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“So you’re saying there was competition from way back.”
“Oh yeah, from way back. When the two high schools used to have football games, we would kick their asses just for the hell of it. I mean literally kicking their asses. Not just winning the games.”
He burst out laughing, guffawing through the phone.
“So there still might be some animosity between you and Ted from high school days?” she asked, flaring her nostrils. Men were odd creatures, that’s all there was to it.
“There might be. But we’ve been working together in the clinics, helping each other out for years. Our fathers were good friends. Are good friends.”
“And then I come along and ruin it.”
“Not at all. He’s got a few problems, and we are always trying to help him. But coming there uninvited was a lot, even for Ted.”
“I guess I should let you get back to breakfast,” she said.
She was going to call Gus and ask if he’d share the issues Grace had with Ted.
“We’ll talk later, okay?”
“Yes, of course,” she said. “Have a good day.”
“You too, Maggie.”
She sat with the phone in her hand, looking out over the water. Thinking of the rescue was a good distraction from other topics that tended to annoy her, one being preparing for Christmas. It was just around the corner; its magnitude could diminish the well-being she’d garnered since moving to Cypress Cove. A beautiful, sacred time had the power to reduce her to square one—the anguish she felt when she discovered her husband and her best friend were not only having an affair, but were in love, forcing her to leave their honeymoon early and initiate divorce proceedings the following week.
How would she approach Christmas? Justin hadn’t said anything to her about it, but she noticed Gus had strung lights around the dockmaster’s shanty. Maybe sticking to strictly Cajun customs would make it easier for her to cope. No memories from the time with her ex would be tolerated. He was all about the silver and gold decorating, white-tablecloth dining, and celebratory balls with chamber music and long gowns and tuxes. She didn’t think that would go over in the bayou.
Like her thoughts had traveled through space, the phone inside the cottage rang. She ran to get it and saw her mother’s cell phone number on caller ID.
“Mom.”
“Hey, miss. How are you?”
“Good. Well, okay until I started thinking about Christmas.”
“It’s why I’m calling you, dear. Can you believe Thanksgiving is coming up?”
“Thanksgiving, and then four weeks later, boom! Christmas.”
“Yes. Anyway, Christmas here is not much different than it is in Pensacola. There are the boat parades and festivals and food and parties, but all with a Cajun flare. I’m actually looking forward to it for a change because I’ll have someone to share it with.”
“Aw, Mom, I’m so glad. How are things with you and Doc Chastain?”
“It’s all good. I’m going to continue to live with Aunt Rose. It’s taking some of the pressure off us. I want to be his girlfriend and his lover, not his wife. Does that sound selfish?”
“Mother, oh my god, no! It’s exactly why we aren’t getting married anytime soon. I like Justin to have his home, and I have mine. If he gets tired of living with his father, he can get his own place. That’s no reason to move in with me.”
“Anyway, the reason I’m calling is to remind you that you’re invited here to Aunt Rose and Val’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. It will be the same people as usual, Gus and Grace and the Chastains. I’m not sure who else Val is having. Maybe his daughters.”
“I’ll be there. I guess Justin will be, too, if you and Doc will be there.” She sighed, and Rose didn’t miss it.
“Are you okay, honey?”
“I’m just trying not to dread Christmas. Russ ruined it for me last year. I don’t want to allow him to continue to influence me. Hasn’t he done enough damage?”
“Do you want my advice?”
“I guess so.”
