The Best Things in Life

by Kate Sweeney

  “You did?”

  “You don’t have to sound so shocked.”

  “Oh, yes, I do. Why did you, sweetie?”

  “It just felt right, I guess. She’s easy to talk to. Probably all the interviewing she does.”

  “I think it’s more than that. Cara is a very thoughtful person.”

  “Who’s in a relationship.”

  Betty waved her off. “She is not.”

  “Where’s your crystal ball?”

  “Don’t be sarcastic. Tell me. How often has she talked about this woman?”

  “Well—”

  “And when was the last time she called her?”

  “Other than the first night, I—”

  “And how many times has she talked to her since she’s been here? It’s almost ten days. Could you go without talking to her, if she was your girl?”

  “She’s not my girl.”

  “Not yet, she ain’t.” Betty let out a motherly hmph. “If you’d get your head out of your—”

  “Hey.”

  Betty turned to her. “Do you not see how she looks at you?”

  “Huh? You’re wacky.”

  “And you’re dense.”

  Neither said anything for a moment.

  “I love these mother-daughter moments, don’t you?”

  Morgan let out a helpless sigh while Betty laughed.

  “Morgan, you don’t see it, but I bet she makes your hoo-ha all twitchy.”

  Morgan’s jaw dropped. “My what?”

  Betty laughed evilly. “You know what I mean. Look, I’m not saying you’re both madly in love, but there is something there. Even your father has said something, and if he notices…” She continued to laugh. “He didn’t appreciate my hoo-ha comment, either.”

  Morgan leaned over, burying her head in her hands. “What is wrong with you?”

  Betty sighed, looking at the lake. “Oh, I wish I knew.”

  Morgan laughed, putting her arm around her. “You’re insane.”

  Betty patted her knee before standing with a groan. “I’m old. And you’re acting old. Now go find Cara. Have some fun, eat a hot dog or something, and have another beer. Then tomorrow, I’m coming over around eleven. That’ll give you the morning. We’ll all talk then.”

  “About what?”

  When she smiled, Morgan thought she saw a look of sadness or melancholy.

  “Mom, what is it?”

  Betty patted her cheek. “Nothing. Everything is fine, truly. Now go find that reporter and have some fun.”

  As Betty turned, she laughed. “Speaking of the devil.”

  Cara raised an eyebrow. “The devil? Was the article that bad?”

  Betty pulled her in for a monstrous hug. “It was that good. You’re very talented. You’ll have to send us a copy of your newspaper when it’s printed.”

  “I’ll send as many as you like. Chuck is looking for you, by the way.”

  “That’s a coincidence, Morgan is looking for you.”

  “Really?” Cara looked down at Morgan and smiled. “Well, here I am.”

  “And there I go. We’ll see you children later.”

  “She seems in a good mood.” Cara sat next to Morgan.

  “The insane don’t know any better.”

  Cara laughed. “Stop that. Now why did you want to see me?”

  “I, uh, I just wanted to thank you. It was a very nice article.”

  “You said that.”

  Morgan had no idea what to say then. “So, just a couple more days.”

  “You said tha, too. Are you still looking forward to going?”

  “Sure.”

  “You don’t sound so sure.”

  “Hey, you two!” Sal called out. “Hot dogs are ready!”

  Morgan waved and nodded. Sal put her hands up and backed away.

  “We should probably join the festivities,” Cara said.

  “I’m going to fly the plane back to my dock before it gets dark and I have any more to drink. I’ll be back. Let everyone know, okay?”

  “Sure.” Cara reached out, grabbing the back of Morgan’s shirt.

  Morgan looked over her shoulder. “Something you wanted?”

  Cara let go of the shirt. “No. I…You just seem uneasy about something.”

  Morgan turned to her; she looked into her eyes. “I am. I’m all over the place, but I’ll get over it. I’ll be back in a bit.”

  She didn’t say anything or wait for Cara to, either. Once she got into the safety of her plane and started the engine, Morgan realized her heart raced out of control. She didn’t know if it was from the excitement she always felt from flying or the smile on Cara’s face while she waved.

  Chapter 13

  “You’re going to tell them?” Chuck examined his tacklebox while puffing on his pipe.

  Betty joined him on the porch. “Yes. You’re going fishing at ten in the morning?”

  “Nope. Just getting it ready for tomorrow morning.” He looked up. “I see you have it.”

  Betty smiled, examining the small box.

  Chuck set his fishing pole against the table. “It’s been a long time since you looked at that.”

  “Not as long as you think.” Betty ran her fingers over the box. “I think it’s time.”

  “Really? Well, you know best. I hope it goes well, sweetie. It’s pretty amazing how this has come full circle.” He took a drink of coffee. “Want me to go with you?”

  “Do you want to?”

  Chuck smiled. “Normally, I’d say no.”

  Betty laughed. “I know how you love women sitting around talking.”

  “These are just women. I really like Cara, but I think you might be butting in, my darling. But then, that never stopped you before.”

  Betty glared. “I am not butting—”

  Chuck gave her a warning glance and raised his finger.

  “Okay, maybe I am, but I think I’m right. And I think they should know. You don’t mind?”

  Chuck reached over and patted her hand. “I’ve never minded, Betts, you know that.”

  “You know what? I think I love you.”

  Chuck grunted and sat back. “You never had a chance.”

  Betty walked over to him and sat on his lap. She slapped his shoulder when he let out a painful grunt.

  “I never did have a chance. To think of the years we knew each other, and all the sudden, you were handsome.”

  “It was the uniform.”

  Betty wrapped her arms around his neck. “It was more than that, you old fart.”

  Chuck laughed. “Get off me now and get going. I’m sure they’re waiting.”

  Betty kissed the top of his head. “I’ll be back later.”

  “By dinnertime.”

  “Oh, shut up.”

  “Love you too.”

  *******

  Betty drove to Morgan’s with a feeling a trepidation. She glanced at the box on the seat next to her.

  “I hope I’m doing the right thing here.”

  As she pulled onto the access road to Morgan’s house, she realized it was too late to think. She parked, took a deep breath, and grabbed the box.

  She no sooner got up the few steps when Morgan opened the door.

  “Good morning. You’re ten minutes late.”

  Betty laughed and offered her cheek. “You sound like your father. Good morning. Where’s Cara?”

  “She’s getting dressed. I let her sleep. She was on the phone late last night between her boss and…Kim. I went to bed at midnight, she was still talking.”

  “Hmm. Don’t look so dour.”

  “What have you got there?” Morgan motioned to the box.

  “Let’s get off the porch. It’s chilly this morning.” Betty followed her inside.

  “Hi, Betty.” Cara walked into the living room. “Great timing.”

  “Coffee, Mom?”

  “No, if I have another cup, I’ll wet myself.”

  Morgan winced. “Thank you.”

&nb
sp; “Let’s sit in the kitchen.”

  Betty noticed Morgan and Cara trying not to stare at the box Betty placed on the table.

  “It’s too early for a beer, I suppose,” Morgan said.

  “Sit down,” Betty said, laughing. “It’s all right.”

  She looked at Cara and Morgan, trying to figure how to start this; she really hadn’t thought about it.

  “Okay, Mom. Spill it.”

  Cara laughed. “The suspense is killing us.”

  Betty smiled, pulling the box in front of her. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever tell you about this. But when I read the article and mostly the title of it, I knew I was going to tell you.” Betty stopped and looked at Cara. “Cara, how did you come up with the title?”

  The question seemed to take both women by surprise.

  “Well, Morgan had said it on the second night I was here. We were discussing how we lived and what we thought the best things in life were. I told Morgan I liked the best things in life, and she said as long as you know what they are.” She looked at Morgan then. “I’ve been thinking about that ever since.”

  “Good,” Betty said. “I’m going to tell you a little story.”

  “Oh, boy.”

  “Morgan, shut up,” Betty said, smiling.

  “Sorry.”

  “Go on, Betty,” Cara said, ignoring Morgan.

  “It was the summer after my first year of college. I came home to work at Jensen’s. I worked there as a waitress in the dining room during the summer. Anyway, that’s where I met a very nice, considerate young man.”

  “Pop, right?”

  “Wrong.”

  “Really?” Morgan asked.

  “Betty, you dog,” Cara said happily.

  “I was not. It wasn’t like that. He was tall, lean, cute, and was there with this college friends for the summer. He was a senior and from out of town. We met when he and his buddies were at dinner, and we spent much of the summer together. He was smart, had a dry sense of humor, and wasn’t shy, but reserved. He talked of being a writer but wasn’t sure if he would be a novelist or a journalist. I thought he could do anything. Anyway, it was a lovely summer, and at the end, the last night, Jensen’s always had what they called “hot dogs and a movie.” Everything was free, and they showed an old movie. This night, they played some musical with that woman…” She couldn’t remember her name. “Blonde, short...was in Little Women. And that English guy who was in Little Women with her. Oh, hell, it doesn’t matter. The movie was about a boy and a girl, he was a football player, she was a tutor. Blah, blah. They fell in love and all that. But it was the song at the end that we both remembered.”

  “It sounds very romantic,” Cara said.

  “It was, of sorts. He did kiss me, even though it was on the cheek.” Betty sighed.

  “What happened?” Morgan retrieved three bottles of water from the fridge. “And we want details.”

  Betty laughed. “There were no racy details. He had a girlfriend, which he later married. Then the next year, Chuck Gavin suddenly became handsome and wonderful and more than a friend. And you know how that turned out.”

  “Well, whatever happened to him?” Cara asked.

  “We decided to stay friends, which we did. We exchanged letters through college. Afterward, it changed to a yearly Christmas card. It sounds silly, but we did this for many years. We knew about each other’s lives and spouses and children.”

  Betty opened the box and took out a card, handing it to Cara. “It’s a basic Christmas card from the day, but there’s a note in there I’d like you to read.”

  Cara took the card and gingerly opened it. Betty watched her as she read the simple holiday sentiment. Then she opened the folded letter.

  “Read it out loud,” Morgan suggested.

  Cara looked at Betty, who nodded. “Please.”

  Cara cleared her throat.

  “Dear Betty. I just received your wedding announcement. A Christmas wedding! I am so happy for you and Chuck, as you call him. And thank you for your letter. I told my wife, and she wanted to say thank you, as well. Time has flown, and I can’t believe we’re both married and starting families.

  “I’m glad we’re keeping in touch, if only through Christmas cards. I like the connection between the four of us. One day, perhaps, we can meet each other’s spouse. That would be wonderful.

  “Until then, may God bless you both. Remember the song from that old movie we watched? I love the last line—‘And love can come to everyone. The best things in life are free.’

  “In the spirit of the season, may you and Chuck find the best things in life not only during the holiday, but throughout the New Year.

  “Merry Christmas, newlyweds. Affectionately…” Cara stopped and looked at the letter. She looked up at Betty, who smiled.

  “What?” Morgan took the letter. “Affectionately, Brad and Nancy.” She looked at Cara. “What is it? Somebody say something.”

  Cara, still watching Betty, said, “Brad and Nancy are my parents’ names.”

  “What the fuck?” Morgan said uncharacteristically. “Are you kidding?”

  “Bradley Pembroke,” Betty said to Cara. “One of the best things in life.”

  “My father?” Cara’s voice came out in a squeak.

  Morgan sat back, dumbfounded.

  Betty could see Cara’s reporter mind going to work. “Something…I remember something now.”

  Betty pulled out another card and handed it to her. “This is a card we sent.”

  Cara read the typical card. “Wishing you the best things in life. Love, The folks up north.” Cara’s head shot up. “This was you?”

  Morgan winced when Cara’s voice screeched.

  Betty laughed and nodded.

  “I remember. I remember now. When I was a small child, my dad read the card. I thought it was from—”

  “Santa Claus,” Betty said. “That’s what your father said in a letter. So, we decided to sign it the same way each year.”

  “I told all the kids in school we got a Christmas card from Santa Claus.”

  Betty laughed. “It was Chuck’s idea to keep signing it like that.”

  “And you never saw him again after that summer?” Cara asked.

  “No. We always tried to, but the years got away from us. Kids, school, work. Then I got the letter from your mother on Brad’s passing.” She handed that letter to Cara. “As you can see, she sent me the obituary and returned the Christmas cards, thinking I would want them. It was a sweet thing of her to do.”

  Cara seemed as dumbfounded as Morgan. Betty took a deep breath. “I think I will have that beer now.”

  “Huh? Oh, sure.” Morgan obediently, like a zombie, walked over to the fridge, retrieved three bottles, and sat down in a heap.

  “But…” Cara shook her head, opened her beer, then took a long, long drink.

  Betty saw the journalistic wheels turning.

  Cara’s eyes widened. “I see.”

  “Me too. What a coincidence.” Morgan sounded amazed.

  Cara gave her a disturbed look. “Coincidence?”

  Betty drank her beer. “So dense.”

  “Hey,” Morgan argued. “What…?” She looked from Cara to Betty. “Oh. Hey. Hey! You planned all this?” Morgan waved her hand between Cara and herself. “I mean, this?”

  “Bingo.”

  Cara shook her head.

  “But…”

  “Morgan, Morgan,” Cara said.

  “How?” Morgan asked helplessly. “I have a headache.”

  Betty took another swallow while watching Cara, who examined the cards and the letter.

  “My mother sent you the cards along with dad’s obituary. My name and my siblings’ names are on there. It mentioned where I worked because this obit was in the Sentinel.”

  “But that was years ago,” Morgan said to Betty.

  “I know. I never gave it another thought until this happened to you, Morg. When they said the woman you rescued worked for th
e Sentinel, it hit me like a blast of ice water. At first, I thought Cara was the one you saved. Then I found out Cara still worked there. I had the idea of…” Her voice trailed off with a shrug.

  Cara reached over and put her hand under Morgan’s jaw to close it.

  “You planned all this?” Morgan sounded completely bewildered.

  Betty nodded innocently. “Well, not the accident.”

  “So, you called Linda and suggested a reporter should come up here to interview Morgan. How did you know it would be me?” Cara asked.

  “I didn’t, but I did suggest it be a woman.”

  “You’re diabolical,” Morgan said, as if realizing everything for the first time.

  “I am not. We always wanted our families to meet. I saw this as a sign from Brad.”

  “I still cannot believe you knew my father.”

  “It was a long, long time ago. We were kids, really. I was only nineteen, Brad was twenty-one. It was a summer I’ve never forgotten. And to have the chance of meeting his daughter? Well, I had to take it. We’re practically family.”

  “I’m amazed,” Cara said, gently sliding the cards to Betty.

  “Would you like them?” Betty asked.

  “No, those are your memories. You keep them. But I can’t remember Dad or Mom talking about you and Chuck.” Cara thought for a moment. “Although, now that I think of it, after Dad died, I do remember my mother going through things.” She stopped, letting out a laugh. “Good grief. I think I may have taken them to the post office without knowing. There was so much going on after he died. I never questioned her. I had no idea.”

  “I feel the same. I had no idea.” Morgan reached over and took Betty’s hand. “I’m sorry, Mom. It must have been hard for you after he died.”

  “Thank you, it was. Though I hadn’t seen him since that summer, it seemed we were close because of the letters and cards. Your father felt the same way. I will admit, he was skeptical when I told him what I was going to do, though he didn’t try to stop me. But we all know how that would have turned out.”

  “He knew about this and kept the secret? Boy, I didn’t think he had it in him.”

  Betty nodded. “Threats.”

  “Ah,” Morgan said. “Why did you tell us this?”

  “Because I wanted you to know, in some way, you’re connected. And perhaps you can find the best things in life together.”