“Of course. I’m sure everyone will love to talk to him about his amazing carousel.” Smiling, Maggie leaned closer to Emma. “So. Owen.”
“Stop.” Emma laughed self-consciously, her cheeks pink. “He lives all over the place, travels all over the world. I was surprised he actually came this weekend. If it weren’t for my nagging reminders, I doubt he’d even have remembered. Though he does seem interested in the carousel now that he’s here.”
“I think he’s interested in more than the carousel.”
“One could hope.”
“Two could hope. I’m pulling for you,” Maggie said. “He seems like a very nice man.”
“He is. And he’s interesting, and he . . .” Emma laughed. “Never mind. Whatever I say, you’re going to pick up and run with it.”
“Damn right.”
“He’s just here for the weekend, and then he’s off to someplace I never even heard of.” Emma paused. “Just like my son. Here today, gone today.”
It was on the tip of Maggie’s tongue to ask if Chris had said anything to Emma about Natalie, and it took all her willpower not to. She hadn’t been blind to the number of pictures Natalie had taken and how many times she appeared to be texting. She suspected all the texts and the photos were being sent to Chris, who might be onstage performing to a gigantic crowd even as Natalie was trying to get his attention. She’d previously thought Chris and Natalie would be good together, but she wasn’t so sure once the reality of who he was when he wasn’t in Wyndham Beach became clear. The last thing she wanted was for Nat to be involved with someone who would leave her like Jonathan had. Like Zach had left Grace.
Too heavy to think about when the entire day lay before her.
After Lulu and Alexis each had their turn on the carousel, Maggie herded the group together and they headed back to Cottage Street. Emma would join them later with Owen, and Liddy would be over after she ran home for her contributions to the feast.
And it really did turn out to be a feast. Joe worked the grill, so the hot dogs, hamburgers, and barbecued chicken Maggie’d prepared the night before were expertly tended to. There were folding tables to be set up in the backyard after being wiped down to remove any spiders and cobwebs, the new chairs to be set up, and dishes of cold food to be carried out and placed on a long table that served as a buffet. There were a cooler filled with soft drinks and bottled water and a tub of beer on ice. Grace assisted Joe on the grill, and from what Maggie overheard they were engaged in a lively discussion about rap and whether or not it constituted poetry.
Alexis wanted to teach Lulu and Daisy to play hopscotch—after having politely asked Maggie if it would be okay if she chalked up the front sidewalk—but Natalie was nowhere to be seen.
“Gracie, where’s your sister?” Maggie asked.
“She’s inside watching TV,” Grace told her.
“Watching TV?” Maggie frowned. While they had guests? On the Fourth of July?
“Yeah, DEAN is playing in that big concert, and it’s being televised.”
Of course it would be. Maggie started toward the house.
“I love DEAN,” Alexis said. “They’re my favorite band.”
Maggie paused halfway across the patio. “You know Emma is Chris Dean’s mother, don’t you?”
“She is not.” Alexis stared at her and repeated, “She’s not.”
“She most certainly is.” Maggie pointed to Daisy. “Tell her, Daisy.”
As she was about to go inside, Maggie realized Jamey was missing as well. Maybe he was watching the concert with Natalie.
But when Maggie walked into the family room, she found only Natalie.
“Mom, watch this. I sent Chris videos of the parade.” She backed up the image on the screen until she arrived at the place where Chris and his bandmates could be seen mounting the stage.
“Are you recording this?” Maggie asked.
“Of course. Here, watch. Watch his face.” Natalie giggled.
Chris was at the microphone, singing for several minutes. Then his hand went to his pants pocket, and he pulled out his phone. He kept singing but turned his head and laughed before sticking the phone back into his pocket.
“I sent him the kazoo band. He loved it.”
“Obviously.”
“No, he did. He texted me when he got off the stage.”
The image on the screen continued to run, and Maggie stood in the doorway, watching as Natalie sat without moving when Chris began to sing a slow song, something about shooting stars that appeared to have an effect on her daughter.
Oh dear. Maggie inwardly sighed. This might not end well.
“Nat, we might have to have a talk later about Chris and you.”
“Don’t go there, Mom. We’re good. So please don’t ask me to put a label on our relationship. I don’t want to call it anything. Just leave it be.”
“All right.” Maggie still perceived danger ahead but let it go for now. “Have you seen Jamey?”
“Not since he asked me where the beach was, but that was a while ago.” Natalie’s attention was still on the screen.
“If anyone asks, I went to find him.”
Maggie could tell Natalie had barely heard her even as she opened and closed the front door.
Chris was a good kid. God, she sounded like Emma. A good guy. He’d never intentionally hurt Natalie. He wouldn’t take advantage of her or their friendship.
Then again, he was a guy. A guy with an international reputation and about a million young women willing to throw themselves at his feet. She wondered what the chances were Chris was as infatuated with Natalie as she appeared to be with him.
Maggie walked to the end of the street and removed her sandals before stepping onto the beach. She scanned the rocks, then saw him atop the lifeguard stand. She walked across the sand and took a deep breath before she began to climb. He might not want company, but he was going to have it.
“Jamey.” She stood on the top rung of the ladder and motioned for him to scoot over
