How to Keep a Secret

“I’ve set up a Facebook account, too,” Mack said. “We’ll post pictures of Aunt Jenna’s amazing food because nothing makes you want to move in to a place like a pile of cookies, and I’ll take the view from the garden down to the ocean. I’ll add some video of various places around the Vineyard.”

“Sounds good. As long as you don’t expect me to update this site. I’m too old for Facebook.”

“I don’t think you are, but one thing at a time. And we have an Instagram account, too. I’ve already posted some shots.”

“I don’t know what that is.”

“It’s an app, Grams.” Mack pulled her phone out of her pocket and showed her.

Someone was as fired up as she was, Nancy thought. The house was becoming a family obsession.

“Now it’s nearly finished, you could add in some shots of this room.” Mack stood up and took a few photos with her phone. “This place is special. If I was staying here, I’d be tempted never to leave it.”

Lauren had given away the old rattan furniture and replaced it with deep, overstuffed sofas she found in a boutique hotel that was closing down. The covers were stain

ed, but she’d replaced them, upholstering long into the night until the light had cheated her.

She’d ripped up the carpet that had seen better days, polished up the boards until they shone a rich earthy tone and found a rug in a thrift shop.

Bowls of seashells and a profusion of plants brought the outside into the house.

Nancy would never have thought her home could have felt so calming.

Lauren, apparently, wasn’t satisfied.

“That wall needs something.” Her daughter stared at the blank space on one of the walls with narrowed eyes. “I don’t know what. It needs to be large.”

Mack checked the photos she’d taken. “How about a photograph?”

Lauren pondered. “Maybe.”

Nancy stared at the space, too.

Why not?

“That painting I used to have in the entryway would work in the space.”

Something dragged in the base of her stomach. Could she look at that painting without sadness? Would adding that single drop of poison from the past contaminate everything?

But it was too late to change her mind because Lauren was nodding.

“If I remember the colors correctly then it would work perfectly. Let’s try it.”

“I’ll fetch it now.” Wishing she’d never suggested it, Nancy left the room, missing the look her daughter and granddaughter exchanged.

“That was pretty cool, Mom,” Mack muttered, her gaze fixed on the door as she waited for her grandmother to reappear. “Think she’ll go for it?”

“I really hope so, because the painting would look perfect here.”

“Do you know why she took it down?”

Lauren hesitated. “I’d be guessing.”

Mack shrugged. “Go for it.”

“Everything Grams painted used to be bright and cheerful and then suddenly it all changed.”

Mack frowned. “You think it was when she found out Gramps was—” she broke off and flushed “—having affairs? I can’t even say it, it’s so gross.”