Autumn's Light

by Aurora Rey

  “See you then.”

  * * *

  “Dinner with the fam. Sounds serious.” Dom handed her the last tote of bait and hopped on board.

  “You realize the irony of your saying that, right?”

  Dom spread his arms and shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Mat shook her head. “Part of the reason I got roped into this is the stunt you pulled. ‘I’ve hung out with your family,’ she says, ‘so you should hang out with mine.’”

  “I thought the family dinner went well.” Dom gave her a look that said he wasn’t going to give her an inch. “I think you make way too much out of stuff like this.”

  “Can you blame me?” She hated pulling out the past, especially since Dom had endured plenty of his own family strife when he announced wanting to transition.

  “No, but all that was a long time ago. I think your parents and mine have evolved since then. Slowly, painfully perhaps, but evolved nonetheless. I think you’re holding a grudge.”

  She didn’t know if it was because, once he’d actually transitioned, it became less of a thing or because he simply had a more forgiving, easygoing personality. Either way, Mat envied his unflinching efforts to bring his family around. And from what she could tell, it was working. “It’s not a grudge. Let’s just say I’m risk averse.”

  “Dude, you’re the one who taught me the best rewards sometimes require the most risk.”

  “I was talking about fishing.”

  “Actually, you were talking about getting laid.”

  Mat chuckled as she remembered the conversation. They’d been in their early twenties. Dom had started to transition, but was read as male only about half the time. He’d taken a break from dating to avoid lengthy explanations or awkward backpedaling from people whose expectations didn’t match up with reality. She’d given him a pep talk to inspire him to put himself out there. “Right. I stand by it as a rule for picking up women. Family is a different beast altogether.”

  Mat steered the boat into open water and headed in the direction of the traps on the day’s schedule. Dom connected the hoses that would fill the barrels with salt water. “Okay. Let me take a different approach. It doesn’t need to be a big deal.”

  “That’s what Graham said.”

  “See, right from the source. If she says it’s not a big deal, you should believe her. Maybe she just wants to reciprocate.”

  Mat sighed. Dreading it wouldn’t do her any good. And she’d agreed to go. Backing out would be a dick move. “Yeah.”

  “Are you nervous that it’s at that fancy bed and breakfast?”

  Oh, Dom. He knew her so well. “Let’s just say it’s not helping matters.”

  Dom leaned over and bumped her shoulder. “Remember, it might be fancy, but the fancy is for the guests. At the end of the day, that lady is in the service industry. She works for them.”

  Mat nodded. She thought about doing dishes with Will, passing out champagne with Graham. She didn’t want to admit thinking about it that way made her feel better, but it did. “Right.”

  “And I bet the food is going to be amazing.”

  Dom might do a lot of his thinking with his stomach, but he had a point. “I’ll eat extra on your behalf.”

  Mat pulled up to the first trap and they fell into silence. The easy rhythm of working together helped her to tune out the nagging voices in her mind—the one that worried about spending time with Graham’s aunt as well as the one that had been creeping up on her more and more of late. The one that liked to pose a whole different range of what-ifs. What if she really hit it off with Nora and Will? What if things with Graham didn’t grow stale? What if they just kept getting better?

  “Earth to Mat.”

  The sound of Dom’s voice yanked her back to the present. Mat realized she was clutching a lobster, just above the trap and out of Dom’s reach. “Sorry.” She hastily set it in the banding box and rebaited the trap.

  “Don’t apologize. Talk to me.”

  Mat studied her cousin. He was so much more of a brother to her than any of her actual brothers. It had always been that way. Before she’d had an inkling she was gay and when Dom still seemed content as Dominica. She wondered often if they’d somehow sensed that otherness in each other, before they’d even recognized it in themselves. They’d seen each other through heartbreak and so much more. “I’m afraid of not breaking up with Graham.”

  The second the words were out of her mouth, she realized how ridiculous they sounded. She shook her head, steered the boat back to the right location, and dropped the trap. Dom moved the banded lobsters to the barrel. “I hear you.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure. It’s easy when there’s not a lot at stake. When it comes to relationships, you’re the queen of making sure there’s not a lot at stake.”

  She couldn’t disagree, but having it explained back to her in those terms made her cringe. “That makes me seem like such an ass.”

  “No, because you’re up front about what you want, what you’re offering. Usually, the women you hook up with understand that and want the same. Graham is different.”

  “Is she? I didn’t think so, at least at first. You were there that first night.” Graham had initiated the flirtation. And by the time they got back to Mat’s place, she seemed to know exactly what she wanted.

  “I was, but I’ve also been around ever since. I don’t think she was playing you that night, but I also don’t think that’s her usual MO.”

  Maybe that was the problem. Graham had said as much, but she’d not given any hints on what her usual MO might be. And Mat had yet to figure her out. She wasn’t needy or clingy, but at the same time, she seemed perfectly content to spend whatever time she could with Mat. She was the epitome of confidence one minute, then shy and inexperienced the next. Mat didn’t have a handle on her own feelings and she felt even less clear about Graham’s. “Yeah. I don’t know what to do with that.”

  Dom offered her a wry smile. “I know you hate when I say this, but maybe you should follow your heart.”

  He was right. Not that she should follow her heart. She hated when he told her to.

  Chapter Twenty

  The inn was just as beautiful as she remembered, and that was just from the outside. Mat took a deep breath and reminded herself to relax. It might be a crazy fancy place and Graham’s aunt might own it, but it was also where she worked. The idea of Nora changing bed linens and scrubbing toilets made her feel better. She decided to keep that fact to herself.

  The front door opened and Will smiled at them. Tall and lanky with a mop of short brown curls, her casually masculine stance put Mat instantly at ease. Her attire helped, too. The dark khaki pants and green sweater weren’t all that different from Mat’s own attire. She pegged Will as around her age, too. Graham hugged her before making introductions. “Mat, you remember Will.”

  “Great to see you again.” Will extended a hand.

  Mat smiled. “Likewise.”

  “I’m glad we’re getting the chance to actually spend the evening with you.”

  Before she could reply, a voice called, “Is that Graham and Mat?”

  Mat turned in the direction of the voice. It belonged to Graham’s aunt. Now that she wasn’t all dressed up and bustling around putting on a wedding, Mat took a moment to study her. She was pretty in a classic sort of way. Her hair was more sandy-colored than Graham’s strawberry blond, and her eyes were green instead of Graham’s blue, but they had the same high cheekbones and jawline. “Come in. We’re so glad you’re here.”

  Mat took the hand Nora offered. “Thank you for the dinner invite.”

  “It’s our pleasure. I’m sorry we haven’t gotten around to it before now.”

  “Aunt Nora does happy hour in addition to breakfast for her guests. It really cramps her social schedule during the summer.”

  Nora offered an easy shrug. “I’m sure you can appreciate the drive to work when the work is ther
e.”

  Mat smiled. Despite the luxury of the surroundings, and the fear that she’d have nothing in common with Graham’s family, she relaxed. “Indeed I do.”

  Nora’s smile in return was warm. “I’ve got a couple of things to do in the kitchen still. Will, would you pour wine?”

  “Of course.” Will leaned in and gave Nora a kiss. It was obvious she was head over heels in love. Rather than uncomfortable, it made Mat like them even more. Nora went back the way she came and Will gestured to the room to their right.

  “Wow.” She’d been in the room before, but with all the wedding setup, she’d not really paid much attention to the space itself. It was fancier than she remembered. The furniture looked antique, the wood floors gleamed, and the rug probably cost a fortune.

  Will laughed. “That was my reaction my first time here.”

  Mat looked her way and their gazes caught for just a second. She couldn’t be sure, but it felt like Will might be trying to offer some reassurance. Mat appreciated the gesture, even if her trepidation about the evening went beyond their surroundings. “Oh, good.”

  “Really?” Graham looked at Will, then Mat. “I mean, I know it’s big for a house.”

  Will lifted a finger. “You also saw it when it was a run-down heap. That makes it far less daunting.”

  Mat smiled at Will, liking her more by the minute. “Thank you.”

  Will went to a table near one of the windows. “I opened a Pinot Noir, but there’s beer if you’d prefer. Or water or soda. Nora has a billion things in the house.”

  “Wine’s great. Thanks.”

  “What are we having?” Graham took the first glass Will poured and handed it to Mat.

  “Guinness stew.”

  “Yum. I’ve got to get her to teach me how to make it.” Graham looked at Mat. “It’s so good.”

  “Anytime.” Nora joined them, carrying a plate of cheese and crackers and pickled vegetables. “Just name the day.”

  Mat narrowed her eyes at Graham. “Is this something really special or do you not cook?”

  “I…” Graham trailed off. She raised her hands and made air quotes, then added, “cook.”

  Despite the mixed company, Mat couldn’t help herself. “That’s pathetic.”

  “What? You’re some powerhouse in the kitchen?” Graham’s tone hovered on the edge between playful and not.

  She could feel Will and Nora’s eyes on her. At least she had the sense to have a good answer before diving in. “I think I’ve shown I’m more than competent.”

  Graham gave her a look of concession. “Yeah.”

  “You don’t grow up a girl in a traditional Portuguese family and not learn to cook. Besides, knowing how to cook ensures you eat well.”

  Graham raised both hands. “Okay, okay. You’ve made your point.”

  “But you left out the most important one,” Will said.

  “Which is?” Graham gave her a bland expression.

  Will lifted a shoulder. “It’s a great way to seduce women.”

  Graham groaned and Mat couldn’t suppress a chuckle. Nora offered Graham a sympathetic look. “You’ve got time yet. And it’s not your fault your mother is a lousy cook.”

  “Yeah, how did that happen?” Graham asked. “You stole all the talent.”

  “Your mother has plenty of other gifts. And your dad cooks well enough for the both of them.”

  “I guess.”

  Nora looked to Mat. “What about you? Should I take your comment about traditional families to mean you got your instruction from your mother?”

  Mat nodded. “Absolutely. I think she still harbors some hope I’ll use it to snare a good husband one day.”

  Nora shook her head. “That’s too bad.”

  Not wanting to bring down the conversation, or become the center of it, Mat waved a hand. “It’s all right. As long as we don’t talk about it, everyone gets along fine.”

  Graham angled her head. “You don’t think they’ve come around? They were so nice to me.”

  Her parents had been nice to Graham. And not polite nice, either. Genuinely interested. And her father had asked about Graham the last time they talked. Mat had written it off, but maybe things were beginning to thaw. “Maybe. I think I’ll keep things in their nice little boxes, though. It’s much easier.”

  Mat thought that might get her a laugh, but Will and Nora both gave her sympathetic looks. Graham frowned. Mat was about to try to change the subject when Nora said, “I think dinner should be just about ready.”

  They moved into the dining room. The large table had been set at one end, making it feel more casual than stuffy. Between the change of setting and the process of serving food, the mood lightened again. She asked Nora about when she’d moved to Provincetown, learned about Will coming to town via her sister, Emerson. Family and friendships and work and play seemed to all blend together for all of them. Mat knew it was strange to see that as such a novelty, but she’d never met people whose lives looked like that. At least, not permanent, year-round residents.

  When they finished eating, Will cleared the table, brushing aside any offers of help. When Graham suggested a game night, it was all Mat could do not to laugh out loud. Not that she disliked games. It just seemed so domestic. She imagined the ribbing she’d get if Dom knew how she was spending her night.

  They set up Trivial Pursuit and decided to play in teams. Between Graham’s mastery of science and Mat’s prowess in History as well as Sports and Leisure, they were one pie piece away from declaring victory. But then Nora and Will went on a run, collecting two and tying the game. Mat correctly answered a question about Elton John and got them into position to win it all. The category: Geography.

  Mat closed her eyes for a second. She’d always hated geography. She opened them to find Graham rolling her shoulders and tipping her head from side to side. “Deep breath, Pero. We got this.”

  Mat laughed at the absurdity of the whole thing, including the competitive streak she didn’t know Graham had. “I hate to say it, but I don’t think I’m going to be much help.” They’d already missed two chances to secure the blue wedge.

  Graham pointed at her. “Think positive. You can’t show signs of weakness.”

  “I think that ship sailed when we couldn’t come up with the capital of North Dakota.” It had been rather embarrassing, even as someone who didn’t put a lot of stock in knowing such things.

  “That’s what I mean. We both knew that. We need to center ourselves, unlock the door to the back recesses of our minds.”

  “Are you going to pontificate all night or can I ask your question?” Nora feigned exasperation. At least, Mat hoped it was feigned.

  She was about to apologize when Graham turned her finger to point at her aunt. “You hush. You’re trying to mess with our mojo.” She turned to Mat. “You ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  “What,” Nora straightened her shoulders, all business, “is the name for a narrow inlet, usually surrounded by cliffs, common in Scandinavian countries such as Norway?”

  Graham gripped her arm, then leaned over to whisper in her ear. “It’s archipelago.”

  Mat shook her head. She could still see the two-page illustration in her fourth-grade social studies book, naming the different formations of land and sea. She’d flipped to it at least a thousand times during the lessons she found dreadfully boring. Even then, she knew she wasn’t cut out for sitting inside all day. “It’s fjord.”

  Graham made a face. “Are you sure?”

  “One hundred percent. Archipelago is a string of tiny islands.”

  “Oh, my God. You’re right. I can’t believe I mixed those up.” Graham turned to Will and Nora and declared, “Fjord.”

  “Correct.” Nora slid the card back into the box.

  Will hung her head, but fished a blued piece from the plastic bag and handed it to Mat. “Congratulations.”

  Mat hadn’t admitted to being super competitive, but
it felt good to win. And it was fun to watch Graham stand up and do the most ridiculous victory dance. When she was done, she leaned and kissed Mat firmly on the mouth. “I always want you on my team.”

  Instead of echoing the sentiment, Mat said simply, “Thanks.” She didn’t mind teaming up with her, but the way Graham said it left an uncomfortable hitch in Mat’s chest. She knew Graham didn’t mean it that way, but her mind instantly produced images of game nights and softball leagues and little kids running around a soccer field. She shook her head. Where had that come from?

  Will stood and stretched. “I hope you’ll give us the satisfaction of a rematch soon.”

  Graham stood as well. She turned to Mat and cocked a brow. “I think that could probably be arranged.”

  Shoving aside thoughts of anything beyond a friendly game a few weeks in the future, Mat smiled. “I’d never want to deny you the opportunity to redeem yourself.”

  “Are you about ready to get out of here?” Graham asked Mat.

  It had been fun, but she was more than ready. “Sure.” She looked at Nora. “Are you sure there’s nothing we can do to help clean up or anything?”

  “I cooked, so I’m off duty.” Nora hooked a thumb at Will. “But I’m guessing she’s got it under control.”

  Will grinned. “I most certainly do.”

  “Then we will bid you good night.” Graham reached out a hand to Mat.

  Mat got up from the sofa and took it. “Thank you again for dinner.”

  Nora wound an arm around Will’s middle. “We’re glad you came. We’ve been wanting to get to know you.”

  Will nodded and Mat got the feeling again she’d just survived the equivalent of meeting the parents. It still gave her a certain level of discomfort, even though it seemed as if she’d passed whatever test had been in place.

  They gathered their things. Nora and Will walked them to the door. Good nights were exchanged all around. Outside, the arrival of fall was increasingly apparent. The wind had a real bite and it took down a few more leaves each time it blew. Graham shivered a little and made a show of pulling her coat tighter around her. “Brr.”