“Of course. He’s about the same age as my Jeremy. They go to school together, don’t they?”
“You know they do.” Meg readied herself for the worst.
“Well, you don’t have to get huffy. I’ve always been surprised that they let him in the school with a single mother. But, money can get you anything.”
Meg stared at the woman in the green dress. Her first thought was to walk away, but she was talking about Jon, and Meg’s maternal instincts kicked in.
“I don’t know what his mother’s marital status has to do with his education. Jon is an excellent student—the head of his class—and not a bully like your Jeremy.”
“Bully!” Amy said, trying to hide a smile. She was probably proud of the fact that he followed in his mother’s shoes. It was obvious that Amy was in charge in her family. Her husband was a mere figure-head. But, Meg was sure little Jeremy was planning a coup in the near future. Even his mother was not going to stop him from taking over. “My son is not a bully. If you are talking about the incident with the history book, Jeremy wasn’t involved in that.”
****
Jon came home one day without his history book and said it was lost when she questioned him about his homework. He told her he needed a new one. Meg knew something was wrong with the boy as soon as he came in the door. He was too quiet. She gave him a snack and sat at the bar with him, waiting for the story to come out. Eventually, it did. Jeremy and some boys from school had taken the history book and torn it up after Jon had aced the test. They didn’t like someone else being the head of the class, and it was a warning for him to stay in his place.
Meg called the school and went to bat for her son. She knew which kids were responsible for the theft of the book and she planned to make her mark. After all, if she didn’t stand up for Jon, who would? Her complaints mostly fell on deaf ears until Graham got involved. He threatened the school board and had Jeremy moved to another class and away from Jon. Then he came home and threatened his grandson, telling him it was time to toughen up and he would not continue to fight the child’s battles. After that, Jon did not tell Meg much that went on at school and Graham’s lesson hit home. Jon did toughen up. He became more introverted and pulled away from the grandfather he had previously adored.
****
“I’m not arguing with you about an incident that is over and done with.” Meg drained her glass and ordered another.
“Taking after your father, I see,” Amy said, gesturing to the bar as Meg took the glass from the bartender.
“Well, better than taking after your father,” Meg shot back. Amy’s father was in a federal prison on tax evasion and was never spoken of in polite circles. Amy quickly married after her father was arrested and seldom let anyone know her maiden name. She cut all ties with her family and hadn’t seen her father since he embarrassed the family by getting caught.
The splash came as a surprise and it was several seconds before Meg realized Amy had thrown her drink in her face. She stood with her back to the bar, dripping chardonnay off her chin and onto her dress, not sure how to react, when the noise in the other room became louder.
“Call an ambulance!” someone shouted and all eyes were drawn to the other side of the room.
“Graham Stanford’s having a heart attack!” another guest yelled, running up to the bar. “Quick, call 911!”
Meg turned and rushed toward the father that she hated just as Amy lunged at her. Graham lay on the floor on the other side of the huge room. She heard shouts behind her and the barstools fell over as Amy tumbled to the ground, but she could not have cared less. She had to get to Graham. Was he having a heart attack like the man said as she raced to his side?
The rest of the evening was a blur of paramedics, ambulances, IV’s, and heart monitors. Meg rode to the hospital in the ambulance with Graham, and he was taken to the cardiac unit of the ICU.
Meg called the nanny and told her to stay with Jon and she would come home soon. She stayed all night beside Graham’s bed and held his swollen hand with the needle sticking out of it. Graham lived in the hospital almost a week before he expired. He was alone and Meg at home with Jon when it happened. The doctor called to tell her he had done all he could for Graham, and Meg found she had no tears left for the man who ruled over her and Jon for so many years.
After the funeral, Mitch drove Meg and Jon back to the house. She fired the chauffeur as soon as he dropped them off. She would no longer tolerate his attitude. The next day, she called the lawyers and began the process of taking over Graham’s business. She was sure there would be more firings in the days ahead when she found out how the business was run. That was when the idea of philanthropy started to germinate in her mind. Maybe she could do some good with the money her father left to her and Jon.
“Allen Simpson,” Meg said to the receptionist that answered the phone. “Yes, this is Meg Stanford.” Allan was a friend from school who had gone on to work for one of the most prestigious law firms in Corpus. She hoped to retain him to help her reorganize the family fortune into a philanthropy project.
“Meg! How great to hear from you. And I’m so sorry to hear about Graham. Is there anything I can do for you and Jon?” Allen spoke with sincere empathy as he queried his old friend.
“Good to talk to you too, Allen, and as a matter of fact there may be something you can do for us. I was wondering if I could get an appointment to discuss the corporation with you. As the Chairman now that Graham is gone, I want to make some changes and you are just the person I need to see to those changes.” She spoke the rehearsed speech in one breath.
“Well, that is a mouthful. You want to make changes to the corporation. Don’t you have in-house counsel?”
“I did. I fired him, and I need someone new to help me lead this corporation in a new direction.”
In the months to come, Meg and Allen had a forensic accountant go over the books with a fine-tooth comb. A complete turn-over of many of the long-time employees took place, and a new corporation was set up to fund philanthropy projects around the world. A portion was set in trust for her and Jon, and Allen made partner when he brought in his latest, and very rich, client. He became a fixture at the offices of the Stanford Corporation and became a great influence on Jon becoming an attorney as he grew into a man.
Allen and his wife Sammy were good friends over the years who could always be counted on in an emergency, until the day that Allen slumped over after a massive stroke not long after Jon became an associate at the same firm. He was her friend and a mentor to her son—and then he was gone.
Chapter 21
The lock on the door replaced, Alex and Mr. Sanders—whose first name, she’d learned, was Bill—checked the rest of the house. Meg thought how foolish she was all these years never getting to know her neighbors. Maybe soon she should ask them over for her famous gumbo and cornbread. At least, Jon thought it could be famous. One way or another, she had friends and she needed to show her appreciation. She had been alone long enough. Time to try her wings again, maybe. As a young woman she never met a stranger. That was probably how she was so open to Evan. Her mother always tried to teach Meg to be more reserved until she really got to know people. Her outgoing personality was just one more thing that her mother disliked about her daughter. But, she had closed the door to friends over the years.
“I think you’re good to go, Meg,” Bill said, picking up his toolbox. “Now if you open the windows, and I know you always do, it’s still easy enough to get in. The little hook on the screens won’t keep anyone out. A pocket knife will make short work of them.”
With no air conditioning, Meg always counted on cross-ventilation to cool the little house.
“Well, at least it won’t be as easy to get in as it was when there was no working lock on the back door. I can’t believe it has come to this. I’ve never locked my doors on this island.”
“Most people lock their doors, Meg,” Alex said. “It is just standard practice. I’m sure you lo
cked yours when you lived in Corpus Christi.”
“Well, in Corpus Christi yes, but not here.”
“I lock my doors,” Bill said. “The wife insists. She’s not from here and she sleeps better when things are locked up.”
“I lock mine too,” Alex replied. “The store gets locked anytime I’m not there.”
“Well, I guess I will too now.” Meg thought it was interesting how she had gone from an open heart to a locked door. When she was young and carefree she locked her doors—everyone did. Now that she was older it was her heart that was locked instead of her doors. Maybe she needed to rethink her priorities. Last night Alex helped to unlock her heart and now for safety’s sake she would begin to lock her doors once more. It seemed like a small tradeoff.
“Weather service says a tropical storm is forming out in the Gulf that looks like it might turn into a major hurricane. Are you ready, Meg? Got boards for your windows and an emergency bag packed? I guess you go into Corpus Christi to be with your son. The wife has already gassed up the car and has our bags packed. She doesn’t like hurricanes and we’ll be leaving town at the first wind gust.”
“I guess I hadn’t heard. I don’t watch much TV or listen to the radio very often.”
“We’ll get ready,” Alex said.
“I’ve still got some plywood at the store if you need any, Meg.”
“I’ll look, Bill, but there was some in the storage shed on the side of the house. Now, what do I owe you?”
“You don’t owe me anything. Alex here bought the lock and so you can settle up with him.”
“No really, you came all the way out here and I owe you for your time and trouble.”
“Just being neighborly, and it’s not that far out here.”
“Well, I feel I owe you something.”
Bill looked out into the lush garden, “Well, if you really want to do something, the wife and I would love one of your homemade blackberry cobblers when you have the time. But, only if you have the time.”
“I’ll make the time.” Meg smiled. Now that Le Chez was buying most of her vegetables, she had more time on her hands than she used to. Sometimes Sam even picked the produce up and she didn’t have to pull her wagon into town. Business was good, but more importantly, she had another friend.
Chapter 22
Meg picked up the silver sugar bowl and turned it around in her hands. It had an ornately carved “S” on the side. Her mother always told her it was a wedding gift from a wealthy land owner in Corpus Christi who was invited to their wedding. It was a cherished possession of her mother’s and one that Meg had used for years. It didn’t look like much, tarnished and used daily, but it was all she had left of her mother. When Alice Stanford had quietly taken the entire bottle of sleeping pills that were prescribed to her for insomnia after they moved to Corpus Christi, Meg’s father had cleaned everything out of the house that was hers. It was as if he was glad she was dead and he didn’t have to deal with her anymore. When in reality he probably couldn’t bring himself to see her things when he woke up each morning. They had lived together a long time.
Meg had quickly picked up the bowl and taken it to her bedroom to use for a jewelry container as her father cleaned out the house and he was never the wiser. It sat on her dresser for years with the silver clip Mariam had given her to hold back her hair. Possessions from the two women in her life that meant the most to her sat together in the same place. She wondered if Victoria would appreciate the sugar bowl for a wedding present. Meg often dreamed of being able to pass it down to a daughter-in-law someday. She would polish it later and see if she could get all the tarnish off from years of use.
Meg was dusting the coffee table when she saw a flash of light from the road. A tall thin woman casually climbed out of her luxury car in alligator pumps and a pale blue dress, towing her matching purse and valise after her. Her clothes and shoes seemed out of place at the beach. But, she walked to the edge of the sand, kicked off her shoes and carried them the rest of the way. She was no newcomer to beach life.
Meg watched as the shadow stepped up to the door of the front porch and the young woman stood taking off her sunglasses and preparing to knock. Victoria was at her door—and she was alone. What was she doing here? Jon wasn’t with her. He would have come through the kitchen door without knocking.
Meg sat down her cleaning supplies, smoothed her hair and opened the door, “Victoria! Please come in. I’m so surprised to see you. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Hello, Meg.” Victoria swooped in the door, kissing Meg lightly on each cheek. “What a lovely home.”
“Well, it needs a little work, but I love the location.” Meg was suddenly insecure about her surroundings.
“I hope it is okay to drop by, I didn’t have your phone number.”
“Of course. You’re family.”
“Well, almost.” Victoria smiled.
“Could I get you something to drink? Maybe some iced tea?” Meg ushered the younger woman into the living room. “Please have a seat and I’ll be right back.” Meg didn’t wait for an answer. Her mother taught her you always offered a guest a beverage.
Victoria sat on the worn couch and looked around the tiny house. “Have you lived here long?” Meg poured two glasses of tea and placed them on a tray with the silver sugar bowl and a plate of cookies.
“Only a few years. My family owned the house for a long time and I have wonderful childhood memories of this place. So, I moved out here from Corpus Christi a few years ago. But, I guess Jon has already told you that. Cookie?”
“Oh no, I’m trying to watch what I eat, at least until the wedding. The dress I have is so fitted, I can’t afford to gain an ounce. And that’s the main reason for my visit. I brought some designs to show you for the wedding party. I am sure Jon has told you we’ve moved the wedding date up and we only have about a month to be ready.”
Meg’s mouth dropped open in surprise. A month! When did this happen and why? “No, Jon hadn’t mentioned it to me. But, the last time he was here we talked about other things than the wedding.”
“Yes, I heard about the potential blackmail—but I’m sure the Corpus Christi police will take good care of the situation.” Victoria opened her valise and displayed swatches and drawings of dresses for the upcoming nuptials. On the first page was a floor length silver-white dress with chiffon overlay that hugged every curve. Victoria was right, you couldn’t afford to gain an ounce in a dress like that. The almost backless dress had covered buttons down the back of the skirt and a long chiffon train that Meg was sure was detachable so she could move around at the reception welcoming her guests.
“Beautiful.” Meg held the book in her hands. “Did you design it yourself?”
“Of course,” Victoria said smugly. “And here are the rest of the wedding party designs. There will be eight bridesmaids and groomsmen, and here are the Mother of the Bride and Mother of the Groom dresses. If you’ll let me take some measurements, I’ll get started on yours.”
Meg looked at the lovely designs in iridescent purple chiffon for the eight bridesmaids and all she could see were the clothes floating in the ocean just a few days ago. Evidently, iridescent was all the rage in Corpus Christi this year. The mother’s dresses were matronly, however. She had never met Victoria’s mother, but something about the purple silk suits—that still had an iridescent sheen—would have looked better on the Queen of England. She wondered if there was a pill-box hat. No, she would not be wearing that anywhere and besides, she might not be going to the wedding.
Meg cleared her throat, “Now when did you say the wedding was and where?”
“In about a month, Hon, so there’s no time to waste! Let me just get a few measurements.”
“And where is it taking place? Jon hasn’t told me anything.”
“Men.” Victoria pulled her tape measure from her bag. “The wedding itself will be rather intimate at a cathedral which only holds four hundred, but the reception will be at the
country club so there will be plenty of room for everyone. Not every guest will receive an invitation to the wedding, some will only be invited to the reception. Now if you wouldn’t mind holding your arms up so I can get a waist measurement.”
“It must be a huge event,” Meg said, not raising her arms.
“It’s the biggest!” Victoria reached for Meg’s arm. She smiled as Meg pulled away. “Now here is what I want you to do, I will sit you on Jon’s side of the table—oh, and I almost forgot, will you be bringing a plus one? I need a head count for the dinner.”
“A plus one?” Meg wasn’t sure she understood. “You mean do I have a date? Well, today is the first day I’ve really heard much about the wedding and you still haven’t told me what day it is.”
“It is July 30th on a Saturday night. We have room reservations for all the guests at a hotel in Corpus Christi so you will have a place to stay for a couple of nights and not have to be back at the ferry at any certain time. Oh, and I’ve made appointments for the wedding party to have their hair, nails, and makeup done the afternoon before the wedding, so we’ll need you to come early that day. Of course, Jon and I will be leaving the next morning after the wedding for Paris.”
“Paris! I’m surprised Jon didn’t mention that.”
“Well, we really haven’t discussed it, he is so busy, you know, with trying to make partner.”
“He’s making partner? And why don’t you think you should mention it to him? I mean what if the partners decide he can’t be gone?”
“On his honeymoon? I mean really, how could they say no?”
“Well, they expect a lot from a young associate. And I didn’t know he was trying to make partner just yet.”
“Of course he’ll make partner. Why else would he be there? Now if you will please just stand still and raise your arms.”
It sounded like more of a demand than a request and Meg found she didn’t respond to demands very well these days. This woman was not the demure little thing that Meg first thought she was.
Secrets of Sandhill Island Page 10
