AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What do I need?” Amanda floundered.
Audrey answered vaguely. “You need everything for a perfect day on Martha’s Vineyard, of course!”
By this time, Sam had stumbled the rest of the way down the staircase. He palmed the back of his neck and said, “Oh. Audrey. Hi.”
Audrey placed her hands on her hips, pretending to be angry. “Sam, I thought I told you to have her ready by eight-thirty? It was literally the last thing I said to you last night!”
“You know better than to ask anything of Sam that late at night,” Amanda said, grabbing Audrey’s wrist to tug her into the house. “Give me ten minutes.”
As Amanda scrambled around upstairs, she took the quickest shower she could, threw some things into a bag— her swimsuit, sun lotion, a big hat, sunglasses— then stepped out of her room to hear the noises downstairs of Sam brewing coffee and Audrey blabbing on about this and that.
“Max and Mia are both with Aunt Kerry, bless her. She seems to have a way with babies. I can’t say I blamed Uncle Trevor when he made plans to be out of the house today, though. Ha.”
Amanda dove down the steps to find Audrey and Sam at the breakfast table, where Sam had poured Amanda a cup of coffee. Amanda could have cried at the sight of two of her favorite people seated together as the morning light streamed beautifully through the window. Next week, this home would be her permanent place.
“You have to promise this will be a frequent scene,” Amanda said to Audrey, her eyes widening as she sipped her coffee. “I want you to come over unannounced all the time.”
“No problem,” Audrey assured her. “But I already checked your cabinets. You’re out of Pop Tarts.”
Amanda kissed Sam goodbye, then headed out the door, hot on Audrey’s heels. She then got into Audrey’s car and braced herself for Audrey’s rather wild driving, which whipped them away from the sea cottage, east toward Edgartown and then ever further east, toward the Katama Lodge and Wellness Spa.
“You’re kidding,” Amanda breathed.
“Come on. You and Aunt Susan have been insane with worry lately,” Audrey said. “Mom and I thought it was only fitting if we start your bachelorette off with some relaxation. Saunas and massages for everyone!”
Susan, Aunt Christine, and Aunt Lola were already there, smiling happily as they drank coffee in the parking lot.
“Hi, honey.” Susan hugged Amanda close. “I hope you’re not too tired after last night?”
“Not at all,” Amanda said. “It’s wonderful to see all of you.”
“Brittany and Brooke will be here later,” Audrey said.
“For lunch,” Lola affirmed. “They’re meeting us at the Sheridan House.”
Once inside, the Sheridan women changed into fluffy white robes and wandered into the warm coziness of the spa-side of the Katama Lodge, where women sat wrapped in towels in very hot rooms, their faces relaxed as tiny beads of sweat fell down their backs. Together, Amanda and Audrey stepped into a very hot sauna— 190 degrees Fahrenheit, and sat on the wood with their eyes closed. Two other women were in the room, which meant Amanda and Audrey had to remain very quiet, focusing on their breathing.
But when the two women abandoned the room and closed the door, Audrey burst. “Oh my gosh! It’s too hot! I can’t breathe!”
Amanda opened her eyes and laughed. “Yeah, it is. Every part of me is on slow mode.”
“It’s weird,” Audrey said. “I’ve sweated out all the toxins from last night. Now, I’m working on all the toxins from last year.”
Amanda giggled and leaned her head back, feeling her muscles loosen. Through the sauna's glass door, she watched Lola and Christine walk past in fluffy robes, carrying mugs of tea.
“This was such a good idea,” Amanda said.
“There’s more where this came from,” Audrey assured her.
Amanda and Audrey stepped out into the crisp air, feeling a sense of relief wash over them. They strolled leisurely until they reached a picturesque blue pool where Susan, Christine, and Lola were gathered, enjoying themselves and savoring mouthwatering raspberries. Amanda settled down beside her mother, engrossed in the easy conversation flowing among the Sheridan sisters. They discussed Lola's aspirations to revamp the cozy cabin she shared with Tommy, Christine's recent decision to conclude breastfeeding Mia since she was now about a year and a half and no longer interested, and the exciting visit of Scott's son, Kellan, from university.
“Kellan’s overjoyed to birdwatch with Dad again,” Susan said. “He’s taken a birdwatching seminar at the university level, but his knowledge still doesn’t overshadow Dad’s.”
“I can’t help but wonder how much Beatrice has changed him,” Lola said. “He has so much more to live for now that he has someone to love. It feels like his dementia has stalled a bit.”
“I think so, too,” Christine said.
“It’s probably been funny for the two of you to be roommates with your grandfather,” Lola said, eyeing Audrey and Amanda.
