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So after locking up the cottage, with Annie’s suitcase and her own bags and the little dog on her leash, they began the journey to the boat. They had gotten about ten yards from the cottage when she heard the landline ringing. Looking down at all the stuff in her arms, she decided to ignore it. Once she got everything in the boat, careful not to spoil the dress or her shoes, she started the motor up and they headed to town.
On the water, her negative feelings began to dissipate. Being alone with the dog was exactly what she had wanted. She was almost to the village dock when she remembered Justin. She hadn’t heard from him, nor did she think to get in touch with him.
Hearing the motor, Gus came out of the shack and was waiting for her on the dock with a smile.
“You’re a sight,” he said appreciatively. “Drivin’ a skiff in a lacey dress. You are definitely a Bonnet woman.”
“Are you comin’ to the party?”
She bit her lip to keep from laughing, the inflection in her voice a dead giveaway that she was a resident of Cypress Cove.
“I’ll be there later,” he said. “Story goes that Chastain’s cook’s doing the food. It’s something you won’t ever forget.”
“I’ve had it, I think,” she said, taking his hand to get out of the boat after handing her bags and puppy out.
“Do you want me to call Floyd? You gonna be okay with all this stuff getting to the mansion?”
“How far is it?” she asked.
“Next block after the community center,” he said. “North side of the street.”
“I’ll be okay. These shoes are more comfortable than they look.”
He looked at her feet dubiously but didn’t comment.
“I’ll see you later, Gus.”
“Yes’m,” he said. “Later it is.”
She stayed on the sidewalk with Brulee’s leash in one hand, pulling Annie’s suitcase with her bag piled on top of that with the other. Midday on Sunday everything was closed, even the café. Up ahead, she saw cars parked on the street and guessed that was where she was headed. As she approached the house, a childhood memory surfaced. Her grandfather had told her that if she worked real hard, she could live in a mansion someday. She wondered what he would think if he knew her goal had been the cottage all along.
After handing off Annie’s dress and bag, she visited with her mother for a while and went on a tour of the beautiful home with Aunt Elizabeth.
“You belong here,” Maggie said. “This is definitely your home.”
Elizabeth grabbed her hands. “I feel it, too. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. It’s thrilling to me that you’re feeling it, too.”
Annie came into the room with her vintage find and everyone oohed and aahed over the two women.
“I recognize that dress,” Rose said, pointing to the one Annie wore. “My mother wore that dress for Easter one year. But I’m not sure about the one you’re wearing, Maggie. What do you think, Liz?”
Elizabeth walked around Maggie, examining the lace, when a look of knowledge washed over her face. “That’s Greta’s wedding dress,” she gasped, pointing. “It took me a while because Maggie is taller than she was. On Greta, the dress was long, almost mid calf.”
She was wearing her grandmother’s wedding dress, information that pleased her. “Wow, I had no idea. Do you want to wear it tomorrow? I’ll take it off right now.”
“No, dear, I don’t think I could get into it. But you are ravishing in that dress. That is definitely your dress.”
“I agree. You look beautiful, Maggie,” Rose said. “Just lovely.”
The chatter about the beautiful dress and the history of it added to the excitement of why there were there. Elizabeth and Val were going to get married.
At that moment, Vic Chastain came into the conservatory where they were congregated. He was taken aback at first when he saw Rose.
“Rose Langtry?”
“That’s me,” Rose said, smiling. She reached out with her hand. “Well, it’s Rose Angel now. Vic, you haven’t changed a bit.”
“Did you notice how everyone says that and it’s a bunch of bullshit?” Val said, the others laughing. “No, really, you do look good, Vic. But he’s ten years younger than us. He should look good.”
