Page 9 of Secrets Hidden In The Glass

He nodded. “Unfortunately, that means the washing machine repair’s going to get pushed back a bit. Jeremy’s going to be busy with that project for a while.”

“That’s okay.”

“I figured you would understand.”

“Of course.” They took several steps in silence before she breathed deep—mostly sighing. “It’s so pretty. I’m surprised there aren’t more people here from the mainland.”

“After Labor Day, things really slow down. People usually hang out on the Vineyard or Nantucket. Carter Island’s another forty minutes by boat past Nantucket, so they tend to use the little bit of weekend they have staying closer to the mainland.”

She shook her head solemnly. “They don’t know what they’re missing.”

He was fine with the quiet. If things were busier, he’d be on call instead of doing this. “Best kept secret in the Northeast.”

She smiled. “It must be nice—the slower pace. Gives you chances to enjoy nights like this.” She lifted her chin toward the bonfire.

“Yeah. Molly threw that together for some fellow shop and restaurant owners before they head out of town for the winter—pretty casual beer and seafood thing.” He gestured to his athletic shorts and T-shirt getup he was currently wearing.

“The house is gorgeous.”

He looked toward the rambling natural cedar shingle house—eight bedrooms and eight baths plus two powder rooms downstairs. “That’s my parents’ place. I grew up there.”

“It’s really stunning.”

“One of my ancestors built it back in the early seventeen hundreds. Carters have been renovating and adding on to it ever since. My mom’s an interior designer, so she’s had her go a few times.”

“It certainly deserves its spot on Mansion Row.”

He shrugged. “It’s just home.”

“The Sandersons live around here too?”

“Sure do.” He stepped closer to point in her line of vision. “The third house farther down is part of the Sanderson compound.”

“And you know them well?”

He nodded. “They’re pretty much family.”

“They seem sort of Kennedy-esque.”

He grinned, knowing Brad would get a kick out of that. “Yeah?”

She smiled as she nodded—maybe a little embarrassed. “It’s just—I’ve seen them in the news from time to time. The governor and his wife are so classy.”

He sucked in a breath through his teeth as he shook his head. “Derek and Phyllis, yes, but if you knew my buddy, Brad, you definitely wouldn’t think of him as American royalty.”

Her small smile bloomed into a grin. “A bit of a stretch?”

“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Oh, yeah.”

“Does he live on the island?”

“No, he’s a doctor—works in the ER at Boston General. His parents are still here though. Thomas is our mayor and Leah does event planning. His uncle Michael is our doctor here, and Michael’s wife, Mini, hooked you up with the cottage. Otherwise, everyone else is pretty much gone doing their own thing.”

They started walking again, and a wave rushed up, washing over their feet.

Callie gasped and stepped farther away. “Oh, my God, that’s cold.”

Like ice water, but he shrugged. “It’s not so bad.”