“That makes no sense! I’m in this house because of your aunt’s will, my mother is here because she needs to earn a living, and you won’t be here because you have a business to run. How is any of that my mother who is keeping us apart?”
“I mean now. Today, tomorrow.”
“Oh,” Alix said. “I see. You’re angry because I’m not jumping into bed with you right now. You’ll be fine when you’re in New York wearing a tux and dating your supermodels, but now, today, you want me because … well, because I’m here.”
“That’s ridiculous! I have a week before I go to New York and I always come home. Often.”
That statement made Alix so angry she was afraid to reply. She gave him a look up and down. “I have to go!” She hurried down the stairs.
It took all Jared could do to keep from ramming his fist into the wall. This is why he never brought his girlfriends to Nantucket, he thought. Start being nice to them at home and—
And what? he thought. They run off and help their friends instead of spending every minute with him? “So who’s the four-year-old?” he mumbled and plodded back up the stairs.
Standing at the top of the staircase was his grandfather, so solid, so real, that Jared knew that if he touched him he’d feel it. The man was wearing a smirk that screamed “I told you so!”
Jared hadn’t seen his grandfather for weeks—and he missed him almost as much as he did Alix. “I want to talk to you.”
“Everything has been said,” Caleb answered, then walked away. He didn’t vanish in a poof, but walked. Jared was sure he heard the creak of the old floorboards, which was impossible since Caleb’s ghostly body had no weight.
By the time Jared got to the top of the stairs, the wide hallway was empty and Victoria was just leaving her bedroom.
“Jared, you gave me a start. Did I hear you and Alix arguing?”
“Of course not. What would we have to fight about? What have you got planned for her to do today? Arranging dolphin rides?”
Victoria smiled sweetly. “Why no, dear, I thought we’d have the guests go on a Nantucket sleigh ride.” She swept past him.
A Nantucket sleigh ride was when, long ago, the sailors harpooned a whale from their rowboats, then the enormous creature would drag them across the sea in a terrifying, life-threatening rush.
Gritting his teeth, Jared watched her until she went down the stairs. When he looked back, he saw his grandfather again, but this time he was smiling broadly. “Do not leave!” Jared ordered, but Caleb just laughed and walked away.
Jared leaned back against the wall. This wasn’t his day!
“Are you all right?” Victoria asked her daughter. It was evening and they were sitting in the family room. Victoria was on the couch with a stack of printed papers on her lap, a rum cocktail in her hand.
Alix was on a cushion on the floor, her legs under the coffee table, and she was tying little green ribbons into bows. Yesterday her mother had declared that they absolutely, positively must give Izzy a baby shower on the day before the wedding. Since then, Alix had been drowning in baby things. “I’m fine,” Alix said.
“You don’t look happy. If you don’t want to do this, I can get Lexie or Toby to help. I’m sure they’d be willing.”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just …”
“It’s Jared, isn’t it?” Victoria said.
“Actually, it is. We had an argument this morning and I was pretty harsh. He was saying he missed me.”
“I’m sure he does. When does he return to New York?”
“Next week. After the wedding, I guess.” She grimaced. “But he says he’ll visit Nantucket often. I guess I’ll see him then.”
“Alix …”
She put up her hand. “It’s all right. I knew this was coming. I hoped it wasn’t, but … I don’t know what I expected.” She ran her hand through the box of bows. “Do you think this will be enough?”
“More than enough.” Victoria was studying her daughter. “Why don’t you walk down to see Lexie and Toby? Maybe they’ll cheer you up. And I think Jared’s outside with his head under the hood of his truck. Maybe you could hand him tools.”
“No, thanks,” Alix said as she got up. “Seeing him now will just make the inevitable harder. I think I’ll go upstairs and read for a while. I suddenly feel very tired.” She kissed her mother’s cheek and left the room.
Victoria put her manuscript pages on the coffee table and sat there frowning. So far, the plan that had come to her in her sleep wasn’t happening as she’d envisioned. “Jared,” she said aloud, “you’re an idiot.”