Casting About

by Terri DuLong

  “I know. Adam’s going to speak to Trent and see if anything can be done.”

  I turned toward the door as the wind chimes tinkled and saw Grace walk in.

  “Hey,” she said. “Twila Fay’s covering my shop, so I thought I’d come over and bother you.”

  She passed me a cup of coffee. “And you came bearing gifts, so you’re always welcome.”

  “I’m sorry,” Grace said to Dora. “I wasn’t sure you’d still be here and didn’t bring an extra cup.”

  Dora put her hand up. “No, no. I’m just going to finish this row and then it’s time for me to leave. You’re closing up at four, right, Monica?”

  I nodded. “Yup, and I’ll be here ten till two tomorrow. I should be able to get these mail orders finished by then. I’ve done enough for today.”

  Walking over to the sofa, I patted the spot next to me. “Come join me, Gracie. I’ll fill you in on the latest Clarissa /Carrie Sue news.”

  “That’s always worth hearing. Somebody really needs to write a book about this island. The tales that could be told.”

  I laughed and proceeded to bring Grace up to date.

  “I’m off,” Dora called, walking toward the door. “And I’ll be here two till four tomorrow. Y’all have a good evening.”

  Grace took a sip of coffee and leaned her head back against the sofa. “Well, I think I can top your news,” she said, a hint of mystery in her voice.

  “Really? What’s it about?”

  “Tony.”

  “Oh, God, Gracie, please don’t tell me you’re seeing him again.”

  “Why do you always say that whenever I mention his name? Will you please give me more credit than that?”

  She was right. “I’m sorry,” I said, reaching over to pat her hand. “I guess I just worry about you, and I only want you to have what’s best.”

  “But…I do happen to know who is seeing him now.”

  “What? He’s managed to hook another unsuspecting female on the island? She’d better watch out or he’ll be after her property next.”

  “She doesn’t have any property here on Cedar Key.”

  “Who is it?”

  Gracie took another sip of coffee, making me squirm by taking her time with the answer. “Ready for this?”

  “Stop it, Gracie, just tell me!”

  “Carrie Sue.”

  Surely, I’d misunderstood her. “Carrie Sue?” I repeated. “Not Carrie Sue Brooks?”

  Grace smiled. “One and the same.”

  I sat up straighter and leaned closer to see if Grace was kidding with me. Her face was dead serious. “Get outta here!”

  “Nope. It’s true. I saw them together last night. Twila Faye and I were going to go to the Seabreeze for dinner. So there we are, standing and waiting to be seated and straight ahead, there were Tony and Carrie Sue having dinner together. All lovey-dovey. Holding hands across the table, their eyes never left each other and then she leaned forward and he gave her quite a kiss. I wanted to holler ‘get a room’ and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. But it was them. Twila Faye confirmed it and we hightailed it out of there.”

  “I can’t believe it! Her and him together? Oh, my God!”

  “Hmm, there is a God, isn’t there? I’d say they damn well deserve each other.”

  I shook my head. “I have to agree with you on that one. Oh, wow, those two together is like…well, like a catastrophe waiting to happen. They’re both so greedy and self-centered.”

  Grace smiled. “Like I said, they deserve each other.”

  “I wonder how long this has been going on.”

  “Haven’t a clue, but just from what I saw, I’d say it’s pretty intense.”

  “Geez, this could be a blessing in disguise. Intense enough for Carrie Sue to give up her visitation rights, I wonder?”

  “Hey, if she feels Clarissa’s cramping her style, I sure wouldn’t doubt it. She’s made it clear her daughter was never her top priority.”

  I nodded, digesting all of what Grace had just told me. “Maybe,” I said, “just maybe Carrie Sue will get so wrapped up in Tony that she won’t want to give up those two weekends a month.”

  Grace shrugged. “You could be right, and I’d bet anything she’s spending half her time in Tony’s apartment or he’s over at her condo.”

  “Well, he sure as hell better not be there tonight when she has Clarissa.”

  The wind chimes tinkled again, and both Grace and I looked up to see Saren walk in.

  “Hey, Saren,” I said. “How’ve you been?”

  “Good, real good, and yourself?”

  Based on the news I just heard, I was feeling mighty fine. “I’m good too.” I saw he was holding a gift-wrapped box in his hand.

  Coming to place a kiss on my cheek, he handed me the box. “This here’s for Valentine’s Day tomorrow. Sweets for my sweet granddaughter.”

  I got up to give him a hug. “Oh, Saren, that’s so nice of you. Thank you.”

  “It’s them there French chocolates that you like so much.”

  “And I will truly enjoy them. Would you like some coffee? Gracie and I are just sitting around gabbing.”

  “Thanks but nah, think I had my coffee quota for today. Got an e-mail from your mom this morning. She’s all excited about spending Valentine’s Day in Paris.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, romantic that she is, she’ll really enjoy that. She told me that she and Noah are booked for dinner at La Rotonde, where F. Scott and Zelda used to dine.” I shook my head and laughed. “She’s really in her element over there.”

  “And what’s that nice husband of yours doing for Valentine’s Day?”

  “Adam made a reservation at the Island Room. Dinner at seven.”

  Saren nodded. “Very good. I like to see my girls being pampered. If Sybile were here, why, I’d cook her a great meal and give her a bouquet of those gardenias she always loved.”

  Even though four years had passed since Sybile had left us, it hadn’t diminished Saren’s love for her one ounce.

  “Well,” he said, heading toward the door. “Guess I’ll mosey on home.”

  “Thank you again, Saren.”

  He turned around quickly to face us and touched the side of his head with his palm. “Now see, I almost plumb forgot to tell you what I just saw.”

  “What was that?” I questioned.

  “That fancy-dancy coffee place down the street—he’s got a huge For Sale sign out front.”

  Grace and I both exchanged a look.

  “What?” she said. “He’s selling the coffee shop?”

  Saren nodded. “Sure ’nuff seems that way. I reckon he’s given up on making major changes to our island. Good riddance is what I say. Well, girls, y’all take care and I’ll see you later.”

  “I’ll be damned,” Grace said. “So my business is safe after all, and if he has his place up for sale, he must be leaving town.”

  “That’s what it sounds like. Hmm, I wonder if it also means Carrie Sue is going with him.”

  “Wouldn’t that just be the icing on the cake? Getting rid of both of them at once. They sure as hell won’t be missed—neither one of them.”

  “Well, it’s obvious he’s given up on his idea of a French restaurant. Probably came to finally realize he didn’t have a chance up against the people of this island.”

  Grace laughed. “Yeah, I’d say we all did a pretty good job of running him out of town on a rail. Except for Carrie Sue, I don’t think one person has been friendly toward him.”

  “That’s one of the things my mother always loved about this island—how the people accepted her and made her feel so welcome.”

  “Yeah, well,” Grace said, “your mother didn’t come here trying to change things. She accepted Cedar Key for what it is and involved herself in the community.”

  I nodded and smiled. Raising my hand to tap Grace’s in a high five, I said, “Here’s to you, girlfriend. You may have lost the battle, but you won the war.”

>   44

  I turned in front of the full-length mirror in my bedroom to admire the red dress I was wearing—a clingy knit sheath, it showed off my slim figure to perfection. With a v-shaped neckline and cap sleeves, it was subtle, yet sexy. Casual was the normal style on the island and I enjoyed getting dressed up now and then with a bit of glamour. I still had enough choices in my wardrobe left over from my single days.

  After slipping into black sling-back heels, I picked up the bottle of Chanel No. 5 Adam had given me for Valentine’s Day and released a bit of spray to my neck. The perfume may be old-fashioned, but it had remained my favorite over the years.

  Opening my jewelry box, I fingered a bracelet that had belonged to Sybile. Chunky links of gold, a small circular disc dangled from the center with two s’s intertwined. Sybile gave it to me shortly before she died. She explained that Saren had purchased it at a jewelry shop in Manhattan during his first and only visit there to see her—the visit that resulted in the conception of my mother.

  I slid it onto my wrist and fastened the clasp. Wearing it on the most romantic day of the year seemed appropriate. My grandparents had shared a love that had lasted not only a lifetime, but even beyond.

  Walking into the great room, I found Adam waiting, looking exceptionally handsome in a tan sport jacket, chocolate brown slacks, shirt and tie. I felt a ripple of desire.

  Looking up from the newspaper he’d been reading, he let out a low whistle.

  “You look stunning,” he said, walking over to bury his face in my neck. “And no wonder you love that perfume. Talk about a turn-on.”

  “Ah, does this mean I’ve managed to seduce you?”

  “You’ve seduced me from the first moment I laid eyes on you in that yarn shop.”

  I felt Adam’s hand slide down my back and laughed. “Hey, if you keep that up, we’ll never make the Island Room.”

  “My plan exactly,” he said, joining my laughter.

  “We have the entire night to ourselves,” I told him, picking up my white knitted shawl and handbag.

  “And I intend to take advantage of it,” he said, reaching for my hand and leading the way to the door.

  Enjoying coffee following a wonderful dinner and wine, I smiled as Adam related a story to me about an incident at school. After all my uncertainty during my dating years, it had reached a point where I wondered if I’d ever meet the right guy. I’d begun to think I wasn’t cut out for a long-term relationship, and unlike many of my friends, I refused to settle. I wasn’t naïve enough to think I’d find the perfect guy, but I also wasn’t willing to endure some of the flaws and traits my friends seemed to think were fine when they were dating and once they married, those same flaws became constant irritations and the cause of much unhappiness. And then Adam walked into my life, and while nobody’s perfect, he sure came mighty close.

  When he finished his story, I reached across the table and took his hand. “I love you, Adam. I will always love you.”

  His face softened as he squeezed my hand. “And you—you are that one great love of my life and always will be.”

  “We’re fortunate to have found each other. Do you realize how many people go through life and never know what it’s like to love and be loved so deeply? Look at poor Grace.”

  Adam nodded. “Yeah, but I have to say, the women in your family seem to somehow find that special love—Sybile and Saren, and your mother and Noah, and now you. Maybe in time it will happen for Grace. She’s not your family, but possibly some osmosis will be at play there.”

  I laughed. “Right. From hanging out with me, it’ll eventually rub off on her. I know one thing, she’s pretty relieved that Tony’s selling his place and probably leaving the island. So Carrie Sue didn’t mention anything to you yesterday about him?”

  “Not a word, but I’m not surprised. She’s never been one to keep me in the loop.”

  “I can’t help but wonder if she’ll take off too. How do you think that would affect Clarissa?”

  “To be honest, I think she’d be relieved.”

  “I think Clarissa’s still ticked off at me for punishing her the other day.”

  Adam stroked my hand. “Don’t take it personally. Kids are smart, Monica. She knows she deserved that punishment. You have to know how much she likes you.”

  “I thought she did these past few months—but now, I’m not so sure.”

  “Kids get angry at their parents all the time. She’ll get over it. Wait and see. Hey, has Grace heard from that fellow that’s buying the bookshop?”

  “Lucas? Well, I guess he’s come back to her coffee shop a few times, but he only talks to her briefly about the construction work that’s going on. She said he was in this past week and told her he won’t be back till the summer. He has things to tend to in Brunswick.”

  “That’s a coincidence that Grace’s aunt lives there and they know each other. Wonder if Grace will be paying her a visit? She never seems to go up there.”

  “Yeah, I know. They’re very close, but there has to be a reason Grace stays away from that town. She hasn’t shared any of this with me and I don’t want to pry.”

  “Well, it’d be nice to see Grace have somebody in her life that she cares about.”

  “I agree,” I said and leaned over to kiss Adam’s cheek. “I’m sure glad I have you in my life.”

  Adam stood up and reached for my hand. “The bill is all set. Why don’t we go home so you can show me how glad you are?”

  “Now, that sounds like the perfect way to end a perfect evening.”

  Somewhere in the distance, I heard a bell ringing. Turning over, I snuggled deeper into my pillow, and that’s when I heard Billie barking. I opened my eyes to see Adam getting out of bed, hopping from one foot to the other to pull on a pair of sweatpants. Glancing at the bedside clock, I saw it was two-thirty in the morning, and the bell I’d heard was our doorbell ringing.

  Jumping up, I threw on a robe. “What the heck? Who’s at our door at this hour?” I called after Adam, following him to the great room.

  Both of us got to the front window at the same time and saw the blue and white golf cart belonging to Officer Bob parked on the road. This couldn’t be good.

  Adam flung open the door and we both gasped to see Officer Bob standing on our porch with Clarissa.

  “What’s wrong?” Adam exclaimed, pulling the door wider for them to come in.

  Clarissa was wearing pajamas and sneakers and clutching Raggedy Ann in her arm. She bent down to receive Billie’s excited kiss.

  “Well,” Officer Bob said. “I was doing my patrol on Second Street and I saw this little one walking along in front of the library.”

  Adam pulled her into his arms. “My God, are you all right? What on earth were you doing wandering the streets alone at this hour?”

  “Come sit down,” I said, walking into the great room.

  My heart went out to Clarissa. Her eyes were droopy from sleep and her hair was a tangled mess. She looked like an orphan.

  “Well,” she said, settling herself on the sofa with Billie in her lap. “I woke up and Mama was gone.”

  “What?” I exclaimed. “What do you mean she was gone? Where is she?”

  Clarissa shrugged. “I don’t know. I checked her bedroom and the other rooms and she wasn’t there.”

  “Was she there when you went to bed?” Adam questioned.

  “Yeah, but she was all dressed up.”

  “All dressed up? My God, did she go out and leave you alone there?”

  “Probably,” Clarissa mumbled. “But when I couldn’t find her, I got scared, so I got Annie and we were walking home when Officer Bob found us.”

  Officer Bob shook his head. “I couldn’t imagine why she was out alone at this hour. Do you have any idea where her mother might be?”

  I could see the anger spreading across Adam’s face. “Monica, why don’t you take Clarissa and get her off to bed,” he said. I knew he didn’t want to talk in front of his daughter.


  “Come on,” I told her. “I think Billie needs to get back to sleep too.”

  We walked into Clarissa’s room and I closed the door to allow Adam privacy. I pulled down her spread and fluffed up her pillow. Clarissa hopped in with Billie beside her.

  “Oh, wait,” she said, jumping out of bed and going to her backpack on the desk. Reaching inside, she pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. “I’m sorry. I forgot to give it to you yesterday.”

  I looked down to see a gigantic red heart sprinkled with what I was sure was the glitter on her carpet from a few days before. In perfectly formed large letters she had printed: Be My Valentine—Love, Clarissa Jo.

  Moisture stung my eyes as I stared at the handmade card. Pulling Clarissa into my arms for a tight hug, I said, “Thank you, and of course I’ll be your valentine.”

  Her face lit up with a smile as she headed back to bed. Reaching up, she put her arms around my neck. “Good night, Monica.”

  “Good night, Clarissa. Sleep tight.”

  I closed the door to her room and realized Adam had been right. Kids are very forgiving.

  “Yes,” I heard him say as I walked back to the great room. “Yes, I do want to press charges.”

  Officer Bob nodded in understanding and began writing information on his clipboard. After he completed the forms, he said, “And I’ll make sure your attorney gets a copy of this.”

  Just as he was about to leave, the phone rang and Adam grabbed it.

  “You’re damn lucky she’s here, Carrie Sue. How dare you take off and leave a nine-year-old alone all night! I’ve seen mother dogs that take better care of their pups.” There was a pause and he raked his hand through his hair. “What? So what are you saying? That Clarissa’s lying! If you’d been there, she wouldn’t have left in the middle of the night. I know my daughter better than that.”

  I could make out Carrie Sue’s raised voice coming from the phone but didn’t catch what she was saying.