The More the Merrier

by Elena Graf

  3

  The next morning, Liz didn’t want to get up, so Maggie shook her arm. “You smell like a distillery. I hope you had fun.”

  Liz punched her pillow and rolled over. “Not really. But I enjoyed the conversation…I think. Erika told me she is rereading Sein und Zeit and has rediscovered Heidegger.”

  “Heidegger?”

  “Dreadful man. He became a Nazi and threw his mentor, Edmund Husserl under the bus. Brilliant, though.”

  It was too early in the morning for a philosophy lesson. Maggie just nodded and put on her bathrobe. “Everyone is awake. We need to get up too.”

  “Okay,” agreed Liz, but seconds later, she was sound asleep.

  Maggie took a quick shower, put on her makeup and went downstairs. Fortunately, Alina knew where everything was from her summer visits. She’d fed the children yogurt and cereal and had made herself some herbal tea.

  “Good morning, Mom,” she said, raising her bloodshot eyes when Maggie came into the breakfast room.

  “You look exhausted.”

  Alina sighed. “The girls have been awake since five. I tried to keep them quiet so they wouldn’t wake everyone.”

  “I heard them, but it was time to get up. Did you get any sleep?”

  “A little. My phone kept pinging. Finally, I switched off the sound.”

  “Is Jeff still sending you angry messages?”

  “Not exactly. Now he’s pleading for me to come home.”

  “Do you want to go home?”

  “Of course, I want to go home. But I can’t go back to Jeff.”

  Maggie nodded. “I understand.”

  “I had some time this morning go online and check our finances. He’s reset the password on all our accounts, but I could get in by calling the banks and giving my social security number. I asked for a new debit card so I can access our money, but when I checked the balance, it was down to a few hundred dollars. The credit cards are maxed out. The mortgage is in arrears, and the bank has filed for foreclosure. Thank God, I still have my 401K. He can’t touch that.”

  Maggie put her arm around her daughter. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry. Where did the money go?”

  “I think his drug problem is worse than I thought. And he was never any good with money. That’s why I always managed it. But he begged to take it on. Obviously, I was a fool to trust him. I should have checked. It’s only been a year since we switched. I can’t believe it happened so fast.”

  Maggie sighed. “Money can go quickly. When did your financial problems start?”

  “He won’t tell me. And that’s the real reason it’s over. He won’t be honest with me. He lies about everything.”

  “It’s pretty hard to trust people again when they consistently lie to you. That’s what broke up my marriage to your father, lying about his affair. Meanwhile, I knew. Of course, I knew.”

  Liz came into the room. Maggie wasn’t surprised to see her looking relatively put-together. She’d showered and dressed. When she leaned down to kiss her, she smelled minty from toothpaste and mouthwash, no doubt to hide the evidence of her indulgence.

  “I’m going to make a sausage and egg casserole, okay?”

  “You don’t always have to cook. I’ll make breakfast. Sit down and have some coffee.” Maggie got up and made Liz a cup of coffee using the super-dark-roast blend she liked.

  “I’ll make the casserole after I have a cup of diesel oil to start the engines,” said Liz and took a sip of coffee.

  Erika came into the breakfast room, looking perfectly normal. She was dressed and ready for the day. “Good morning, all,” she said brightly, heading for the coffee maker.

  “It’s not fair that you look so good after all that single malt,” grumbled Liz. “I hate you.”

  “I’ve had more recent practice, I think.” Erika sat down next to her.

  “As a doctor, I wouldn’t encourage imbibing in such volume. Doesn’t do good things for your liver…or stomach…or esophagus.”

  “Yes, I know, but it’s fun once in a while.”

  “What are your plans for the day, Erika?” Maggie asked.

  “Apart from that lovely carol service you have planned, I think I shall head down to the cottage to see if the new property agent had the driveway plowed. They charge more than the last one, who was a disaster. You saw the mess after they failed to drain the water heater. Thank heavens, Liz looks in on the place from time to time, or the water would have been running for weeks! Second homes can be such a burden!”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t offer it for winter rental,” said Liz. “They’re very popular.”

  “Too much bother,” said Erika. “The tenants never properly clean up after themselves.”

  “But it would be good to have someone living there. With all the storms last year, there were a lot of break-ins at the shore. Many people didn’t shovel or plow, so it was easy for thieves to identify the unoccupied homes.”

  “That’s why I want to make sure they’re plowing. And if it’s not too windy, I’d like to go for a walk on the beach.”

  “That sounds wonderful,” said Alina.

  “You’re welcome to join me,” replied Erika, reaching out her hand and taking Alina’s. “It would be nice to have company.”

  Alina’s hopeful expression faded. “But I have the kids.”

  “I’ll watch the children,” Maggie offered. “You go. You could use a walk by ocean. It’s very calming.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  “Good,” said Erika. “We’ll go after breakfast.”

  “Speaking of which…” said Liz, getting up.

  “No, you don’t,” said Maggie, with a hand on Liz’s arm. “I’ll make breakfast. You sit and entertain your guest.”

  ***

  Liz was glad for the quiet while she prepared the short ribs to go into the slow cooker. It was one of her favorite recipes, but short ribs had become ridiculously expensive. Fortunately, she had a surplus of them, cut from the whole rib roast she’d ordered for Christmas dinner. She’d had it cut in three with the idea that she and Maggie would be alone. Now, she was glad she hadn’t put the other sections in the freezer.

  Everyone was out doing something. Alina and Erika had gone to the beach house. Maggie had taken the girls to the thrift shops to buy them more warm clothes. The house was blissfully quiet. Liz briefly considered a nap while the house was empty and she’d have some peace, but she’d had too much coffee at breakfast. Of course, if she didn’t take this opportunity, she wouldn’t be able to nap later. Sophia, Maggie’s eldest, was due soon. She’d taken an early flight from Dallas.

  After all the talk of having a quiet Christmas, Liz couldn’t believe they had such a full house. One year, Maggie and Liz had talked about renting a cabin on Moosehead lake to get away from their holiday guests. “Why not leave the house to them and run away from home?” Liz had suggested.

  “Sometime soon, that’s exactly what we’ll do,” agreed Maggie.

  “Wouldn’t everyone be surprised?”

  Maggie shrugged. “Who cares? As long as I have you all to myself.”

  The memory of the conversation brought a smile to Liz’s lips. Then she remembered Katrina showing up in their room and sighed. The interruption had frustrated her, and she wondered when they could finally get back to what they’d started. It had been five years since Maggie had seduced her in the little cabin in Acadia, but Liz still wanted her as much as she had on that night. She was grateful the breast cancer drugs hadn’t diminished Maggie libido, but as her wife often reminded her, sex is more than physical.

  Maggie filled the slow cooker with the ribs and other ingredients and turned it on to low. She salivated at the thought of the succulent results. The carol ceremony was at four o’clock. By the time they returned, dinner would be ready.

  On second th
ought, Liz decided, a nap would be a good idea. She’d be much friendlier afterward and maybe after a nap, her pounding headache would be gone.

  ***

  Sophia wanted some time with her nieces, so she volunteered to stay home with the girls while the others went to the carol ceremony. Maggie was glad for the break. She’d spent the entire day with the girls, and as much as loved them, they needed so much attention, especially Katrina. She was bright and curious, but also never turned down an opportunity for mischief. After the previous day’s misadventure, Maggie didn’t dare let her out of her sight.

  “I’m going with Alyson tomorrow to look at cars,” said Liz as she drove to St. Margaret’s by the Sea Episcopal Church for the carol ceremony.

  “What does Lynne have to say about that?” asked Maggie uneasily.

  “Nothing. She’s coming along. They’re buying the car together.”

  “Really? I guess that means there will eventually be a wedding,” said Maggie, sounding more relieved than she had intended.

  “Did you have any doubt?”

  “They haven’t set a date yet.”

  “Oh, yes they did. Al told me at the party. It will be in May. The seventeenth, I think.”

  “You didn’t tell me,” scolded Maggie.

  “I forgot.”

  “You forget to tell me a lot.”

  “It was a little busy that night,” replied Liz impatiently.

  “Now, now, girls,” chided Erika from the backseat. “It’s Christmas. Time of good cheer.”

  “Bah humbug,” said Liz. She chuckled softly. “Just kidding.” She turned on to the Post Road. “I’m pretty sure I’ll buy Alyson’s Lexus. It still has some life in it, and we can use another vehicle.”

  Maggie, who by now could pretty much read Liz’s mind, knew the car was for Alina, but she wondered where they would store it if Alina decided not to stay. All the bays in the garage were in use in the winter because Liz pulled in her truck so the driveway could be plowed. Never mind, she thought. Liz has a plan. She always has a plan.

  “Maggie, how do you know so much about the new Episcopal vicar?” asked Erika, obviously changing the subject.

  “She still sings in local opera productions. One of my students knows her and thinks she’s wonderful. She’s developed quite a reputation as a sermonizer too.”

  “And how do you know that?” asked Liz.

  “Joan goes to that church,” said Maggie, referring to a neighbor in their bridge group.

  “You’re all very cozy down here, aren’t you?” observed Erika.

  “Well, you know how it is—small town in Maine…long, cold winters. We huddle together for warmth.”

  “You make it sound so inviting. Maybe I’ll move down here when I retire. I hear the local doctor is quite good.”

  “I might be retired by then too.”

  “I rather doubt that,” replied Erika, gazing out the window.

  Alina took her mother’s arm as they headed into the church. “You don’t know how much this means to me—having the company of adult women without the kids in tow. Sometimes, I think becoming a stay-at-home mom was the worst idea ever.”

  It was on the tip of Maggie’s tongue to say something about the impact on Alina’s marriage, but she kept that thought to herself.

  They entered the Church through the main door. Liz paid the requested donation for the four of them. “This is a pleasant, little church. I’ve never been in here before,” she said, looking around.

  “It takes music for me to darken the door of a church, and obviously, you too,” said Erika, glancing at the program. “What an interesting selection. Eclectic and sophisticated. Some baroque. Some modern. I wonder if this is the influence of the new vicar.”

  They searched for a pew with space for four, navigating around the knots of people chatting in the aisles. A red-haired woman wearing a priest’s choir vestments emerged from the vestry. Maggie turned to say, “That’s the vicar, Lucille Bartlett,” and saw that Erika and Liz had already noticed. Maggie cleared her throat. “You two need to put your eyes back in their sockets. You’re embarrassing yourselves.”

  “She’s stunning!” said Erika. “Why didn’t you say so? I might become a convert.”

  Liz snickered. “Now that I’ll have to see to believe. You’d convert for a woman?”

  “Well, not just any woman.”

  “Wir wissen nicht, ob sie lesbisch ist,” said Liz.

  “Es macht nichts.”

  Liz raised a brow.

  “I’ll just sit and look at her,” Erika explained. “I am capable of platonic admiration, you know.”

  “You two are shameless!” Maggie said. “What if someone hears you?”

  “So?” asked Liz.

  “You’re the town doctor!”

  “They all know about me.”

  “Know what? That you’re a pervert who drools over the local clergy?”

  Erika chuckled. “I think Maggie’s jealous, Liz. We can compare notes later.”

  The majority of the program was traditional carols sung by the adult and children’s choir of the parish accompanied by the organist. There were some more difficult pieces, including a few selections from Britten’s Ceremony of the Carols. The music was several levels better than the Catholic church down the street, Maggie decided. She’d attended Mass a few times after she’d first arrived but hadn’t recently. The clergy pedophile scandal sickened her, and Liz was a fallen away Catholic turned atheist, who wouldn’t hear of going to church.

  At the conclusion of the choral program, the choir director, an older, obviously gay man stepped into the aisle. “A few of us have been trying to convince Mother Bartlett to sing for us tonight, but she’s very resistant.” There was a disapproving murmur from the audience. The vicar smiled but shook her head. “Maybe you, the audience, can help change her mind.” The choir director began to clap, and the audience joined in with enthusiastic applause.

  “Thank you very much,” said the vicar. “You will hear me sing at high mass on Christmas eve and Christmas morning…along with our splendid choir.” She reached out expansively toward the choir. Maggie could see that she’d been well trained as an actress and knew how to hold an audience’s attention. Liz and Erika were enthralled.

  “But Mother Lucy, we want to make sure you’re in good voice for Christmas,” said the choir director. “A little practice won’t hurt, will it?”

  The audience applauded loudly. The priest laughed. “Obviously, I have a few fans out there.” She conferred with the choir director who headed over to the organist. He nodded and began to play.

  The selection was the Alleluia from Mozart’s Exsultate, Jubilate. The woman’s stunningly powerful voice cut through the church like a beam of light. She effortlessly sang all of the coloratura passages and hit the high notes with perfect accuracy. The applause that followed was deafening.

  Erika leaned over to speak into Maggie’s ear. “Your little town just became much more interesting.”

  “I agree,” said Maggie. Being in a church made her feel nostalgic, even homesick. The High Episcopal liturgy was close enough to the Catholic tradition in which she’d been raised to be both familiar and comforting. She might even consider attending services, especially if the new vicar was the brilliant sermonizer everyone said she was.

  Still clapping along, the choirmaster came to the front again. Finally, the applause died down. “Now, doesn’t that deserve an encore?” he asked the audience, which resulted in an instant standing ovation.

  Shaking her head, the vicar said, “Well, all right. I’ll sing Schubert’s ‘Ave Maria’ as he wrote it, with the original text, a German translation of a passage from Walter Scott’s poem, ‘The Lady of the Lake.’”

  “Nice little music lesson,” Erika remarked. “Well done.”

  As the vica
r sang, Maggie looked down the pew and saw that Liz and Erika were completely engrossed in the performance. The applause that followed was more thunderous than before. When it finally ended, the vicar thanked everyone for coming and reminded them of the times for the Christmas services.

  “Let’s come for Christmas,” Maggie said to Liz as they waited for the crowd in the aisle to clear.

  Liz made a little face. “Maybe.”

  “I’ll go with you, Maggie, if Liz won’t,” said Erika, “but now, I’d like to meet this woman.”

  They waited for a break in the knot of well-wishers around the vicar before approaching. Mother Bartlett reached out both her hands. “Hello. Thank you so much for coming!”

  Liz shook her hand. “That was quite a performance.”

  “Are you a member of the parish? I’m so new here, I’m afraid I don’t know everyone yet.”

  “No, not a parishioner. I’m Liz Stolz. Hobbs Family Practice.”

  “Oh, you’re the doctor I keep hearing about. I’ve been meaning to call you, but preparing the holiday liturgies has taken up all of my time.”

  “May I introduce my wife, Dr. Maggie Fitzgerald, her daughter, Alina Cummings, and my friend, Dr. Erika Bultmann.”

  “Oh, my. So many doctors. What eminent company I find myself in tonight.”

  “Liz is the only medical doctor,” explained Erika, reaching out her hand. “The rest of us are merely humble academics.”

  “Humble is not a word I would ordinarily apply to you, Erika, but since the new vicar has just met you, I won’t dispute it.”

  “Thank you, Liz. Sometime, I might return the favor.”

  “Reverend, do you have plans for dinner?” Liz asked to Maggie’s complete surprise. “We have a tasty meal waiting for us at home, and we’d love for you to join us.”

  “Please, call me Lucy. And I don’t know what to say. That’s a very generous invitation.”

  “Just say, ‘yes,’” Maggie advised. “It’s so much easier.”

  Lucy laughed. “All right, then. Yes! Let me take off my vestments, and I’ll meet you here in a few minutes.”