This year, everyone wanted to keep Eleanor happy, so they piled into two cars and headed off for breakfast. Eleanor drove her ancient Range Rover because, she said, it held a lot of people, but really, Alicia muttered, it was because she liked to be in control. Ari’s father, Phillip, happily rode with Eleanor.
Cliff asked Alicia to ride with him and she agreed, because she liked having time alone with him. Alicia was seven years older than her brother, and when she was in her teens, Cliff had played endless practical jokes on her. Putting sand in her bed and hanging her underwear out the window had been the least of it. Now they were both adults, but Alicia had been jealous of him when he was the darling little boy and she was jealous of him now because he was so wealthy and wouldn’t tell her the truth about how much money he had.
Ari drove her Subaru, because she wanted to stay in town and look for jobs, and finally, after sorting out their rides and going back into the house for a cellphone or a shopping list, they were on their way from ’Sconset into town.
The Downyflake was a Nantucket institution, and Ari always experienced a jolt of pride when the year-rounders called out greetings to them from their tables. Because Eleanor had taken up permanent residence in the bluff house, she was no longer a “summer person.” She’d moved up a rank, into a “washed-ashore.” As a teenager, Cliff had hung out with some of the year-round guys and now the president of the bank and the foreman of a huge construction site waved at Cliff. The family sat at the round table to enjoy sausages, eggs, bacon, and, for dessert, a Downyflake doughnut.
“This is carb overload,” Alicia said, as she had done every time they ate at the Downyflake.
“We’ve got to fuel up to have energy to walk around,” Eleanor reminded her, as she always had.
“If you don’t want to eat your doughnut, I’ll take it,” Cliff told his sister, as he always had.
“Mom, you look beautiful,” Ari said.
“Thanks, Ari. What do you think, Phillip?” Alicia asked her husband.
As always, Phillip’s mind had floated off to his medical thoughts. “Hm?” he asked.
Ari saw a shadow pass over her mother’s face, and not for the first time she wished her father were more demonstrative with her mother.
Alicia gave her brother her doughnut. She never ate it and he usually snatched it anyway. They finished their breakfasts, paid their bill, chatted with the waitstaff, and left the restaurant in good spirits. Everyone, even Alicia, left the Downyflake happy.
They decided to drive into town and tour the Whaling Museum. It always had new, fascinating exhibits. Once inside the distinguished brick building, they gathered together to admire the whale skeleton hanging from the ceiling in Gosnell Hall, the beautiful scrimshaw exhibits, and the view from the roof of the museum. Uncle Cliff took Ari into the shop, which he’d done since she was three, and asked her to choose something she’d like him to buy for her. Not for her birthday or Christmas, but because it was the beginning of summer, and he loved her. This year, Ari chose the new book A Thousand Leagues of Blue by Betsy Tyler. Ari’s mother drifted in and bought a linen tote printed with a design of a tall ship, and Eleanor, who seldom bought things—she really had all she needed—fell in love with an adorable ceramic whale butter dish.
With their loot in their hands, they all left the museum and walked out into the summer day, blinking in the bright sun. Now, according to tradition, they were free to scatter until this evening, when Alicia and Phillip and Cliff would prepare a lobster dinner for them to enjoy on the deck at the house.
Ari said, “I’m going to the Hub to see what jobs are available. See you later.” She blew a kiss at them and hurried off. It was a blissful summer day and the town had never looked more inviting. All the shops in the quaint clapboard and brick buildings were open for the season. The windows were sweet with stripes and pastels, straw hats and sandals. Already parents were leading their children from the Nantucket Pharmacy, ice cream cones in hand. The Hub, on the corner of Federal and Main, sold souvenirs, magazines, and coffees to go. Outside was a standing bulletin board, covered with dozens of flyers for summer roommates, babysitting services, a Jeep for sale, paddleboard lessons, lost keys, and the opening of the local theater’s new play.
Ari was just beginning to search for job offers when she heard her name called.
“Ari, it’s me! Michelle!” A blonde with a sensational figure jumped up from a bench and hugged Ari. Michelle Hathaway had been in most of Ari’s childhood education classes at Bucknell. She’d never been a super-close friend, but they’d gone shopping together and gossiped at parties. Michelle was always fun, and Ari was delighted to see her.
“What are you doing here?” Ari asked.
“We’ve rented a house on Nantucket for a couple of weeks every summer for years. This year, the parents bought a house here so we can stay as long as we want. How cool is that?” Michelle linked her arm through Ari’s and pulled her along. “Let’s get some coffee and I’ll tell you all
