Driftwood Point by Mariah Stewart Page A

night?
    Lis grinned. She’d been such a Goody Two-shoes back then, chances were pretty darn good Alec would have wished he’d gone with Courtney after all.
    She wondered what he’d been doing for the past seventeen years. She’d lost track of him after graduation, but she did remember he’d gotten a scholarshipto . . . she tried to remember what she’d heard. University of Maryland, maybe? She wondered if he’d stayed for all four years. Obviously he was a carpenter now, and a skilled one at that, judging by what she’d seen of his work.
    Shaking her head as if that would get him out of it, Lis stood and brushed off the back of her shorts, then looked down again at the ice cream stain on her shirt. She’d stopped at One Scoop or Two after she spoke with Alec, and was mesmerized by the many tempting flavors on the handwritten chalkboard that served as the shop’s menu. Blueberry Butter Brickle. Strawberry Mousse. Mint Chocolate Divinity. The choices had made her head spin. She’d finally decided on one scoop of the Strawberry Mousse in a cone, and she’d sat on one of the benches overlooking the marina while she ate it. It had been incredibly delicious, and she was just debating whether she should go for seconds, maybe try that wonderful-sounding Chocolate Concoction, when a woman appeared in front of her. The sun was at her back, and Lis had to raise a hand to shelter her eyes in order to see.
    â€œExcuse me, but aren’t you Ruby Carter’s Lisbeth?” the woman asked.
    Lis had been startled, but she’d nodded. “I am. I’m sorry, do I know you?”
    â€œOh, once upon a time, I believe you did.” The woman smiled good-naturedly, not at all offended at having been forgotten. “I’m—”
    Lis snapped her fingers, remembering. “You’re Ford’s mother. Ford Sinclair. Mrs. Sinclair, it’s nice to see you again.”
    â€œLovely to see you, Lis. But you’re all grown up now, so call me Grace. Everyone does.” The woman’s smile grew broader. “I really wouldn’t have expected you to remember me, but how nice that you have. And you’re back to exhibit some of your paintings, all of which are wonderful.”
    â€œOh?” Lis was momentarily confused. “I didn’t know they’d arrived in St. Dennis already.”
    â€œThey were delivered yesterday afternoon. I just happened to be in the gallery when they arrived, and I begged a sneak peek. I hope you don’t mind.”
    â€œNo, of course not.”
    â€œI particularly liked the foggy day in the park.”
    â€œActually, that’s the name of the painting. A Foggy Day in Central Park .” Lis smiled. It was one of her favorites, too.
    â€œWell, it’s a beauty. I told Ford—he was there helping Carly uncrate everything—”
    â€œCarly? Oh, right. Carly Summit.” Though they had never met, Lis knew that the woman who ran the gallery in St. Dennis owned several galleries of her own in different cities, and knew her by her New York reputation. Their only contact had been Carly’s invitation to Lis to exhibit in St. Dennis, and Lis’s acceptance.
    â€œCarly’s my daughter-in-law. She and Ford were married last year.”
    â€œI didn’t know. Please give Ford my congratulations on his wedding.”
    â€œI certainly shall. And you tell my friend Ruby that I’ll see her again next week, Tuesday or Wednesday, whichever she prefers. As always, I’m lookingforward to it. We’re happy to come pick her up. Now, if you’re going back into Scoop for a second helping, I think I’ll go along with you and treat myself. It’s the first time I’ve been able to walk around on my own in a long time and I’m making up for lost time.”
    Lis had noticed the woman walked with a cane. “An accident?”
    â€œI fell down the main steps in the