Page 19 of Sunset on the Solstice

“Honey,” Rebecca said, drawing Shelby tightly against her. “We came as soon as we could.”

Beside her mother was Lily, whose eyes were rimmed with red. “Molly called me this morning,” Lily said. “She’s really worried.”

“We got on the ferry right away,” Rebecca explained.

Shelby pressed her forehead against her mother’s shoulder. She felt a weariness that went beyond language.

“Have you eaten?” Rebecca demanded.

Shelby told her about the pretzels. “But I have to get back to Jared,” she said.

“You can take an hour for your own health,” Rebecca said firmly.

Rebecca and Lily led Shelby back to the car and drove to a nearby salad, soup, and sandwich place. Together, they sat at an anonymous table and picked at their food. Rebecca and Lily continued to look at Shelby as though Shelby were breakable. It wasn’t till Shelby had eaten half of her turkey sandwich that Shelby found the strength to say, “It shouldn’t have happened.”

Rebecca set down her spoon with a clank. “Honey, accidents happen.”

Shelby shook her head and crossed her arms. “I just want to tell him…” She trailed off, unable to articulate exactly what she needed to say to Jared, to her beloved ex-boyfriend.

Lily touched Shelby’s hand. “We’re going to stay with you today,” she said.

Lily and Rebecca exchanged a look.

“I’m not going back to Columbia,” Shelby said.

“Shelby, this is a tragedy,” her mother said. “But…”

“Yes, it’s a tragedy,” Shelby said. “And if he wakes up from this tragedy, I want to be here.”

Shelby couldn’t eat anything else. Rebecca asked for to-go bags for the sandwich and boxes and containers for the soup and salad. Together, they left the café, with Shelby demanding to be taken back to the hospital.

There, they found Jim and Monica in the waiting room, talking to a few guys from Harvard. They took one look at Shelby and knew who she was, just as Max had last night. Under their gaze, Shelby realized she hadn’t showered and probably looked worse for wear. But she put on a brave smile and went up to them.

“Hi,” she said, shaking their hands. “I’m Shelby Vance. But I guess you already know that.”

One of the guys, who was scarily gaunt and wearing a long cardigan, said, “He talked about you a lot.”

“I talked about him just as much, I’m sure,” Shelby said. She wanted to give off an air of confidence. She wanted these people to understand that she wasn’t going anywhere.

“I’m going to head back and see him,” Shelby said. “But we’ll catch up later, okay?”

Jared’s parents and friends nodded, frowning, then turned to watch as Shelby strode toward the hallway, headed for Jared’s room. Lily and Rebecca were hot on her heels. Shelby could feel how urgently they wanted to rip her out of that hospital. They wanted her to forget about Jared, about the love they’d spent all summer building. But Jared had really and truly loved her. Shelby knew that in her heart of hearts. She knew it in her bones. And she had to be here, every step of the way, until Jared found the will to wake up again. She had to make that sacrifice, no matter what.

10

Nantucket Island, Summer 2032

It was Chad’s idea to have his engagement party at Rebecca’s place. So, the weekend of July 4th, all of the Suttons and all of Jenny’s family congregated on the veranda of Rebecca’s gorgeous and newly refurbished house to eat and drink wine and celebrate the happy couple. Although she was usually a control freak, Rebecca decided to hire someone to do all the catering, which allowed her to sit back, eat, and chat to her heart’s content. Now that she was in her fifties, she was much better at saying no to things. This felt like a blessing.

Chad and Jenny looked happy as could be. Rebecca and Ben watched them from the veranda as Chad and Jenny took off their shoes and dipped their toes into the water, laughing and holding hands. Jenny wore a short, pretty white dress, while Chad wore shorts and a linen button-down. For some reason at this moment, he looked older than his mid-twenties. More sophisticated. Already, Rebecca could see the rest of Chad and Jenny’s lives, rushing out before them. She could imagine the children they’d have, the laughter they’d bring, the birthdays they’d celebrate, and the vacations they’d share.

Rebecca remembered a couple of weeks ago, when they’d gone to Bar Harbor to visit Fred’s grave. They’d gathered in front of it, smiling and sharing details from the past year. Lily told Fred all about her daughters, about how joyful and funny they were. There were tears in her eyes. Chad told his father all about his wedding, about how Aunt Valerie was planning it all down to the smallest of details, and about how Jenny was “the perfect partner. All I can hope is to be the perfect partner to her, too.”

It had been touching to listen to her children tell their father about their beautiful lives, about all they’d built for themselves and their partners and children.

When Chad and Jenny returned to the veranda, it was time for dessert. Angel food cake with ice cream, Jenny’s favorite. Rebecca found herself at a table with her sisters Bethany and Valerie, her mother, and her father.

“It’s exquisite, Valerie,” she said of the engagement party. “I don’t know how you do it.”