Sunrise on Cedar Key

by Terri DuLong

  I swallowed the lump in my throat as I glanced at Aunt Maude and saw her eyes were also glistening.

  “Thank you, Chloe,” Maude said. “And thank you to all of you that came for our first knitting retreat. I hope you’ll return home with more than just new knitting techniques. My quote comes from Anaïs Nin, because I felt it was very appropriate for our gathering. ‘Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.’ I believe our weekend together has formed a new world.”

  Cheers rang out as all of us extinguished our candles and reached for our wineglasses to lift them high.

  “Here’s to friendship and female bonding and finding our paths on this journey,” Suellen said.

  “And here’s to knitting,” Dora chimed in.

  “Amen to that,” Martha said.

  “And here’s to no dropped stitches.” Rebecca held her glass high, as we all nodded and laughed.

  Riley picked up her flute and began playing the melody of “Let It Be.”

  “I’d say this was a very successful retreat and Blue Moon ceremony,” my aunt said.

  I looked out across the water just as the huge orange globe slipped from the horizon and felt a sense of serenity envelope me.

  Chloe came to stand beside me. I pulled my aunt into an embrace and then turned to my sister.

  “I’m glad we found each other,” I said. “I love you, Chloe.”

  “I love you too, little sis.”

  29

  That first knitting retreat weekend would be extra special to us because it was our first, but over the next few weeks the ones that followed were just as enjoyable. The women ranged in age and each one had a story to share with us. Being in the group bound us together as much as the stitches we knitted.

  I was in the carriage house with Aunt Maude getting things ready for the upcoming weekend when I heard Rachel’s voice in the doorway. I turned around to see her with a middle-aged couple and Max.

  The man was tall and slim, casually dressed in polo shirt, jeans, and loafers. He reminded me of a professor I’d had in college, and he was clutching Max’s hand. The woman was very attractive, and I saw a striking resemblance to Rachel.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “But I wanted my parents to meet you.”

  “Of course not.” Aunt Maude walked toward them, hand outstretched, and introduced herself.

  “And I’m Maude’s niece, Grace. Come on in. How about some coffee, and Max, I bet you’d like a glass of lemonade?”

  “That would be great,” Rachel’s father said. “I’m Jake Kaplan, and this is my wife, Tess.”

  The four of them sat at the table while my aunt prepared the coffee and I poured lemonade for Max.

  “When did you arrive on the island?” Aunt Maude asked.

  “Just yesterday,” Tess replied. “And I can already see why my daughter came here. Not only is it beautiful, the people are so friendly.”

  “Where are you staying?” I asked, putting some cookies on a plate.

  “We’ll be here for a month, and we drove down with our dog, so we’re booked at the Faraway Inn,” Jake told us.

  “Good choice,” I said. “You got one of the cottages?”

  Tess nodded. “Yes, and it already feels like home.”

  “My wife and I want to thank you ... for looking out for Rachel and Max. She told us how you gave her the cleaning job with no experience and how she spent the holidays with you. That was very kind.”

  “It was our pleasure,” my aunt told them. “Rachel’s a fine girl and a wonderful mother. You should be proud of her.”

  When neither parent replied, Maude said, “You know, many times in life we make bad choices, but when we fix those choices and go on, that’s what counts. The end result.”

  “You’re right,” Jake said. “My wife and I can see now that maybe we were a bit rash these past years.”

  I saw his eyes move to Max, and there was no doubt this man was filled with love for his grandson.

  “And I have a grandpa and nana,” Max said, his face showing excitement. “I never had a nana and grandpa before. And I like it.”

  We all laughed as Rachel tousled her son’s hair.

  “Well, you’ve always had grandparents, Max. But now you’ll get to know them.”

  Max nodded emphatically. “And we’re going to live with them in New York and ya know what?” Before waiting for an answer, he said, “They told me I could get a puppy. A puppy! I’ve always wanted one of those.”

  I leaned over and squeezed Max’s hand as I felt my eyes moisten. “I’m so happy for you, Max. That puppy will be very lucky to have you as its owner.”

  Aunt Maude poured coffee into mugs and joined us at the table. “I’m very happy for all of you. This couldn’t have worked out better, and Rachel, I have no doubt you’ll do very well in New York.”

  “I think so. I’m going to begin college in the fall. Finish off that degree from before Max was born.”

  Jake smiled. “We have quite a large home, so Rachel and Max will stay with us until she finishes college.”

  “And I’m going to love having them with us,” Tess said. She looked around the carriage house. “You have a lovely place here. Rachel told me about your knitting retreats. I think that’s such a wonderful idea for women.”

  I smiled. “We think so too, and it’s working out very well. Do you knit, Tess?”

  “I do, and I was hoping there’d be a yarn shop on the island.”

  “There certainly is,” I said. “My friend Monica owns it now, but very soon she’ll be selling it to her aunt and my sister. It’s called Yarning Together, right downtown on Second Street. You’ll have to stop in. Oh, and we have knitting get-togethers on Thursday evenings, if you’d like to join us.”

  “I’ll definitely stop by and stock up on some yarn, and yes, that would be fun and give me a chance to meet everyone.”

  “Have you found anybody to replace me yet?” Rachel asked.

  “No, not yet,” my aunt told her. “But you’re not to worry about that. We have three months before you leave.”

  Rachel’s parents asked us questions about the island and its history, and my aunt brought forth laughter relaying some anecdotes. By the time they were ready to leave, I knew it would all work out for Rachel, and I was glad she had reconciled with her parents. Like my aunt had said, it’s the end result that counts.

  Later that afternoon I took Annie for a walk downtown. I was running low on my merino silk yarn and needed to make a stop at the yarn shop.

  “So your dream is about to come true.”

  Dora looked up from unpacking the most luscious skeins of lavenders, blues, and greens and laughed.

  “Right. I hope it won’t be a case of be careful what you wish for.”

  “I seriously doubt that,” I said, reaching out to finger the exquisite softness of yarn she was placing on the counter. “I think you and Chloe will be a great team, and I think you’ll be quite successful.”

  “Even at my age, I guess we all get a bit frightened of a new venture, but I have to admit, I’m very excited.”

  “You should be, Dora. This is something you’ve always wanted. Remember when Sydney first opened the shop? You were thrilled just to be working here part time, and now you’ll be part owner. I’m really happy for you.”

  “Thank you. I do think it’ll be a lot of fun. So how’s everything with you?”

  “Very good. I’m heading over to the coffee café to see Lucas, but I need some more of that merino silk.”

  I walked over to the wooden cubbyholes against the wall and removed two skeins of a soft shade of apricot.

  “How’s Monica doing? Any sign of those triplets making an entrance yet?”

  “Oh, it won’t be much longer now. She saw the doctor yesterday and they’re concerned her blood pressure is going too high. They have her scheduled for a C-section next Tuesday, the fourteenth.
”

  “On Valentine’s Day? Oh, wow! Her three little sweethearts coming into the world on the most romantic day of the year. That seems appropriate. Is she feeling okay though?”

  “She’s very tired, and of course being so large, it’s difficult for her to find any comfortable position. The doctor said all three babies should be a pretty good size, which is good. I know she’ll just be glad to have them in her arms.”

  Dora rang up my purchase and passed me the small paper tote bag.

  “Well, give her my best. Tell her I’ll pop by this weekend before she goes into the hospital next week.”

  Annie and I made our way down Second Street to the coffee café. I walked in to see Suellen behind the counter.

  “Hey, girlfriend,” she said, a huge smile covering her face.

  “How’s it going?” I said, leading Annie to a corner table, where she promptly curled up beneath it. Another thing I loved about this island. If no food was served inside and the owners obtained the permit, the establishment was pet friendly.

  “Going well. We’ve had a busy day. Lucas is over in the bookshop ringing up more sales. Double latte?”

  “That would be great. Oh, hey, did ya hear? Monica’s going in the hospital on Tuesday for a C-section.”

  “Really? She’ll have her triplets. Oh, isn’t that Valentine’s Day?”

  I laughed. “Yeah, it is. Apropos, wouldn’t you say?”

  “With the love she and Adam share ... very much so. That’s great. I hope it all goes well for her. I bet she’ll be glad not to have to carry all that extra poundage around.”

  “Dora said she’s pretty uncomfortable. I bet the three of them are so excited now that it’s almost here.”

  Suellen placed my coffee in front of me and joined me at the table.

  “So what else is going on around town?” she asked.

  “Hey, you’re the one down here with everybody. You should get the gossip long before I do.”

  Suellen laughed. “Actually, it’s been pretty quiet lately. Oh, I did meet Rachel’s parents this morning. She dropped in with them.”

  “They came by the carriage house earlier, too, so we could meet them. Seem really nice. I think Rachel’s going to do fine.”

  “I agree. I’m glad she got in touch with them. They’ll be a huge help to her and Max.”

  We both turned toward the door as the chimes tinkled and I saw my sister walk in, a wide smile covering her face.

  She struck a pose, one hand on her hip, head tilted up toward the ceiling, and said, “Well, girls ... meet the new owner of the Hale Building across the street.”

  “No!” I said, jumping up to grab her in an embrace. “You made an offer?”

  “I made an offer and just found out it was accepted.”

  “Hey, you go, girl!” Suellen said, jumping up to join us in a circle as the three of us danced around like five-year-olds. “Congratulations!”

  All the whooping and hollering drew Lucas from the bookshop over to the coffee café. He stood in the doorway, a perplexed expression on his face watching three grown women being kids again.

  I ran over to give him a huge bear hug. “Chloe made an offer on the building across the street and they accepted. It’s hers! She’ll be the new owner of the Hale Building.”

  Lucas burst out laughing. “Congratulations, Chloe. I wondered what you ladies were so excited about.”

  Chloe threw her hands up in the air, joining Lucas’s laughter. “I know. I can hardly believe it. I’ve gone from depressed housewife to an entrepreneur.”

  I ran over to hug her again. “And I’m so happy for you.”

  “I hope you really mean that, because I’m going to need some help moving into that apartment upstairs.”

  “Of course I’ll help you. When are you moving?”

  “Two weeks.”

  “Not a problem. You can count on me.”

  “Oh, me too,” Suellen said.

  “And I’ll help as well,” Lucas chimed in.

  “Have you told Aunt Maude yet?”

  “Not yet. I need a nice strong coffee and then I’ll head home.”

  “Coming right up,” Suellen said, going behind the counter.

  30

  The next two weeks flew by. I took a few trips into Gainesville with Chloe to make some household purchases, and by the time moving day arrived, my sister’s level of excitement was at a high.

  She’d hired a moving company to transport her furniture from the storage unit to her new apartment, but she needed help getting everything arranged.

  I stood in the middle of my sister’s front room and looked around. “This is a good-size room, and I love how it leads right out to that porch overlooking Second Street.”

  “Yeah,” Suellen said. “Imagine the gossip she’ll gather from up here. I want all the details of what you see going on down there.”

  Chloe laughed as she pushed an expensive-looking, beige leather sofa against the wall. “Right. Like I’m going to have time to just hang out there and soak up what everybody’s doing. I’ll be busy down the street at the yarn shop.”

  I saw Lucas smile.

  “What is it about women and gossip? I remember my grandmother and her friends in the village. They prided themselves on knowing what was going on with everybody.”

  “Aw, come on,” I said. “You can’t tell me males don’t do the same thing when they get together. Look at that juicy gossip you told me last week about that guy who’s renting a place here on the island for his mistress. And that was told to you by another man.”

  “What?” Suellen nudged my arm. “And you didn’t share this with your BFF?”

  “No, I didn’t. Because you don’t know the people involved. Chloe, want me to start unpacking that box of dishes in your kitchen?” I said, changing the subject.

  “That would be great. I’ll tackle the box of linens. Maybe you could help me with that, Suellen, and Lucas, if you don’t mind maybe you could get my full-length mirror hung on the back of my bedroom door. All the hardware for it is here,” she said, holding up a bag.

  “Cripe, your sister’s quite the task master,” Suellen joked, and headed for the bathroom.

  I walked into the small kitchen off the front room and began carefully unwrapping dishes. No doubt about it. My sister had excellent taste with décor. I flipped over a plate and saw the imprint of a pricey china manufacturer in England. The pattern was a beautiful blue willow, and I wondered if these would be her everyday dishes. Four more boxes sat piled up on the floor labeled kitchenware.

  An hour later Chloe’s cabinets were filled with two sets of dishes, crystal, and cookware. It was a good thing the boxes were empty, because I’d run out of space.

  I walked into the bedroom off the front room to find Chloe and Suellen emptying the last of the box of linens and towels. All of it had been neatly arranged in a large closet in the bathroom.

  “You have a good-size bedroom, too, Chloe. Your bedroom set fits in perfectly and still gives you plenty of room for that cushy chair in the corner.”

  My sister stuck her head out from the bathroom. “I know. The rooms are very spacious and I love that. It doesn’t feel cramped at all for an apartment. That chair will be perfect for curling up with a good book. That’s why I put the floor lamp beside it. And my roll-top desk fits well in the living room. Plus, I like having the extra bedroom and bath in case I ever have guests.”

  Suellen emerged from the bathroom swiping a strand of hair from her face. “Well, that’s it for towels and linens. Done. This really is an ideal place for a woman alone. I love it, Chloe. If I didn’t have a lease on my cottage I’d be asking to rent that back apartment from you.”

  “Anybody interested in that?” Lucas asked, closing the bedroom door to show us the installation of the mirror.

  “Oh, that looks great, Lucas. Thank you so much. No, I haven’t had any inquiries yet. I’m not in a huge hurry to rent it, but eventually I might put an ad in the paper.”<
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  “I’d bet anything you won’t have to. Around here, somebody will hear about it from word of mouth.”

  I looked at my watch and was surprised to see it was six o’clock. No wonder my stomach was growling.

  “Hey, guys. I’m starved. Why don’t we order a pizza?”

  “Great idea,” Lucas said. “My treat. To welcome Chloe into her new home. I’ll run over to Island Pizza. How’s mushroom, green pepper, and extra cheese sound?”

  “Perfect,” Suellen, Chloe, and I said in unison.

  When Lucas returned with the pizza, Chloe produced a bottle of Cabernet, which she uncorked and poured into quite elaborate wineglasses.

  “Geez,” I said, taking mine. “I’m almost scared to use this. It’s gorgeous crystal, Chloe.”

  “Yeah, got it on a trip Parker and I took to Paris years ago. May he rot in hell.”

  Suellen and I laughed.

  “Not a forgiving soul, are ya, sis?”

  “Hey, I’m in a good place now. I could care about him. And don’t be scared of breaking the glass, Grace. One thing I learned years ago—beautiful things aren’t meant to be locked away. They have to be used and enjoyed.”

  “Aunt Maude always said that,” I told her. I lifted my glass high. “Well, here’s a toast to you, your new apartment, and your new life.”

  “Many years of happiness,” Suellen said.

  “Bonne chance.” Lucas touched his glass to Chloe’s.

  “Thank you all so much. You were a huge help to me, and I really appreciate it. Let’s take that pizza out to the patio table on the porch.”

  After finishing two slices of pizza and a glass of wine, I stood up and stretched. “Well, this was fun, but I have to get home and take Annie out.”

  Chloe jumped up to pull me into an embrace. “Thank you, Grace. For everything. I’m so glad I have you to share good things with.”

  The years fell away and I recalled the last time my sister hugged me when I was a child. The day she left for college. I realized that prior to that, while she may have been remote in the way an older sister might be, I had felt she loved me. But it wasn’t the same sister that returned four years later. Strange how I hadn’t given this any thought over so many years.