Page 82 of The Glass Dolphin

Eloise knew she had more to say than just the fact that tourist season was upon them. While some companies and public service facilities were still hiring summer help, the cove would be burgeoning with people, and even those who’d rather keep the small-town feel of Five Island Cove agreed that tourist season was an outlier in their discussions.

When she finally entered the Sands, a conference room big enough to seat their party at an oblong table, with stunning views of the ocean beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, Eloise found a couple of seats still empty.

Robin met her eyes, and she’d obviously saved a seat for Eloise. She even said, “El,” and indicated the seat. Alice sat on the other side of the empty seat, and Eloise went around the end of the table to get to it.

Kristen stood, and Eloise paused to give her a hug. Conversations went on, and Eloise sank into the chair. “Who’s still not here?”

“Heidi threw up right when Jean was leaving,” Clara said from across the table. “She had to run back inside to change her. So she’s running late.”

“And Laurel just stepped out to take a call.” Alice raised her glass to her lips. It looked like innocent water, and Eloise’s throat suddenly turned dry.

Laurel ducked back into the room with the words, “Look who I found.”

A harried-looking Jean entered too, her pudgy baby balanced on her hip. Julia swooped in and took the little girl, who shrieked and flapped her hands. Several of them laughed, and Eloise at least didn’t feel like running.

She could even smile at Julia and Heidi as others assured Jean they hadn’t started yet. Two waitresses entered, and Maddy clapped her hands. “Guys,” she said. “They’re ready to take our drink orders and appetizers.”

“There’s a paper here,” Robin said, moving Eloise’s plate out of the way. Most of the chatter stopped as orders got put in, and Eloise ordered the crab rangoons and a Diet Coke. “Easy on the ice, please.”

With that done, everyone looked around at everyone else, most of the eyes coming to Eloise. She cleared her throat. “First, I think most of us are okay with the Council’s decision to more thoughtfully plan out communities and building, put commercial restrictions in place, all while still allowing for our tourism industry to take center stage.”

Murmurs of assent went through the group, with AJ particularly smiley about last night’s meeting. “I really have no complaints,” Alice said. “It’s a few months of the year, and I recognize how important it is to a lot of people here.”

“I agree,” Kristen said, as Kelli nodded. They’d been the ones to vocally say they didn’t want a lot of growth.

“Plus, our roads on Pearl are finally getting the attention they need,” Kelli said. “And they’ve approved the build of a legit grocery down south for us.” She beamed around at everyone, and Eloise did often forget that the outer islands had far less amenities. She lived on Diamond, the largest of the islands, and Sanctuary had been well-kept for years too.

“Oh,” she added. “I displayed my commercial permit in the house on Seabreeze Shore. I do have permission to have a commercial business there, and I always have.”

“Of course you have,” AJ said as she covered Kelli’s hand. “Our tee times are full through June and part of July already—at both locations. So Matt and I aren’t going to complain.”

The drinks arrived, and the conversation paused. Once Eloise had her cola, she took a long drink, enjoying the burn of the carbonation as it slid down her throat.

“Let’s order,” Alice said, and small side conversations broke out. Beside her, Robin said nothing, and Eloise leaned closer to her.

“When is Duke leaving?”

“A couple more weeks,” she said, and Eloise could’ve imagined the way Robin’s chin went up, but she didn’t think she had. She lived the summer alone, and Eloise put her hand over Robin’s and squeezed.

“We can have so many beach days and movie nights,” she assured her.

Robin nodded, barely flicking her eyes over to Eloise. “Mandie’s coming home for the summer this weekend. I’ll survive.”

“We always do, don’t we?” Eloise asked.

Robin looked fully at her then. But the waitress reached her, and they had to put in their lunch orders. “I’ll take the avocado garden salad,” Eloise said. “With salmon, please.”

Once the ladies had left to put in their orders, Eloise couldn’t believe all the eyes had come straight back to her. At the same time, she’d told them all via text she had something to say, and they were obviously not going to settle into lunch until she did.

“Yes,” she said. “Aaron and I were hoping for a baby this past winter. It’s something I’d given up completely.” Her eyes landed on AJ, then Kelli. “Until I saw you guys having babies. So I allowed myself to hope. I even got pregnant. But.” She shook her head, that tight pinch in her chest flying into its familiar position right behind her lungs.

She’d practiced this speech, and it was still so, so hard to say. “My doctor says we can try again, but at my age…” She shook her head. “We’ve decided not to try. I have Billie and Grace, a very busy inn to run, the sexiest husband ever, and—”

Tears pressed into her eyes, and she couldn’t hold them back. “All of you.”

Robin reached over and squeezed her hand while Alice put her arm around her. She wouldn’t know what she’d do without these good women at her side, even if she hadn’t confided all in them quite the way they wanted her to.

“I love you guys,” Eloise said.

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