Page 135 of The Trouble with Flings

I shrug. “I don’t know, but I hope to find out when I meet with him. His mom said he loves his grandparents and likes seeing them more often, but she said that’s the only positive thing he sees here. It seems to me, in Boston he had a sense of belonging, of meaning something even if just to his small group of friends, through his art, and Silver Island hasn’t offered him anything similar.”

“Well, you can’t make kids be friends with him,” Bellamy says.

“No, but if we can offer him an avenue for his art, maybe he can make a mark for himself and not feel so invisible. I have to talk to Holden to see if I’m off base or not, but if I’m right, it’s not about school or even having friends. It’s about fitting in, finding reasons to love this beautiful island instead of it feeling like the enemy. Again, if I’m right, then it might help if I can get the community center or someplace else to let him paint something where people can see what he’s capable of. If he can do something he’s proud of and earn kudos from even a few people here, it might give him a sense of purpose and help all around.”

“That’s a fantastic idea,” Jules says. “He can paint something at my shop. Cait painted that mural of their family.” She points to the mural on the wall. “And she painted one in the town hall. It changed the whole feel of both places.”

“You’re right. It’s a great idea,” Keira says. “If he can paint something that’s not scary, I’d offer up the Sweet Barista, but if you want to do something more community oriented, what about talking to Roddy about doing something at the marina? They have so many buildings. He could paint on the outside of one of them and bring in some young vibes down there.”

“That’s a cool idea,” I say.

“You should talk to our dad, too,” Bellamy says. “He paints, and he knows everyone on the island.”

“And Grant!” Jules chimes in. “Grant learned to paint right here from Abby’s dad, Olivier. He probably has some ideas, too.”

The conversation continues around me, ideas flying from every direction. I never expected this, so many hands reaching out, voices offering to help. In the city, it’s always just me coming up with solutions. Holden has no idea what a gift this place is.

“Those are all great ideas,” I say. “Before I can do anything, I have to talk to Holden, but this gives me hope.”

Bellamy waggles her finger at me accusingly. “See? This is why everyone loves you already. You’re all competent and emotionally intelligent and shit.”

“It’s disgusting behavior, honestly,” Keira teases.

We all laugh.

“Sounds like the party planning is going well,” a full-figured waitress with layered blond hair and smiling eyes says as she sidles up to our table and places a plate of calamari on it.

“We haven’t even started yet,” Jules says. “Jennifer, this is my aunt Faye. She works here with Abby.”

“So you’re the one who’s got Fitz’s heart aflutter,” Faye says with a slight Western drawl. “It’s nice to meet you, darlin’. Congratulations on your pregnancy.”

“Thank you.”

“Fitz is a real peach,” Faye says. “I hear you’re a city girl, like my daughter Shea. What do you think of our little island?”

Mentally connecting the dots, I realize she’s Reggie’s mother. “I’m kind of falling in love with it,” I admit.

“Of course you are. You have us now,” Bellamy says as she plucks a piece of calamari off the plate.

“Will you be moving here anytime soon?” Faye asks.

“Oh, um…no. My job is in the city,” I say, having already explained all of this to the girls during the inquisition at the Easter egg hunt. “But I will be staying with Fitz after the baby’s born during my maternity leave.”

“How wonderful,” Faye says. “It’s the perfect place to recuperate. I don’t know how you girls keep up with city life. Every time I visit Shea, I leave feeling like I’ve run a marathon and need a few days to decompress. My son Reggie says it’s because the city’s no place for someone whose heart beats on island time.”

“I know Reggie. He’s a close friend of my sister’s,” I say. “The city can be a bit unforgiving to those who move at a slower pace, but as for hearts, Victory and Wells seem to have found a way to have hearts that beat on both island and city time.”

“That’s because their hearts beat for each other,” Keira says. “They can make any place work as long as they’re together.”

“Ah, yes, true love,” Faye says dreamily. “I’m hoping my kids will find that one day. Reggie has been circling the same beach for years and has yet to lay down his blanket.”

Oh, he’s laying it down, all right. He’s just not staking claim. “I wondered about that. What’s his deal?” I ask as innocently as I can.

“I think his father’s leaving me for a younger woman left its mark,” Faye says matter-of-factly. “But I could be wrong about that. Lord knows some people just take the scenic route to happiness.”

“And some of us are just happier alone,” Keira chimes in.

I used to think that, too.