The Summer We Started Over, page 10
“You wouldn’t be like her, Eddie,” Barrett protested. “You’re totally different.” She smoothed the book cover. “You’ll change your mind someday.”
Eddie ignored her. She moved over to the books piled on the dining room chairs. “Let’s look over here,” she called. “They’re not in categories, so we have to go through them individually.”
Barrett rose and joined Eddie.
“Now here’s a winner!” Barrett held the book up for Eddie to see. “How to Avoid Huge Ships.”
Eddie grinned. “I know. Jimmy Fallon talked about it on his show. It’s a serious book for yachtsmen. Although Dad’s never been interested in boats. That can go.”
Barrett bashed open a brown paper bag, dropped the book in, and picked up another. “How to Make Macrame Dresses.”
“That was Mom’s,” Eddie said. “I remember it.”
For a moment, both sisters gazed at the book, as if it were some kind of message from their mother.
“Well, she’s not here, so the book is going.” Barrett was decisive. She stuffed the book in.
They worked together all morning, disagreeing, agreeing, laughing. By the time they were done, most of the chairs were empty of books.
“So many chairs! We could have a dinner party!” Barrett crowed.
Eddie snorted. “We haven’t even cleaned off the table.”
In the kitchen, they made chicken salad sandwiches and a large pitcher of iced tea. Eddie took lunch to her father. He was in his study, bent over a notebook, deep in thought. Eddie quietly put his lunch on the only open spot on his desk.
Together, Eddie and Barrett went down to the barn to take lunch to the guys.
The air smelled of sawdust. Three long plywood boxes stood next to the piles of boards.
“Wow,” Barrett said. “You’ve done so much!”
“What do you think?” Jeff asked.
“This is amazing.” Eddie walked around the bins, running her hand over the edges of the wood. “Smooth.”
“Absolutely.” Paul looked pleased with his work. “It wouldn’t do to have your customers get splinters.”
“We made lunch, if you’d like it,” Eddie said, holding out the plates.
“Thanks.” Jeff took his sandwich and glass of tea, then scanned the area around him.
The barn was full of sunshine. Dust danced in the warm light.
Barrett said, “Oh, gosh, there’s no place to sit. Want to come up on the porch with us?”
“If that’s okay,” Jeff replied, looking at Eddie.
Eddie couldn’t hold back her smile. “It’s okay.”
They settled in the wicker chairs to eat.
Barrett swallowed a bite of sandwich. “Paul offered to make a quarterboard for my store.”
Eddie brightened. “Oh my gosh, Paul. That’s wonderful!”
“It’s not going to be a real quarterboard,” Paul told her. “I mean, I’ll use a stained teak board left over from outfitting a yacht, so it looks good, but it’s not as heavy. Plus, I can’t make shells or designs on the ends. Real quarterboards have five or six coats of paint or stain on them, but I can’t get that done by Memorial Day.”
“Damn, man,” Jeff said. “I hope you’ve got a power tool.”
“Definitely. I want to get a laser engraver someday, but I need more money for that.” Paul turned back to Eddie. “It will be three-D and from the ground it will look great. But I want to do a better one…for later.”
After the men had gone back to the barn, Barrett and Eddie carried the plates and glasses in to the dishwasher.
Eddie sidled close to Barrett. “You’ve made a conquest.”
“I’ve made a friend,” Barrett insisted. “Anyway, you’ve made a conquest, too. Jeff can’t take his eyes off you.”
Eddie leaned against the sink and folded her arms over her chest. “Let’s not go there.”
Barrett checked her watch. “Actually, I need to leave right now. I’ve got new deliveries I have to unpack and inventory to do. Are you okay here?”
“I’ll be fine. Go.”
All afternoon, Eddie roamed the house, reading book titles, selecting some for the barn, leaving others, and often sitting on the floor, reading a paragraph or a page, allowing memories to surround her. So much of who she was came from reading these books, as if The Great Gatsby had made her dream of attending riotous parties and Bridget Jones’s Diary made her want to live in a city and smoke, and Little Women made her wonder why her own mother wasn’t as patient and loving as Marmee, and what would have happened to the March family if they’d had a brilliant, challenging brother. She wanted to be as gorgeous as Scarlett O’Hara, as clever as Nancy Drew, and as madly in love as Juliet, although she didn’t want to die young.
She took a break to make another pitcher of iced tea, then chastised herself for wasting time and returned to the living room to pile more books in more bags.
At five, Jeff knocked on the kitchen door.
“We’re taking off now,” he said. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
His T-shirt was damp and the enticing aroma of hot male and cut wood made Eddie dizzy.
“Would you…like some iced tea before you go?” she asked.
“No, thanks. I’m going to grab a beer and finish up another job in Shimmo.”
Jeff waved a hand and walked away.
Eddie made a note to stock up on beer.
* * *
—
The next evening, Eddie and Barrett sat in the TV room, eating from their very own cartons of Ben & Jerry’s Phish Food. Their father had made himself a sandwich earlier and sat with them now, wielding the remote control. The Boston Red Sox were losing to the Yankees, which was infuriating.
“Dad,” Eddie said. “Go to YouTube. Jim Gaffigan. Nate Bargatze. They’re funny. You always get grumpy when the Sox lose.”
Before William could speak, Eddie’s phone chimed. Barrett’s phone chimed. William’s phone buzzed.
Eddie looked at the caller ID. “Oh, golly. It’s Dinah.”
“Dinah’s calling me, too,” Barrett said.
“She’s calling me, as well,” William told Eddie. “How does she know my number?”
“She must have gotten it when we synced phones. Sorry. She’s afraid. She thinks a man is stalking her. She has a doorman and an alarm system, but she keeps seeing this guy. I have to admit, I’ve never seen her like this before.”
“Be kind,” Barrett advised.
The phones kept signaling.
“How can I be kind to her and stay on the island?” Eddie asked. “I don’t want to go back to the city so soon.”
“Well, Eddie, ask her to come stay with us,” Barrett said. “We have enough bedrooms. She’d feel safe here. Dad’s usually at home, plus we have a dog.”
“I don’t want to have to work…”
“You’re working part-time for her remotely, aren’t you?” William asked.
Eddie hesitated. “Barrett, this summer is supposed to be all about your store and spending time with the two of you.”
“That’s sweet, Eddie, but I know you care about Dinah and I wouldn’t want her to be miserable.”
Eddie looked at her father.
“It’s fine with me,” he said. “I’ll be in my study writing all the time.”
Eddie hesitated. “Barrett, tomorrow is Sunday! Your shop opens! We need to focus on that.”
“Eddie, I’m so ready. I’ve done everything I can. I’m super-organized and super-nervous. Besides, once my shop opens, I’ll be crazy busy, or at least I hope so.”
“She’s right, Eddie,” their father said. “Go ahead and invite your writer friend.”
“You guys.” Eddie squeezed both their hands. “I love you.” She stood up. “Hi, Dinah. What’s up?”
“Oh, Eddie,” Dinah cried, “I’m so sorry to bother you, but the stalker’s across the street. He’s looking up at my windows. I’m frightened.”
“Okay, Dinah. It’s all right. Who’s the doorman tonight?”
“That’s just it. He’s a substitute. I don’t even know his name.”
“Regardless, he won’t let the guy into the building,” Eddie said.
“But the doorman doesn’t know who the guy is! He might think the guy lives here!” Dinah was sobbing. “Eddie, I’m frightened. I’m really frightened.”
Eddie took a deep breath and wondered if this was a really bad idea. Then she said, “Listen, Dinah. Why don’t you come visit us in Nantucket?”
“Really?”
“You could stay with us. We have a guest room. I’ll just have to move some books. And someone is almost always here, plus we have a dog.”
“But what about your father? Your sister? Won’t I be an intrusion?”
“Dad’s writing his book and Barrett’s opening her shop and I’ll be doing a hundred other things, so I won’t be able to, um, be your cook and everything, but you’ll have a safe place to live and the island’s got lots of great takeout.”
“Eddie, thank you! I can never thank you enough! I won’t bother you. I promise. I’ll just stay in my room and write. I know you’re busy with your family.”
“I really am, Dinah. I’ve got to help my father and my sister. This is my first vacation in two years, and you will have to take care of yourself.”
“Oh, I will, Eddie. I completely understand. You won’t know I’m there. Eddie, I’m really grateful. I’d better hang up. I’ll pack a few things and fly there tonight.”
“Wait, Dinah! I’m not sure any airlines are flying from New York to Nantucket at night.”
“I’ll take the private jet. Heaven knows I pay enough to be in the consortium. I can be on Nantucket in an hour.”
“Dinah. Slow down. Think. You need to get in touch with the admin and see if a pilot is available. They need to have some kind of advance warning. You need to pack. You’ll need warm clothes, not winter clothes, but some sweaters—”
“Ooooh,” Dinah wailed. “You always pack for me. I don’t even know where my suitcases are.”
“You can do this. First, you need to get in touch with the jet admin. They’re open twenty-four hours a day. The number is on my phone. You should have it, too.”
“I’ll find it. I’ll text you my information. And, Eddie, thank you. More than I can say, thank you. I love you, Eddie.”
“Love you, too,” Eddie said and ended the call. She turned to her father and sister. “Okay, I’ve done it. I invited Dinah to stay with us. She’ll be here tomorrow.”
Her phone buzzed again.
It was Dinah, sending a text message. Can’t get a plane until ten tomorrow morning. Will pack tonight. I’ve got to write a scene that just hit me. If I don’t have time to pack, I’ll just buy stuff on Nantucket.
* * *
—
Barrett rose early, knowing the carpenters would be here soon. She pulled on white cropped jeans, a blue tank top, and flip-flops, made herself a cup of coffee, and sat out on the porch to ease into the day.
The morning air was fresh, almost sparkling in the sunlight. Birds were hopping from twig to branch and singing about their little bird lives. The horse came to the fence and tossed her head. Barrett walked down to the fence and scratched Duchess behind her ear. Duchess snorted and walked away.
Barrett knew Eddie was awake—she heard her taking coffee up to her room—and she had a pretty good idea what Eddie was doing.
She’d bet fifty dollars Eddie was writing in her journal. Eddie had kept a diary on and off all her life, especially during difficult times. When Dove’s family moved away and Dove disappeared, Eddie had stayed in her room writing for hours. When Stearns died, Eddie wrote in her journal deep into the night. So many times, Barrett had seen the light under Eddie’s bedroom door and wanted to go in and talk with her, but she stayed in her room, knowing Eddie’s writing was therapeutic, and wishing she had the habit of journaling, too. But for her, the words would never come.
The kitchen door opened and Eddie leaned out. “Hey! Have you had breakfast?”
“I was waiting for you. I made coffee.”
Barrett went into the house. Eddie, in jeans and an old T-shirt, her hair caught up in a leaf-green bandana, was putting slices of Portuguese bread in the toaster.
Barrett set two plates on the table, added a jar of Aunt Leah’s cranberry honey, knives, spoons, and napkins.
“Beautiful day out there,” Barrett said as the toast popped up.
“I hardly slept. I’m nervous about Dinah being here. She’s pretty high maintenance.”
“I’m nervous about Nantucket Blues,” Barrett said.
“It will be amazing, Barrett! You’re amazing. And once I get Dinah settled here, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
“Thanks, Eddie.”
The sisters slathered the toast with butter, spread the cranberry honey, and munched in contented silence.
“I could eat this all day,” Eddie said.
“Me, too,” Barrett agreed.
Barrett put two more slices in the toaster. “So, Jeff will be here today.”
“I know. I wonder what he’ll think of Dinah.” Eddie glanced at the kitchen clock. “She’ll be here at eleven. I’ve got to put that bedroom in order.”
“I’ll help,” Barrett mumbled as she chomped on her toast.
They set their plates in the dishwasher, washed the runaway honey off their hands, and went up to the guest bedroom. All the furniture was in the middle of the room, surrounded by stacks of books.
Eddie ran her hand along one shelf. “Whose books are these? How to Knit with Dog Hair? Does God Ever Speak through Cats? How to Poison Your Husband with Natural Plants? This is insane!”
“Are there unnatural plants?” Barrett mused.
Their father startled them. He stood in the doorway, dressed in khakis and a blue rugby shirt. He’d shaved and slapped on aftershave lotion.
Barrett raised her eyebrow at Eddie. It meant: Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Eddie grinned and nodded. Dad was dressed to impress.
“Those books can all go,” he announced. “I meant to get around to sorting them. When the library had its book sale, your mother and I took the leftovers home. Otherwise, they would have gone to the dump.”
“And you brought them across Nantucket Sound and unpacked them and put them here?” Eddie shook her head. “You know that’s crazy, right?”
Barrett held up a book. “You might want to keep this one, Dad. It’s called How to Write a Book in Ten Days.”
William rolled his eyes. “That ship has sailed.”
Eddie’s phone buzzed.
“I’m boarding,” Dinah yelled. She had a tendency when she was in an airport to speak loudly, thinking the connection was bad because of all the plane supercomputers. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
“I’ll be waiting for you at the airport,” Eddie told her. Ending the call, she gave her sister and father a helpless look and said, “I don’t think we have time to get this room in shape.”
“Nonsense,” her father said. “I’ll help you.”
“Here come Jeff and Paul,” Barrett cried. She went out to the porch and waved at the men. “Hey, guys, come help us move books.”
Ten minutes later, they were all working together. Eddie carried a box from the bedroom, handed it to Barrett in the hall, who took it to her father in the kitchen, who took it out to the porch where Paul took it out to the barn and Jeff stacked it near a bin. Paul put his phone on top of the refrigerator and blasted out his classic rock playlist. In twenty minutes, most of the books were out of the bedroom. William made coffee and they all stood on the back porch, huffing and puffing.
“You guys are the best.” Eddie noticed a spot under Jeff’s chin that he’d missed when shaving. She wanted to kiss it. What? She shook her head. “I’d better finish the room.”
“We’d better get to work,” Jeff said.
Paul caught Barrett’s eye. “If you need any more help, let me know.”
Barrett said, “Thanks,” and wanted to say more, although what she would say she didn’t know. Paul’s presence threw her mind into such a jumble. She picked up the coffee cups and went into the kitchen.
“I’m going up to finish the bedroom now,” Eddie called.
Eddie returned to the bedroom, shoved the dresser and armchair into place, vacuumed, and made the bed with fresh sheets.
Barrett came into the room. “Didn’t you say you had to pick her up at eleven?”
Eddie checked her watch. “Good grief, it’s already ten-thirty.” She started to race from the room, but stopped in front of her sister. “Thank you for helping this morning. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“I know,” Barrett replied, smirking. “Now you owe me big-time.”
Eddie kissed her sister’s cheek, grabbed her keys from the hook, and hurried out to her car.
Barrett went into the kitchen. Her father was there, his computer case in his hand, reaching for his car keys from the hook on the wall.
“Dad? Where are you going?”
“To the library. I need to focus on my book, and it’s going to be noisy here.”
Barrett watched him go, then called Eddie. “I think Dad’s nervous about meeting Dinah. He’s gone to the library to work.”
Eddie had her phone set in the dashboard mount. “That’s so funny. I never imagined this, but I bet Dinah’s going to rock his world.”
Barrett heard a loud thud. “The guys have started hammering. See you later.”
She walked to the barn, allowing herself to check Paul out while he was intent on pounding nails into a board. He wore work boots, canvas carpenter trousers with a loop for a hammer, and a white T-shirt. When Barrett entered the barn, Paul noticed and walked toward her. He was tall and muscular, and his dark hair spouted up in the opening of the baseball cap he wore backward.
