Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
The sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the landscape and even the broken bulkhead.
Everywhere she looked, there was more time, money, and work.
There was a tightness in her chest, one she suspected wouldn’t leave anytime soon.
The screens that once lent a fluid view of the rolling lawn down to the bay were torn and missing and now served as an escape hatch for critters.
She took a long, earned sip of her rosé as she sat in Lil’s worn wicker chair, followed by another and another, desperately trying to release the angst in her body.
Dahlia pulled the old, musty book close to her chest. Who was this for?
She couldn’t help but think the words were meant for her.
She wiped her wet eyes and laughed quietly.
“Why am I not surprised you’re sending me messages from the grave?
You always saw the beauty in the simple things.
” She shook her head and sat in silence.
She wished she could be more like Lil, living a life full of color.
God knew she’d experienced enough black and white to last a lifetime.
She sank deeper into the chair and whispered, “But to seek it, you must walk toward it with confidence and courage. And I’m not confident about anything anymore, especially who I’m supposed to be in this next chapter. ”
Dahlia finished her wine, trying to look past the wild prairie of a backyard. She’d had enough of this day. She forced her tired body up from the chair. As she stood, a letter fell from the book to the floor. The envelope read To Dahlia, and IMPORTANT, in large, thicker letters.
She swiftly opened it, sliding her finger through the top recklessly, and noticed Lil’s beautiful cursive writing. Her heart felt burdensome as she read it to herself.
Dear Dahlia,
I’m sitting here overlooking your stream and snow-covered garden.
Even under the thick blanket of white, I can still see your beautiful blooms. I can hardly believe this is my ending, but it is.
Don’t feel sorry for me; I’ve had a good life filled with flowers, art, and laughter, thanks to you.
You are the best niece and friend a woman could ask for.
Thank you for taking such good care of me. I leave this life as a rich woman.
But before I go, please do a few things for me. You’ve sacrificed so much of yourself, putting others’ needs before your own. This summer is your turn to find some simple abundance. Please humor me with the list below and follow it, especially number thirteen.
Your Southold Summer Bucket List
1. Make my famous lavender scones.
2. Bike into town and shop at the farmer’s market.
3. Read a book on my back porch with a nice glass of wine.
4. Take a walk in the rain.
5. Do something just for fun.
6. Swim in the sea as much as you can.
7. Listen to music and dance.
8. Sleep with the windows open.
9. Find someone to play poker with. And be fair.
Dahlia laughed through the ache. That might be hard, seeing as she was unbeatable. She leaned forward, eager to read more.
10. Watch the sunrise and sunset as much as you can.
11. Bring my garden back to life.
12. Find a home for my paintings in the barn.
Last but not least, the most important …
13. I have a safe-deposit box at the bank in town.
You need to find the key. It’s somewhere at the house and holds a secret that shall set you free.
I realize that sounds a bit dramatic, but you deserve the truth.
Don’t leave or sell the house without finding it.
Promise me. It’s vital. I can’t stress this enough.
Check all my favorite places. I’m sorry I can’t remember where it is.
My memory hasn’t been the same since my first diagnosis.
I love you with all my heart and soul,
Lil
Truth? Secret?
And now Dahlia had to find a key before she could leave?
Her eyes blinked rapidly, trying to process this new information and the uncertain task.
What on earth could be so important? And why wouldn’t Lil have told Dahlia when she was alive?
Her mind swirled, hoping to find a landing spot.
Something that would offer an explanation.
What kind of family secret would set her free?
Suddenly, Dahlia felt angry. Her breaths became labored and loud.
Dahlia didn’t like secrets. It reminded her of the time she overheard Gran whisper to Lil in the pantry the summer after her parents died.
She’d only been thirteen, but some memories stay with you forever.
“We can’t keep her. She needs to be with people her own age.
She and Kara are already close. Plus, Peter’s sister wants her.
It’s for the best, Lil.” Dahlia was crushed.
She’d assumed she would live with them come fall and go to school in Southold.
That was what she wanted more than anything in the world.
But like most things in life, you don’t always get what you want.
Things just got way more complicated, and her summer plans to “find herself” hit a significant snafu. Where would she even start with this new revelation? She needed to talk to Kara.
She let Harry out to do his business; this time, he didn’t wander. Perhaps he, too, sensed Dahlia’s uncertainty. “Come on, boy.” Dahlia looked down at her shadow. With every step up the stairs, he was right by her side. He understood her when few people did.
“How could anyone give you up? You are the best dog. Well, aside from your roaming.”
There was a ruff, followed by a giant leap onto the bed. Dahlia followed suit with a slow climb and FaceTimed her cousin.
“Kara,” Dahlia said, feeling her voice break, holding back her tears.
“Are you okay? You don’t look good.” Kara’s nose crinkled.
“Thanks.” She exhaled. “I just really needed to talk to you. Is this a bad time?”
“No, it’s fine. The boys are watching a movie with Tony. What’s up?” Kara said, her bun bouncing as she walked through her house.
“Where do I start?” Dahlia shook her head.
She told her about Hank having a heart attack, being left without a handyperson, the hole in the porch, the squirrel invasion, and the fridge and stove not working.
“And that’s not even the worst part. Lil left me a letter, Kara. It started as a summer bucket list with everything I need to do for myself.”
“Which is awesome. Go, Lil.”
“Yeah, well, she went on to say there’s a ginormous family secret and that it will set me free. That I need to find a safe-deposit key and open this box before I go, but she forgot where she put it. How am I going to get all of this done before I leave for South Carolina at the end of the summer?”
“Okay, wow. Let’s unpack this. I’ve known Lil my entire life; she didn’t keep secrets.”
Kara was right. Lil had never been the mysterious type.
So then what on earth did this all mean?
“I know, that’s why I’m so rattled, Kara.
But honestly, I’m a little annoyed she didn’t tell me what it was before she died.
” Dahlia shook her head. “How could she leave me with all of this to figure out without her?”
“She obviously wanted you to see whatever is in that box. You have to believe that whatever’s in there is that important. And maybe she couldn’t find it before she left for your house. I’m sure there’s a logical explanation. She loved you so much; the last thing she’d want to do is hurt you.”
“Thank you. You’re right—I’m just overwhelmed. Harry’s a good listener but not great at small talk.” Dahlia laughed for the first time in hours.
Harry cocked his head.
“Listen, tomorrow is a new day. You’ll head into town and ask around.
Go to the hardware store first. There’s got to be someone who’s retired that would love to help you.
” Kara took a much-needed swig of air. “Plus, everyone loved Lil, so that shouldn’t be hard.
Maybe even an art student from the high school? ”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll also go back to the grocery store and check the community board. I didn’t have the bandwidth for it today.”
“Lil’s favorite,” Kara said with a warm smile.
“I know. Oh, speaking of the store—I must have just missed him, but apparently, this guy from Hamptons House came in.”
Kara squealed. “Who? And why are you just telling me this now? Oh my God. They’re all so hot,” she rambled, yanking her long brown hair from the bun.
“I think his name was Noah.” Dahlia shrugged, spotting a large crack in the wall over the door. The work was never going to end.
“What?” Kara screamed. “He’s my favorite—very mysterious. He got double-crossed last year in a big way by his best friend. Poor guy. Have you googled him yet?”
“No!” Dahlia said, noticing a light go on next door. “That’s weird.” Dahlia peeled herself from the sticky sheets.
“What’s weird?”
“The guys next door are away for the summer, but a light just went on.” Dahlia peeked out the window. No one was supposed to be there. Bruce and Garrett would have told her, wouldn’t they? “Maybe someone’s breaking in?” Dahlia could feel her eyes widen.
“No, it’s Southold. The safest small town in America. It’s probably just someone checking on the house. Or maybe a timer on a light.”
“You’re probably right.” Dahlia hesitated. “Kara, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For listening?”
“Always. Now, get some rest. I’ll check in tomorrow—and Dahl?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re Dahlia Fucking Newberry, and don’t you forget that. You had Daisy on your own and raised her without any help from Spence or his family, at least until—”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.” Dahlia wanted to say marrying Spence was the biggest mistake of her life, but then Daisy wouldn’t have had two loving parents all those years.
Him coming back when Daisy was five and begging Dahlia to marry him as a new graduate about to take over his father’s business was unexpected, to say the least. But when Spence wanted something, he was very persuasive.
Plus, Dahlia was tired, and any partnership sounded like music to her ears.
Yes, she had Lil and Gran, but Dahlia had had to move closer to campus once she started taking classes.
Being a single mom while trying to accumulate one hundred and twenty credits and working wasn’t for the faint of heart.
“Remember how strong and resilient you are. You’re a badass.”
Dahlia lifted her chin and straightened her posture. She did do that, didn’t she? And she stood up to his family when they wanted to pay for her pregnancy to go away. That was by far the toughest thing for her to get past once she became part of the Newberry family. “True, but—”
“No buts about it. And you just landed your dream gallery job. I’ll leave you with that little morsel of truth. Night, love you.”
“You too.”
Dahlia hung up feeling taller, braver, and stronger, remembering her early days as a young, single mother and how each day brought its own unique challenges. And how determined she was to build a loving home for Daisy despite the insurmountable roadblocks.
I am Dahlia Fucking Newberry. She looked into Lil’s mirror in her simple tank top and sleeping shorts.
I get things done, and I figure shit out.
“Everything is figureoutable,” she whispered, looking closer at her summer freckles and aging forehead.
Well, maybe not everything. If she was going to embrace this new season, she’d have to up her beauty game.
She waggled her eyebrows a few times and added wrinkle cream to her mental list.
Then, against her better judgment, she searched “Noah Hamptons House.”
She scrolled through the countless profile images. He was definitely the same man she’d seen on the motorcycle. And he was everywhere.
Then shirtless ones popped up. Oh, boy. His wavy hair tousled to the side, sparse mustache, and chiseled abs made her mouth moist and her insides tingle.
“That’s enough of that.” Abruptly, she closed the tab. She didn’t need to be thinking about boys right now. That’s what got her into trouble in the first place. A new email from the gallery sat in her inbox. She inhaled through her nose and out through her mouth and opened it.
Dahlia,
I know you spoke briefly with HR, but I wanted to congratulate you personally on securing the Chief Curator position at the Whitmore Gallery.
The pool of candidates was impressive, but your six years at MoMA, along with your positive team attitude and references, won us over.
I know we’d originally given you an early September start date, but our new exhibits start in September and run through November.
Because it’s imperative that you are here early, your start date is August 5. Please confirm.
Best,
Christine Smyth
Dahlia grinned. It felt good to be wanted and needed. All those years of sacrifice, taking the graveyard shift at the ambulance dispatch to get her degree, and earning her MFA while Daisy was in middle school.
But soon her grin soured. They wanted her to start in one month. How in the world would she pull all of this off in a month? And without help?
Not only did she have a house to fix, but now she needed to find a key that held a secret that could change everything. She rested her head on the pillow. Tomorrow would be better; it had to be.