At Last

by JM Dragon

  Oh, crap she’s going to blame Max and Alice. No matter how hard Dee tried her legs simply would not allow her to get out of the chair and follow. This is my life, I love Gene and no matter what happens in the future it’s time I realized who I am. As her thoughts whirled at twenty thousand feet her mother returned to the table and took her seat.

  “I told Alice I need a wine with dinner. What about you?”

  Dee didn’t know if this was a good thing or bad. She hadn’t had any time away from work for years so maybe just once this was the time. “I’ll join you but can’t have more than a couple. I have plans for this evening. Let me phone work and take the afternoon off.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Oh, yeah. Give me a minute this time.” She stood and walked outside and made the call. Dee left a message for Gene after her call went to voice mail. After placing her phone in her pocket and taking a huge breath, she reentered Maxali’s.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Lunch with Quinn and Charles had been low key but informative. The Twitter Driscol woman was definitely arriving the next afternoon and wanted a private tour of the facilities. Gene had to be the one to do that since, according to Quinn, it wasn’t a request but more of a mandate. Quinn appeared to be out of sorts and not as buoyant as usual. Charles had taken copious notes and excused himself before the end, leaving her alone with Quinn. The conversation had been stilted or nonexistent, since both, Gene figured, were in their own worlds. Dee was the only woman she yearned to be alone with and just the thought sent tingles down her spine.

  Quinn eventually left at two thirty and now, alone in her office, Gene allowed a sense of relief to pass over her. Perhaps as everyone seemed to think all was not lost. She picked up her phone and switched it on, since she had decided that during lunch it would be better for her to be unavailable. Her face fell when she saw who the message came from. “Damn.”

  She picked up the voice mail and frowned. Slowly placing the phone on the desk, she looked at the mountain of paperwork and decided it was time she made a dent in the documents.

  †

  “I didn’t know either of them drank that much. Isn’t that the end of the bottle?” Max gazed at the two women laughing at the far table.

  “Yes.” Max bit her bottom lip. Alice’s tone said she was not impressed.

  “They appear to be having a good time and isn’t that exactly what you said they should do? What we expect people to do. I think it’s great they came here, give them some slack, Ali.” Max knew she had made a bad move when Alice gave her the evil eye before she thumped a hand on the preparation table. “Sorry, Alice.”

  “You should be. In all the years I’ve known Megan, she has never indulged in any more than a glass of wine, not a bottle in an hour and half. I want to know what’s going on. Dee doesn’t drink much either. Remember that last pub quiz she attended with us…she was falling over after three beers.”

  Max pondered Alice’s statement. “Well they were premium high alcohol beers and let’s face it, we haven’t had anything to do with Megan for over twenty years. People change.”

  “Not that much. Living with that brother of mine should have sent her over the edge when she finished the first year of marriage.”

  “Alice don’t say that. I know you don’t mean it.” Max walked around the table and placed an arm around her shoulders. “Hey, maybe tonight we can do the same, it’s working for them.”

  Alice snorted and shrugged out of Max’s hold before she wandered over to the door of the kitchen. “I guess I’d better see if they want more.” Before Max could answer she was through the door into the main café.

  “Well for the record, Alice, it looks to me like a good get-together and who are we to interfere? It will only wreck that fragile line that has formed. Sometimes you can be so silly, my love.” The ping of the oven indicating the next batch of pies was ready drew her attention away from what she thought would be another imploding relationship.

  †

  Dee giggled at the last story her mom had told her about growing up. Somehow the fear of what she had revealed dissipated as her mom made her feel loved. In fact, they hadn’t talked about the who again as dinner arrived.

  “As a respectable liquor licensee, I have to ask, are you two drunk?”

  Dee looked up at her aunt and looked pissed and it had nothing to do with alcohol. “Nope. Are we making too much noise?”

  “Alice, are you throwing us out because I’m not drunk either?”

  Dee smothered a laugh. Her mom was clearly well over her limit and had shouted loud enough for anyone else in the room to hear.

  “No. Do you want more?”

  “Yes. Yes, we do, and don’t worry, we will pay.” Megan raised her head in what Dee could only call defiance.

  “Alice, it’s okay, I’ll take mom home.” Dee gave her aunt an apologetic look.

  “That’s okay. Is everything good? I’m worried. Neither of you drink much that I recall.” Alice’s gaze turned to Megan.

  Dee saw the concern in her aunt’s face. Exactly what she would expect from family. It suddenly made real to her all the things she’d cut off—even her family—because she was afraid of who she was.

  “Alice, when do you finish here?”

  “Well technically I finish anytime. Max looks after the café, I just come by to…help.”

  “Yeah right, you’d rather be with her than not even if she doesn’t need you here,” Dee chuckled.

  Alice shrugged. “Yes, you devil child.”

  “Join us?”

  Alice looked puzzled and Megan spoke. “Please, Alice, join us, though you are a bit behind.”

  “And I need this alcohol kick why?”

  “Because my daughter has admitted she’s in love.”

  “You never said.” Alice’s expression became incredulous.

  Dee shrugged. “No, I never did.”

  “And it’s a she,” Megan finished.

  There was silence and Alice gave them a wait sign and headed back to the kitchen area. A minute later she returned with a full bottle of wine and another glass.

  “Tell me more.”

  †

  “Are you ever going to tell us her name?”

  “Yes, I’m your mother and I demand to know.” Megan spoke at the same time, sipping her wine and laughing before she almost snorted the liquid out.

  Dee shook her head. She’d had three glasses of wine, more than she probably should. Would Gene understand when she turned up for dinner and Dee couldn’t focus properly? She glanced at her mother who had rosy cheeks and was laughing like a teenager with Alice. In her lifetime she had never seen that. It was worth it, and she knew that Gene would understand.

  “So secretive, niece, who is this mystery woman?”

  “Not sure I should say…a lady never tells.” Dee winked. “I’ll get us more water.” She quickly left the table before Alice could stop her. She headed for the counter and Max, who looked frazzled.

  “Hey, Max, can I have another bottle of water please?”

  Max wiped her hands on her apron and reached for a bottle from the refrigerator. “How’s it going? Alice isn’t interfering, is she?”

  Dee shook her head chuckling softly. “Nope, she and my mom have been talking about old times, before I was born, I think. I guess at some stage they were good friends. It’s a shame.”

  Max dropped her gaze. “Yeah, my fault, I guess. I’ve often wondered if Alice had never met me how things would have been for her. Better that is.”

  The solemn words hit a chord, a big one in Dee’s heart. She rushed around the counter and pulled Max close. “Never ever think that, Max. Alice made a great choice when she met you and I know it was worth it.” Then Dee kissed her cheek.

  “You are one cool kid, Dee.” Max grinned as they parted. “Anything I can do for you just ask.”

  Dee pondered that for a moment and glanced at her watch. “Actually, I have a dinner date in about three hours from no
w, and I need to sober up and make preparations. Any chance you can help me out here.”

  Max winked. “Leave it with me. Want to go now?”

  “Well yes, but my mom...”

  “I’ll tell them you were needed at work. Get out of here and enjoy your dinner date.”

  Dee grinned. “You are an angel, Max.” She looked at the two older family members almost head to head talking and smiled. “Crap, I need my purse and car keys.”

  “You are not driving, missy.”

  “No, but I need to pick up the car for work early in the morning.”

  “Do you have your door keys?”

  Strangely enough she did. They were in her pocket. She’d placed them there when her car had a flat that morning.

  “Yes.”

  “Well, be off with you. I shall take care of everything. Besides Alice is having a good time with family, and other than you in the last twenty-five years, it’s never happened. I owe you one.” Max smiled and waved her away.

  Dee nodded. “Love you, Max. I’ll see you Saturday. Will you apologize profusely for me?” Max nodded. “Thank you and they will tell you something and probably ask if I told you who. The answer is Gene Desrosiers.” She left, leaving Max open-mouthed, just as five people entered the café.

  †

  Max placed the closed sign on the door, it was three thirty, a quiet time, and other than family there wasn’t anyone else inside. The customers who had arrived when Dee left had wanted drinks and sandwiches to go. She turned her attention to the two women in the far corner of the room, and her heart swelled at the obvious enjoyment they had in each other’s company. It reminded her of the last time they had spoken, a total contrast…

  “I’m hoping Megan will let me cater for Dee’s graduation. I sent her a letter a month ago, but she hasn’t answered yet but—”

  “Alice, it’s two days to go and she hasn’t contacted you. Doesn’t that say something?”

  The pained expression that crossed her lover’s features cut deep, the next words even more so.

  “Oh, I’m sure she will, we are the best in town, Max, I’ve rejected so many requests.

  “Yeah I know.” Placing a hand on Alice’s, she said, “Call her.”

  Alice was the strongest woman she had ever known but the hesitation at the request was palpable. Max picked up the phone and dialed the number, then gave the phone to Alice.

  “Hi, Megan, it’s Alice.”

  “It’s a busy time, Alice, what do you want?”

  “Okay, I just wondered if you were going to take up my offer to cater Dee’s graduation party at Maxali’s?” Alice closed her eyes and sighed. “Right…I understand.”

  Max took the phone. “Hey, Megan, she loves Dee. We are the best place in town and you don’t want it? Give me a break.”

  “Felix took that decision away. He booked a holiday to Cancun immediately after the graduation, and Dee is thrilled.”

  Max curled the fingers of her free hand into her palm. “Was that before Alice’s offer or after?”

  “After. Please don’t tell Alice. I’m so sorry, Max. If it was up to me, I’d have loved for us to share the event together.”

  Max smiled. Maybe things might change now. Picking up a bottle of wine, she headed to the table.

  “Megan, Dee apologizes for not saying goodbye. She remembered an appointment with someone from work and couldn’t cancel. However, she did send me over with refreshments.” She waved the bottle in front of her. “Said she’d call you later.”

  Max saw the dilation in Megan’s eyes, another glass and this chickee was going to need help to get home. Glancing at Alice she winked.

  “We were having such a good time.” For a second Max thought that it was all over, but Megan grinned. “I’m going to continue to enjoy the afternoon. I can’t remember the last time I had a girly session that ended up with me not being the sober driver.”

  “Way to go, girl.” Max sat across from them. “So what’s new with Dee?”

  Alice nearly choked on her drink. “Max, you are not going to believe this.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Gene looked at the never-ending mountain of paperwork on her desk and for a split second she wished Christine was still there. Then the sensible Gene reared up and told her how stupid she was. As that thought hit her, she recalled the letter from France she hadn’t opened. It could only be bad news—her grand-mère had died. She was after all in her nineties. A good span, but at the same time it meant that she was alone without any close family. The Desrosiers were not known for being prolific in the multiplication of progeny. Was this why she wanted to be close to Dee? A sense of belonging to something other than a fragrance? Or, was it that she loved the old battle-axe, and didn’t want to acknowledge the truth, wishing things had been different?

  “Cherie, sometimes situations happen that cannot be explained. It should have been me.”

  “I don’t understand, Grand-mère, you want to be dead?”

  “No, silly child, I do not.”

  The acid response was enough for Gene to know it was yet another mistake on her part. Her grandmother was never going to accept her unless she excelled in the business on all levels. “I’m sorry, Grand-mère.”

  Then she was drawn into the most warm and comforting hug she had ever received aside from her mother.

  “Never be sorry, Genevieve, not for something like this. Love, my child, is the one thing that helps us through all the practical dramas that life throws at us. If…no when, you find that love you will understand, it makes you feel that miracles can happen.”

  Gene swivelled the pen between her fingers. “I think finally I understand.” She picked up the top-most paper.

  †

  Quinn sat at the bar where she figured she was becoming more of a local than she’d ever been since leaving her hometown. Flicking the rim of the glass for no other reason than she could, Quinn sighed.

  “That’s a damn sorry sound from such a pretty woman.”

  The voice was vaguely familiar, and she looked up to see the wide smile of the owner of the bar. “Some days you just don’t understand life I guess.”

  “Well, to be honest, the only people who come to my bar and look and sound like you are in love or think they are…am I close?” He wiped the bar immediately to the left of her.

  Quinn shrugged and gazed at her beer. This is one crazy town for sure.

  “Unrequited then.” Quinn gave him a sharp gaze, and he laughed. “Ah, I bet you thought I wouldn’t know such a big word. I was the best winner at spelling bees in town when I was a kid. I liked words but wasn’t that good at stringing them together. Lots of crazy notions for stories but no one wants to read them…at least I don’t let them.”

  “Why not?” Quinn allowed his poignant words to replace her depression over Simone’s rejection of a meeting when she’d called the bank earlier.

  “No one was interested.” He threw up his hands. “This is the family business, not being a wordsmith.”

  “Wow, you never let anyone read your work, even your wife?”

  “Haven’t had time for a wife,” he winked, “or a husband. Anyway, enough about me what about you?”

  Quinn shook her head but chuckled at the same time. “Oh, I’m being selfishly stupid as a friend of mine would say. I like my own way and right now I think I’m on the back foot. I’ll survive, I always do, and then move on.”

  Ray gave her a long look, his pale blue eyes pierced hers and he smiled. “Same situation as me then.”

  A shout from a brawny man at the bar caught his attention. “Have to go. Dan gets upset if he doesn’t get served immediately. He suffers from PTSD, an Afghanistan casualty.”

  “Veterans deserve the service. Thanks for the chat, Ray.”

  He flicked her a small wave and headed for the end of the bar.

  She watched Ray chat quietly with the war veteran who calmed down as soon as he entered his private space. This town is full of surprises. D
amn, what do I do next?

  †

  Charlie sighed. Quinn’s revelation about the Driscol’s had hit hard. For a couple of days, he had actually thought that he was useful but in reality, he wasn’t. He liked Quinn, really did, but knew deep inside that she had her own agenda. That agenda didn’t include him keeping this job. It wasn’t, of course, Quinn’s fault. She was right, it was for the company. Would Gene accept not controlling her own company? He didn’t know her that well, but he did know her enough to believe she’d hate the idea.

  He placed his head in his hands and wanted to cry at the futility of what must be a small number for a bank, but the effect of it on the rest of the town would be devastating.

  He stood and walked away from his desk, heading for Felix Lawrence. Tonight needed the senior staff to make this place ready for Samantha Driscol even if it meant his demise in the company. He found Felix on the factory floor.

  “Felix, I need this evening for you and anyone else you can muster, unpaid, to get this place looking like new for our VIP tomorrow.”

  †

  “She’s in love with her boss?”

  Max almost choked at the wide-eyed expression from Megan.

  “Well I never said that. Dee said, verbatim. ‘The answer is Gene Desrosiers.’ You asked, I delivered.”

  “Ali, you look more shocked than Megan?”

  “Well…well….” Max rolled her eyes at Alice who was lost for words.

  “My god, what will Felix say?” Megan blurted out and took another drink from her glass.

  Max looked at the clock. She needed to open up or the regulars would think something was wrong. Well, it was different that was for sure.