Page 74 of Surfside Sisters

Donna Maxwell sailed up in an invisible whirl of perfume and confidence. Keely said hello and stood watching as the two mothers chatted.

And it all came rushing back. How charming Donna was, how charismatic, how blazingly beautiful. She was tall, with the powerful sleek body of a sailor and tennis player, and the sleeveless dress she wore displayed her taut muscular upper arms. Next to Donna, Keely’s mother looked, well, dumpy. Eloise’s months of reclusiveness had allowed her to become doughy and pale. The geometric top Keely had been so happy to see Eloise wear now looked sadly out of style and actually faded next to Donna’s Lilly Pulitzer.

Keely had always admired Donna, and gotten on well enough with her, at the same time hiding a burning envy, almost an anger, that Isabelle’s mother was soall thatwhile her own mother was exhausted from nursing and seldom attractively andneverglamorously dressed. Yet she had to admit that even though Donna was never affectionate to Keely, she had always allowed Keely to muddle in with her own children for meals or trips to the beach or late night thriller movie marathons.

Keely hadn’t spoken with Donna for years. Here in the gallery, Donna was cool. Glancing sideways, she saw Sebastian watching her. When he caught her glance, he lifted an eyebrow and smiled, and something about his expression brightened her heart and made her remember all the times over the years when Keely and Isabelle or Sebastian—especially Sebastian—had done some stupid tween thing to try Donna’s patience.

She tuned in to Donna’s words.

“Yes, it’s true,” Donna Maxwell was saying, with the most tremendously smug smile, “having a grandchild is the most wonderful experience in the world.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Sebastian joked.

“Oh, don’t be silly.” Donna rapped her son’s arm lightly. “You can’t complain.” She turned back to Eloise. “Somehow, a grandchild makes the universe magical. And, well,right.There seems to be a reason for things, and a rhythm. And the beauty, the sweetness, the pleasure…it’s like falling in love for the first time.”

“You’re fortunate,” Eloise told Donna. “To have your grandchild here on the island with you.”

“That’s true.” Donna flicked a cold glance at Keely. “I suppose if Keely ever marries and has children, you’ll have to travel to see them. Now that she lives in New York, or wherever.”

Keely bristled, and before she could stop herself, she wrapped her arm around her mother’s waist and said, “Nantucket is my hometown. I might move back someday.”

“Really,” Donna said. “Well, thatwouldbe interesting.”

Eloise squeezed Keely’s waist. “I would love that, darling.”

Sebastian said, “I would, too.”

Keely didn’t dare look at his face for fear she’d break into an adolescent-in-braces wide-mouth grin. But his remark gave her the courage to say to Donna, “How is Isabelle? I’ll bet she’s loving motherhood.”

Donna preened. “Isabelle is happier than she’s ever been in all her life!” She looked at her watch. “I must dash. I’m meeting Al and some friends for dinner. It was nice to see you again, Eloise.” She did not say it was nice seeing Keely.

With a twinkle of her fingers at Eloise and Sebastian, Donna surged away to the door. For just a moment too long, Keely, her mother, and Sebastian stood silent.

Eloise spoke first. “Your mother is so lovely, Sebastian.”

Sebastian smiled. “I could say the same about you, Mrs. Green.”

Flustered, Eloise waved her hand, as if shooing away the compliment.

Keely mouthed “thank you” to Sebastian, surprised at his kindness and sensitivity.

Sebastian asked, “What’s your cell number?”

Keely’s heart leapt. She told him.

“Keely, I’m rather tired. Would you mind if we went home?” Eloise asked.

Hmm,Keely thought and wondered if her mother felt she’d been overshadowed, shrunk merely by Donna’s presence. She had never before considered how her mother might have felt, if she’d compared herself to the blazingly confident Donna. “Sure, Mom. I think I’ve had about all the excitement I can handle, myself.”

“We can watchMidsomer Murderstogether,” Eloise said, linking her arm with Keely’s.

Keely looked over her shoulder as they walked away from Sebastian. She wanted to exchange one more heated glance with him. But another group of people surrounded him, asking about his work. Keely spent the rest of the evening sitting on the sofa in front of the television with her mother, but her mind was beavering away, thinking of ways she could get in touch with Isabelle…for so many reasons.

Keely and her mother awoke energized. Coffee sweetened with sugar and cream helped, too. Together, Keely and her mother tore through the boxes and plastic bags in the basement, uncovering old winter clothes, thick white linen tablecloths that had been waiting for years to be ironed, stacks of Keely’s father’sNational Geographicmagazines, clusters of children’s birthday party paraphernalia—plastic silver tiaras, not one but two broken piñatas, Little Mermaid paper plates, cups, and napkins—and several shoeboxes of old photograph negatives. After they’d loaded up the back of the Civic, Keely and her mother showered and dressed, and Keely took them out to the Seagrille for dinner.

Keely kept checking her phone to see if she’d had a text from Sebastian.

No, nothing from him. Two brief texts from Gray.

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