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“You forgot to tell them who was dancing with their grandfather,” Victor chimed in.
Doug’s face brightened. “That’s right. I forgot the best part of the story. The woman who marched up to your grandfather was the woman who ultimately changed his life forever. She was your grandmother, Rose.”
Rebecca’s jaw dropped. Bethany’s face was the same.
“Why have we never heard that story?” Rebecca demanded.
But Rebecca already knew the answer. Grandma Rose died when Esme was young, so talking about Rose was painful. It drove both Esme and Grandpa Thomas into deep depressions. She hadn’t lived long enough to give Esme any siblings, so for years, it had just been Thomas and Esme.
Doug’s eyes were damp. He sipped his coffee while he toyed with a napkin. “All right. That’s enough of that story. Don’t let this old man bore you too much.”
“That story was anything but boring,” Rebecca said.
“Maybe, if you hang around Nantucket a little bit longer, I can share a few more,” Doug added.
“We would like that.” Rebecca’s gaze went to her plate, suddenly too anxious to eat. “You must have been around when Grandpa Thomas opened the Sutton Book Club.”
“I was around before it was ever called Sutton.” Doug laughed. “Although I understand why he wanted to name it after his grandchildren’s last name. He loved you children so much.”
“When did you start coming to the Book Club?” Rebecca asked Ben.
Ben thought for a moment. “I came to Nantucket about five years ago and discovered the Veterans’ Dinner about six months after that. Your grandfather and mother have created such a remarkable space here. Your mother has even conned me into reading some of the books.”
“Only took him eight months to read Moby Dick,” Doug joked.
“Two months, Doug. Two!” Ben blushed.
“That’s not a thin book,” Bethany affirmed.
“Thank you,” Ben said. “Now that Doug’s read just about every book ever written, he spends his days belittling my intelligence.”
Doug bounced his elbow against Ben’s upper arm as the table laughed.
After dinner, Rebecca and Bethany served cherry and apple pie and chocolate cake with icing. Their guests ate the cake on paper plates and continued to chat about the upcoming summer and their plans for picnics, hikes, and sailing adventures. Rebecca paused in the kitchen with a stack of dirty dinner plates to take a breath, and Bethany breezed through the door to say, “Mom would be so proud of you.”
Rebecca turned to find Bethany near tears. Rebecca pressed her hand over her chest. A moment later, they met in the middle of the kitchen and hugged, both lost in the onslaught of their memories. So many years ago, amid a horrific war, their grandfather and grandmother met each other in the German snow. It was the only reason either of them stood in that kitchen today. It was the only reason their children existed.
Around nine thirty that night, the last of the veterans lingered. They sipped coffee, cracked final jokes, and complimented Rebecca’s cooking. Ben and Doug donned spring jackets and headed for the front door.
“I hope you’ll let us know when Esme gets back to town,” Ben said. “Maybe we can have a picnic on the beach together.”
From the second-story window, Rebecca and Bethany waved to Ben and Doug. Ben slowed the truck down as Doug gave a firm wave.
Suddenly, Victor’s voice boomed behind them. “What you did here tonight was remarkable.”
Rebecca and Bethany turned to address their father. After hours of community, they now found themselves alone with heaps of dishes to wash and tons of bottles to recycle. Victor’s smile was soft and tired, and he looked at his daughters with all the love in the world. How many years had Rebecca spent thinking her father didn’t care about them? How many years had she spent thinking the Suttons no longer mattered?
“I told her Mom would be proud,” Bethany agreed.
“She’d be proud of both of you,” Victor said. “During my time on Nantucket, I knew the Veterans’ Dinner was important to the community. But tonight, what your grandfather and mother built here really hit home.” He paused, then added, “We have to fight to save the Sutton Book Club. We have to do whatever it takes. For your mother’s sake. And for your grandfather’s memory.”
Bethany and Rebecca were quiet. The intensity of Victor’s words frightened them. Rebecca nodded slowly, although she had no idea how they would save the Sutton Book Club. She didn’t have over one hundred thousand dollars just lying around.
“Let’s have a glass of wine before we start cleaning,” Bethany suggested after a moment of silence.
“Agreed,” Rebecca said.
As Bethany poured glasses, Rebecca set up the Bluetooth speaker to play soft music. Outside, night had fallen, and the temperature had dropped, shrouding the old colonial with a chill. Rebecca donned an old Nantucket sweatshirt and raised her wineglass to her father and sister. “To a successful night.”
