An Invincible Summer (Wyndham Beach), Mariah Stewart [best classic novels TXT] 📗

Next year—window boxes. Mr. and Mrs. Gribbin would have been proud.

The Fourth of July promised to be a hot one, and humidity was rising along with the heat. Not the best weather for all-day outside activities, but you took what you got in July. With luck, the wind would shift and blow ashore from the harbor, and by afternoon, the air would be bearable if not pleasant. Maggie woke early and dressed in holiday-appropriate garb of a white denim skirt, a navy-and-white-striped T-shirt, and red sandals. She’d always loved the Fourth of July celebrations in Wyndham Beach for their winning combination of patriotism and the showing off of local pride.

But this year was unlike any other holiday. Today all the threads of her life were coming together, and she prayed the eventual result would be seamless and beautiful. She planned an early but simple breakfast for her immediate crew—fruit and scrambled eggs—and put on a pot of coffee. The preparations made, she stepped out to the patio, a mug of coffee in hand, and eased herself into a comfy chair while she waited for her daughters to join her. She sat back and closed her eyes and took a deep breath of air heavy with salt from the harbor and floral from her garden, an odd but surprisingly pleasant combination.

She was tempted to pinch herself, so unlikely would a day like today have been even one year ago. Today everyone who meant the most to her would be under her roof. She still wasn’t certain what the outcome would be, but she knew the time had come. Hopefully everyone would find a way to get along.

Last week, she and Brett had met Joe and his two children for dinner. Lulu had enchanted them both. She was a fairy child, a garden sprite with almost ethereal beauty with a shy smile. Jamey had been tougher, but Brett had won him over with tales of his football days as well as his years on the police force. That Brett had played multiple sports just like Joe and Jamey had won him big points. Maggie, not so much, but she was okay with that. After all, it had been their first meeting, and Joe had assured her in time Jamey would be eating out of her hand. She hoped he was right.

Alexis, Brett’s fourteen-year-old California-raised daughter, had arrived the previous week. Maggie’d met up with them when she’d taken Daisy to the ice-cream shop in town, and Alexis had taken to Daisy immediately and had offered to babysit anytime.

Grace questioned the wisdom of tossing everyone together all at once, but Maggie had stood firm in her belief it was best to simply dive in. Would time make the journey easier to take? Maggie doubted it. The situation was what it was, and it wasn’t going to change. Why put it off and miss out on whatever time they all might have together? Maggie knew all too well tomorrow wasn’t promised to anyone.

Natalie hadn’t waited to take that dive—earlier in the week she’d met Joe for dinner and had come home singing his praises. She couldn’t wait to report to Grace how wonderful he was, that he was exactly the way she’d pictured him, that they’d had a great time.

“I felt like I’d known him my whole life,” Natalie’d said. “He’s the brother I always wanted. You’re going to love him, Gracie. I promise.”

Maggie mentally marked an imaginary scoreboard: one down, one to go.

The back door opened, and Grace wandered out, coffee mug in hand, followed by Natalie and an even-chattier-than-usual Daisy, who couldn’t wait for all their guests and the parade and rides on the carousel. She wasn’t really sure what a carousel was, but she was excited about it all the same because the grown-ups seemed to be. After a quick breakfast, there was a sort of dead silence while they all watched the clock, waiting for their guests to arrive.

“Did you have enough breakfast?” Maggie asked. “I can go in and . . .”

“We did,” Grace told her. “Thanks for leaving everything pretty much prepped.”

“Nana, Mommy said today I get to ride a carousel with big horses that go up and down.” She climbed into Maggie’s lap. “Do the horses bite? What color are they? Do they have horns like unicorns?”

“Yes, you will get to ride the carousel, but no, the horses don’t bite. We’ll have to wait and see what colors they are, and I don’t think there are any unicorns on Mr. Harrison’s carousel. I rode that carousel when I was a little girl, and so did your mommy and Aunt Grace when they were little.”

The sound of a car door slamming got everyone’s attention.

“That must be Joe.” Maggie lifted Daisy from her lap, stood, smoothed her skirt, and hurried into the house.

She went straight to the front door, then out onto the front porch. Joe approached on the sidewalk, his hand holding an uncertain Lulu, Jamey following behind with obvious reluctance. Maggie stood at the top of the steps to welcome them.

“I’m so glad you’re here. And you’re right on time.” She smiled and held out her hands to Joe. He kissed her on the cheek, and she noticed Jamey turn his head. “Come on in and we’ll get ready for the parade. We should leave in a few minutes.”

The threesome followed her inside, where they met Grace, Natalie, and Daisy.

“Hey, Natalie. Good to see you again,” Joe said. “And this must be Grace. I’ve heard so much about you. I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

Natalie offered a hug, and Grace a brief handshake.

Joe turned to his children. “Jamey, Lulu, meet your aunt Natalie and your aunt Grace.”

Lulu smiled shyly and offered a tiny wave. Jamey glared and half waved in their general direction.

Oh boy. It was clear both children felt unsure and awkward, not totally understanding their place with these three women who were new to them, a normal reaction. But Maggie