Next to Amanda sat Colton, Carolina, Willadee, and Elizabeth. Esther and Evangeline were also at the service, going through a box of tissues between them. Louisa Benet had kindly offered to stay with Grandmother, who’d been told of the discovery of her missing daughter. The old lady’s only comment was to say, “I knew my baby would come home before I died.” As for the reappearance of Elizabeth, the elderly woman only ‘humphed’ in ill humor when told of her return. “I already knew she’d come home. Talked to her m’self.”
Miranda was interred in the family plot next to the old church. Reverend Koerchel prayed over the casket as the warm sun dappled the ground around them. The sweet fragrance of assorted flowers filled the air, and a pleasant breeze caressed bare skin. After the prayers were said and a few more people made parting remarks, everyone filed into the church hall for refreshments.
Homemade cookies and cakes covered several tables along with platters of fresh fruit and platters heaped with a variety of cheeses, cold meats, and dainty finger sandwiches. Glasses and glasses of iced tea were poured. People milled around, eating and talking and laughing, in the cathartic way of mourners after a funeral. Randy and Willadee filled their plates and escaped to a corner of the large hall where they could sit and talk without being disturbed. Both marveled at the difference in demeanor in their elder relatives.
“I’ve never seen Aunt Amanda so animated,” Willadee said as she chewed the last bite of a diminutive sandwich.
“Yeah, I know. Look at her laughing with those people now.”
“Where?”
“Over there by the drinks table. She’s smiling and bobbing her head and looking like she’s really enjoying herself. It’s amazing. I think she’s even flirting with that handsome gray-haired gentleman in the dark blue suit.”
Willadee put the cookie she’d nibbled back on her plate and looked at her cousin with a thoughtful expression. “You know, all this is because of you. If you hadn’t come here, this might not have ever happened. Aunt Amanda and my family...we would have gone on living the rest of our lives caught in a web of sadness. Uncle Arthur wouldn’t have gotten the help he needed and, well...we owe you our lives.”
Randy’s nose prickled—always an indication of tears. Trying to joke away her emotions, she quipped. “Ohh, yeah. Wasn’t I the smart one to fall down a set of secret stairs and get locked in? Nancy Drew I’m not.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that. You solved the mystery, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I guess I did.”
“And the best thing for me, personally,” Willadee said, her voice soft as velvet, “is that you taught me a valuable lesson. I’m not afraid of the Sister Lukes in the world any more. I’d rather not see her again, but I’m not afraid. I don’t think you realize what that means to me, and I want to say thank you with all my heart.”
Randy grinned at her cousin and then gave her a playful punch. “You’re welcome. I think we’re going to have a great rest of the summer. I’m so glad I got to know you. You’re more than just a cousin now. I consider you one of my best friends, and I hope we can stay in touch for the rest of our lives.”
Willadee smiled back. “Oh, we will. I know we will.”
The family arrived home after three in the afternoon. Everybody was in good spirits, but all agreed that they could use a nap. As they ascended the long staircase, Aunt Amanda put her arm around Randy again. “Well, Miranda...this has been quite a day, and you have had an unusual week, to say the least. I hope you can now look only forward and enjoy the rest of your stay with us.”
“Aunt Amanda? I was thinking, would it be possible for me to stay the whole summer? I mean, as long as Will stays...until school starts?”
The look that washed over her aunt’s face surprised Randy. Aunt Amanda’s cheeks grew pink and her eyes shone. “Do you want to? Do you actually want to stay with us that long?”
“Well, of course. You’re my family. I mean, I wish you’d chop down some of those trees to let more sun in, but...yes. I’m beginning to love this place.”
“Did you hear that? Colton, Carolina, Willadee? Did you hear what our Miranda just said? She wants to remain with us for the entire summer. Oh, how marvelous.”
Willadee rushed over to her cousin and threw her arms around her. “Oh, that would be wonderful. Do you mean it? You’ll stay ’til September?”
“I’d like to, if it’s okay. And if Dad doesn’t mind,” Randy hugged her cousin in return.
TWENTY-EIGHT
The next morning, as though he’d received Randy’s wish telepathically, Cameron Smith phoned from Europe. When he heard his daughter’s animated voice as she filled him in on the past week’s happenings, Cam Smith was dumbfounded. At first, he was so disturbed at what he’d just been told that Amanda had to talk with him for several minutes before Randy got back on the phone.
Somewhat mollified, he was relieved to hear that she had bonded with her relatives, had not been scarred by the past few days, and was eager to remain for the entire summer. Deep down, Randy knew, he was grateful for a chance for he and his new wife to have the time together alone—to ease Phyllis, who’d never raised children, into her new role as ‘mom’.
“Are you certain this is what you want, Randy? You want to stay there after all that’s happened?”
“Yes, I do. I won’t lie to you, Dad. I was terrified and never want to go through something like that again. But I also understand why it happened. I only feel sorry for Uncle Arthur. He was sick, but Aunt Amanda, Uncle Colton, and Aunt Carolina...not to mention, Aunt Elizabeth...are great. I love them all so much. Will and I are having a great time, too, and still have a lot to do. We’re renting a small car so we girls can go into town and...well, two and half more weeks just won’t be enough. It’s unbelievable here. A billion times different from Seattle.”
Randy could picture her father shaking his head in amazement, maybe raking a hand through his hair. “I’m so glad, Pumpkin, that you’re having fun. So grateful that you are as self-reliant as you are. I’ve raised one heck of a capable young woman. What you’ve told me is totally mind-boggling, to say the least, but I’m satisfied that you’re all right. Let me talk to your aunt one more time after we finish. Oh, and Phyllis would like to say something to you. Hold on.”
Randy took in a deep breath and licked her lips. When her stepmother came on the line she was ready. “Randy? I hear everything is going well. I’m so happy for you. Your father and I are having a wonderful time, too. Rome was unbelievable, and Venice. Oh, I can’t wait to show you our pictures.”
“I can’t wait to see them, Phyllis. Dad’ll tell you about me deciding to stay here for the whole summer. And I…”
“The whole summer? Is it because of…”
“No, Phyllis, it’s not because of you and Dad marrying. Don’t worry. I’m more than ready for us to be a family. It’s just that I’m getting to know and love this family and have to make up for lost time. Do you understand?”
Randy heard an audible sniff and then her stepmother replied in a tremulous voice, “Thank you, sweetheart. You don’t know how much I appreciate that. God bless. Enjoy your summer and we’ll see you soon...and sweetie...I do love you.”
“I love you, too, Phyllis. Say g’bye to Dad for me, and I’ll put Auntie on the phone.”
When Aunt Amanda hung up from talking to her brother-in-law, whom she hadn’t seen in over fifteen years, Randy and Willadee dove headfirst in their plans of what to do for the rest of the summer. Randy, of course, wanted lots of time on the beach. Willadee declared her preference for riding the bicycles—as long as they steered clear of Sister Luke—and taking jaunts into Charleston at least once a week.
“Excuse me, ladies,” Aunt Amanda interrupted in a resonating voice, “I feel like an outing to the shore. Would anyone care to accompany me?”
Randy looked at her aunt and grinned. “Awesome, Aunt Amanda. Shall I go tell Esther that we want a great big picnic lunch to take along?”
�
�By all means.”
“I’ll gather up the things to float on and ask Mama if she wants to come.” Willadee sang.
Aunt Amanda smiled. Randy marveled again how really pretty her aunt was. The older woman had turned toward the staircase, but hesitated half way up. “Miranda…”
“Yes, Auntie?”
“You have a lovely name, you know. And one should always appreciate his or her name, but...I have decided to call you by your nickname. It may take me a while, but I will try. So, Randy, ask Esther about the picnic lunch. Tell her we would like to be on our way in one hour, if that would be possible. It’s a lovely day for an outing.”
“It certainly is. Ocean, here we come.”
EPILOGUE
Deepening shadows spread across the wide lawn, offering enough protection to walk about freely now. Leaving the relative safety beneath the intertwining branches of an ancient live oak, she pushed aside thick strands of Spanish moss and stepped into the garden. Heading for the marsh, she breathed in deeply, reveling in its tangy deliciousness. Oh, how she’d missed that. She loved this place. Never wanted to leave it again—never would, in fact. There were too many things yet to experience. Too many things left undone.
About Author Theresa Jenner Garrido
Theresa Jenner Garrido is a graduate of the University of Washington and a former middle school English teacher. She writes her novels in the “spare time” left over from looking after a house, a retired engineer husband, getting together with her extended family, and traveling throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Theresa has had a variety of occupations, including medical assistant, bank clerk, bookseller, and drama teacher. Her interests include painting, hiking, swimming, amassing oddities from diverse locales, reading, and, of course, writing.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest instilled in her the love of nature and the mysterious, and she says the briny water of Puget Sound will always be in her blood. Yet, as dear as her hometown is, her favorite spot in the U. S. is a sleepy beach town nestled between dunes and marshes in the South Carolina Low Country, just south of Charleston. Live oak trees, hanging moss, timeless ocean tides, and Gullah folklore have woven a spell that compels her to return as often as time permits.
Shade and Shadow Page 17
