Marta cut him off. “Now is not the time to make those decisions. But thank you.”
“I really do apologize for not having taken my responsibility as your husband more seriously,” Mike went on. “It’s my job to help you protect your health and emotional well-being. I should have gotten a vasectomy immediately. I promise to make an appointment with my doctor the very day we get home.”
Marta smiled. “You had better. Because otherwise I’m shutting down business for good.”
Mike pulled her closer. “I don’t want that to happen,” he said very sincerely.
“Neither do I, Mike,” Marta said. “Neither do I.”
Chapter 93
Allison had spent an hour or so that afternoon asking around about the big gray cat. No one knew where he had come from. One neighbor thought he had been around for a month or so. Another swore he had only appeared in the past weeks. No one had seen signs about a missing cat. One woman had suggested Allison check with the police. She did. Nothing.
Then an idea had formed in Allison’s mind. What if she took the cat back home with her to Chicago? It was a slightly terrifying notion, to kidnap—because that was a better word in the circumstances than adopt—a strange cat and transport him halfway across the country. Would he hate living in an apartment? (She might be able to train him to walk on a leash. Or maybe she would move to the suburbs, where he would have the run of a small backyard.) Was he ill? (He certainly didn’t look sick.) Would his original caretaker suddenly come forward, heartbroken at the loss of her kitty, having no idea that he was living comfortably in the state of Illinois? (Possible, though what kind of pet parent let her cat go missing for weeks before sounding the alarm?)
Chris didn’t particularly like cats, or dogs for that matter, Allison thought. But what did that matter? In spite of her feeling there was still something unfinished between them, she wasn’t at all sure she would ever see Chris again. She would be okay with that. She would have to be okay.
Allison carefully lifted the painting she had made for Bess; it was still packed in bubble wrapping and brown paper, though Allison had discarded the outer cardboard box. She made her way downstairs. She had heard Bess rattling around in the kitchen.
“Hi,” Bess said brightly. A platter of freshly baked cupcakes sat on the counter, along with a can of white icing and small bottles of colored sprinkles.
“I want to give you my present now if that’s okay,” Allison said. She didn’t want Bess to feel bad for one more second about having sent Chris after her, and Allison knew that Bess was feeling bad in spite of her cheery tone. In fact, the cupcakes might be a peace offering of sorts. Allison had always liked cupcakes with vanilla icing.
“Oh, goody!” Bess clapped her hands like an excited child and came around the island.
Allison watched with some amusement as Bess tore off the brown paper only to be confronted by layers and layers of sealed bubble wrap. “You’ll need a knife,” she pointed out, “but be very careful.”
Bess worked slowly and methodically until the painting was released from its cocoon. She gasped and looked up at Allison with tears in her eyes.
“The subject is a little dark for a wedding present,” Allison said hastily, “but we did have quite a memorable experience that afternoon.”
“I love it,” Bess said. “It’s just perfect. Thank you, Allison. You know, maybe we should go back to Salem one day, visit The House of Seven Gables, and see if we’re affected the way we were all those years ago.”
“That would be interesting,” Allison admitted. “Why not? Anyway, I’m sure the work I’ll put together for you from these past two weeks will be a lot jollier. Though I did get some wonderfully thoughtful shots of each of us. Well, of me excepted.”
“And the dead tree?” Bess asked. “I’ve come to love it, you know.”
“Oh yes. There’s beauty in ruins for sure.”
A thud caught the women’s attention. They turned to see the large gray cat sitting on the back porch, staring at them. Allison’s heart quickened. He had come to find her!
“That’s the first time he’s come so close to the house,” Bess noted. “I’m not sure I should let him in. The owners didn’t say anything about no pets but . . .”
“I’ll go out to him,” Allison said. She thought she might put to her Little Gray Ghost the idea of coming to live with her. But not until she had given him all the belly rubs he demanded.
Chapter 94
Bess had decided not to mention her encounter with Chris to any of her friends, only to Nathan from whom she would keep no secrets. They had found a few moments alone together later that afternoon in the sanctuary of their room. They were sitting on the bed, their legs stretched out before them. Bess was holding a pillow to her chest as she might hold a teddy bear for comfort.
“Chris accused me of being self-righteous and he was right,” she said.
“I’m sorry things got heated between you,” Nathan said sincerely.
“So am I. I felt physically ill by the time we parted. And then I started to remember some of the really nice things about Chris, things I shouldn’t have forgotten, like how ever since college he’s done all sorts of volunteer work for the homeless and how when I was just starting out in Portland and was kind of overwhelmed by living in a city for the first time he sent me a cookie-of-the-month subscription.” Bess smiled. “Little did he know that at times those cookies were pretty much all I had to eat.”
The two sat quietly for a few long moments. Bess’s mind roamed. Earlier she had caught a glimpse of Mike and Marta walking hand in hand toward the beach. Whatever had been troubling them seemed to have been resolved, at least for the moment. She thought of Chris and Allison and of the joy that might have been in store for them. She recalled the words of wisdom her friends had shared with her in the past days. Chuck had told her he believed she was meant to be married to Nathan. Dean had said that the effort of balancing one’s own happiness against the happiness of the thing called marriage was worth the effort if you were with the right person. She thought of her own revelation, that real commitment was not about a Knight in Shining Armor and a Princess in a pretty dress. It was something far grander and yet more down-to-earth. And suddenly Bess knew for certain that she wanted to make a challenging sacrifice for the sake of her marriage.
“Nathan,” she began, tossing the pillow aside and turning on the bed to face him. “I’ve made a decision. I don’t care where we live or what we do as long as we’re together. You’re accepting the promotion and we’re moving to Stockholm.”
Nathan took her hands. “But what about your business? I know you haven’t had time to think through a game plan yet.”
“I’m still young,” Bess said with a shrug. “Young-ish. If I don’t take a risk now, when will I ever? Carpe diem and all that.” Bess thought for a moment before going on. “I have events booked through the middle of January. I’ll talk to Kara about a new role in the business; I can follow you in a few months if I’m forced to stay until a smooth transition regarding the day-to-day running of the company is made.”
“Thank you, Bess,” Nathan said earnestly. “I promise to do everything in my power to support your adjustment to our new life. I know Stockholm well. I can introduce you to people and show you around the city.” Nathan touched her face gently. “We’re so very lucky, Bess. If I weren’t constitutionally opposed to pain I’d pinch myself to be sure this is real and not a dream. When should we tell the others?”
“After the wedding,” Bess said. “We’ll tell them when I give everyone his or her charm. Yes, I’ve decided to go ahead with my gift. I love long and I love deeply and I take chances for the sake of love and . . . And I love that about myself!”
Nathan smiled. “And I love that about you, as well.”
Chapter 95
The friends were gathered around the dinner table. Chris was a no-show. Marta wasn’t surprised, not after what he had experienced with Allison and Bess earlier. Ne
ither woman had mentioned her encounter to Marta; Marta, of course, only knew because Chris had confided in her. And in that spirit, she had decided to keep her conversation with Chris from the others unless she felt it absolutely essential to share with Allison Chris’s hopes for a reunion.
Surreptitiously, or so she thought, Marta sent Chris a text. Thinking of you. Don’t give up hope.
“Ahem,” Mike said. “Good thing our children aren’t here to see this.”
Marta quickly put her phone in her pocket. “I tell my kids no texting at the table. Sorry. By the way, Bess, it was great to meet Kara after all we’ve heard about her.”
Kara had stopped by earlier to deliver the favors and had stayed for a cocktail. Marta had found Kara to be just as Bess had described her—competent, energetic, and organized. And a new thought had struck her. Maybe she could team up with another woman looking to build a business. Why had she been imagining only a solitary venture? There was power in numbers; women working together could accomplish miracles. Mike was right. Why had she been thinking she would have to fly solo, without the support of her husband and other women?
“Bess, this roast chicken is perfection,” Dean said. “I don’t know why you say you can’t cook.”
Bess shrugged. “Anyone can roast a chicken. Just follow the Barefoot Contessa’s recipe and you’re golden!”
Allison smiled and reached for a bottle of seltzer. “I adore the episodes that feature Jeffrey as well. The cutest married couple ever.”
The cutest married couple ever. Suddenly, Marta noted that Allison’s wedding ring was missing from her finger. Bess must have noted it as well. It certainly didn’t bode well for Chris. Maybe, she thought, she shouldn’t have advised him not to give up hope of a reconciliation.
“So where is your family staying?” Chuck asked Bess.
“They’re driving down tomorrow morning,” Bess explained. “And tomorrow night they’ll stay in a motor lodge not far outside Kennebunkport and drive back to Green Lakes the following morning.”
“It’s too bad they can’t be here for longer,” Mike said.
For once, Marta didn’t feel the impulse to tease Bess about her attitude toward the other Culpeppers. After all, only Bess knew her family experience; only Bess had the right to manage it to her advantage.
“There are jobs to get back to,” Bess said with a shrug. “Though in truth maybe I should have asked my sisters to stay on for a day or two with the kids. They would have enjoyed a vacation at the beach.”
“It’s not too late, is it?” Nathan asked gently.
“Maybe next year,” Bess said quickly. “Chuck, would you pass the butter?”
Still, Marta held her tongue.
Chapter 96
Allison wasn’t surprised that Chris hadn’t joined them for dinner. He would have to be in a very strange frame of mind indeed to show up for dinner after their confrontation that morning. She felt a bit sorry for Chris now. She hoped he would get himself a healthy dinner. She hoped he would have a good night’s sleep. She thought about all those nights he had helped her recover from nightmares, even if it meant sitting up with her for hours.
As if he was reading her mind, Mike said, “It was good to see Chris again.” He turned to Allison. “I hope you don’t mind my saying that.”
Allison shook her head. “Not at all,” she assured him.
“I was thinking about the time he offered to take me shopping when I needed something decent to wear for an interview. It was for a summer internship in a pretty staid law office, real old-school Bostonian.” Mike laughed. “I don’t know how he didn’t kill me that day. I was miserable trying on jackets and ties. He finally made a selection for me and when the bill came to about forty dollars more than I could afford he floated me the cash.”
“Did you get the job?” Allison asked with a smile.
“Of course! Looking as good as I did I was a shoo-in!”
“Do you think any of us will ever see him again after the wedding tomorrow?” Dean asked. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”
“Why not?” Allison said. “It’s what we’re all thinking, even me.”
Chuck shrugged. “Impossible to say. Life is long, things change all the time.” Then he smiled at Allison. “People might not change all that much but circumstances do and circumstances can force you into behavior you once thought impossible. Anyway, that’s my take on things.”
Allison took a sip of her coffee. Her left hand lay flat on the table next to her dessert plate. She wondered how many of her friends had noted that she wasn’t wearing her wedding ring. Certainly, the women had, but neither had mentioned it. For that she was grateful. She had no idea what she would say to a direct question regarding her reasons for taking it off.
“This time tomorrow you’ll be a married woman,” Marta was saying. Allison thought she looked less tense than she had in the past days. Good. “Nothing will ever be the same as it was. Well, not that it ever is; every day is brand new in some way, but you know what I mean.”
Bess smiled. “For better or worse. I know. And I’m ready.”
Allison glanced around the table. “In spite of what happened to me—or, what I got myself into—I’m still a great proponent of marriage. I really am. It’s a wondrous, beautiful thing, even in its less glamorous moments. Maybe especially then.”
“Hear, hear,” Chuck said.
“There’s a section in C. S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity,” Allison went on, “where he talks about how being in love comes before real love, which he says is a quieter but stronger thing that keeps a married couple together.” Allison smiled. “Excuse my rough translation. He puts it beautifully.”
“That’s awesome,” Bess said, wiping a tear from her eye. “I’m going to be a weeping mess tomorrow, I just know it!”
“Waterproof mascara,” Marta said with a firm nod.
“You could go without any makeup,” Dean suggested.
The look of sheer horror on Bess’s face caused everyone else at the table to laugh.
“Dean,” Allison said with a shake of her head. “You have a lot to learn about our Bess.”
Chapter 97
Bess had drawn a chair close to the window in the bedroom. She could see nothing much from where she sat, but she could hear the ocean lapping gently on the shore. Time spent at the seaside was such a soothing and yet such a vitalizing experience. She would always cherish it.
Still, Bess wasn’t entirely happy at that moment. It was her fault that Chris hadn’t joined them at Driftwood House for dinner. She had been beastly to him. A part of her didn’t expect him to show up tomorrow. But maybe she wasn’t the only one responsible for Chris’s absence that night. Allison had not been wearing her wedding ring. Maybe they had fought that morning. She might never know.
Where, Bess wondered, would the friends go from here? Would their bond ever be as strong as it used to be? Would it be so terrible if it wasn’t? It was unrealistic to expect things to stay the same and maybe, just maybe the big shake-ups each of the old friends was experiencing might turn out to be beneficial to the entire group. Complacency led to staleness. But what was wrong with a bit of complacency in an old and established friendship? Why did relationships need to be shaken up? Well, maybe they didn’t need to be, but they often were and the sooner you accepted that the better.
The door opened quietly and Nathan stepped inside.
“What are you up to?” he asked.
Bess smiled. “Thinking. And dreaming.” She got up and went to the dresser. From her own traveling jewelry case, she removed a velvet pouch. “Here,” she said, extending it toward Nathan. “This is for you.”
Nathan accepted the pouch and shook the contents into the palm of his hand. “You didn’t say you’d gotten a charm for me,” he said softly. “Thank you, Bess. I’ll wear it with pride.”
“Of course, I got you a charm,” she said. “My best friend forever.”
Nathan drew her to him
. “This adventure we’re embarking on. It’s going to be wonderful. I know it is.”
“Me too,” Bess said. “I know it. And I hope this adventure includes hiking in the Swedish Lapland and canoeing in the Gothenburg archipelagos.”
“You’ve done your homework. Sure, hiking and canoeing and skiing if you want.”
Bess smiled. “And dog sledding. A lot of snow parks offer dog sledding with those gorgeous blue-eyed Siberian huskies!”
“And we could go to Abisko National Park to see the aurora borealis. We’ll have to bundle up really well as the cold is pretty brutal in the mountains.”
“Speaking of cold,” Bess said excitedly, “I read about the Lakrits glass. I’m probably saying it wrong, but it means ‘black liquorice ice cream.’ It sounds awesome!”
Nathan shuddered. “I’ve tried it. Not so awesome, but hey, that’s just me.”
“Whatever we do,” Bess said, holding Nathan even closer, “even if it’s staying at home with our feet up watching TV, will be lovely because we’ll be together.” The quieter love that Allison talked about, Bess thought. The stronger love.
“It will indeed,” Nathan agreed. “It will indeed.”
Chapter 98
Marta sat propped against the pillows, a satisfied smile on her face. She and Mike had made love the night before at Marta’s instigation. Her motives had been mixed. Love and affection had played their parts, as had downright lust. The intensity of her passion had taken her by surprise. Could the fact of this fourth child actually be proving a catalyst in bringing his parents closer than ever before? Marta wondered. Far stranger things had happened.
The door to the bedroom opened and Mike came in bearing two cups of coffee. He closed the door behind him with his foot and joined his wife in bed. At home, coffee in bed was pretty much never possible, what with the demands of jobs, kids, and domestic duties.
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