“Yeah, about that. Damn, there’s not enough wine in the world to make me feel less stupid about it.”
“I’m so glad we cleared that up,” Rebecca said. “That was stupid. Then again, you could say the same about me walking into that situation because Father Reynolds asked me to.” She raised her glass. “To smart decisions. Let’s not make any others in the future.” Her words were met with laughter. No one at the table was sober anymore.
“Speaking of decisions,” Betty said. “I’m curious, so I’ll risk revealing that I don’t know a lot about…same-sex weddings.” She hesitated a bit as if gauging whether she was using the correct term. “What are you going to wear? Pants, dresses, one of you, both, I have no clue. Not that it’s any of my business, but I believe this subject beats thinking about what could have gone wrong this year.”
“Dresses for us, definitely,” Asha said. “Callie knows I have a girlie side I try to keep a secret most of the time.”
“I know you have a slave driver side you don’t keep so secret.”
“Funny. Really, there’s no shame in asking. How would you know?”
“True. My sister wore pants at her wedding,” Betty said. “I bet she was a whole lot more comfortable than I was.”
Callie caught Rebecca’s smile, silently agreeing it was remarkable to see Asha and Betty in a conversation like this, when less than a year ago, they would have observed each other with caution. People were able to learn and enter a dialogue, most of them, anyway. It wasn’t their task to worry about every single one who preferred to stay wrapped up in their prejudice. Andy was going to get real therapy. Father Reynolds--he might not change his ways, but maybe he would at least acknowledge that he had handled the situation with Andy terribly wrong. She could have cried with relief over the fact that both of them were out of their lives, and then, with another emotion, because there had been so many different, worse ways the situation could have gone. However, Rebecca was here with her, and even though they were both shaken by this latest event, they had a lot to look forward to in their immediate future. They had a supportive circle of friends that, surprisingly, had started to mesh.
“We haven’t had a lot of time to think about this yet,” she said.
“Well, start now,” Betty advised. “There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about. I know you’ll go to New York for the ceremony, at least if nothing changes around here in the meantime, but once you’re back here, let me throw you a party.” She shrugged at the surprised looks coming her way. “We won, right? Common sense is persevering, and we can all go on with our lives. Don’t get me wrong, I know I’ve been part of the problem. This is over. I want to mark it.”
Rebecca got up to hug her close, to thank her just as much as to stop the self-reproach, and this time, Callie couldn’t stop her eyes from welling up.
“That’s a great idea,” Roz said softly. “I’m sure Maria would have loved it.”
Asha reached for her purse to take out a tissue. “Damn allergies.”
* * * *
“So, what’s your take on the outfit question?” Callie asked when they walked home later, hand in hand. It wasn’t just because at this time of day, there were hardly any people on the streets and the danger of anyone staring at them slim. It felt right. On the other end of all those possible catastrophes, they had come out stronger. “I could see you in a pantsuit.”
“Why not, I’ve had the dress experience before.” Rebecca laughed, self-conscious. “Okay. First, I’m sure you don’t want to know that. Second, the truth is, I don’t know much more that Betty when it comes to clichés and expectations.”
Callie tightened her hold on Rebecca’s hand. “That’s okay. You don’t have to fulfill anyone’s expectations. Well, except for mine, after the party, but that’s another thing.” Her words made both of them laugh. “We do what we always do—what feels right.”
“Sounds good.” Rebecca studied her for a long moment, regarding her with so much love it humbled Callie, even though she’d known for some time. If there was anything to learn from the near disaster, it was to take time to acknowledge what they had, what no one had been able to take away from them, and never would. As they walked on, Rebecca smiled to herself, without a doubt able to read Callie’s mind.
The odds had been stacked against them from day one. They had beaten the odds. She was still struggling to find words when, to her surprise, she saw someone waving at her from a restaurant table on the other side of the street.
“Callie, hi! I can’t believe we finally get to see you!”
It took her a while to make the connection and recognize the woman. It wasn’t until then that she remembered Beth was receiving her newsletter and had read about the reading. Callie hadn’t seen her at the reading, and she hadn’t expected her to come all the way to Autumn Leaves in the first place.
She was sitting outside with another woman. That had to be Melanie, Beth’s assistant.
“Beth,” Callie said, still dumbfounded when her former classmate got up to cross the street.
“Hey. I’m so sorry we didn’t make it to the reading. I’m not sure Melanie will ever forgive me, but my GPS is crap as we have discovered. I was debating whether coming to your house would be a bit too much.” She half extended her hand, then changed her mind and pulled Callie into a hug that lasted a little longer than it normally would between people who hadn’t seen each other in years. Beth stepped back with a happy smile.
“Can I ask you to come over to our table for a second? Melanie was so looking forward to meeting you. You won’t believe how much time we spent driving around, and there was no one to ask.”
“Sure, no problem.”
“There you go, Mel,” Beth said. “This trip is a success after all. Meet Callie and…?”
“Rebecca.” Rebecca shook the women’s hands. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Melanie said. She had gotten up as well. “We didn’t make it to the reading, but we both sent a check for the shelter. It’s a great cause.”
“Thank you.” A few months ago, Callie thought she needed to see Beth.
Beth had been bullied by other classmates back in high school, terrified of the prospect. Over Nicole’s blackmail attempt, she nearly jeopardized her relationship with Rebecca--Nicole had a way of distorting her reality, the way manipulators always did. The smoke had cleared.
Callie had talked with Beth on the phone a couple of times, and thought she would have to let the past go. Seeing the adult woman Beth Murphy had become, she also knew she could.
“We were just about to finish with a coffee. Is there any chance we could invite you?” Beth asked.
Callie exchanged a glance with Rebecca who nodded. “Why not?”
Over the second coffee, Callie realized that she had talked more with Beth than she ever had in that fateful year they had been in high school together. Beth and her husband were celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary together. It felt only natural to share her and Rebecca’s plans. Callie signed a book for an elated Melanie. Judging from her expression, this clearly made up for the missed reading.
“There’ll be others,” Callie assured her.
“I’m really glad things are moving forward for you,” Beth said. “Marriage! This is awesome. When we were in school, no one would even talk about it. These days, people have fewer excuses for being jerks, and that’s a great thing.”
Before they left, Callie went inside the restaurant and to the restroom, surprised when she came out of the stall to see Beth standing in front of the mirror.
“Don’t you worry. I promised to pay, and I will.” Beth laughed.
She couldn’t know about the bad déja-vu, of when Nicole had waited for Callie in another restaurant, not so long ago, to present her blackmail scheme. Beth, however, had been friendly and respectful from the moment Callie first called her.
“See, about the other time.” Callie sighed. “I feel like I owe you the truth, and you’
ll probably be disappointed. My ex tried to blackmail me, because…I told her what happened.”
Beth gave no indication whether she was disappointed or not. “I don’t understand. You were out, weren’t you? What did she threaten you with?”
In the mirror, Callie held Beth’s gaze. “The fact that I did nothing, when I could have? She threatened to tell Rebecca.”
“What happened?”
“We worked it out before…I called you.”
Beth laid a hand on her shoulder. “Stop it. I told you I didn’t blame you. I never did. You heard me, right?”
“Yes,” Callie murmured.
“I know that time wasn’t easy for you either, and now…let’s say not everyone gets common sense and kindness. I had a neighbor down the street put up a sign to ‘encourage’ people to vote against gay marriage. Let’s be glad that we have outgrown high school, have a life and can now concentrate on what really matters. Please, don’t cry. Your girlfriend is going to think I said something to make you…well, technically that would be true, but I don’t want to give her that impression.”
Callie couldn’t help but laugh. She couldn’t remember the last time, or any moment they had actually laughed together, but it felt good too.
* * * *
It was close to eleven when they parted ways. There was something on Rebecca’s mind she felt couldn’t wait, even though it might be a bit crazy to pursue the idea right at this moment.
Then again, the cemetery was on their way too. “Would you mind?” she asked, halting when they walked past the gates.
“Not at all.”
Betty, Roz and Maria had been Rebecca’s oldest friends in Autumn Leaves, but Rebecca had always felt closest to Maria who had also been her sister-in-law. After her death in a car accident, there had been many rumors about her, some of which had been true. What most of the people gossiping had neglected was that she’d been a loyal friend and a kinder person than most. She had believed in the good in anyone, including her husband, David’s brother, who kept proving her wrong—yet, she hadn’t given up on him. If there was anything true about Craig, it was his grief for Maria.
Rebecca missed her too, and she wished her friend could be around to witness her happiness, maybe find her own. Although, Maria hadn’t been unhappy. She’d lived and loved regardless of conventions. She thought of the night Craig had called her, drunk, to tell her about the accident, using that opportunity to insult her. She’d spend that night with Callie, guiltily sneaking into her house like she was doing something forbidden, even though the secret had been out to everyone already.
As she kneeled in front of the gravestone, she thought of the cold winter night when Craig decided to demonstrate his hate for Rebecca by kidnapping Maggie. She had gotten the news right here in the cemetery, after a pointless fight with Callie over Nicole.
Both of them had taken responsibility for tragic incidents that hadn’t been their fault, too eagerly. Both were getting closure tonight, starting their life together.
“I followed my heart like you said,” Rebecca whispered. “Thank you for everything.” She said a quick prayer before she got up and turned to Callie who was waiting for her. Time to go home.
* * * *
After all those detours, they finally arrived at their house. It had been a long, but productive day, Rebecca thought, as they climbed the stairs up to the small porch. How fast time went by. The night was still summer mild, but in a couple of months, the neighbor’s maple would start changing colors, red and yellow leaves blown into all directions, onto their front lawn and even over to Delia’s, Rebecca’s old house.
A year ago, she had been certain she’d live there for many years to come. Now, it was the home of Delia and her husband and two sons. David enjoyed a new life and career in Hong Kong.
Rebecca was going to get married.
The prospect filled her with a joy that even the worries and fears of the past year couldn’t touch. She could understand, more than ever before, how Callie had been troubled by the past experience of someone she knew nearly taking their life. She knew that for all the anger she had towards Andy, for acting irresponsibly time after time, Andy was a victim too. People made choices—like their friends, like Tomaso’s family. The idea that Dina would likely be in another country come next summer still made her cringe, but Rebecca felt confident she’d be welcome and able to achieve her goals. Maggie had finally found security.
Callie was writing the wedding of Sabine and Vanessa, a triumphant moment in the lives of her fictional characters…just months before their own. That’s what it came back to, their commitment to each other, and their love that had survived every obstacle thrown their way. She made a quick beeline for Maggie’s room, not surprised to see the light still on.
“Just another chapter, right?” Rebecca teased, making Maggie laugh. “Tomorrow’s another day, you know?” They hugged and said goodnight, before Rebecca went to knock on the door of Dina’s room. Dina was awake as well, the Skype window on her computer open. Since their return from Italy, Tomaso had had a row of very early mornings.
“Hi Mrs. Lowman!” he said, sounding more awake than anyone should at the time of day it was in his time zone.
“Hey, Tomaso. You’re up early.”
“Well, I have to be,” he said.
“I’ll leave you two to it, then. Good night, Dina. Have a good day, Tomaso.”
“Actually, Mom, could you wait a minute?”
“Sure.” Rebecca stayed while Dina blew a kiss at the screen and said goodbye to her boyfriend before she closed the window. To her dismay, Dina’s expression turned serious.
“I’ve got some good news,” she said, surprising Rebecca.
“You don’t look happy.”
“I am, really. I talked to Sara today. She’s excited for you and Callie. She also got a job at Roz’s place.”
“That’s great! Now what’s with that face?”
“You didn’t tell us what happened with Father Reynolds, and…Andy.” Dina looked down for a moment. When she faced Rebecca again, her eyes were bright.
“I didn’t know it was that dangerous, and it made me think of all the things I said to you, in Italy, and before. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, Dina. We talked about this. We’re good.”
Dina let herself be embraced without protest. “Tomaso said the same.”
“Well, he’s a smart guy.” Rebecca held on, not in a hurry. “It was pretty scary for a moment, but you know you can get through scary things when you have people in your life you can count on. I know we were all hurt at some point, and we said things we didn’t mean, but we’re always there for each other, right?”
“Right,” Dina whispered. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Now say a proper goodnight to Tomaso, and don’t stay up too long.”
“Same to you.”
“Nice try.”
In the bedroom, Callie sat with her laptop in the middle of the bed, reading. “You’re done with the rounds?” she asked with a knowing smile.
“Almost.”
Callie was still reading when Rebecca returned from the bathroom. On a day like this, with lots of soul-searching and surprises, she was inevitably drawn back to the day she’d first come to Callie’s house with an intent other than friendly neighbor talk. There had been guilt and doubts, want she didn’t know how to deal with, curiosity that troubled her.
The experiences of the past year had left her with a clarity she might have never had before in her life, and, still, curiosity for what was still to come.
“What are you reading?” she asked, joining Callie in bed.
Callie took off her reading glasses. “My dedication,” she said. “I can finish tomorrow.”
“That means you’re done? Asha will be pleased. Well, I will be pleased. I’m looking forward to reading it too.” She glanced over at the page, thrilled to see her own name.
For Rebecca. For better or worse.
Callie cl
osed the laptop and put it on the nightstand. “It’s hard to be eloquent,” she said. “There’s so much I want to say, it would be a story all by itself.”
Rebecca pulled her close for a kiss, meaning to convey she understood, even without words, that this was only the beginning of their story, the life they had chosen to live together.
* * * *
Maggie and Dina had set the breakfast table on the porch—it was a bit tight, but a lovely gesture, Rebecca thought when she enjoyed her first coffee. She hadn’t had a lot of sleep the previous night. Callie was still in the shower.
On the other side of the street, Delia was talking with two men, early forties maybe, who had arrived in an SUV earlier. When she spotted Rebecca, she waved and they came over together.
“Rebecca, good morning! Let me introduce you to Dan and Steven—your new neighbors in a month from now.”
Rebecca looked at the smiling faces in confusion. “Welcome--but how…?”
Delia looked wistful. “It’s because of Martin’s job. I really thought we could stay longer in Autumn Leaves. I loved it here, the house, and the neighborhood. Oh boy, I’m going to miss those Saturday brunches.”
“We need to keep in touch then.”
“Absolutely. We’re lucky these gentlemen fell in love with the place right away.”
“It’s a wonderful house,” one of the men said, extending his hand. “I’m Dan McCarthy.”
“Nice to meet you, even though we’re a bit sad to see Delia and her family leave. I’m Rebecca. Welcome to Autumn Leaves.” Amused, she realized that line sounded familiar.
“Yes, welcome!” Callie had appeared behind her, finally dressed though her hair was still wet.
“Thanks so much,” Steven said. “Dan and I are looking forward to the quiet country life. Autumn Leaves sounds idyllic already, and the realtor didn’t promise too much about the friendly neighborhood.”
Rebecca and Callie shared a smile. Quiet and idyllic might not always be the best terms to describe their life in Autumn Leaves, but it was where their home was.
With each other.
Summer Wine Page 20
