Sunrise on Cedar Key

by Terri DuLong

  “Oh, Lucas,” I said, excitedly. “I can hardly wait. Do you ever miss not living there anymore?”

  A solemn expression crossed his face. “Sometimes, yes. But that was another lifetime. Besides, had I not left there, I never would have met you.”

  I never would have met you. His words warmed my heart. I reached up to stroke his face. “And I’m so glad you did.”

  “Then I would like to ask you something.” He paused for a moment. “Do you have interest in seeing anybody else?”

  His question caught me by surprise. “Do you mean like date another man?”

  He nodded.

  “No. I haven’t given that any thought whatsoever. I like being with you. I think we have fun together and I enjoy your company.”

  A huge smile covered Lucas’s face as he reached for my hand. “Good. Because I feel the same way.” He shifted on the sofa to face me directly. “I was wondering ... you had told me about this other man ...”

  “Beau?”

  “Yes. Did you ever consider marrying him? What I mean to say is ... had he not been married, do you think you would have considered this?”

  Nobody had ever asked me this question. Not only that, I realized in that moment that I truly had never really given this any thought myself. “I’m not sure,” I said, while still thinking about his question. “I mean ... it’s hard to say, since it was impossible for that to happen.”

  Lucas nodded. “I understand. Perhaps what I meant to ask was ... you had mentioned that you were satisfied with the relationship with Beau, because you wanted to keep the single, independent lifestyle. You said that relationship with him worked well for both of you.”

  “Yes,” I said, unsure where he was headed.

  “Do you think you will always feel this way? Wanting to stay a single woman? Do you ever have a desire to someday be married?”

  Our conversation had certainly morphed into extremely serious territory, and he was touching on subjects I’d never discussed with another man before. I wasn’t sure how to answer, because quite simply, I wasn’t sure I had an answer.

  I ran a hand through my curls and let out a deep sigh. “Well ... if you’re asking if I’m against marriage, the answer is no. Of course not. However, with the divorce rate at fifty percent, I feel one has to be cautious. I certainly have never believed that a woman must be married in order to complete herself as a woman.” Like my sister, I thought. “But yes, if a couple meet and feel they are right for each other, then yes, it could ultimately lead to marriage.”

  Lucas remained silent for a moment and then asked, “And you don’t feel that marriage would result in a loss of freedom?”

  “Well, no. But I also don’t feel that two people should have to give up their own identity when they become married. Hopefully, the traits that one admires and respects in a person when they are dating will continue after they marry.” I recalled what Suellen had said about compromise. “Perhaps it’s a matter of learning to compromise? When somebody is alone ... they never have to compromise,” I said, slowly beginning to understand what Suellen had been saying to me. “With a partner, I think compromise is inevitable.”

  Another smile crossed Lucas’s face and I foolishly felt like I had passed some sort of test. “Compromise is the magic word, but it’s not always an easy thing to do.”

  Did he know this from his own previous marriage? I couldn’t help but wonder if a man who seemed to understand the importance of the word was willing to compromise about having children?

  “And so ...” he said slowly. “What do you think allows this compromise to even be possible?”

  Without hesitating or thinking about it, I said, “Love. I’ve always felt that love is the strongest emotion we have.”

  Lucas brought my hand to his lips and nodded as his intense gaze consumed my very soul. He had not uttered the words. No. But I knew, without a doubt, in the depths of my soul that Lucas loved me. And for the first time I allowed what I also felt to be acknowledged in my mind.

  24

  Dora Foster’s house was a bustle of female excitement. I had arrived early along with Suellen and Chloe to do the decorating. Standing on a step stool, I reached up to secure a cluster of pink and blue balloons to the wall. I continued to work my way around the room until all the balloons had been placed.

  Standing back, I smiled appreciatively. “Okay, what’s next?” I asked.

  Dora came out of the kitchen to place a bowl of shrimp dip on the table she’d set up in the great room. “Oh, nice job,” she said, looking around the room.

  Suellen and Chloe were finishing up hanging pink and blue streamers of crepe paper around the doorways.

  “I think that will complete the decorating,” Dora said. “Perhaps you girls can help me to bring more of the food from the kitchen.”

  I picked up two platters of crab salad sandwiches, while Suellen and Chloe brought out potato salad and coleslaw.

  “I’m here,” Aunt Maude hollered from the front door, trying to balance a gift bag and plate of cocktail meatballs.

  “Here, let me help you,” I said, running to assist her.

  A minute later Monica’s mother-in-law, Opal, showed up with Sydney right behind her.

  “Ah, your famous key lime pie,” Dora said, taking two pie plates from her. “And Sydney, I’m so glad you made Sybile’s traditional cheesecake.”

  “Here we go,” we heard Opal’s friend, Charlie, say as he maneuvered his way through the door carrying a maple cradle.

  “Oh, Opal,” I said, going over to run my hand along the smoothness of the wood. “This was Adam’s?”

  “Yup,” she said, beaming. “It sure was. Slept in there his first couple months and now my firstborn grandson will use it.”

  “Be right back,” Charlie said, and returned with two large gift-wrapped packages under each arm. “The other two cradles. Brand new ones, but each baby will have their own.”

  I smiled as I helped him lean them against the heirloom cradle. By the time two o’clock arrived all the guests were seated, the gifts had been placed inside and around the cradle, the food was all arranged on the table, and we waited for our guest of honor’s arrival.

  A few minutes later we heard a car pull up out front. Dora ran to the window. “Shhh,” she said. “Here she comes.”

  The door opened and Monica walked in, with Adam and Clarissa right behind her, as all of us shouted, “Surprise!”

  Monica’s hand flew to her mouth as she began laughing. “Oh, you guys! I thought maybe I’d escape this,” she said, making her way to the chair we’d decorated in her honor.

  I ran over to give her a hug. “Are you kidding? Did you really think we’d miss an opportunity for a party?”

  Poor Monica attempted to get comfortable in the chair, which wasn’t an easy feat considering the huge size of her stomach. Adam leaned over to kiss her. “I think you’re in very good hands,” he said. “Time for this male to get outta here.”

  We all laughed as Suellen said, “Right. Females only.”

  “Here, Clarissa,” Dora said, pointing to the chair beside Monica’s. “This is your place of honor. You’ll be the one to get each gift and pass it to Monica to open.”

  “Really?” The ten-year-old positively beamed with pride. “Okay,” she said, taking her seat. “Thank you.”

  After all of the gifts had been opened, Monica became overcome with emotion as she attempted to thank all of us. “I really can’t thank all of you enough,” she said, looking around at the baby outfits, car seats, triplet carriage from Sydney, beautiful hand-knitted baby items, and so many other beautiful and necessary gifts. “I never expected all of this. So, thank you,” she said, as tears glistened in her eyes. “I love each and every one of you.”

  Much to my aggravation, I never did find those two baby sweaters. So I’d had to resort to quickly knitting two more—both blue this time—to go with the pink one.

  “Well, then. Maybe you can finally share with us wh
at the names will be for my new grandchildren,” Opal said.

  Monica laughed. “Yes, I think it’s time to share that with all of you.” She put her arm around Clarissa. “It was a family decision. The three of us spent a lot of time trying to decide. And ... the firstborn boy will be named Saren, in honor of his great-grandfather.”

  Oohs and ah’s filled the room. “Oh, how nice,” Dora said. “Saren and Sybile would be so proud.”

  “I think so,” Monica said. “And the second boy will be named ... Sidney. Spelled the male way with the ‘i’ and named for my mother.”

  Sydney jumped up in excitement and ran to her daughter. “Oh, wow. I’m so flattered. Thank you,” she said, placing a kiss on Monica’s cheek. “Imagine, a grandson named after me.”

  All of us laughed as we gave Sydney a huge round of applause.

  “And the girl?” Suellen questioned. “What name did you choose for her?”

  Monica smiled as she pulled Clarissa close. “Clarissa chose her name and I’ll let her tell you.”

  “My new sister will be called Candace Opal Brooks,” she said, with excitement and pride. “I like the name Candace and I wanted her to also have the initial of ‘c,’ and her middle name is for our grandmother.”

  “Lord above,” Opal said, rushing over to pull Clarissa into an embrace. “I’m so honored. Thank you. You’re such a special granddaughter.”

  Another round of applause followed.

  “Well,” Dora said. “I think it’s safe to say that all of us here approve of your choices, and now we can’t wait to meet Cedar Key’s newest additions. Time to celebrate with food.”

  When the shower ended, I went with Suellen to her house to borrow a pair of number seven knitting needles.

  “How about some coffee,” she said, as we walked into her kitchen.

  Before I could answer I looked down to see the little stray gray and white kitten scampering toward me. I leaned down to pick him up and cuddle him.

  “Obviously, you know you have a kitten in your house?” I said.

  Suellen laughed. “Yeah, the little guy won me over. Meet my new companion, Freud.”

  “Freud, like the psychiatrist?”

  “Yup. The evening he showed up in the yard you and I were having a discussion, remember? And you kidded me about hanging out my shingle. So ... I thought Freud was appropriate.”

  “I love it,” I said. “And he’s such a cutie.”

  “He’s a great little kitten. And he is a he. I brought him to the vet for a checkup and he confirmed it. So Freud has had all his shots and now he’s an indoor cat.”

  “That’s so great,” I said, placing the kitten back on the floor. “I’m really glad you found each other. And yes, I will have some coffee.”

  After she’d prepared it, we both sat at the kitchen table. “So I take it things seem to be going very well for you and Lucas?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, ever since New Year’s Eve, it’s like we turned a corner, or maybe moved ahead is more accurate.”

  “That’s great. Maybe Lucas just needed time to be sure. Didn’t want to get into a relationship before he knew what he was getting into.”

  “I think you could be right. We had a very in-depth discussion about how we felt concerning important issues in a relationship. I think we both ended up coming to know and understand each other much better.”

  “I’ve always felt that’s how a solid relationship develops and grows. You start off as friends and you always remain friends. Of course, there’s passion and a chemistry that goes with it. But the core of the relationship is rooted in both love and a genuine understanding as friends.”

  I nodded. “And ... I do love him, Suellen.” That was the first time I’d actually verbalized those words out loud.

  “No kidding,” my friend said.

  My head shot up in surprise. “You knew this?”

  Suellen laughed. “Hey, I haven’t known you since first grade for nothing. Of course I knew. I think you did too. You just wouldn’t admit it.”

  “Neither one of us has said it out loud yet.”

  “You don’t have to. You both know and when the time is right, you’ll say it.”

  “Tell me something,” I said, and then paused to think about my question. “Do you see a difference between me and Lucas from me and Beau?”

  “A world of difference,” she said, without hesitating. “I mean, first of all, it’s an entirely different situation, Grace. With Beau, there were all the secrets and being discreet. That’s not needed with Lucas. But beyond that, there’s another difference. And the difference is you. You’re relaxed with Lucas, more mellow, more the person you really are inside.”

  “Interesting,” was all I said.

  “I’m not sure you ever truly loved Beau.”

  “Are you serious? Of course I did.”

  “Well, I’ve always felt there are various kinds of love, so maybe you’re right. You might have loved him ... but not in that deep, forever kind of love. By the way, during your discussion, did the subject of children or sperm donation come up?”

  I shook my head. “No. Actually, I did a lot of research on sperm donation. I think it’s a wonderful option for a lot of women. However. . . I’m not so sure now that it’s for me.”

  Suellen smiled.

  “Okay, Doctor Sue, what’s the smile for?”

  “Like I said, there are various kinds of love, and honey, I think you’re pretty damn fortunate. Because I think you’ve found the lasting kind.”

  I took the last sip of my coffee. “Still say you need to hang that shingle out, but in the meantime, go get my needles so I don’t go home without them.”

  25

  Two surprising events occurred a few days before our first knitting retreat began.

  Rachel had asked Aunt Maude if she could meet with both of us on Wednesday morning.

  I walked into my aunt’s kitchen to find her removing banana bread from the oven.

  “She’s not here yet?” I asked.

  “No, but she should be along shortly.”

  “What’s this about? Do you know?”

  My aunt shook her head as she scooped coffee into the filter. “No. Not a clue.”

  There was a knock on the back door and Rachel walked in, a smile on her face, so I assumed the news wasn’t going to be too bad.

  “Good morning,” she said, pulling up a chair.

  Maude placed the sliced bread on the table along with coffee mugs. “Good morning, Rachel. Is everything okay with you?”

  “Oh, yes. Fine, actually. But I needed to discuss something with you.”

  My aunt poured the coffee as we waited.

  “Well ... uh ... I wasn’t all that truthful with you when I first came here. What I mean is, I’m actually not divorced. Not yet, anyway.”

  I took a sip of coffee as Aunt Maude sat down. This didn’t seem to be earth-shattering news.

  “You see,” Rachel went on. “My husband ... well ... he’s actually in prison.”

  I tried not to let my surprise show too much. “Oh,” was all I said, as my aunt remained silent.

  “I guess I should start at the beginning. I met Dean when I was at college in North Carolina. He was from that area. My parents had met him and didn’t like him at all. But ... of course, I wouldn’t listen. So Dean and I eloped, and after we got married we moved to the Miami area. He really had no special skills and hadn’t been to college, so it was difficult for him to find a job. I was able to pick up a low-paying office job, but the only thing Dean could find was working for a company doing landscaping. And then once I had Max, I wasn’t able to work.”

  I couldn’t help but think—typical story, girl meets wrong boy, girl falls in love, and girl spends years regretting all of it.

  Rachel took a sip of coffee. “So it was a pretty rough time, but then all of a sudden Dean began bringing more money home. He told me he got a promotion at work and ... I believed him. I just knew that financially it was getti
ng easier. We were even able to purchase a very nice home in a very nice neighborhood.” She let out a deep sigh. “Life really did get much better. We had a new car to drive, we were able to take weekend trips with Max in the travel trailer, but even though we were doing well my parents still wanted nothing to do with me. I had tried a few times to contact them after Max was born, but it didn’t work out.”

  “That’s really a shame,” Aunt Maude said as I nibbled on a slice of banana bread wondering where Rachel’s story was going.

  “I missed them. A lot. But they refused to give Dean a break at all. And then ... one evening the cops showed up at our front door looking for him. I thought it had to be some kind of mistake ... but it wasn’t. Dean was a drug dealer.”

  “Oh, my God,” I said, leaning forward in my chair. “And you never knew this?”

  “Not at all. He handled the money, so I had no idea exactly how much we had. I just knew it was enough to have a good lifestyle. Stupid me.”

  Not as stupid as you might think, I thought, as I recalled Sydney Webster’s story and so many others like her.

  “And so ... they did find Dean, arrested him, and he didn’t make bail. He was found guilty at the trial and sentenced to five years. I was so horrified and embarrassed by all of it, I took Max and the travel trailer and I left.”

  “Oh, wow,” I said. “So that’s when you came here to Cedar Key?”

  Rachel nodded. “Right. And ... Dean has no idea where we’re at.”

  “So you ran away with your son?” Aunt Maude said.

  “I did. Not that he’d miss either one of us. I’m certainly not excusing the fact that what I did was probably wrong, but Dean was never at home during that last year. Max really needed a father around and he wasn’t there for either one of us.”

  “Sounds like a case of survival to me,” my aunt said.

  “That’s what my dad said when I called him last week.”

  “You called your parents?” I asked.

  Rachel nodded. “I figured, what did I have to lose? So I told my dad the truth about Dean, admitted that I’d made a terrible mistake, and that’s what he said. When he found out that I’d taken his grandson and gotten away from that situation, it seemed he was proud of me. He said something about always knowing I’d survive.”