Read Online The Hot Flash Club Chills Out by Nancy Thayer - Free Book Online Page B

bent over her duffel bag and brought out a plastic plate covered with foil. She opened it to reveal dark-chocolate fudge brownies, caramel-chip cookies, and almond macaroons. “Made them myself, just for the trip,” she told them, with a smile.
    “Brilliant, Polly!” Faye exclaimed. “We don’t dock until 11:30, we won’t get to the house till after noon, by the time we get back into town for lunch, it will most likely be one or after. This will tide us over nicely.”
    Munching away happily, they gazed out the window as another ferry, a cheerful white, red, and blue, passed them going in the opposite direction. Passengers waved from the upper decks.
    “This is the way to travel,” Polly sighed contently. “We sit and eat while the scenery moves.”
    “I can’t wait to see the house,” Shirley said.
    Marilyn asked, “Have you found anyone to take Polly’s place at Havenly Yours for the summer?”
    Polly nodded, her mouth full of chocolate.
    Shirley answered for her. “We think Rosa, one of the seamstresses, can do the job. She’s smart enough, works well with the other women, and seems comfortable with authority.”
    “I’ve left her in charge before,” Polly continued. “Some days I couldn’t make it in for one reason or another, and Rosa has always kept things running smoothly. Shirley and I have spoken with her, and told her she’s getting a raise and will get another one after the summer, if all goes well.”
    “Plus, there’s always the cell phone,” Shirley added. “Faye, how does Aubrey feel about you spending time on Nantucket this summer?”
    Faye grimaced. “To be honest, he’s become a bit of an old crab. His shoulder isn’t healing as quickly as he’d like, and now that he’s moved back to his own apartment, I’m not there to fetch and carry for him at the drop of a hat.” She stopped, looking startled. “Gosh, that sounded bitchy!”
    “You’re allowed,” Shirley assured her.
    Faye made a face. “Well, I feel guilty, but by the way, I’m not the only reason his bursitis is acting up. He admitted that earlier that day he’d gone golfing with a friend and it bothered him then. I was just the straw—let me rephrase that. I was just the elephant that broke the camel’s back.”
    “You’re not an elephant!” Polly argued.
    “Thanks, Polly.” Faye squeezed her friend’s hand. “It’s funny, isn’t it, how quickly we fall back into the role of Florence Nightingale/Mama. I loved being a nurturer when my daughter was young, but
I
was younger then. I had more energy, more stamina. I’m not sure I want to spend the rest of my life nurturing Aubrey. Does that sound wicked of me?”
    “Not at all,” Marilyn assured her.
    Faye folded her paper napkin into intricate patterns. “Aubrey has begun to talk about marriage.”
    “Oh, Faye!” Shirley, ever romantic, sighed at the fairy tale word.
    Faye smiled ruefully. “I’m not sure I want to marry him. I’m not even sure I want to
live
with him. I like my new little house. Now that I’ve gotten used to it, I like my independence. If I married Aubrey, we’d have to buy a new house and compromise on everything. Aubrey’s apartment is overwhelming, in a gentleman’s smoking room sort of way, all dark wood and Remington statues of cowboys.”
    “Goodness, Ian and I haven’t even considered
décor.
” Marilyn looked alarmed.
    “That’s because it doesn’t matter to you,” Faye told her. “Which is fine for both of you. And it’s only one part of the equation of marriage. For example, as much as I love Aubrey’s company, there are nights when all I really want to do is settle down on the sofa with a thick novel and a bowl of popcorn.” Looking at healthy Shirley, she added, “Finished off with a crisp apple.”
    Shirley weighed in, her face earnest. “But wouldn’t it be nice to have someone who loved you to rub your feet? Who brought you chicken noodle soup and ginger ale when you were sick? Who cheered you up