After lunch, Averil loaded Penny in the car. She drove across the island and parked in front of Blackberry Preserves.
The store had been in her family for a couple of generations. Averil had grown up in and around the store. She and Nina had played dress-up with the old clothes and made forts out of moth-eaten cushions. Later, in high school, Averil had worked shifts to earn money, although she’d preferred her job at the local diner. At that point, getting away from her demanding older sister had been a priority.
Averil and Penny walked into the store. It was as crowded as she remembered, with stacks of furniture, overflowing shelves and boxes of yet-to-be-discovered treasures. There was a musty smell, which was familiar, mingling with the scent of what she would swear was an orange-scented cleaner.
“Hello,” she called. “Anybody here?”
A pretty woman with short dark hair walked around a shelving unit and smiled. “Hi. Can I help you?”
“You work here?” Averil asked.
“Yes. I’m Cindy. I’m new.”
Averil smiled. “Averil Wentworth. Nina’s ne’er-do-well baby sister.” She nodded at the dog. “This is Penny.”
“Oh, hi. Nice to meet you. Nina didn’t mention a sister.”
“I live in Mischief Bay. I’m visiting for a few weeks.” She sniffed. “Have you been cleaning? It smells good in here.”
“Yes, and it’s daunting, but I’m getting there.”
“You sure you want to take on a project this big?”
Cindy laughed. “I’m also unearthing treasures as I go. Just this morning I discovered several quilts that are handmade. I’ve been online trying to figure out their ages. If I’m right, a couple of them are valuable.”
“I’m not surprised. My mom only buys what she likes. She searches for beauty and then either keeps it in the family or shares it with the world. Bertie is more practical and generally has a good idea of what’s valuable.” The first year Bertie had worked in the store, sales had been up fifty percent. They hadn’t moved any more merchandise, but nearly everything sold had been more expensive.
“How long have you worked here?” Averil asked.
“Only a week. There were some issues with the woman who was here before.”
No doubt Nina had run her off, Averil thought.
“I have tea brewing in the back,” Cindy said. “Want some?”
“That would be nice. Thank you.”
They walked into the crowded back room. Averil could see how Cindy had already made changes. While there was still furniture everywhere and plenty of boxes, the counters were clean and the floor had been swept.
Cindy poured two mugs of tea and offered cookies from a box.
“Thanks.” Averil took a sugar cookie, broke it in half and gave the smaller piece to Penny.
“There’s so much to do,” Cindy said. “Most of the inventory isn’t in the computer. I’m splitting my time between cleaning and organizing. I start to go crazy if I’m on the computer too long. I guess it comes from all the years I spent typing on mine. I was a paralegal in my past life.”
“What brings you to the island?”
“My husband retired. He’s a little older than me and has worked hard, so he deserves it. But I just can’t stay home. My mother-in-law lives with us.”
“Oh.” Kevin’s mother was a lovely lady, Averil thought, but she wouldn’t want the other woman living with her. “That could be difficult.”
“It’s rarely boring,” Cindy said with a grin. “She hates me, but I think she’s accepted that, after twenty-five years, I’m not going anywhere.” She lowered her voice. “I’m the second wife. His first wife died.”
“And your husband’s mother has turned her into a saint.”
“Pretty much. But that’s okay. I would never tell him, but he’s worth it. And I have three great kids. One from his previous marriage and our two. I’ve been lucky. Now I have this job. I love it, except for the obvious stress.”
“What stress?”
Cindy laughed. “Selling a chair for ten dollars only to have it pop up on Antiques Roadshow with an auction value of twenty thousand.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Averil told her. “Bertie is good, but she’s not that good.”
“I don’t know. I’ve found a few amazing pieces. Speaking of which, I should get back to work. I’m not trying to kick you out. I just need to be cataloging.”
“I understand.” Averil took a sip of her tea, then followed Cindy back into the store. “What are you working on now?”
“The lunch boxes. They’re easy enough. I look them up on eBay, figure out a good price and then enter them in the computer.”
Averil thought about the novel she had yet to start, the angry email from Kevin and the fact that Nina wasn’t speaking to her.
“Want some help?” she asked. “I can sticker or enter in inventory.”
“Thanks. It will go faster with two of us. If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
“I don’t,” Averil assured her. “Any old blankets around?” she asked, motioning to Penny.
“In the box in the corner.”
Averil collected a couple. “I’m going to make a bed for her.” She thought about how long they’d been out. “Let me take her on a short walk and then I’ll be back to help.”
“Sounds great.”
Averil smiled. See? She could be responsible, she thought, heading for the front door. Kevin and Nina were wrong about her.
Chapter Nine
NINA PUSHED A piece of chicken around on the plate. This was ridiculous, she told herself. How could she and Averil not have anything to say to each other? They were sisters who hadn’t seen each other in months. They sure had enough to talk about on the phone, but there was silence when they were in the same room.
Averil was pouting, no doubt because Nina had snapped at her about Penny that morning. Though maybe Averil hadn’t been as careless with Penny as Nina had first assumed, but why go there? This family was exhausting, she thought. If it wasn’t her mother forgetting to get the roof fixed, it was her sister picking up stray dogs.
She drew in a deep breath and decided she would remember her lunch with Kyle instead. That had been perfect. The man was funny and charming and just intense enough to be irresistible. If she could bottle his brand of determined flirtation, she could make a fortune.
The phone rang. She reached for it and glanced at the caller ID.
“It’s Bertie,” she said, pushing the speaker button and setting the receiver in the middle of the table. “Hi, Bertie.”
“Hello, my sweet. How are you?”
“I’m good. Guess who’s here?”
“Hi, Bertie,” Averil said from across the table.
Bertie laughed. “What brings you to Blackberry Island, Averil? Did we know you were coming?”
“No. I’m just here to do some thinking.” Averil stuck out her tongue at Nina. “I have a dog. She’s beautiful and her name is Penny.”
“I can’t wait to meet her,” Bertie said. “Bonnie, Averil has come home for a visit.”
There was a squeal in the distance, then they heard Bonnie’s voice. “We’ll be home in a few days. You’ll still be there, won’t you?”
“I promise,” Averil said. “Tell Nina to be nice to me, because she’s been surly.”
Nina told herself to act like the adult. That she had to believe in karma and that she would be rewarded in a later life.
“Nina, be patient with your sister,” Bonnie said. “We all aspire to be more like you and we all fail.”
Nina felt the slap from over a thousand miles away. Did it occur to Bonnie that Averil was the problem? Of course not. But she didn’t say that. “Have you had a good trip, Mom?”
“The best. The van is full of wonderful treasures.”
“Tell her about the painting,” Bertie said.
Bonnie laughed, the sound carrying clearly over the phone lines. “I found the most hideous painting. There was
an estate sale of an old man who bought storage unit contents. There were crates and crates of them. We bought two of the crates.”
Nina held in a groan. “Let me guess. Without knowing what was inside.”
“Of course. If you know what you’re getting, where’s the fun? Anyway, mostly there was junk but there was also a painting. It’s truly ugly, but the frame is beautiful. I wanted to toss the picture right away but Bertie said you had to see it. So we’re bringing it home.”
“Lucky us,” Nina murmured.
There was a muffled noise, then Bertie was on the phone again. “We should be there in less than a week, my loves. Be good until we get there. Oh, Nina. How’s the new girl working out at the store?”
“Cindy’s great,” Averil said. “I met her. I really like her. Don’t believe anything Nina says about her.”
Bertie sighed. “I wish you girls wouldn’t fight. Family matters.”
Nina glared at Averil and mouthed the words, “Stop it.” Averil glared right back.
“We’re not fighting,” Nina assured her. “Drive safely. We’ll see you Saturday or Sunday.”
“Yes, you will. Night all.”
There was a click and the call disconnected.
Nina replaced the receiver. “Seriously? You have to act like that? What are you, twelve?”
She half expected Averil to flounce out of the room. Instead her sister leaned back in her chair and nodded slowly.
“You’re right. Sorry. It’s really easy to fall back into bickering when I’m here.”
Nina studied her sister, taking in the long blond curls and big eyes. “Okay,” she said slowly, not sure she could believe her sister to be that rational. “Maybe I jumped to conclusions about Penny. I should have asked what your plans were for her.”
Averil cleared her throat. “Me sleeping for three days made it hard to talk.”
This was good, Nina thought cautiously. “So, why are you here?”
Averil stared at her. “So, the thirty seconds of détente was too much for you?”
“I just asked a question. You showed up with no warning. It’s a little strange. I’m concerned. Is everything okay back home?”
Averil pushed her broccoli around on her plate. “I needed to get away. I have to think.”
“About Kevin? Is everything okay with him? He’s such a great guy.”
Averil shook her head. “Right. It has to be my fault. He can’t have done anything wrong. Poor, perfect Kevin, stuck with a wife like me.”
Nina felt the beginnings of a headache. It was always like this with her sister. No matter how she tried, Averil misread everything she said. Averil had no idea how lucky she was. She kept risking everything she had, and for what?
She forced herself to take a breath and speak in a slow, nonthreatening voice. “I’m sorry you felt things were so difficult that you had to leave home to work through the issues. Want to tell me what’s going on with you and Kevin?”
Averil studied her, as if trying to decide whether or not to believe the conciliatory tone. “He wants to start a family,” she admitted.
Nina found herself pressing her hand to her belly. A baby, she thought longingly. She’d always wanted a family. A couple of kids. Maybe three. A rambling house, a few pets. Nothing crazy. It wasn’t as if she aspired to be on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. She’d always assumed her dreams were achievable. But she’d taken the more affordable path of being a nurse rather than trying to get into medical school. She’d never fallen in love after she broke up with Dylan. Here she was, thirty, living at home with, as Elizabeth Bennett would say, no prospects.
Except for Kyle, she thought wistfully. Although he wasn’t looking for anything permanent.
She was supposed to have left the island. Every now and then she thought about starting over. Sometimes she even made progress. Like taking her MCATs a couple of years ago. But, so what? She’d done great on the medical school entrance exams. It wasn’t as if she was really going to start medical school now. She was settled. Or maybe the correct phrasing was she had settled.
“What do you want?” she asked her sister.
“I don’t know.” Averil shook her head. “I want kids. I really do. Just not right now. I’m lost. I know he’s upset because I’m still not sure. We’ve been married nearly five years. He doesn’t know what I’m waiting for.”
Nina was pretty sure that Averil wasn’t ready to have someone else be the center of attention. Her little sister was good at getting people to take care of her. A baby would make that whole dynamic shift. But she also knew better than to mention that.
“Do you know what’s wrong?” she asked instead.
“No. That’s why I’m here. I want to figure it out. I like my job, but I don’t love it. I love Kevin, but there’s something missing in our marriage. I feel like I’m always waiting for something to happen. I just don’t know what it is.”
Nina tried to be sympathetic, but all she could think about was how much she’d sacrificed so Averil could follow her dreams. And here she was, saying she’d picked the wrong dreams.
“Are you sure you still love Kevin?”
Averil grimaced. “Yes. He’s wonderful and adores me. I don’t want to be with someone else. I just want to feel...” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t explain it. I’m not leaving Kevin.”
“You kind of already have,” Nina pointed out.
Averil jumped to her feet. Penny jumped up as well, obviously startled. She looked between the two women.
“Why do you have to do that?” Averil demanded. “Why do you have to turn everything into the worst possible scenario?”
She stalked off toward her room. Penny trailed after her.
Nina stood and began to clear the table. She remembered when she and Averil had been more like real sisters. Back when it had been the two of them against the world. But since college, everything was different. Averil was always coming to Nina for advice and direction, but then got mad at her when she gave it. Nina wasn’t sure who was at fault, nor did she think it mattered. The bigger problem was they were caught in a cycle of blame and misunderstanding and she didn’t know how to change that.
She knew she loved her sister, but sometimes loving someone wasn’t fun.
* * *
“Hi,” Dylan said with a smile.
Nina smiled back, wondering why she’d agreed to a date she didn’t actually want. She’d spent most of the day dreading her evening plans and had nearly called him a couple of times to cancel. But she figured she was just putting off the inevitable. She would go out with Dylan, they would talk about the past, come to terms with the fact that they were both living on a very small island and then be done with it.
If only he were Kyle.
He looked good, she admitted grudgingly. Tall, with dark hair and deep green eyes. He wore jeans and a button-down shirt, and his clothes emphasized the strength in his body. He was older than Kyle and looked more mature. Solid, she thought. Kyle was a low-slung convertible. Dylan was more like all-wheel drive. Not sexy, but reliable in bad weather.
“My sister’s back in town,” she said to fill the silence. “She’s out walking her dog, but she said to say hi.”
“How is Averil?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. She showed up with her dog and hasn’t said much about what’s going on with her. I hope she’s not going to do something foolish and leave her husband. Kevin is a good guy.” She winced. “Wow, that was an emotional dump you didn’t need.”
“I can handle it.” He motioned to his car. “Shall we?”
They walked toward his BMW. Dressing for this date had been a lot simpler than her dinner with Kyle, she thought. She, too, wore jeans, with a silky blouse. She’d put on a little makeup and earrings.
She slipped into the passenger seat, remembering the last time she’d been in his car.
“Any permanent damage to the leather?” she asked when he settled next to her.
&n
bsp; “None at all.”
“Good. So, where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“A good surprise or a bad surprise?”
He grinned. “A good one, I hope.”
“Now I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be.” He started the engine and pulled out of the driveway.
Because he would take care of her, she thought. That was Dylan’s style. Comfortable and dependable. When they’d first started dating, she’d been mature enough to appreciate those qualities. While other girls had craved the bad boys, she’d wanted to feel safe.
She remembered the first time he’d taken her sailing. The ocean had been so big, the swells had made her uncomfortable. But he’d been careful and had obviously known what he was doing.
He’d never driven drunk or partied too hard. He’d gotten her home on time, he called when he said he was going to. With Dylan, she’d been able to relax, to be a teenager. That had been nice, she thought wistfully.
And then he’d left her.
Best not to go there, she told herself, returning her attention to the road. She watched as he drove through town, then started to laugh when he pulled into a small, gravel parking lot. “No way.”
“We’re not eating here, if that’s what you’re asking. I know a great place with a view. But I thought we’d pick up sandwiches, first.”
They were at Arnie’s—a low-rent kind of food place with the best pulled-pork sandwiches in three counties. People drove all the way from Seattle to eat here. The food was messy and delicious.
They walked up and placed their orders. When everything had been packed into paper bags, they returned to the car. Dylan headed for the marina.
For a minute she thought they were going to go out on a boat. Maybe his dad’s. But instead, he headed for the new luxury condos and pulled into the underground parking structure.
Evening Stars Page 10
