Lydia
“You Americans love your cars,” Jari said.
“I have read that you do have a free bus system here,” Jari said quietly.
She turned onto a rough dirt road leading into the middle of the island.
“It’s dark here,” Jari observed.
“It’s conservation land. About three thousand acres of uninhabited open land. Low-lying plants, a few ponds, lots of rabbits and deer. And as you read, Altar Rock is one of the highest points on the island.”
Lydia concentrated on steering up the bumpy, rough track to the top. There, on a small flat ledge of land, sat a large boulder that might have once, long ago, been the center of religious ceremonies.
Lydia hugged herself for warmth as she led Jari to the small promontory overlooking the vast stretch of flat land.
Jari came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her, and held her close. From here, they could see the lights from the town and from houses sequestered around the edge of the island. The sky was flecked with stars.
A bright flash of light flared out.
“That’s the Sankaty lighthouse,” Lydia said. “We drove past it earlier today. It warns ships in the Atlantic, and it has done since the eighteen hundreds. Then the light came from a whale oil lamp!”
Jari said, “Yes, I have read that. Tell me more.”
Lydia leaned back against the tall Finn.
“Altar Rock is an iconic Nantucket landmark, part of the history of the Wampanoag living here. They survived on fish and berries, and their lives were part of the land, synced to the seasons. Then came whaling ships and merchant ships from China and, now, fancy cruise ships and enormous yachts and billionaires and celebrities, and normal people, too. If you want to come back during the day, I can show you my special secret ponds.”
“I would like that.” His voice was very gentle.
The wind was picking up, buffeting them where they stood.
Jari took Lydia’s hand. “It’s cold. Let’s go back to the car. We can talk there.”
They settled in the Jeep. She turned on the ignition and set the heat to high.
“Lydia,” Jari said, “I think you are sad.” He turned toward her, putting his hand on her shoulder.
Lydia stiffened, embarrassed to be so damned emotionally obvious. “I’m sorry. I’m just upset about my mother. She’s so old to be pregnant.”
“I understand. It is surprising. But she seems to be handling it rationally. She’s sought medical advice twice at least.”
“True. Still, a new baby, a new child for my parents…It changes everything.” She swallowed, trying not to cry. “It’s like my parents have a new family. And…” She shook her head, as if she could shake off her emotions.
Jari angled himself toward her. “I know you have many family complications. I am trying to be sensitive to that. But I do not know what to do. I have many things to tell you. Maybe some problems we cannot solve.”
Ice plunged like a frozen dagger into her heart. Jari was going to break up with her.
Jari took a deep breath. “I am tired of traveling. I have been traveling all my life. So many planes, hotels, cabs, streets, buildings, languages, food. I think one of the problems I have is that I would like to be with you, but maybe it’s too soon.
Also, you like traveling. You want to travel.
I, on the other hand, have organized my work so that I can do it on my computer, from anywhere. From one place.”
Lydia listened. His words were a puzzle she was trying to solve. “But you will be settled on the East Coast, won’t you? In Boston or New York?”
“True. But you have shown me that people still live the way I would like to live. In a small village. Walking to the library without having to push through crowds or almost being hit by an electric bike. Seeing people I know every day. Especially seeing the ocean and the hills and the birds.”
“Jari, are you saying you would like to live on Nantucket?”
“I am. I believe I would. I like this place. It soothes me.”
“I’m surprised, Jari. I-I’m astounded. This is a part of you I didn’t know existed.”
“I myself had forgotten it existed. My family has a vacation home in Lapland. When I was a child, we used to go there sometimes. We took a sauna then jumped in a cold lake.”
“Sounds…exciting.”
“But now my father only goes if he has people he wants to entertain. My life takes place in the city. Not just Helsinki. Also Amsterdam, Paris, New York, and now Boston. So many tech companies in Boston. MIT is making huge advances in robot technology.”
“So, Jari, you need to be in cities, right?”
“I do. But only briefly. Only a day or two now and then, for in-person meetings. I perform most tasks from one place, using my computer.”
Lydia’s heartbeat tripled. “You’re really saying that you could live on Nantucket? Work from Nantucket?”
“I think that is what I’m saying, yes.”
“But, Jari, you’ve been here just over twenty-four hours! I never knew you could be so…impulsive.”
Jari, the man who seldom met anyone’s gaze, put his hand on her cheek and looked deeply into Lydia’s eyes. “I am not often impulsive. And I am not saying that I definitely want to move here.”
“Jari, you are confusing me.”
He frowned. “You will be living in Arizona, which is so very hot.”
Lydia blinked. “Jari…I haven’t taken that job yet. I don’t have to go to Arizona.”
“True. But I have known you for ten months now, and I don’t think you’d be happy if you weren’t in charge of a big operation.
You are good at long-term planning but you also are good at making snap decisions.
You know how to work with people, to tell them what to do without being harsh.
You like solving problems. I do not think you would be happy living with me, both of us in home offices working away without interruptions.
I would like that. But you thrive on interruptions. ”
Lydia settled back into her seat. “You’ve thought about me this much, Jari? You know me that well?”
“You are surprised?”
“I am.” She took a deep breath. “This is a lot, Jari. A lot to consider. I mean, for example, you could live in so many lovely suburbs of Boston and New York, with town centers and coffee shops and friendly people. Or you could have a main office in New York, and a summer house, a vacation house, on Nantucket. Lots of people do that.”
“I also think about a family,” Jari said.
“A family? You’ve met my family. They’re annoying sometimes but mostly they’re wonderful.”
“I meant, a new family. Children. Since you like to talk about feelings, how do you feel about that?”
Lydia stuttered, “I do want children…but I want to live with the man who is the father…I mean, not have to travel and live in two places…so if things were…a certain way…I wouldn’t have to move to Tucson…”
Jari said, “That is good to know.” He kissed her softly.
Lydia held her breath, waiting for Jari to say more.
Jari was quiet.
Lydia was at the point of tears. The Stroll weekend was turning everything upside down.
Her mother was pregnant? Florie was engaged?
Jari liked Nantucket but wasn’t even considering marriage?
And here she was, about to become the general manager of a Golden Resort and she hadn’t had a chance to share her news with her family.
She was probably the youngest person ever to be given such an important responsibility, and she’d looked up the Tucson resort online and it was gorgeous, with three differently shaped swimming pools, one with a bar actually in the pool, and gorgeous rooms in desert colors with turquoise accents, which had to be one of the most beautiful pairings in the world.
Several walkways wound through the hotel’s desert landscape, with fountains and statuary and exotic flowers and cactus.
The hotel kitchen was a marvel of white tile, stainless steel, and light.
The position of general manager of a resort hotel was a challenging job, requiring a person who could command the best from a large staff, deal with crises, and keep the books balanced. She would have to be calm and friendly but also tough and decisive.
She could do that. She’d spent the last couple of years learning how to do that.
“Listen,” Jari whispered.
“Okay, but why?”
“It is so quiet. We can almost hear the snow swirling down.”
Lydia said, “Who are you? You’re becoming absolutely poetic.”
Jari smiled. “I think I am in a poetic place. No trucks thundering along a highway, no horns honking, no container ships passing, no oil rigs blinking from miles away, no oceanfront bar blasting music.”
Lydia smiled. “You really like the quiet.”
Jari said, in his heavily accented baritone, “I do. I really love the quiet. And I really love you.”
She waited, hoping for more. When Jari didn’t speak, she pulled away and pressed the ignition. “It’s cold here. Let’s go get warm.”
She drove carefully down the rugged dirt path and out to the two-lane road back to town.