Page 71 of Summer Longing
Ruth could barely follow the story of his family drama; she was processing the news that he’d never been married. It was unusual, at least in her experience. “So, did you just never want to get married or was it more a matter of not finding the right one? Or is that too personal?”
“Not too personal at all. The truth is, the sea life is a selfish life. But now that I’m older and slowing down a little, I’m making time for other things. I’m in a place where I can think of someone other than myself, and I want to find someone and make that person a priority.” He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
Maybe she should allow herself to do the same. In the years following her divorce, she’d thrown herself even more fully into work. But she missed having a romantic partner. The reality was that when she’d met Ben Cooperman, she’d fallen in love the way you saw in movies. Love at first sight, if one believed in such a thing. She’d never experienced that again, and she wondered if that kind of passion was the exclusive territory of the young. It was interesting that Tito had said Ruth seemed much younger at heart than his sister. She hadn’t corrected him, hadn’t admitted that she felt she had aged ten years in the last one. Running to Provincetown had been an attempt to adjust to a new version of herself by reaching way back to a self of long ago. “Well, I have to say, I really appreciate this excursion. The house I’m staying in has become unexpectedly crowded. It’s starting to make Commercial Street look tranquil.”
“Too many guests? It’s the unavoidable by-product of having a beach house.”
She gave a little wave, dismissing her complaint. “It’s fine. But like I said, this little escape is just what I needed today.”
“And like I said—anytime.”
“Well, maybe our next get-together can be on dry land? I’ve been meaning to try that restaurant Joon. I pass it every time I walk to the boatyard. Care to join me one night later in the week?”
Now it was his turn to look surprised. She wondered if she was being too forward.
“I’m not much of a restaurant person, but seeing you’re not much of a boat person and you ventured aboard, the least I can do is meet you for a potentially overpriced meal.”
Ruth smiled as the boat rocked gently underneath her.
When Fern finally breezed into the shop three hours later, Elise was on edge.
She’d managed having Mira at the shop as best she could, leaving Cynthia alone behind the counter while she took the baby upstairs to feed and change her. When Mira fell asleep, Elise planted the stroller in an out-of-the-way corner. Now, Cynthia had clocked out. The store was quiet.
“How’s it going here?” Fern said. Her long hair was in braids and piled on top of her head, and she was dressed in a gauzy lemon-yellow dress with a matching chunky beaded necklace. She looked relaxed and lovely.
“Good,” Elise said, instantly forgiving her for being late. “How’d it go with the seaweed?”
“Lots of varieties. We’re taste-testing the day after tomorrow, so hopefully Cynthia can be here again in the morning?”
Elise nodded. “Sure. I’ll check with her.”
“How’d she do?”
“Cynthia? Great. She memorized a lot of the blends and has this way of talking to customers like she’s been doing this forever.”
But Fern was no longer listening. She’d spotted the stroller at the far side of the store. “I thought Rachel was babysitting,” Fern said.
“Just in the morning,” Elise said. “I’ve been waiting for you to get back here so I can take her home. But she’s sleeping now so there’s no rush anymore. I’ll stay for a bit.”
Fern didn’t respond. She walked behind the counter, checked the tins they used for retail service, and found a few nearly empty.
“We should always have Cynthia refill these before she leaves,” Fern said, her voice markedly cooler. Elise tensed. She didn’t want things to go off the rails between them again today.
“Maybe,” she said slowly, “on the day you’re doing the taste-testing, I can leave Cynthia here by herself for a few hours and join you.”
Fern raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t think you were that into the whole experiment.”
“Well, you’re into it. And the more I think about it, the more it seems like a good idea. Why not?”
“Thanks. But between Marco, Jaci, and Olivia, I’ll have it covered.”
“Oh. Okay.” Elise tried not to feel stung by the rejection.
“Speaking of Olivia, did you know her father is staying with her this week?”
“No. She never mentioned it. We really have a full house.”
“Yes,” Fern said. “A little too full. We need to move back into the upstairs of this place for the summer as we’d originally planned.”
