“Oh.” My stomach sunk. It was good that they’d gotten Annie up and walking, but… “That’s okay,” I said. “I’ll just sit with her.”
I cracked the front cover ofGolden Hour Girlsonce I’dplopped down in my grandmother’s cushy bedside “throne,” but I kept checking on Annie. Her breathing was pretty steady, although the pained expression on her face made me shift in my seat. She still hadn’t gotten used to her sling. My dad had to stop her from tearing it off the other day.
Two minutes later, my phone buzzed with a text. From Erica, a photo of Bryce and Teddy on the beach. Someone had buried them waist-down in the sand before giving them mermaid tails.Connor and Finn sculpted the tails, Erica had written.Maisie collected “the scales.”
The scales were pebbles, shells, and bits of purple and white wampum.
Siri, play “Under the Sea”, I wrote, hearting her messages. I wouldn’t say things were good between us, but we had been updating each other throughout this week.
If my dad had any idea what I’d said to Erica before we’d left, he didn’t let on.
And I didn’t need Erica to remind me that today was Topper and Peggy’s anniversary. The Carmichaels had been talking about it for the last couple weeks. I knew Nick and Sage had taken them on a boat ride around the island this morning (coffee and pastries included), and their children had a lunch reservation at Edgartown Yacht Club. Tonight was the big dinner at the Outermost Inn.
I thought about asking Erica to pass along my congratulations, but I realized there was nothing stopping me from reachingout myself. Topper and Peggy Carmichael had been nothing but welcoming to me this month…
And, I thought, stomach churning,I didn’t even say goodbye to them.
I’d seen them through the kitchen window while I hugged Maisie and Bryce, reading together on the back deck, but I hadn’t been able to take five seconds to slip outside to thank them for their hospitality.
I wanted to kick myself.
That wasn’t me. That wasn’t the person my dad and Annie had raised.
May I have your mom’s number?I texted Erica.
Leaving the memory book behind, I left Annie’s room and walked farther down the hall, to a door that opened out to a small courtyard. It was only open during visitor hours. Greenery outlined the flagstone patio, and bright zinnias burst from terra-cotta pots. I tapped on the contact Erica had shared, and I sat down in a wicker chair as the phone started to ring. On the third ring, I started to mentally compose my voicemail.
But Peggy picked up on the fourth.
“Hello?” she answered. “Who is this?”
Right, she didn’t have my number.
“Hi, Peggy,” I said, summoning a smile even though she couldn’t see. “It’s Olivia.”
“Oh, Olivia, hello,” she replied. “How are you?”
“Celebrating!” I joked. “I wanted to wish you and Topper ahappy anniversary. I hope you have some champagne on ice for tonight.”
“Thank you, sweetie.” She laughed. “We do have a bottle we’ve been saving for a very long time. Topper and Beth are just dying to pop it.”
“I hope someone takes a video.”
“Charlie has already been informed. I’m told he has the newest iPhone.”
“Perfect,” I said, then swallowed hard. “I also wanted to say thank you, Peggy. Thank you to both you and Topper. It was so kind of you to welcome me into your home this month, and I had a wonderful time.” I started babbling. “And I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye before I left; I’m really embarrassed. I just didn’t expect to leave so suddenly, and I was so worried about my grandmother…” I trailed off, to right myself. “I loved spending so much time with your family, and I hope you all have a fantastic dinner tonight.”
“That means a lot to me, Olivia.” Peggy sounded like she was smiling. “And I will pass the message along to Topper.” She paused. “Frankly, I have no idea why Erica was so nervous about you making the trip.”
My eyebrows knitted together. “Erica was nervous about me coming?”
“Oh, yes,” her mother said. “She was so worried, so wrapped up in ensuring that you had a great time…”
Something bittersweet twinged in my chest.
“…I understand the last year has been a lot for you.”
“Yes,” I said. “It’s been a lot for my whole family.”
