Chloe looked like she was shaking. Under her breath, she said, “I have to clock out.”
Chloe knew that, without having to ask her, Janie would take over her tasks for the night. It was what any good friend would do. Janie bowed her head and returned to her dishes, listening as Chloe grabbed her things and left with Alexander’s father.
What the heck?Janie thought.
But the following day and the one after, Chloe didn’t mention Benjamin, and Janie didn’t ask again. It was blisteringly hot, and they did what they could to survive it by going to the beach, flirting with random tourist guys, eating ice cream, and going to work. Janie assumed it would be just another summer. She thought that maybe she wouldn’t even come back to Nantucketnext year. Perhaps she’d work in Florida this winter and go somewhere else after. Like Alaska. Or Washington.
And then, Alexander appeared, and everything really did change.
Janie was at a small bar near her restaurant, reading a novel and drinking diet soda. Alexander stopped halfway up the steps to the bar’s porch and gazed at her, as though, before this moment, he’d decided he’d made her up in his mind and that she didn’t exist.
“Hi,” he said, his voice wavering.
“Hi,” she said. She closed her book.
The air sizzled between them.
After that, it was off to the races.
Nobody in the history of the world had ever fallen in love as quickly. That night, Alexander and Janie talked till dawn, when Alexander had to hurry off and open the White Oak Lodge for the morning. Janie grabbed a few hours of sleep before her restaurant shift. The minute they were off, they met at a mostly empty beach and kissed and shared lite beers. When Janie looked at Alexander, she saw her entire future, a future she hadn’t initially imagined for herself. She saw babies. She saw safety. It had been ages since she’d lived correctly somewhere. Wouldn’t it be nice to pick out paint colors? Wouldn’t it be nice to sleep in the same bed every night?
She’d thought she’d be a vagabond for a few more years. But what if she didn’t have to?
Alexander didn’t mention how freaked out he’d been the night of the party, and Janie didn’t bring up the Benjamin situation with Chloe or Alexander. Chloe still hadn’t figured out that Janie was dating Alexander. She came to work and disappeared after, and didn’t seem keen on hanging out anymore. Janie was too busy anyway.
Was Chloe having an affair with Benjamin?
Something in Janie told her that, if that was true, this wasn’t the first time.
Maybe two weeks after Alexander and Janie got together properly, Alexander had a surprise day off. “I don’t know. I looked at the calendar, and it said ALEXANDER OFF, and I’m not going to question it,” he said as they drove too fast down an island road, the wind whipping through the open windows and making their hair fly. “I figured we have to go sailing. When else will we have a full day to ourselves?”
Janie laced her fingers through Alexander’s. She already knew her family expected far too much from him. They refused to let him leave the island and pursue the career he wanted. A part of her wanted to tell him to do it anyway—to flee—because we only have this one life to live. But she knew Alexander’s loyalty was a difficult thing to overcome.
“I just have to pick something up at the Lodge,” Alexander said, kissing the back of her hand. “You can come in if you want. I know my mom wants to meet you.”
Terror gripped Janie’s heart. But she knew, tied up in what Alexander was saying was a request for her to join the messy ecosystem of the Whitmores. It wasn’t a test. Well, she didn’t think it was, anyway. Her heart pounded.
“I’d love to meet your mother,” she said.
Alexander parked, cut the engine, and hurried around to guide her from the passenger side to the side entrance of the hotel. It was nearing the end of July, and the grounds swarmed with beautiful and wealthy guests, some in swimsuits, others in ornate outfits that looked overly complex in this heat. They entered the air-conditioned Lodge and walked past the front desk, where two of Alexander’s sisters were speaking with a guest that Janie recognized from television. The guest wanted a separate room for his Pomeranian, but Alexander’s sisterscouldn’t accommodate him, and there was an edge of chaos to the scene.
They found Francesca Whitmore in the kitchen, talking with the chef about the evening’s menu and the new batch of strawberries, which looked sensational, like candy jewels. Alexander plucked one from the bowl, washed it, and handed it to Janie. Francesca followed her eldest son’s movements, and her eyes landed on Janie.
“And who is this?” she asked, ignoring the chef.
“Mom, this is Janie Dresden,” Alexander said. “Janie, this is my mother.”
Francesca’s eyes glinted as she draped a hand between them. Janie shook it, feeling foolish and less than.What if this is my future mother-in-law?she wondered. Vaguely, she remembered that Chloe had said terrible things about Francesca. But maybe that was only because she was in love with Benjamin. Ugh. What was she getting herself involved in?
Suddenly, Benjamin strolled into the kitchen, adjusting his cuff links. “Francesca? I need you.” He stopped short in the doorway, that handsome smile playing across his lips.
“You’re just in time,” Francesca said. “We’re meeting Alexander’s new girlfriend. Isn’t she lovely?”
Janie watched Benjamin’s face for clues that he recognized her. Sure enough, his smile flickered, and fear darkened his expression. He knew her from the restaurant kitchen. He knew she knew he’d come to that kitchen for Chloe.
He looked at her like she was a snake bound to bite him.
But Janie was all smiles. Benjamin followed suit, transforming his expression to one of curiosity and joy. He took Janie’s hand and said, “It is a pleasure, my darling. Welcome to Nantucket. Tell me, what brought you here? I know everyone on the island, and you’re brand-new!”
