High October

by Elena Graf

  After reliving the memory, Maggie was tempted to make herself come again, but it was getting late. She finally got up and put on the new boot. Liz had been thoughtful to bring it just in time for the show. The ankle boot was less conspicuous and much lighter. It was certainly easier to get around without that enormous brace on her leg.

  In the kitchen, she found two filled coffee pods and a note beside them to remind her there was lemon-blueberry bread for breakfast. She was listening to the coffee lazily streaming into the cup when heard her phone ringing in the distance. In a moment of panic, she realized she had no idea where it was. Then she remembered she’d left it on the table in the porch and hobbled out to get it.

  She grabbed the annoying thing right before the call went into voice mail. Without checking the identity of the caller, she spoke impatiently. “Well, hello!”

  The male voice on the other end laughed. “Maggie, it’s Tony. I’m sorry if I woke you.”

  “You didn’t. And I’m the one who should be sorry. That was rude. I don’t wake up well, and I couldn’t find my phone.”

  Again, he laughed. “I called to invite you to breakfast. You must need a break from Liz by now.”

  In fact, she couldn’t spend enough time with Liz, but she’d never admit that to Tony. “She’s not even here.”

  “I know. Saturday office hours. Fred has an appointment with her at ten, which reminded me I haven’t seen you since our little dinner party. Let’s get some breakfast at the Omelet Mill, then hit the consignment shops.”

  “Give me an hour.”

  “Okay. Pick you up at eleven.”

  ***

  The Omelet Mill was Webhanet’s most popular breakfast spot. Even at half past eleven, there was a line for a table.

  “If Liz were here, she’d whisper sweet nothings into the hostess’s ear,” said Tony. “We’d get a table right away.”

  “Yes, she has a way with hostesses and waiters.”

  “The whole town knows her. That helps.”

  The hostess waved in their direction. “I’m sorry,” she said. “We really try our best to accommodate the handicapped.”

  Maggie bristled at the remark, despite being grateful her broken leg had earned them a place to sit down. Her leg was much improved, but it still hurt when she stood on it too long. The people lined up for a table glared as Maggie and Tony passed on their way to the front. She wanted to point to her boot and say, “See? I really am handicapped.”

  They were shown to a tiny table next to the kitchen door. The door constantly swung open and shut as wait staff carrying heaping plates of breakfast food passed by in a steady stream.

  “They have lobster omelets here,” said Tony. “They’re very good.”

  “No, thanks. I’ve had enough lobster to last a long time. Liz would eat it at every meal if she could.”

  Tony nodded. “But she paces herself. She’s very disciplined. Very German,” he said in an exaggerated German accent.

  Maggie laughed, realizing Tony had Liz pegged perfectly. “How did you two meet?”

  “She’d been coming up here on vacation and became a fan of the Playhouse. We had a heart attack one night during a show, and she answered the proverbial question: ‘is there a doctor in the house?’ She’s a big donor. We need to keep her happy.”

  A harried, young woman in tight jeans and a black T-shirt barreled up to take their order. She looked disappointed when they ordered only eggs and bacon instead of something more exotic and expensive. Besides its three-egg omelets, the restaurant was known for its Belgian waffles loaded with whipped cream, fruit syrup and native Maine berries.

  “Okay. Now that you’re my captive, I want the whole story,” said Tony. “And I mean, all of it!”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “There’s obviously something going on between you and Liz.”

  “Don’t be crazy.”

  “Honey, I’m not crazy. I can see how she looks at you.” He stuck out his tongue, held up both hands to his chin, and aped a puppy, complete with the panting. “And you look at her the same. You stare at her ass. Now, I know she has a nice ass and great legs, but really! I thought I’d have to mop up the drool!”

  “Tony!”

  He threw back his head and laughed, making Maggie want to sink into her seat.

  Fortunately, the waitress arrived to deliver their coffee. “Friendly, isn’t she?” said Tony, following the waitress with his eyes. “We could have gone anywhere for a meal like this, but the food is always good here.” He poured cream into his coffee. “Usually, it’s not this busy, but this is high season, of course. The Playhouse has been absolutely packed.”

  Maggie silently cursed the injury that was keeping her off the stage. She’d been counting on this opportunity to help launch a comeback. “How’s the show going?”

  Tony shrugged. “Melissa is doing a great job, but they paid to see you.”

  “I don’t know why. My one claim to fame is that road show of Les Misérables, and that was years ago.”

  “Don’t undersell yourself, Maggie. You have lots of fans. People love off-Broadway and comeback stories.”

  “I blew my comeback opportunity by going to graduate school.”

  “Well, don’t blow this one. You have a great second-chance career ahead of you. Get that leg healed, and I’ll sign you for Carousel in the Spring.” Tony flexed his black eyebrows. “Interested?”

  “Maybe. Tell me more.”

  “It opens on May fifteenth. Rehearsals start in April. Maybe Liz will let you stay with her until then, but winters in Maine are long, dark, and bleak. Sometimes we get over a hundred inches of snow. And ice…you should see the ice.”

  “What makes you think I’d want to stay with Liz?”

  “Well, you haven’t left yet.”

  “She asked me to stay until my leg heals. I think she’s lonely.”

  “Not a chance. She’s involved in everything. Chamber of Commerce. Food pantry. Mineral club. Hiking club. Handgun classes.”

  “Handgun what?”

  “She’s a certified gun safety instructor. You didn’t know?”

  “No,” Maggie admitted.

  The waitress plopped down their plates in front of them. Tony sprinkled pepper on his eggs until they looked like ants had invaded.

  “Don’t think I’m going to let you get away without telling me your story, Maggie the Cat.” He looked at her intently and wiggled his eyebrows for emphasis.

  “It’s not that interesting, I promise.”

  “Let me be the judge of that!”

  “We were roommates in college, but I left after sophomore year, and we lost touch.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Were you lovers?” Tony stopped eating and watched her face carefully. Maggie tried to deadpan, but she knew she couldn’t fool him. “I knew it!” he declared with glee. “Fred was right.”

  Maggie rolled her eyes. “Tony, keep your voice down. You don’t have to tell the whole world.”

  “Who cares? We’re in the gay capital of Maine.”

  “But I’m not gay.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “No, I’m not sure, but I was married for over twenty-five years.”

  “That doesn’t mean anything. There are lots of late bloomers. Especially among you ladies.”

  “There was one other woman besides Liz,” Maggie admitted.

  “Then you’re bi.”

  “Yes…I mean, no. I mean, I don’t know.”

  “Yes, that about sums it up, doesn’t it.” Tony reached across the table and patted her hand. “It’s okay, honey. You’ll figure it out eventually.” He’d finished his coffee and was looking around for the waitress to refill his cup. “Tell me about college. You left her.”


  “Yes, and it broke her heart. She wouldn’t let it go. She kept calling me. Finally, I had to cut her off.”

  “And she’s still carrying a torch for you after all these years. How romantic.”

  Maggie sighed. “It’s scary, actually, because I have feelings for her too. Maybe I should go home.”

  “Do you want to go home?” asked Tony with a sympathetic frown.

  “Honestly, not really. It’s beautiful up here and so quiet. I’ve gotten a lot of work done on my book. Liz is great company. And…”

  “…and you’re curious to see where this will lead.”

  “Yes. But I want to make sure it’s more than curiosity. I can’t hurt her again. I just can’t.”

  “No, that would be terrible. You were her first. Those feelings run deep. Real deep. She’d never forgive you if you hurt her again.”

  “I know,” Maggie agreed with a nod. “That’s what I’m afraid of. If we move too fast, that will be the end of our friendship. I don’t want that.”

  “Just take it slow, and don’t hop into bed the first chance you get.”

  “No, I don’t want to ruin it before it even gets started.” Maggie carefully stacked the toast she had decided not to eat. “She obviously doesn’t want me to leave. She keeps coming up with reasons for me to stay. Last night, she asked me to go camping in Acadia.”

  Tony laughed heartily. “You? Camping?”

  “Stop it. I used to go camping when I was a girl. I enjoyed it.”

  “Knowing Liz, she’ll take you up to Cabela’s or Freeport and outfit you from head to toe. I can just see you in pink hiking boots. Little shorts.” He wiggled his hips in his seat in imitation of a sashay and then roared with laughter.

  “Stop it, Tony! You’re so loud!”

  “I’m a failed actor. My voice is trained to project.”

  “Well, try to modulate it…a little. Anyway, I haven’t agreed to go yet.”

  “But you want to go.”

  “Maybe it’s selfish, but I want to see how our story ends or doesn’t.”

  Tony nodded thoughtfully. “It’s very seductive playing the ‘what if’ game, isn’t it? Most of my exes were such bastards, I’d never want to see them again, never mind get involved. But if I were a woman, and I had an ex like Liz, I would be very curious.”

  “But I can’t hurt her again.”

  “No, you can’t, and if you do, you’ll have to answer to me,” he said, wagging his finger.

  After Tony paid the bill, they headed back to Hobbs and the consignment shop near Beach Road. Although Tony adored women’s clothes, he had an ulterior motive for trolling the thrift shops. Sometimes he found items to use as props or costumes for his plays. He held a scarlet, sequined dinner dress against his slender torso.

  “This would be perfect for you, Maggie,” he called across the store. All the patrons turned around at the sound of his booming voice. Maggie hobbled closer to answer.

  “Only with a body slimmer, maybe. And I don’t like sequins. They fall off all over the place.”

  “Well, maybe we should look for something more practical. Especially, if you’re going to winter up here.”

  “I didn’t say that!”

  Tony ignored her as he headed to the rack of jeans and women’s casual blouses. “Look at this! Flannel is in again, or so they tell me.”

  “It’s a pretty color,” she agreed. The plaid had muted lavenders and blues, shot through with hunter green. She agreed to try it on.

  They spent almost two hours in the shop and left with half a dozen pairs of jeans and as many casual long sleeve shirts, turtlenecks, a couple of hoodies and a winter parka. “The L. L. Bean parka is a fantastic buy,” confided Tony in a low voice as they waited for the clerk to ring up Maggie’s purchases. “You’ll need it if you’re going to Acadia in October.”

  Tony loaded their purchases in the back of his SUV. “I can run these through the commercial washer down at the Playhouse and bring them over another time. Want to hit another store or have you had enough?”

  “I’m willing, but my leg isn’t.” It was protesting not only with pain, but also swelling.

  “Another day, then,” Tony agreed, opening the passenger door for her.

  ***

  When they arrived at the house, Liz swung open the front door and glared at them. Without a word of greeting, she stepped aside and pointed into the doorway.

  “Uh oh,” said Tony in a stage whisper. “We’re in trouble.”

  Maggie instantly sensed Liz’s anger, but she was amazed at her self-control. Her face was completely devoid of expression.

  “Didn’t you get my messages?” Liz asked

  “No.” Maggie took her phone out of her bag and saw the green text icon with the little red balloon in the corner. She tapped it and saw the message: “Are you okay???” The time sent was 1:36, about the time Liz usually got home after weekend office hours. There were also two missed phone calls. “I don’t always hear my phone when it’s in my bag,” Maggie explained.

  Tony gave Liz a sheepish look. “I think I should go,” he said quietly. “Don’t blame Maggie, Liz. It’s my fault. I put her up to it.”

  “I don’t blame anyone,” Liz said in a humorless voice. “I was worried.” She glowered at Maggie. “You left the door unlocked.”

  Maggie caught her lower lip with her teeth. How stupid! How could she have done that—she, who had three locks on her door in New York? “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

  “See you later,” said Tony, slinking away.

  Liz closed the door. “You don’t have to answer to me, Maggie, but I was worried about you, especially when I came home and found the door unlocked.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “You could have left a note, sent me a text, called the office…”

  “Liz…”

  “What?”

  “I need to sit down.”

  Maggie marveled at the instant change of expression—from tightly controlled anger to professional concern. She needed to remember that in case she ever played a doctor character again. “Let’s go out to the porch and sit down,” said Liz, taking her arm.

  Once Maggie was seated in the wicker love seat, Liz sat on the hassock and pulled Maggie’s leg into her lap. She ripped open the Velcro straps and pulled off the boot.

  “This short boot is so much better,” Maggie said, hoping to get more than a few words out of her angry friend. “Thanks for bringing it.”

  “You’re welcome.” Liz’s stern tone indicated that breezy words of gratitude wouldn’t improve the tenor of the conversation.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I accepted your apology. Just don’t do it again. I…” Liz looked flustered as if she’d almost said something, but caught herself just in time. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing,” said Liz impatiently. “I heard you the first time.”

  Liz delicately touched the puffy ankle. That was the only sign of the injury now. The color of the leg had mostly returned to normal, which was dead white, even in the summer because of Maggie’s sensitivity to the sun. Liz’s touch was sure but gentle. She tentatively explored the areas around the instep and the arch with her fingertips.

  “It looks fine,” Liz reported as she gingerly touched the area around the break.

  “You have such gentle hands,” said Maggie with a warm smile and found herself imagining those hands elsewhere. She could feel the blush rising at the thought.

  Liz grunted. Intent on her examination, she hadn’t noticed the color of Maggie’s cheeks. “You can be sure that if I touched the wrong place too hard, I’d have to scrape you off the ceiling.” She gave Maggie a firm look. “You need to pace yourself. You were on your feet too much today.” She lifted Magg
ie’s leg as she got up and placed it on the hassock. “Keep it up for a while. I’ll get you some ice.”

  While Liz was in the kitchen, Maggie realized how deeply Liz’s concern had moved her. It had been a long time since anyone had worried about her comings and goings, and it felt good to have someone care again, even if the price had been enduring Liz’s scowls and lectures.

  Liz returned with an ice bag and a towel and carefully arranged them over the break.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Liz’s tone was still stern, but Maggie could tell that her anger had mostly passed.

  “And I will go to Acadia with you.”

  Liz stood up and smiled as broadly as a fifth grader in the class photo.

  Chapter 11

  Liz gazed wistfully at the photo of the campfire with the water lapping almost up to its edge and studied the floor plan again. The only cabin available was billed as a waterfront studio that featured a screen porch, a kitchen, and a full bath. Apart from a tiny bunk room clearly meant for children, there was only one bed. The main part of the cabin was separated from the bunk room by a pocket door, which would afford some privacy. The arrangement was less than ideal, but there was no other option. Liz clicked the reservation button and whipped out her credit card to pay the deposit.

  She shut down her laptop and locked up the office. It was a tropically warm night with high humidity rolling in from the ocean. Liz found herself wishing for an icy drink, so she headed to the IGA to pick up some tonic water. Local musk melons were on sale. Heavy and fragrant, they still had some of the dirt of the field on their mottled rinds. She added a couple to her basket and headed to the register.