Part 24 (2/2)

”I'm going to be your sister!” Clare said. ”Finally, we can make it official!”

Lexi laughed. ”This is so fabulous.”

”I'm thinking a church wedding,” Myrna said. ”Or maybe the beach. Or Brant Point, by the lighthouse? Of course it depends on what time of year-did you say when the wedding will be?”

”Mom”-Adam wrapped an arm around his mother-”we just this minute got engaged. We haven't set the date yet.”

”But soon, right?” Myrna asked.

”Soon, right,” Adam agreed.

”Penny can be my matron of honor, but you have to be my maid of honor,” Clare told Lexi. Tilting her head, she said teasingly, ”I'm thinking eggplant dresses with big puffy sleeves and a huge bow over the b.u.t.t.”

”Oh, Clare.” Myrna looked horrified. ”I'm not so sure...”

”It's okay, Mom,” Lexi a.s.sured her mother. ”Clare's just playing.”

Adam said, ”I brought a bottle of champagne.”

”Oh, yummy!” Myrna clapped her hands. ”I'll get the gla.s.ses.”

”Do you feel like getting up?” Clare asked.

”Sure,” Lexi told her. ”I'm fine. Just give me a minute to pull on some clothes.” On impulse, she reached out and hugged Clare hard. ”I'm so glad for you. And I'm so glad for my brother.”

”I'm going to call your father,” Adam told Clare. ”I want him to come over here and join us.”

”Oh, good idea!” Clare said.

Myrna said, ”Tell him to bring his dog.”

Lexi pulled on loose cotton trousers and a big b.u.t.ton-down s.h.i.+rt. She shuffled into the living room where Adam helped her settle on the sofa, her feet on an ottoman and a blanket tucked around her feet. She smiled fondly at everyone as the commotion continued. George Hart arrived with Ralph, and for a while the dogs stole the show as they got acquainted.

”I should go get Bella and Lucky,” Adam said.

”Another time, maybe,” Myrna told him. ”There's enough chaos now.”

George shook Adam's hand and congratulated the couple and sat down across from Lexi, looking slightly dazed. He'd shaved and dressed, although Lexi noticed he'd forgotten to put on socks. Lots of men wore loafers without socks, but few went sockless in wingtips.

Myrna brought out a platter of smoked bluefish pate and crackers and one of smoked salmon and rye. The group gathered around the coffee table with their champagne.

The chatter died down as everyone munched, and into the silence, George Hart said, ”I've been thinking.”

Everyone looked surprised, not that George had been thinking, of course he was always doing that, but that he was speaking up.

”When Clare marries Adam, my house will be far too big for me alone. I've been wanting to spend more time in Boston-research for my book, you see. Clare, I think I might put the house on the market, and buy myself a smaller place here. I could give you and Adam a nice chunk of money for your wedding present, and still have some funds left over for something like a little flat in Boston for me.”

Clare's jaw dropped. ”Well, Dad!”

”I think that's a great idea, George,” Adam said. ”But look, don't you worry about Clare and me. I already own a house. It's small, and we might need to get a bigger one-”

Lexi s.h.i.+fted uncomfortably on the sofa, but kept a look of cheerful interest on her face. How lovely, she thought, even befuddled George Hart is getting his act together, and here Clare and Adam are already planning on getting a bigger house because obviously they want to have children soon, and lots of them. She saw the affectionate looks flying between her father and mother, and between Clare and Adam, and even George's dog Ralphie looked ecstatic as she trotted around, nosing Buddah's and Pest's b.u.t.ts.

I'll get well, she quietly a.s.sured herself. I'll get over this. I'll get strong, and I'll have some tests run and see if any doctor thinks I'll ever be able to carry a baby to term, not that I'll ever be able to get pregnant again since I've so totally gone off men. She would much rather be sitting here, with cuts on her legs and a cramping, empty belly, than back in New York with Ed Hardin, or anywhere in the world with Ed, for that matter. It was right for her to be here. She was sure of that. And someday she might meet a good man.

She wondered where Jesse was. Wouldn't he have needed some kind of visa to get into Russia? Did he even have a pa.s.sport? She had really liked Oksana, and she found herself wis.h.i.+ng hard, with complete sincerity, that Jesse would stay true to her. Labinsk, Russia, might just be exotic enough that life there would keep Jesse challenged and stimulated, and he would need Oksana to center him.

The dogs, all three of them, suddenly exploded into barking fits.

Myrna said, ”Who can that be?”

The dogs paraded to the door in a little marching band of wagging tails. Myrna followed them into the hall, and returned. Behind her came Jewel and Bonnie, with baby Frankie on her back.

Jewel wore a blue-and-white-striped cotton sundress, the terribly simple Nantucket kind that probably cost the earth. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail and tied with a sparkly flowered band. She looked shy, with her shoulders nearly squeezed up to her ears.

Bonnie announced proprietarily, ”Jewel has a present for Lexi. And one for you, too, Clare. To thank you both for saving her life.”

”Well, goodness, how nice!” Myrna went all hostessy. ”Come in, come in, would you like some champagne? Jewel, how about a gla.s.s of apple juice? Or orange juice, but that's not very celebratory, or we have c.o.ke, or diet ginger ale.”

Adam lifted baby Frankie off Bonnie's back. ”Hey, guy, are those teeth I'm seeing?”

Frankie chortled and squealed and drooled down his chin.

Myrna settled Bonnie in a chair with a gla.s.s of champagne, then went off to the kitchen for apple juice. Bashfully, Jewel handed Clare a small brightly colored paper bag, then sat down on the sofa next to Lexi and handed Lexi a bag, too.

”Oh!” Clare lifted out a beaded bracelet. A pink heart hung from it, etched with her name. ”Jewel, did you make this?”

Jewel nodded proudly. ”I have a kit. You make the shape and design, then bake it in a little oven. But be careful, the heart is fragile. It might break.”

Clare looked over at Lexi and smiled.

”Look at yours!” Jewel told Lexi.

Lexi opened her little bag and reached into the nest of tissue paper. Her beaded bracelet was similar to Clare's. Dangling from it were three silver stars, a crescent moon, and a s.h.i.+ning moon sh.e.l.l with ”Lexi” written on it.

”It's perfect!” Lexi hugged the girl. ”Thank you! Can you fasten it on me?”

Ralphie chose this moment to investigate Frankie's bare toes. She licked them, sending the baby into screams of delight.

”Oh, he's so cute, can I hold him?” Myrna asked.

”Are you okay?” Jewel asked Lexi shyly.

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