Page 104 of Summer State of Mind
Tilley gasped. “You did not! You must let me see them!”
The little girl zoomed off as Tilley stood up to greet the rest of her family, who were now trailing out poolside.
“Let us help you!” Tilley exclaimed.
“No, no,” Mason said, coming to her first. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll getallthe luggage.”
She took both sides of his face in her hands and kissed his cheek. “Happy birthday, my darling.”
That was why they were all here, after all, gathered in the early December sun to celebrate a milestone in high style. Tilley had worked for months putting together the perfect celebration for Mason—on George’s tab, which felt wrong, but, now that they were to be married, she was getting more used to it. He had hoards of money, and he insisted that nothing made him happier than having a woman under his roof to spend it again. Tilley was quite competent at doing so, as she was discovering.
Robbie kissed Tilley next and held up hisClematis. “Your review ofThe Nutcrackerwas spectacular, Till!”
Before she could respond, Elizabeth grabbed her hand and, examining her diamond, jumped up and down. Olivia followed suit.
“Oh, goodLord,” Olivia said. “You will need chiropractic care.”
Amelia filed out and exclaimed, “Oh, Tilley! It’s summer here!”
“It is,” Tilley said. “But, for me, it’s summer everywhere.”
Amelia looked at her questioningly.
“Ever since I’ve been with George, it doesn’t matter where we are: I’m in a summer state of mind.”
The women all laughed as Tilley looked at herbetrothed, as she had taken to calling him. She did so love that man. And it had nothing to do with the big, fat diamond. He simply took her as she was and now, she was happy to say, she was one hundred percent Tilley all the time. It had taken forty years, but she had found her way back. Or maybe she had fought her way back. She wasn’t sure. But, either way, it had been worth it.
Her four grandsons—yes, grandsons, though they would never know her as their grandmother—poured out the door, throwing a football, each pausing to kiss her cheek. The oldest pushed the second into the pool with an impressive splash and, one by one, they all cannonballed their way in, fully clothed.
Trina shrugged and shook her head and hugged Tilley. “Well, our first and last invitation to Palm Beach, I presume. They will just wow at Le Bilboquet tonight.”
Tilley laughed and hugged Trina, who had been so spectacular at helping her smooth over the situation with Robbie. She was so understanding, so kind, and Tilley loved her even more in the wake of the drama, if that was possible. “Oh, honey,” she said, “there is so much scandal in this town, a few rowdy boys won’t even make a dent.”
Tilley spotted Daisy, smiling as Daisy wrapped her arms around Mason’s waist, seeming so comfortable there in his arms. Little did she know that this birthday party was not so much a celebration of his life as an elaborate surprise engagement. It made Tilley’s heart swell.
Greer returned, showing off her flying pin.
George’s arm still around Tilley on one side, Mason sidled up on the other. “Should we sneak out? I have the constellation I had named after Daisy. What else do I need to do for tomorrow?”
Tilley smiled at her nearly nephew, put her finger under his chin, and said what, ever since her role as Dolly Levi, had been her most favorite phrase:
“Darling.” Tilley paused for dramatic effect. “Just leave everything to me.”
