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“I read on your website that you just graduated last year,” Harriet said as she gathered her purse over her shoulder.
“Yes. Out in Seattle,” Anna explained. “But my family lives here on Nantucket, and I’m spending some time with them.”
“Like I said before, I see no reason to live anywhere else,” Harriet said as she stood up. “But of course, I can imagine the allure of a place like Seattle. Those beautiful mountains!”
Anna’s voice skipped as she hurried to say, “Yes. But Harriet, I can’t thank you enough for this interview. I can already imagine how the article will come together. I think my editor will be very pleased.”
Harriet extended her hand, which Anna shook. “I look forward to reading it, Anna. And I look forward to following along with your career. I hope we run into one another soon.”
“Thank you,” Anna said. “And I suppose I’ll see you later? At the parade, I mean.”
Harriet blushed as she paid at the counter for her cappuccino and croissant. “I imagine if you do see me, I’ll just be a blur, running from place to place. But I’ll try to wave to you as I pass you by.”
ChapterFourteen
The intensity of meeting Greta Richards Copperfield in the flesh had blown Eloise over. Since that first talk on the back porch of The Copperfield House, Eloise had staggered through time and space, unsure how to go on. Twice, she’d seen Greta again— once to visit their parents’ graves and another time for coffee in the downstairs lobby of the hotel. But each time, Greta had sobbed, saying how sorry she was that she hadn’t known what had happened back in the seventies and that guilt about it was almost too much to bear.
Now, it was the morning of the Daffodil Festival Parade, which Eloise had agreed to attend with Greta and the rest of the Copperfield Family. Eloise donned her overalls and a light pink turtleneck and took stock of herself in the mirror, both terrified and excited about meeting even more of the Copperfield clan and putting herself out in public in their midst. It seemed a given that she would run into someone she knew from the past at the parade. How their eyes looked when they saw her would tell her everything about how she looked and how old she’d gotten. Then again, whoever this faceless person was had probably gotten just as old, too. Eloise needed to lighten up.
Eloise left her hotel room at eleven and padded downstairs to find Greta already in the hotel lobby in front of a cup of coffee. Her hair was curled elegantly, and she wore a pair of cat-eye sunglasses. Always, Greta had been a portrait of fabulousness.
When Greta spotted Eloise on the stairs, she stood quickly and hurried to hug her. “I’m sorry,” Greta said with a nervous smile. “You’re probably getting sick of all the hugs and apologies.”
Eloise shook her head and again felt tears in her eyes. “You don’t have to apologize at all. I’ve told you that. But the hugs? I’ll take as many as you’re willing to give.”
Greta wrapped her arms around her sister once more as, across the lobby, the hotel receptionist smiled warmly.
“Are you two heading to the Nantucket Daffodil Festival?” the receptionist asked.
“It’s our first one together in more than fifty years,” Greta said as their hug broke.
“My goodness.” The receptionist shook her head. In her late twenties or early thirties, it was clear that fifty years was hardly conceivable to her.
Eloise got herself a cup of coffee and sat across from Greta to enjoy a moment of peace before the festivities.
“So, the entire family will be there today?” Eloise asked nervously.
“All of them,” Greta affirmed. “And the ones you didn’t meet the other day are dying to meet you.”
Eloise made a face and sipped her coffee. “I hope Anna isn’t too upset with me.”
Greta shook her head. “When Anna first got back to Nantucket, all she could do was talk about how ‘incredible’ the friend who’d driven her to Nantucket was.”
“You’re kidding! A friend?
“She sees you as a friend,” Greta confirmed. “And why wouldn’t she? You helped her through a very dark time.”
“Yes. I suppose so.” She considered this, then added, “But Anna helped me just as much as I helped her.”
“Maybe you should tell her that,” Greta tried. “If you want to.”
Eloise and Greta walked from the hotel to downtown Nantucket, where, apparently, Bernard and Quentin had already staked out a “perfect parade spot.” As they walked, Eloise noticed a moment of jealousy rise up within her— jealousy that Greta had a son and a husband to save her a spot on the parade route. But as soon as the feeling came, Eloise blotched it out. It wasn’t useful for her.
“I can’t believe I’ve never met your husband,” Eloise said.
Greta smiled a romantic smile, her eyes far away. “For many years, it was like we weren’t married at all.”
“What were you thinking when he was in prison?”
