Joel said, “Frannie, how are you? Would you like to go out to dinner tomorrow evening?”
She scrambled for a polite excuse. “Sorry, Joel, but I already have plans.” To make it sound true, she added, “A small get-together at a friend’s house.”
“Oh.” He sounded disappointed. “Well, I’ll be in the area anyway, so maybe we can find a few minutes to meet up.”
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be in and out. I don’t want to waste your time.”
“I understand.”
And now, this afternoon, thinking about it, she knew he hadn’t understood, not really, and her excuses hadn’t kept his feelings from being hurt. She should’ve been blunt. Hurt was hurt.
She sat at the counter with her laptop and brought Will’s household financial record up to date. Expenses, receipts, yikes. She wasn’t an accountant and didn’t want to be.
Someone knocked on the side door. She went through the kitchen to open it.
“Joel?” He stood right there on her doorstep despite her telling him not to come.
“Hi, Frannie!” He held out a small bag, brown with little handles. “I brought you a little something. A small gift.” The smile stubbornly stayed on his face. “I hope I didn’t come at a bad time.”
“Yes. No. I thought we’d decided….”
“I hope you aren’t angry.”
She leaned against the door, puzzling. “I’m not angry. Come on in.” She opened the door wide.
“Thanks. I’d love to.” He stepped inside. “Your uncle has a nice place here.”
His words were no more than a courtesy; this place was tiny compared to his family’s homes, and simple. However, she’d grown fond of simplicity.
“Uncle Will loves it here.”
“Easy to see why.”
All the right, polite responses. He was so pleasant that it was an irritation, like that speck of something that gets into your shoe. You tried to get along with it, until finally, you had to stop and shake it out. But she couldn’t do that to Joel.
“Would you like a cup of tea?”
“Whatever you’re having.” He placed the small brown bag on the coffee table.
“Have a seat.” She gestured toward the dining table. “What brings you here? Emerald Isle is out of your way, isn’t it?”
He shrugged, but his expression remained sunny. “I was in Hatteras and the weather was nice. I decided to swing by here on the way back.”
“This is not a ‘swing by’ by any means.”
“I had to come over to look at a couple of properties for my father, but that’s on tomorrow’s schedule. I took a chance on catching you in.”
She added the steeped tea to the cups and placed them on the table.
“Do you still have plans for that party tonight?”
“Yes. It was kind of them to include me. It’s small gathering. Nothing fancy.” What a liar she was, and she was embarrassed about it, but only a little because she meant well, right? To save Joel’s feelings?
His face lit up. “If I wouldn’t be crashing, I’d be happy to go along with you. At least, you know me, right? A familiar face?” He grinned. “BYOF. Bring your own friend.”
Frannie was stunned. This was totally unexpected. Joel inviting himself along? “I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to bring someone.”
The phone rang. Frannie grabbed it like a lifeline.
“You’re coming to the party, right?” It was Maia.
“Um. I’m not sure.”
“Oh, please come. You know you aren’t a stranger now.”
Glad that Joel could only hear her end of the conversation, she answered, “Well, actually I have an old friend visiting.”
“Bring him or her. The more, the merrier.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask why it mattered to Maia, but she stopped herself. Joel could go along and then Joel could go home. Maia would be happy she showed up and Joel would be her excuse for leaving early. It worked for everyone.
****
The Winters’ house was on the sound side of the island. It was situated on the crest of a hill and the moonlight and bright exterior lights lit the landscape and house. A one-story house made of brick; it looked low and wide. Several cars were parked along the side of a curving asphalt driveway. Joel pulled in behind the last parked car.
Joel unsnapped his seatbelt. “It’s peaceful out here. There’s only a couple of lights on in the windows. If it weren’t for the cars parked out here, I’d be wondering if we’d come to the right house.”
“With that cloud cover, it’s very dark out here.” She laughed. “Thank goodness for GPS.”
They knocked on the door and a man answered. He was tall and slim with amazing cheekbones. Juli’s husband.
He extended his hand. “Welcome. I’m Luke.”
He had a beautiful smile. Odd thing to think about a man, but it was true.
“May I take your coat?”
Between Joel and Luke, the coat was slipped from her arms and someone else whisked it away. The men started speaking to each other, but the view ahead snared her attention and she walked toward it.
She glimpsed a kitchen on the left. Ahead of her the foyer opened into a wide area. There was a railing and there appeared to be a gap between it and a wall of windows. She leaned over the railing and looked down. A sitting area was below, but the windows in front of her stretched from the floor below to the ceiling above her head. The moon looked lonely in the black night while its reflection danced on the surface of Bogue Sound as the water moved in rhythm to currents she could only guess at.
A hand touched her shoulder. Joel spoke softly, “Frannie? Are you all right?”
“Quite a view, isn’t it?”
“It is.”
“Who knew all of this was hiding behind that demure brick front?” Wood and leather and stone, and a two story view of the sound.
“Oh, I’m so glad you made it!” Maia rushed up and hugged her.
“Thanks.” She pointed to Joel. “This is my friend Joel. I hope you meant it, about bringing him, I mean.”
“Oh, absolutely. The more, the merrier.” She extended her hand. “Welcome Joel.”
He shook her hand. “Thank you. I’m pleased to be here. Is this your house?”
She giggled. “Oh, goodness no. This is my boss’s home. Luke Winters. He owns the Front Street Gallery in Beaufort. Are you familiar with it?”
“Actually, I am. I’ve been there, though it’s been a while. I love Beaufort. I’m overdue for a visit.”
“Well, I hope you’ll step in and say hey next time you come to town.”
Joel smiled his usual, genial smile and said, “I will. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maia.”
“Frannie?”
“Brian? I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Maia called.”
She half-smiled. “Yeah, she called me, too.”
“And a good thing I did. You can thank me later.” She touched Brian’s arm. “Joel, this is my brother, Brian. Brian, this is Frannie’s friend.”
Brian nodded. He extended his hand, saying, “Nice to meet you.”
“You said it was a small get-together. There’s a lot of people here.”
Maia shrugged. “It’s Emerald Isle. It’s a small town at heart and everyone, especially in the year-round crowd, knows everyone. We’re a friendly bunch.” She took her arm. “Come along. Let me introduce you to some folks.”
Frannie didn’t know these people, but the nervousness she usually felt in a one-to-one situation wouldn’t trouble her here. The armor that Laurel had fitted her for, slid over her, along with the right degree of smile. This Frannie occasionally said the odd, awkward thing, but she owned it like she meant it. No apologies. Like going onstage. Costume straight, yes. Makeup right? Check.
Maia took her arm and pulled her into the mix.
****
She talked to people. They were pleasant, and she congratulated herself on being appr
opriately sociable. Even Laurel would approve. Then she noticed a woman, distinctive in appearance. Tall, slender and with long salt and pepper gray hair. The woman looked up and they caught eyes. The woman moved toward her, a smile growing on her face.
“You are Frannie Denman.”
She said it matter-of-factly and held out her hand. Frannie shook her hand, noting the firmness of her grip despite the woman’s age.
“I’m Anna Barbour.”
“Yes, I know your name. I saw it on a card at the Front Street Gallery, next to some paintings.”
“That’s me. I teach art locally and do a bit of my own.” She waved off any further conversation about herself. “I know your uncle. I’m sorry for his illness.”
“Did I see you at the rehabilitation home? On your way out, maybe?”
“You might have. I’ve visited Will a couple of times.”
Frannie couldn’t suppress her interest. “You’re friends?”
“Yes.” Anna nodded. “Although I haven’t known him long, really.”
Not a long acquaintance, but still a friend. “How did you meet?”
Anna set her empty glass down on a nearby table.
“No more iced tea for me or I’ll be awake all night.” She laughed and shrugged. “Goes with the age, I think. Your uncle came to my house to pick up a friend, one of my art students, Bill Dodge. A dear man, Bill was. They knew each other in the service.”
“Bill Dodge. You said ‘were’.”
“He died recently. A heart attack in his sleep.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Well, we all get old…or we don’t and that’s another story. Bill had his health and was active right up until the time he went to bed that night.” Her eyes grew bright and teary. “Sorry for that. So, I met your uncle and found him to be delightful.”
Delightful. Frannie thought she, herself, might like to be thought of as delightful.
“I’m glad we had the chance to chat. Please tell Will I said hello when you see him next.” She pressed her hand gently on Frannie’s arm. “I need to find Juli and Luke and tell them good night. If you stay in town, I hope you’ll drop by and visit.”
Frannie resisted the impulse to follow her. There was a special glow about Anna that she couldn’t quite make out. Maybe it was the aura of someone who knew who she was and was happy with it. Suddenly alone, Frannie looked around for Joel and saw him across the room speaking with a man she didn’t know. Satisfied, she was turning away when someone tapped her shoulder.
“Having a nice time?” Brian asked.
“A lovely time. Everyone is very nice.” She smiled in a breezy, relaxed way.
“You sound different. Not like yourself.”
“Really? I don’t know what you mean.” But she did. She was wearing her party manners. He meant she sounded better. Better than her real self. She felt her lips tighten. She forced herself to speak in a friendly tone. “Where’s Megan tonight? Back with her mom?”
“No. Diane’s still away. Megan’s with Danny. Juli asked her to babysit Danny this evening. She was ecstatic.”
“She’s only a child herself. Is it safe?”
“Oh, sure. Juli and Luke, not to mention Maia, are checking in on them every few minutes. They’re down the hall.” He added, “You didn’t mention a boyfriend. Joel seems okay.”
“Joel? He’s not my boyfriend. He’s a friend. I’ve known him for years. He showed up unexpectedly this afternoon.”
“I see. Well, I’m glad you came even if it took Joel to get you here.”
A man came up and slapped Brian on the back. He said something to Brian, and when Brian turned toward him, she took the opportunity to slip away. She wanted a quiet place in which to decompress for a moment or two.
In the hallway, she heard the soft whimper of a baby crying. Was she awake? It sounded so much like her dream that she almost pinched herself. She moved a few feet down the hall and put her ear to the door.
Perhaps Megan didn’t know what to do? Or had fallen asleep? Children could sleep heavily. The cry wasn’t frantic, but fretful.
She eased the door open.
A softly lit scene, a day bed was against the wall on one side and the white crib was on the other. Megan was standing beside the crib, her arm between the side slats and her hand patting the infant’s back. She glanced up as Frannie walked over to her.
“He’s crying on and off. Should I get Miss Juli?”
Frannie reached down and touched his small back. He was dressed in a soft, flannel one piece, blue with teddy bears on it. “I don’t know. I can stay with him while you go find her.”
“Would you? Thanks. I’ll be right back.”
Juli arrived within moments.
“Hi,” she said softly as she came into the room. “Is he okay?”
She touched his dark hair and he didn’t stir. “He’s restless, I guess. He probably picked up on the craziness around here with us getting ready for the party.”
Frannie nodded. “Thank you for inviting me, and I hope you truly didn’t mind me bringing Joel.”
“Not at all. I’m so glad you came and Joel seems very nice.” Juli’s hand stilled, but rested lightly on Danny’s back in reassurance. “I understand you purchased my painting.”
“Oh, yes. It’s beautiful.”
“That’s not why I invited you.”
“No?”
“Maia has so many good things to say about you. Brian, too.” She turned her attention back to her son and tidied his blanket. “I hope you don’t mind me telling you that. You don’t know many people around here, right? It’s always good to have friends. One never knows when one might need them. That’s my personal experience, anyway.”
“You three make a lovely family. I saw you and your husband and son at church.”
“I’m sorry I missed you. I usually notice new faces.”
“I’ve only been once.”
“I hope you’ll come again. Did you have enough to eat tonight? I told Megan to grab a snack before coming back. She’s a sweetie.”
A touchy sweetie, maybe. “She’s clearly fond of Danny.”
“She’s good with him, but not really old enough to babysit. I told Brian to come and bring Megan with him. I told him she could hang out with Danny. I really expected her, and Danny, to be sound asleep by now.” She walked over to the bed.
Something was peeking out from under the cover and she pulled it out. “Ah, a book.” She flipped it over to read the cover then put it back under the blanket. “I’m glad to see she’s a reader.”
Danny stirred again and this time his cry was sharper. Juli leaned into the crib and gathered him up.
“I think he’s teething.”
Frannie watched her gather up the babe and lay him against her chest, his face snuggling into her neck. She touched the fragile head gently, cradling his small body. She looked over and said quietly, “Won’t you have a seat and keep me company while I rock him for a few minutes?”
Jealously curdled in Frannie’s belly. She sat because her legs felt weak. Perfect family. Attractive, loving parents, a cherished baby. Everything she didn’t have and didn’t expect to ever have because money couldn’t buy it. She was grateful the dim light concealed her inner ugliness.
Juli’s humming turned to soft words, “How do you like Emerald Isle?”
Frannie tried to match her tone, low and even. “I’m sure it’s more inviting in the summer.”
“Spring. It’s almost spring. That’s my favorite time of year. Everything starts coming alive after being wrapped up in winter. I met Danny’s father in the spring, and Danny was born in the spring.”
“You grew up here?”
“No. Here and there.” Her hand stilled on Danny’s back.
“I live in Raleigh.”
“Beautiful city. They have the most amazing crepe myrtles.”
Crepe myrtles. Silly, but that tiny connection reassured her, as if it meant she wasn’t as far removed from this lu
cky woman and her perfect life as she’d felt in those dark moments.
“Your family moved around a lot?”
“Sort of. I grew up in foster homes.”
Not so perfect, then. “Good ones, I hope. You seem to have come out very well.”
Juli laughed very softly. Surely, Danny felt that comforting warmth coming from his mother.
“Not so much, but I managed. I didn’t really get lucky until I met my husband, Danny’s father.”
“Luke. I hope you don’t mind me saying that he’s a very handsome man, and clearly devoted to you.”
“Oh, he is, indeed, but he isn’t Danny’s father. That was Ben Bradshaw. He and Luke were cousins. No, Ben was the person who gave me the greatest gift and changed the course of my life.”
Frannie wanted to ask why they’d divorced if Ben was such a great guy, but no amount of curiosity would entice her to cross that line.
Juli’s soft brown hair fell across her cheek as she eased Danny from her shoulder and into her arm. She brushed his soft cheek, rosy from where his face had pressed against her blouse.
“Is he asleep?”
“Yes, but sometimes I just like to hold him. To give him a little extra loving to tide him over while we’re apart. I try not to spoil him, but…oh, well.”
“Giving him what you didn’t get in the foster homes?” She shocked herself, asking such a personal question, but Juli didn’t change expression at all. She continued smiling down at her Danny.
“Perhaps. I hadn’t really thought of it, but it makes sense.” Juli looked up at Frannie. “Who really understands the human heart?”
Frannie shook her head. “Not me.”
“Did Anna find you? She wanted to speak with you before she left.”
“She did. She told me how she happened to meet my uncle. She gives art lessons?”
“Yes, indeed. I’ve studied with Anna myself. I was there, you know. That day when he came by? That’s how I met him. He was very sweet. Very gentlemanly.”
“When was that?”
“Well, let me think. I was expecting Danny. About a year ago.”
Juli gently repositioned Danny in her arms and stood. She laid him in the crib and wrapped the blanket more tightly around him. She touched his cheek and he stayed silent.
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