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

sense of hope, this sense of wonder. “You know, Silas, I never want to get married again. I like living alone. I have a cat, and I have my own routine, and I don’t want to cook when I don’t want to.”

Silas put back his head and laughed a long time, which Eleanor thought was rather rude of him, even though she knew she’d been rude herself.

When he got himself together, he said, “I will never propose to you, Eleanor, I promise. I like my independence, too.”

“Well, then,” Eleanor said, “I will consider selling this place. I’ll see if I can find a realtor I can trust.”

“How about Jeff Townsend? He was the realtor for my house.” Silas rose. “I’ve got to get back to town. I’ve got a board meeting for the Coastal Foundation.”

Eleanor rose, too. They carried their mugs into the kitchen and Eleanor walked Silas to the back door. He opened it and turned back. “Just one thing,” he said, as if he were Columbo. “The house next door to me is for sale.”

Twenty-Two

Ari knew she’d been off her form today at Beach Camp. She tripped over a beach ball instead of catching it. She’d spoken harshly to a child—who was shoving a smaller child, but still. And worst of all, when she was guarding the outside line in the ocean so the children wouldn’t go past her, she’d peed in the water. No one seemed to notice, but she was embarrassed anyway, even though she knew the children peed in the water all the time.

With her tingling, sore breasts, her uncomfortably tight waistbands, and her constant desire to sleep, she was ever more aware of her pregnancy and ever more confused.

Determined to be cheerful, Ari decided as she drove home to stop at her favorite farm stand, Moors End. She’d pick up some corn for this evening, and berries and fresh lettuce, and flowers, too! She turned onto Polpis Road and turned left when she came to the farm stand driveway. It was still Old-Nantuckety, with a cash-out table inside a wooden shed with only two walls. Large cardboard boxes of just-picked vegetables sat around on tables. Fresh flowers were displayed in mason jars filled with water. Beyond the shed were rows of herbs and the greenhouses and farther out were fields of flowers and growing corn.

Standing by the boxes of corn were her father and a woman.

The sight hit her like a punch in her chest. For a panicky moment, she couldn’t breathe. Then she walked past the other shoppers and stood next to her father. He was busy looking down at the corn while the woman held out a hemp bag.

“Hello, Daddy,” Ari said. She could hardly get the words out. She was shaking uncontrollably.

Her father straightened, looked at her, and stepped back. He wore a blue rugby shirt with the collar turned up like a frat boy, board shorts, and leather loafers without socks. For a moment, he looked like a stranger to Ari.

He said, “Ari. My goodness.” He looked surprised, almost frightened.

Ari’s fingertips were numb. She couldn’t catch her breath, but she said, “Are you going to introduce me to your ‘friend’? Why don’t you bring her home and introduce her to Eleanor, and to Cliff, oh, and to your wife?”

“Ari,” her father said, reaching out to steady her. “It’s okay. It’s going to be all right.”

Ari twitched away from his touch. She was shaking so hard, her teeth were chattering.

Unbelievably, the woman spoke. Her head high, a gentle smile on her face, she said, “Ari, my name is Bemi. Your father is famous for his surgical skill—”

“How can you even speak to me?” Ari’s heart jumped hard in her chest. She was hyperventilating, and her vision was hazy. All she could clearly see was the woman’s shorts and blue halter top. “I am his daughter. He is married. And you are a—home wrecker!”

By now the other shoppers were looking at them, but Ari didn’t care. Tears streamed down her face.

“Ari—” Her father had tears in his eyes, too.

“I’m a traveling nurse,” Bemi said, speaking quickly. “I’m here only for the summer to help with the expanded population. I’m leaving at the end of September.”

“Who cares?” Ari spat. “You’ve done your damage! My father is destroying his marriage and breaking our hearts because of you!” She had never hated anyone more in her life. She’d never been so angry. She hoped her words hurt the other woman, because the other woman was hurting her, and all of Ari’s family.

Bemi put her hand on Ari’s father’s arm. “I’ll wait in the car.”

Ari caught her breath, taking in shivery gulps of air, as if she’d almost drowned. She was aware of other people watching her in a kind of hushed audience.

Her father said softly, “Ari, we can’t talk here. Please. I love you. I love your mother. I just…if you’d let me speak with you someplace else…”

The pain of hearing her father’s voice struck like lightning through Ari. She was amazed she could stand.

“What could you possibly say? Why would I even want to hear your words? I hate you.” Ari turned to walk off. She stopped. She looked back at her father. “Oh, and my mother is on a cruise with her new boyfriend.”

“Ari—” Her father held out his hand.

She tossed her hair like a mean girl in high school and said, “And I’m pregnant.”

She felt triumphant as she walked to her car. She slid into the Subaru, closed the door, yanked on her seatbelt. The inside of the car felt like shelter to her, like protection from her father and his girlfriend and all the people watching. Still, she knew she should calm down before driving. She fished a tissue from her backpack and blew her nose. She wiped her face and dug her fingers into her palms, trying to stop her shivering. She didn’t know who she hated more at that moment, her father,