When they’d finished, Theo said, “Looks good.”
“Do you think it’s hot in here?” Beth asked.
“Yeah, probably because you’re leaving the door open.”
“Oh, right. Well, I want it to look…hospitable.”
“But you don’t want to look like a place that has money to burn.”
“Good point.” Beth walked across the room and pulled the door shut.
“So,” Theo said, cocking his head. “Just think. Right now, your father is in my mother’s house. Does that make us related?”
“Oh, I hope not!” Beth spoke before she thought.
Theo’s smile vanished. “Right. See you later.”
“Theo, that’s not what I meant!” Beth ran to the door.
Theo was on the sidewalk. He looked back at her. “No problem,” he said.
Beth felt sick. They’d been getting along so well, she’d felt the chemistry between them whirlpooling through her body. And she’d ruined it in one careless moment. Should she call him and explain?
A few minutes later, Juliet, cool as ice on this summer day, casually walked into the Ocean Matters office.
Beth tried to yank her thoughts into reality, at least a reality she could share with Juliet. Juliet was two years older, which had been a very big deal in high school, and Juliet was so innately cool. Theo was like an eager Lassie. Juliet was like a self-assured Siamese cat.
“Hey,” Beth said as calmly as she could. “How’s the website coming?”
“Almost done.” Juliet dumped her backpack on a table, unpacked her laptop, and opened it. She twirled a chair around to face Beth, and said dramatically, “I’ve been working my digits to the nub. What are you up to?”
Beth glanced down at her list. “I’ve built a master list of possible board members and we’re going to hold a gala fundraiser in early September. I’ve designed a logo to go on the website, our stationery, any publicity. I need to start an online appeal, but I’d like your input. I’ve friended nonprofits on the island that would be most like ours. Marine Mammal Alliance, the Shellfish Association, Nantucket Clean Team, Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals, and so on. I also made lists of names, email addresses, mission statements.”
“You’ve done a lot.”
“I’d like your opinion, and I’ll need approval from Ryder for the mission statement.”
“Have you heard from Ryder?” Juliet asked, her eyes set on the computer screen.
“No. I don’t even know where he is.”
Juliet grinned wickedly. “Let’s google him.”
Ryder Hastings had what looked like hundreds of hits on Google. Beth leaned over Juliet’s shoulder while Juliet scrolled through the posts. Sometimes Ryder was at a fundraiser with a gorgeous woman at his side, but more often he was in the field—or in the water—in New Orleans or Miami or Venice, Italy, talking about rising seas.
“He’s kind of a workaholic,” Beth said.
“There are worse things,” Juliet responded.
Beth returned to her chair, working on her laptop.
Juliet asked casually, “Would you ever date him?”
Beth almost laughed, but she remembered that Juliet was Theo’s sister. She didn’t know how close Juliet and Theo were but she didn’t feel comfortable gushing about her feelings for Theo.
“I don’t know,” Beth answered vaguely. “He’s kind of old.”
Juliet stopped typing and swung around in her swivel chair to face Beth. “Do we have a hidden topic here?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Juliet said with false patience, “you keep mentioning age. Like your father dating my mother. My mom’s ten years older than your dad. Does it bother you?”
Yes, it does, because how can I see your brother if his mother is dating my dad? Beth thought it, but was afraid to say it. Afraid Juliet would tell her that Theo had never been and would never be interested in her. Or that Juliet would go home and tease her brother about Beth liking him.
“Does it bother you?” Beth countered.
“I don’t know,” Juliet replied, and all at once she seemed vulnerable. “My father left my mother when we were kids. She was so lonely for a while. I used to hear her crying after she thought we kids were asleep. I’ve heard her talk to Rachel, her best friend, saying she was perfectly happy without a man in her life, and for years she has seemed perfectly happy to me. And now, your father…”
Beth kind of wanted to hug Juliet, who looked so worried, but even open as she was now, Beth was afraid Juliet would snap back to her cool, superior self if Beth even patted her shoulder.
“My father’s a good guy,” Beth said quietly.
“Yeah, I think he is,” Juliet said. “I like him a lot. I think it would be great if they were…a couple.”
Again, Beth’s mind cried out something she couldn’t speak aloud: But then what about me and Theo? Could we be a couple?
Instead, Beth said, “But the age difference. That could be a problem.”
Juliet rolled her eyes. “I know. Sometimes I think Mom’s an idiot, dating your dad. Sometimes I want to shake her.”
Beth said, “I don’t think your mom is an idiot. I think she’s beautiful and cool and smart. I just worry, for both of them.”
“God,” Juliet said. “Love.” She turned back to the computer then had a thought. “Beth. If your father married my mother, you and I would be stepsisters.”
“I’ve always wanted a sister,” Beth said. “That would be cool!”
“That would be awesome,” Juliet said. “I’ve always wanted a sister, too. I mean, Theo’s great, but he’s so male.”
“Yeah, but at least he’s a sibling.” Beth opened a notebook and began a list. She hardly knew what words she was writing. Her head was spinning. Could she be with Theo if his mother married her father? She couldn’t fit her mind around that. Plus, it was foolish of her even to imagine being with Theo. Well, maybe for one night or two, but no more. Theo was never a long-term relationship kind of guy. The attraction between them when they were hanging the posters was intense, but Theo was so sexy anyone would be attracted to him. Beth had to get real. She forced her mind to her work.
“I think what we’re doing here is important,” she said. She knew she sounded corny, but she’d gotten Juliet to stop talking about Theo.