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Heather thinks about it for a second before answering. “I think there’s something safe about it,” she finally admits. “Men my own age might find something lacking about me. It would be easy for them to reject me, to leave me, to find someone better. But to an older man—one who is more likely to be an old-school gentleman, which I love—I’m a catch. If a guy is over seventy, I mean, c’mon: a woman of forty-two is a vixen. But if a guy is in his forties he’s going to look right by me and go after the woman in her twenties.”
Marigold is nodding in understanding. “That’s not wrong,” she says, wagging a finger at Heather like she has a point. “Every guy who makes a negative comment on any of my social media posts appears to be in his thirties or forties, and he actually seems weirdly angry towards women our age. Why are they all so mad at us? They love to point out that we’re ‘tired, old, dried-up, done’…what’s with that?”
The women all look at each other with no clear answer until Harlow speaks up.
“I think,” she says, clearing her throat as she holds her teacup and saucer in both hands, “I think they’re intimidated by you.”
Heather and Marigold frown, but Ruby gets her daughter’s meaning instantly. She nods at Harlow encouragingly.
“I mean, look at all of you,” Harlow says, glancing at each woman in turn. “You’re all smart, beautiful, accomplished, and you don’tneeda man. Most of you—sorry if I’m making an assumption here—are done having babies, so you don’t need them for that, and you make your own money and take care of yourselves. They’re angry at you in a vague way because you’re happy and self-sufficient and deep down they know that they’re just gravy in your lives at this point.”
Ruby wants to applaud; Harlow has hit the nail completely on the head. As she looks at the other women in the group, she knows this is completely the truth. Heather and Marigold both own their own homes near the water, and Molly has been a solo business owner for forty years. She herself does notneeda man, but has the luxury of deciding now, as she enters her fifties, whether or not shewantsone. And while Vanessa is still at the starting gate to that part of her life, looking around desperately for someone to run the race with, and Tilly is quite probably going to end up living in her grandfather’s house for the rest of her life with a bunch of cats and books about serial killers, the rest of them are precisely as Harlow just described: self-sufficient and confident enough in who they are to not dress, act, or openly desire male approval. It’s a revelation to her.
"Honey," Ruby says to Harlow, "you are so right. Thank you for that."
"Correct, my girl," Molly says. "You've got a good head on your shoulders." She lifts her teacup in a toast to Harlow, then turns to the other younger women in the group, giving a nod to Athena, then Vanessa, and finally Tilly. "The future is bright for womanhood with smart, interesting, sharp young ladies who go against the grain." She casts a glance at Tilly as she says this last part. "It's a pleasure being in a book club with so many different women and their varied perspectives."
"You know," Ruby says, picking up the thread. "It really is. Getting to know all of you is making this transition to living on the island so much easier. Thank you for being willing to come here, read books with me, chat about life, and just be your authentic selves."
The women take a moment to smile at one another in acknowledgment, but then Marigold speaks up.
"Okay, we've patted ourselves on the back and we all agree that this is a special group," she says, measuring her words and looking serious. "But now we need to get down to the nitty gritty." Almost in unison, the other women lean forward in their seats as if Marigold is about to impart some top secret information. "We need to figure out how Ruby can use this situation to the best of her advantage. She has the opportunity here to use this book as a platform and to tell her story the way she wants to tell it, so let's choose our next book carefully."
"Right!" Heather says, leaping in to the discussion. "You are so right, Goldie. This is Ruby's moment to really shine."
"Then I have a book suggestion," Athena says. Everyone looks at her in anticipation. She bends over and pulls her oversized purse from beneath her chair and takes out a dogeared copy of a book that she's obviously already reading. "Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: The Untold Story," Athena says, holding up the book for them all to see.
"Ooooh," Marigold says, nodding in agreement.
"Good choice," Heather adds.
"Jackie O." Molly inhales and holds her breath before releasing it. "A First Lady with a successful second act. I like it. Very inspirational.”
A slow smile spreads across Ruby's face. "Me too. Okay, just to be official here—quick show of hands: who's on board with the Jackie O. book?" Every hand shoots into the air. "Fabulous, ladies. Let's meet again in two weeks."
Athena
Diego texts on a Thursday in June. Athena is on a leave of absence from work, and for the first couple of weeks she was determined to get over her broken heart, bad feelings, and shame, then pack her bags and head back to her life in D.C. But as time has gone on, she's gotten increasingly comfortable on Shipwreck Key. She loves waking up to the sound of the ocean and the smell of coffee that her mom has already woken up to brew, and she adores walking through the front door of the bookstore and flipping on the lights to see shelves and shelves of beautiful books, just waiting to find good homes.
Is Shipwreck Key a den of romantic possibility? No, it is not. But right now that's part of what makes it so appealing. The absolute dearth of young men looking for love suits Athena just fine. But that doesn't mean she's not bitter on some levels, because she is. Who does Diego Santana think he is to rob her of her trust in men like that? How can he wake up and look himself in the eye everyday knowing that he made a mockery of love, intimacy, and trust—both for her, and for his new wife?
"Hey, Bean," Ruby says, walking into the kitchen where Athena is sitting at the table nursing a cup of coffee and holding her phone in one hand, the message from Diego still sitting there unanswered.
Ruby walks over to the refrigerator and pulls open the door. She's wearing a pair of bright red running shorts and a white tank top, and her hair is in a bouncy ponytail. Athena's life might be falling apart, but as she watches her mom, she realizes that the pace and lifestyle on the island are doing amazing things for her mom.
"Want an omelette, hon?" Ruby asks, setting a carton of eggs on the island and turning back to the refrigerator for the milk and a wedge of aged cheddar.
"Mom," Athena says, ignoring the offer of food for the time being. She screws up her face in a frown and holds her coffee mug tightly in both hands. There's no reason to feel as nervous as she does. "I think I want to quit my job."
The kitchen is spacious and full of sunshine. The light glints off the stainless steel appliances, and every surface is clean and shiny. Athena realizes in this moment that she loves this kitchen. She loves this house. Everything about this life here on Shipwreck Key suits her, and she wants to start feeling and looking as relaxed and at home as her mother does.
"Bean..." Ruby abandons the eggs, milk, and cheese and comes over to the table. She pulls out a chair and plops down across from her daughter, setting both elbows on the wooden tabletop and lacing her fingers together. "Let's talk. I want to hear what's going on in your head right now."
Athena blows out a breath, lifting a long, stray curl that hangs over her forehead with the force of her exhalation. The hair falls again, and Athena meets her mother's eye.
"I don't think I can go back. What do I have in Washington if you're not there?" Her look is lost, pleading. "I can't see myself wandering around a silent library for the rest of my life, feeling like everyone who works there knows my business and thinks I'm just a dumb girl who got screwed over by a guy."
Ruby unlaces her fingers and reaches across the table to take Athena's hand in hers. She holds it and stares at her oldest child with a long, loving look. "My sweet," Ruby says earnestly, squeezing Athena's fingers in hers. "The first thing you've got to do is learn to let go of what other people think about you. Your life is your life, and this was—of course—a horrible thing that happened to you. But if people look at you in judgment, then let them. I can promise you that not a one of them has lived a life free of mistakes or mishaps."
