Page 91 of Summer Longing
Fern was manning a Tea by the Sea booth at a big corporate-sponsored outdoor festival that she’d gotten into via one of her old contacts from the financial industry. “It will be great exposure for us,” she’d said when she broke the news that she would be working on the Fourth.
Elise typed,Do you think you’ll make it back in time to catch the tail end of the party?
Elise waited for a response. Dots appeared then disappeared. And then:Doubtful. But have fun!
Have fun? Elise wanted to cry.
Picnic tables had been set up in the area between the Barros house and the dock, and disco music played. In the distance, the water was filled with so many boats it looked like a regatta. One brazen seagull wandered over to Elise.
“I don’t have anything for you,” she told it, then let out a deep sigh. The day was beautiful and festive. It was a day meant to be shared. Fern knew what this holiday was like in Provincetown, and yet she’d chosen to stay away. Not a good sign.
Elise parked the stroller at the base of the front steps and carried Mira up to the house. Inside, she found Lidia and Jaci busy cooking. “Marco asked me to bring some seaweed tea,” she told Lidia. She kissed her on the cheek and pulled two tins out of her tote bag. “But I figured I’d take pity on your guests and bring some Strawberry Meadows too.”
“The seaweed is growing on me. No pun intended,” Lidia said, scooping Mira out of Elise’s arms and cradling her. “Oh, this baby. She’s making me impatient for grandchildren.” She turned to Jaci. “Will I get grandchildren someday?”
“I don’t know, Ma. Ask Marco.”
A timer sounded with a shrill ringing.
“That’s my rice,” Lidia said, passing Mira back to Elise. “As much as I’d love to just stand here fawning over her.”
“Can I help with anything?”
“No, no—go outside and relax. I think Marco is out there.”
“CanIgo outside and relax?” Jaci said.
“Jaci Barros, sometimes I just want to—”
“Why isn’t Marco in the kitchen? This family is sexist.”
Lidia reached for a pot of oysters. “Marco pulled this out of the sea! You don’t mind sexism when he’s doing the heavy lifting.” She muttered something in Portuguese, shaking her head.
The door slid open and Clifford Henry appeared, his arms laden with wine bottles. “Let the festivities begin!” he said.
“Heavens, Clifford. Did you leave Vin’s with any stock?”
“I was having one of those moments. Indecisiveness is my Achilles’ heel. So I bought some red, some white, some rosé, some fizz…”
Lidia relieved him of two of the bottles.
“Allow me,” Clifford said, setting the bottle of Prosecco on the table and removing the foil from the top. “And hello to you, Ms. Douglas. It’s been a while and I have a bone to pick with you.” He popped the cork, and wine fizzed over the side. Jaci quickly produced a few glasses.
Elise could not imagine what his issue with her could be, but she did not have any interest in finding out.
“I thought this was going to be an outdoor party,” Bianca said, wandering in. She was wearing her usual all-black garb; today, it was a short-sleeved dress and black mules. Her hair was back in a tight bun.
“Did our merrymaking disturb you?” Clifford said, gesturing for Jaci to hand him one more glass. “You need a drink, my dear. As usual.”
“I do,” Bianca said. “That parade was exhausting.”
“Oh? Were you in it?”
“No. But I suffered through hearing it for three hours straight.”
“How about you, Elise? Was there a Tea by the Sea float?” Clifford asked.
“Maybe next summer,” she said, shifting Mira in her arms. She felt Bianca looking at the baby and wondered how she could gracefully exit.
