Page 10 of The Summer We Mended
David Hartman had been larger than life.Everyone who met him loved him.He was a good friend and mentor, an amazing father, and an even better grandfather.The love he had for his wife was evident in the way he treated her and spoke about her.David and Lily Hartman’s marriage set the bar incredibly high for their children.
No one was ever ready to say goodbye to a parent, and with his dying in a car accident, the goodbye was stolen from the rest of the Hartman family, and they were all struggling with that realization.They felt David’s loss deeply, like part of the air wasn’t fit to breathe anymore.
Heck, Anna hadn’t even been able to fully grieve the loss of her father, either.Does a mom ever really get that opportunity when she’s responsible for keeping two tiny humans alive?It didn’t matter right now, now she was too worried about what state her mother would be in when they showed up.
The drive from the ferry landing to her mother’s house felt like slipping into an old, familiar dream.Anna rolled down her window, letting the warm salt air rush in, tousling her hair as they drove past weathered gray cottages and picket fences tangled with Rosa Rugosa beach flowers.The narrow roads curved gently through Vineyard Haven, sun-dappled and shaded by trees that arched like old friends welcoming her home.The kids were in the backseat, faces pressed to the glass, calling out memories like they were spotting landmarks in a fairytale.“That’s where we got ice cream last summer!”Nora squealed, pointing.“And remember that lighthouse?”Blaze added, practically bouncing.
As they turned down her mother’s quiet street, the ocean peeked out between the houses, just a flash of silver-blue, and both kids shouted in unison, “I can’t wait to see Grandma!”
Anna smiled as the house came into view, tucked behind the dune grass and swaying hydrangeas.Her heart beat a little faster.
They pulled into the driveway, and the kids were practically trying to tuck and roll out of the car before she came to a complete stop.
“Calm down, guys,” she giggled.
Anna stepped out of the car and just stood for a moment, staring at the little house nestled between the trees.The shingles were grayer than she remembered, the hydrangeas fuller, but it was still the same.Her mother’s porch.Her childhood summers.That ever-present hush of the ocean just beyond the trees, like the island was breathing in time with her.
Blaze was already scrambling out behind her, his backpack half unzipped and swinging from one shoulder.“Mom, I forgot how close Grandma lives to the beach!”he shouted, taking off around the car like he was being chased by the wind.
Nora wasn’t far behind, her eyes wide as she spun in a slow circle on the gravel drive.“It smells like salt and sunscreen and cookies,” she announced, grinning.“I remember this place.”
Anna smiled, her hand resting lightly on the car door as she took it all in, the white trim around the windows, the old swing hanging from the oak in the yard, the glint of water just visible through the dune grass beyond the fence.A wave of something warm and aching moved through her.This was the place that built her, the place where scraped knees were kissed and fireflies were caught in mason jars.
It should have felt like home.But as they walked up the overgrown path, Anna noticed the curtains drawn tight, and something in her stomach knotted.The place felt paused, like someone had hit Stop on life and forgotten to press Play again.
Margot and Cody had warned her, but she didn’t fully understand it until now.
Blaze ran ahead, nearly tripping on the stone walkway.“Grandma!”he called.
When Lily opened the door, she looked almost surprised.Her silver hair was twisted up hastily, and David’s cardigan sagged from her thin shoulders.There was flour, or maybe clay, on her hands.Her eyes flicked past Anna to the bags, the car, the kids.
“Oh,” she said softly.“You made it.”
“Hi, Mom,” Anna managed.
Nora was already halfway into a breathless story about ferry snacks and seagulls.Lily bent stiffly to hug her, then Blaze.
“Grandma, I fed the seagulls just like Grandpa used to teach us, too.There were crumbs everywhere, and they surrounded me like I was their king!”Blaze exclaimed as he gestured wildly.
“You’re lucky they didn’t poop on you,” Nora giggled as she shook her head.“Grandpa told you to wear a poncho, just in case.”
Lily flinched at the mention of David, but not enough that the kids noticed.Anna was watching her mother like a hawk, though, looking for the silent signs that Margot told her about.
“I’ll get the guest room ready for the kids; you can stay in your old room,” Lily murmured.
“No need.We’ve got it,” Anna said quickly, already turning toward the trunk.“We’ll take the twins’ stuff up.”
Inside, the house carried its familiar scent, lemon, salt air, but something else lingered now, something stale.Dust outlined the baseboards.A coffee mug with dried remnants sat beside a forgotten jigsaw puzzle.The photos on the walls were slightly crooked.
The twins didn’t notice.They charged through the house like it was an amusement park, shouting memories, asking for cinnamon toast like Grandpa used to make.Lily smiled, but the corners of her mouth didn’t lift the way they used to.She looked like she might cry.
In the kitchen, Margot was unpacking groceries like she owned the place.Her white curls were pinned back with a red scarf, and her lipstick was perfect, as always.
“Good lord,” she muttered.“The fridge looked like a science experiment.”She glanced up and grinned.“Anna, sweetheart, you look like you’ve been wrangling tornadoes all day.”
Anna laughed before she hugged her.“That’s about right.Thank you for being here.”
Margot tapped her shoulder.“You’ve got enough to deal with.I’m just here to help where I can.”
