"Oh," Jess said, stopping suddenly on Main Street outside a narrow storefront with painted in faded blue letters on a weathered wooden sign;Bookmark – New & Used Books. "That’s new."
Nadine followed her gaze. The shop occupied the ground floor of a gray-shingled building with blue trim, the bookshop's bay window displaying a carefully arranged collection of maritime histories and island photography books, along with a handwritten sign advertising "Local Authors" night every Thursday. “Yes, Noah Browne, the guy who runs it is quiet, but someone you really want on your table quiz team.” She smiled fondly.
They crossed Harbor View Lane, a narrow side street that led directly to a small, semi-private beach. Jess slowed her pace, memories washing over her like incoming tide.
The harbor came into view as they rounded the corner, sunlight dancing across the water in diamond patterns. The Steamship Authority dock bustled with activity - taxis waiting for arriving passengers, porters ready to handle luggage, families gathered to greet loved ones. The ferry itself was visible on the horizon, a white speck growing larger against the backdrop of blue sky and bluer water.
They found a spot at the edge of the crowd, Nadine checking her watch with habitual precision. "Perfect timing. The ferry should dock in about ten minutes."
Spring had transformed the harbor area into a palette of subtle colors. Weathered gray dock boards were softened bypatches of bright green sea grass pushing up between the planks. Even the water itself seemed to be awakening from winter - deeper blue, more vibrant, alive with small whitecaps where the breeze caught the surface.
"I sometimes forget how beautiful it can be," Jess murmured, watching a pair of ospreys circle overhead.
Nadine followed her gaze. "That's the thing about leaving. You start to remember the island as a postcard instead of a real place with mud, bugs and January nor'easters."
"Then why did you come back?” Jess asked.
Nadine was quiet for a moment. "I stayed because this is where my life made the most sense," she finally said. "The rhythm of the seasons, knowing my neighbors, raising my kids where I grew up... it just fit."
The ferry grew larger, its distinctive white and blue hull now clearly visible. Gulls followed in its wake, swooping and diving for scraps thrown by passengers. The waiting crowd shifted forward in anticipation, conversations growing louder as the vessel approached.
The massive boat dwarfed the wooden dock as it eased alongside. Crew members threw lines to waiting dockworkers, who secured them easily. The gangway lowered with a mechanical whine, and passengers began to disembark - seasonal residents returning, day-trippers with cameras at the ready, workers commuting from the mainland.
Jess stood on tiptoe, scanning the crowd for Megan's familiar face.
"What does she look like?" Nadine who’d never had occasion to meet Jess’s New York friend either, asked.
"Curly brown hair, usually in a messy bun. About my height, but a bit curvier. Probably wearing something practical and slightly rumpled,” she added fondly.
The stream of passengers thinned as the ferry emptied and Jess felt a flicker of worry - had Megan missed the boat maybe? A last-minute work emergency or something? She pulled out her phone to check for messages.
“That her?" Nadine asked, pointing toward a bedraggled-looking woman at the very end of the disembarking line.
Jess looked up and broke into a wide smile. Megan wore cutoff jean shorts and a faded Columbia University sweatshirt pushed up to her elbows. Her curly hair was indeed in a messy bun, and she carried an oversized beach bag that looked ready to burst at the seams. The sea breeze had already worked its magic on her hair, giving it the salt-stiffened texture that no styling product could replicate.
"Meg!" she called, waving frantically. "Over here!"
Head turning at the sound of her name, Megan’s face lit up with recognition. She hurried toward them, narrowly avoiding a collision with a porter's luggage cart in her excitement.
"You made it!" Jess exclaimed, pulling her friend into a tight hug.
“Just about" Megan laughed, her voice muffled against Jess's shoulder. "Seriously, I nearly lost my breakfast when we hit that rough patch near the halfway point."
"Ginger candy," Nadine said automatically. "Next time, bring ginger candy for the crossing."
Megan stepped back from the hug and smiled. "You must be Nadine. Jess has told me so much about you that I feel like we've already met."
"All lies, honestly," Nadine joked, reaching in for a hug. "It's wonderful to finally meet you."
Megan embraced her warmly, then stood back, turning in a slow circle, taking in the harbor, the weathered buildings of downtown Nantucket visible beyond. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, her expression one of pure wonder.
"It smells exactly like you described - salt and flowers and something else I can't quite name."
"History," Jess supplied. "That's what my dad always says. The smell of history in the making."
“It's just so beautiful," her friend breathed. "I mean, I've seen the photos and heard your stories, but being here..." She shook her head. "No wonder you come alive when you talk about this place."
They began walking back toward town, Nadine leading the way with her naturally brisk pace while Jess and Megan lingered slightly behind. Jess found herself seeing her home through Megan's fresh eyes - noticing details she had long taken for granted, rediscovering the magic that had shaped her childhood.
