Emer carefully hung the picture back up again. Should she call him out on it? But he hadn’t done anything wrong, had he? In fact, it was touching that he’d looked up her sister’s art and had bought a picture.
The ride across the bay was so stunning Emer’s nerves at being in a boat again began to gradually dissipate. As she watched sea ducks taking off, her head felt clearer freshened by the sea spray and the clean air.
Henry dropped her at the bottom of Susannah’s road.
‘Best Lynsey doesn’t see us, right?’ he said to her as she got out of the pick-up. ‘In fact, I wouldn’t tell either her or Susannah we’re dating, okay?’
‘Oh.’ She turned around. ‘Are we dating?’
‘Well, I sure hope so,’ he said, looking very pleased with himself. ‘Want to go for another hike tomorrow? It’s going to be great weather and I can take you to the best viewing point on the whole of Vinalhaven.’
‘Okay, I guess, as long as Susannah is all right.’
He didn’t pick up on her lack of enthusiasm at all.
‘Have a great day, gorgeous,’ he called out to her as he drove off.
She stood for a few minutes watching Henry drive off, feeling a little lost and confused. How had she somehow found herself in a relationship with this man? If Orla were alive, she’d say he ticked all the boxes. His own house. A successful sculptor. Owns a restaurant. Passionate lover. Attentive. Maybe too attentive?
It was only as she opened the door into Susannah’s house that Emer remembered. Stopped in her tracks. They hadn’t used protection. Not once. And how many times had they made love last night? How stupid could she be? She was a nurse, for god’s sake. He had said he wouldn’t get her pregnant, but how old was that line? She’d have to go to the medical centre and get the morning-after pill as soon as she could. What a mortifying thought. The island was so small – would people find out? She hoped they were discreet.
‘So, how was Rockland?’ Lynsey asked her, coming down the stairs with her bag packed.
Emer baulked for a second.
‘Oh, it was great,’ she said, feeling herself redden from the lie.
‘Did you go to that cool restaurant, Fog? They’ve got a great vegan dish, and the cocktails are awesome.’
‘Oh, yes,’ Emer lied. ‘How’s Susannah?’ she said, hastily changing the subject.
‘Well, still criticising me, so she must be okay,’ Lynsey said. ‘I tried to do some reiki on her and she almost slapped me back.’ She sighed. ‘I’ll be back after Halloween. Rebecca’s arriving, so I’ll see you in a few days.’
After Lynsey had gone, Emer climbed the stairs to Susannah’s room. She was keen to see how she was.
‘Well, there she is,’ Susannah said as soon as Emer walked through the door of her room. ‘I thought you’d gone for good.’
Susannah was sitting up in bed and her eyes were bright. Emer found she was very glad to see Susannah too.
‘Well, now, I was thinking about it,’ Emer joked. ‘But then I missed you!’
‘Thought you’d gone off to find your young man,’ Susannah said, sniffing.
To Emer’s surprise, she realised Susannah was crying.
‘Hey, it’s fine, I’m here now,’ she said, grabbing a tissue out of the box and handing it to her.
‘But you should go after him,’ Susannah said. ‘Don’t make the same mistake I did.’
34
Susannah
September 1966
The letter arrived the afternoon before they were moving to New York. Ava and Susannah had spent the entire week before packing up their lives in box after box.
‘Five years of things all ready to go,’ Ava announced as she sealed the last box.
‘Who would have thought we’d have so much stuff?’ Susannah said. ‘When I arrived at Harvard with only one suitcase.’
‘Me too!’ Ava said, putting her arm around Susannah. ‘Are you excited?’
‘Of course,’ Susannah said.
Things had worked out so well. Ava had work with a civil rights organisation in Brooklyn, while Susannah had secured a teaching position at Columbia. After saving up for months, Ava had bought an old black Ford and they’d driven down to New York the month before, finding a cute apartment in Brooklyn Heights to rent upon their return. It was also on the fifth floor, but worth it for the spectacular views of Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Island. They’d made a little holiday out of the trip, and on the way back from New York had spent a few blissful days on Cape Cod, joining friends at one of their parents’ vacation homes by the sea.
‘Who would have thought Joni was so wealthy?’ Ava had said when they’d walked into the mansion.
Being in Cape Cod had reminded Susannah of being home on Vinalhaven. The smell of the sea, watching the fishing boats going out, and even the rhythm of life. Slower, and more connected to nature than the city. It had been a wonderful few days of late breakfasts, swimming in the ocean, bonfires on the beach, and singing songs.
She and Ava were on the cusp of a new beginning and she was looking forward to it. But a part of her was also still grieving for Kate. She hadn’t heard from her in over five years and once they moved apartment, her family wouldn’t know where she was any more.
‘Shouldn’t I write them?’ Susannah said. ‘Let them know where I am?’
‘If you really want to,’ Ava said to Susannah. ‘But maybe it’s better to let them go? That’s what I’ve done with my family.’
Ava never went home to the reservation. Rarely talked about it, despite the fact she was so devoted to
