Page 12 of The Summer Club

“Why don’t you open it?”

Sydney glanced around. “But James isn’t here yet.”

“So?”

“Isn’t it considered bad luck to open a gift without the groom?” Sydney worried.

“And before the wedding?” Hugh added.

“Nonsense,” Tish insisted. “It’s not for James.”

Everyone shifted in their chairs. Cora stole a glance at Charley; he too looked confused.

“Well, Mother, I think if Sydney wants to wait for her fiancé that would be all right, wouldn’t it?”

“It would not. I am here now. I’d like you to open it.” Tish was smiling, her red lipstick perfectly in place. Probably because she had not eaten one bite of Cora’s dinner. But still, she had a remarkable mouth for a woman of a certain age. And her smile, though rarely directed at her daughter-in-law, was striking. “Please,” she added. It came out as a directive.

Hugh chuckled. “Go on then, Syd. If Tish says so…”

Sydney looked to her mother, searchingly. What could Cora say? Everyone at the table was both perplexed and intrigued. But Cora could tell Sydney really wanted to wait for her fiancé and she did not appreciate Tish railroading her. “Should I?” Sydney asked.

“Only if you want to,” she told her youngest daughter, ignoring the heat of Tish’s glare from the opposite end of the table.

“Okay. I guess I can always share it with James later.” Sydney was such a people pleaser. Cora sighed and sat back. At least the mystery would be over and then maybe Tish would go away and leave them alone.

Sydney opened the envelope and carefully withdrew a piece of paper. The whole table held its breath as she unfolded it and began reading. Her brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”

“What does it say?” Hugh could never help himself.

Sydney glanced down at the paper. “Something about Riptide.”

“Our summer house?” Andi asked.

“This house?” Hugh echoed.

“Yes, this house,” Sydney said. “I think?” She looked at her grandmother and held up the paper. “Is this the deed to Riptide?”

Silence fell across the patio.

Tish stood up. “It has been many years since I have been back here and I know that during that time you have all had ample opportunity to enjoy this house. This house, that my husband Morty bought, many years ago. For me. And for our son, Charley.” She turned and smiled lovingly at Charley, but he looked as wary as the rest of them.

“Mom, what is this about?”

Tish went on. “My husband, Morty, God rest his soul, loved this house. When we first happened upon it, I could not understand what he saw in it. Why he would want it. We lived in New York! We had other weekend houses in the family. And this”—she pointed her finger—“this house was in shambles.” She paused. “But Morty always saw in some things what others could not.”

Cora’s breath caught in her chest. Was Tish tearing up?

“And because this house was rebuilt and enjoyed by the Darling family—for the family…”

Here she paused and turned to looked at Cora. Cora’s blood ran cold.

“… It is my duty to make sure it stays in the Darling family.”

“Mother,” Charley interrupted.

“We are family,” Hugh said.

Tish raised her voice, undeterred. “The real Darling family.”