“It really is funny how different two sisters can be,” she said.

Her mother laughed. “It’s true. Look at you and Lucy, the two of you are like night and day as well.”

Paula glanced at her sister, who had recently colored the bottom half of her hair a deep purple, had a nose ring and was wearing paint-splattered overalls and a tie-dyed shirt. Paula meanwhile had more of the typical Nantucket preppy look with a clean, crisp light brown long bob and she wore a simple, light pink crew neck cashmere sweater and tan pants. Lucy wore her hair up and took the nose ring out though when she worked the front desk at The Whitley.

She and Lucy were very different, but they also were close. Both of them were laid back and easy-going. Of the three children, Nick was the one that was the most outgoing and energetic.

“She’ll come around, I bet. My father is a pretty sharp guy. I think he knows that Andrea will ultimately be more effective and happier in this new role. If she gives it a chance,” her father said.

A few miles away, a very different conversation was happening.

“Did you know about this?” Andrea asked her sister. She and Hallie were at their parents’ house late Sunday afternoon, but no one was cooking. Her mother set out a container of French onion dip and rippled potato chips and poured red wine for Andrea, Hallie and herself, while they waited for Andrea’s father to return with pizzas. Andrea hadn’t talked to anyone yet about what had happened. She’d been in shock after the meeting with her grandfather and went home and sulked for the rest of the weekend and debated what she wanted to do.

Hallie looked uncomfortable. “No, I didn’t have any idea. But I can’t say that I’m surprised. Cassie confided that she was going to give notice and I knew Grandfather didn’t want to lose her.”

That stung. “You thought he’d rather keep her than me? Thanks.”

“No! That’s not what I meant at all. I just sensed that maybe changes might be coming. I didn’t know what that would look like. And he does want to keep you or he wouldn’t have offered you the other position. You loved the concierge role when you did it one summer during college.”

“Sure, I did. But as you said, that was during college. It’s a huge demotion, Hallie. You have to admit that.” That’s what hurt the most, that she’d be taking such a big step down.

But Hallie didn’t see it that way. “I don’t think you’re right about that. Grandfather kept your salary the same, right?”

Andrea nodded. “As far as I know.”