A Nantucket Christmas Read online

  “Oh,” Kennedy bleated, pressing her belly. “I feel so awful.”

  “Maybe you should go lie down,” Sebastian suggested.

  “Try to eat a little,” Nicole urged in honeyed tones. “Your blood sugar is low in the morning.”

  With a heavy sigh, Kennedy poured the milk, sliced the banana, and ate the granola.

  “Feel better?” Nicole inquired sweetly.

  Kennedy ignored her. “Daddy, would you take me shopping like you did when I was young?”

  “Sure, honey, but I don’t think there are any maternity shops on the island.”

  “I don’t need maternity clothes, silly daddy,” Kennedy laughed. “I’m thinking some nice winter boots, maybe a purse … and I can always use jewelry, of course.”

  “Kennedy, you little minx,” James teased, “why don’t you wait and see what you get for Christmas?”

  “Because I want to be with my daddy,” Kennedy cooed.

  “Get some clothes on, princess,” Sebastian said. “I’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  Kennedy threw her arms around Sebastian. “Oh, thank you, Daddy. And will you take me out to lunch, too? Just you and me?”

  Sebastian gave his winsome daughter a doting glance. “Of course. Where do you want to eat?”

  “Oh, I don’t care,” Kennedy told him. “Any place where the food is hot and plentiful.” Clumsily, she rose from her chair and shuffled into her bedroom to dress.

  In a low voice, Sebastian asked James, “Do you mind that I’m going off for a private lunch with Kennedy?”

  “Are you kidding? This will give me a chance to spend some time alone with Maddox. Besides,” James winked, “I’m kind of persona non grata with Kennedy right now.”

  “You are? Why?”

  “Because she’s pregnant and I’m not.”

  The two men shared a conspiratorial chuckle.

  Nicole busied herself at the sink, forcing back a gulp of self-pity. Everyone in the house had intimate knowledge of pregnancy and birth. James had, and was sharing it with Kennedy. Sebastian had shared it with Katya. Nicole had never been pregnant. As a nurse, she’d seen babies come into the world, but she’d never had her own.

  “Thanks, Nicole.” James brought his empty plate and silverware to the sink. “That was a treat.”

  His friendliness flashed over her like warmth. He headed through the mudroom to the back door. “Maddox!” he called. “Hey, Mad Man! Guess what?”

  Nicole watched out the window as James squatted down to peer inside the fort. A moment later, Sebastian’s arms circled her waist. His breath stirred her hair.

  “You don’t mind, do you?” he whispered. “I think Kennedy will be more receptive to you once she sees you haven’t come between us.”

  “Of course I don’t mind,” Nicole lied. She wanted to burst into tears. She wanted to stamp her food like a child, crying, Everyone’s leaving me out! Turning in his arms, she snuggled against him, soaking in the steadiness of his love.

  “Daddy, I’m ready!” Kennedy entered the kitchen, chic in her camel-hair coat and tasseled wool hat.

  “I’ll get my coat,” Sebastian said, going into the front hall.

  “I’ll go out back and tell Maddox and James goodbye,” Kennedy said. “Meet you outside.”

  Kennedy walked right past Nicole and out the door without saying a word, as if Nicole didn’t even exist.

  13

  Kennedy linked her arm through her father’s as they strolled down India Street toward town. Her heart swelled with triumph. A light snow was just beginning to fall, its flakes as white and soft as down, making the day even more magical.

  “I love being here with you, Daddy.” She leaned her head against his arm for a moment.

  “I’m glad, Kabey.”

  “Let’s look at the windows on Main Street,” Kennedy suggested. “The merchants are always so clever.” She was subtly steering her father toward lower Main Street and the Jewel of the Isle. Truly, she deserved a diamond for Christmas, and she knew she wasn’t getting one from James because she’d had a secret shuffle through his desk and discovered he was giving her a new Mercedes SUV. Nice, but of course he was being more practical than romantic. He wanted his precious children to ride in safety.

  “Oh.” Kennedy gripped her father’s arm. “Stop a minute.”

  Concerned, Sebastian inquired, “Are you having a contraction?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry. They’re just Braxton Hicks. I went into the hospital three times with Maddox, thinking I was starting labor.”

  The Nantucket Pharmacy had an ice-skating scene in the window. Fluffy white fleece surrounded a pond made from an oval mirror. Elves, Santa, and a couple of reindeer pirouetted over the shimmering “ice.” Snow people made of cotton balls with candy eyes, noses, and mouths stood next to Christmas trees adorned with tiny blinking lights. Mrs. Santa bent over an open box of chocolates, as if deciding which to choose first.

  “Cute,” Sebastian said.

  “Adorable. Lucky Mrs. Santa. She can eat all the chocolate she wants.”

  “Why can’t you?” her father asked.

  “Daddy! I’m already a whale.” Kennedy tugged on his arm. “I’m okay now. Let’s walk some more.”

  A fabulous Icelandic sweater in the window of Peach Tree’s caught her eye, but she bypassed it, determined to get her diamond.

  “Shall we walk down to Straight Wharf and buy a few wooden toys for Maddox at the Toy Boat?” Sebastian suggested.

  Her father was heading them in the perfect direction. She squeezed his arm. “Good idea.”

  In the small fisherman’s cottage housing the Toy Boat, Sebastian strode around gleefully, seeming like a kid himself. “Lighthouses, ferries, sailboats—so much to choose from. What do you think, Kennedy?”

  Kennedy started to warn her father not to spoil Maddox, but bit her tongue. What she thought was that she wanted her father to spoil her. Why did children get all the goodies? The mommies did all the work. Sure, James had Maddox today, but most days of the year, her husband escaped their chaotic house wearing suit and tie, heading to the sophisticated adult world while Kennedy wrestled Maddox into the car for preschool then returned to the grocery shopping, laundry, and dishes.

  She could understand now why her mother had employed a live-in nanny. Kennedy did have several good babysitters, and a cleaning service that came in twice a week. The laundry did James’s shirts. They ate out or brought in takeout several times a week, especially since this second pregnancy. Compared to many others, she was spoiled, but she certainly didn’t feel spoiled.

  Kennedy loved Maddox with all her heart. He was the light of her life. But nothing had prepared her for the noise, the mess, the constant, relentless neediness of a child.

  Thank goodness Maddox enjoyed the preschool he attended in the morning. In the afternoon she tried to coax him into napping, but he was a living typhoon. In a month, she’d be saddled with two children, a baby who wouldn’t sleep at night and a boy who tore around all day.

  And yet … something deep within her cherished all this. Kennedy admired her mother intensely and wanted to be just like her, except perhaps a bit less perfect, which heaven knew was easy to achieve. Kennedy remembered the messes—real and emotional—she’d made as a child and how her nanny had consoled her and helped Kennedy clean them up. There’d been something so warm, so real, so bonding about those times. She wanted to provide that for her own children, even if she did it imperfectly, and oh boy, did she do it imperfectly.

  If only someone would understand. No one ever praised mothers for the tedious work of child caring. No one ever gave a mother an award for not losing her temper ten times a day or for cajoling a kid to eat his vegetables. James tried to sympathize, but he was preoccupied with his work.

  Perhaps that was why Kennedy wanted her father to give her something, a spontaneous surprise to show her that she was the light of his life. Something like—a diamond?

  Returning alon
g Main Street, they passed Jewel of the Isle.

  “Oh,” Kennedy gasped. “Isn’t that pretty!”

  Sebastian paused, grateful for an opportunity to set the bags full of toys down and relax his hands. “What, sweetheart?”

  “That diamond Christmas tree brooch. So sweet.”

  Sebastian peered in the window. “It’s nice.” Suddenly an idea struck him. “Let’s go in, Kennedy.”

  Inside, the shop sparkled with gemstones, silver, and gold. Kelli Trainor approached them. “Hello, Mr. Somerset. Merry Christmas.”

  “Merry Christmas, Kelli. Could you tell me, how much is that Christmas tree brooch in the window?”

  Kellie lifted the pin out and set it, in its black velvet box, on the glass counter. She named a price.

  Sebastian asked Kennedy, “I think that’s reasonable, don’t you? The diamonds are quite clear.”

  “It’s gorgeous, Daddy,” Kennedy gushed. She was almost fainting. It was a Christmas fairy tale. Her father had sensed her wish without a word, almost as if they had ESP!

  “I’ll take it.” Sebastian removed his wallet from his pocket and slid out a credit card.

  “Would you like that wrapped?” Kelli asked.

  Kennedy opened her mouth to suggest they pin it on her coat instead, but before she could speak, her father nodded.

  “Yes, please, Kelli.” He beamed when he looked over at Kennedy. “Thanks for suggesting it, Kennedy. Nicole will be so surprised. I never think to buy her romantic presents. She’s been working so hard trying to make this a perfect holiday for everyone. I can’t wait to see her face when she opens the package on Christmas morning.”

  Kennedy’s mouth fell open. Her throat closed tight with dismay.

  “That’s so sweet,” Kelli said, filling the awkward silence.

  “Next—” Sebastian’s chest swelled with satisfaction as he tucked the wrapped package in with the others.

  “Yes, Daddy?” Kennedy widened her eyes innocently.

  “Where shall we have lunch? Someplace cozy. The wind’s whipping the snow around.”

  Kennedy trudged next to her father in silence as they headed to the Brotherhood of Thieves. She was blind to the holiday-bright windows. Her father hummed “White Christmas,” totally unaware of the disappointment steaming off her. She wanted to stop right there on the brick sidewalk next to the damned Christmas tree, throw her head back, and bawl. Everything was wrong. This holiday sucked. She was a warthog of a woman with a belly that weighed down her every move. She couldn’t look sexy for her husband, she couldn’t even look pretty, and when she tried to look winsome for her own father, what did he do? He bought diamonds not for his own daughter who was carrying his second grandchild, but for his new wife, who wouldn’t even care about them. Who certainly wouldn’t know how to wear them! Nicole was so more a rhinestone person, she didn’t have the elegance to appreciate diamonds. What a waste. While Kennedy, at a time in her life when she could use some affection and pampering and gratitude didn’t even get a stupid silver bracelet!

  Did Nicole have some kind of psychological hold over her father? Did Nicole plant drugs in his coffee? She was way less attractive than Katya, she had no sense of style, she was like a cleaning woman who got to sit with the family, and Sebastian had bought her diamonds? Kennedy wanted to shriek.

  “Here we are.” Sebastian ushered his daughter into the brick-walled bistro. “After we eat, maybe you’ll have the energy to look at boots.”

  “Boots,” Kennedy muttered.

  The hostess appeared and seated them in the front room next to the heartening warmth of the fireplace.

  They removed their coats, settled in, and ordered. Sebastian remarked, “You seem upset.”

  Kennedy bit her lower lip. “I guess … I didn’t realize you were so … enamored of Nicole.”

  Her father threw back his head and laughed. “Honey, Nicole is my wife. I would certainly hope I’d be enamored of her.” He gave Kennedy a concentrated gaze. “But you’re not pleased about this?”

  She lowered her eyes and played with her napkin, folding it in different shapes as she talked. “I want you and Mom to get back together.”

  “Oh, Kabey, that’s not going to happen. Be realistic, Kennedy. Your mother left me for Alonzo—”

  “But they’re not married!” Kennedy protested.

  Sebastian shrugged. “Katya probably won’t marry again. Your mother likes to have things her own way. As you are now aware, marriage is full of compromises. Come on, Kennedy, you’ve seen Katya. She’s completely fine without me. She’s got her own apartment where Alonzo can visit, but it’s her place, and she doesn’t want it messed up. She’s almost sixty, after all. She deserves to spoil herself for a while. So do I, for that matter. I worked hard, providing for my family. Your mother worked hard, raising you and keeping house. Now we want to enjoy life, be free, even a bit silly, before we end up in our rocking chairs.”

  Kennedy gripped her father’s hand. “Daddy, you’re not old!”

  “I’m not young, either. I’m healthy. And now, thanks to Nicole, I’m happy. That’s a lot.”

  Kennedy wanted to appeal prettily, “Don’t I make you happy?” but at that moment the waiter arrived with their meals.

  “It means the world to me that James is such a nice man,” Sebastian said as he picked up his fork. “He loves you and Maddox. That’s obvious. That’s the best gift any father can have, a good, trustworthy, loving son-in-law.”

  Kennedy conceded reluctantly, “Yes. James’s great.”

  “I wish you could learn to like Nicole,” Sebastian continued. “She’s a wonderful person, and she would love to be part of your life.”

  “But she’s not my mom,” Kennedy reminded him.

  “True. Nicole is completely different from Katya. She’s not as concerned about style, she’s a bit more into politics, she’s a nurse, and she likes being part of the community. You know your mother, Kennedy. Katya always wanted to be seen as being above the community. Better than.”

  This was true, but Kennedy protested, “Please don’t say negative things about my mother. It hurts my feelings.”

  “I’m sorry, Kennedy. Let’s change the subject. What did you get James for Christmas?”

  “Just some outdoor gear ordered from catalogs,” she replied. “After all, I’m about to give him another son.”

  “I’m glad you brought that up. I feel kind of lousy, joining your mother and James at the hospital and leaving out Nicole.”

  This conversation was SO not going the way she’d planned! “She can hang out in the waiting room with Alonzo,” Kennedy suggested.

  Sebastian patted her hand. “I think you need a nap.”

  Kennedy wanted to say she needed a diamond brooch, but she kept her silence and focused on her food. If only she weren’t so tired with this pregnancy, she’d have better ideas about how to get her parents back together, or at least how to get rid of Nicole. But her father was right. She was tired. She’d think more clearly after a nap.

  Because she wasn’t finished yet.

  Whatever happened, Kennedy suddenly wondered, to Cinderella’s father and the wicked stepmother after Cinderella married the prince?

  14

  The snow was coming down quickly now, coating the lawn with a layer of pristine white. Snix was cold, and he was hungry.

  He was also curious. This morning he’d hidden in a hedge to watch a boy build a peculiar house, a kind of cave, perfectly dog-sized. His father had come out to help him reinforce it with layers from cardboard boxes, covered with some old blankets, then wrapped around and around the outside with duct tape.

  Now the boy and his father had gone. It seemed all the humans had gone.

  Snix trotted to the funny makeshift house. Easing his way between two lawn chairs tilted on their sides, he entered.

  It was warm. Cushions covered the floor. No snow got in. It would be the best place to sleep at night!

  But as hard as he sniffed, he cou
ld find no food in here. Reluctantly, he left the warm cave for the cold snowy outer world. Time for another food quest. Before he ventured away, he peed on a bush, the side of the garage, and the side of the house, so he’d be sure to know where to return.

  He headed toward town. Many of the narrower streets were still and empty, the owners of the houses away in their winter homes, the windows dark, the trash barrels scentless. He found his way to Centre Street, where the aroma of bacon drifted from the Jared Coffin House like a love song, but the trash barrels had special locks on them, probably against marauding cats.

  Across the street, Le Lanquedoc was shut tight. He trotted past the brick town buildings and the Whaling Museum until he came to the most likely place to find food.

  Broad Street. Steamboat Wharf. Dog heaven. Taco Taco. Walters gourmet sandwiches to go. A pizza place. A coffee shop. The trash barrels lids were not so tightly fit, and being this close to the water, the ravaging gulls often did the work of breaking and entering for Snix.

  Sure enough, in an alley he found a barrel on its side, papers and cups spilling out. A group of sky rats were pecking away at the contents.

  He hesitated. Gulls were mean. They were almost bigger than Snix. Those beaks were as sharp as knives. His only hope was to fake it, so he charged toward them, barking savagely, showing his white pointed teeth. To his relief, with much irate screeching, the birds flew away.

  He’d gotten there in time. Nosing away the papers, he hunted out buns, taco shells, hamburger, and cold fries. His belly swelled. He felt so much better. So much stronger. So much more hopeful.

  He ate until he couldn’t squeeze another morsel into his body. Replete, his body begged for sleep.

  He retraced his steps to the house with the warm cave. People were out on the streets, calling out gleefully about the snow, elated that it was going to be a white Christmas. Snix wasn’t so pleased. He was scared. Still, it swelled his heart to see so many people smiling, chatting, waving, dressed in red, white, and green, their arms full of packages. It made the world seem like a friendlier place.