She followed Nora to the kitchen. There were drop cloths along the newly painted walls, blue tape sealing off the woodwork. Emma was on the deck talking to someone on the phone.
“Did he say what he wanted?”
“No.” Nora pulled a tub of Moose Tracks from the freezer. “Want some?”
“No, thanks.”
“He left his number, though, and wanted you to call him back.”
Maddy huffed. “Fat chance. He’s the last person I want to talk to.”
“I figured as much, but I wrote down the number anyway. You ought to call him back just to give him an earful after what he did to you.”
Maddy shook her head. She’d only recently stopped brooding about this. She didn’t want to dredge it all up again. Better to just move on and put it from her mind. She must be ready; her mind was full of Connor these days.
“I guess ignoring him works too,” Nora said. “But he struck me as the kind of guy who doesn’t give up.” She dragged a generous scoop of ice cream from the tub. “So... you and Connor, huh? He seems like an upstanding guy.”
Maddy opened her mouth to respond.
“And don’t you tell me it wasn’t a date—you should’ve seen the look on your face just now. I’d hazard a guess you’re already a little smitten with our neighbor.”
Maddy grabbed a water bottle from the fridge. “I like him just fine, but I don’t think I’m ready for anything serious quite yet.”
Nora lifted a shoulder. “So just go out and have some fun.”
“That’s exactly the sort of thing that leads to something serious.”
“Would that be so awful?” Nora capped the ice cream and licked a finger. “You deserve someone nice, Maddy.”
“I’m the career girl, remember? Romantic relationships aren’t my specialty.”
“Nonsense. You can have both. Everybody needs love, and you’re as capable as the next person.”
Was she? She felt like maybe something was wrong with her. She knew her outlook on love wasn’t good. It was hard to be content in a relationship when you were always waiting for the other shoe to drop. She’d felt that way through most of her relationship with Nick.
And then the shoe had dropped, proving her right.
Look at her parents, look at Emma. Even Connor. Did love ever end well? She supposed it had for Nora.
Maddy’s gaze drifted to the deck where Emma leaned on the railing, still on the phone, her voice lost in the wind.
“Who’s Emma talking to?” Maddy asked.
Nora settled at the table with her ice cream. “Ethan, I assume. She’s been out there awhile.”
Maddy hoped she was right. Maybe Emma and Ethan could work out their problems and save their marriage. But Maddy couldn’t mention that. Emma had never told Nora about the separation—yet another layer of secrets between the sisters.
Chapter 22
July 27, twenty years ago
Maddy couldn’t sleep. She was hot, and the overhead fan was only moving around the stifling air. Plus, her mind wouldn’t shut down. She pushed the sheet to the bottom of the twin-size bed. Opening her eyes, she spotted the lumpy shadow of Emma in the bed next to hers. Nora was on the farthest side, by the open window. The sisters had to share a single room this summer since Jonathan was here.
Maddy’s pajamas were damp with perspiration, and her mouth was dry. She got out of bed and crept from the room, nearly tripping over a pair of sandals. The house was quiet, save for Daddy’s snoring and the low hum of the window air conditioner in Gram’s room.
Maddy’s bare feet picked up bits of sand on the steps. The third step creaked beneath her. Gram complained about all the sounds the old house made, but Maddy liked the familiarity of those creaks.
All was dark downstairs but for the moonlight filtering through the sheer curtains. It was enough to see her way to the refrigerator for a glass of iced tea.
