Page 109 of Summer Longing
“I might sit this one out,” she’d said to Ben, using a Tea by the Sea magnet to stick the invite on the Shell Haven refrigerator.
“Oh, no, you won’t,” Ben said. “If I’m going, you’re going.”
“Why areyougoing?” Ruth said, already bristling; she assumed it was because of Bianca.
“Olivia insisted I make it my last hurrah. So if I’m roped into this thing, you’re going too.”
Ruth pondered her costume options for days, searching online for inspiration. Since the theme was Mardi Gras by the Sea, she decided to focus on the “sea” aspect of the event and ordered a 1940s-style double-breasted sailor dress. It was navy blue with big white buttons, a white hem, and a flared skirt. She topped it off with a white sailor hat. By the time the party rolled around, after seeing how everyone in town went all out for the parade, she felt silly for ever having balked at the idea of a costume. Ben had also opted for a nautical-themed costume: he was dressed as a pirate.
Nearly every storefront that day posted a sign or banner recognizing the fortieth anniversary of Carnival; Ruth calculated that her first summer in town had marked the debut of the festival. How full circle, how impossible to consider a coincidence. She would embrace Carnival, she would get into the spirit. She felt certain it would somehow be a momentous night. Life had drawn her back here, and for one final night, her family would be together. She had to make the most of it.
The door of the Beach Rose Inn was marked with a fleur-de-lis and an elaborate wreath of gold tulle. Inside, Molly rested by the ottoman, a purple, green, and gold scarf around her neck. Rachel greeted guests and handed out masks and instructed everyone to head outside to the backyard.
The house was festooned with streamers, balloons, and hundreds upon hundreds of beads hanging from the ceiling, the stairs, and the doorways. Out back, jazz music played over the sound system. Ruth was on the early side but there were already a few dozen guests mingling against the backdrop of the bay, the water shimmering in the light of the early-evening sun.
With all the guests in costumes and masks, it took some work to recognize people. She spotted Elise and Fern in mermaid costumes—hard to miss with the baby stroller next to them.
Ruth’s stomach tightened. Every time she saw Mira, she felt the clock ticking on her decision to keep silent. Ben had been right when he’d told her that her priority had to be mending the rift with Olivia. She’d been honoring Amelia’s wishes—and Jaci’s secret—long enough. Still, Jaci needed to be the one to tell her own truth. Ruth had been thinking and thinking about how to make this easier for her.
“Ruth!” Lidia Barros waved to her. She wore a starfish-pattern dress with a foam starfish hat and starfish glasses. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
Yes, that’s because I’ve been avoiding you.“I know, I know—I’ve been busy.”
“I love the hand lotion and the lavender oil. You’re amazing. You should be selling this stuff.”
Ruth nodded, distracted, and looked around for Olivia. “Have you seen Olivia?” she asked Lidia.
“Yes—she’s over there with Marco. The two of them are joined at the hip, as usual.” She leaned toward Ruth and winked conspiratorially. “I could not be more thrilled.”
Ruth smiled. “I feel the same way. I just need to talk to her for one minute. I’ll be right back.”
“Ruth! How adorable. I love yourensemble.” Amelia, wearing a foam costume that seemed to be some sort of square pastry—a beignet?—intercepted her midway across the sand. How fitting that Amelia was dressed as a comfort food. She was such a comfort to them all.
“Thank you,” Ruth said, feeling a rush of affection for the woman. It was Amelia, after all, who had given her the ultimate piece of wisdom that summer, the first day at her mosaic class on the beach:You can take something broken and turn it into something whole.
Amelia might not approve of the conversation Ruth was about to have with her daughter. And yet, Ruth knew that if Amelia were in her position, she would do the same thing. Amelia was a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother.
Ultimately, Amelia would understand.
Ruth kept moving, passing two men dressed in pink shorts and pink T-shirts holding clear parasols with big googly eyes in front and ribbons hanging around the edges. It took her a moment to realize it was Clifford and Santiago costumed as jellyfish.
“Ruth Cooperman!” Clifford called, waving her over.
“I almost didn’t recognize you,” she said.
“Then we’ve done a good job,” Santiago said, lowering his parasol. “I just don’t think we factored in what a hassle it would be to carry these all night.”
“Everyone suffers for their art,” Clifford said. “Now, Ruth, I know it’s a party and I shouldn’t be doing business but…” He reached into his shorts pocket, took out a set of keys, and handed them to her.
“What’s this?” she said.
“The keys to Blue Stone. Congratulations!”
Ruth looked at the keys for a moment before slipping them into her purse. She knew they had closed on the house, but it still felt unreal. “Thanks, Clifford,” she said.
“Thankyou. I have to say, Ruth, that you were a bit of a handful when we first met. But now it feels like you’ve always been here, like it was meant to be. Don’t you think?”
She smiled. “I do, Clifford.”
