Nick was staring out the window watching two swans diving for lunch among the weeds, their large black feet flapping wildly and working as a counterbalance. As he turned to face her, Alice saw deep lines carved around his eyes and mouth, and a slump to his shoulders that she hadn’t seen since baby Dom’s funeral. If Dom had been born at term, he’d be turning two soon. Was the absence of a happy little boy toddling around playing on Nick’s mind?
By the time Alice had returned to the bay nursing her own grief for a relationship she hadn’t known was dead, along with an abrupt stop it had brought to her career, both Libby and Nick had lost the haunted look of grieving parents. Working for Nick this summer, she hadn’t noticed any overt signs of sorrow and, the other night, she’d been struck by how relaxed and happy he and Libby were together. Alice scuttled mourning as a reason for Nick’s uncharacteristic outburst with Jannick.
A cell phone buzzed on his desk. He didn’t move to answer it.
“You okay?”
He rubbed his face and sighed as if she was yet another problem on a very long list. “What can I do for you, Alice?”
She held up the cans and sat down without being invited. “It’s hot and I’ve finished cleaning Wanderer. She needs a few minor repairs.” Sipping her drink, she ran through the manifest, reading it upside down while Nick made some notes next to her own.
“Thanks. Customers, eh? Can’t live without them but, jeez, sometimes …”
Everyone moaned privately about difficult customers and there was a punching bag in one of the storage sheds so people could vent if required. But Nick believed most people only complained if their expectations weren’t met and it was everyone’s job to meet them. It was why Pirellis’ won both state and national tourism awards each year. Alice knew Nick thrived on turning a difficult customer into a grateful one so it was unusual for him to allow anyone to ruffle him.
She recalled what Missy had said about Nick being out of sorts after his visit to the café and, matching the information with his body language on the jetty, she decided to wade right in. “Did a customer tick you off or was it Jess?”
Nick’s open face shut down and his eyes narrowed warily as if Alice had just crossed a line. She held up her hands. “I’m not criticizing her. It’s just when I was emptying the upholstery cleaner, I noticed the two of you talking and Jess didn’t look happy.”
For a few beats, the only sound in the room was the whoosh of carbon dioxide as Nick lifted the ring pull on his limonata. “Yeah. She’s pissed off with me.”
Alice wanted to ask why but something indefinable kept her silent.
Nick took a swig from his can, swallowed and then gave a tight laugh as he caught the look on her face. “No need to go all evil twin on me. It’s not like it’s a secret Jess is ticked off with me. But if it’s okay with you, don’t tell Libs you saw us arguing. She can be a bit … touchy about Jess.”
It was the first time Nick had ever mentioned her twin’s protective instincts toward her friend, and just like that, they were coconspirators. “Tell me about it! None of us can say anything against her. And if we dare, we’re instantly guilted about her difficult childhood and how hard she’s worked to get where she is. Then we’re told—” Alice raised her fingers in quotation signs, “—‘instead of criticizing, you should admire how much Jess has achieved.’”
Nick returned her grin and an unexpected niggle of twin betrayal snagged her glee. Alice ignored it. “Don’t worry. I won’t say anything to Libs, but it’s nice to know someone understands.”
“Thanks. Don’t get me wrong. I really appreciate the way Jess always has Libby’s back, but—” The cell phone buzzed again and this time he glanced at the screen. A muscle close to his jaw twitched and he declined the call.
“But?” Alice prompted, hoping to hear more negative thoughts about Jess and knowing it was probably unhealthy to want it this much.
“Sometimes she goes too far and plonks herself into my marriage.”
“Is that what she’s done today?”
“Yeah. She’s booked us a weekend at Dinner Plain.”
Disappointment doused Alice. Given how much Libby and Nick did for Jess, this didn’t look anything like Jess inserting herself into their marriage—it looked like a token of appreciation. “And that’s a bad thing how?”
“Hell, I don’t know!” He flinched and rubbed his chest. “Just saying it out loud makes me sound stupid. I’m probably overreacting, right?”
Alice wasn’t following. His words sounded reasonable but the tension in his body told a different story. “Overreacting’s not something you’re known for. I’m sure you’ve got your reasons.”
He screwed up his mouth as if he was holding back words before huffing out a sigh. “It’s just with the practice being one doctor down, it’s a monumental effort for us to get away. I suppose it would be worth it. We’ve all gone away together before and I know the kids will love it.”
“All of you?” Alice was confused. “I thought Jess was minding the girls so you and Libby can have a weekend away?” Nick shook his head and suddenly she understood where he was coming from. “If you’re going to all that effort to make it happen, I think it’s only fair and reasonable you’d rather go on a vacation with just your family. What does Libs think?”
“She doesn’t know about it yet. Jess wants it to be a surprise. The thing is, she’s insisting we go the day after Dom’s birth—what should have been his birthday.”
“That’s—” Alice realized she needed a moment to process how she felt about this
