore a pair of binoculars around his neck and reported that he and Kellan had seen a number of summer-only species only that morning. “It’s in full swing, now,” he said. “Only good days ahead. Right, Kel?”
“Right,” Kellan affirmed. He took several plates from the cabinet and headed out toward the picnic table to set it.
Scott squeezed Susan’s hand and whispered, “I’ve never seen him set the table before. I wonder if he’ll get it right?”
“We showed him how a week ago,” Amanda announced. “The kid didn’t know what he got himself into, falling into a family of mostly women. But we’ll make him into a man every woman dreams of— the kind who can cook, clean, set the table and change a diaper.”
“Kellan can change a diaper?” Scott asked.
“Sure can,” Audrey said as she entered with Baby Max. “And he’s good at it. Better than Zach, even.”
Scott raised his eyebrows, clearly impressed. Susan laughed. “I don’t mean to corrupt your son with all this household stuff.”
“No. It’s a good thing,” Scott said thoughtfully. “The Sheridan women are teaching him the way, just like they taught me when I was a teenager. Time has a way of repeating itself, doesn’t it?”
A memory flashed through Susan’s mind—one of Anna Sheridan pressing similar plates into Scott’s hands and instructing him to set the table. It seemed like something she would have done.
The family gathered around the table, just as they always had and just as they always would. Susan spoke excitedly about the inside of the Jacobson house and insisted that soon, they would all have a BBQ there to celebrate the “beginning of a new chapter.” Audrey laughed and said, “Isn’t a wedding supposed to be the celebration of a new chapter?” At this, Christine just shrugged and said, “The Sheridans always find new and creative ways to celebrate. You should know that by now.”
The gifts were thoughtful and beautiful — a six-piece toaster, a donut-maker, new, dense towels from Paris, new robes, countless pots and pans, artwork from a local painter who’d met Susan the previous year and been “taken” with her, and so much more. There were so many that they soon recruited both Kellan and Audrey to tear open the packages.
Toward the bottom of the pile, Susan found a single card. All it read was: SUSAN, in beautiful calligraphy.
When she opened it, she found a note.
Susan,
I wasn’t able to make it to your wedding because I’ve headed out into the world. (I hope you’re reading this — that my brother managed to make the drop-off. Crossing my fingers for it, in fact.)
Probably by now, I’ll be south, by a very different ocean, feeling the same sun. I’m putting the past behind me, once and for all and it’s all thanks to you. I can’t even begin to translate my thanks. My feelings around all of this are occasionally so monstrous, so difficult to decipher. I’ve turned to Rilke for some semblance of understanding.
Like this quote:
“Let everything happen to you. Beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final.”
I say that to myself, over and over again. I have to believe that it’s true.
I wish you endless love in your marriage. I know you deserve it. Just as we all deserve love and happiness. I’m on a quest for a new version of all of that. You’ve given me hope that it’s possible.
All my love,
Marcie Shean
Susan pressed the letter against her chest and closed her eyes. A sharp breeze swept up from the churning waves of the Vineyard Sound; it cradled her cheek. It seemed some kind of blessing from afar. She knew, then, that Marcie would be okay. Maybe they all would be.
Coming Next in the Vineyard Sunset Series
Other Books by Katie
The Vineyard Sunset Series
Secrets of Mackinac Island Series
Sisters of Edgartown Series
A Katama Bay Series
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A Vineyard Wedding Page 15
