23
Logan and Jessmoved from the terrace, continuing their circuit of the property with professional commentary from him about various spaces and arrangements.
The sun strengthened, warming the air as they walked along a crushed shell path that circled the building. Jess was acutely aware of the careful distance Logan maintained - never close enough for accidental contact, but near enough to speak without raising his voice. She found herself matching his spacing unconsciously, like dancers who had rehearsed their movements to avoid collision.
"I hope Nadine …” Jess ventured, "Hasn’t been too..." She hesitated, searching for the right word.
"Intense?" Logan supplied with a wry smile.
"Yes, exactly. I apologize if she’s been making too many demands."
He considered this as they continued walking. "She must have revised the floor plan six times already."
"Six?" Jess raised her eyebrows. "She only showed me three versions."
"She spared you the interim drafts then,” Logan said, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that was achingly familiar. "Version four had what she called a 'conversation acceleration layout' that involved clustering certain guests to - and I quote - 'maximize beneficial social collisions while minimizing potential friction points.'"
Jess laughed despite herself. "Oh my God, she's completely out of control," she said, but her tone was affectionate. "I don't know what I'd do without her, though. She's handled everything while I've been underwater with work."
"She's a good friend," Logan agreed. "Even if she did make us sample sixteen different cake flavors in one sitting. My blood sugar has only recently recovered."
They had completed their circuit of the building and now stood at the entrance to what Logan explained was the newest addition to the property - a glass-walled lounge that faced the water, connecting to the main building via a corridor lined with historic photographs.
"This is our final stop," Logan said, gesturing toward the modern structure that somehow managed to complement rather than compete with the historic hotel. "The Lighthouse Lounge. It doubles as an indoor ceremony space when the weather doesn't cooperate, but most guests use it for sunset cocktails."
He held the door, and as Jess passed through, she caught the faint scent of his aftershave - subtle notes of cedar and salt that triggered a cascade of sense memories so powerful she had to pause to collect herself. How strange that after all these years, his scent could still affect her so viscerally.
The lounge was stunning - three walls of glass framing panoramic water views, the ceiling high and pitched to suggest a lighthouse tower. Modern pendant lights hung from exposed beams, their glass globes containing what appeared to be vintage nautical charts.
"Wow," Jess breathed, genuinely impressed. "This is extraordinary."
"Thank you," Logan said, and for the first time, a note of genuine pride entered his voice. "I designed most of it myself. We wanted something contemporary that still honored the maritime heritage."
Jess turned to him in surprise. "You designed this? I thought you gave up architecture."
Something flickered across his face - not pain, but a shadow of regret. "Not entirely," he said after a moment. "Just adapted the dream to fit reality."
The words hung between them, layered with meanings beyond this glass room and its perfect proportions. Jess felt the weight of years and choices pressing against her chest - not just Logan's adaptations, but her own.
"Sometimes life doesn't go as planned, I guess,“ she said softly, unable to maintain the professional veneer in the face of such unexpected vulnerability.
Something unspoken passed - a current of recognition that had nothing to do with wedding preparations or venue tours. For one breath, then two, Jess felt the years collapse like a wave retreating back to the ocean, leaving the shore momentarily clear of all that had accumulated in the time between.
Logan broke first, stepping back and turning toward the horizon where white sails caught the strengthening morning light. "Good breeze today," he commented, his voice deliberately casual. "Northeast wind. Perfect for sailing.“
Jess exhaled slowly, grateful for the retreat to safer territory even as disappointment whispered through her. "Some things never change," she said, moving to stand beside him at the window. "Nantucket wind is more reliable than most people."
Logan's reflection in the glass nodded, his profile sharp against the backdrop of blue sky. "That's what I've always loved about the island. Certain constants you can count on."
They stood in silence for a moment, watching a catboat tack against the wind, its sail bright against the deeper blue of the sound. The moment of intensity had passed, but something had shifted between them - a recognition acknowledged, then carefully set aside.
"Can I ask you something?" Logan said finally, still looking outward rather than at her. "About Nadine?"
Jess glanced at him, surprised. "Of course."
"Is everything okay with her? With her and Scott I mean?" He turned now, his expression concerned. "She seems... I don't know. There's an edge to her lately that goes beyond her usual intensity. I've known her a long time, and something feels off."
The question caught Jess off guard. She'd been so focused on her own uncertainties, her own life transitions, that she hadn't registered any particular changes in her friend beyond attributing them to wedding-planning stress.
