Moon Spinners Read online

  Gracie smiled and leaned in to Cass’ side.

  And she was probably going to tell Maeve, too, Nell suspected. Joey saw the appointment on Janie’s calendar and canceled it. But that was only a temporary delay, he knew, unless Sophia was no longer around to cause trouble.

  Izzy pulled her feet up to the bench and wrapped her arms around her legs. “So Joey suddenly got nice, and he did his darnedest to endear himself to you.”

  Gracie nodded. “With great effectiveness.”

  Cass held up the motorcycle key and ring. “We found this in the fire rubble—it’s the extra key to his bike.”

  “Why would Joey burn down the café?” Willow asked.

  “It was smart,” Izzy said. “And it worked. Sort of.” She turned to Gracie. “He was making you depend on him, the one you would lean on, making you forget why you wanted to divorce him in the first place. He always seemed to be there when things went wrong—at the club that night your mom showed up, the wake, the fire, your mom being taken to jail.”

  “You’re right, Iz.” Cass put down her beer bottle. “He was always there. And the strange thing is he was never there when Gracie needed him before.” She wrapped an arm around her friend and hugged her tightly.

  The candles on the deck burned low as the night wore on, and still they sat, reluctant to leave. It was Gracie who finally stood up and faced her friends. “I think we all need sleep. And I know you’re here because you don’t want to leave me alone. But I’ll be okay. I promise. Alone isn’t always a bad thing.”

  “No, it isn’t always a bad thing at all.”

  Gracie spun around. The new voice came from inside the restaurant, just on the other side of the screened door.

  Julianne Santos stood in the opening with Alphonso at her side, one arm supporting her back.

  “I hope you don’t mind the intrusion—the door was open,” Alphonso said. He and Julianne stepped out onto the deck. “They usually wait until morning to process release papers, but Judge Wooten is a friend. Not to mention the fact that Esther Gibson wasn’t about to let him get any sleep if he didn’t ‘trot’—Esther’s words—down to the station immediately so her new friend could get a decent night’s sleep.”

  Gracie was silent. She and Julianne looked at each other for a long time.

  Julianne spoke first. “Mandy White is on her way to pick me up, Gracie,” she said. “I’m going to stay with her for a bit while I get my arms around things.” She paused, a small smile playing on her lips. “But I was thinking, if you don’t have other plans, would you like to meet for breakfast?”

  The normalcy of the invitation cut through the tension of the night as cleanly as the blade of a fisherman’s knife. Chuckles broke the silence.

  “Breakfast?” Gracie repeated, returning her mother’s smile. “Breakfast might be nice.” Then she tilted her head slightly to the side, feigning hesitation. “Your treat or mine?” she asked.

  Chapter 37

  In years past, the summer solstice had sometimes brought rain and hail down on the small town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, threatening the scientific truth that the solstice is the longest day of sunshine. One year the sun fulfilled its duty, but the temperature dipped so low that Margaret Garozzo’s prized pansies froze into tiny purple ice sculptures.

  But this year, the day was filled with sunshine and the temperature reached almost eighty degrees. The sky and sea merged together in a glorious backdrop for the solstice picnic near the pier. At night, when the sun gave way to a sky filled with stars, a bonfire would be built down on the beach and families would gather to roast marshmallows.

  Nell paused for a moment just outside the Lazy Lobster and Soup Café, looking up at the late-afternoon sky. Against the daylight, the shadow of the moon was visible, a faint silhouette against a blue expanse. The moon had come its full cycle since that tragic Friday evening that now seemed a lifetime ago. Full cycle—it had waned to darkness beneath the delicate pull of the moon spinners as they wound the streams of light onto their distaffs. And now—these weeks later, the threads of light from their washed garments were once again wound back up into a bright ball in the sky.

  Not unlike their lives, Nell thought. And their summer. Once again woven together tightly. Complete. Full and shining.

  Nell breathed deeply, then smiled at the invisible spinners somewhere out there, standing on a shore with their spindles. And with her heart as full as their spun ball of light, she turned toward the open door of the café.

  Gracie stood inside the polished and decorated café, greeting everyone who came by to take a peek. The restaurant wasn’t officially open for another couple weeks, but Gracie had invited the entire town to check it out during the solstice picnic. Sea Harbor’s finest lobster rolls from the Lazy Lobster and Soup Café would be available for the picnic, her colorful hand-painted sign announced. A gift from Gracie to the town.

  Margaret Garozzo had filled Gracie’s flower boxes with fresh summer blooms—daisies, sun sprites, miniature dahlias, and long spires of green and gold grasses. And above the boxes, a bright white sign with wooden lobsters on each edge announced to the town: THE LAZY LOBSTER AND SOUP CAFÉ.

  The door to the restaurant was held open by a heavy ceramic lobster Jane Brewster had given her as a restaurant-warming gift. Inside, the woven art of Willow Adams hung above the fireplace—a seascape created from knotted yarn in blues and greens and lavender. It swooped and curved against the brick wall, a splash of ocean right there in the restaurant.

  Beneath Willow’s seascape, a table holding wine and lobster snacks greeted those who came to wish Gracie well.

  Nell hugged her warmly. “You did it, sweetie,” she said.

  Gracie whispered against Nell’s shoulder, “We did it. All of us.”

  Birdie and Ben stood with Archie and Harriet Brandley, admiring Willow’s art. “I need me one of these for the bookstore,” Archie said, making sure Willow was within earshot.

  Julianne Santos was standing off to the side with her friend Mandy White. Julianne was gaining some weight, Nell was happy to see. Her beautiful face was lit with hopeful joy. It would take time, Nell suspected—but the buds of a relationship, whatever form it took, had clearly been planted between her and her daughter.

  Alphonso and Liz Palazola were there, too, but discreetly so. It was too soon, too fast, for some people to digest everything that had happened, and Liz was acutely aware of people’s feelings.

  Nell had run into Liz in Izzy’s shop the day before the picnic. Liz had finally attended a beginning knitting class. Her face glowed with newly pregnant joy. She fingered the soft cotton yarn Izzy had helped her choose for a blanket and told Nell they knew they had fences to mend, but she and Alphonso would do it, each in their own way.

  Ella, however, deserved special care, so she and Alphonso had invited her and Harold to dinner.

  Nell had already heard the story from Birdie, but it lifted her heart to hear it again.

  They’d gone to a quiet place where they could talk. Fine food, wine, and an attempt to build a bridge. They’d done two things, Liz said, that at least started the process.

  Alphonso had thanked Ella sincerely for her friendship to his wife and explained how much it meant to Sophia. Ella’s plain, simple acceptance of Sophia had created a comfortable place in which Sophia could be herself. That was a priceless gift, Alphonso told Ella.

  Ella hadn’t responded out loud, Liz said, but she knew it had touched her.

  They’d also brought Ella a collection of items that had meant something to Sophia. A multicolored silk scarf, light and airy as spun sugar. A painting of a flower garden in Argentina, and several pieces of jewelry that Sophia had brought from her country and cherished.

  Ella had tears in her eyes, Liz told Nell, though they might have been her own, she wasn’t sure.

  Nell walked over to Archie Brandley, who was quickly devouring a plate of lobster canapés. “Is Danny here, Archie?”

  Harriet immediatel
y appeared at his side. “Not only is he here, but he’s staying here.”

  “As in living?” Nell asked. This was news.

  “Of course,” Harriet said, her head bobbing happily.

  “At least for a while,” Archie said, being the realist in the family. “But you never know, do you?” He nodded to the back of the restaurant, where the doors were open to the deck beyond.

  Outside, the Fractured Fish were playing an assortment of covers, and all around them toes tapped, heads moved, bodies jiggled, and helium balloons, escaping from tiny fists, floated up to the clouds.

  Off to the side, Cass Halloran stood next to Danny Brandley, her face lifted in laughter.

  Izzy came up beside her aunt. “Don’t stare. It might jinx it. I’ve not seen Cass this interested in anything noncrustacean since she fell in love with the instructor of our teenage swim team.”

  “I hear he’s staying around for a while.”

  “Cass told him he had to.”

  Nell laughed, then glimpsed a familiar face over in the corner, quietly watching the activities. She excused herself and wove her way through the crowd.

  “Ella, I’m so glad you came.”

  Ella smiled proudly, as if the act of coming was in itself worthy of accolade. She wore a long skirt made of a silky blue and green fabric. On her feet were sandals with ankle straps. It wasn’t the Ella Nell was used to seeing in Birdie’s kitchen.

  She had looped a lacy stole across her shoulders and it draped over a white cast on her arm. Ella saw Nell looking at. “This is nothing more than a minor inconvenience. As soon as those white-coats take it off, Miss Birdie is sending me out for driving lessons.”

  Ella and Nell laughed together. “Speaking of driving lessons, where is Harold?”

  “Out there on the deck, the crazy fool. Next thing he’ll be wanting to dance.”

  Nell followed her look and spotted a more youthful-looking Harold standing next to Sam. His pale gray eyes were lit with music.

  She turned back to Ella and spoke quietly. “You seem well, Ella. Inside, I mean.”

  Ella lifted her long chin and half-closed her eyes, weighing Nell’s statement. Finally she spoke. “Sophia lit something in me that won’t die with her death. That would be denying what she meant to me. I won’t do that.”

  “Friendship,” Nell said softly.

  “Friendship?” Ella repeated, as if tasting the word, considering it carefully. Then she nodded. And in spite of herself, her shoulders began moving to the rhythm of an old Paul Simon tune. At the microphone, Pete Halloran began singing about being “Born at the Right Time.”

  Yes, Nell thought. Perhaps Ella was born at the right time, thanks to Sophia Santos. And in no time she may be dancing, perhaps for the first time in her life.

  Fish Hats

  Designer • Thelma Egberts

  Following are the directions for the wonderful fish hats that Cass is knitting for her brother’s Fractured Fish band.

  Size

  One (will fit both child and adult)

  Finished measurements

  Circumference: 20 inches, unstretched

  Length: 17 inches

  Materials

  • Any worsted-weight wool or wool/acrylic yarn that can be knitted to the gauge given, can be used. Approximately 350 to 400 yards will be needed in a combination of colors. Use any colors you like, and vary the stripes as you please!

  • Recommended needle size: 1 set US #7 double-point needles 1 set US #7 straight needles (optional) (Always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below. Every knitter’s gauge is unique.)

  • Split ring marker

  • Small stitch holder

  • Black yarn or embroidery floss

  • Small amount white felt

  • White sewing thread

  • Tapestry needle and sewing needles with both large and small eyes

  Gauge

  18 st/28 rows=4 inches in stockinette stitch

  Pattern notes

  (Knitty pattern notes can be found online at knitty.com.)

  1x1 Rib

  (Worked back and forth over an even number of sts):

  All Rows: [K1, p1] to end.

  Directions

  Using desired color for fish lips, CO 90 sts onto double-point needles. Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Once first few rounds have been worked, place split ring marker in work to indicate beginning of round.

  Work in stockinette st until work measures 1.5 inches. Break color used for lips and join desired color for head.

  Shape Mouth

  Mouth is shaped using short rows. It is not necessary to pick up wraps when working wrapped sts on subsequent rows; edge of mouth will be hidden by rolled edge of lip.

  Row 1 [RS]: K27, W&T.

  Row 2 [WS]: P9, W&T.

  Row 3 [RS]: K10, W&T.

  Row 4 [WS]: P11, W&T.

  Row 5 [RS]: K12, W&T.

  Row 6 [WS]: P13, W&T.

  Row 7 [RS]: K14, W&T.

  Row 8 [WS]: P16, W&T.

  Row 9 [RS]: K18, W&T.

  Row 10 [WS]: P20, W&T.

  Shape Body

  Continue as follows, changing colors as desired.

  Work 4.75 inches in stockinette st.

  Decrease Round 1: [K8, k2tog] 9 times. 81 sts.

  Work 2.5 inches in stockinette st.

  Decrease Round 2: [K7, k2tog] 9 times. 72 sts.

  Work 1.5 inches in stockinette st.

  Decrease Round 3: [K6, k2tog] 9 times. 63 sts.

  Work 1.5 inches in stockinette st.

  Decrease Round 4: [K5, k2tog] 9 times. 54 sts.

  Work 0.75 inch in stockinette st.

  Decrease Round 5: [K4, k2tog] 9 times. 45 sts.

  Work 1.5 inches in stockinette st.

  Decrease Round 6: [K2tog] to last 3 sts, k3tog. 22 sts.

  Tail

  K 3 rounds.

  Next Round: K17; place last 11 sts worked on small st holder. First half of tail will be worked back and forth over remaining 11 sts on needles (last 5 sts of current round and first 6 sts of next round). If desired, work tail using straight needles.

  Row 1 [RS]: [K1, kfb] 5 times, k1. 16 sts.

  Even-numbered Rows 2-6 [WS]: P all sts.

  Row 3 [RS]: [K1, kfb] to end. 24 sts.

  Row 5 [RS]: K1, kfb, [k3, kfb] 5 times, k2. 30 sts.

  Rows 7-12: Work in stockinette st.

  Row 13 [RS]: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. 28 sts.

  Row 14 [WS]: P all sts.

  Rows 15-20: Work as for Rows 13-14. 22 sts.

  Row 21 [RS]: Work as for Row 13. BO remaining 20 sts.

  Replace held sts on needle and rejoin yarn with RS facing. Work Rows 1-21 as for first half of tail.

  Dorsal Fin

  Lay hat flat, so that longest parts of short-rowed fish mouth are at center, and shortest parts are at side folds. Mark a column of sts along center of hat; this will be top of fish. Beginning approx. 6 inches above lower edge of hat and working toward tail, pick up and k 15 sts in marked columns of sts, picking up 1 st for each row.

  K 1 row.

  Next Row: [Kfb] in each st to end. 30 sts. Work 10 rows in 1x1 Rib. BO all sts knitwise.

  Pectoral Fins

  Mark a column of sts at each side of hat, centered over shortest parts of short-rowed fish mouth. Beginning approx. 6 inches above lower edge of hat and working toward tail, pick up and k 10 sts in one marked columns of sts, picking up 1 st for each row.

  K 1 row.

  Next Row: [Kfb] in each st to end. 20 sts. Continue as for Dorsal Fin. Repeat for other marked column.

  Finishing

  Sew each tail half together along shaped edges. Weave in all ends.

  Eyes

  Cut two circles of white felt with diameter of approx. 1.75 inches. Use white sewing thread and small-eye sewing needle to sew to hat. Use black yarn or embroidery floss and large-eye sewing needle to embroider a black X [for deceas
ed fish] or black dot [for alive-but-non-kicking fish] on each eye.

  About the Designer

  Thelma Egberts is a Dutch knitter who has a thing for weird and funny hats. She mostly uses leftover yarn and yarn from stash (even her grandmother’s stash!). That’s why she often has to improvise on patterns or design her own.

  Please visit knitty.com at the following url for photographs of the hat: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATTfishy.php.

  For information on Birdie’s sexy socks, Nell’s cardigan, other Seaside Knitters’ pattern information, and for Nell’s recipes, please visit sallygoldenbaum.com.

  My thanks to Thelma Egberts and to Amy Singer at Knitty.com for sharing the dead fish pattern with the Seaside Knitters and their friends.