by K. A. Davis
Halfway through her coffee, Claire noticed two people walking on the beach and a dog running in the water with a stick in its mouth. Claire watched as a man and woman slowly walked up the beach toward her.
Without warning a giant, black lab was suddenly at her feet sniffing her. Not a great dog person, Claire sat perfectly still and quietly said, “Hello.” A sharp whistle from the man and the dog bolted back to his master kicking up sand with his hind legs. Whew. Thank you, thought Claire as she looked down from the porch. The couple had stopped just below the house and she recognized Jill. ‘What the?’
Jill climbed the steps over the dune. The man nodded up at Claire and then turned and walked back the way they had come. The dog quickly ran past his master and plunged into the waves.
“Good morning,” Jill said, when she reached the porch.
“Well hello…and who was that?”
“His name’s Drew Carson. I met him on the beach.”
“Is that safe?”
Jill gave Claire a curious look. “Do you want me to run screaming back to the house every time I see someone on the beach?”
“No, of course not. You’re right, I’m sorry.”
“He seems very nice. His dog’s name is Ike. He rented a cottage down the beach for a month. Lucky guy, a month would be wonderful.”
“What’s he doing out here all by himself…or isn’t he by himself?” Claire asked, trying not to sound too suspicious.
“He IS by himself. He’s divorced. He just wanted a change of scenery and some peace and quiet. He’s a business strategy consultant and can work from anywhere.”
“You got all that on one walk?”
“Well, sure. No sense wasting time if he’s married,” Jill grinned.
Claire rolled her eyes skyward in pretend annoyance. “You must be hungry. Let’s see if the others are up yet.”
The kitchen was still empty, so they returned to the porch to wait.
“Did you hear Diane come in last night or rather this morning?” Claire asked.
Jill shook her head. “What time was it?”
“Just after three. I’m thinking she might sleep in.”
“Wouldn’t doubt it.”
The conversation had turned to what to do after breakfast when the screen door squeaked behind them. Caroline joined them looking like she had just stepped out of Vogue magazine in a black velour, jogging outfit. “Good morning, ladies.”
Jill looked up annoyed. “Caroline, if you have a string of pearls around your neck I’m going to have to slap you.”
Caroline smiled, “Don’t be silly, they’re diamonds.”
Claire laughed and asked, “How did you sleep?”
“Better than I have in months, thank you. Are you two hungry?”
“Always,” Claire replied. “But Diane’s not up yet.”
“She’s not here,” Caroline returned, surprised Claire didn’t know.
“What do you mean? I heard her come in very early this morning?” Claire stated wrinkling her brow.
“Well, I looked in her room and she wasn’t there and there’s no luggage. Did you check for her car?”
Claire walked to the driveway side of the house. “I’ll be darned. Her car isn’t here, but I was sure I heard something last night.”
“Must have been the wind,” Jill injected. “Claire, check your phone to see if she called.”
Claire hurried to the parlor for her handbag and pulled out her phone. No messages.
Returning to the kitchen with phone in hand she hit speed dial. While she listened for a connection they heard a car in the driveway.
Jill reached Diane first and threw her arms around her, “God Diane, we were just about to panic. Where have you been?”
Diane patted Jill’s back. “Oh, just a nightmare trip. Left the office later than I expected and then, half way here I had a flat and had to wait over an hour for help. I don’t know why I keep paying for AAA membership, they’re so slow. Then, the guy took forever to change the tire. I swear I could have done it faster myself. Thank goodness for GPS. If I had gotten lost that would have been the icing on the cake.”
As Claire reached into the back seat for Diane’s suitcase, she glanced over the roof of the car just in time to see the old, red pickup drive by again. “Come on Diane, you must be exhausted. Do you want coffee, shower, or sleep?”
“As much as I want to catch up with you all, I think I better sleep.”
Once they had settled Diane in her room, Claire, Jill, and Caroline returned to the kitchen and sat down around the table.
Opening the box on the table Caroline asked, “Where did the pastries come from?”
“My favorite bakery,” Jill answered, biting into a cheese Danish.
“Well, thanks,” Claire said. “And, thanks for setting the table and making the coffee this morning.
Jill stopped in mid-chew and with chipmunk cheeks full of Danish mumbled, “I didn’t make the coffee or set the table. It was done when I left to walk on the beach. I thought Diane had done it last night. Of course, that was before I knew she hadn’t arrived.”
Caroline and Claire both stared at Jill expressionless.
Winking and waving her index finger Caroline laughed, “One of you had too much to drink last night and forgot you did it.”
Claire looked at Jill and shrugged her shoulders. “We did hit the margaritas pretty hard.”
“And, maybe one of us did have one too many. It’s happened before,” Jill admitted, looking directly at Claire.
“Your secret’s safe with me. I won’t tell anyone,” Caroline proclaimed. “What do you say we walk to town? I’d love to see what shops they have.”
Finishing their coffee the women cleaned up the kitchen and grabbed their wallets.
“We better leave a note for Diane,” Jill volunteered, grabbing a notepad and pen from the desk beside the front door.
The road to Haworth was narrow and followed the shore line. There were very few houses and not one car passed the trio.
“Gosh, this is great. Smell that sea air,” Caroline said, with a big smile on her face.
Jill looked at Caroline. “You seem to be feeling better than you did last night.”
“One hundred percent! I can’t tell you how good it is to be here.”
They were soon meandering down the sidewalks of Haworth looking in store windows. Huge, yellow, and red signs announced large reductions in prices in nearly every store they passed. Summer merchandise had to be moved to make room for cold weather gear. The main street of Haworth was not very long so it didn’t take long to go up one side and down the other. Near the end of the street was a sign pointing down an alley, “Blackbeard’s Tavern.”
“Well, of course,” Jill said, sarcastically. “Every shore town has to have a Blackbeard’s or a Davey Jones restaurant. Let’s see if we can get a cold drink.”
Turning down the alley they found a picturesque, cedar-shingled pub with a hand-carved sign depicting a bearded pirate. Slipping inside the cool darkness of the tavern they waited for their eyes to adjust. The restaurant was fairly crowded. A waitress greeted them and escorted them to a small table in the far corner.
“This is darling,” Caroline offered. “Are you eating or just getting a drink?”
“Just iced tea for me,” Jill said. Claire nodded in agreement.
The waitress took their orders and returned promptly with tall glasses with wedges of lemon balanced on the rims.
“Should we take something back for Diane?” Caroline asked.
Claire lowered her glass and shook her head. “I stocked the frig pretty well, but we could use some wine.”
Back in the warm sunlight the women found a liquor store and then started their return trip to the cottage.
With the wine stowed in the refrigerator, they donned bathing suits and walked down the steps to the beach. It was mid-afternoon when a shadow crossed their faces and made them look up from their beach towels. Diane was standing
above them.
“Good day Sleeping Beauty,” Claire said. “Pull up a chair, or rather a towel.”
Spreading her towel on the sand, Diane sat down at the end of the row of well-lotioned cellulite and then eased onto her stomach. Propping herself up on her elbows she engaged the others in a description of their morning activities and updates on their families. Caroline was unusually quiet and lay with her sunhat covering her face. The conversation slowed to silence and the warm sand lured their bodies into oblivion. One by one they closed their eyes and slipped into sleep. A cool breeze and clouds crossing the sun woke them with a sudden drop in temperature.
“Yikes. It got cold!” Claire said, sitting up.
Gathering their beach paraphernalia they walked toward the house discussing what to do for dinner. They decided to try one of the restaurants in town to celebrate being together again. By six thirty everyone was showered and changed. Claire, Jill, and Diane wore jeans, sandals, and cotton sweaters. Caroline appeared in an expensive looking sundress, full makeup, perfect hair, and accessorized like a gypsy on parade.
“For heaven’s sake, Caroline. Don’t you ever dress down?” Jill asked, bluntly.
Diane and Claire looked at each other wondering if Caroline was insulted by the remark.
Caroline’s smile vanished and she looked down at her body. “I guess I am a little overdressed. Just give me a minute and I’ll change?”
Ten minutes later she returned wearing white slacks and a cashmere sweater with only minimal jewelry.
“Much better,” Diane complimented her, with a kind smile.
Exploring Haworth they found a small, seafood restaurant located next to the commercial fishing docks. They were treated to a window table where they could watch the fisherman unload their catch and wash down their boats.
“Some nice looking men out there,” Jill announced, softly. “Yup, men sure love their hoses.”
Diane laughed so hard she spit wine. Embarrassed, she grabbed a napkin and covered her mouth.
“You go girl,” Claire said. “And take Diane with you.”
“Oh no, no thanks,” Diane replied, still laughing. “I’m not in the market.”
“Well I am,” Jill boasted, holding up her wine glass to clink the others’.
“Yes, you’re long overdue,” Claire laughed.
The waitress interrupted to take their orders. They all chose mixed, seafood platters and ordered another bottle of wine. Shared stories of their college days entertained them through dinner. Full of good food and wine they settled back in their captain’s chairs and watched as the setting sun cast distorted outlines of the gently, rocking boats across the water.
“Dessert anyone?” the waitress inquired.
The four women groaned simultaneously and, with regret, declined.
Diane was the first to stand, “I’m sure glad we drove. I couldn’t walk back to the cottage if I tried.”
“I know what you mean, that’s more food than I’ve had in a month of Sundays,” Jill chimed in.
Back at the cottage it was a race up the stairs to change into pajamas. Gathering everyone in the parlor, Jill made an announcement. “I hereby declare that we are starting a tradition…nightcaps on the roof!”
“Jill, there’s nowhere to sit up there,” Claire said.
“Ah, but there is,” Jill declared. Holding up a bottle of Moscato, and four wine glasses, she led the way up the stairs.
“Better grab some coats or blankets,” Diane said. “I think she’s serious.”
Opening the door to the widow’s walk, Jill bowed and waved her friends onto the roof. Four, aluminum, lawn chairs with green and white, plastic webbing were arranged in a semi-circle facing the ocean. A kerosene lantern glowed from its position, on the roof, in front of the chairs.
Laughing, Diane looked at Jill. “I remember chairs like these, my parents had them for years. When one of the webs broke Dad would re-weave it with a new piece. Unfortunately, the new piece never matched the old and, after a few repairs, the chairs were a kaleidoscope of color. Mom hated it. She said it made our yard look like a circus.”
The women each took a chair and Jill poured everyone a glass of wine.
“Where did you find these chairs and how did you get them up here?” Claire asked, reaching for her glass.
“I found them in the shed out back this morning before I went for a walk. The shed was unlocked so I took a look and there they were. I brought them up while you all were sleeping. Cool, huh?”
Covering herself with a blanket Claire held up her glass. “Good find, Jill. Here’s to you.”
It was a beautiful night. Stars sparkled, by the millions, overhead and the man in the moon smiled down at them. The women chatted and laughed and poured more wine. Jill noticed Caroline hadn’t said anything for quite a while and was quietly staring out over the ocean.
“Caroline are you okay?” she asked.
Diane and Claire stopped talking and looked at Caroline.
There was a long pause before Caroline turned to face her friends. “Well,” she took a deep breath. “Not really... Bill’s having an affair.” There, she had finally said it out loud. It didn’t hurt as much as she thought it would.
Claire, sitting next to her, reached over and took her hand. “Oh, Caroline, I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you, but you know what? Telling you three right now felt good. I haven’t spoken to anyone about it and it’s been driving me crazy.”
“Are you sure he’s cheating?” Diane asked.
Caroline shrugged her shoulders and pursed her lips. “Did I catch them in the act? No. But, there have been signs, and Joan Gates seemed sincere when she told me.” Caroline went on to tell them everything that had happened including how she had moved the money.”
“Are you planning to leave him?” Jill inquired.
“I don’t know. Until right now, I really hadn’t thought that far ahead. I’m tired being someone’s wife, someone’s mother, a social director, everything but my own person.”
Trying to lighten the conversation Jill asked, “Does that mean you won’t have to look like a million bucks all the time Caroline?”
“Maybe,” Caroline laughed.
“Do you even own a pair of jeans?” Claire asked.
“Of course I do.”
“We’ve never seen you in jeans. Even at school, we wore cutoffs and you had coordinated Bermuda short outfits!”
The cumulative effect of the evening’s wine was starting to loosen Caroline up and she let out a full belly laugh. “I wear jeans when I garden.”
“You garden?” Diane asked, sincerely amazed.
“Yes! I garden! I even have my own garden tools. They’re pink.”
By now the other women were laughing out loud in spite of Caroline’s unfortunate situation.
“You’ve got to be kidding. Pink garden tools?” Jill asked.
Caroline stood stretching her five foot five inch frame to its max and with great melodrama said, “Well, certainly, doesn’t everyone? The Women’s Auxiliary at the hospital sold them as a fundraiser for breast cancer. As the exemplary president that I am, I had to buy them which meant I had to take up gardening.”
The laughter continued as they tried to picture Caroline digging in the dirt.
“Oh, you’d be surprised. None of you know the truth about me,” Caroline added, sitting back down.
The laughter stopped abruptly and Claire, Jill, and Diane looked at Caroline. Caroline was glad it was dark and they couldn’t see her face because she was afraid she would get emotional. Since she started, she was going to keep going and finally, after all these years, let it all out.
Diane spoke first. “What do you mean we don’t really know you? We’ve known you for thirty-four years. We’ve grown up together. Are you okay? Is it your health?”
“I’m fine. And no, it’s not my health. You know those cute Bermuda short outfits you just mentioned Claire?”
“Yes.”
> “They were hand-me-downs from the family my mother worked for. Every piece of clothing I had was a hand-me-down, until I married Bill.”
“Big deal, we all had hand-me-downs at one time or another.”
“Maybe, but I never had any new clothes. We were dirt poor. Mom worked as a housekeeper because my father was a disgusting drunk.”
The women audibly sucked in their breath and waited.
“Yup, good old Dad. He would rather hang out all day in a bar swilling beer and doing shots than support his family.”
“We didn’t know your dad was an alcoholic,” Jill said, sympathetically.
“Oh no, Jill, not an alcoholic… please, don’t dress it up. Alcoholism is not a disease like all the do-gooders try to make us believe. It’s a freaking choice that selfish, weak people make. He wasn’t anything as nice as a disease, he was a falling down, sickening drunk who made our lives miserable. My mother worked her fingers to the bone trying to keep us from living in the street.”
Caroline took a sip of wine and went on. “Didn’t you ever wonder why I always accepted the invitations to your homes on school breaks, but never invited you to mine? We lived in a slum. I was too embarrassed to let anyone see how we lived. We had nothing. Mom worked hard and Dad would steal her pay and piss it down the drain. Arnie, my brother, quit school at sixteen and lied about his age to get into the Navy. Bless his heart, he’s a good guy, and has a great job and family now. My sister, Bonnie, deliberately got pregnant so that Ralph would marry her and get her out of the house. Yup, that’s the way it really was.”
Stunned, Diane asked, “Caroline, how did you afford school?”
“I knew the only way to get out of the slums was education. So, I worked my ass off in high school and won a full math scholarship. Yeah, I bet you thought I was always a dumb, little, Southern gal, didn’t you? Nope, I’ve got it upstairs,” she said, pointing to her head. “But I learned that acting cute and dumb got me a lot further with the guys than being smart. College was the fast track to rich guys and I was not going to be poor ever again.”
