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“Yes, because at my age I needed to take on that project. But I always loved that house, and it was my last chance.”
They sat down at the last table in the window. The café hadn’t changed, with the whirl of the ceiling fans that didn’t do much good, the front counter also the display case for pastries and napoleons, beignets and King cake. And for the next two hours the server kept their cups filled with chicory coffee and kept an ear open to try to hear what was being said.
Later, she’d tell anyone who would listen that the conversation that took place between Val and Betty vacillated between laughter and tears, either his or hers, and that they held hands across the table for most of the time, obviously falling in love all over again.
***
A small island with a sandy beach in the middle of the bay beckoned exploration. Hopefully, there would be no alligators waiting to eat Brulee, but she’d keep her on a leash, just in case. She spread out a towel for them to sit upon and, giving Brulee a bone to keep her occupied, sat facing Bayou Cottage.
Why had the appearance of her aunt caused such an upheaval in emotions? It was more than having her go off with Justin, and she knew it. It felt like there was going to be a price to pay somewhere down the line if she wasn’t careful.
Childhood memories of her aunt trying to reason with her came flooding back. As much as she didn’t want to accept it, for many of the issues that Elizabeth had tried reasoning with her about, if she’d followed Elizabeth’s advice, there would have been a much different outcome. An example, ignoring pleas to not ride her bike to a certain abandoned swimming pool, which led to a broken arm and a ruined summer. As an adult the wedding was a big one, one that she cringed when thinking about it.
She had been at the bridal table with her bridesmaids sans Claudia and the groom when Aunt Elizabeth came over to her.
“Aunt, you look so beautiful,” Maggie had said sincerely. “You upstaged me.”
“Not a chance. But I must talk to you immediately.”
The urgency in her eyes scared Maggie. Maybe subconsciously she knew it might have something to do with Russ, and she didn’t want to hear it or face whatever it was. But Elizabeth was intent.
“Come with me, dear.”
Maggie looked up and saw Rose, grim-faced and determined, nod her head toward her aunt, mouthing, “Go.”
“Okay. But you’re scaring me.”
Out in the lobby, Elizabeth didn’t pull any punches, detailing what she had walked in on, including Russ’s hand up the skirt of Claudia’s maid-of-honor dress.
“Where are they now?” Maggie had asked.
“Perhaps in the same place. They didn’t see me. When he returns, don’t let him touch you without washing his hands.”
Inconsolable, Maggie pushed away from her and returned to the reception, in search of her new husband. And when she finally found him, Claudia not far behind, she let him know what she’d learned.
“Tell Claudia to leave or I will, and make a scene in front of all your rich friends and family. Who’s worse now? The country girl or her reprobate groom?”
Finally, about a year too late, on the lonely island she lowered her head and sobbed, the only sound besides the little dog gnawing on her bone, the lapping of water on the beach. After a short time, maybe five minutes at the most, she began to wind down and just happened to look as the distant sound of a diesel engine echoed across the water. It was Justin’s truck again. She watched a tiny person get out of the truck, approach the cottage, then walk to the dock and look out over the water. Ducking behind the skiff, she didn’t want him to see her just in case he had binoculars.
No matter what she tried to tell herself, she wasn’t moving past this perceived betrayal of Justin. She waited, crouched down in the sand, until the rumble of his truck started up again. A little wisdom appeared at the moment, maybe a voice of reason.
Give yourself time. Justin just showed up too soon.
He’d seen the skiff out at Bonnet Island and figured she was having an adventure where he’d be unable to reach her without a huge effort. The thought to run into town and have Gus take him out there had occurred to him, but he fought it, knowing that if he just gave her time, maybe things would turn around for them.
Jumping the gun was his MO. He always did things too quickly, ran ahead, jumped over barriers instead of letting a little time pass. If he’d waited, several difficult situations would have been avoided, most of them with women. His tempestuous decision-making had cost him professionally as well as in matters of the heart.
A big one, going to UC Davis because they had the number one designation for veterinary medicine, instead of waiting to hear from University of Pennsylvania, which was closer to home than California and in the end offered him a scholarship. It turned out okay; he got a top-notch education and slowly had taken over the leadership of the clinic his father had started, the only large-animal facility for miles.
The brothers Chastain were known in the area as the most eligible bachelors, but they weren’t womanizers. Getting involved with Amber was the next biggest bad decision because of what it had done to Maggie.
And he wasn’t going to get over Maggie Angel anytime soon. That failure was going to smart for a long time to come. So he had to gird his loins and just wait it out. No other women would cross his path, at least to whom he’d give a second of his time, while he waited for Maggie to forgive him. He decided he’d do penance and live like a monk if he had to, just to prove to her that she was the only woman for him.
Steering the truck into the barnyard, the parking area was full of patients’ vehicles. It would be a busy afternoon, one where his mind would hopefully be occupied. First though, he made the decision he’d send Maggie a text that night, just so she knew he was thinking of her, but he’d leave her alone unless expressly asked. It had struck him, too, that he’d never taken her out on a real date. Maybe he needed to do that now that the aunt was there to babysit Brulee.
In the private office after he dressed in scrubs, he quickly sent her a text.
Will you have dinner with me in town tonight? I get off work at six and can be over to pick you up at six thirty. Or we can boat in. It will be strictly for dinner, and maybe if you’ll let me, a dance or two. Off to see patients.
