Page 57 of Look on the Bright Side

“I mean, I’d live there, too, if she let me,” Robbie said. “Nicest house in Wellfleet.”

“She’d probably say yes,” Lark said.

“I think ours is the nicest house in Wellfleet, Robbie,” Addison said sharply.

“Or Melissa Spencer’s,” Winnie said. “If you like modern, that is. But again, why, Mom?”

Ellie didn’t answer for a minute. Because your father has broken my heart, kids, and drastic measures are called for. Because I want to kill him and also sob for days. Because I can’t believe he’d do something like this, after all the time and love and effort we’ve put into the past four decades, and I’m in shock, and I’m scared and I’m lost.

“Are you getting divorce, Gran?” Imogen asked.

“Where did you hear that word?” Nicole asked, her eyes wide with horror.

“She’s six, Nic,” Robbie said. “She probably knows what ‘divorce’ means. And no, squirt, they’re not getting divorced.”

Gerald was looking at her. She could feel it.

She cleared her throat. “Grampy has some things to clean up around here, honey. I want to be away while he does it.” For the first time that night, she looked directly at her husband. “Since it’s not my mess to deal with.”

ELEVEN

LARK

“Clearly, I won’t be attending,” Lorenzo said to Lark the night before the engagement party.

“Well, I’m not going to your sister’s engagement party without you, Lorenzo.” Actually, that might be more fun. “Why aren’t you coming? By the way, I love the dress. You have excellent taste in women’s clothes.”

“I’ll be at the party,” Lorenzo said tightly. They were talking on the phone, a first, since he preferred to keep communication brief and impersonal. “I’m just not going to…that.”

“The Renaissance fair?” she asked. Connery barked happily at the phrase, and she scooped him up for a cuddle. “It’ll be fun.”

“It will not be fun. It will be stupid.”

Lark dropped a kiss on Connery’s head, then set him down to better peruse her wardrobe options. What did a person wear to a Ren fair? Ah. Here was a white, off-the-shoulder blouse with puffy sleeves. Add a long skirt, and good enough. “Your whole family will be there. Even Noni.”

“I’m a surgeon. I have more important things to do than watch a joust.” It was almost funny, except that he was dead serious.

“You’re allowed to have fun, Dr.Santini.”

“My idea of fun doesn’t include watching adults play dress-up.”

“What is your idea of fun, then?”

There was a long pause, and Lark had to smile. “Reading,” he finally said. “Eating a nice meal.”

“I’ve eaten with you three times now. I think we know that’s a lie. So you don’t have fun. I get it.”

“Can we end this conversation? I’ll be seeing the family at the party—the party I’m paying for—and that’s more than enough.”

Lark pulled out the necklace Addie had given her on their thirtieth birthday, a simple pearl on a rose gold chain. She’d given Addie simple pearl earrings set in rose gold for that same birthday. “Here’s a hint, Lorenzo. Stop reminding people that you pay for things.”

“Why?”

“It’s rude and it makes you look classless.”

“And yet I am paying. It’s merely a fact.” He paused. “How is wanting to give my sister a nice wedding ‘classless’?”

“That part’s not. It’s lovely. The classless part is making sure everyone knows you’re paying for it. Your parents aren’t, and maybe can’t, and every time you mention your own generosity, you probably make them feel a little ashamed.”

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