Family Reunion, Nancy Thayer [the kiss of deception read online .txt] 📗

of nightlife, too. She picked up her phone and checked the movies scheduled this week at the Dreamland. Most movies involved men with far too much testosterone armed with explosive machinery, or frenzied cartoons sure to drive children into states of hyperactivity. Concerts and plays were debuting in late June. She checked the library listings and found a few lectures she’d enjoy. It had been a long time since she’d simply ambled up and down Main Street in the evening, listening to the street musicians, stopping at the Hub to buy a magazine, sitting on a bench on Straight Wharf gawking at the fabulous yachts in the harbor.

Also, she reminded herself, she didn’t have to go anywhere. Ari knew from previous summers what an introvert she was, happy with her own company. Eleanor didn’t have to pretend anything at all.

She looked at the stack of books on her bedside table. Two novels, a biography, and a mystery. She chose the mystery.

She was only a few pages into her book when a light tap came at her door.

“Gram?” Ari stood there in a white tee and what looked like men’s boxer shorts and flip-flops. “Can I talk to you for a while?”

“Of course,” Eleanor said.

Ari crossed the room and slid into bed, effortlessly curling up against Eleanor so that Eleanor put her arm around her granddaughter just as she had years ago when they snuggled while Eleanor read her a fairy tale.

“What’s going on?” Eleanor asked.

“It’s nothing, Gram, really. I just feel so guilty, breaking up with Peter like that. I tried my best to do it nicely.”

Eleanor said, “I don’t think there’s a way to break it off nicely.”

“You’re right. I know. The actual truth is, I never was madly in love with him, but he was so perfect, so the guy I should marry. And he loved me. I thought he loved me so much it would make up for the little bit I didn’t love him, like I was thirty percent and he was seventy. I didn’t mean to hurt him. He’s such a nice guy.”

“Oh, well, I always thought he was a bit of an asshole,” Eleanor said.

Shocked, Ari sniffed and sat up. “You did?”

“Remember last summer, when he visited, and we sat down to dinner and he made an absolute spectacle of standing behind my chair and pushing me into the table?”

“He was trying to be gentlemanly.”

“No, he was trying to show off. He was saying, ‘Look at me, I’ve got the best manners of anyone in this room.’ He was phony and performative. And I can scoot my chair into the table without help, thank you very much. I’m not decrepit yet. Do you think I’m decrepit?”

Ari had to laugh at her grandmother’s indignation. “Not at all, Gram.” Ari turned to the bedside table and took some tissues. She blew her nose loudly, then subsided back against Eleanor. “I never knew you thought that. You should have told me.”

“Right,” Eleanor said wryly. “You would have hated me forever.”

“Mom liked him a lot,” Ari said in a small voice.

“Of course she did,” Eleanor answered.

They both laughed a little bit.

“You’re a blue ribbon champion of a young woman,” Eleanor said, then immediately corrected herself. “That makes it sound like you’re in a competition. That’s not what I mean. I mean you are extremely smart and capable and creative. You’re beautiful, although these days that’s not supposed to matter. Plus, you’re right where you should be at this exact moment in your life. It’s the beginning of a Nantucket summer. You’ve finished all your exams and graduated from college. That’s impressive. You should give yourself some time to relax, to let go, to be free. You should feel free.” Eleanor paused. “Oh, dear, I sound like I’m leading a self-help course, don’t I?”

“I love everything you said, Gram.”

“I’ll say one last thing. Love is strange. I was madly in love with your grandfather, and after we had children, I wasn’t very much in love with him but we were too busy to notice and then, as we grew older, I loved him again.”

Ari said, “Thanks, Gram. I think maybe I was only fond of Peter. Certainly I was never madly in love.” She stretched and yawned. “I feel better now. I should go to bed. I have to be at Jetties Beach at seven-thirty tomorrow. And I don’t stop until four-thirty, so who knows when I’ll get home.”

“I might not be up when you are,” Eleanor said. “But good luck with your job.”

“Thanks, Gram.” Ari hugged her tightly before bouncing off the bed and leaving the room.

Eleanor listened to the patter of Ari’s feet on the stairs. It was delightful, having the girl with her, and it had warmed Eleanor’s heart to have Ari confiding as she snuggled against her. She didn’t worry about Ari. Her granddaughter was young, beautiful, smart, and kind. Ari would be fine.

With a sigh of pleasure, she returned to her mystery.

Nine

On Saturday morning, Ari made breakfast to share with her grandmother on the deck. Hot coffee, scrambled eggs, crisp bacon, and a colorful fruit plate.

They discussed the events of the past week, the lectures Eleanor went to, and Eleanor’s adventure volunteering in the Hospital Thrift Shop where she had to struggle not to buy a gorgeous set of sterling silver fish knives and forks that had been donated.

“They were so elaborately made,” Eleanor said. “The handles were shaped like fish and the blades of the knives were engraved. Beautiful objects, and completely useless.”

“I’m proud of you for not giving in,” Ari said. “You already have lots of silver.”

“I know, I know, and I don’t polish it as often as I should. But I do like beautifully crafted objects.” Eleanor focused on Ari. “How do you like the camp?”

“I love it! Oh, if you could only see the children. There’s this little boy named Jorge who is totally uncoordinated but determined. And Lila, she has a little