“I thought that was you two!” Someone thankfully stopped my thoughts from spiraling, and I turned in my seat to see Christian Fox and another familiar-looking old man. Andrew, his older brother. I remembered him mostly sitting next to an easel at the Foxes’ Fourth party.
Swiftly and suddenly, I felt the tug of a thread in the back of my head.
Whathadhe been painting?
And how long—
“Good morning, Mr. Fox,” Connor said, rising from his chair and extending his hand. “You here for breakfast?”
“We just finished up.” Christian chuckled as they shook hands. “Please call me Christian. Our father was Mr. Fox, even tous occasionally.” He glanced at Andrew, who’d seemingly missed the inside joke, focused on something else.
“Meredith has told me about you,” he said to me, his blue eyes bright but a little intimidating, “Forgive me for being remiss, but which one of Topper and Peggy’s children do you belong to?”
In other words:How are you related to the Carmichaels?
“Erica is my stepmother,” I said politely. “This is my first time on the Vineyard.”
Oh, how wonderful!I expected him to say, but instead, I caught him imperceptibly elbow Christian, who nudged him back. The motion turned them from old men into young brothers.
What is going on?I wondered.
“We should head out,” Christian said. “We’re due to meet our daughters for a match.”
“Tennis?” Connor asked.
“That’s a generous way to phrase it,” Andrew said with a wink. “It was lovely meeting you, Olivia. Feel free to come to the Farm anytime.” He looked at Connor. “A little birdie told me we’ll be seeing you tonight?”
Tonight?
Connor nodded. “I volunteered to bring s’mores supplies.”
Andrew tipped an invisible hat. “Good man.”
“You’re hanging out with Meredith tonight?” I asked once the Fox brothers had taken off for the tennis courts.
“Yeah,” Connor said. “I figured since you guys have your dinner…”
Right, I remembered. We had reservations at a restaurant called Alchemy and would arrive in full Carmichael costume. Maisie had texted me earlier from our dad’s phone to say that the theme was “Historical Figures.”
It was a little more dignified than the “barnyard” theme Nick had been teasing.
“But that’s later.” Connor waved his hand. “What matters isnow.”
“Now?” I casually raised an eyebrow, but I felt my pulse quicken.
“Do you have your list of Annie’s hot spots?” he asked. “We can pick our next place.”
Chilmark, I immediately thought of the blue-gray photo with tiny cottages and big nets and faded red buoys.The Menemsha fishing village.
I gave him a look. “You sure you want to do this with me?”
“Of course.” Connor pulled off a goofy shrug. “I’m on a mandatory vacation. What else do I have to do?” I felt my heart spin when his lips spread into a slow smile. “And there’s no one I’d rather spend my time off with than you.”
He truly is fearless, I thought.Fearlessly up-front.
Feeling myself blush, I glanced around at Waterside’s crowded porch before leaning across our table and raising my hand as if I were going to whisper a secret in his ear.
But instead, I used it to cover our faces so no one would see us kiss.
