“So we can each bring a guest?” Ellie asked.
Gemma nodded. Casually, she said, “I might invite Leo. He’s done a great job with the yard and—”
“And he’s super hot?” Ellie set down a chair and stared at her frankly.
“You noticed?” Gemma asked weakly.
Ellie laughed. “You’d have to be blind not to notice. Edward talks about him all the time, probably hoping that something will develop between us. He’s not my type though. He’s too much in his head for me. Besides, I saw the way you two were talking the other day. Before I interrupted,” Ellie added.
An awkward silence filled the room. Finally, Gemma said, “So how many people come to the class?”
“As many as I have seats for,” Ellie said briskly. After a pause, she said, “I happen to have one extra chair, if you’re interested.”
Gemma smiled. “I’d like that.”
Together, they finished setting up the room, and they’d just put out the last easel when the door opened. Gemma didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The flush creeping up Ellie’s cheeks said nearly as much as her smile.
Gemma suppressed a grin and turned to see Simon. Ellie was right; he had improved with age.
“Gemma!” Simon gave that dazzling grin of his that almost even made her swoon. “It’s so good to see you again!”
“You too!” Gemma gave him a quick hug. After a brief exchange of how his parents and sister were, she said, “Are you…here for the class?”
She glanced back at Ellie, whose eyes were as wide as saucers now. Filled with light. And…hope. Almost enough to make her feel it too.
Simon sank his hands into his pockets and glanced bashfully from Gemma to Ellie. “If…that’s okay?”
Ellie opened her mouth, but Gemma wasn’t about to let her speak first. “Of course it’s okay. Ellie was just saying she had one slot left. Popular class she’s offering here.”
She saw the look of gratitude that washed over her sister’s face, and she gave her a quick wink.
“I was just helping to set up and drop off some cookies, but I’ve got to run now. More work to do tonight.”
“My mom told me you’re a writer now,” Simon said.
Ah, the island. She didn’t even mind the gossip tonight.
“That’s right, and I’m afraid I’m on a deadline, so…I should probably run. And I told Hope I’d help her with the party.”
Simon’s interest seemed to pique. “Party?”
“This Sunday,” Gemma said cheerfully. “Ellie will fill you in.” She gave her sister a little wave. “Ellie, I’ll see you back at home?”
Ellie nodded, giving her a wide grin that tugged at her heartstrings.
Home, she thought, as she pushed out the door, leaving Ellie and Simon alone in the studio. More and more, that was exactly what Sunset Cottage was feeling like, and she wasn’t sure what to make of that.
Chapter Nineteen
Ellie
The weekend had passed quickly and in a few minutes the guests would arrive. Male guests, as luck would have it, because thanks to Gemma’s nudge the other night, Ellie saw no way out of inviting Simon to the party, even if the rational side of her brain told her that she shouldn’t.
But when had she ever listened to that inner voice? If anyone were to ask her father, the answer would be: never.
Besides, he had come to her art class. Ellie still couldn’t stop smiling when she thought of the suggestive glances Darcy had given her all through the hour. At first she feared that Darcy would interrogate the poor guy, make things awkward for everyone, but she had behaved and silently observed instead.
The weather had held up, just as they all hoped it would, and if Ellie hadn’t been home all day, helping her sisters prepare for the party, she would have taken her bike on a ride around the island with a canvas and her supplies in her basket, waiting for inspiration to strike.
Hope had organized everything, of course. She’d handed Ellie a list yesterday morning that Ellie took one look at and knew would require more than one trip to town. Her bicycle basket only held so much, and Hope was asking for several bottles of wine, various cheeses, grapes, figs, an assortment of crackers and bread—and that was just for the appetizer!
Still, they’d managed to get it all done, even when Hope decided a little late in the day this afternoon to send her back to town for more fruit, because she was going to make a cocktail from the wine, seeing as it was turning out to be such a warm night.
For now, the island felt quiet, even for a Sunday, like it was still theirs and theirs alone. And for the first time in months, Ellie almost dreaded the influx of people. Right now, the island was perfect, just as it was.
She came downstairs from getting dressed in one of her usual cotton sundresses and a bright pink cardigan and glanced out onto the porch, smiling in anticipation. She could just picture them all sipping the sangria that Hope had made as the sun went down and the sky filled with rainbow colors that she would never grow tired of. Simon would remember what it was like to spend so many evenings on that very porch and question why he gave it all up and how he might get it all back. It was just the thing she needed to finally get him to admit that she was the one that he loved. That he’d always loved her and always would.
The wicker conversation set had been repositioned so that now there was a view of the lake from all angles. And the matching round dining table was now covered in a pale-blue tablecloth that Hope must have bought in town. White plates were already set up at their respective places, along with wine glasses, and in the center was a tasteful-sized arrangement of tulips, the colors of which matched some of the new pillows that Hope had set up on the armchairs and sofas.
“You’ve really made yourself at home here,” Ellie said, and she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about that, even if the cottage was just as much Hope’s as it was hers. Maybe Hope wouldn’t want to sell. Maybe they could keep the cottage and all would go on just as it was.
Only she didn’t want things to go on as they were. She wanted change. She wanted more than what she’d had, even more than her art studio, she was beginning to realize.
She wanted love. Specifically, she wanted Simon. The island was better with him here. Her life was better with him here. For so many years, she’d abandoned the idea of finding someone to share her life with; she’d forgotten the excitement and fulfillment that came from connecting with someone.
“I’ll light the candles closer to the time that everyone arrives,” Hope was saying, more to herself than to Ellie. “And I should probably check on the appetizers.”
“Let me,” Ellie said. She was eager to help, but Hope gave her a knowing look. “Let me help, Hope. You take on too much sometimes.”
Hope raised an eyebrow. “You know, you’re right. I never thought of it like that, but yes. Thank you. Okay, the crab bites are in the kitchen, if you want to check on those and help with the salad? Maybe cut some tomatoes?”
She was happy to help, eager really. It would settle the nerves that had been bubbling inside her, leaving her restless all since Simon had said good-bye on Friday night, right after the class had ended, with the promise of seeing her tonight, at the house.