Small flowers were pushing up here and there, little white ones that she thought might be crocus. She paused, squatting to pluck one.
I really need to learn more about flowers, she thought. She stood and took a deep breath.
The shallow rays of the March sunlight bathed everything in golden light. She was struck again by how beautiful it was here on the island, and how lucky she was to live here.
“How lucky I am with everything,” she said to Blossom, leaning down to ruffle his coat.
She got to the bluff and sat, gazing out over the ocean, the sky dotted with puffy clouds. Down below, the waves crashed against the base of the cliff.
She still felt a little guilty, being this ridiculously happy, but the guilt was slowly fading. It had been a lot stronger when she first got back to Little Sister with Molly. Her farewell to Susannah hadn’t gone well. She’d forced herself to actually say good-bye this time, instead of just disappearing as she had in October.
“You’re really going back?” Susannah had said in clear disbelief.
Kathleen had paused for a second. “You thought I was staying?”
“Yes. I mean, I hoped, once you were back here, you’d remember how good we are together, and you’d want to stay.”
The warble in Susannah’s voice had had the desired effect as Kathleen felt the onslaught of guilt. She turned away, gripping her necklace for courage.
“We’re not,” she said.
“We’re not what?”
“We’re not good together.” Kathleen had braced herself to say what needed to be said. “We’ve never been good together. When we met, I clung to you for dear life, and you tolerated me.”
“You don’t mean that,” Susannah said, her eyes wide.
“I do.” Kathleen faced Susannah.
Whatever Susannah saw, Kathleen knew the instant that realization was reflected in her dark eyes.
“You don’t love me anymore.”
It wasn’t a question.
Be kind, Kathleen thought as she took a deep breath. “Suze, things are not going to change. Your mother will never leave your father, and you will never leave your mother. You know it’s true. I can’t live like this again.”
Susannah’s tear-filled eyes hardened as her gaze flicked to the necklace visible through Kathleen’s shirt. “There’s someone else.”
Kathleen shook her head. “This isn’t about anyone but me. I’m just not willing to be last in your life anymore, your dirty little secret, and you can’t tell me it will ever be any different.”
“But we could—”
“No.” As gently but firmly as she could, Kathleen looked Susannah in the eye. “We can’t. I wish you happiness. I really do. But I need to leave.”
And she had.
She pulled her knees to her chest now as the other wave of self-reproach washed over her—remorse that wasn’t so easy to let go of.
She’d driven to her parents’ house in Spruce Hill. Slowing as she neared the house, she’d realized her heart was pounding and her hands were strangling the wheel. She braked to a stop across from the circular drive where her father always parked his Land Rover or his Mercedes or his BMW—whatever the status vehicle of the month was—to make sure the neighbors could see it. The drive was empty. That most likely meant that her mother was home alone.
We could talk…
She’d snorted at that thought and sped away, ashamed at how relieved she felt.
Blossom jumped up onto the rock with her. The sun went behind a cloud, and a chill settled over them. She wrapped an arm around him, pulling him near for warmth.
“Come on,” she said. “Molly will be home soon from the day’s fix-it jobs. Let’s see what we can rustle up for supper.”
MOLLY LAY AWAKE IN the dark, listening to Kathleen’s deep breathing beside her. Her body still tingled from their lovemaking earlier. Blossom snored softly from where he lay in his bed nearby. Gently, she reached over to sift Kathleen’s soft hair through her fingers, smiling as she remembered how Kathleen had straddled her, offering Molly a nipple to bite and lick as her fingers stroked until Kathleen had come, her breath catching as her orgasm shook her. She wasn’t shy any longer about being naked or about letting Molly know when she was in the mood to make love.
She was so different from the buttoned-up, closed woman who had come to Little Sister just six months ago.
I’m different, too, Molly realized.
Never had she wanted more than a dalliance, just short jumps to the mainland to scratch an itch for sex. Not since college had she met anyone whom she had even thought about in terms of a relationship. That one relationship in college had ended badly, as angsty college relationships tend to, she supposed. But this… this felt so right.
Every day, she hurried home—she smiled in the dark at the thought that this cottage now felt like home—sometimes coming by mid-day for lunch as well. Of course, some days, they didn’t bother with food at lunchtime, rushing upstairs to tear each other’s clothes off and jump into bed. Evenings were spent reading or maybe watching a movie on one of Kathleen’s computers.
Was this how her mom and dad felt? She wondered if this kind of happiness could really last decades. Maybe it was time to talk to Kathleen about the bonding ceremony.
She rolled over, snuggling a little closer to rest her cheek against Kathleen’s shoulder. Soon. She’d talk to her about it soon.
“DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S going on?” Kathleen asked from the kitchen counter where she was stirring some mayonnaise into a batch of potato salad.
Molly frowned in concentration as she spooned a yolk mixture into two dozen deviled eggs. “I think so.”
“Well?”
Molly shook her head. “You’ll have to wait and see.”
When they had everything packed up and ready to go, they loaded the food and Blossom into the Toyota and drove to the Cooper house. Aidan had just pulled in ahead of them and was helping Louisa out of her old Ford. He reached into the back seat and retrieved two boxes of ashes. He gave them a sheepish grin as he carried the boxes into the house.
Inside, the house had been decorated for Easter. Vases of wildflowers were scattered around on tables, and old stuffed bunnies were peeking out from behind the vases.
Kathleen picked one up. “Were these yours when you were little?”
Molly blushed. “Not all mine. They were ours. Can’t believe Mom kept them.”
Kathleen chortled and put it back. “I wouldn’t have picked you out as the stuffed animal type.”
Molly ignored her, carrying the basket of food into the kitchen. Rebecca was already there, along with Bobby and his wife, Laurie.
“When did you get in?” Molly asked him.
“Came over yesterday,” he said. “Stayed in your room overnight. Hope that’s okay.”
Molly shrugged. “Sure. Nice to have you both here.”
She looked around. “Where’s Matty?” she asked, but she was pretty sure she knew.
Jenny was sautéing some shallots in butter. “He said he had something to do, but he’d be here for dinner.”
Kathleen sent a puzzled look in Molly’s direction, but Molly backed out of the crowded kitchen as quickly as she could. She found Aidan out on the front porch, playing fetch with Blossom, using an old tennis ball. She sat down beside him.
“You good?” he asked.
She nodded. “You?”
“Yeah.”
Blossom brought the slobbery ball back to him. He threw it.
“You gonna say something today?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Have you said anything to Miss Louisa yet?”
“Yeah.”
She studied him. He had shaved, and his eyes were clear, his jaw firmly set. “She’s okay?”
“Yeah.”
Molly clapped him on the shoulder. “Good talking to you.”
She got up and went to the garage. Her scull was lying upside-down on its rack, a layer of dust covering the
hull. She took a rag and wiped it down. Silly really. If she just got it back in the water, it would be clean.
The door opened behind her, and Kathleen came in. She joined Molly, running a finger along the smooth wood.
“You miss it? Rowing?”
Molly nodded. “Always do through the winter. It’s still a little early. Water will be wicked cold, but soon.”
Kathleen wrapped her arms around Molly’s neck. “You know I always enjoyed getting out for early walks. We’ve gotten kind of lazy through the winter.”
Molly kissed her, savoring the softness. “I’m not complaining about how we’ve spent our mornings. But once the weather really warms up, I will want to get back out.”
Kathleen laid a hand on the scull. “Would you teach me?”
“To row?”
Kathleen nodded.
“Sure I’d love to.”
Another car door slammed outside.
Molly tugged on Kathleen’s hand. “Guess we better get inside.”
They left the garage to see Matty opening the passenger door of his truck.
Kathleen pointed. “Isn’t that…?”
Molly grinned broadly. “It certainly is.”
Brandi waved at them. Molly noticed she was wearing the locket around her neck. She urged Kathleen into a trot.
Matty beamed as he wrapped his arm around Brandi’s waist.
“Ready?” Molly asked them.
They smiled at each other.
“Ready,” Matty said.
EASTER DINNER BECAME BOISTEROUS, even by Cooper house standards. When Matty made his announcement that he’d asked Brandi to marry him, and she showed off her white gold locket, gushing about how romantic she thought it was, with the whole song idea, Kathleen had turned to Molly with her fingers pressed to her own necklace.
Molly gave an embarrassed tilt of the head.
While everyone was noisily clapping Matty on the back and welcoming Brandi with hugs and kisses, Kathleen reached for Molly’s hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.
When everyone finally settled again to their dinner, Bobby cleared his throat.
“While we’re making announcements, Aidan has one.”
Joe stopped with his fork halfway to his mouth, eyeing his oldest son. “What is it?”
Aidan set his own fork down. “I, uh…” He glanced at Molly, who nodded once. “I’ve been talking to Bobby. I’m going to start training to be a ferry pilot.”
Unlike Matty’s news, a stunned silence greeted Aidan’s.
Joe leaned forward. “When? Where are you going to live? You won’t be able to live here.”
“No.” Aidan looked his father in the eye. “I’ll be leaving Little Sister. At least, I’ll be here, but on a regular schedule. I’ve found a room to rent near the marina on the mainland.”
When the silence stretched out, Bobby said, “I can’t do this forever. Aidan’s perfect to take over when I retire. We need someone from Little Sister in charge of that ferry.”
Aidan raised his glass of ginger ale—he’d refused any wine—to Kathleen. “It’s thanks to you that I’m doing this.”
She felt her face burn as, all around the table, glasses were raised with murmurs of, “To Kathleen.”
Jenny’s eyes shone with tears, but she smiled as she nudged Joe and said, “We might be empty nesters yet, if we can just get rid of one more.”
Joey took a big bite of ham, chewing slowly. “Nope. Not going anywhere.”
Joe scoffed. “Then you’re gonna have four times as many chores to do.”
Laughter burst out, and then everyone was talking at once, asking Aidan and Matty and Brandi for more details.
At the other end of the table, Rebecca was speaking with Louisa, who was wiping her eyes with her napkin and nodding. Rebecca caught Kathleen’s eye. In a flash, Kathleen had an image of Bryan—she suddenly remembered, he’d come to her in a dream. It was hard to recall the details, but something about a storm was coming. His hair had been blowing and he’d been trying to warn her about… She couldn’t remember what. Kathleen blinked and looked back at Rebecca, but she was now talking to Laurie.
“You okay?” Molly asked quizzically.
Kathleen nodded. “Fine.”
She went back to her dinner, but the memory of that dream stayed with her, like a cloud.
When dinner was over, Molly got involved in a conversation with Aidan while Kathleen helped clear the table. In the kitchen, she caught Rebecca.
“What was that look before?”
Rebecca pulled her out the back door, onto the porch. “What did you remember?”
“Bryan,” Kathleen said. “He came to me in a dream, trying to warn me about something.”
Rebecca nodded. “Maisie came to warn me.”
“Warn us about what?”
“I don’t know. But this didn’t happen randomly, Kathleen. They both came to us for a reason.”
She went back inside, leaving Kathleen alone on the porch. The warmth seemed to have gone out of the day. She gathered her sweater close and wrapped her arms around herself.
A moment later, Molly came out. “There you are. What are you doing out here?”
“Nothing.” Kathleen pasted a smile on her face.
Molly’s gaze wandered down to the diamonds hanging from Kathleen’s neck. “When I left to go after you in Philly, I had no idea what I was going to say or do to tell you how I felt or convince you to come back. I pulled off the interstate to get something to eat and let Blossom out. Something made me keep driving along some small two-lane highway, and I found this little town with this little jewelry store run by a woman who makes all her own stuff. And there it was.”
Molly stepped closer to wrap her arms around Kathleen. “I admit, I hesitated to copy my baby brother, but when I saw it, it had to be yours. I knew this was it.”
Kathleen kissed her and leaned against her with a shiver.
“Cold?”
Kathleen nodded against Molly’s shoulder.
Molly held her more tightly, glancing toward the sky. “Think we might get one last winter storm.”
“Really?”
“I feel something in the air.”
MOLLY CURSED UNDER HER breath as she jammed her shovel into the snow. When she’d predicted a last winter storm, she hadn’t counted on another two feet. Every spring, she wondered how many more winters she could do this, but she knew she’d never go anywhere. Despite the damned snow.
Aidan’s ferry apprenticeship had been delayed a few weeks by this storm, which was a good thing, as he’d been here to take care of Miss Louisa’s shoveling, while Kathleen helped out at the cottage.
Molly paused to catch her breath, wondering where her aunt had got to.
Rebecca came out of the library holding a mug of hot chocolate. “Take a break. Come join me.”
Molly was more than ready and didn’t argue. She stomped the excess snow off her boots and joined her aunt inside where a second steaming mug was waiting. She dropped into a chair and closed her eyes.
“I think I’m getting too old for this.”
Rebecca chuckled. “If you’re too old, I’m ancient.”
Molly peeled off her jacket and scarf and cradled the hot chocolate in her hands, savoring the warmth as she sipped the frothy liquid. “Oh, this is good.”
They sat in silence for a bit, both enjoying their hot cocoa.
“Have you thought about a snow blower?” Rebecca asked.
“Thought about it, but they can’t handle really deep snow, and I’d still have to haul it all over the island. Might look into a small tractor with a bucket, though.”
Rebecca nodded. “That would be a good idea.”
Molly cocked her head. “Has Matty talked to you about bonding?”
“He mentioned it. Sounds as if Brandi’s family wants to host the wedding on Big Sister.”
“Do you think they’ll bond and live here?”
“I don’t think he’s spoken to her
about it yet.”
“Mmm.” Molly drank her hot chocolate slowly.
Rebecca eyed her over the edge of her mug. “Was there some reason you were asking?”
Molly felt her cheeks warm. “I was just wondering if they’d picked a month.”
“Because you’d like to pick one?”
Molly lowered her mug. “Well, there are only so many new moons.”
Rebecca nodded. “Have you spoken to Kathleen about this? She hasn’t said anything.”
“Not yet.”
When Rebecca remained silent, Molly set her mug down and leaned her elbows on the library table. “What?”
Rebecca pursed her lips for a moment. “This is awkward, Molly. I’m your godmother, and I couldn’t love you more if you were my own. But this doesn’t feel right.”
Molly frowned. “What do you mean?”
Rebecca’s brow creased as well. “I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right.”
Molly crossed her arms. “Matty and Brandi do, but Kathleen and I don’t.”
“Don’t be daft.” Rebecca waved a dismissive hand. “That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
Rebecca shook her head. “I wish I knew.”
“You don’t think she loves me?” Molly heard the challenge in her voice.
“No.” Rebecca smiled. “I’ve no doubt how you feel about each other.”
“Then what?”
Rebecca set her mug down and laid a hand on Molly’s arm. “Kathleen came to us damaged. Damaged by her last relationship. Damaged by her brother’s death. Damaged by her parents.”
“I know that. She’s over it.”
“Is she?”
“Isn’t she?”
Rebecca shook her head again. “I think she’s over that woman. And I know her brother has come to her in dreams. But that’s only two out of three. I have a feeling there’s something more.”
Molly remembered Kathleen’s confession about what her mother had said all those years ago. She felt a chill steal through her. When her aunt had her “feelings”, they usually turned into premonitions of things that came to be.
“Has she had any contact with her parents recently?”
When the Stars Sang Page 23
