Evening Stars (34 page)

She tossed the pill into the trash, then quickly applied her moisturizer and sunscreen before combing out her hair. She didn’t bother with the blow-dryer, but instead gathered up all her toiletries and hurried to her room.

Penny was waiting for her on the bed.

“This is crazy,” she told the dog. “What am I waiting for? Kevin to leave me? I’m not sure why I even came here.” Penny wagged her tail.

Averil smiled. “Yes, I’m sure part of it was so I could find you. I guess I also needed to take a long look at my past. Figure out my connection with Nina. It turns out my sister is as screwed up as the rest of us.”

She knew there was more. She’d needed to prove to herself that she could write. Maybe she’d needed to be by herself to finish growing up. Whatever the reasons, she was ready now. Ready to be the kind of person a man like Kevin would want to spend the rest of his life with. As important, she needed to be the kind of person she could be proud of.

She set her suitcase on the bed and began filling it with her clothes. She barely folded her shirts, instead quickly rolling them into balls and shoving them inside. She was more careful with her laptop and her notes.

When she’d packed up all her things, she collected Penny’s belongings. She found Bertie in the kitchen, sipping coffee.

“Where’s Mom?” Averil asked, crossing to the pot and pouring herself a cup.

“Out for a walk. She was in the mood to commune with nature.”

Which could mean any of a thousand things, Averil thought. “I’m going home,” she said. “I miss Kevin and I need to get back to my life.”

Bertie smiled at her. “I’m glad. He’s a good guy and very sweet to you.”

“I know. I got lucky when I found him.” She cradled the cup. “What about what’s happening here? The painting and Nina and everything else.”

“We’ll be fine. If we lose the painting, then we’re no worse off than we were before. Nina and I had a long talk last night. She’s having a bit of a crisis, although she didn’t say over what. But she did say that the store is doing well. Cindy has been a find. I promised to get more involved. I’ll keep Bonnie from imploding. At least financially.”

Averil put down her coffee and hugged her mother’s partner. “I’m glad you’re a part of our family.”

“Me, too. Now go home to your husband.”

Averil grinned. “I think I will.”

She loaded everything into her trunk. Bonnie rounded the corner just as the last of the suitcases were put in place. Averil explained she was leaving and why.

“It’s time,” her mother told her, hugging her close. “I loved seeing you, but you need to be with Kevin. You love him.”

“I do, Mom.” She stepped back. “I love you, too. And so does Nina.”

Bonnie’s expression tightened. “Your sister,” she began.

Averil shook her head. “No. Don’t say anything bad about her. She’s done the best she could with a really tough job.” She squeezed her mother’s arm. “You know it’s time.”

Bonnie ignored the comment and kissed her cheek. “I love you. Drive safely.”

“Promise.”

Averil held open the back door for Penny. When the dog was settled, Averil got in on the driver’s side and started the engine. She had one stop to make before heading home, one last conversation.

Nina’s office was in a beautifully restored Queen Anne house on a hill. When Averil had been growing up, the house had been empty and neglected, and a favorite make-out spot. She was sure today’s teenagers had found another place for their night activities and was pleased to see the house looking so happy.

“Give me five minutes,” she told Penny.

The dog studied her for a second before putting her head down on her paws and closing her eyes.

Averil climbed the stairs, then opened the front door. There was only one mother and her toddler in the waiting room.

“I’m Nina’s sister. Could I see her for a second?”

Holly, the receptionist, nodded. “She’s not with a patient. Come on back.”

Averil followed her to Nina’s office. Her sister sat behind her desk. She looked tired and almost lost. Something that couldn’t be possible, Averil thought. Nina was always in charge.

“Hey,” she said as she walked in. “I wanted to come by and say goodbye.”

Nina blinked a couple of times. “You’re leaving?”

“Going home.”

“Mischief Bay,” Nina murmured. “It’s beautiful there.”

Something was off, Averil thought. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine. Just thinking about things.” Nina looked at her. “What changed your mind? Why are you suddenly ready?”

Averil sank into the spare chair and put her hands on the desk. “I’m not sure. I got out of the shower this morning, and I knew it was time. Maybe past time. I came here because I was confused. Something wasn’t right in my life. I like writing for the magazine, but I want something other than that. I think in my heart I always felt that I hadn’t made a choice. That I’d been pushed into my choices.”

Nina’s mouth twisted. “I’m sure now you want to blame me.”

Averil thought about all her sister had done for her. All the sacrifices, all the worry. “No,” she said quietly. “You held it all together for everyone. You took care of me and loved me and I will always be grateful. Yes, it was your decision for me to go to UCLA, but I could have said no and didn’t. I made the choices. I’m responsible. That’s what I never saw before. It’s up to me.”

There was more she could say. She’d handed over the decision-making to everyone around her and then had resented when they’d chosen for her. Even though she and Kevin had talked about having a baby, in her heart, she’d told herself he’d made the choice for her.

“I don’t take much responsibility in my life,” she admitted. “I need to stop doing that. I want to be married to Kevin, and I need to act like the kind of wife he deserves to have. I want to be a novelist, so I need to get my ass in a chair and write books.”

She smiled. “I think this means I’m finally ready to grow up.”

Nina nodded. “Good for you. Drive safe. Let me know when you get there.”

“I will.”

Nina walked around her desk. They embraced.

“Be proud of yourself,” Nina whispered. “You’ve done so much. I love you, sis.”

“I love you, too.”

Averil blinked away tears. “Come visit us,” she said impulsively. “I know you’re going to say you can’t get away, but please try.”

“I will,” Nina told her. “I mean it. I’ll come see you.”

* * *

On her way home from work, Nina swung by Blackberry Preserves. She had some fence-mending to do with Cindy.

She parked in front of the store and went inside. Cindy was with a couple of customers. They looked to be mother and daughter and were discussing a pair of chairs. While Cindy showed them the details of the construction and the manufacturer’s mark underneath the seat, Nina walked through the crowded aisles of the store.

Every time she came through, the store was more and more organized, she thought. The air was fresh, and there was more light without those hideous drapes. In the storeroom she found information on alarm systems and a receipt from a locksmith for a new set of deadbolts and a lock for the wardrobe. She collapsed into the desk chair and rested her head in her hands.

“You look like you need some tea,” Cindy said.

Nina looked up and saw the other woman walking to the microwave.

“I have some oolong my mother-in-law bought for me.” Cindy flashed her a grin. “I’ve been drinking it for a couple of weeks now, so I’m sure it’s not poisoned.”

Nina managed a slight smile. “Good to know.”

Cindy put two mugs into the microwave and pushed the start button. Nina picked up the receipt.

“You got new locks.”

“You were concerned about security.”

“I was having a meltdown,” Nina admitted. “Things have been changing so fast. Or maybe it’s just me.”

“The painting isn’t helping,” Cindy said, putting tea leaves into two small infusers and setting them into the mugs. “I wish your mom hadn’t gone so crazy with the news crews. They still call here. I tell them the painting has been moved and the family hasn’t made a decision. Most of the time that gets them off the phone, but not always.”

“You’ve been terrific,” Nina told the other woman. “I’m sorry about yesterday. None of it was about you. I really appreciate being able to relax about the store. I want to give you a raise.”

Cindy pulled out the infusers and handed her a mug. “I’d like that.”

“Also, if you want to take any classes on antiques, we’ll pay for them.”

“That would be fun. Thank you.” She took a sip. “Want to talk about it?”

“It?”

“Whatever is bothering you. I’m not trying to pry, but there’s obviously something wrong.”

Nina thought about everything that had happened. “I saw the island.”

“Excuse me?”

“I saw it. Yesterday. From the sky. Do you know how small it is?”

Cindy shook her head. “Not in the way you mean.”

“I’ve lived here all my life. I was supposed to leave, but I didn’t. I got stuck or scared.... It’s so small. I barely slept last night because I was trying to figure out where I got off course. Was it when Dylan broke up with me? Was I afraid to go out on my own? Were there real pressures keeping me here or is that an excuse?” She paused. “Sorry. You don’t need to deal with any of this.”

“I asked,” Cindy told her. “While I’d miss you if you left, you shouldn’t stay if being here isn’t what you want.”

“But that’s the thing. I don’t have anywhere to go.”

Cindy shook her head. “I don’t buy that.” She sighed. “Sometimes we get off course. Or we start to believe a story that isn’t true. Like with me and my mother-in-law. The truth is she can be difficult. But she also loves my husband and my kids, and the other day I caught her putting fresh flowers on my desk at home. It made me stop and think that she’s struggling to fit in, too. We all are. Life goes by fast.”

Cindy smiled. “It seems like just last week I was twenty-five. Be careful. You’ll wake up tomorrow in your sixties. If you’re not happy, now’s the time to make changes.”

* * *

Nina got home a little after six. She’d left the store and had driven around the island for a little while, then realized that going in circles wasn’t going to help. She needed a plan—something well-thought-out. She didn’t want to simply jump for the sake of movement. She needed to figure out what her goals were and then move toward them. It wasn’t as if the island was shrinking and she had to go right this second.

She walked inside and found Bonnie and Bertie curled up together on the sofa.

“Hi,” she said, then turned toward her room.

“Come join us,” her mother called. “We’re toasting Averil’s decision to return to Kevin.”

Nina went into the living room and saw a third glass on the coffee table. She poured the wine, then settled into one of the chairs across from the sofa.

“I’m glad she went home, too,” Nina told them. “I think she found whatever she was looking for. I hope they make it.”

“They will,” Bonnie said confidently.

Nina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Her mother might feel a spiritual connection to inanimate objects, but she hardly had the gift of precognition. It wasn’t as if she
knew
whether or not Averil and Kevin were going to make it. Although a case could be made that assuming the best was a more pleasant way to live.

“I stopped by the store.” Nina sipped her wine. All this drinking—first of tea and now wine. At some point she needed to eat. Or not. Maybe being confused about life would allow her to get rid of those fifteen pounds that plagued her. “Cindy got new locks installed on the front and back door. She’s also going to lock up the jewelry. She’s doing excellent work. She deserves a raise.”

“Good idea,” Bertie said.

Bonnie nodded. “I like her so much. I want her to stay.” She straightened a little in her seat. “We have an announcement.”

Nina involuntarily stiffened. “Okay. I’m braced.”

Her mother laughed. “It’s hardly bad news.” She turned to her partner. “You tell her.”

Bertie nodded. “We’re selling the Stoicasescu. I called Ambrose earlier this afternoon and spoke with him. He’s going to take care of getting it appraised. He’s already been tracing it, and it seems it’s not stolen or missing. Which means the sale should go through.”

Nina’s gaze swung back to her mother. “You’re okay with this?”

Bonnie nodded. “Bertie and I are driving to Seattle tomorrow to sign the rest of the paperwork. We’ll stay in town a couple of nights and enjoy the city, then come back.”

Bertie cleared her throat. “While that’s good to know, the part that we need you to know is about the trusts. We’re setting up four trusts. We’ll each get an equal share of the proceeds. There will be fees, commission and taxes, but even after all that, there’s going to be a lot of money left. Enough for us all to follow our dreams.”

The last words were delivered gently, but Nina got their meaning. While the income from the store would have improved things, the sale of the painting was life-changing.

Nina put down her wine, afraid she would start shaking and spill. “Are you sure?”

Her mother laughed. “About selling or the money? Ambrose assures us we’ll get a lot for the painting. And if that means we’re all rich at the end of the day, so be it.”

She took Bertie’s hand. “We’re thinking of getting a new van. A larger one so we can buy more. Who knows what we’ll find if we’re really looking.”

Nina wanted to believe, but she was afraid. “Mom, are you sure?” she asked again.

“Yes, very. I want to sell the painting. Averil told me it’s time to grow up. I don’t want to, but I suppose she’s right.”

Nina opened her mouth, then closed it. “I don’t know what to say.”

“A rarity,” her mother murmured.

Nina smiled. “Probably true.” She stood. “Okay, this is a lot to think about. I’m glad you’re selling. You don’t have to give me any of the money.”

“We want to,” her mother told her. The smile faded. “Don’t you think it’s time I acted like the adult in the relationship? You should savor this moment. It may not happen again.”

That was the truth, Nina thought, still dazed. “You’ll need to find a financial planner. Someone with a good reputation and who is honest. You’ll need help managing the money.”