Page 89 of The Summer We Mended
They sat in silence for a long moment, the sound of the sea faint in the distance.The light filtered through the windows, casting golden shadows across the wooden floor.
“Deep in my heart, I know that Luke has been trained for this situation.He could survive a nuclear bomb, if that were the case.I know…I know that whatever is happening out there that he’s surviving and doing everything he can to come back to us.It’s just so scary.”
“It is,” Lily said softly.“You just really have to put all the hope you have in God’s hands.You just have to lay it at his feet.I have no doubt that he’s going to come home to you, but I also can’t even imagine how scary this is for you.Just remember that I’m right here with you to help you through it.”
“You’ve been an angel,” Anna whispered eventually.“You and Margot.I don’t even know how to say thank you.”
“You don’t have to.We’re just loving you the way you need to be loved.That’s what family does.”
Anna leaned against her mother, resting her head on her shoulder.“I wish I could rewind to the last time I saw him.Make it last longer.Say more.Memorize every detail.”
Lily wrapped an arm around her.“You love him.He knows and that’s all that matters.I know it’s a crazy thing to say, but that’s enough to make him fight like crazy to get back to you guys.And if that’s not the outcome, it doesn’t mean he didn’t, or that it’s not true.”
Outside, Anna could hear the faint sound of the kids’ laughter in the breeze, carried from the beach.Life, still moving, still breathing, even when her world felt like it had stopped.
“I’m scared to hope,” she said quietly.
“Hope doesn’t mean you’re not afraid,” Lily replied.“It just means you’re still choosing to believe, even when it hurts.”
Anna closed her eyes, letting the words fill all the holes in her heart for the moment.For now, they were enough.Not a solution.Not an answer.But enough to hold on.Enough to keep going one more day.
ChapterThirty-Four
Jess
Jess sat cross-legged on her parents’ back patio in a chaise lounge.It was a gorgeous morning, still in that space where it was not too hot.Her laptop balanced in front of her, a coffee cup cooling on the table next to her.Maisie was in the kitchen with Henry and Claudia, eating breakfast.
Claudia offered to watch Maisie for the first part of the morning so that Jess could fully immerse herself in work.Her email inbox was full, and her Instagram and Facebook DMs were also full.
This had become the new normal ever since the buzz about the solstice party started circulating on social media.She had posted a few short reels of the lantern prep, some throwback photos of Vineyard Haven’s earliest celebrations, and an elegant carousel of the event’s branding, all of which had gone mildly viral in the small, close-knit world of the Vineyard.
Are you the one behind the solstice promo?It’s stunning.
Hey!I run a boutique in Oak Bluffs and could use help with my online presence.You take on new clients?
Loved your flier for the event.Can you help with a fall fundraiser we’re planning?
Jess scrolled through message after message, eyes flicking from usernames she didn’t recognize to ones she vaguely remembered from high school.Her chest swelled with a giddy excitement.This was it, this was the break and buzz she needed after her failed tech business in California.This was something new and exciting, something she would excel at.Something that was just hers and that Clark couldn’t take away from her.
Every inquiry got a tailored response.She opened a fresh tab for each one, researching their business, checking out their current social media, their engagement rates, and their website functionality.Then, with practiced care, she crafted pitches that were specific, actionable, and kind.
One boutique owner, a woman named Lila who ran a seasonal shop called Drift and Dune, was hosting a grand reopening after a recent remodel.Jess had looked up the store and noticed the last Instagram post was over a year old.
Jess typed up her pitch:
Hi Lila,
I took a look at Drift and Dune and I love the refreshed coastal style you’re leaning into, it feels modern and relaxed, exactly what summer visitors are drawn to.I’d love to help you create a strong relaunch strategy.
I’d recommend a quick 3-week social push: branded teaser posts, a 15-second vertical video showing the remodel process, a launch day giveaway, and a light paid ad spend targeted at your audience.I can also help streamline your Instagram grid so the aesthetic matches the new in-store experience.
My rate for a campaign of that size and scope is $850.Let me know if you’d like to hop on a call!
Best,
Jess
An hour later, she received the reply.
