Page 35 of A Novel Summer
“Their loss, I suspect,” Anders said. “Will you be joining us at the reading Duke is hosting at his home tomorrow night?”
She nodded. “I’ll be there.”
“Wonderful. And for the record, I’m all for helping you discover talent.”
“Thanks so much,” she said.
He nodded, looking thoughtful. “The artist’s life is not for the faint of heart.”
“I’m not an artist,” she said.
“Maybe not. But you’re a facilitator. And what would we artists do without you?” He stood and extended a hand to her. She stood, too, and reached out to accept his handshake. “Lovely chatting. See you tomorrow evening, Ms. Dillworth.”
Hunter watched him walk across the street and down Commercial. She realized, in her reluctance to look away, that her interest in him wasn’t purely professional. She smiled. She’d never slept with a famous person before. Maybe it was a long shot. But thanks to Shelby, she’d get another chance to talk to him tomorrow night.
Their détente was already paying off.
Twenty-Six
An hour before the Anders Fleming event, Colleen called Shelby for help. “I haven’t worn anything but sweats and T-shirts in a month. I’ve forgotten how to dress like a normal person,” she said.
“Youarea normal person.” But she was happy for the excuse to run over and help her pick an outfit. It felt almost like the old days, when the best part of their night was the hour right before going out, dressed to impress, pre-gaming with some wine or Hunter’s specialty margaritas, blasting “Delicate” by Taylor Swift and “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons.
Shelby realized now that she’d taken the bond between the three of them for granted. She’d known some things would change when she moved to New York, but hadn’t realized that nothing would ever be the same.
“You look so pretty,” Colleen said. Shelby wore a mid-length blue gingham dress with short sleeves and a flared skirt. She paired it with her Keds, and left her hair loose.
“And you’re going to look beautiful. I know you’ve got something in here that’s perfect. Oh—what’s this?” Shelby said, pulling a navy-blue-and-white polka dot sundress with an empire waist from the closet. Colleen took it off the hanger and held it in front of herself, looking in the full-length mirror behind Doug’s closet door.
“Carmen Lombardo gave it to me when she found out I was pregnant. She said she loved her own pregnancies but never felt she had anything to wear.”
That was so like Carmen.
Once Colleen was dressed, they went out back into the garden to take a selfie for the Land’s End Instagram. When Shelby checked the photos after to find one to post, she saw that Colleen appeared melancholy in every single one.
“Tonight’s going to be a success,” Shelby said to her. “The store is going to be fine. You’ll see. And your parents will see. And by the fall, this rocky summer will just be a memory.”
Colleen gave her a smile, but Shelby could tell she didn’t quite believe her.
Anders Fleming, looking dapper in a light herringbone jacket, spoke for forty minutes against the pastel backdrop of the setting sun. Earlier in the evening, Mia set out a few dozen white folding chairs and strung fairy lights on the trees. The book-signing table was off to one side, decorated with a Land’s End Books banner. In the back, Duke’s fancy teak picnic table was designated for wine and cheese.
Shelby sat in the front row along with Duke, Mia, Hunter, and Colleen and Doug. Behind them, every chair was full. People trickled in even after Anders started speaking. Colleen reached over and squeezed her hand.
“Thank you,” she said.
Shelby leaned close to her and whispered, “I got you.”
She sat back and listened to Anders’s melodic voice read his own prose. A nearby bird, invisible in the thick of Duke’s trees, let out a staccato chirp. The air smelled like the garden honeysuckle. Shelby made mental note of it all, certain she could use some of it for her novel. One of the downsides to being a writer was that it was sometimes hard to be fully in a moment without storing details of experiences away for later, like a creative squirrel.
When it was time for Anders to sign books Mia tended to the line, taking people’s names and writing them on Post-its for when it was their turn to have their book personalized. When Shelby was confident everything was under control, she crossed the lawn to get a glass of wine.
Justin and Kate Hendrik stood together at the refreshment table. Shelby couldn’t believe his nerve. He’d tanked her chance to get an outdoor space for Land’s End, and he’d brought the store’s competition to the event she’d had to hold off-site.
Kate noticed her before Justin and smiled, greeting her with “Congratulations! Wonderful event.”
Justin turned around and offered her a nod.
“Thank you,” Shelby said. “And congratulations toyou. I hear you’re officially open for business.” She’d walked by on opening day. The balloons had irritated her. She’d crossed to the other side of the street.
