When the young woman walked away, Nora said, “She’s a pretty thing, isn’t she?”
“She is. Her blonde hair looks so bright and healthy, and did you notice those striking blue eyes of hers?” Dina added, “And her distinctive accent.”
“She’s probably a summer worker. Maybe from Ireland, Europe, somewhere. This place, the whole island, I mean, hires a large number of summer people.”
“I like it here, “ Dina said, looking around.
“It’s plain, nothing fancy, but it’s the good food we’re here for. I do hope you’ll enjoy it,” Nora said.
“Oh, I will.”
* * *
Charlie’s parents gave Drew a warm welcome.
“Drew!”
Mrs. Freeman gave him a big hug. Solomon, her husband, grasped Drew’s hand with a firm handshake.
“Welcome, Drew! Glad you could join us!”
“Thanks for having me, sir.”
“We’re having a small gathering tonight, a barbecue…” his host said.
“Charlie told me, but do you mind if I opt for seafood, just this once?”
“Not at all. That’s what we are famous for on the island. Go and enjoy!”
“Thanks, I will. I can hardly wait. Not that I don’t love a good barbecue….”
Mr. Freeman laughed as he took his wife’s arm and led her out to the deck. Drew could see a stone patio and swimming pool through the French doors.
Charlie grabbed Drew’s overnight bag. “Come on upstairs. I’ll show you your room and then we’d better head to Menemsha. Friday’s a busy night.”
Despite rushing, it was around five when Charlie and Drew arrived at the restaurant and were met by prospective diners milling about outside, waiting to be summoned inside.
“Damn!” Charlie exploded. “I knew it! We’re here, anyway. I’ll go in and get a ‘wait’ ticket,” he told Drew.
“No problem, got more time than I have money, and…I’m short on both. Take your time, we’re here, that’s what counts.”
Charlie pointed. “Say, grab a table, will you? Be right back.”
Over the loudspeaker situated in a nearby tree, they could hear numbers being called, “Party of two, number twenty-five.”
A middle-aged couple rose from their table. Drew claimed it.
In a few minutes, Charlie came back with the stamped ticket.
“Not too bad,” he said breathlessly as he plopped down on the metal chair.“We’re number thirty-two, so that’s seven ahead of us. They said they would be calling us soon. Guess the four o’clock diners will be leaving.”
“Okay by me.” Drew looked around at the different groups of diners. There were couples, family groups with small children, parents, and grandparents. Everyone seemed happy. Happy, smiling, they seemed really glad to greet one another. Drew felt himself relaxing.
The atmosphere came from the blue ocean, the landscaped green lawn surrounding the front of the weathered wooden building, the crimson sun lowering into the western horizon. He could understand why people were so happy on this magical island.
Someday, he thought, he’d like to have a family of his own and a summer place on the Vineyard.
Their number came much sooner than expected.
“Party of two, number thirty-two, please.”
“That’s us!” Charlie bounded from his chair. “Let’s go.”
Inside, Charlie presented their ticket stub to a waiter who led them to their table.
“May I get you something to drink?”
“I’ll start with a beer,” Drew said to the waiter.
“I’ll have the same,” Charlie said.
Over the plain, single-paged menu, he said to Drew, “I know you want the seafood platter. Hope you’ll enjoy it. Wait ’til you see it. It’s colossal!”
“Goin’ to give it a try, take the rest home.” Drew grinned at his friend.
When the heaping platter of lobster claws, shrimp, scallops, fried clams, and grilled bluefish arrived, Drew could only sigh.
“Oh, my God! Will you look at that.”
“Am I going to enjoy this!” Drew tied the lobster bib around his neck, moved the melted butter closer, and picked up the crackers for the lobster.
“And I want you to do just that.”
“It’s a good thing, my man, that we’re not in football season. The trainers would have our heads!”
“Just for now, enjoy.”
The waiter returned a few minutes later to ask, “Is everything all right?”
All each man could do was give him a thumbs-up.
“Would you like another beer?”
They both nodded. “Please,” Drew said.
A little later, sated by his meal, Charlie pushed his nearly empty platter to one side.
“Drew, got some news for you.”
Wiping his mouth and his fingers with his napkin, Drew raised his eyebrows, saying, “Good news, I hope.”
“The best. I’m getting married, and I’d like you to be in the wedding.”
Drew extended his hand across the table, giving his teammate and friend a hearty handshake.
“Congratulations! When?”
“Next summer, June. My folks want us to be married here and…my fiancée, Alison, agrees.”
“Wonderful! Great! You know I wish you all the best, both of you.”
There was a wistful look on Drew’s face that prompted Charlie to ask, “Dating anyone, Drew?”
Lips downturned, Drew’s answer came with a rueful shake of his head.
“Not really. Came close to a serious relationship a couple of times, but something wasn’t right.”
“Take my advice, wait for the right one.”
Drew wondered if he would ever be able to find Dina Raines.
He looked around the restaurant, the families enjoying being together.
He felt a twinge of envy that Charlie was ready to go down that path, take the step that would lead to a fulfilling life. God, he prayed silently, help me find her.
“How do you like your food?” Charlie asked.
“First rate. Not disappointed at all. I can see why people flock to this place. Everyone seems to be having a good time.”
“I know. I try to eat here every time I’m on the island.”
* * *
Dina loved the restaurant.
“It feels like home,” she said to Nora.
“I didn’t think you’d be disappointed. My kids and I have to eat here every time we’re on the island. They look forward to it, and so do I.”
“So, it’s like a family custom…”
“Right.”
Nora smiled up at the young waitress standing by their table.
“Hello, Gretchen, how are you?”
“I’m just fine, Mrs. Callan. It’s nice to see you again.”
“And this is my friend, Dina Raines, another nurse. We work…or rather we did, work together.”
The young waitress nodded, “Nice to meet you, Ms. Raines.”
She took their drink orders and then said, “Do you know what you’d like, or do you want the specials of the day?”
Nora spoke to Dina.
“What would you like?”
Having read the menu, Dina said, “For me, the lobster salad, fries, and lemonade. And I’d like a bowl of clam chowder, please.”
“I’ll have a bowl of clam chowder to start, then a broiled scallop roll with fries.”
“I’ll be back with your drinks.”
Nora admitted to Dina that whenever she was on the island, she indulged herself. “What’s the use of living if you can’t enjoy good food once in a while?”
“I agree with that notion. I try not to go overboard, because I really do enjoy good food. My gram was a real cook, taught me a lot about good food.”
“You must miss her a lot.”
“I do. She saved my life, you know.”
“Lucky you had her. Now tell me about how you’re doing with your studies.”
Nora’s jaw dropped.
“A what?”
“I’m going to have a baby for a childless couple.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
Dina explained her plan to her friend. “I’m going to give the baby to its parents when it’s born. Nora, do you know that many American couples are going to India, paying women there to have their babies?”
Nora nodded. Speaking slowly, she admitted, “Now that you mention it, I did see a bit about that on television.”
“I’ve done a ton of research, and the laws vary from state to state, or country to country, and it was important to have a lawyer and fertility specialists to advise me. I’ve already got a team to assist me.”
“This whole idea is so strange to me, Dina.”
“It’s simple, really, Nora. As you know, doctors have been doing kidney transplants, heart and lung transplants, attaching severed limbs for years now. Just recently they started face transplants. So, as long as the surrogate is healthy in mind and body, a fertilized embryo can be implanted into the surrogate. The baby has no DNA from the surrogate. The baby is truly the child of the couple who provide the egg and sperm, the embryo.”
“You know, my friend,” Nora said in a solemn tone of voice, “you’re going to bond with that child. I know. I’ve had four children, two boys and two girls. You’ll become attached to that child growing inside of you.”
“But, Nora, it won’t be mine! I didn’t create the egg to begin with,” she protested. “I’m only renting my uterus for nine months, promising to deliver the child to his or her real parents.”
“What about school? How are you going to manage that?”
“I’ll be working on my proposal, evaluating the material from my questionnaires. Soon I plan to be meeting with department heads because my proposal must be approved by a committee. At the conclusion I have to defend my study and validate my work. So, really, that’s why I need the money. I won’t have to work and try to complete the study at the same time.”
Stunned by Dina’s news, Nora inquired, “And for you this is the only way…”
“Nora, my friend, I know it’s a gamble on my part, and believe me, I don’t want to sound altruistic, but I feel some satisfaction in helping this couple achieve their dream of having their own child. I’ve met them, and we connected right away.”
“All I can say, my dear, is ‘good luck’!”
“Thanks, Nora, I appreciate that. By the way, the parents are Irish, like you.” She smiled.
* * *
While Drew was settling the bill with the waitress, Charlie headed for the exit. He stopped for a moment to let two women leave ahead of him, an attractive young woman of color and a middle-aged woman. Their arms were linked and they were deep in conversation.
As Drew joined Charlie, he grabbed Drew’s arm.
“Man, you should have seen the gorgeous woman of color that just left!”
“Where? Where?”
“Just went out the door. She was stunning! Let’s see if we can spot her before she gets into her car.”
But the parking lot was nearly empty and only Charlie’s car and two SUVs were there.
* * *
The Islander’s four o’clock trip back to the mainland was filled to capacity. Drew grabbed a seat on the upper deck. His thoughts were on the weekend he had enjoyed with Charlie and his parents.
Charlie’s parents had treated him warmly, inviting him back.
“Our home is open to you any time you’d like to come,” Mr. Freeman told his son’s teammate. “And as the time draws near for the wedding, I expect we’ll see you more often.”
Charlie’s mother added, “So glad you could come, Drew.” She gave him a warm hug, saying, “Have a fantastic, winning season. Be safe and well.”
“Thank you, ma’am. We’ll do our best. Appreciate your good wishes, and thanks again for a great weekend.”
Drew’s only regret was not seeing the young woman Charlie had spotted leaving the restaurant.
* * *
Below on the ferry Nora and Dina had seats in one of the booths on the food service deck. They each purchased coffee and chocolate chip cookies.
Nora stirred two packets of artificial sweetener into her coffee. She took a sip, looked across the table at her friend.
“Tell me about the parents.”
“Very nice. A very nice couple. Robin and Coleen Dineen. He’s thirty, a CPA, works for the federal government, and his wife is twenty-nine. I believe she teaches foreign languages at a prep school in Connecticut. I didn’t ask about their reproductive problems because I really don’t need to know. Anyway,” she continued, “they’ve told me over and over how happy they are that they found me.”
“That’s nice.”
“Yes, Nora, it is. I’m really comfortable with the whole prospect…being able to help this couple. Somehow, the bond between us makes it seem so right to me to be doing this.”
“And where will you be living?”
“I’ve found a small studio apartment right on campus. I’m keeping my SUV, so I can get around easily.”
“That’s good, Dina. You know I’m totally shocked by your news, but in a way I’m not surprised. You’ve always been an independent, responsible person. You’ve always known what you want, and you just go for it. What’s your proposal for your degree?” Nora asked.
Dina smiled and answered, “The Nurse as an Effective Patient Teacher.”
Nora grinned at her. “Should have known.”
“With my research, I intend to prove it. I’ve sent lesson plans to nurses containing certain teaching protocols. I’m also asking for a report on their success or failure in using the system.”
Nora shook her head.
“Sounds like a lot of work to me.”
“That’s why I need the money. I have to be able to support myself, as well as pay my tuition. I really don’t want to work part-time.”
* * *
As the ferry moved out to sea toward Hyannis, Drew left the chilly upper deck. He reached the lower deck and went to the deli. He purchased a cup of coffee and a small bag of potato chips.
He was searching the crowded area for an empty table when he saw her. He stopped dead in his tracks.
“Excuse me, aren’t…aren’t you…Claudine Raines, the nurse I met at the autographing?”
Dina responded, “Yes, I do remember you.” She said to Nora, “This is Drew Tyler, a football player for the Anchors. You recall the autographing they held at the hospital.”
“Nice to meet you, Drew.” She extended her hand, giving him a firm handshake. “I’m Nora Callan.”
“It’s my pleasure, Ms. Callan. May I?” He nodded his head, asking permission to join them.
Sensing the importance of this chance encounter, Nora looked across the table at Dina. She rose from her seat, gathered her purse, saying, “Dina, it’s a long drive from Hyannis to Boston, so I’m going to use the facilities before we get into the harbor.”
She stood up, indicating to Drew that he take her seat.
Again, he offered his hand to her. as they shook hands, he said, “So nice to meet you, ma’am.”
“Be back later,” she said to Dina as she left.
“Nice lady.”
“A very dear friend. We’ve worked together for a long time.”
Seated across the table from Dina, Drew stared at her. When he finally spoke, she heard the intense emotion in his voice.
“You are more beautiful than ever. You can’t know how desperate I was to find you. Didn’t you know that I wanted to see you, hook up with you? You had my card, and I was hoping you’d call me. I even tried to reach you at the hospital…”
“I’m no longer working there.”
Eyeb
rows raised, Drew questioned her, “Not there anymore?”
“No, I’m going back to school, in Connecticut.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“You can’t! We’ve just found each other….”
“I’m pursuing a Ph.D. in nursing.”
“That’s great! But…that doesn’t mean we can’t see each other. How far is the school from Boston?”
“About two and a half hours.”
“No problem, can always fly to Bradley Field…rent a car…”
“Drew,” Dina broke in, “I don’t think you realize just how busy I’m going to be. Have to meet with various Ph.D. committees, heads of various departments, prepare to present and defend my research. I just can’t…divide my time to…”
“Don’t say can’t, Dina! Listen, were you at Hayes’ Bar and Grill a few nights ago?”
“Yes, Nora and I were there.”
“So was I, with my teammate Charlie. And when he described the young woman he saw leaving that night, somehow I knew it was you! We are destined to be together, I just know it. Promise me you won’t disappear again!”
Dina felt moved by his plea. He was attractive, seemed so sincere, but how would he react if he were to learn of her other future plans?
* * *
Driving back from the Cape, Dina told Nora, “Thanks so much for an exciting, wonderful weekend, Nora.”
“Well,” Nora conceded, “it was really exciting, that’s for sure, with your news about becoming a surrogate and then having Drew Tyler show up. Do you know how you’re going to deal with him? He seemed so thrilled to find you.”
“I know, but, Nora, I have my future plans all lined up and this is not the time for distractions! I just can’t let Drew Tyler into my life. Not now!”
Speaking quietly, her hand on Dina’s arm, she said, “Look, honey, have you thought about what you could be missing down the road if you don’t let him into your life? From what little I could see and hear, and I consider myself to be a good judge of character, Drew Tyler is crazy about you!”
“Nora! We don’t even know each other!”
“Listen, kiddo, you find a way to let him in, even a little! Because, in my opinion,” she insisted, “Drew Tyler is a ‘keeper.’ And, remember this: a Ph.D. won’t comfort you when you are lonely, when some of life’s sad circumstances befall you. That piece of paper you worked so hard for, that will look good on your resume, won’t hold you and comfort you.”
A First Class Act Page 5
