When the Stars Sang Read online

  “Cool.” Brandi snatched up their menus. “Be right back with your food.”

  “So,” Kathleen said in a low voice as Brandi sashayed away to place their order, “is she your type?”

  Molly choked on her Coke. “You heard that?”

  Kathleen grinned.

  “Well…” Molly pretended to eye Brandi studiously. “She’s not bad. Pretty face, nice smile, firm…” She paused and grimaced at Kathleen, who was trying not to laugh. “But she’s so perky. If I had to listen to someone that happy every day, I’d go mad.”

  Kathleen did giggle, covering her mouth with her napkin.

  They sat for a while, enjoying the harbor view through the restaurant’s windows. Colorful sailboats bobbed in the water, while other boats, including some enormous yachts, sat moored at the marina.

  Kathleen’s attention seemed to be focused on the scene outside, but she asked, “What is your type then?”

  Molly busied herself rearranging her silverware. “Um, I don’t know that I really have a type.”

  “Isn’t there anyone special?”

  Molly felt heat rise from her neck to her cheeks. “Not now. I had a girlfriend when I was in college, but when I came back to Little Sister, we lost contact. There hasn’t been anyone steady since then.”

  “That’s a long time to go without having anyone in your life.”

  Molly forced her gaze upward to meet Kathleen’s. She opened her mouth to respond when Brandi returned with their food.

  “Crab cakes for you,” she sang, setting a plate in front of Molly, “and clam chowder for you.” She set a steaming bowl in front of Kathleen along with a plate of cheese biscuits. “Enjoy.”

  Molly hoped Kathleen would forget where the conversation had left off, but she spooned up some of her chowder, letting it cool, and said, “You were about to answer, I think.”

  Molly ate a bite of her crab cakes before saying, “I have people in my life. A whole island of them.”

  Kathleen searched her face. “It’s not the same.”

  “Maybe,” Molly acknowledged. “But it’s true. Islanders don’t get divorced. No one in my lifetime has. We don’t marry young as a rule, because anyone we pair up with has to buy into living by Little Sister rules.”

  “Is that why all four of you still live with your parents?” Kathleen tilted her head. “That must be a little weird.”

  Molly had to smile. “I guess it is. But none of us want to leave the island, and until a house comes available…”

  “Like Louisa and Olivia’s?”

  Molly nodded. “It’s not something we talk about, but they don’t have anyone to pass it to, so it’s kind of an open secret that when they’re gone, the house will be available.”

  “And how does that work?”

  “If there’s family, we have to wait a year to see if they claim the house.”

  “Like I did?”

  Molly nodded.

  “Why don’t you just build more houses?”

  “They did,” Molly said. “In the beginning. But within two or three generations, they realized they’d run out of room quickly. You have to clear more trees, now we’d need more septic and water and electricity. We’d be completely out of balance. They decided to cap the houses to what existed at that time.”

  “I’m amazed how forward thinking they were.”

  Molly tore a cheese biscuit and popped a piece in her mouth. “It’s basically our population control. If there is no family, then a house doesn’t have to wait to be rehomed. Anyone who wants it can apply for it. If there’s more than one, then the islanders hold a lottery in front of everyone.”

  Kathleen shook her head. “It’s just so strange. I’ve never been around people who take care of one another like that.”

  She sounded so sad as she said it that Molly nearly reached across the table to take her hand. She caught herself in time and reached for her glass instead.

  Kathleen ate her chowder, lost in her own thoughts, and Molly decided to let her be.

  When Brandi brought the check, which Kathleen insisted on paying, she elicited one more promise from Molly to have Matty come see her soon.

  Kathleen signed the slip and said, “What about that shopping list?”

  They left the restaurant, and Molly pointed the way to a women’s clothing boutique. A little bell announced their entrance. Kathleen wandered in one direction, Molly the other.

  Kathleen held a lacy, sheer negligee high over the clothing racks. “How about this for your mom?”

  Molly closed her eyes and held her hands up to block the view. “I don’t even want to think about what my parents would do with that. I think I’ll stick to her favorite perfume.”

  “Coward.” But Kathleen smiled as she said it.

  They spent a couple of hours going through several shops. One of Kathleen’s favorites was a bookstore where she picked up five new books. When they had completed their shopping—including a new multi-tool for Joe—they made their way back to the vet’s office. Molly waited in the lobby while Kathleen was taken to an exam room to speak with the vet.

  She and Blossom emerged a little while later. Molly held his leash while Kathleen paid the bill.

  “You’re a little drunk, aren’t you, buddy?” she asked as he leaned against her leg.

  He grinned up at her and wagged his tail sluggishly.

  They took their time walking back to the marina, letting Blossom set the pace. Kathleen carried a small inflatable vinyl ring.

  “No cone of shame?” Molly asked.

  Kathleen held the ring up. “Just this, if he needs it. The vet said he’s probably about a year old.”

  Molly gave him a pat. “We can make today his birthday. Not a very nice birthday present, was it?”

  She glanced at Kathleen. “When’s your birthday?”

  Kathleen’s cheeks turned pink as she pointed to a shop they hadn’t gone into. “Too bad we didn’t have more time.”

  Molly decided not to press the point about the birthday. When they got to the boat, she picked Blossom up.

  “Just steady the boat for me,” she said to Kathleen. She carried him on board and down the steps into the tiny cabin.

  She laid him on one of the bunks. Kathleen followed her down with a blanket.

  “Are you sure?” she asked. “He can lie on the floor.”

  “Oh, not this time,” Molly said, rubbing his head as his eyes closed. “He’s had a rough day. Shots and—whatnot. He doesn’t even know the whatnot isn’t there anymore.”

  They knelt side by side next to the bunk, both of them stroking his soft coat. He sighed deeply.

  “This has been the nicest day I can remember in a very long time,” Kathleen said in a low voice.

  She looked at Molly, her eyes soft and unguarded. Without thinking, Molly leaned toward her. All she knew was the warmth of Kathleen’s breath on her face as she met soft lips. She took her time, savoring the feel, the taste of Kathleen’s mouth.

  When she pulled away, Kathleen’s eyes searched her face. Molly felt frozen in place, held there by the ache in her own heart. Kathleen reached up to place gentle fingers on Molly’s cheek, drawing her in. Kathleen’s lips parted, pressing hungrily to Molly’s.

  Molly was breathing hard when the kiss broke. She rested her forehead against Kathleen’s.

  “Stay down here where it’s warm,” she whispered. “I’ll get us home.”

  KATHLEEN SAT IN FRONT OF her computer monitor and realized she’d been staring at nothing for the last fifteen minutes. She grabbed her coffee cup only to find it empty.

  Blossom opened one eye when she stood.

  “Want to go out?”

  He curled into a tighter ball in his bed. She smiled.

  “Okay. You stay comfortable. You went through enough yesterday.”

  She went into the kitchen to refill her cup. Outside, everything was dripping and sodden, thanks to a storm that had blown through during the night. She was glad to have an exc
use to stay in. To avoid Molly, you mean.

  She stepped out onto the back porch and closed her eyes, feeling a tingle in her stomach at the memory of that kiss.

  What the hell were you thinking? Why did you kiss her?

  But oh… the things that kiss had done to her, body and heart. It was the last thing she’d expected.

  But exactly what you hoped for, that nagging voice forced her to admit.

  She pressed her fingers to her lips. She hadn’t been kissed like that since… Her eyes flew open. She’d never been kissed like that. Every kiss with Susannah had been rushed, furtive, as if she expected her bastard of a father to walk in on them at any minute. And sex—it was always sex, never lovemaking, she realized as she thought about it—like two horny teenagers sneaking a quick grapple and getting it over with as quickly as possible, rarely even getting completely naked with each other.

  But with Molly, Kathleen wanted to make love with her. Wanted her naked. Wanted to explore that wonderful body, wanted to take her time, touching and kissing and tasting every inch of her. A powerful throb between her legs had her half-ready to grab her car keys and go in search of Molly, right then and there.

  Her telephone jangled, startling her out of her preoccupation. She went back inside. This phone hardly ever rang. It was probably Olivia or Louisa, wanting to bring something by.

  She picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Hello, yourself.”

  Kathleen collapsed onto one of the kitchen chairs, her legs suddenly too weak to hold her. It was a moment before she could speak. “Suze. How did you get this number?”

  “The nice lady here at the market connected me.”

  Despite the “nice lady” comment and the surface politeness, Kathleen heard the ice underneath. It took a second for the implication to sink in.

  “You’re here? On Little Sister?”

  “I am. I’ve got directions. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  Chapter 8

  MOLLY CURSED UNDER HER breath as she lay on her back under Wilma and Nels’s kitchen sink, connecting hot and cold water hoses to the new faucet she’d installed in their new stainless steel bowl. Their small house was an extension off the back of the hotel, giving them their private space, but keeping them close enough to heed calls from guests.

  After she’d canceled on them to take Kathleen to Big Sister, she’d felt obligated to get to this job at the first opportunity.

  Part of why she was cursing was that her mind was more on Kathleen than on what she was doing. She couldn’t stop picturing Kathleen’s face, remembering the feel of Kathleen’s lips on hers…

  The telephone rang, and Molly jumped, cursing more loudly when she banged her head on the U-bend.

  Wilma bustled into the kitchen and answered the phone.

  “Oh, hello, Miranda.”

  Molly rubbed the lump already forming on her forehead and went back to work.

  “You’re kidding,” Wilma said.

  Molly shook her head. More island gossip. She adjusted her wrench and slipped it over the nut to tighten it.

  “Really? On today’s ferry? And Katie didn’t know?”

  Molly froze.

  “But she’s going there now?”

  Molly held her breath.

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”

  Wilma hung up and immediately dialed another number. “Olivia, you’ll never guess. Katie Halloran’s friend showed up unannounced on today’s ferry. She’s on the way to Maisie’s house now.”

  Molly listened hard, her heart thumping.

  “Okay. You and Louisa meet me at the diner.”

  Wilma hung up and trotted off toward the hotel and diner. Molly wriggled out from under the sink. With a regretful glance at the unfinished plumbing, she abandoned her tools. She scribbled a quick note to Wilma before dashing to her SUV to race home.

  She skidded to a stop in the drive and ran up the back steps. Flinging the door open, she shouted, “Mom! Where are you? I need—”

  She halted mid-sentence as Jenny walked out of the pantry and hung the phone up on the wall.

  “You know,” Molly said.

  “Yes.” Jenny gestured toward a kitchen chair. “Sit down.”

  Molly didn’t want to sit. She opened her mouth to argue, but caught the look in her mother’s eye. She sat.

  Jenny poured two cups of coffee and joined her. “Now, tell me what’s going on.”

  Molly took a sip of coffee, trying to figure out just how to start. She’d never actually come out to her parents, not in words. It had just been accepted without having to say it that Molly was gay. Why did this suddenly feel so hard?

  “Kathleen, when she came here, left a relationship,” she began. “From what she says, it wasn’t a good relationship.”

  “And now the other woman has come here,” Jenny said.

  Molly nodded. “I guess so.” She jabbed her chin at the phone. “You probably know more than I do.”

  Jenny smiled. “Wildfire. The island hasn’t had this much excitement in years.”

  “Mom…” Molly frowned at her coffee. “We have to help her.”

  “Help her? I would have thought this would solve all your problems.”

  Molly hesitated, thinking hard. “What problems?”

  “Weren’t you the one who kept insisting she didn’t belong here?” Jenny reminded her casually.

  That seemed so long ago, Molly could barely remember when she felt that way.

  “And, if she leaves, the cottage will most likely be available to another. You or the boys could enter the lottery if that’s what you want.”

  Molly struggled to find the words to say everything she was feeling. “Kathleen is just starting to set anchor, to feel she belongs somewhere. The island is her home now. We can’t let this woman drag her away.”

  She felt her mother’s probing gaze—that “mom-stare” she’d hated growing up—and forced herself to meet her mother’s eyes.

  “What if this is what she wants, Mo?”

  Molly stared helplessly at her mom. “If it’s what she wants, then she should go with her. I won’t say another word.”

  Jenny reached out and grasped Molly’s hand. “Do you love her?”

  “What? No, of course not.” Molly pulled her hand away and stood. “I’ve only known her, what? Six weeks? Why would you ask that?”

  Jenny sipped her coffee, her eyes following Molly over the rim of the cup as she paced the kitchen. Wordlessly, she waited.

  Molly stopped, her eyes closed as she remembered that kiss. She ran both hands through her hair. “I don’t know.”

  Jenny set her cup down. “Go to the marina. Get your uncle to keep the ferry here a few extra hours.”

  “How?”

  “I don’t care.” Jenny stood and went to the phone. “Take the damned engine apart if you have to. Just keep that ferry here until we’re ready.”

  KATHLEEN STOOD ON THE porch, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, as she watched for Susannah’s car. She briefly considered locking herself inside and not answering the door, but that was ridiculous. Her heart pounded so hard, she could hear it thumping. When Susannah’s white Lexus pulled in behind her Altima, she found herself holding her breath. She leaned against the porch pillar, as much to prop herself up as to try and appear nonchalant.

  Susannah got out and stood looking at her. The sight of her almost took away what breath Kathleen still had—but not the way it used to. Not in the God, she’s so beautiful, what does she see in me? kind of way, though she was still beautiful. It was more Now you have to face the consequences of your decisions. No more running away.

  Her silky dark hair framed her face, falling just short of the collar of her camelhair coat. Designer jeans and expensive-looking boots completed what Kathleen was sure had been a carefully chosen look. Her eyes moved down Kathleen, taking in her baggy sweater and faded jeans. Kathleen fought the impulse to apologize for how she was dressed.

  She di
dn’t say anything as Susannah pulled a suitcase from the back seat of her car and walked up to the porch steps. Kathleen couldn’t read her face. A smile was firmly fixed on her mouth, but it didn’t quite match the coolness in her eyes.

  “Aren’t you going to welcome me?” Susannah asked.

  Kathleen had a sudden vision of how she would normally have been stumbling down the steps to take the bag from Susannah, to hug her, to escort her inside. She saw a flicker of irritation in Susannah’s eyes as she did none of those things.

  Blossom, who was still moving gingerly, hid behind Kathleen’s legs, his tail tucked between his legs.

  “What is that?” Susannah asked.

  Kathleen laid a calming hand on his head, realizing he must be feeling her tension. She hadn’t even thought about how Susannah would react to him—I didn’t have time to think about anything—given that Susannah had always adamantly refused to allow them to have any kind of pet, claiming she was allergic. Funny, she never seemed to be allergic when she was interacting stiffly with friends’ pets, a fact she refuted whenever Kathleen pointed it out to her.

  “This is my dog.”

  “Your dog.” Susannah stared up at her, and Kathleen could almost see the wheels turning as she quickly recalibrated how to deal with Kathleen. “You’ve been here a month and you have a dog.”

  “It’s been a month and a half, and I have a dog.”

  If Susannah had any criticisms of that decision, she swallowed them as she climbed the steps, clearly waiting to be invited in.

  Kathleen opened the door, following Susannah inside. She held the door for Blossom, but he dropped to his belly, his ears flat against his head.

  “It’s okay,” she murmured.

  She watched warily as Susannah walked through the ground-floor rooms, looking around. She took her coat off to reveal a form-fitting sweater that showed off her curves.

  “This is charming,” Susannah said. “Why didn’t we ever come here?”

  Kathleen stared at her. “This was my grandmother’s house, remember? You never wanted anything to do with my family, and I—”

  She stopped.

  Susannah turned around, her perfectly groomed eyebrows raised in question. “You what? What were you going to say?”