Because she had spent weeks telling herself Grant had destroyed a perfect future. Now she could see the cracks had been there long before he broke anything. She had noticed his hesitation. She had answered it with spreadsheets, color-coded ones. By the time the boat returned, her face felt tight from wind and from pretending the wind explained everything.
Mason was sitting on a bench near the harbor with Lily, who was eating something blue from a paper cup. He looked up. His eyes stayed on Clare for one second too long. He noticed. Of course, he noticed.
He did not ask what happened. He stood and handed her a napkin. Clare looked at it. For what? Mason touched beneath his own eye.
She wiped beneath hers. Mascara. Great. I didn't say anything. That somehow makes it worse.
Lily held out her cup. Want some? Clare looked inside. What flavor is blue? Lily shrugged.
Blue. Clare took a spoonful. It was terrible. She laughed anyway. Later, while Lily argued with the inn's revolving door, Clare looked back toward Mason.
He thought she had turned away. His hand had gone beneath his collar. When it came out, the woman's ring rested between his fingers. He stared at it, not like jewelry, like a conversation he was still having. Clare looked away before he noticed.
Grant had almost married her and then walked away. Mason had lost someone and seemed to be carrying the marriage with him. For the first time, Clare wondered whether the quiet man three doors down was still married to someone who was no longer there. The next morning, Clare found Mason and Lily at breakfast before she found coffee. That was usually a dangerous order.
Lily spotted her first. You're late. Clare checked the clock. It's 8:15 exactly. Mason slid a paper cup across the table.
Clare stopped. Two sugars, a little cream. She looked at him. You remembered. You've ordered the same thing three mornings.
That is either thoughtful or surveillance. Efficient observation. Lily pushed a plate of toast toward Clare. Sit down. Clare sat.
After breakfast, Lily announced they were going to a bookstore. Clare said she had no plans. Mason looked at her. No plans, temporary condition. Lily narrowed her eyes.
Can you do something without scheduling it? Clare looked offended. Of course. Name one thing. Clare opened her mouth.
Nothing arrived. Mason drank his coffee. Don't help her, Lily said. I wasn't going to. Clare pointed at both of them.
This feels like a committee. It's not a committee, Mason said. Lily nodded. Committees have snacks. 20 minutes later, the three of them were walking through downtown Bar Harbor.
At the souvenir shop, Clare picked up a ridiculous lobster hat. Lily gasped. Buy it. Spontaneous decision test. Clare put it on.
Mason looked at her for a long moment. Well, it's powerful. That is not a compliment. I didn't say it was. She bought the hat.