Summer Island

It was Ruby who spoke. “Thats what got us into this pathetic mess, dont you think?”

“I just thought-”

“I know what you thought,” Ruby said with a tenderness that squeezed Noras heart.

Caroline moved forward, her left arm clamped tightly down on her designer overnight bag, her heels clacking on the hardwood floor. Nora could see her daughters fear; it was close to the surface now.

Poor Caro. She actually thought it was possible-it you were careful-to skate on ice too thin to hold your weight.

“So,” Caro said, offering a quick smile that didn“ reach her eyes, ”would you like to see the newe photos of your grandchildren?"

“We could start there,” Nora said, knowing it wasnt her line. She was supposed to be desperately thankful for even the pretense of normalcy. “But if we really want to get to know each other, it will take more pictures. ”

Caroline paled-if that were possible-then went on seamlessly. “Good. ” She unzipped her bag and took out two flat photo albums. “Lets go sit in the living room,” she said, already moving. She went to the sofa and sat down, her knees pressed demurely together, her fingers splayed on top of the albums on her lap.

Ruby rushed over and sat beside her.

Nora ignored her crutches and hopped on one foot after her daughters. She sat down beside Caroline.

Caroline glanced down at the album. Her long, manicured fingers stroked the tooled leather.

Nora noticed that those hands, so perfectly cared for and heavy with gold and diamond jewelry, were trembling.

Slowly, Caroline opened the book. The first photograph was an eight-by-ten color shot of her wedding. In it, Caroline stood tall and stiffly erect (not nearly as thin as she was now), sheathed in an elegant, beaded si1k off-the-shoulder gown. Jere was beside her, breath tikingly handsome in a black Prada tuxedo.

Sorry,“ Caro said quickly, ”the new photos are in back. " She started to turn the page.

Nora boldly laid her hand on top of Carolines. “Wait. ”

Who gives this woman to be married to this man.

When the priest had asked that special question, it had been Rand alone whod answered. I do. Nora had been in the back of the church, doing her best not toweep. It should habe been: We do, her mother and I.

But Nora had given up that precious moment.

“She had been there for Carolines wedding, but she hadnt been there. Caroline had invited her, placed her a close-yet-distant table, one reserved for special guests, but not family. Nora had known that she was a detail to her daughter on that day, no more or less important than the floral arrangements. And Nora, lost in the desert of her own guilt, had thanked God for then that. Shed gone through the receiving line and kissed her elder daughters cheek, whispered ”Best wishes," and moved on. There were endless questions she hadnt allowed herself to even ask then, but now, as she stared at the beautiful photograph of her daughter, Nora couldnt remain detached.

Who had acted as Carolines mother on that day? Who had sewn the last-minute beads on Caros dress . . . or taken her shopping for ridiculously expensive lingerie that she would never wear again . . . who had held her, one last time, as an unmarried young woman and whispered, I love you?

Nora drew her hand back. She heard the sound of a turning page and forced her eyes open again.

Ruby laughed, pointing to a shot of the whole wedding party. “I want you to know, I never wore that dress again. ”

“Yeah, and you never came home again, either,” Caroline shot back.

Rubys smile faded. “I meant to. ”

Caroline smiled sadly. “Words that could be our family motto. ” She quickly turned another page. “This is our honey moon. We went to Kauai. ”

Nora noticed that Carolines fingers were trembling again. She kept gently touching the photographs.

“You look so happy,” Nora said softly.

Caroline turned, and Nora saw the sadness stamped on her daughters face. "We were.

And Nora knew. “Oh, Car . . . . ”

“Enough honeymoon shots,” Ruby said loudly.