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“I just can’t believe Mom would do that to Dad,” Elsa finished, her lips in a paper-thin line.
“Dad wasn’t always kind to Mom,” Carmella continued quietly. “Apparently, when they had you, they lived a fairy tale life of wedded bliss. But after I came, things were difficult. Dad was consumed with the Katama Lodge, as deep as he could go, and he hardly came out to check if Mom was okay taking care of two little girls alone.”
Elsa shook her head again, as though none of Carmella’s words could penetrate her mind. Carmella sighed and turned back toward the door.
“Yes, well.” Elsa rushed out, hunting for another topic. “Did you get your invitation to the party in June? It’s serving as a going-away party for me and a party for both Maggie and Alyssa’s babies.” She laughed, but the pitch of it was a little too high.
Carmella nodded. “I got the invite. I’ll be there.”
Elsa made a face that told Carmella she never wanted to hear about Oliver Matthews or the seaside cottage again. Carmella said several more pleasantries, then left the office, feeling as though she’d been slapped. By the time she reached her car, she was crying in honor of the memories of her mother, who’d done anything she could to keep herself afloat in Neal’s world of neglect.
ChapterFifteen
Something had definitely shifted after the trip to Savannah. Aria could sense it in Cole’s eyes when they hung out together, talking endlessly about whatever was on their minds deep into the night. Once, Cole’s hand had brushed against Aria’s on a walk along the pier, and Aria had nearly fallen to her knees. His touch was the most powerful thing she understood.
It was early June, and miraculously, Aria didn’t have a shift at the bar or a babysitting gig lined up, and even Cole had cleared his schedule of sailing jobs. Early, they woke and grabbed coffee at a cute coffee shop in Edgartown, where they shared a scone and watched the tourists as they strode through Edgartown like they owned the place. As Aria had already lived on the island for the better part of a year, she felt a deeper sense of understanding of the place, one that allowed her to understand that the heart of Martha’s Vineyard went beyond the sunny days. It existed on the coldest, darkest day in February, on the most tumultuous day of hurricane season.
“Do you think you can make it to the party Saturday?” Cole asked, giving Aria a half-smile.
“I can make it,” Aria said, her heart jumping. “Should I bring anything?”
“My mom, aunts, and step-grandmother always make too much food to go around,” Cole explained. “Just bring yourself.”
Aria burned to ask Cole what her role at the party would be.Was she going as his girlfriend? Or just as his friend?Oh, but it didn’t matter. She was just grateful to be invited at all.
Saturday morning, Aria dressed in a light pink dress and styled her hair and makeup expertly, the way she would have back in Texas. Cole picked her up around eleven and drove her through the sun-dappled island as the radio played oldies. When they pulled up outside the Remington House, six cars already lined the property, and music billowed out from the back porch.
Aria and Cole walked around the side of the house to say hello to the people gathered along the beach and the porch, all in beautiful summer linens and big sunglasses. Alyssa and Maggie, the pregnant sisters, hurried down the porch steps to hug both Aria and Cole as Alyssa exclaimed, “It’s the famous Aria! Cole has done his best to hide you away from us.”
Aria blushed, grateful for Alyssa’s enormous personality. It seemed Alyssa always knew what to say.
“Cole? Why have you been hiding her?” Alyssa demanded.
“Don’t mind her,” Maggie said with a smile. “Can I get you something to drink? A lemonade? An Aperol Spritz?”
Alyssa followed Maggie onto the porch to select a drink, where she greeted Mallory, Cole’s little sister, who carried her toddler, Zachery, and spoke to Bruce Holland about all things law. Aria introduced herself, feeling the intensity of their gazes.
“We’ve been so curious about the mystery woman Cole met in the Caribbean!” Mallory said.
“I’m no mystery,” Aria said.
After that, Elsa burst from the back door to hug Aria and usher her deeper into the house. She pressed a glass of wine into Aria’s hand and introduced her to her stepmother, Nancy, and her stepsister, Janine, who worked as a naturopathic doctor at the Katama Lodge.
“Where’s Carmella?” Aria heard herself ask with a smile.
A wave of annoyance passed over Elsa’s face. “She’s around here somewhere.”
Aria stalled with confusion, as she’d thought Carmella and Elsa were above petty fights of siblings.
When Aria returned to the porch, she found Cole with a toddler named Lucy in his arms. Lucy was adorable, babbling to Cole about this and that as Maggie adjusted her dress over her chunky thighs.
“Hello, there,” Aria said to the little girl.
“This is Lucy,” Maggie explained.
“Oh! Lucy. I’ve heard all about you,” Aria said, remembering the story Cole had told her about Alyssa’s ex-boyfriend and the little girl he couldn’t care for. “Is Cole taking good care of you?”
“Cole!” Lucy cried, which made everyone laugh.
