Summer's End (Evening Island Book 2)

by Olivia Miles

  By the time she entered the kitchen, she dared to hope that today would be a fresh start. The entire day stretched ahead without obligation, or even the threat of a text or phone call, unless she happened to hit cell coverage, and maybe she wouldn’t bother to try. Maybe, when she went out, she would leave her phone back at the house. Fully embrace this vacation for the escape that it was.

  Try not to think about the way she and Bran had left things, even if she’d gone to bed last night unsettled about more than her argument with Andrea, who hadn’t shown her face again for the rest of the evening.

  The coffee had already been brewed when she went into the kitchen, likely by Heather who was thoughtful like that, but possibly by Andrea, who was keen to stress that she always liked an early start. Kim braced herself for who might be awake right now, but her sisters were nowhere in sight. The fruit that she’d purchased at the Main Street Market yesterday looked a little lean, she noticed. Her money was on Andrea, then, who was more in control of her diet than Kim, and Kim was the one who had to fit into that wedding dress (she could only imagine what Lynette would say if she gained an ounce and something had to be altered). Yes, probably Andrea. She barely slept. Her hours were long, yet she still managed to get to the gym at least once a day.

  Kim was surprised, then, to find that it was Heather who was sitting in one of the wicker chairs on the front porch, sipping a coffee, and staring out onto the water. She looked startled to see Kim and quickly smiled when she saw her.

  Kim thought she detected some redness in her sister’s eyes, but Heather didn’t seem to want to focus on that.

  No doubt she was thinking about their mother. There was no avoiding that sentiment here in the house she had loved so much. It had almost been as startling to enter this empty house yesterday as it had been in Grosse Pointe. But the distraction of her father’s big announcement had kept her mind on other matters.

  She couldn’t exactly feel grateful for that.

  “You’re up early,” Kim said, dropping onto another chair—her favorite, which Heather had been considerate enough to leave for her. She noticed little things like that, always had. Their mother used to always say that Heather would make a wonderful mother one day, and it was true. She enjoyed small domestic tasks, taking pride in everything from making her bed to baking. She’d even managed to make a career of it, describing the details of her home renovation, her recipe for a perfect birthday cake, or tips on starting a vegetable garden, even in the city. Kim now realized with a wave of guilt that she had been so busy reading wedding magazines lately that she hadn’t read one of Heather’s articles in months. “Is Andrea awake yet?”

  Heather nodded, then gave Kim a little smile. “She’s already taken a run. Lapped the island, I think.”

  “You’re kidding me.” The island was eight miles around, and it wasn’t even nine in the morning yet. Kim’s jaw slacked, but then she and Heather started to laugh. It felt good to share a laugh like this with her sister. It reminded her that too much time had passed since they’d last done it.

  She sipped her coffee and admired the view. “She’s certainly a shining example of a successful woman.”

  “Oh, now, don’t sell yourself short. As I recall, you have a wedding around the corner and a new job lined up too.”

  Kim felt her lips thin. She was no longer certain that one of those things would happen. If she was being completely honest with herself, some days, she wasn’t sure which one it would be.

  She glanced over at Heather, knowing that she could tell her about Lynette’s reaction to starting a career, but there was a strange, sad look in Heather’s eyes as she looked out over the water, and so Kim decided to let it wait. Besides, she didn’t want to taint her first morning on the island thinking about Lynette or the job or the honeymoon or any of it.

  The first morning on the island was how the tone was set. Today was a fresh start.

  “Where’s Andrea now?” she asked, thinking of how they’d left things last night. When she didn’t come back downstairs for dinner, Heather had made them both grilled cheese sandwiches with sliced tomatoes—somehow managing to turn their small list of provisions into a delicious and comforting meal which they’d eaten in silence, sharing a bottle of wine on the porch and admiring the sunset before turning into bed. They didn’t talk about the tension—or about the fact that Andrea hadn’t joined them. Or that it was a little strange being all together like this, and that something had shifted in their relationship over the past year.

  Heather was no doubt thinking of that too because she gave Kim a conspiratorial grin and said, “Don’t worry. She was in a better mood after her run. It gets her endorphins going.”

  That was a relief. “Maybe she burned off some of that stress.” Andrea was always stressed, and always declaring it too. But then, Andrea did have a big job. Something that Kim couldn’t understand. And possibly never would.

  “Or maybe she found some cell coverage,” Heather said simply, and they both erupted into a fit of giggles again.

  “What’s so funny?” It was Andrea, coming up from behind them on the porch, looking perfectly put together in her navy linen pants and a white cotton tee, her auburn hair held back in a low ponytail.

  “How was your run?” Kim asked, dodging the question.

  Andrea’s smile came easier now. “Good. I love getting up before the tourists. It makes me feel like I have the entire island to myself. I almost forgot how beautiful it was. The water on one side, the woods and homes on the other.”

  “I didn’t,” Kim sighed. “But it still manages to impress me each time I visit.”

  She fell silent for a moment, thinking of how much she wished her mother could be here. How much she wished that she could tell someone—anyone—about her father’s big news. But telling her sisters would just upset them, and seeing how quick to snap Andrea had been last night, Kim wasn’t looking forward to being the messenger.

  Besides, it was the first morning on the island. She wasn’t going to spoil it by even thinking about this woman who, with any luck, might be out of the picture by the time her wedding came around.

  If it came around.

  She pushed that thought aside, but she couldn’t completely shake it. Ever since her dad had told her about his girlfriend, all she could think was that if she called off the wedding, she wouldn’t have to meet the woman who would hopefully be gone by the holidays. Her sisters would never have to find out. And everything could just continue, same as it had always been.

  Oh, who was she kidding? Nothing would ever be the same again. Even here, in their happy place. Her conversations with even Heather were stilted, Andrea was practically developing lockjaw, and her eyes kept flicking to the cell phone she clutched in one hand, and Kim…Kim wouldn’t stop thinking of everything going on across the water, even though that’s exactly what she had come here to do.

  She stirred at the sound of someone whistling an unrecognizable tune and looked over to see a man—a good-looking one at that—crossing the stretch of lawn to their house.

  “You must be the famous Taylor trio!” He grinned broadly as he approached the base of the steps. All three sisters had now stopped to give him their full attention. “I’m Leo Helms. I took over caring for this place from my grandfather Edward?”

  So this was Leo! They were all aware of Edward and Leo’s assistance from their mother, but it wasn’t until Gemma’s letter last August that Kim had learned of her newfound love.

  She could certainly understand why Gemma had given up her city life to live on the island full-time.

  “Is Gemma stopping by?” Kim asked now, as Leo made his way onto the porch.

  He shook his head. “She’s on a tight deadline, but she promises to stop by tomorrow.”

  Gemma was a successful romance novelist, and Kim now wondered if the island would be the backdrop of her next novel—and if Leo would be the hero. With his rugged good looks, she suspected as much, but it was his friendly smile t
hat Kim appreciated. The house had been in good hands. With any luck, it would stay that way.

  Thinking of her father’s comment, she was depending on it.

  Leo extended a hand to each of them, and introductions were made.

  “You have your grandfather’s eyes,” Heather told him, giving a wistful smile.

  “How is he?” They’d all been so fond of Edward growing up, and Kim made a mental note to seek him out before she left.

  Leo gave a good-natured shrug. “Fishing every day the weather cooperates. And some days that it doesn’t.”

  “He’s a wonderful man.” Kim smiled, knowing that her sisters shared the sentiment. Old Edward had been just as much a fixture to their annual visits as the people who lived on this street.

  “And just like your grandfather, you’ve done a great job with the place,” Andrea told him. “It looks as if we were just here yesterday.”

  Kim felt a knot rise in her throat. If only. It had been two years since she’d been back here, but Andrea was right, it was as if they’d walked in and picked up right where they’d left off.

  “That was the intention. Of course, there’s been a little upkeep needed along the way. These big old homes don’t age as easily as we do.” Leo grinned, but this time Kim struggled to match his lighthearted demeanor.

  Her father’s words echoed in her mind. He’d keep the house if… And that was a big if, wasn’t it? Andrea would likely never come back after this trip, and Heather might, but how often? And as for her… Kim pulled in a breath. She couldn’t think about all that right now. She had to enjoy the time while she was here.

  “How have the renters been treating the house?” Andrea asked. The demand was usually strong and steady, and the income helped pay for the upkeep.

  “Your father didn’t set any up for this season, but last year we had a good turnout. Mostly families, large family reunions, that type of thing. Everyone is respectful, but it’s still good to be careful. Next year I’ll be able to keep an eye on things more closely now that I’m just next door.”

  Next year. Would there be a next year? Kim couldn’t even visualize next month anymore, let alone next year!

  “Well, I don’t want to keep you,” Leo said, taking a step back down the steps. “I’ve got to get into town, but I couldn’t pass by without introducing myself. And just to let you know, the fridge light is a little finicky and I’m still planning to clean out the attic soon on one of the cooler days.”

  “I love that old attic,” Andrea remarked.

  “Well, mind the dust up there. And the mice.” Leo flashed a wicked grin when Andrea and Heather gasped, and Kim couldn’t quite discern if he was joking or not. Still, he managed to pull a smile from her.

  After he left, Kim turned to her sisters. “I can certainly see his appeal! No wonder Gemma moved to the island permanently.”

  “It will be good to see her tomorrow,” Heather said. “I’m sure we’ll hear all the details then.”

  Yes, Kim was sure they would. And if she wasn’t going to be seeing Gemma today, then it was time to think about how she would spend the time.

  “I was thinking we could go into town this morning, maybe do some shopping?” Kim looked from one sister to the next. “We’ll need more groceries. Maybe we can all have lunch at the Lighthouse Bistro, and then later take a bike ride?”

  The Lighthouse Bistro was a local spot that had been a family favorite for years. Set right on the lawn of one of the larger inns in town, its waterfront views made it the perfect spot to relax and enjoy the scenery. They also made an excellent whitefish sandwich, something that seemed to be perfected here on the island and not something she could ever find on a menu back home.

  Home. She considered that word for a moment. Was Chicago really her home? Bran’s sterile glass and concrete apartment high in the sky? It wasn’t what she thought of as home. And since her mother had died, the house in Grosse Pointe no longer held that title either.

  She turned eagerly to her sisters. Lunch and shopping in town. It would be the perfect start to their trip.

  Surprisingly, it was Heather who looked reluctant. “I’m still a bit tired from all that driving yesterday, but I won’t stop you two from going on ahead.”

  Kim couldn’t hide her disappointment even though she was probably expecting too much. They hadn’t all been together here in years, and as much as she wanted it to go back to the way it all used to be, it couldn’t. Their mother wasn’t down on the steps, watering the hydrangea or snipping the best blooms for a colorful centerpiece to brighten their dinner table. And just like all the other little girls who used to chase fireflies at dusk until their mothers called them in, they’d grown up and changed. Drifted apart.

  “It was just an idea,” Kim said. They could always go to the bistro tomorrow instead. Maybe she’d pop over next door and see if Gemma was free to join them. She and Heather had kept an eye on the neighboring Victorian house last night, and while the lights were on in the far back, they both seemed reluctant to socialize after the long day.

  Maybe that’s all it was, Kim thought. Maybe everyone was just tired.

  “I know why Heather isn’t up for it.” Andrea gave a little smile and leaned against the porch rail, her back to the view.

  Kim looked up at her sister, wondering what she was missing, but one glance at Heather’s pink cheeks told her it was certainly something.

  “Heather ran into Billy yesterday,” Andrea informed her.

  Well, this certainly was news! Kim looked at Heather, happy that for once it wouldn’t be her own love life they were all discussing. Andrea never seemed to have time to date, and with Heather’s divorce, Kim didn’t exactly feel comfortable asking for details on that front. But Billy Davidson had been Heather’s first love, or at least first crush, and judging from the way she struggled to fight off a smile, she hadn’t completely gotten over it.

  “He’s on the island?” Kim considered this. They had made friends in the years they had come up—other seasonal people, especially all the girls on West End Road. The Morgan family next door was their favorite trio, similar in age, and always reliable, coming summer after summer until they eventually aged out and grew up, much like the Taylors. Then there were the Andersons, who occupied the house on the other side of the Morgans. Some of their happiest memories were those spent playing all day until they caught fireflies at night, splashing in the cool waters across the road, picking flowers and berries by day, and decorating their playhouse in the backyard or swinging on the hammock in the Morgans’ backyard, telling ghost stories and counting the stars.

  Kim knew that the Morgans’ grandmother, who owned their summer house, had passed a while back, and that Ellie, the youngest of the Morgans, had lived on the island year-round for some time. As of last summer, though, things had changed, and Ellie had gone abroad while it was Gemma, the middle sister, who stayed behind, after meeting Leo. Kim had read Gemma’s card more than once last August, thinking of life here on the island and the visit that they hadn’t been able to make happen. How things were changing, even here, just as things were for their family.

  She glanced over at Sunset Cottage now, having a yearning for those old times, when West End Road was filled with the laughter of nine barefoot girls, and sometimes, a cute little boy named Billy.

  “Billy is a doctor now and he lives in Pine Falls. He spends his weekends here, apparently,” Heather said matter-of-factly. “He also covers some shifts at the Island Hospital.”

  They all knew that Billy had become a doctor, but the rest was news. “Well, isn’t that idyllic. I’d love to be able to get back here more often.” Kim frowned into her mug. Maybe she could convince Bran to join her some years. Or maybe she couldn’t. She realized that she was almost afraid to ask, to have things confirmed and the hope shut down for good.

  “He’s still handsome,” Andrea chided. She glanced at Kim. There was still some underlying tension in her gaze. “He was on the ferry with us.”
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br />   Heather’s look was rueful. “As I told Andrea, Billy and I are just old friends. But, of course, it’s nice to see him again.”

  Kim nodded. “Of course. We’ll have to have him over, or meet up in town.”

  Heather looked noncommittal and Kim wondered if she’d overstepped. One glance at Andrea confirmed her suspicions.

  “I didn’t mean to tease,” Andrea said gently. “I just know that you used to have a thing for him.”

  Everyone knew. Probably even Billy himself, not that Kim would point that out.

  “That’s all in the past now,” Heather said.

  Kim knew that Heather rarely discussed her ex-husband. The divorce was recent; the reasons unknown or, at least, not shared. One day he was at her side at the funeral, and the next time they spoke, Heather announced that Daniel had moved out. But now they were all here, sisters reunited for two full weeks. Kim realized that this was probably more hours together than all the time they’d spent combined since Andrea had first started working full-time or Heather had gotten married.

  And it would only become less once she was officially a Croft.

  If she became a Croft.

  “You’re free to date, though,” Kim encouraged. That flush in Heather’s cheeks when Billy’s name was mentioned was the most like her old self that she’d seen her sister in a long time, even before she announced that she and Daniel were ending their marriage—but then, Kim had always chalked that up to worry for their mother’s declining health. “We just want to see you happy.”

  With a jolt, she realized that those were the very same words she’d said to her father just two nights ago, only the difference was that Heather and her husband had mutually decided to end their relationship, whereas their father…

  She closed her eyes. She would not think about it. Not this morning. Not today. Preferably not even on this trip.

  “I don’t think I’ll get married again,” Heather said tightly, and Kim could only stare at her. At thirty-one, her sister was only three years older than she was. She was young and pretty and funny when she was in a happier state. She was an excellent cook and a shark at cards, and she was a wonderful listener, too. In other words, she was a catch.