Page 19 of Summer Rush

Nancy met Kostos downtown, where they planned to go for a walk, go grocery shopping, and eventually drive back to Kostos’ beach house for dinner. Just like the previous two dates or whatever they were, Kostos arrived before Nancy, opening his arms to her as she approached. Nancy realized it had been a long time since she’d felt so at-home with a man, and she reveled in it, kissing his cheeks and hugging him deeply.

As they walked, Kostos told her a story about the repairman who’d come to the beach house that morning. “He came to fix the back porch door, but he ended up breaking two other things while there! I couldn’t believe it. I’ve never seen a clumsier repairman.”

Nancy laughed. “Did you fire him?”

“No! I’m a sucker. I decided to hire him to repair the stuff he broke.”

“He’s making more work for himself,” Nancy pointed out.

“I honestly don’t think it’s that sinister,” Kostos said. “If it is, I’m the biggest fool in the world.”

Nancy paused on the boardwalk, smiling at him generously, her heart stirring. A part of her was terrified that she would just blurt out how much she liked him, just like that, without considering the consequences first.

But before she could, she heard her name.

“Nancy! Hey!” Henry, Janine’s fiancé, appeared on the boardwalk, walking alongside a documentarian friend and previous colleague, Quentin Copperfield, who’d once been a popular nightly-news anchor before his recent move to Nantucket.

In fact, seeing Quentin Copperfield out on the boardwalk was thrilling for Nancy, who’d relied on him for the news for decades. Although she’d known Henry and Quentin were friendly, and that Alyssa was good friends with Quentin’s daughter, she’d never seen them together.

“Henry, hello!” Nancy smiled nervously, eyeing handsome Quentin Copperfield. “What are you doing out here?”

“Just walking and talking,” Henry said. “Have you met my friend Quentin Copperfield?”

“I haven’t. My name is Nancy. And this is my friend…”

“Kostos.” Kostos stuck out his hand dominantly and shook first Quentin’s, then Henry’s. Henry peered at Kostos curiously, probably ready to take this gossip to Janine immediately. Ugh.

“Rhonda at the fish restaurant mentioned she saw you with a handsome stranger recently,” Henry said slyly to Nancy, teasing her. “I suppose you must be that man?”

“Who knows how many handsome strangers Nancy associates with?” Kostos quipped.

Laughing, Henry’s face brightened.

“Your daughter is Janine, correct?” Quentin asked.

“She is,” Nancy said. “My brilliant daughter.”

“Henry was just telling me about this scavenger hunt in Venice. It sounds like a crazy adventure.”

“It really does,” Nancy said, glancing toward Kostos. “The story has gotten even weirder.”

Kostos’ eyes sparkled. “What happened?”

“They followed clues to a mausoleum, which led them to a cousin of theirs, who gave them a very old book, basically as big as a tome, wherein they were supposed to find ‘clues.’” Nancy used air quotes and laughed at herself.

“Was the book written in Italian?” Kostos asked.

“Yes,” Nancy said. “I don’t know how they’re managing this. I would have lost my head during the very first clue.”

“And there’s no end in sight to the game?” Kostos asked.

“Not that they can see,” Nancy said. “Although, to be honest, I’m starting to miss my girls. I hope they figure this out soon and come on home. Henry, I’m sure you feel the same about Janine!”

Henry blushed and glanced at Quentin, who waved his hand.

“I wouldn’t survive a day without my Catherine,” Quentin said. “Even after twenty-plus years of marriage.”

“It’s only been about a week,” Henry said with a sigh. “But yeah. I’m starting to get anxious. I hope they come back soon.”

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