Chapter 7 #2
They were making Vineyard scallop boil with corn, shrimp, and sweet potatoes, a dish Claudia insisted tasted best when shared with family.
The scallops, caught fresh that morning, had been delivered by a neighbor who ran a skiff down the coast. Margot was also making a stone fruit galette for dessert, the kitchen heavy with the scent of ripened peaches and plums.
“You want to start on the corn?” Claudia asked, handing her a clean knife. “We’re going rustic, so no need to be fancy. Just slice it off the cob and into the bowl.”
Anna nodded and fell easily into the rhythm, the sound of knives tapping against cutting boards punctuated by laughter and teasing. Margot leaned toward her and whispered, “You missed the great basil debate. I thought Claudia was going to launch me into the bay.”
“That’s because she was trying to put Thai basil in the stuffing,” Claudia said, not looking up. “Thai. Basil. In New England. I love you, honey, but this isn’t fusion night.”
Anna laughed. It had been so long since she felt this light and at ease.
“Did anyone call Cody?” Anna asked.
“I did,” Claudia replied quickly. “He said that he was working late tonight.”
Anna nodded, grateful that her aunt had thought to include her brother. She didn’t believe that he had to work late, but she couldn’t blame him for staying home either.
As she worked, she glanced through the open windows toward the backyard, where her mother sat on one of the wide, low benches David had built years ago.
Lily was laughing at something Blaze said, her head thrown back, the lines around her mouth soft.
Nora was balanced on one foot near the garden beds, demonstrating some elaborate yoga pose for Maisie, who was trying to copy her with giggles.
Henry, ever the reserved patriarch, was crouched in the grass, tapping Blaze on the shoulder before dodging out of reach with a surprising burst of speed.
“Is Uncle Henry playing tag?” Anna asked, incredulous.
Claudia peered out the window and beamed. “Looks like it. I haven’t seen him move like that since the ’98 softball game against the fire department.”
Margot gave a mock gasp. “And he’s not even in orthopedic sneakers.”
They all laughed again.
Anna kept glancing at her mother, half in disbelief.
Lily looked almost relaxed. She had one arm slung around Maisie now, her other hand gently brushing the child’s hair out of her face as she whispered something into her ear.
Maisie beamed and nodded. Jess, standing a few steps away with her arms folded loosely over her chest, offered a small, forced smile.
Anna excused herself and stepped outside, wiping her hands on a dishtowel as she crossed the flagstone path to Jess. “Hey,” she said softly.
Jess turned, startled. “Oh… hey. This is nice, huh?”
Anna nodded. “It really is. I didn’t expect it. Mom usually shuts down when too many people show up.”
Jess glanced over at Lily, who was now letting Blaze drape a plastic lei over her head. “I’m glad the family time seems to be working on her.”
Anna followed her gaze. “It really does.”
There was a quiet moment between them, filled only by the calls of children and the occasional clang from the kitchen.
“I know you haven’t been back long,” Anna said carefully, “and I get it. About San Francisco.”
Jess’s jaw tensed. “I just… I really thought it was going to work. Five years of my life. All in.”
Anna reached out and squeezed her hand. It wasn’t much, but it was something. “Failure doesn’t mean you wasted your time. It means you were brave enough to try.”
Jess blinked rapidly and nodded. “Thanks.”
Back in the kitchen, the women were moving like clockwork. Claudia was adding scallops to the pot, steam rising with a hiss, while Margot arranged a tray of cucumber salad with dill and lemon. Anna stepped back in just as Claudia was tossing a dish towel over her shoulder.
“There you are. We were about to send out a search party.”
“Just checking on Jess,” Anna said.
Claudia nodded knowingly. “That girl’s been carrying a heavy load. It helps to know she’s not carrying it alone.”
Margot added, “We should have a girls’ day sometime. Just us. No kids. No casseroles.”
Anna smiled. “Deal.”
They finally sat down to eat at a mismatched table that had been cobbled together with benches, stools, and folding chairs, the food was heaped high and the conversation louder still.
Lily sat between Blaze and Nora, who were each talking over the other to tell her about the crab shells they’d found, or how Maisie had tried to somersault into the tomato patch.
Henry sat at the head of the table, carving more bread with exacting focus, his expression unreadable. Occasionally, he glanced at Lily, his brow furrowing slightly as if trying to say something he couldn’t quite put into words.
Claudia, however, made up for any emotional silence.
“We are so blessed to have you all here,” she said, reaching across the table to lay a hand over Lily’s. “This is what matters, you know? Family. Sharing a meal. Laughing together. It doesn’t fix everything, but it helps you remember what’s still good.”
Lily didn’t speak, but she didn’t pull away either. She nodded, slowly, her eyes glassy but not spilling over. For now, that was enough.
The evening drifted on in a haze of fireflies, peach galette, and second helpings. And Anna, watching her mother from across the table, felt something like hope settle in her chest.