Page 27 of Second Chances

Her mother cut her off. “You are fortunate to have had only one love of your life, Euphemie. You have no idea how hard it is to have multiple men take space in your heart, sometimes at the same time.” What the hell was she talking about? Because her childhood memories contained blissful times with her mom and dad, over the years, Effie had questioned her mom’s choice in second husband. As an adult, though, Effie began to see her stepfather in a new light, recognizing in him the quiet stability her mother had undoubtedly craved and desperately needed after having her heart ripped out with the untimely death of Effie’s father. Scarred from the loss, Diadema’s second marriage and the wealth accompanying it had afforded her the opportunity to reclaim her independence from her all-too-often racist and controlling parents. “My life is very lonely right now,” her mother continued. “Burnside is still so weak…so depressed. The only person I can talk to is Henry, and I never see him anymore.”

Hamilton tapped on their mom’s shoulder. “Here, Mom, drink this.” He traded her empty glass for a full cup of coffee.

“And what is it, exactly, that you need to talk to Henry about, Mom?” Effie asked after she took a shaky sip. “You do know he has his own life? His own business to run, right?”

Diadema’s caftan-covered arm waved in front of her, coming dangerously close to spilling her cup. “Euphemie, do you know how difficult all of this has been on me?” With tears filling her eyes, her mother told her, “I have already buried one husband, and I am close to losing another. I can’t do this on my own, so if I need a friend…someone who cares about me…is that so wrong?”

“Mom, why are you acting like Burnie has one foot in the grave? Hasn’t the cardiologist, and Josh, told you that as long as he takes care of himself, a full recovery seems optimistic?”

Hamilton procured a deck chair for their mom and was gently ushering her into it when she said, “We had some startling news at his last checkup. It seems it’s not just the angina after all.”

“What do you mean?” When she didn’t answer immediately, Effie grabbed her hand. “Mom?”

Diadema began crying in earnest. “According to his doctor, Burnside had a minor heart attack sometime between his last two appointments. So small that he wasn’t even aware of it, which I guess can happen.”

At last, some answers that explained this outrageous behavior. Looking from her mom to her brother, she noted the pain flickering on Hamilton’s face. “Oh, Mom, I’m so sorry. Why didn’t you say anything? You know we’re always here for you: me and Josh and Hamilton, for anything you need. And Nora, too. Why aren’t you reaching out to your best friend?”

Finishing her coffee, her mom said, “Nora and George are so busy traveling, worrying about their own children. Your brother has so much to worry about, trying to get his degree. And now, with everything else you have in your life, you’re planning a wedding. Euphemie…Effie…” Shocked, Effie stared at her mom, who never called her by her shortened, preferred name. “Your dad would be so proud of you, of all that you have overcome,” she said, cupping her daughter’s face. “Finding true happiness within yourself isn’t easy. I should know.” Her mother slumped into her chair, head tilted back and eyes closed.

“I just texted Dad. I’m going to run Mom over to the hardware store. He’s not quite done yet, and I figure a change of scene will clear her head. You can go back to your celebration.” Hamilton rubbed a large hand across his sun-kissed face. He roused their mom, holding her close to his side with an arm wrapped tightly around her slender waist.

“Okay. I’ll walk with you guys to the front.” Effie opened the gate to access the path next to the house, following her brother and mother once they had walked through.

In a low voice, Hamilton said, “I don’t know why she’s freaking out about the heart attack. I mean, I know it’s not ideal, but I was there at the appointment. The doctor just told him to come in every few months. She acts like he’s got one foot in the grave.”

Quietly, Effie responded, “Well, not to defend her, but I can’t imagine getting any relatively bad news about Josh, so I get why she’s scared. At the same time, she needs to get a grip.”

“Agreed.”

The trio got to the front of the house when Diadema said, “Oh, I forgot my purse inside. I need to get it.”

Hamilton groaned, saying, “I can run in for you, Mom.”

Diadema insisted, “No, I’m perfectly capable. I need to use the restroom before the drive home, anyway.” Thinking the short walk might do her some good, Effie didn’t argue with her mom and monitored her as she ascended the steps of the porch, relieved once she made it inside.

Hamilton wiped a hand across his sweaty forehead, grumbling, “I’m going to start the car so it cools off. How the hell is it so hot this late in the day?” He sprinted to his car parked down the block.

“How’s your mom, Effie?” The question came from Henry, and she smiled gratefully. He always did so much for everyone, and Effie hoped the time was coming for someone to take care of him.

“She’ll be okay. Ham is going to take her to meet up with Burnie.”

Henry nodded. “Probably for the best. You know, I feel awful for not being there for her. I didn’t know she was struggling. I told her I’d drive over tomorrow to check in on her.”

“Absolutely not, Henry. You have enough to do, and I told her as much. You should be focused on your own life.” She sat on the edge of her deck, squinting as the setting sun broke through the clouds to the west. “Like Charlotte. We never talked more about her…what happened there?”

A discernible yearning crossed Henry’s face, but he shook his head. “There’s nothing to talk about. I just don’t think anything is in the cards for us, Effie. I either missed an opportunity or misread the signals.”

Her heart twisted, still not entirely sure about what had transpired last spring on opening night of the musical. Josh had heard that Henry had bought flowers for Charlotte that night, but something had gone askew for some reason, and he’d never given them to her. Instead, he’d arrived for work the next day in a terrible mood, according to Juan. Effie, of course, had been backstage with Charlotte the entire evening, and had walked out the front door with her, and Amy and Isobel, who had driven to Beverley for the weekend of Grease. She hadn’t seen Henry in the audience or known he was there, and the image of him standing alone, flowers in hand, broke her heart. “What do you mean? Have you seen her?” Effie herself hadn’t seen her since closing night of the musical, because Charlotte had been gone for most of the summer. School had started a couple of weeks ago, so she had texted Charlotte an invitation to the party tonight. She had said she would come, but it was after eight now, so Effie assumed something had come up.

“It’s okay, Effie. Some of us weren’t made for love, I guess. Not like you and Josh.”

“That’s not true,” she vehemently responded. No one deserved love more than her future father-in-law. A classic muscle car turned onto her block, one that she easily recognized: Charlotte! Just then, Diadema stumbled as she descended the porch steps. “Mom!” Effie cried. Henry easily caught her just as Charlotte’s car approached the house. Dismayed, she could do nothing as the Tempest drove past, never stopping. Effie turned to see Henry holding her mother safely in his arms.

Charlotte’s professional life was thriving, from her students and colleagues to the drama department and other various extracurricular activities she oversaw, and her personal life was pretty close to fantastic, evidenced by a dinner out with Nora and Trixie at La Hacienda. Only her romantic life stood still, after her ill-fated attempts at dating last year. “When is your Beverley two-year anniversary, Lottie? It has to be coming up, right?” Trixie’s question unknowingly saved her from focusing too much on what her life was missing.

It was Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and though there was no school, Charlotte had fittingly taken part in a Zoom call concerning diversity in literature that morning. She’d presented part of her curriculum from last semester, where she had included books from authors of color with her lesson in The Canterbury Tales. “Yes, April. Just a few months away. I can’t believe how time has flown since my first visit here.” Or since I first saw Henry, she silently added, missing him more than she believed she had a right to. Thankfully, a pitcher of frozen margaritas arrived for their table before she could dwell too much on Henry or her longing for him. Thinking of him brought Effie and Josh to mind. “Have you guys seen the dress Effie got for the wedding?”

“Oh, yes, it’s stunning,” Nora proclaimed. “Our first wedding in the family of the next generation. And hopefully for Josh, things will work out better with Effie than they did with Tess.”