Secrets of Sandhill Island

by Peggy Chambers

  Meg heard the last patron leave and the doors shut. They were the only guests in the place. “Sam, we didn’t mean to keep you so late.” She stood and the men followed her lead.

  “Yes,” Alex said, “get us a bill and we’ll be out of your hair.”

  “Nonsense, there is no bill for my friends. I’ve been expecting you for some time. Besides, I invited you.”

  “No, really, we planned to pay for dinner.”

  “No, your money’s no good here. Besides, all the flavors come from your garden. Kyle, can you get these folks their boxes and we’ll let them leave?” Sam signaled the waiter as Meg and Alex prepared to leave.

  “Thank you for a wonderful dinner, Sam.” Meg was kissed on both cheeks and ushered out the door.

  “Just come back soon,” Sam replied as Kyle handed Alex the box of food she was unable to eat. Meg knew it would still be wonderful tomorrow.

  They walked hand in hand in the moonlight toward the other shore of the island and Meg’s beach house, breathing the night air and listening to sounds of the waves rushing up on the beach. A perfect ending to a perfect evening, and one that Meg hoped to repeat many more times.

  Chapter 25

  “I can’t believe he’s done this to me!” Victoria stomped around the room with a sheaf of papers in her hand. Fitzgerald still lay on the bed partially covered with a sheet. Their lovemaking today had been rough and tumultuous. Victoria was in a mean mood and it showed in her intimacy. Not that she was ever very intimate. Sex with her was more of a contest to see who was in charge. That was fine with Fitzgerald. He could do rough, but it was rougher than normal. It was obvious that her head was not in the game.

  “If you’re not happy with the numbers then get the man in bed and change his mind,” Fitzgerald replied. “That shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

  “I mean a pre-nup? Really? Who does he think he’s dealing with?”

  “He’s a lawyer—he wants it all tied up in a pretty bow. Besides, in today’s world everyone with money signs a pre-nup. Like I said, just get him to change the numbers. Change the amount, and change the length of time that you have to stay married to get it. Shouldn’t be a problem. Of course the first draft will be to his advantage. He probably expected a negotiation.”

  “Well, he’s gonna’ get one!”

  “Just stay calm and remember who’s in charge. He should think it’s his idea, not yours.”

  She fingered the engagement ring on her finger: a full two carats of clear, perfect diamond solitaire in the center with baguettes on each side. “Maybe the ring,” she said. “I could say it is too much and I didn’t need such extravagance. We could return it for something smaller and simpler—use the proceeds for charity. That’s it. A good way to get into his heart, and then maybe we could do away with the honeymoon in Paris, if that is what it takes. I’d much rather get more money at the end of this marriage than at the beginning. Besides, it rains in Paris.”

  “It rains in Corpus Christi,” Fitzgerald replied, yawning.

  “Don’t argue with me!” She pulled the dress over her head and slipped into her pumps. “I’ve got a client.” She walked out the door with her bag hanging on her arm without even a goodbye.

  Fitzgerald rolled over and pulled the covers over his head. It was time he paid another visit to Ms. Stanford and began their negotiations. He knew once Victoria was married, he wouldn’t be needed anymore—not that he was now.

  ****

  Alex’s thoughts were distracted remembering the meeting at Meg’s house the morning Jon found him there. He tried to paint, but his heart wasn’t in it. It must have been difficult for Jon to see his mother and think of her as a sexual being with a boyfriend. After all, Jon was right about the strange things happening to Meg after meeting Alex. He wasn’t the reason for the blackmail—he just came into the scene about the same time. But still, if Alex had been in Jon’s shoes, would he have felt any different? Maybe he should pay a visit to Jon’s office and see if he could smooth things over. Meg was important to him.

  He was afraid if he called to get an appointment he might never get in, so he cleaned his brushes, got in the van, and left the island without saying a word to anyone. He had to make things right if he could. Besides, he lied on the application for the grant, and he was sure Jon had guessed that by now. He’d offer again to pay the money back if it would help.

  After finding directions to the high-rise office building in downtown Corpus Christi, he opened the door and took the elevator to the fifteenth floor. It opened to a huge entry with a reception desk at the front where an attractive woman sat behind the desk. Alex immediately felt ill at ease in his jeans and sandals. He was suddenly aware of the fact that he still had paint on his hands. He could have at least cleaned up a little, but didn’t think of it in his rush to get out the door.

  “May I help you?” the receptionist asked when he walked up to the desk.

  “Yes, I’m Alex Wallace and I’d like to see Jon Stanford if he is in.”

  “Mr. Stanford is in court, but is expected back soon. Do you have an appointment?”

  “No, I don’t have an appointment, but I am a friend of his mother’s and I was hoping to get to talk to him for just a few moments. It won’t take long.”

  “If you will have a seat, I’ll see if his assistant can work you in.” She reached for the phone.

  Alex walked across the room and sat in one of the overstuffed chairs next to a mahogany table and picked up a magazine. He began to thumb through the periodical when a young woman walked out the door toward him.

  “Mr. Wallace?” she said as she approached.

  “Yes.” He placed the magazine back down on the table and stood.

  “I’m Joan, Mr. Stanford’s assistant. He’s due back from court soon and I am sure he will want to see you. Is Meg okay?”

  “Yes, Meg is fine. I didn’t mean to alarm you. She doesn’t even know I’m here. I just wanted to talk to Jon for a moment about a personal matter if he has time.”

  “Of course. I’ll see if I can work you in. He has some time between appointments.” She walked back behind the paneled doors.

  Within moments she reemerged with coffee in her hands in a china cup and saucer with the firm’s logo on the side. “I didn’t ask if you wanted something to drink. I hope you take it black. Mr. Stanford will see you know.”

  Alex stepped into the oversized office with an ornate rug on the floor. Jon’s office held antique law books in an equally old lawyer’s cabinet on one wall. They were a reminder of the past before legal research was done online. Jon sat behind a large desk with a view of the city from a floor-to-ceiling window. His arms crossed over his chest, he eyed Alex warily when he walked in and didn’t stand to welcome him into the office.

  “Alex,” he said, leaning forward and gesturing to the chair in front of the desk. “Joan says you want to talk to me, and nothing’s wrong with Mom.”

  “That’s right. I thought you and I needed to talk. Thank you for taking the time to meet with me.”

  “Anything for a friend of Mom’s.” Jon didn’t even crack a smile.

  “That’s part of what I want to talk to you about.” Alex looked for a place to set the saucer and was offered no help. “I’m sure it was a shock finding me at your Mom’s house the other day.”

  Jon cleared his throat and shuffled in his seat.

  “First of all, I want you to know, I have nothing but the best intentions toward your mother. She’s a wonderful woman. We became friends because we were next to each other every day with my paintings and her vegetable stand. But, the feelings have grown between us. I know she feels the same. We’re not kids. We’ve both lived alone a long time, and I think we like being together. We’re both tired of being by ourselves.”

  Jon stared at Alex without moving.

  “But, that is not the only thing I am here to talk to you about.”

  “No?” Jon asked, raising his eyebrows.

  “No, I also
want to talk about the grant.”

  “You mean the one to Alex Simmons?”

  “Yes, that’s the one. My name is legally Simmons. It was never changed when my Mom married. But, I had always used Wallace, her married name, at her insistence when I was young. I used Simmons so I could apply for the grant without the trial coming up in a background check. The records were sealed, you know that already, but I was afraid that they could be unsealed if the right person came along. I was right. You got them unsealed.”

  Jon didn’t react.

  “Yeah,” Jon said after a long silence, “we didn’t find much under Alex Simmons and you were lucky. There weren’t many applicants that year, or you probably wouldn’t have gotten the grant.”

  “Well, you know by reading the documents that I was exonerated. I didn’t attack that young woman. Nothing could be further from the truth. She was the one that harassed me. Men don’t like to admit to that kind of thing, but it does happen. She was a student. I wouldn’t sleep with a student. When she didn’t get what she wanted, she invented the story to get back at me. She accused me of attempted rape, and I landed in court. After the courts found me innocent, I lost my job because the school didn’t want the story to get out about an accused professor still on the payroll. Well, that and the fact that her father was on the board of regents didn’t help either.”

  Jon sat silent, looking at Alex from across the desk. Neither man looked away. “You’re in love with my mother?” Jon asked, speaking first.

  “Yes.” He paused. “We’ve really not talked about that. I mean, I haven’t said that out loud before, but yes, I love your mother. She is a wonderful woman. She has had a hard life, and I’d like to think I could help soften it a little for her. I’d like to be there to protect and take care of her a little. It’s obvious that she has always been the one that took care of everything. She probably needs a rest.”

  “That’s true. However, if you can get her to let go of the reins a little you’d be lucky. She’s a very strong-willed woman. But, I’ll bet you’ve noticed that.”

  Alex laughed. “Don’t I know it! I almost never got her to let me help with the rabbit problem. What ever happened to that guy?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t heard much about him lately.”

  “Well, Jon, I wanted to lay my cards on the table. I can imagine how much you want to take care of your mother and how concerned you are for her. But, about the grant, I can pay that money back a little at a time if you want. I’m selling some paintings and since I was less than forthcoming about the name, I wouldn’t blame you at all if you wanted the money back.”

  “The Stanford Corporation is solvent; we don’t need the money back.”

  “Of course, I didn’t mean you needed the money back. But still, I can pay you back.”

  “No, that won’t be necessary.” Jon fingered the gold pen that lay on his desk. “But, I would like to see your paintings. I assume you painted the new one in Mom’s kitchen, the woman in the sunhat?”

  “Yes. I painted it from memory and of course you can’t see Meg’s face, but I wanted to commemorate her meeting with the rabbit. It was what brought us together. Please come by the gallery any time. I’d love to show you what I’m working on. I have a new medium using the juice from the produce in your mom’s garden.”

  “Really? You are painting with juice?”

  “It has really been great. It was an accident the first time I did it, and the colors were so wonderful, I haven’t used paint since.”

  Joan stepped in the door, pointing to her watch.

  “Well, if you will excuse me, I have an appointment. I promise to come by the gallery soon.”

  “Certainly.” Alex stood, extending his paint-stained hand. Jon clasped it and escorted him to the door. Jon was a lot like his mother after all, and this thought made Alex smile as he left the office.

  Chapter 26

  Alex drove through the city of Corpus Christi as Meg directed him. He seemed unsure of the big city traffic. She led him to the boutique that she knew and once loved. Parking the van across the street, she held his hand as they crossed to the store.

  Inside, the bell tinkled as the door closed behind them. The smells and sounds brought back memories to Meg she hadn’t thought of in years, not all of them good. With her hair styled and makeup on, she had worn the yellow sheath again. It had become her “going to the city” dress and she decided to wear it once more. Maybe she should buy more than one outfit to wear for the wedding—something for the rehearsal dinner and then something to travel back and forth in. Something she wouldn’t wear in the garden.

  A quick young woman with sparkling red hair stepped from the door behind the counter. “Ms. Stanford!” She ran to grab her hands and kiss her cheek. “It’s been so long. We thought you had forgotten us! I hope you liked what we picked out for your dinner engagement.”

  “Anna, it is a pleasure to see you again. Yes, the outfits were lovely. This is my friend Alex Wallace and we’re here to find something for my son’s wedding.”

  “Yes, that’s what you said—purples, I believe you mentioned. I’ve set aside several things. I didn’t have a lot of time, but if you find something else that isn’t in your size, we can make a rush order. Now if you’ll step this way, I have some things hung up for you next to the dressing room. Mr. Wallace, if you would like to have a seat, Kristen will get you anything you like to eat or drink. You know it takes a woman a while to make up her mind.”

  Kristen was tall and thin with severely short black hair—in deep contrast to the loads of red curls that Anna wore. Each woman looked like she just stepped from the pages of a fashion magazine with the latest hair, makeup, and manicure styles. Kristen’s deep blue nails matched her dress and the Cleopatra-style eyeliner set off her overly green eyes. She must have been wearing colored contacts. She smiled and showed perfect teeth—probably capped.

  “Mr. Wallace, I have some wonderful Mimosas in the back, or the coffee is on. We also have bottled water and soft drinks. I could also scare up a beer if you would like. What is your pleasure?”

  Alex smiled. They spared no expense. “Coffee would be great, Kristen,” he said and winked at Meg as she was led away to the treasure trove of styles picked out especially for her.

  Meg found a long flowing dress in plum with sequins and a sheer jacket that could be taken off if the weather was warm. Anna even thought of shoes in a sling back with low heels. She knew Meg well enough not to offer accessories other than an evening bag. Meg had her own jewelry, thanks to her mother, and it was much nicer than anything in the boutique. Mrs. Stanford never wore costume jewelry.

  A pale pink ensemble was chosen for the rehearsal dinner and then capris for the rest of the weekend—all with matching shoes and bags. Alex nodded his approval at her choices, and Meg smiled. She never needed anyone’s approval, but found she was delighted that he liked the way she looked in the clothes.

  With her bags securely in the van, they walked to the men’s store close by. She had taken Jon there many times and she knew he still shopped there for the suits he wore to the office. Alex’s tastes were simple and he quickly found a suit for the wedding, and sports coat and pants for the rehearsal dinner along with a couple of shirts. Like most men, he didn’t take too long to shop.

  “You know, I don’t even have any dress shoes with me. I put a lot of things in storage when I left the university and came here. I guess I’ll need shoes too.” The salesman took his purchases to the front of the store.

  “I can help you with that, sir,” the salesman said and led him to a row of shoes in the back of the store. “We carry all the name brands.”

  “Well, comfort is the name of the game. Show me something comfortable that will still look good, and I prefer a loafer.

  “I don’t think I’ve spent this much money on clothes at one time ever!” Alex said as they left the store. “My style of shopping is to go to the clearance racks in the back, and only when I absolutely h
ave to. At the university I wore jeans and turtlenecks most of the time, and I always had a tee shirt in the back if we were into clay or oil paints. I didn’t stand at the front of a huge hall and lecture students. My classes were more hands on. But, these are nice.” He pointed to the suit bag he had slung over his shoulder. “And more to the point, this has been a wonderful day with you. Like most men, shopping is not my thing, unless there is a beautiful woman on my arm.” He smiled.

  “You’re so sweet. It has been a lovely day.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “But, we need to go to your gallery,” Meg said. “It’s near La Retama Park, right? I think there is some construction going on Chaparral Street so we might have to wind our way around some, but we’ll find it. And there are some delightful bistros and things along the way. We could get a bite to eat afterward, if you would like.”

  The gallery was open when they arrived and the owner was in the back. Tom Matthews stepped from the store room and approached Alex and Meg as they looked at the paintings on the wall.

  “That’s a nice one—painted by a local artist,” he began. “Alex! I didn’t recognize you without the baseball cap.” He walked toward them, hand outstretched. He shook Alex’s hand and reached for Meg’s. “Mrs. Wallace?” Meg’s face suddenly felt warm.

  “No, Tom, this is my friend Meg. She lives on the island too. In fact she is the inspiration for my work—she and her garden. She grows the produce that I use as the medium.”

  “Meg,” Tom said, “it is a pleasure to meet you, and I am so glad you’ve inspired Alex in his work. We love what he has done here and want more! I had a customer in here yesterday who wanted to buy the only “Wallace” I had. But, I said there were more on the way. I hope that is true.”

  “You bet. I have several in the van with me.”