Page 76 of The Summer We Mended
“They’re still searching,” Anna said, voice low.“His jet went down, but they think he might’ve ejected.”
Jess closed her eyes for a beat, then nodded.“Okay.That’s… something.”
“I heard you were planning the solstice party,” Margot piped up, her voice loud and misplaced in the hush.
Claudia turned, clapping her hands excitedly.“I am.I’m so excited.”
“It’s not really the time, right now, Mom,” Jess said before she could stop herself.She didn’t mean for it to sound harsh.
“I think now is the perfect time,” Claudia said.“We need to give everyone something else to focus on.”
Anna finally spoke.“Let them have it.They need the distraction.Even if I can’t be present, I don’t want them to feel scared.”
Jess nodded.“You’re incredible,” she whispered.
Anna shrugged, but her eyes were glassy.
“I grabbed some more drinks and some apple cider donuts for the kids.”
Jess turned to see a woman, blonde, mid-thirties maybe, clutching a few bags of food.She looked nervous, like she wasn’t sure where to stand.
“This is June.My daughter.”
June gave a soft wave, her posture stiff.“Hi.”
Jess stood and crossed over to her.“Nice to meet you,” she said, offering her hand.
“Come on, I’ll go inside with you and help you put everything away,” Jess said.
The two of them walked into the house, and Jess helped June unload everything.
“I’ve never been to the Vineyard.I wasn’t quite sure what to get.Margot gave me a list.I hope I got all the right things.”
“If you even got half of what Margot wrote down, I’d consider that a win,” Jess laughed.“I’m certain she told you to get enough for an army.”
“There was a lot on it,” June laughed.
“You’ve never been to the Vineyard?”
“No, I lived in Virginia.Before that we lived in Boston.Dad just moved here about a month ago.”
“Oh wow, and you’re staying with him?”
“Yeah,” June said.
“I was living in California, I just moved back and am staying with my parents, too.It sucks.”
June looked out at the street.“Yeah.I just got divorced.Didn’t really have a plan after that.”
Jess’s eyes softened.“Same.About two years ago.”
June looked over, surprised.“You too?”
“Yep.Husband was… well, not a good match.It happens.”She shrugged.“Coming home was rough.Felt like failure for a while.”
June’s smile was brittle.“Yeah.Same.”
Jess nudged her gently.“You’ll get through it.”
