Page 69 of Summer Light on Nantucket

Pull yourself together,she told herself.

She dug a tissue from her purse and heartily blew her nose.

“Sorry,” Blythe told her daughter.

“We’re all scared,” Holly informed her. “It’s only natural.”

Blythe almost laughed. Her youngest child was so instinctively on target.

Blythe asked, “Holly, did you call Aunt Kate?”

“I didn’t.” Holly cringed. “Will she be mad at me?”

“No, darling. It’s okay.”

She called Kate. Kate’s voicemail came on.

Blythe left a message. “Celeste is in the hospital. Holly and I are here.”

I need to call Bob,Blythe thought, just as a nurse came out to talk to Blythe. Janet was an island woman who knew Celeste and Blythe and the entire family. She took Blythe and Holly into a small private cubicle.

“Celeste is doing well.” Janet gave them a few moments for the words to sink in, like water extinguishing a flame. “She’s going to stay with us in the hospital tonight so we can keep an eye on her. She’s had a minor heart attack.”

“Why?” Holly asked. “Is it my fault?”

“Of course not,” Janet said. “Your grandmother shows every sign of returning to normal, but we need to take care of her for a few days.”

“When can we see her?” Blythe asked.

Janet hesitated. “Why don’t you step in for a quick hello? She’s all settled, and lucid, and she’s asked to see you, but she’s tired. Just one person at a time, for now.”

“I’ll be right back,” Blythe told Holly.

She hurried after the nurse, down the bright hallway, grateful that the hospital had recently been renovated. Everything was clean, bright, and cheerful.

Janet led her into Celeste’s room.

“We’ve got a visitor for you, Celeste.”

“Celeste!” Blythe forced a smile as she walked toward the older woman.

Celeste was lying in a hospital bed, clad in a hospital gown. She was pale and looked exhausted and very small.

“I’ll leave you two for a moment,” Janet said.

Blythe kissed Celeste on her forehead. “How are you feeling?”

Celeste grasped Blythe’s hand. “Please tell Holly I’m sorry. I’m sure I frightened her.”

“Oh, Celeste, don’t be silly. Holly adores you. Nothing could change that. She’s going to feel like a hero because she called the EMTs.”

“It’s so embarrassing,” Celeste said. Tears welled in her eyes.

Celeste seemedfragile,which was actually terrifying. Everyone felt like Celeste would live forever or at least to one hundred ten. Blythe’s heart surged with a tide of pity and an unexpected shiver of fear.

Blythe smiled. “Don’t be embarrassed. Everyone spends time in the hospital, sooner or later.” She pulled a chair up to the bed and sat close to Celeste, holding her hand.

Celeste signaled for Blythe to come closer so she could whisper. “The thing is, I feeloldnow. I feel frail! And I hate it!”

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