“So he says.”
Jane and Claire exchanged a look.
“I suppose as the bank president, he does have a lot of work to do,” Claire said.
“He’s become distant. We hardly ever talk.” Maxi wrapped her hand around the coffee mug as if seeking comfort from its warmth. “When the kids were home, the dinner conversation was filled up with what they’d done. What they were learning in school, sports, that sort of thing. Now that it’s just me and James, apparently there is nothing to talk about.”
“I think that’s natural.” Jane pinched off a tiny piece of muffin and fed it to Cooper. “You focused on the kids all your lives. Now that it’s just the two of you, things are different. I bet James came home late a lot before too. You just didn’t notice as much because of the kids.”
“Yeah, and you were busy driving them to sports and activities. Now you have a lot more time on your hands,” Claire added. “You could be reading too much into things if you’re focusing on what is or isn’t going on between you and James. Maybe you should pick up a hobby.”
“Great idea,” Jane said. “I know you’ve been sketching on napkins, but what about taking it even further? You used to love painting when we were in high school. Didn’t James suggest that you do that anyway?”
“He did, but...” Maxi’s voice trailed off. She didn’t want to say what she was thinking, that James had suggested she take up painting again to keep her busy and distracted so she wouldn’t notice what he was doing. Claire and Hailey—Claire’s assistant at the bakery—had said their cheating husbands had done that. And why would he suddenly want her to start painting? She’d put aside her ambitions to become an artist so she could focus on raising the kids, and even when they got older and she had more time, James had discouraged her creative tendencies. Back then, he was working his way up in the bank. He wanted to become president someday and didn’t think being artsy was befitting of a bank president’s wife. Appearances were important to James.
“Have you talked to him?” Claire signaled to Hailey, who was circling the area with a coffeepot to top off people’s cups. “Maybe you should tell him how you feel, suggest some things that you could do together that would bring you closer again. Or some things that would give you goals and a purpose.”
“I’ve mentioned a few things, but James acts dismissive of them. I’ve mentioned getting a pet before, but he doesn’t want animal hair on his suits.” Maxi bent down and scratched Cooper behind the ears. She loved animals and had broached the subject of a dog or cat a few times. James wasn’t interested, so she supposed she’d have to make do with Jane’s dog, Cooper, and Claire’s cat, Urchin. “I saw the most adorable kittens at the animal shelter the other day. Little balls of fluff, one white and one black, but when I approached James, he basically just changed the subject.”
“Maybe he needs time to think about a pet. It’s a big commitment. What about some things the two of you can do together?” Claire persisted.
Maxi shrugged. “We don’t have a lot of the same interests anymore. James is mostly interested in work.”And apparently Sandee Harris.“I’ve mentioned a few things to him. A trip to Myrtle Beach. Oh, and ballroom dancing.”
A snort came from behind the planter, and Sally Littlefield, Lobster Bay’s favorite handywoman, peeked around the side. She had her work overalls on and a paintbrush in her hand as she was apparently giving the planters a fresh coat of paint.
“Sorry, but I can’t picture stodgy James taking ballroom dancing.”
“Yeah, he didn’t seem too keen on it,” Maxi said.
Sally rested her brush on the open can of paint and stood, wiping her hands on the rag hanging from the loop at her hip. A thick braid of gray hair hung over one shoulder. Sally was on the other side of seventy, but that didn’t slow her down. As one of Lobster Bay’s most sought-after handywomen, she was known for her meticulous work and unsolicited advice. “I couldn’t help but overhear. Maxi, you’ve invested a lot in your marriage. You have kids, a home. You can make it work. Maybe you just need a little break.”
Hailey had made her way over to the table, and Maxi held up her cup while she thought about what Sally had just said. Maybe shedidjust need a break, but what exactly did that entail?
“How are you ladies this morning?” Hailey asked as she made the rounds with the coffee, serving those at the table as well as Sally, who had a mug stashed next to the paint.
“Good. How about you? How’s Jennifer?” Maxi liked the young single mother. They all did and had taken her under their wing, acting somewhat as pseudo-grandmothers to her twelve-year-old daughter Jennifer. Hailey had had a rough time. Her husband had lost all their money then cheated on her. She didn’t have much for family, either, just a grandfather, so Maxi, Jane, and Claire tried to treat Jennifer a little specially.
“We’re good. Jennifer is doing a summer camp and—” Hailey’s apron pocket erupted in song, and Hailey pulled out her phone. She frowned at the screen. “It’s Gramps. He never calls. I better take this.”
Hailey put the coffeepot on their table and stepped around the planter, the phone to her ear.
“I hope nothing’s wrong.” Jane’s gaze followed Hailey, her words echoing Maxi’s thoughts.
On the other side of the planter, they could see Hailey’s shoulders droop as she talked into the phone. A few minutes later, she came back to the table for the coffeepot, her face tight with worry.
“I hope that wasn’t bad news,” Claire said. “I can handle things if you have to leave.”
“I don’t have to leave. It was about Gramps’s cottage. The one on the beach.” She looked at them, and they nodded. Hailey’s grandfather wasn’t a rich man but did have a small run-down cottage on a more isolated part of the beach that had been in his family for generations. Maxi remembered Hailey saying one time that he could barely pay the taxes and had to rent it out. He didn’t want to let it go—too many childhood memories that he wanted Jennifer to also experience.
“What about it?” Jane asked as Hailey bent down to pet Cooper.
“It’s getting really run-down, but he’s been able to rent it every summer. Except the people that rented it this year took one look and refused to stay,” Hailey said.
“Oh no. Can he get someone else?” Claire asked.
“Unfortunately not. The people sent pictures to Airbnb, and they terminated his listing. Said it wasn’t fit to rent.” Hailey’s expression turned grim. “He needs that money for the tax bill. Now he might have to sell.”
“No, he won’t. I’ll rent it,” Maxi blurted out.
