“Partner track,” Jonathan said, reading his mind. Ben didn’t need the reminder, and he didn’t appreciate the arm twist.
“Like I said, I’ll get back to you shortly.”
Jonah had taken the news better than he’d thought. “Look, it’s not ideal. We’re still getting in the groove of things, and the tastings and tours are all you. I’m still not sure how we’d run that part of things if you left.”
“I can train Amy or Will, and turn it over to them. It’s what we planned on doing anyway.”
His brother had done something unexpected then. Jonah had pulled Ben in for a hug. “I don’t think I could have done this without you,” he’d said, before releasing him. “We both knew this had an end date, so if you have to go sooner than planned, I get it.”
Ben had been almost disappointed. He’d half wanted Jonah to make it harder to leave. Now he needed to decide when he would go. And tell Holly. That was going to be the hardest part.
When he finished with the last scheduled tour of the day, it was late afternoon. The boat was tied off at the dock below. Will and Jonah were out on the FLUPSY sorting oysters while Amy was out on deliveries. Ben cleaned up the tasting room. He loaded the mini dishwasher with plates and wineglasses, then wiped down the bar top and tables. Outside, he grabbed the chalkboard sign with that day’s oyster prices and carried it in. When everything was in order, he ran up to his office and checked the schedule. He had an email waiting that he still needed to reply to. A brewery based in Brewster had reached out. They had been experimenting with a new stout, brewed with oyster shells, and they’d read about the Oyster Boys opening. The head brewer wanted to talk. Ben was curious, but his headwas already being pulled back to Providence. He’d pass it on to Jonah. Right now, he had someone else he needed to talk to.
Having spent the day at the boatyard, walking into the Cranberry House felt like walking back into civilization. The antique furniture, the tinkling music, and that mysterious scent of lavender was a stark juxtaposition to the smell of diesel and the stinging salt and the heavy lifting back at the farm. Right now he and Holly occupied such different worlds, despite their link to the same industry.
Linus was manning the front desk. Ben still hadn’t quite figured Linus out. He liked the guy, but they could not have been more different. “Oh, it’s you,” Linus said, taking in Ben’s cargo shorts and boots. “Thank God. She’s back there.”
“Rough day?” Ben asked.
“Days,” Linus said, returning to his computer. “Our grand opening is Friday. If I make it.”
In the span of just a week, somehow, magically, the library had largely been transformed. Ben had popped in several times to check, but he’d stayed away the last couple days. Holly and the staff seemed as frayed as the project was harried. Besides Holly, Oliver had been the one constant. He’d watched as Oliver stripped the bookshelves, then repaired loose joints and filled dents. That was just the beginning. Then came the sanding and the finish, which took time to dry. It seemed that Francine and Holly had surrounded themselves with a multitude of talent and skill sets, and it made him think of his own partnership with Jonah, and how symbiotic that could be.
“Wow,” he said, as he walked into the library. The bookshelves were done, the windows thrown open. The faint scent of water-based finish lingered, but it wasn’t as blinding as it hadbeen earlier. Holly was at the center of the room, on her hands and knees, rolling out an area rug. “Let me help,” Ben said, hurrying over.
“Can you believe this?” When she looked up she had a smudge of dirt on her cheek, and something else in her hair. He reached out and brushed it away. “Linus is a genius. He found this gem in an old captain’s house across town that’s being sold. It’s a handwoven antique, and the family wanted almost nothing for it when he told them where it was going!”
The rug was beautiful, blue and white and green with natural motifs that reminded him of an English garden with the flowers and vines. “Ha. There are rabbits on it.”
“I know!” Holly was beside herself. “Like the ones out in theRosa rugosaoff the patio. It’s perfect!”
Seeing her change of mood from the last few days was heartening. Ben didn’t want to ruin it.
“Hey, I have an idea,” he said when they were finished rolling out the rug and positioning it. “Are you free tonight?”
She looked at him like he was crazy. “See all those boxes of books we’ve collected from up and down the Cape? They’re not going to shelve themselves. Plus, dinner hour…”
“I know. You’re never free, especially at dinner. But shouldn’t you be just once?”
“Yes. Yes, she should.” Linus had come in with two tall brass candelabras, balancing one in each hand. “Another find from below,” he said, holding them out triumphantly. “Your grandmother has a treasure trove down there. And you’re right, those green couches are still there. Not exactly your settee, but they’ll do.”
“We ran out of money,” Holly explained sheepishly. “Basement diving.”
“What time?” Linus asked. He was speaking to Ben.
“Time?”
“What time are you picking her up? Because she hasn’t left this room in days, and she’s driving us…” He glanced at Holly.
“Tread lightly,” she warned.
“To drink more than usual,” Linus said.
Ben took it as an in. “Seven o’clock?”
“I really can’t,” Holly began, but he could see beneath the fatigue and the grime her resolve was fading. She needed this. And he wanted to give it to her.
Linus cleared his throat. “She’ll be ready and waiting on the porch. Now, if you don’t mind, we could use some strong arms with those green couches.”
