Page 46 of The Cottage on Blueberry Bay

Ginny gave a nod. “Jacqueline told me all about you girls.”

Meredith pointed back and forth to her and Remy. “She told you about us?”

This made Ginny laugh. “She never stopped talking about you two.” She turned to Meredith. “I heard you were a pianist.”

She smiled at the recognition. “Yes. I played for the BSO.”

Meredith had landed her dream job at the Boston Symphany Orchestra as second chair pianist, but she’d gotten a big break when the first chair had broken his hand and couldn’t play.The Boston Globehappened to have a writer there the night she’d played, who had written a stellar review.

Then just a few months later, she’d gotten pregnant, and it was just expected she would stay home.

“Do you still play?” Ginny asked.

Meredith shook her head. “No. Retired.”

Meredith noticed Remy roll her eyes at that. But Remy was in her forties, childless, with no job and living off her husband.

Meredith had dreamt of when she and Phillip would retire down to Florida. They had already found areas they liked. Maybe the sale of this estate could fund her retirement?

“Have you thought about performing again?” Ginny said.

Meredith shook her head. The last time she played was for her mother as she’d lain dying. Her mother had been in hospice by that time. They had moved Jacqueline downstairs into what had been Meredith’s piano room. Her solace as a child. Her mother would ask her to play something, usually a hymn or familiar tune.

After her mother’s death, Meredith couldn’t even stand listening to the sound of a piano. During her lessons, she’d cringe as the keys hit. She dreaded hearing the sounds.

Remy looked at Meredith. “Are you still teaching piano lessons?”

Meredith almost lied so she wouldn’t have to explain but then shook her head. “No, I recently stopped.”

Remy’s mouth opened to speak, but Ginny started first.

“You shouldn’t keep that talent hidden away,” Ginny said. “Look what that did for Jacob. That man had so much talent, yet he never shared his work. Think of how many people suffered because of it.”

Remy looked at Meredith right as Ginny said it. She was obviously checking Meredith’s reaction. If anyone else had brought up Jacob, Meredith would have quickly nipped the conversation in the bud. However, it being Ginny felt different.

And Remy didn’t keep it going, pushing Meredith to talk about stuff she wasn’t ready to talk about. Instead, she stayed silent and let Ginny continue the conversation naturally.

“Have you seen inside his barn?” Ginny asked.

“We were on our way now,” Meredith said.

Ginny smiled. “That’s a special spot as well.” She held her hat as a strong wind blew. “Make sure you take the path through the perennial gardens.”

Meredith looked over to the group of women now closing all the hives. “Do you have a queen?”

“Sure do.” Ginny removed her hat. Strands of silver hair fell around her face where it came out of her bun. She held out her hat at the other five women and said, “We’re all Queens here in Blueberry Bay.”

The women suddenly made their way toward Meredith and Remy.

“You must be Jacob’s daughter,” a woman with long, flowing gray hair said. She took Meredith’s hand into both of hers. Meredith noticed an amethyst jewel hanging from a leather string around her neck.

“Jacob was a special soul,” she said.

“Pamela grew up with Jacob as well,” Ginny said. “Pretty much the whole town knows your father.”

Meredith almost went for the usual correction, but she stopped herself when all the women circled her and Remy.

“Such a gentle man,” one of them said.

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