Once out of bed, she found a box of plastic trash bags she’d brought from Green Hills, intending to use them to pack Grandma’s belongings. She never would have dreamed she’d be wrapping one around her right appendage if she wanted to shower.
After tying it tightly, she managed to get clean without getting soaked in the wrong places. When she was finished, she brushed her teeth and her hair and dressed in the skirt and top that she’d arrived in on Sunday. Then she went into the bedroom and, exhausted, she collapsed on the bed.
A few minutes later, she heard a knock on her door, followed by “Hello?”
It was a woman’s voice that Maddie didn’t recognize.
She considered not getting up; hopefully, Evelyn, Brandon, Lisa, or Joe hadn’t sent the island militia to check up on her. But after another round of “Hello,” Maddie hauled herself off the bed—again—and limped—again—to the living room. She reached the door in time to see a large man, a small woman, and a little girl moving back down the path.
Out of curiosity, she called, “Hello? I’m here.”
The visitors turned around.
“Hi!” the woman replied. She was young, much younger than the man, who looked old enough to be her father. She had a full head of pixie-cut dark hair, a stark contrast to the big man’s bald head. On one hip, she carried another, younger child. “Is Nancy around?” She headed back toward the cottage, the others following.
Maddie leaned on the doorjamb and waited until they nearly reached the granite steps.
“I’m Maddie Clarke, Nancy’s granddaughter,” she said through the screen. “I’m sorry to tell you, but my grandmother died a couple of weeks ago.”
They stopped at the steps. Maddie decided not to mention the connection with Grandma Nancy’s demise.
“Oh no. I’m so sorry,” the young woman said.
“That’s too bad,” the big man added, nodding.
“I’m Francine Flanagan, and these two little imps are Bella”—a lovely little girl with dark hair and round black eyes—“and Reggie”—the younger one, who looked almost ready to be a toddler. He was dressed in blue as if he were a sailor. Francine brushed back a lock of the boy’s flyaway hair and adjusted him on her hip.
The man extended his hand. “And I’m Rex Winsted. Friend of Francine and her husband. And these two little ones.”
Maddie opened the screen and shook his hand. “Did you know my grandmother?”
“Not really,” Francine replied. “I learned about her a few years ago when Bella was an infant. I was given one of Nancy’s baskets, which I carted Bella around in until she got too big. Reggie’s outgrown it now, too. I live on Chappaquiddick, but we came up-island today so Rex could check on his cabin. It’s across the channel from you. I have a friend who’s pregnant, and I wanted to buy her a basket. One of Nancy’s.”
“You live on Chappaquiddick?” Maddie asked. “Isn’t that a different island?”
“Actually, it’s part of Edgartown,” Francine said. “I manage the Vineyard Inn over there; my husband, Jonas, and I live on the property. Rex helps out when we need an extra hand. His sister is married to one of the owners.”
The connection was probably less complicated than it sounded, but Maddie saw no need to question it. “I’m really sorry,” she said, “but I haven’t seen any of my grandmother’s baskets, except one that a neighbor gave me, but it’s not big enough for a baby.”
“Thanks, anyway. It was worth a try.” Francine looked at Maddie’s leg. “I hope that didn’t happen here.”
“Sadly, yes. Walking on a sand dune, if you can believe it.”
“I can,” Rex said. “They can be tricky if you’re not used to them.”
“I’m not. I’m from Green Hills, which is so far west it borders New York. I came to the island to clean out my grandmother’s place. Unfortunately,” she added with a laugh, “I came alone.”
“Oh, gosh. Well, if you need anything, please call the Inn,” Francine said. “There’s always someone there who’d be glad to come up and help.”
“And I’m in these parts a lot,” Rex added. “Thanks to my cabin over there.” He gestured toward the harbor.
“Thank you,” Maddie said. “That’s so nice. And it was nice to meet you both.”
They began to walk away, and Maddie started to shut the door when she thought of the outbuilding.
“Wait!” she cried, calling after them.
The little group turned around. “There might be baskets out back in the shed. But I need a locksmith to open the padlock. I’ll let you know what I find once I can get inside.”
