Nina and Sylvie squealed in high-pitched unison at the sight of the desserts. Everyone laughed.
“Amen,” said Father Sherry, reaching for the first plate.
As people helped themselves and found seats, Kathleen and Joyce walked into the kitchen.
“How’s it going?” Kathleen asked in a low voice.
“It’s going,” Joyce said with a slight shrug. She turned on the faucet and started rinsing whipped cream from the beaters. “Frank started his new job last Monday. We’re being nice to each other. The money situation makes things kind of tense, but at least that’s out on the table. Taking care of Nina pulled us together — we’re both so grateful she’s okay.”
“Nina looks good.”
“She’s on the stationary bike for hours at a stretch, trying to keep her legs in shape while the bone heals.”
“Did you find out what she was doing in that tree?”
“It was a dare from one of the boys,” Joyce said. “I thought she was smarter than that, but she’s not only a jock, but a show-off. She feels pretty stupid about doing it. She did tell me that.”
“And what about you?”
“I’m writing about bus safety. And you’ll be glad to hear that I’ve finished sixty pages of Magnolia’s Haven.”
“Joyce! That’s great!”
“Jordan had to go so Magnolia could have a new love interest.”
“Poor man. How did he die?”
“A shipwreck off Rafe’s Chasm, but back then it was called Rafe’s Crack.”
“You’d better go with the old name, or the local history buffs will hang you out to dry.”
“The other big news is that I started therapy,” Joyce said. “I’m still trying to understand why I did what I did.”
Kathleen frowned. “You made a mistake.”
“Yes, but I still need to work it out. She says that Frank’s absence was a big part of —”
Jack poked his head through the door. “We need more ice.”
“Be right there,” Joyce said.
“We need a walk at Good Harbor,” Kathleen said.
Joyce nodded. But with Nina starting school and deadlines piling up, it would be at least a week before she could come back to Gloucester. “Give me the headlines.”
“Oh, dear,” Kathleen said. “There is so much to tell. We all went to the cemetery on the anniversary of Danny’s death. Jack and Hal brought pebbles from Good Harbor to leave at the grave, and Hal said the kaddish. Afterward we went out for coffee ice cream. I forgot to tell you that Danny loved coffee ice cream.
“Hal remembered the funniest things about him. Like the way he used to kiss the dog’s ears.” Kathleen paused for a moment. “Jack asked about a hundred questions about Danny. It was a good day — sad but good.
“And what else; Jack is moving into Ed’s apartment until he finds a place, and we’re invited to dinner there next week. Hal is going to read from the Torah on Yom Kippur. I’ve got an appointment to talk to an oncologist about tamoxifen.”
“That is a lot. And by the way, you look wonderful. This haircut —”
Nina and Sylvie walked in looking for the ice. Michelle followed, in search of napkins.
Kathleen and Joyce smiled at each other. That would have to do for now. They could catch up on the phone, and they would walk on the beach next week. Rain or shine, they promised.
They would meet on the footbridge and exchange a hug. They’d take off their shoes and walk from one end of Good Harbor to the other, then take another turn, back and forth.