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Stephanie smiled wider and said, “Are those the other Copperfield Sisters? How did I get so lucky?” She sat across from Ella and said, “I have to get back to my other friend pretty soon. But she can be patient for now. Tell me everything. Are you back-back?”
Ella sat next to Julia and across from Stephanie. “I just moved back home, yep. My son started at Nantucket High this morning, and I’m a nervous wreck.”
“You’re kidding! My daughter is there. She’s a freshman.”
“Mine’s a senior,” Ella affirmed.
“Wow.” Stephanie’s eyes sparkled. “Who would have thought that our kids would eventually go to school together?”
“It’s insanity.”
Alana and Julia gave Stephanie brief updates. Throughout, Ella wanted to protest and remind all three of them that Alana and Julia had never really known Stephanie, as they’d hardly been around when their band had really “gotten good.” This was petty, though. She knew that.
“And what are you up to these days?” Ella asked, praying that Stephanie wouldn’t ask about Will.
“Oh, gosh. I’ve just been put in charge of organizing the Nantucket Jubilee.” Stephanie scrunched her nose nervously, although she was clearly pleased.
Ella shook her head. “What’s that?”
“Oh. Let me put on my marketing voice for you,” Stephanie joked as she adjusted her posture. “In the year 1820, a whaling ship called The Heart of Nantucket left Nantucket Harbor on a planned one-year whaling quest. That ship did not return the following year and was officially marked as ‘lost.’ Nantucket families mourned their fathers, brothers, and sons. Until one day in October, two years after its departure, The Heart of Nantucket returned to Nantucket Harbor with all of its men onboard.”
“Whoop!” Julia clapped her hands. “I forgot about that story.”
“It’s a good one,” Alana confirmed.
“So, it’s the two-hundred-year anniversary?” Ella asked.
“That’s right,” Stephanie replied. “And we’re doing it up big. Concerts. Food trucks. Art shows. Even a film festival.”
“Wow. A Nantucket Film Festival?” Ella breathed.
Stephanie’s eyes bugged out. “I’m literally exhausted. It’s been too much to handle. Oh, but we’re still on the hunt for musical acts. Do you have any interest in playing for one of the slots?”
Ella’s throat tightened. “I don’t really have a music project right now.”
This, to Ella, sounded like the worst reality in the world. Stephanie took it in stride, as though she’d expected that, anyway. Probably, she knew far more about Ella than Ella knew about her, which gave Stephanie the power.
“That’s just fine. Tell you the truth, I haven’t touched my drumsticks since you left the island,” Stephanie said.
“Oh no!” Ella cried.
“That’s fine with me. It was more of a teenage angst thing for me, anyway.” Stephanie didn’t miss a beat. “But you know, I could really use someone part-time to help with the Nantucket Jubilee. I know you just got back. Maybe you’re looking for work?”
Ella’s lips parted with surprise. The concept of a “job” had been heavy on her mind, especially because tourist season was preparing to close.
“Are you kidding me?” Ella said, sounding more and more like a teenage girl.
“I’d love your help,” Stephanie said. “Here, why don’t you put your number in my phone? I can text you with details.”
Ella’s fingers quivered as she typed out her number. She then passed over the phone and waved a final time to Stephanie, who said, “I still can’t believe you’re back, Ella. We’ve missed you around here, you know.”
Ella’s heart swelled with the memories of those long-ago days when all she’d had was Stephanie and Brenda. Her gaze was again blurry with tears. When the waitress finally returned to take their order, Ella stuttered over the words and finally said, “I’ll have what she’s having,” about whatever Julia had ordered, which made Julia and Alana howl with laughter. Ella had to admit— everything felt especially funny, especially sad, and especially alive just then. She joined along, too.
ChapterNine
Danny arrived home from his last “first day” of school at three-fifteen. Ella was upstairs in her childhood bedroom, doodling on a guitar, when she heard the door shriek open to announce him. She placed the guitar on the bed and hustled to the staircase to greet him, only to find that Bernard, Greta, Alana, and Julia had all beaten her to the punch. Bernard, whom she hadn’t seen since his book release party, seemed almost dressed up in a pair of slacks and a button-down. Even his beard was trimmed and styled with oil.
“How was your first day at school, my boy?” Bernard asked as he clapped Danny on the back.
