Page 107 of Look on the Bright Side

An hour later, though, Lark found herself standing alone on the shaded patio, looking out over Joy’s lawn. Tiger lilies and black-eyed susans bobbed on the breeze; the hydrangeas were an electric shade of blue; the kids were flying kites on the beach with Robbie, Rosie, Harlow and Grady. In the yard and on the deck, people had separated into little clumps of conversation. None of Lark’s family had outed the fake relationship, though at this point, it would’ve been a relief if they did. An oysterman was shucking at the raw bar Joy had set up, and the food was fantastic. Aside from herself and Lorenzo (and Noni), everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Especially Joy. Lark smiled, watching her. She hadn’t seen her this animated…well, ever.

“You.”

“Jesus!” Lark practically leaped out of her skin. It was Noni, like a ninja in her wheelchair. “Sorry. Hi, Noni,” she said. Apparently Noni could get around on her own, a fact previously undisclosed to Lark. “Can I get you anything?”

“You love my grandson?” she asked.

Which one? Lark thought, then cringed. “He’s very…special.”

“He alone mosta his life. He need somebody.”

“Yes. I agree.”

“I die soon.”

She knew? Lorenzo made it seem like she was in the dark about that. “How are you handling that? Would you like to talk a little?”

The old lady shrugged. “We all die.” She glanced up at Lark. “I no like Lorenzo alone, working, no life, no love. He need kids. Happy times.”

Okay, then. So she did have human emotions. “I’m sure he’ll have them,” Lark said. It was possible.

“You gonna be good to him?”

“Sure. Of course. You don’t have to worry about him, Noni. He’s…he’s well loved.” By someone, surely.

Noni narrowed her eyes. “Eh. Whadda you know? Go find my son.”

“You got it.” Like a prisoner who’d just been pardoned, Lark leaped off to find Silvio and told him where his mother was lurking. Grabbed a pork sandwich and ate it, accepted a glass of wine from Addie.

“Larkby,” her sister said, “when this summer is done, how about if we have a twin weekend, just us? Spa, food, wine, more food, fun. We both need it.”

“I’m in,” she said. It was a nice thought, but honestly, if she got back into Oncology, she’d be way too busy for that. And she would get back in. She’d sent Dr.Hanks a report of what she was doing, from the studying, the classes, podcasts and papers, the hospice work, and he’d emailed back, saying she was on the right path.

So good for her.

“Oh, Jocelyn’s waving to me,” Addie said. “She said the girls could feed the falcon, and I want to get some pictures for Instagram. See you later.” She shoved her wineglass into Lark’s hand and dashed down to the beach, where Jocelyn was indeed showing Otto off to the little ones. (Lark had tucked Connery into the guesthouse, just in case.) Grady and Harlow were holding hands, watching, and Robbie and Rosie were notably not in sight, probably making out somewhere. Dad was talking to Grandpop and Silvio, and Mom was coming out with more food.

“Hello, Lark. There you are!”

Lark froze, then turned. Heather and Theo Dean stood in front of her.

“Hi!” she said. “Um…how are you?”

“I told you she forgot, hon,” Theo said, giving her a hug. “Whale watching today? Dinner at the Red Inn afterward?”

Her heart dropped like a stone. “Oh no, I did forget,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I…I’ve worked an awful lot this week, and then Joy threw this picnic, and I…I’m so embarrassed.”

“Honey, it’s just us,” Heather said, kissing her cheek. “Don’t apologize. It happens. Do you want to skip it, then? We can do it another time.”

“Lark, do you have a key to the shed? Henry and I thought we’d take a kayak out, and Joy said…Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

It was Sofia and Henry. Lark felt a little dizzy.

“Hi. I’m Heather, and this is my husband, Theo,” said Heather. “We’re friends of the family.”

“I’m Sofia Santini, and this is my fiancé, Henry Chang. I’m Lorenzo’s sister.”

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