by Dixie Land
“Well, Maggie, until today Caroline’s been shut up in her own grief, if you know what I mean. She hasn’t reached out to anyone. Lord knows I tried to comfort her. We used to be quite close. Plenty of other folks have tried to help too, but it just seemed no one could get through that wall of sorrow she’s pulled up around herself. But today—today she reached out to you. I hope you’re gonna take her hand. It could do you both a world of good. I sense you’re carryin’ your own powerful load of grief.”
“I‘m not sure what the right thing is for me now.” Maggie’s eyes were still misty. “When I stopped here an hourand-a-half ago it was to take a break from driving. Now, a short time later, I’m being asked to consider making Serenity my home. And, I find myself actually thinking about the possibility.“
“You just keep considerin’, honey. That’s all we can ask.” They reached the food tents. “We’d better get in line before this good food’s all gone.”
By the time she reached the desserts, Maggie’s plate was close to overflowing. There was fried chicken, beef stew, barbecued ribs, ham, country ham, stuffed pork chops, squash casserole, broccoli in cheese sauce, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, potatoes au gratin, and the list went on. Even a smidgen of everything that looked good was impossible to fit onto a dinner plate.
Lil introduced Maggie to everyone in the double line, and they chatted as they loaded their plates. Maggie picked up napkins and flatware while Lil looked for a place for them to sit.
“Lil, over here.”
Maggie looked in the direction of the rich baritone voice. A tall, well-built man with dark brown hair rose from his seat and gestured. Maggie thought him quite handsome except for the melancholy look in his eyes. This was the second person in Serenity with that same sad expression. Was there any connection?
“Ross.” Lil waved back. “We’ll be right over.” She leaned toward Maggie’s ear. “Come on, honey. You have to meet our town pharmacist. And there’s Doc Miller and his wife, Kathryn, sittin’ across from him. Did I mention that Doc’s lookin to hire a nurse?”
ChapterThree
hanks for the help, Mr. Keller,” Maggie said as the older man laid the last of her suitcases on the floor in the living room of the apartment over his and Caroline’s garage. “I hope you haven’t strained your back. Some of my boxes were pretty heavy.”
“Whew!” Mr. Keller sat down on the couch and wiped his brow with his shirtsleeve. “A couple of them were right heavy. For the life of me I don’t know how a little girl like you got ‘em in your car all alone. And Maggie, I wish you’d call me Charlie like every body else does.”
Maggie laughed. It had been a long time since anyone had referred to her as a little girl. It felt comforting to have this fatherly attention. “I’ll try— Charlie,” she said still smiling. “My parents were sticklers for Mr. and Mrs.”
“I understand,” Charlie said good-naturedly. “Oh, before I forget, Caroline wanted me to tell you she’s expecting you for dinner around seven-thirty or so.”
“That’s very generous, but I’ll just find a bite somewhere. I’m really tired, and I need to spend the evening unpacking. You two have done enough for me today.”
“It’s you who’ve done for us, Maggie. Caroline’s so pleased that you decided to stay in the apartment. I can’t tell you the difference in her since she met you today. When you get all settled and rested, I’ll tell you a bit about what the last couple of years have been like for Caroline. We sure would love it if you’d decide to come eat with us tonight. We’ll set a place for you, but if you don’t make it I’ll understand.” Charlie rose and started toward the door.
“I’ll try to come. And thanks again for everything.” He stepped out of the apartment and closed the door.
Maggie heard his footsteps fade as he trudged down the steps. She could feel the moisture welling in her eyes at this
couple’s kindness and concern. Then thoughts of Michael and
why she had fled Alexandria, flooded through her mind, and
the tears spilled onto her cheeks. How could she have been so
wrong about him? He’d been so charming, seemed so eager to
please her. Theirs had been such a whirlwind courtship. But
he’d seemed so sincere, so genuine about his feelings for her.
And she’d been so vulnerable. He had asked her to marry him
after only a few weeks. She had put him off, but he’d been
persistent and she’d finally accepted after six months. Then
her mother became ill quite suddenly, and Maggie had insisted
the wedding wait so she could devote all her spare time to
caring for her terminally ill mother.
“Stop this! It’s useless. And it’s over!” She told herself as
she dried her tears.
Maggie reached for the largest of her three navy-blue
and tan suitcases. “Wow,” she groaned, “this is heavy. How did
I manage it alone?” She half carried; half shoved it into the
cozy little bedroom and hoisted it up onto the bright pinkblue-and-yellow patchwork quilt that adorned the double bed.
She straightened herself to her full five-foot-seven inches and
ran her hand down over her lower back. I must be tired, she thought, and then she tried to remember when she had slept last. “No one should go that many hours without sleep!” she scolded. She opened the suitcase and began unpacking as she
reflected over the last hours.
She shook her head slowly as she worked. She was still
having trouble believing that this morning she had been headed
for Georgia, either Macon or Savannah, she wasn’t certain
which, and this evening she had decided to stay in Serenity,
North Carolina, at least for a little while. She liked everyone
she’d met today. They were all so friendly, just plain folks as
they referred to themselves. It was so refreshing after the revelations she’d had in the last few days about two of the people
she had trusted most.
Lillian Bingham was very much the mother hen looking out for her throughout the afternoon. She had the distinct
feeling that Lil had a little matchmaking in mind between
Maggie and Ross Harrington. But that was the last thing Maggie
was interested in now or any time for that matter. She had a
very bad taste in her mouth when it came to tall, dark-haired,
handsome men. Anyway, she had learned that he was divorced,
so there must be something wrong with him. She planned to
keep her distance. Still, she couldn’t help liking Lil. The friendly
little woman had made her feel at ease, protected, from the
moment Maggie sat down next to her in the pew. And Caroline and Charlie; they had joined Lil, Maggie
and the rest of the folks at their table for dessert. Caroline had
watched Maggie and smiled at most everything she said. Then
Caroline had gradually joined in the conversation. Maggie hoped she was doing the right thing by agreeing to stay here, that it would be right for Caroline as well as
for herself.
Two hours later the white French-provincial dresser
drawers were filled, her clothes were hung and shoes were neatly
arranged on the floor of the small walk-in closet. She hurriedly
made up the double bed with the fresh linens Caroline had sent up with Charlie. She glanced at the watch on her arm and
was surprised to see that it was seven-thirty.
She decided she would have dinner with Caroline
and Charlie, but she’d make it an early evening. Tomorrow
she really should call Aunt Clara and Aunt Emily to let them
know where she was. Though they didn’t see one another
very often anymore, her aunts did call her
occasionally, and
if they did and found that her phone was disconnected, she
knew the elderly ladies would worry. And, she didn’t know
how she was going to explain her reason for leaving Alexandria. For the time being, it was all too fresh and hurt too
much to discuss with anyone.
She started out of the room and caught sight of her
reflection in the dresser mirror. She tucked her blouse in and
straightened her skirt. She gave her hair a quick once over with
her brush and pinched her cheeks for color, then headed for
the door.
She walked down the stairs and stepped out the door
into the back yard. As the heat hit her, she felt a slight wave
of nausea, or maybe it wasn’t the heat so much as the humidity coupled with fatigue and hunger. Charlie was on the
far side of the yard picking some tomatoes and cucumbers
from their garden.
“Charlie,” she called waving at him. “Sorry I’m late.
The time just got away from me.”
“Don’t think nothin of it, little girl. I got used to it
living in a house with two women all those years.” His voice
trailed off.
Maggie was silent. She looked around the yard; someone had put a lot of time and work into it, and it was lovely.
There were tomato plants, cucumbers, green beans, squash,
and butter beans. Behind the vegetable garden was an American-beauty red rose garden bordered by white impatiens.
Maggie walked over and bent down to smell one of the roses. “My absolute favorites,” she said. “Did you do all this,
Charlie? Your garden looks like a page out of Southern Living.” “I do everything but the roses; they’re Caroline’s babies. They were always Joy’s favorite too.” He smiled at Maggie.
He seemed pleased that she appreciated their efforts. “For a
while it was Caroline’s only link to sanity during some of those
early dark days. She said it connected her to Joy.” “I’ll love looking out of my windows with a view like
this.” Maggie noticed the basket he was filling was just about
to overflow. “Here,” she said reaching for the cucumbers he
was trying to balance on the top, “let me carry those.” With
hands full, she started for the back door.
“Go right on in, little girl. Caroline’s expecting you.” As she reached the house, she stopped at the foot of
the stone steps to admire the border flowers. Here more
impatiens grew, a mix of red and white, with delicate white
baby’s breath laced throughout them. It made the immaculate white frame home with its shiny black latticework shutters look like a big dollhouse.
Maggie turned back toward Charlie and, seeing that he
was busy with his vegetables once again, she gathered her skirt
up in front of her to make a deep pocket and dropped the
cucumbers in so that she could rap lightly on the door. “Come right on in, dear.” Caroline was busy at the stove
and whatever she was cooking smelled delicious.
When she turned to smile at Maggie, the first thing
Maggie noticed was Caroline’s blue-gingham bib apron.
Maggie’s grandmother had always worn one when Maggie was
little, a bib apron and a smile. It was one of her fondest memories of Granny Ellen. Whenever Maggie saw her, with her white
curls cut short about her face and her wire rimmed spectacles
sitting on the bridge of her nose, bustling about the kitchen,
she thought Granny Ellen would have been the perfect model
for a Norman Rockwell painting. Though Caroline was a bit
younger, she would also fit the bill for a Rockwell creation. “Dinner smells wonderful! I can’t imagine how I could possibly feel hungry after the way I ate at the homecoming,
but the smells in your kitchen make my mouth water, Caroline.” “I just put boneless chicken breasts into some pasta with
a can of soup, a little butter, cheese, mushrooms and garlic.
Then I sprinkled on a few crushed seasoned croutons to top it
off. Nothin’ fancy, but it does smell good, doesn’t it?” Caroline’s
soft voice had a melodic quality to it. “I’m glad you came,
Maggie.”
Their eyes met and held for a moment. Maggie thought
Caroline’s had brightened a bit from earlier this afternoon. Charlie clomped into the kitchen and plunked his basket of vegetables on the counter.
“Whew!” he let out a deep breath and mopped his brow
with his shirtsleeve again then quickly glanced at Carolina as if
she might disapprove. When she didn’t seem to notice, he continued. “That humidity’s about to do me in.”
“Why don’t you get washed up for dinner, Charlie,”
Caroline told him. “I’ll cut up some tomatoes and cucumbers for now, and we’ll get the rest of this washed and put
away later.”
Maggie took the flatware that Caroline handed her into
the dining room and arranged it on the cream-colored lace
tablecloth that covered the antique cherry dining room table.
Then she helped Caroline carry the food in to the server. When
they were seated, Charlie asked the blessing. At the end of his
prayer, he thanked God for leading Maggie to Serenity. She
found it quite touching.
Maggie wasn’t disappointed; dinner was as tasty as it
smelled. She surprised herself and took seconds. The iced tea
was marvelous, better than any she could remember. It had a
bit of a spicy taste, and there was definitely a hint of mint in it
too. Maggie drank two glasses. When they finished eating,
Maggie yawned. “I’m so tired, I really need to go back to my
room and get some sleep.”
“I stuck a peach cobbler in the oven just before we sat down. It was Joy’s favorite. It’ll be done in less than twenty minutes,” Caroline said, “Why don’t you rest on the front room couch until it’s ready. I’ll fix you a bowl to take with you; then
you can leave.”
“I’ll wait for the cobbler, but let me help you with these
dishes,” Maggie protested.
“Nonsense,” Caroline said softly. “You can hardly hold
your eyes open. Charlie’ll help me. He’s used to it.” Maggie went into the living room and sank down onto
the overstuffed floral slipcovered sofa. It felt wonderful! She
took a deep breath and closed her eyes, not to sleep, but just to
rest them. She could hear the sound of a mixer, or something
humming in the distance and muffled voices as she allowed
herself to drift off.
More voices...but she couldn’t understand them. They
seemed to be speaking in a strange tongue. It wasn’t Spanish or
French or anything Maggie had ever heard before. Someone
approached her. It was Caroline, and Charlie was beside her.
They were looking down at her, and suddenly they began to
laugh and point at her. When they opened their mouths their
teeth were jagged. As they leaned over her, Caroline’s eyes took
on an eerie red glow. Maggie tried to get up but she couldn’t
seem to move her legs. She looked at Charlie. He was holding
something with both hands. It was the pitcher of iced tea. As
he glared at her his skin began to sag and hang down from his
face and neck.
“It was the tea,” he said mockingly in a gravelly voice.
“It was that good, good tea.”
Maggie screamed, and suddenly she
was aware that her
legs were moving and her arms were flailing about but reaching nothing. She opened her eyes and Caroline was leaning
over her calling her name softly.
“Maggie, Maggie. Child, what is it? Charlie and I were
out in the kitchen when you let out this blood-curdling scream.
You must have been dreaming, Maggie, and it must have been
an awful one. Are you alright now?”
Maggie sat up and looked around. Charlie was at
Caroline’s side.
“I think Maggie’s over-tired,” he said. “I think we need
to let her go back to the apartment and get a good night’s rest.” “Charlie’s right. I’ll dish up some cobbler for you now.
And we’ll check on you in the morning. Charlie asked Milt
from the Phone and Communication Company to come by
tomorrow morning and get service hooked up for you.” Caroline walked with Maggie to the back door and gave
her hand a little squeeze as she left. The woman stood in the
doorway as Maggie crossed the lawn to the garage. Midway across the yard Maggie stopped and turned
back. “Thanks again.”
“Good night, Joy,” Caroline called melodically as
Maggie reached the door to the stairs.
First that horrid dream and now this! A cold chill ran
all the way down Maggie’s spine.
Chapter Four
espite her fatigue, it had taken Maggie quite some time to settle herself enough to fall asleep. She had decided that she would pack up first thing in the morning. She couldn’t stay on here. The nightmare had been unsettling, but Caroline calling her “Joy” in that tone of voice had been the clincher. It really had jangled her nerves, so badly in fact, that she had pushed one of the living room easy chairs against her door after locking it.
Maggie stirred from her night’s sleep to the sound of footsteps on the stairs. She bolted up in bed and squinted from the glare of the sun shining through the east window of her bedroom. Someone pounded on the door.
“Who’s there?” she called out in a firm voice. There was another knock followed by silence.
“Who’s there?” she spoke louder.
“It’s Milt Ainsley, from down at the phone company. Charlie asked me to come by and hook up your service. Sorry if I woke you.”
“I’ll be right there,” she said, hopping out of bed and grabbing her robe as she started for the door. She opened the door a crack, “Sorry for your trouble, but I’ve decided I won’t be staying after all, so I won’t need a phone.”
