Two Weeks in August (26 page)

“I’m fine. Just enjoying the bay. Isn’t it pretty?”

Her mother’s sigh indicated she would go along with Nina’s ploy to change the subject. “Yes, I’ve always loved it here. I wish I could have spent more of my island years here rather than always over on the channel.”

“You know, I wish we’d bought property here ten years ago,” said Patrick in a musing tone, “we could have increased our investment tenfold by now.”

Nina and her mother’s eyes met and they rolled them heavenward simultaneously.

Patrick watched them, enjoying the old game. “What? What did I say?”

As if suddenly remembering Mrs. Loreli, Freda turned and pulled the woman close. “Emma wants us all to take a swim with her. What do you think?”

 
Nina was silent a moment then reminded herself that life had to continue. “Sure,” she sighed finally. “Sounds like fun.”

“I told them they could use your cottage to change into their suits, is that okay?” Mrs. Loreli asked Nina. “The girls are readying a room for them, but it’s going to take a while.”

 
Nina nodded but eyed Mrs. Loreli suspiciously, wondering why she hadn’t told Nina that she didn’t actually own Sweeping Pines. Did she simply manage the cottages for Hazy? Nina remembered her harsh words about Hazy during their earlier conversation and wondered how much of that was due to sour grapes over being bought out by the businesswoman. She remained silent, however, walking and dusting sand off her shorts at the same time. She led the way to her cottage and ushered her parents inside.

Later, swimsuits dripping, Nina and her mother sat on the dock and watched as Emma coached Patrick on the fine art of sailboarding. Try as he might, Nina’s father couldn’t master the skill of balancing atop the board while guiding it through the water. The result was many a hilarious spill and Nina and her mother were enjoying the display.

Freda turned to her daughter finally and, placing her sunglasses on her head, studied her intently. “Something’s different,” she stated firmly.

Nina sighed and reclined back onto the dock, her forearm shading her eyes from the intense sun. Aspirin had eased her headache somewhat. “What do you mean, Mom? What’s different?”

“Well, where do you want me to begin,” Freda said indignantly. “You’re pale, quiet, withdrawn and your eyes have this pained expression they’ve never had before. Is that enough or do you want more?”

“No,” Nina laughed hollowly. “That’s enough.”

“Well, it’s good to hear you laugh, I guess. Is it Rhonda?”

“No,” Nina replied. “I told you it’s over. We even separated on decent terms. I was surprised.”

“What made the two of you split up? What caused what she did to you, running off that way?”

 
Nina shrugged, bored with the topic. “I don’t know. Cold feet on her part. Overall, she just doesn’t appeal to me anymore.”

“So…” Freda eyed her daughter sideways, as if gauging her reaction to her next question. “Is there someone else?”

 
“No, and I hope there won’t be for a very long time.”

Freda fell silent but Nina could sense her dismay. Warm ocean breezes frolicked across their skin and Nina focused on that.

Patrick joined them a short time later, scattering water droplets and making the two women squeal. He was slightly out of breath from his climb up the sea oats-covered bank and huffed beside them a moment or two before speaking.

“Hey, Emma wants us to eat dinner with her at The Shallows this evening. What do you girls say?”

“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” cooed Freda. “What about you, Nina?”

“Yes, that sounds nice,” she replied mechanically, pasting on a bright smile. “I’ve always wanted to see what the inside of that club looked like, and now I’ll get the chance.”

“It’s not that big a deal,” said Freda. “I went there with Papa a few times.”

“Grandpapa Tom belonged to The Shallows?” Nina hadn’t realized her grandfather had belonged to the island’s only version of a private club.

“Oh sure, all the old-timers were members,” said Patrick, his fingers combing water from his graying hair.

Freda grimaced at him. “Old-timers? What a thing to say!”

She turned back to Nina. “What he means to say is the club was established by the old fishing families to provide some activities apart from the fishing seasons and later, from the influx of tourists each year. The members are mostly long-term locals plus a few newer imports who live here full time. Like you, honey, maybe you should apply for membership.”

 
Nina nodded thoughtfully. “Maybe I will. I met some really nice locals last week. Do you know Cyrus Leppard?”

“Oh, my gosh,” Freda exclaimed. “Do I know Uncle Cyrus? He was the one who took me out for an ice cream cone and a tour of the bay on the
Lady Say
when my mother died so suddenly. I was glad because I didn’t have to be with Papa right then.” Her eyes had taken on the sheen of memory recalled. “I sure do know him and there never was a sweeter man alive than old Uncle Cyrus.”

“Hey,” Patrick interjected playfully. “What about your dear husband?”

Freda leaned and kissed him quickly on the lips. “Now honey, you know you are the very sweetest.”

“Umm hmm,” he grunted, feigning indignation.

“Tell me all about him, Nina. How did he look? What was he doing?” Freda demanded.

Freda’s animation was infectious and soon Nina was sharing with her all the latest news of the island.

Patrick, easily bored, soon lumbered down the embankment to give sailboarding another try.

Chapter 39

As soon as the sun lowered in the west, the Christie family and Mrs. Loreli returned to Sweeping Pines. Nina’s parents set about securing a cottage for themselves and they separated to dress for dinner.

After a shower, Nina began to feel better about her situation with Hazy. She still harbored worlds of hurt and anger toward her, but knew it would fade if given time. The old adage, time heals all wounds, was very true. And, healing would be helped along even more if she stayed away from the woman. She wondered if Hazy would ever forget Nina’s harsh last words.

Due to a lack of choices, Nina was forced to wear the same blue dress she’d worn the night of Aaron Clark’s houseboat party. She dressed it up with pearls and diamonds, and swept her long hair into a painstaking French braid clasped with a pearl barrette, a gift from a great-aunt on her father’s side.

She took a good bit of time on her makeup as well, applying cosmetics to enhance her eyes and bring out her high cheekbones. White leather pumps completed her ensemble. Fetching up a white lace shawl, she pulled it across her shoulders and then walked across the grassy expanse that separated her cottage from her parents’.

Freda looked ravishing in a dress of red watered silk that brought radiance to her short white hair and darkly tanned skin. She was a thin woman of small stature, and the red dress’s elongated style made her appear taller and emphasized every curve. High black leather heels added to the effect, and her neck and ears sparkled with diamonds every time she moved.

Patrick was dressed as usual, his tall, stocky body encased in a tailored business suit, but for this special occasion he’d chosen a red silk tie that matched his wife’s dress. His gray hair was neatly styled and he smelled pleasantly of patchouli cologne.

“I can’t believe my good fortune,” Patrick said as he and Freda came from their cottage. “I get to escort two of the loveliest ladies on the island to dinner.”

“Make that three,” said Freda with a smile as she inclined her head toward the parking area. Nina and her father turned and saw Mrs. Loreli coming toward them.

 
Nina had never seen her look as lovely. She wore a gauze dress printed with a small floral pattern. Her long steel gray hair was pulled into a neat bun, but wisps of curly hair had escaped and framed her smiling, friendly face. As a final touch, she wore flat, soft ballet shoes and carried a small black handbag.

“Well, aren’t we a troupe,” she teased as she got close. “I am so looking forward to this. I seldom get the chance to dress up and go out to dinner, so this is a special treat.”

Taking the scenic route to the restaurant, riding in the Christie’s air-conditioned sedan, they drove south along Deep Hole Road and along Maddox Boulevard to Main Street.

The Shallows club was located in a small isolated pocket of land near Chincoteague High School. From her father, Nina learned that The Shallows started life in 1901 as an all-male,
  
all-local “smoking” club, where men could go to escape their wives’ genteel ways. By the Fifties women had been grudgingly included in the membership and all the members banded together to draw up a new charter to keep the membership confined to local fishermen’s families. A rough pool was installed with tennis courts coming later and soon the children of the local families made up much of the club’s clientele. When the main club building blew down in the great storm of 1966, these same children helped rebuild and, later, when they were grown, add on to the main house. The club had remained pretty much the same since that time, still locally owned and exclusive in its membership. Mrs. Loreli had to show her membership card before they were allowed through the tall wooden-post gates, even though everyone at the gate greeted her by name.

The lovely landscaped grounds and the Victorian-style house that held the conjoined restaurant and tavern impressed Nina. The interior of the house featured tasteful memorabilia from the fishing industry’s heyday. Most of the occupants of the restaurant were middle-aged and lounged casually at white-clothed round tables.

A pleasantly plump, soft-spoken woman greeted them and escorted them to a corner table lit by candlelight. A server immediately brought them tumblers of iced water.

Nina smiled gratefully to her father as he held her chair for her and she clasped her mother’s hand, some of her old fire returning in these elegant, relaxed surroundings. Behind her, a quartet of classical musicians began a lilting melody.

While they waited for their drinks, Patrick took Mrs. Loreli’s hand and drew her onto the dance floor. They swayed expertly together, even though Mrs. Loreli’s years greatly outpaced her father’s.
 
Nina and Freda watched, even laughing and clapping softly at an especially difficult step.

The evening progressed well and after sating themselves on excellent food and wine, Patrick asked his daughter for a dance. Thrilled, Nina followed him onto the floor, swept into his secure embrace. He spun her through a waltz as he commented humorously on every aspect of island life. Nina found his silliness relaxing and familiar and smiled at his antics. And it was in the middle of a laugh when she spied a familiar form across the dance floor.