Ginny got this response every time someone in Saybrook mentioned her dad. She’d forgotten how tight the community was and how much her parents were still a part of it. “He likes you, too,” she said, regretting it the instant the words came out of her mouth. No point dredging up old memories. Especially not in the back of the café during rush hour, with her hair looking like this.
Wendell glanced at the counter, probably wishing his sandwich would appear. She stole a good look at him. There was the familiar line of that strong jaw. The dark hair that made such a contrast against his blue eyes.
“So, what’re you doing these days?” she asked, feeling more in control.
If he’d been surprised to see her before, he looked downright stuck right now. “Well, that’s a good question.” He glanced at his boots, then back up at her. “I’m still up at White Pines, as head caretaker.”
Ginny couldn’t believe it. Her mother had mentioned he’d stayed in town, but Ginny had assumed it was in some sort ofprofessional capacity, like the law school he’d deferred when they were last dating. White Pines had just been a college job. “That’s great.” She heard how hollow the statement sounded.
“Well, it has been. After everything…” He hesitated. “Well, when I came back, it seemed like a good place to start. I guess it never made sense to leave.”
Ginny listened, trying to imagine Wendell working there all these years. It was a far cry from the plans they’d made as college grads. But then Wendell had changed.
“I guess you’ve heard about the accident,” Wendell said. His eyes were deep pools of sadness when he said it.
“Horrible,” she said. “Such a loss to the town, from what my mother said.”
Wendell nodded. “Yeah. Worst of all are the two girls left behind. I’m not sure what’s going to happen to White Pines or them. They’re good kids.” He sounded vested beyond the question of his job.
“I heard there’s a family member taking over. Will you stay on?” She’d thought of Wendell as soon as her mother mentioned White Pines. Now she realized he was likely about to lose his job as well.
“For now,” he said. “The plan is to sell it, eventually.”
Ginny studied his expression. Aside from a few gray hairs and a slight weathering to his handsome face, Wendell looked largely unchanged. The proposal she was working on across the street at her parents’ agency flashed in her mind. Should she mention it?
Just then his order was called. Wendell glanced at the counter, then back at her. He smiled. “I guess that one is mine.”
Ginny smiled back, even though she felt a plume of disappointment rise up. “Better get it. You know how I am when I’m hungry.” She was tempted to say something more.
“Good to see you, Ginny. You look well.”
“You, too.” She watched him stride through the lunch crowd before turning for the door. Seeing him had unsettled her in a way she couldn’t put her finger on, and she felt the urge to leave before Wendell did.
SixteenJulia
The problem wasn’t Aunt Candace, who wanted to return to London. Let her go! The problem was finding someone in Saybrook who would want them.
Julia’s call to Eliza had been a disaster. “I have something I need to ask you, and I totally get it if the answer is no, but I’m really hoping it’s yes.” She paused, already out of breath. “But no pressure.”
Right off the bat, Eliza sounded worried. “Jules, is everything okay?”
Julia groaned. Already she’d flubbed it. “Actually, it is serious.” With as much maturity as she could muster, she explained the situation. Candace wanting to go back to London. Her plans to bring the girls. What leaving White Pines would do to Pippa. (For a second, Julia felt bad for exploiting Pips, but she had to pull out all the stops.)
Eliza listened in silence, and when Julia finally finished, adding Radcliffe for extra emphasis, there was a muffled sound on the other end of the line. “Eliza?”
“I’m here, honey.” She sniffed a few times, and Julia realized she was crying.
“Oh, gosh, I’m sorry,” Julia rushed to add. “It’s just that you’re the first person I thought of.” She hesitated. “You love us.”
“Of course I do!” Eliza said firmly. “I always have.” There wasa heavy pause, and Julia felt the floor begin to open beneath her. “Honey, I am so flattered and honored that you’re asking me. You two girls… you’re like family. I mean that. But I’m not a parent, and I can’t pretend I have any business taking on a job as important as that. What you need right now is real family. And if your folks wanted you to be with Candace, there’s good reason for that.”
As soon as the words spilled from Eliza’s mouth, Julia knew it was never going to happen. Eliza didn’t want them. “Like family” was not family. There were probably a million other reasons, but there you had it.
“So, you knew all along,” Julia said.
“I spoke with Candace a few days ago.”
Julia felt betrayed. They’d discussed her future without her? “And you thought Pippa and I would want to leave White Pines?”
