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

“I didn’t mean it that way.” Okay, yes, I did.

“Sure you did.” There was a touch of humor in his voice. “But it’s okay. Only one more verse, I think.”

A moment later, he said, “I was sorry to hear about your husband.”

“Thank you.”

“How’ve you been?” he asked.

“Good. Thanks.”

“How are your kids? Two daughters, right?”

“Yes. They’re fine. Thanks for asking.” And then, because she knew it was expected of her, she asked, “How about you?”

“Three daughters.” He smiled wryly. “One from each wife.”

Maggie froze in his embrace, her feet suddenly unable to move. If they’d been alone, she’d have slapped him.

She pushed his arms away and turned her back on him.

“Maggie, wait,” he said as she walked toward the table where Liddy and Emma watched. “There’s something I need to tell you.” He tried to take her arm, but she shook him off as if she hadn’t heard. “Maggie, there’s something you need to know. It’s important.”

She ignored him and lifted the glass of wine Emma wisely had waiting for her. She took a long drink, waited to make sure he’d given up and walked away, then turned to Liddy and said, “I’m going to walk home.”

“You’ll do nothing of the sort. Sit down for a few minutes. If you leave now, it’ll look like . . .”

“I couldn’t care less what it will look like. I’m done.” She needed to move, needed air, needed to put space between herself and this room and the music and her memories. The feel of his arms around her, the feel of his body. The prickle of his five-o’clock shadow against her skin. The sorrow that came with remembering.

“Come on, Maggie.” Emma stood. “Bring your glass and we’ll go for a walk.”

Maggie nodded, kissed Liddy on the top of her head, and said, “I’ll see you back at the house.”

“The doors are locked.” Liddy sighed. “I’ll come with you.”

“No need. I know you’ve been looking forward to this for months, and I know how hard you’ve worked. You and your committee have done a great job. Stay and enjoy the compliments. I’ll wait on the back porch.” Knowing there were eyes on her, she forced the biggest smile she could muster and patted her friend on the shoulder.

“Maggie, I swear to God I had no idea Francie was going to do that.” Liddy gestured toward the dance floor, which was now filling up with couples. “I’d have shot that idea right down if she’d told me.”

“I know you would have. It’s okay. It was awkward, but it’s okay. No one died. I just need some air. And I don’t want to be here right now.”

Maggie grabbed her bag and her wineglass from the table and glanced at Emma to let her know she was ready to go.

“Ladies’ room,” Emma said in response to someone asking her where they were going. “Just like old times. A pack of two.”

When they reached the hall, Emma told Maggie, “I wasn’t kidding. I really would like to hit the ladies’ room before we go outside.”

“Go ahead. I’ll wait in the lobby.”

The inn’s lobby was small and dark, with wood paneling that was original to the building, as was the large fireplace that covered most of the inner wall. Maggie drifted toward the large picture window overlooking the harbor and peered into the night. Lights from a boat moored at the dock cast a yellow glow upon the water. Her gaze followed a large schooner that eased past on its way to Buzzards Bay.

“Tom Harrison.” The voice behind her startled her.

“What?” She didn’t have to turn to know it was Brett. Had he followed her?

“Tom Harrison’s boat. You know, the Harrisons that own—”

“The house no one lives in and the carousel that they drag out every five years or so and set up in the park so all the little local kids could have a ride.” She still didn’t bother to turn around. “I know the story.”

“Listen, Maggie. I’m really sorry. About everything. Mostly, I’m sorry that . . .”

She could feel him behind her, close enough to touch if she leaned back just a little. Which she’d die before she’d do.

“Please don’t. Just . . . don’t. We’re a lifetime away from apologies, Brett.” She still faced the window.

“I was hoping that . . .”

“There were things I’d hoped for, too,” she snapped, “so I guess we’ll both have to live with our disappointment.”

“Look,” he said, lowering his voice. “Something’s happened. Something you need to know about.”

She glanced over her shoulder, and they came face-to-face. In the low light, his expression was solemn, his blue eyes dark and haunted. He looked shaken. Which was ridiculous. She’d only seen him look shaken once, and that was over something a whole lot more serious than whatever was on his mind now.

“Ready, Mags?” Emma came out of the bathroom, the door closing softly behind her.

“I am.” Maggie looked up at Brett and dismissed him with a blithe, “Nice seeing you again, Brett.”

She had to step around him to join up with Emma, who was already near the front door, but as she did so, from the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow in the doorway that opened onto the hall. Kayla Crawford stood still as a stone, her eyes flitting from her husband to Maggie and back again. Brett hadn’t noticed. He was watching Maggie walk away.

That doesn’t look good. Maggie wondered just how much Kayla had heard.

“Nice night for a walk along the harbor,” Emma was saying as they walked toward the water. “They put in a walkway—cement—a few years back because so many people liked to walk along here at night.”

“Um-hmm,” Maggie replied.

“And a lot of people like to take their boats out at night,” Emma continued.

Maggie nodded absently.

“At least, they used to. Not so much these days, since we lost so many to the sea monsters out in Buzzards Bay. Used to think they were just fairy tales, but nope. They’re real. Huge, ugly, mean suckers. My dad