by Nat Burns
After a shower, Nina began to feel better about her situation with Hazy. She still harbored worlds of hurt and anger toward her, but knew it would fade if given time. The old adage, time heals all wounds, was very true. And, healing would be helped along even more if she stayed away from the woman. She wondered if Hazy would ever forget Nina’s harsh last words.
Due to a lack of choices, Nina was forced to wear the same blue dress she’d worn the night of Aaron Clark’s houseboat party. She dressed it up with pearls and diamonds, and swept her long hair into a painstaking French braid clasped with a pearl barrette, a gift from a great-aunt on her father’s side.
She took a good bit of time on her makeup as well, applying cosmetics to enhance her eyes and bring out her high cheekbones. White leather pumps completed her ensemble. Fetching up a white lace shawl, she pulled it across her shoulders and then walked across the grassy expanse that separated her cottage from her parents’.
Freda looked ravishing in a dress of red watered silk that brought radiance to her short white hair and darkly tanned skin. She was a thin woman of small stature, and the red dress’s elongated style made her appear taller and emphasized every curve. High black leather heels added to the effect, and her neck and ears sparkled with diamonds every time she moved.
Patrick was dressed as usual, his tall, stocky body encased in a tailored business suit, but for this special occasion he’d chosen a red silk tie that matched his wife’s dress. His gray hair was neatly styled and he smelled pleasantly of patchouli cologne.
“I can’t believe my good fortune,” Patrick said as he and Freda came from their cottage. “I get to escort two of the loveliest ladies on the island to dinner.”
“Make that three,” said Freda with a smile as she inclined her head toward the parking area. Nina and her father turned and saw Mrs. Loreli coming toward them.
Nina had never seen her look as lovely. She wore a gauze dress printed with a small floral pattern. Her long steel gray hair was pulled into a neat bun, but wisps of curly hair had escaped and framed her smiling, friendly face. As a final touch, she wore flat, soft ballet shoes and carried a small black handbag.
“Well, aren’t we a troupe,” she teased as she got close. “I am so looking forward to this. I seldom get the chance to dress up and go out to dinner, so this is a special treat.”
Taking the scenic route to the restaurant, riding in the Christie’s air-conditioned sedan, they drove south along Deep Hole Road and along Maddox Boulevard to Main Street.
The Shallows club was located in a small isolated pocket of land near Chincoteague High School. From her father, Nina learned that The Shallows started life in 1901 as an all-male, all-local “smoking” club, where men could go to escape their wives’ genteel ways. By the Fifties women had been grudgingly included in the membership and all the members banded together to draw up a new charter to keep the membership confined to local fishermen’s families. A rough pool was installed with tennis courts coming later and soon the children of the local families made up much of the club’s clientele. When the main club building blew down in the great storm of 1966, these same children helped rebuild and, later, when they were grown, add on to the main house. The club had remained pretty much the same since that time, still locally owned and exclusive in its membership. Mrs. Loreli had to show her membership card before they were allowed through the tall wooden-post gates, even though everyone at the gate greeted her by name.
The lovely landscaped grounds and the Victorian-style house that held the conjoined restaurant and tavern impressed Nina. The interior of the house featured tasteful memorabilia from the fishing industry’s heyday. Most of the occupants of the restaurant were middle-aged and lounged casually at white-clothed round tables.
A pleasantly plump, soft-spoken woman greeted them and escorted them to a corner table lit by candlelight. A server immediately brought them tumblers of iced water.
Nina smiled gratefully to her father as he held her chair for her and she clasped her mother’s hand, some of her old fire returning in these elegant, relaxed surroundings. Behind her, a quartet of classical musicians began a lilting melody.
While they waited for their drinks, Patrick took Mrs. Loreli’s hand and drew her onto the dance floor. They swayed expertly together, even though Mrs. Loreli’s years greatly outpaced her father’s. Nina and Freda watched, even laughing and clapping softly at an especially difficult step.
The evening progressed well and after sating themselves on excellent food and wine, Patrick asked his daughter for a dance. Thrilled, Nina followed him onto the floor, swept into his secure embrace. He spun her through a waltz as he commented humorously on every aspect of island life. Nina found his silliness relaxing and familiar and smiled at his antics. And it was in the middle of a laugh when she spied a familiar form across the dance floor.
She stilled immediately and searched hard through the restaurant’s dimness. Was it Hazy? It was hard to tell because every time she spied the person, her companion, another tall blond woman, blocked Nina’s view.
Several moments later, she caught a glimpse of a too-familiar face. It was Hazy Duncan.
Chapter 40
She was sitting with another of her conquests, a tall, elegant woman who had matching platinum hair. The new girlfriend was dressed in a simple green dress and it was obvious to Nina that simple was her way; she was so beautiful that she needed no decoration.
They were laughing together and Nina was angered by Hazy’s apparent happiness and nonchalance when she herself felt so badly.
Looking up, Hazy caught her eye and Nina found satisfaction in the shock that registered on her face. The shock was soon replaced by cool animosity and she studiedly turned her face away.
“Nina? What’s wrong?” her father said next to her ear. “I didn’t step on your toe, did I?”
She leaned back and smiled up at him. “Of course not. I just thought of something I need to do later.”
Like knock Hazy’s head off, she finished to herself. How could she be out with another woman so quickly after professing to care for her so much?
She had half a mind to seek out Mama New and show her evidence of this scoundrel’s infidelity. Rational thought intruded; she too was guilty in this scenario of infidelity.
She was also out dancing. Still, she was with her family and it galled her to think that after Nina’s rejection of her, Hazy had immediately arranged something with another woman. The bitch!
She craned her neck slightly, trying to get another glimpse of her. Imagine having dinner together out in the public eye! How many times had people warned her about the smallness of the island and how everyone knew everyone else’s business? Hazy was deliberately hurting Mama New by her careless actions. Nina chewed her bottom lip, frustration and hurt filling her completely.
The music ended and she and her father returned to their table. Patrick was watching his daughter closely, as if sensing that something was wrong. Nina tried not to see as he exchanged a puzzled glance with her mother. He bent to his peach cobbler, delivered to their table as they danced.
Nina took a deep sip of water and tried to avoid looking at Hazy’s table. She could feel those bright blue eyes on her though, and she fancied the gaze burned as it touched her bare skin. Unavoidably her eyes were compelled to study Hazy again.
She looked so beautiful this evening. Wearing a short white jacket, tailored to hug her broad shoulders and tight waist, she had countered it with loose trousers of pale linen and a cobalt blue shirt, low cut and rounded at the neck. The shirt was tight and hugged her perfect body closely. Simple but elegant.
She finally realized what was so very different about her appearance; she had pulled her shaggy hair into two decorative combs along the sides of her head, which gave her a very different appearance. The style highlighted her sharp cheekbones and gave her face a more severe, mature air.
Nina imagined she could smell her scent and a strange tingling sensation overtook her
body.
Quickly she surveyed her own table. Had anybody noticed? No one was looking at her, so she continued her observation.
Hazy was talking animatedly to the blond woman and Nina’s mind drifted as she watched. Her thoughts flew back to the night they’d shared, when Hazy’s touch had been like a brand marking her skin. It was amazing the heat of this one woman. Perhaps her many hours in the hot sun stockpiled the sun’s energy and she only let it escape after the sun left for the night. She smiled dreamily at the thought. Hazel, the solar storage unit.
Moments later Nina sensed a different type of heat and realized Hazy was eyeing her angrily. She was mortified. She’d caught Nina watching her, caught her mooning like any stupid schoolgirl. Nina tucked her head and saw Mrs. Loreli regarding her closely. It was all a bit too much.
Standing suddenly, Nina excused herself and walked purposefully toward the ladies’ room, praying neither her mother nor Mrs. Loreli would follow. She ran cold water in one of the basins and gingerly patted her face and neck with it.
She definitely needed to cool her ardor. How many more times was she going to make a fool of herself over this ogre of a woman? Hazy must be having a jolly laugh telling her girlfriend about the stupid woman who took her into bed, then rejected her persistent advances outright, and later mooned over her in public places. No, how ridiculous. She would never warn this new victim of her own impending fate.
She felt like such an idiot. Clasping a paper towel to her face, she blamed Hazy. If she didn’t possess such magnetism, Nina wouldn’t be in this predicament.
She studied her reflection in the mirror with jaded eyes. Every time she was near Hazy, she felt as though she were moving through a sensual fog, a fog that made her oblivious to everything around her except Hazy.
Probably the same thing had happened to Mama New several years ago. She probably fell for her when she was married to Newt, unable to help herself. Well, now she was paying the price.
Straightening her clothing and stiffening her spine, Nina checked her appearance one last time in the mirror and opened the door.
A hatefully familiar voice whispered beside her. “Is the ladies’ empty?”
Nina turned toward Hazy, in shock. “What did you say?”
“I said,” she repeated slowly, one palm pressed firmly against the wall of the hall. “Is it empty?” She nodded toward the ladies’ room.
Nina’s mouth quivered and she bit her bottom lip. “Yes, it’s empty. Go right in.”
She turned to return to the dining room but Hazy moved swiftly and grabbed her hard around the waist, propelling her forcibly through the ladies’ room door. An image of a shattered cottage door filled her mind so she relaxed slightly and didn’t fight, although a muffled shriek of surprise did escape.
Hazy pushed her against the inner wall and propped her left forearm above Nina’s head to prevent the outer door from opening.
“Nina, you make me so...” she began angrily. But their lips were mere inches away and she simply leaned forward a bit and took possession of Nina’s trembling lips.
At first, Nina resisted, but the nearness overwhelmed her and she found herself lost in the kiss, hypnotized by the slow roving of lips and tongue as Hazy thoroughly kissed her. Soon the two were straining together, fumbling with each other’s clothing, blindly uncaring of where they were; only knowing that the need to be unclothed and connected together overrode all caution.
A sudden push against the outer door brought reality back with shattering force.
Nina gasped and clutched her loosened dress to her bosom. Her eyes found Hazy’s face and widened at what they had almost done.
Hazy still wore a dreamy expression, slow in returning from the web of passion that had snared her.
“Hazy!” Nina ground out in an urgent whisper as she tried to refasten her dress. “What are we going to do?”
Coming alert suddenly and acting with a speed borne from years of boating, Hazy held the door with one arm and her body while at the same time whirling Nina with her free hand and quickly fastening her clothing.
With shaking fingertips, Nina wiped away her smeared lipstick and tried to fan her crimson cheeks.
“Nina? It’s Mother. Are you all right? I thought I heard you cry out.”
Nina whirled back to face Hazy and wanted to laugh at the expression on her face. Some of her hair had come unbound and it framed her face, adding to her frustrated, woebegone look.
“Yes Mom, I’ll be right there,” Nina called. “Wait one minute, please.”
Of its own accord, one hand went up to caress Hazy’s cheek.
Turning her face, Hazy pressed hot lips into Nina’s palm, closing her eyes, seeming to savor the touch. She pulled Nina close and sighed deeply. “Ah Nina, bad timing is our enemy,” she breathed against her ear.
“I know, and I’m so sorry we can never be together,” Nina whispered back, tears in her eyes.
Hazy pulled away, confused. “Don’t say never, love. Meet me tonight, later. We need to work this through.”
Nina thought of the blond waiting for her outside and she grew cold. “I need to go, Hazy. And I can’t meet you tonight, or any night, okay?”
“Hell no, it’s not okay. What do you mean?” Hazy whispered urgently.
“Hazy, I have got to go,” she muttered, pulling away.
“Wait.” Hazy held her at arm’s length and studied her. “You look passable. We can’t do anything about your high color, but tell your mum it’s from the cold water or somethin’,” she told her coolly. “You go first, I’ll follow later.”
Hazy moved so she’d be behind the door as it opened and Nina left to reassure her worried mother.
Hazy leaned on the vanity and studied herself in the large mirrored wall. Her face bore a defeated expression. It was over. Her body told her differently but her heart knew the truth. Nina had meant what she’d said earlier that morning.
Finally, cloaking her face into a cold mask, she adjusted her clothing, repinned her hair, and moved toward the door.
As she opened the door, a small, elderly woman almost fell through. Hazy caught her and prevented her from falling onto the floor. “Why, Mrs. Harris, do be careful,” she chided. “That’s a good way to suffer a broken bone, you know.”
Mrs. Harris smiled at Hazy and waved one hand nonchalantly. “That’s what they give me all those pills for, Hazel, to make my bones strong. I guess I’d bounce like a buoy these days if I fell.”
Laughing with difficulty, Hazy left the ladies’ room.
Chapter 41
Back at her table, Nina found herself sitting like a corpse throughout the rest of the evening. She saw Hazy return to her table as if she were watching through a glass partition. There was no anger, no sorrow, only numbness.
When the evening was over, Nina bid her parents and Mrs. Loreli goodnight and returned to her cottage.
After sitting for some time, she rose, dropped her dress mechanically onto the chair and fell into bed. Tears found her then and she cried for a love that was lost and also because she knew now that she could never live in Grandpapa Tom’s house. This realization broke her heart for she had so looked forward to making the island her home.
There was no way she could remain on the island, not with Hazy here.
How she hated Hazel Duncan for doing this to her!
She knew deep inside that each time she saw Hazy she’d be reacting the same way as tonight and she just couldn’t let that happen.
How could she respect herself, remaining caught up in Hazy’s snare of affairs and indiscretions? Poor Mama New. Nina felt only sadness for that kind, sweet woman.
Did all women react to Hazy the same way she did, Nina wondered suddenly. Or was this something unique between her and Hazy?
Angrily, she sat up in the bed and jerked the pearl barrette from her hair. She slung it against the far wall and felt a tug of satisfaction when she heard it break in the darkness.
Then she felt remorse fo
r her actions, thinking of the elderly woman who had given it to her, and cried that much harder. She found it easy to blame Hazy for the broken barrette as well.
She considered going to Hazy’s cottage and standing outside, shouting out her indiscretions so everyone in every cottage in that complex could hear. So what if her reputation was ruined? So what if she had to leave the island in disgrace? At least Hazy would be ostracized by the moral islanders and would have to take responsibility for her actions.
Then she thought of her parents, envisioned their shocked, dismayed faces. She saw Mama New’s hurt expression in her vivid imagination as well as Heather’s bewilderment and she knew she could never do such a thing.
The people here probably already know about her anyway, she consoled herself. Maybe they only pretended to like Hazy.
She thought over her options. Leaving the island would be like losing an old, dear friend. She loved this place, with its harsh winds, glorious sunsets and riotous animal life. Thoughts of the water, of how it changed color according to the season, always made her spirit lighten. And the marsh grass, fading from the bright green of spring to a burnt golden by fall, roots filled with swarming sea life. She had been looking forward to her first full winter here. She remembered them as gloriously intense during holiday visits to Grandpapa Tom.
She thought of grandfather’s house, which now would always be called by his name, The Border, in her mind. Grandpapa Tom had wanted her to live there, had wanted her to be a part of the legacy of island love he had left for her. How could she sell his house? How could she leave it empty and falling into decline? There were no easy answers.
Going back to the congestion of the city now would be very hard indeed. Was there any conceivable way she could stay on the island? Could she be hard-hearted enough to ignore Hazy and her entire establishment? She thought of what Hazy had told her in this very room that morning. That she owned several places on the island. What did that mean? Exactly how active was she in island business? Would she run into her often during the course of any given day?
