Out on the Sound

by R. E. Bradshaw

  Charlie asked quietly, “Nobody knows, about him I mean? You didn’t tell anyone?”

  “No, I only talked to one other person about it, my friend Jackie. I was embarrassed. For a long time I blamed myself. There had to be something wrong with me. My mother told me so repeatedly. She loved Trey.” Decky finished her champagne and reached for the bottle again. “He was the perfect son-in-law candidate. Good looking, son of a prosperous farmer and businessman, along with the fact that when he sang he could melt your heart.”

  “She doesn’t know why you didn’t marry him? Why didn’t you tell her the truth about him?” Charlie was coming to Decky’s aid, all be it much too late, she was trying.

  “What? And have to hear about how a real woman could have changed him back? Please, I didn’t need that. It was bad enough. I chose instead to say that he wasn’t the man I thought he was and leave it at that.”

  “Well, that kind of said it all.” Charlie tried to lighten the mood.

  “I spent the next year drunk, feeling sorry for myself, and sobered up married to a sweet guy, but an alcoholic just the same. Soon there I was with a baby on my hip and a momma’s boy asleep on the couch. I remember my wedding day, not because it’s a special memory, but because it was so surreal. Trey actually showed up at the wedding. He begged me not to get married, said he had gotten over his phase. I told him I didn’t share my toys well with others, especially the man who would be my husband.” Decky paused, taking a sip of champagne.

  “My father sensed something, because on the way down the aisle he said we could turn around and get in the car. He promised not to let Momma hit me more than once. Lizzie had planned; no I should say, orchestrated the production of my wedding and spent lots of money. I was afraid even R.C. couldn’t stop Lizzie, if I walked back down that aisle, so I went ahead with it. Trey got drunk at the reception and actually cried. I was drunk and wound up pregnant. It was all so straight out of the movies.”

  “How long were you married?”

  Decky was emerging from the pain of her memories, “Just over two years, then I got smart, got a job and struck out on my own with Zack in tow. I put myself through Grad school. Then I got a job at one of the Chapel Hill high schools, teaching drama and the rest I think you know.”

  “But how did you get back here?”

  “When I sold the first book and it did okay, I bought a piece of land, thinking I would build on it someday, after I retired. When the next book sold, I started thinking about writing full time. Then the movie rights sold and the decision was much easier to make. I came here to heal. This place is like vitamins to my soul. I can breathe here. You know, it’s not true what they say, you can go home again.”

  “I for one am glad you did. Now, if we can dispense with all the drama for a minute. I have to go to the bathroom.” Charlie stood up and headed for the stern.

  “If you’re going to jump in, I warn you it isn’t very deep. Don’t dive. I had to have a tooth capped from hitting my head on the bottom when I was twelve.”

  Charlie stepped over onto the stern ladder and lowered herself over the edge. Decky could no longer see her. She called out to the water, “How’s the water? Has it warmed up? It’s still early and we had a cool spring.”

  There was no response, only a little splashing. Through the air, a wet object came flying onto the boat and landed at Decky’s feet with a splat. Dixie came from the bow to check it out. She sniffed at what turned out to be the bathing suit Charlie had been wearing and looked up at Decky.

  “Hold the fort, Dix,” Decky said patting the dog on the head, “I think there’s a damsel in distress I need to attend to.”

  Dixie enjoyed some time alone with her strawberries.

  #

  Decky and Dixie dropped Charlie off at Brenda’s around six. Decky promised to be back in an hour, which relieved Charlie. She didn’t want to be alone with Brenda’s questions any longer than was absolutely necessary. Decky stood in her walk-in closet now, staring at the clothes hanging there. She had already gone through several outfits and still was undecided.

  She wasn’t doing this because her mother had said dress nice. She wanted to look nice for Charlie, besides Lizzie’s idea of “dress nice” was much different from Decky’s. Finally, she settled on white cotton drawstring wide leg pants from J. Crew and a navy blue, three-quarter sleeve, summer weight, cashmere crew neck. She put in some simple pearl earrings. She dabbed Ralph Lauren Romance perfume in multiple places then ran her fingers through her hair once more. She turned from the mirror, addressing Dixie.

  “Well, what do you think, better than a tee-shirt and jeans?”

  Dixie cocked her head then got up and left the bathroom.

  “I guess that’s a yes.”

  Dixie took the stairs and was waiting, when Decky stepped out of the elevator, on the main floor. Decky locked the doors and checked Dixie’s bowls. She lowered the plasma screen and turned on the nature channel. Dixie hopped up on the couch.

  “Now, watch some TV, don’t eat too much and I’ll be back in a couple of hours.” Decky put her hand out and Dixie slapped her five with her paw. “Good girl.”

  Decky selected a red and a white wine to take, because she didn’t know what Brenda was cooking. She found a bag with a handle she could carry with the crutches and off she went. She was a little nervous. She hadn’t been around other people with Charlie since Sunday and a lot of things had changed in that time.

  Chip was in the driveway when Decky arrived. He was taking out the trash. Good ol’ Chip, he helped Decky with the bag of wine and into the house. He never mentioned Charlie at all. He knew Brenda would be taking care of the inquisition and Decky was grateful that he was choosing to stay out of it. Just as they entered the house, Chip stopped Decky. She appreciated his struggle to say the right thing.

  “Decky, I want you to know we love you both. Brenda’s a little worried that Charlie might be moving too fast. After what she’s just been through, we don’t want to see either of you get hurt.”

  “I promise you the last thing I will ever do is hurt Charlie.”

  Chip nodded, “Just take care of you too, okay.”

  “Thanks buddy.” Brenda was a lucky man. Decky knew very few guys with Chip’s ability to except women as equals and true friends. He was one of the good guys.

  Chip slapped Decky on the back, “Nice catch by the way. Brenda says you’re the envy of all the girls. Something about you getting to the new meat, before the old hawks had a chance.”

  Decky and Chip were laughing when they stepped out onto the deck. Charlie and Brenda were already seated with cocktails. To Decky’s surprise, no one else was present.

  “Well, I see the gimp made it,” Brenda called out. “And look at you, all cleaned up, earrings and all.” She stood up to hug Decky, “Wow, you smell good enough to eat.”

  There was a beat, and then Brenda added, “I did not just say that, did I?”

  The four of them burst into spasms of laughter.

  “Chip, I think we need drinks all around. You go fix us something special, the girls and I need to chat. That’s a good boy.” Brenda patted Chip on the butt as he went to do her bidding. Chip wore the pants in the family, but Brenda zipped them up. They were very cute together.

  Decky sat down in the chair next to Charlie’s, both of them glowing from the day’s sun. They smiled at each other, too nervous to touch. Decky simply said, “Hi.”

  “Oh, hell go ahead and kiss her, you know you’re dying too,” Brenda chuckled.

  Now feeling obligated, Decky leaned over and gave Charlie a soft kiss on the cheek. Charlie took Decky’s hand in hers.

  “Relax Decky, she doesn’t bite, we’re just a few drinks ahead of you. She can’t hold her liquor. Be nice Brenda, she’s a little nervous.”

  “I am being nice. Any fool could see the look on that girl’s face when she walked in here just now. She wanted to kiss you the moment she laid eyes on you. Am I right, Decky? Tell the truth and
let the Lord love ya’!”

  “Amen sister, you got that right,” Decky answered.

  Decky was relaxing, the awkwardness of the moment beginning to fade. It was being replaced by the sheer joy of sharing this newfound bliss with someone who wouldn’t judge them. She wanted to scream from the rooftops, look at my beautiful girl, look what I found, thank you God. But for now, a friend who cared about them and accepted this relationship would have to do. Brenda was treating them as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and it was.

  Chip returned with Sea Breezes for Charlie and Decky. He placed a cup of steaming coffee in front of Brenda.

  “Honey, you drink the coffee, and then after we eat you can have some more booze. Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes.” He went back in the kitchen, reemerging quickly with a plate of thick mahi mahi steaks, heading for the grill.

  The three of them chatted about Charlie moving into Decky’s cottage. Brenda was so happy to have Charlie back. Decky could tell they had been really good friends long ago. She thoroughly enjoyed the comfortable way Charlie played straight man to the comedienne Brenda.

  Dinner was delicious. Chip had covered the mahi mahi with fresh pineapple rum glaze. Corn on the cob, pasta salad and fresh tomatoes rounded out the menu. They drank the wine and then some more coffee, talking like two old married couples. This was such a pleasant evening Decky hated to see it end. When Brenda yawned, Charlie excused herself to pack a bag. Nothing had been said; it was just assumed, by everyone in attendance, that Charlie was going home with Decky.

  Brenda walked Decky out to her car, where she stood outside the driver’s side door. Decky remembered to tell her about Lizzie’s dinner invitation.

  “I was home all day. I wonder why she didn’t call and ask me herself.”

  Decky blushed. “I told her you weren’t home.”

  Brenda chuckled, “Not ready to burn that bridge yet, are we?”

  “Shit Brenda, you know Lizzie’s going to have a cow.”

  “I do not envy you that task my dear.” Brenda paused; she had something to say. She squatted down in that familiar coach’s stance so that she and Decky were eye to eye.

  “Before you go coming out to the whole world, you make sure this is what you want. Be careful with your heart, Decky.” Brenda reached out and touched Decky on the arm. “Don’t misunderstand; nothing would make me happier than to see the two of you together. Charlie is a great girl and I love her dearly. I love you too, so I’m pulling for you. She told me you talked about Lynne. Did she tell you everything? Do you know how low she got before we talked her into moving out here? It got really bad, Decky. Lynne almost killed that woman. I don’t know if she’s really ready for you.”

  Decky showed Brenda her dimple, “Oh believe me, she’s way past ready.”

  “Be serious, you got your first piece of pussy and you can’t be reasonable. You lesbians are all alike, you think like men, with your crotches.”

  They laughed together.

  “No, but seriously, Decky, she’s still got some loose ends to tie up back in Louisiana, if you know what I mean. Lynne will be back next week, to bring Charlie’s cat; that business is not finished by a long shot. I’ve seen Lynne in action; she’s a piece of work.”

  “You say she’s coming back. Lynne has been here?” Decky’s chest tightened.

  “I thought you knew that’s who Charlie took to the airport Sunday. She helped drive Charlie’s car cross-country. I thought Charlie told you.”

  “She told me what that woman did to her. She said it was over, that Lynne had moved on with some young thing.”

  “That young thing dumped Lynne the minute she lost her job for screwing her. Lynne came back hat in hand and has been trying to straighten things out with Charlie.”

  Brenda saw in her face what Decky was thinking. “I’m so sorry darling …”

  Brenda cut off her sentence when Charlie came out of the house, travel bag in hand.

  “What are you two talking so seriously about?” Charlie edged into the seat beside Decky.

  Decky didn’t answer her. Brenda rescued her by answering, “Oh, rehab time in the training room at the U. for that ankle. Call me Decky. I’ll set up some time for you. You girls be safe going home. Love ya’ll.”

  Brenda blew a kiss and backed up the driveway toward the door, watching them leave. Decky cranked the car and pulled away. Charlie put her hand in Decky’s lap. Decky couldn’t get rid of the lump in her throat. She didn’t want to talk. She turned up the music and drove into the darkness. Reba sang, “so you lie, buy a little time, and I go along…”

  #

  They made small talk getting into the house. They went upstairs to change clothes. Decky had gone outside onto the deck with Dixie, after slipping into her customary sleeping outfit of tee shirt and gray cotton shorts. She left Charlie upstairs to put her things away and change. She was leaning on the railing drinking a bottle of water when she heard Charlie come out onto the deck behind her.

  She turned around to find Charlie in a white knit eyelet-trim chemise. The sun today had made her skin even more golden. Her hair looked like she had run her fingers through it, but it was still disheveled from the ride home in the convertible. As hard as she tried, Decky could not control the pangs of longing. Charlie just kept taking her breath away, over and over.

  Charlie smiled up at her and then bent to pet Dixie. If she knew, something was wrong she didn’t let on. Decky watched, as Dixie was able to get a complete back scratch, by doing her best smile and wag gag. Decky’s girls were cooing over each other. Then was Charlie really hers? Why had she not told her Lynne was here, that it really wasn’t over between them? That wasn’t a small detail you just forget to add to the story. Decky hadn’t had a cigarette in fifteen years, but she sure wanted one now.

  Decky could hear Charlie’s words in her head from earlier. Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to. Since she couldn’t think of what to say, she just watched Charlie and Dixie. When she had finished petting Dixie, Charlie approached Decky. She wrapped her arms around Decky’s waist, laying her head down on her chest, and hugged Decky to her. Decky kept her elbows on the railing where she was leaning. After a moment, Charlie stepped back.

  “What did Brenda say to you? You were fine until you went to the car with her. You haven’t said hardly two words since then.”

  A wave of anger welled up in Decky, that she never saw coming.

  She answered in a flat voice, “She just filled in a few details you left out of your history. A few pertinent facts, which may or may not, directly affect me. I’m just trying to figure out why you thought you had to lie to me.” The anger was now clearly evident in her voice, “After all that trust bullshit…”

  Charlie cut her off, “I have never lied to you, ever. Everything I told you is the truth.”

  Decky laughed with a smirk, “A lie of omission is still a lie. Didn’t they teach you that out in Oklahoma?”

  “What are you talking about?” Charlie was becoming increasingly defensive.

  Decky dug deeper. “Think hard. Don’t you think there are a few facts that I should have known going into this?”

  Charlie was hurt and she lashed back, “I don’t know, you seemed pretty intent on getting me into bed without knowing too many details.”

  “Well, it wasn’t that hard,” Decky quipped. She meant for the words to sting and they did.

  Charlie took another step back from Decky. “For God’s sake, Decky, what did Brenda say to you?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me Lynne was here, that’s she’s coming back? I was under the impression that you were done with that.” Decky had been so angry, she didn’t realize she was standing on her busted ankle until a sharp pain shot up her leg. She winced.

  Charlie came to her and even though she was angry, Decky let Charlie help her down into a chair. She stood over Decky with her hands on her hips.

  “Rule number three: you are not allowed to be angry w
ith me until you have spoken to me about your concerns. You just wasted a lot of energy being mad about something that does not matter to you and me.”

  Decky was weak from the pain and emotion. She looked up at Charlie, “How can that not matter to us? To me? What if you change your mind? Maybe she comes back into town and says the right things. Where does that leave us?”