She sat back, humming with satisfaction as she inspected her work. She wished she could keep this boat after all the hours she’d put into her, but she wished that with every boat she restored. They each carried a bit of her with them when they sailed back to their owners.
She’d sent the rails and gauges away to be re-chromed. As soon as the weather warmed enough, she’d apply several coats of spar varnish, and this little beauty would be ready to sail.
Outside the boathouse, she heard the launch pull up to the dock. Now that it was winter, the boys were busy most days doing boat maintenance. They’d spent the day at Big Sister helping the marina owner there with some repairs. Voices and stomping footsteps echoed through the boathouse. Cap’n Jack shook his head at being disturbed from his nap.
The side door opened, and Matty came in.
“Hey, Mo.”
He leaned over the side and whistled as he ran a hand over her woodwork. “Nice.”
“Thanks.”
She selected a new peg. “Good day?”
He shrugged. “Yeah. They’ve got some monster yachts over there. We’ll probably be there for the next couple weeks.” He dragged a stool over near her tool chest and sat down.
Molly read the signal that he wanted to talk and shifted to sit cross-legged on the boat deck. “What’s up?”
Rather than answer, he leaned his elbows on his knees, rasping his thumbnail over a callus on his palm. She waited.
“Are you…” he began, but stopped. “You and Kathleen. Is this for real?”
Molly frowned. “What do you mean?”
He looked up at her. “Are you guys gonna get bonded? You moving in for good?”
Her shock must have shown on her face, because he grinned.
“What? You haven’t asked her? She hasn’t asked you? What are you guys waiting for?”
Molly shook her head. “Why are you asking me this?”
Matty’s grin slid away. “Because, I’m gonna… I think I’m ready to ask Brandi.”
Molly stared. “Ask her what?”
“To marry me.”
“No way.”
“Way.” He grinned again, running his hands through his hair so that it stuck up all over. “I’m ready. I think.”
“Really?” She climbed down off the boat and knelt facing him. “Are you sure? This is big, Matty.”
His face split with an even bigger smile. “I know!”
He reached into his jeans pocket and held out his hand. Lying in a velvet box in his palm was a fine silvery chain with an intricate silver heart-shaped locket.
“It’s white gold,” he said. “Not silver, like the song.”
She glanced up. “What song?”
He rolled his eyes. “You know.” And he sang, “Brandy, you’re a fine girl…” His voice trailed away. “Except I want her to be my lady, not the sea.”
She laughed. “I had no idea you were so romantic.”
He laughed, too, looking embarrassed. “I know it’s not a diamond ring. But I hope she’ll take this, and me, and wear my ring when we get married.”
“Wow.” Molly sat back on her heels. “You mean it.”
He nodded. “Yeah. I do.”
For a moment, she almost hugged him, but it just felt weird. So she punched him in the arm instead. “I’m happy for you.”
“Honest Injun?”
She chuckled, knowing Rebecca would slap them both silly if she heard them. “Honest Injun. Where will you live?”
He shook his head. “Not sure. We haven’t talked about it. Don’t know if she’ll want to leave the restaurant.”
“She’ll keep waitressing?”
“Her folks own the Lobster Pot.”
“I didn’t know that.”
“Yeah.” Matty scratched at his stubbly chin. “Might have to live on Big Sister. What do you think Mom and Dad will say?”
“You know they’ll be happy for you, too.”
“Thanks, Mo.” He pushed to his feet, slipping the velvet box back into his pocket. He paused as he reached the door. “I think you should get a move on, before someone else steals your girl.”
Molly listened to him walking away, trying to picture her baby brother married. She went back to work on the boat deck. She got another peg tapped and glued in place and was partway through sawing the excess off when she paused, thinking about what he’d said.
“What are you waiting for?” she muttered.
“NOW STOP FIDGETING.”
Kathleen craned her neck to try and see her reflection in the glass of the kitchen door, but Jenny firmly repositioned her head.
“If you don’t like this haircut, you don’t ever have to come back to this barber,” she said, snipping a little more off the top.
Kathleen’s eyes widened as the auburn hairs fluttered down onto the white sheet wrapped around her shoulders in lieu of a hairdresser’s drape. Her head snapped around again as the kitchen door opened and Molly came in.
“Not one word until I’m done,” Jenny ordered her before she could say anything.
Kathleen tried to read the look on Molly’s face, but the grin she wore wasn’t reassuring.
“We might have a new Mo on the island,” she said, fighting her laughter.
Blossom came out from under the table to greet her while Minnow meowed from where she was lying on the kitchen counter.
“Hush.” Jenny pulled her comb through Kathleen’s thick hair and snipped some more. “Don’t tease her.”
Molly composed herself and went to the sink to wash her hands. “Smells good.”
Minnow hurried over to bat her paw at the stream of water.
“Ham and beans,” Jenny said absently, continuing to snip here and there. She came around front and bent down to inspect her handiwork.
“I think one ear is lower than the other now,” Molly quipped.
Kathleen grabbed an extra comb off the table and threw it at her.
“I think we’re done,” Jenny said, running her fingers through Kathleen’s hair to let it fall in layers.
She pulled the sheet away and gathered it. Handing it to Molly, she said, “Go shake this out, please.”
Kathleen reached up to feel her head as Jenny got the broom out of the cupboard. There was an awful lot of hair on the kitchen floor.
“I left some. Don’t worry.”
“It feels so much lighter,” Kathleen said, going out to the living room to inspect her reflection.
It really was a nice cut, she realized as she turned her head back and forth. The layers framed her face softly. She smiled at herself.
When she went back into the kitchen, Molly did a double take. If Kathleen had any further doubts that the haircut flattered her, they were answered by the look in Molly’s eyes.
She felt her cheeks burn and was only vaguely aware of Jenny saying, “Mo, why don’t you set the table? Since you’re both here, it’s silly not to stay for dinner.”
Joe came in with Joey and Matty. As everyone sat to eat, they talked about the day’s work scraping and painting and varnishing hulls, but all Kathleen was really aware of was the pressure of Molly’s thigh, firmly pressed against hers under the table.
She did note Molly exchanging a significant glance with Matty when Joe leaned over to kiss Jenny. The light, the laughter, the love around the table—here was everything Kathleen had ever longed for.
As if she could read her thoughts, Molly reached under the table to squeeze Kathleen’s hand.
They stayed to help with the dishes and then drove back to the cottage.
“I’m glad this worked out,” Kathleen said, shivering from the passenger seat. “I wasn’t thinking about how late we might be leaving when Blossom and I walked to the house.”
Molly cranked up the heat. “Me, too.”
She sounded odd.
“Are you okay?”
Molly nodded. “I’m fine.”
Kathleen didn’t push as they arrived at the cottage. Molly cut the engine off,
and Kathleen let Blossom out of the back seat. Before she could climb the porch steps, Molly caught her hand.
“What is it?”
They stood in the dark, no lights anywhere around them. Overhead, the stars were brilliant in an inky black sky. Kathleen tilted her head to gaze at it. Molly wrapped an arm around her shoulders and looked skyward as well.
A shooting star appeared.
Kathleen gasped. “Did you see it? Did you?”
“Yes,” Molly said with a chuckle.
“I never saw any until I came here.” Kathleen scrunched her eyes shut.
“What are you doing?”
“Making a wish,” Kathleen said. “Shhh.”
Molly waited until Kathleen opened her eyes. “What was your wish?”
Kathleen smiled. “I’m not telling. It might not come true.” She angled her head. “What about you? Did you make a wish?”
Molly opened her mouth, but from inside the house, the telephone’s jangle cut through the night. They both ran to the cottage. Ever since Olivia’s heart attack, any phone call came with the dread that it might be bad news.
Kathleen yanked the receiver off the wall. “Hello?”
“Kathleen…”
She braced a hand on the wall. “Susannah.” For one wild moment, she thought Susannah was back on Little Sister, but then she heard the sound of crying. “What’s wrong?”
“My father…”
“What’s wrong with your voice? You sound funny.”
“He hit me,” Susannah said, though her words were hard to make out. “He broke my jaw and tore my shoulder.”
Kathleen dropped into a chair. Molly, she noticed, had stayed in the kitchen entrance. “Were the police involved?”
“Yes, but… they only make things worse.”
Kathleen took her glasses off and pressed her fingers to her eyes. “You mean you wouldn’t press charges.”
“Can you come?”
Kathleen’s hand dropped. Molly was no longer in the kitchen door. “Come?”
“Please. I need you.”
“What about your sister?”
“She’s with my mom, trying to calm him down—”
“So he doesn’t hurt her,” Kathleen finished for her. “Where are you?”
“I’m home, but I’m having a hard time taking care of myself with only one arm. I didn’t know who else to call.”
Susannah started sobbing. Kathleen listened, her eyes closed again, her sense of self-preservation battling her guilt. From the next room, she heard the sound of the front door opening and closing. She bit her lip to keep from hollering for Molly to stay.
With a resigned sigh, she said, “I’ll have to get someone to bring me to the mainland. I’ll be there by tomorrow night.”
Chapter 15
A TRUCK ENGINE RUMBLED in the drive before cutting off. Molly sat propped on her bed, listening as the door slammed. A moment later, there were voices in the kitchen. Her mom, she knew, was warming up some dinner for Aidan. She looked at the bedside clock and was surprised to see it was nearly ten. She returned to her book, or tried to.
It had been a shitty day. Actually a shitty night and day—ever since she’d walked out of Kathleen’s cottage last night. She’d reminded herself over and over that Kathleen was so kind-hearted, there was no way she could say no to what she’d heard enough to understand was Susannah’s plea. With as few words as possible, she’d told her dad last night about Kathleen needing a ride to the mainland. Aidan had volunteered.
Blossom got up and put a paw on the mattress, whining softly. Joe had brought him that morning.
“Told Kathleen we’d keep him for her till she came home.”
Home. Kathleen had started to call this island home, but would it still feel that way once she was back with Susannah, back among the people and in the city she’d lived in for so long? Molly felt a sensation like acid burning her stomach. She hadn’t been able to eat more than a few bites all day.
She patted Blossom, and he lay back down.
About ten minutes later, heavy footsteps came up the stairs and there was a knock on her door.
“Come.”
Aidan pushed the door open. “Okay to come in?”
“Sure.” She closed her book and shifted to sit cross-legged on her bed as he dragged the desk chair over. Blossom went to him. Aidan absently gave his ears a rub.
“Got her there,” he said. “Borrowed Bobby’s extra car and took her to a car rental place. She should be close to Philly by now.”
Molly nodded, tracing a finger over the title of her book embossed in its cover. “Thanks for taking her. I know this means a lot to her.” She could feel Aidan watching her. “Why are you so late?”
“Stayed to take care of a few things. Wanted to talk to Bobby.”
She glanced up. “What about?”
Aidan leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “I’m… I’m going to start training to be a ferry pilot, come spring. I spent today filling out all the paperwork.”
Molly’s mouth fell open. “Really?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Can’t stay on Little Sister my whole life, renting a room from Miss Louisa. Been giving this a lot of thought. Couldn’t have done it before… when I was drinking. My record’s clean, thanks to you. Course, Bobby knows. We had to talk about that. Even one more drunk, and I’m out, he says. He won’t take a second chance on me.”
Molly nodded. “He wouldn’t. But I don’t think he’ll have to worry about that.”
Aidan lowered his gaze to his hands. “No.”
A long, tense silence followed.
“Did she ever tell you,” Aidan began hesitantly. “What happened that night? On the beach?”
“She found a letter from her dad to Maisie. Said her mom told her that she wished it had been her who died.”
“Yeah.” Aidan ran his hand through his hair. “Jesus, can you imagine Mom ever saying that to one of us?”
“No.”
“It was her birthday,” he said so quietly Molly wasn’t sure she’d heard.
“What was her birthday?”
“The day Bryan… it was her tenth birthday. She said her folks haven’t celebrated her birthday since. No one has. They only remember…”
Molly closed her eyes, dropping her forehead to her hand. “She didn’t tell me that part.”
“What about you?”
Molly lifted her head. “What about me?”
“No, both of you. You seem good together, Mo. Like this is the real thing.”
“I don’t know.” She rested her elbows on her knees, frowning. “I thought… but now, with Susannah calling…”
“I don’t think she really wanted to go.”
She flicked a loose thread on her comforter. “You don’t?”
He shook his head. “She was really quiet. Kept looking back. At the dock, before we shoved off… I think she was hoping you’d come.”
Molly groaned. “I should have. I just…” She felt tears sting her eyes.
Their gaze met and held.
“Does she know how you feel?” Aidan asked.
Molly shook her head. “I was trying to figure out how to tell her when… Maybe it’s better this way. She’ll go back and figure out she doesn’t really want to be here.”
“Bullshit.”
“What?”
“I said, bullshit. This island is her home now. And you love her. Why can’t you tell her that?”
Molly sat back, drawing her knees to her chest. “I don’t think you’re best one to be giving me advice on this. I don’t recall seeing you laying your heart on the line for anyone.”
Aidan dropped his head again, staring at his clasped hands. “I’m not sure I’m strong enough.”
“What do you mean? You’re one of the strongest people—”
“I’m not. I wasn’t strong enough to deal with Bryan’s death without drinking myself stupid. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to let myself fall for someone. I can barel
y keep myself together. But you are, Mo.”
Her mouth opened and closed. She didn’t know what to say.
“I watch Mom and Dad, and I’m kind of in awe,” Aidan said. “They absolutely love each other. They love us, too, but nothing comes before the two of them, what they feel for each other. Jesus, that’s scary.”
“Scary?”
“Yeah. I think loving someone is one of the bravest things anyone ever does. Taking the chance of being hurt. Letting yourself need someone else, knowing how hollowed out you’d be if they weren’t in your life. What’s braver than that?”
She stared at him.
“She needs to know how you feel, Mo.” He stood and put the chair back, giving Blossom a last scratch. “You owe yourself the chance at that kind of happiness.”
He left, closing the door behind him. She turned to her reflection in the mirror over the dresser, wondering why she couldn’t see what he did.
KATHLEEN FOUND A PARKING space on the crowded curb. Pulling her suitcase from the back seat of the rental car, she stared up at the lit windows of the second floor apartment she had shared with Susannah. She’d thought, when she left here five months ago, that she would never be back. She sighed and went to the entry, where she pressed the buzzer for apartment 2B.
“Kathleen?” came Susannah’s muffled voice.
“Yes.”
Susannah buzzed her through, and she climbed the stairs to the second floor. As she approached the door, Susannah opened it. Despite knowing of Susannah’s injuries, Kathleen wasn’t quite prepared for the sight of her black eye and the swollen bruising along the left side of her jaw, her right arm in a sling. She felt a seething rage at Susannah’s father.
She stepped past Susannah and deposited her suitcase on the foyer floor.
“Thanks for coming,” Susannah said, her jaw stiff, her lips barely moving.
“Have you eaten?” Kathleen asked, glancing at her watch and seeing that it was nearly eleven o’clock.
Susannah barked out a sound that might have been a laugh and led the way into the kitchen. The blender held a green concoction that she poured into a glass with a straw.
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