Page 50 of Surfside Sisters

“You look lovely,” her mother assured her.

“Thanks, but I don’t want to looklovely,Mom. I want to look professional. I want to look sophisticated. I’m going to New York.”

Tommy knocked on the door. “Your chariot, my queen.” He did an extravagant bow and gestured toward his car.

Eloise came to the door. “Isn’t it wonderful news, Tommy?”

“It is. I’m really proud of my girl.”

On the way to the airport, Keely chattered as she double-checked everything in her purse. “I know I’m babbling,” she said. “Sorry.”

“Babble away,” Tommy told her, laughing.

When they reached the airport, Keely grabbed her computer, purse, and suitcase.

“Don’t come in,” she told Tommy. “I’m sure the plane is boarding in only a few minutes.”

“I’ve got to get to the office anyway,” Tommy said. Leaning over, he kissed Keely passionately, but Keely only wanted to get out of the car and on the plane and into the city.

The JetBlue direct flights from Nantucket to LaGuardia were all booked. Keely had to fly to Boston and from there to New York. JetBlue was also booked at Boston Logan so Keely had to trek over to Delta’s terminal, a hike she didn’t even mind, because she was floating, really.

She had just passed an Au Bon Pain when she heard her name called.

“Keely! Keely Green!”

She looked. She stopped dead in her tracks.“Sebastian.”

Sebastian came loping over on his long legs, lean and fit in jeans and a long-sleeved navy blue rugby shirt, a backpack fastened to his shoulders. He took hold of Keely and wrapped her in a tight embrace. He kissed her on the mouth—quickly, in a friendly way.

“What are you doing here?” Keely asked, almost angrily. Emotions battled inside her. She felt defensive, because the last time he saw her, on the Surfside Beach, Keely had been so pathetic, telling him how she envied his family, how shewantedhim. Now she didn’t want to seemneedy—but she did want him.

Sebastian remained wonderfully relaxed. “I’m going home. I just arrived from Stockholm. I’ve got a long wait until I fly to Nantucket. What areyoudoing here?”

I’m standing here with every molecule in my body playing Ping-Pong at the sight of you,Keely thought. She said, “I’m going to New York. Sebastian, I sold a book!”

“Get out of town. Really?”

“Really.” She couldn’t hold back a perfectly silly grin of happiness.

“Wow, Keely. That’s absolutely phenomenal! I knew you could do it! Look, I’ve got a long wait for my flight. Let me walk you to your gate.”

“Oh, well, thanks.” Keely felt like a child who’d been given both a bouncy houseanda puppy for Christmas. So many dreams were hovering around her, she was surprised she remembered how to walk.

Sebastian took hold of her small rolling suitcase and pulled it along. “Who’s your publisher? And don’t you have to have an agent?”

“Yes. You need the agent first. And I have one, Sally Hazlitt at Hazlitt and Hopkins. My publisher will be—is—Ransome & Hawkmore. Very big deal. Sebastian, tell me about you. Are you coming home for a visit?”

“Right. Just a quick stop to see the family…and the island. I’ll be sorry not to see you.”

He has no idea what his words are doing to me, Keely thought. He was smiling down at her, warmly, even affectionately, and she swept her eyes to the floor, protecting herself from believing the tenderness in his eyes. She told herself:Right now, I’m a cute little bit of the past to entertain him before his next flight.

When she didn’t respond, Sebastian said, “But you’re on your way off the island, aren’t you? You’re on your way to fame and fortune and all your dreams coming true.”

At that, Keely had to speak. “Maybe notallmy dreams.”

Sebastian stopped walking, the rolling case jerking to a stop next to him. “Keely, what do you mean by that?”

They were face-to-face now, and her heart was pounding so hard she felt herself shake with each beat. For a moment she allowed herself to study his face, memorizing each feature for the cold winter nights ahead. He was beautiful.

---