Widow’s Walk
Anne McCourtie
Published by Anne McCourtie
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2012 Anne McCourtie
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Chapter 1
Emily stared at the computer monitor in astonishment. Like ghosts from the past, the faces of 37 children stared back at her. She read their names under the picture, row by row, until she found her own in the second row: Emily McLofflin. She squinted at the picture and smiled. Memories came rushing back as she peered into the faces of those long ago friends and classmates. There were only a few she didn’t remember clearly and one she recalled with great fondness – Isabel Gilmore.
Suddenly Emily wished she could see Isabel again. How many years had it been? More than Emily cared to count. She hadn’t talked to Isabel in over 25 years and she was ashamed to admit she couldn’t even recall Isabel’s married name so she had no way to locate her friend again. She sighed as she continued exploring the website.
When she clicked on the link to City Hall, Emily was surprised and delighted to discover Isabel’s brother was now the mayor of Bayside and City Hall had an e-mail address! Maybe she could find Isabel, after all. Quickly she typed out a message:
My name is Emily McLofflin and I attended school in Bayside many years ago. I see that Dylan Gilmore is the mayor now and I was hoping he could help me get in touch with his sister, Isabel. She and I were best friends and I’ve lost touch with her. Just tell the mayor I was that scrawny red-headed kid who was always spending the night with Isabel. I would appreciate it if you would pass this along to Dylan.
Thank you,
Emily McLofflin
Emily finished the message and sent it on its way. She was excited to think she might find Isabel at last.
It was only a few days until Emily received an answer.
Hey Redbird,
Bet you never expected to hear from me this quickly. This is the weirdest thing. Yesterday I called one of your mom’s relatives, Joyce (Underwood) Wakefield, to see if she knew how to get in touch with you. Then this morning, Sheila (Dylan’s wife), called me to give me your e-mail address! I was blown away. We must still have some ESP going on! I’m still in Bayside. My phone number is 361-529-1537. I can hardly wait to hear from you.
Love,
Isabel
Emily laughed when she saw the message. It had been a long time since she had been called Redbird. When she was in school in Bayside, she and three other girls formed their own little group – there was Emily, Isabel, Elizabeth and Cathy. They nearly always ate lunch together and took turns spending the night with each other. One day the four girls decided to pick animal nicknames for each other that would be their secret names. Elizabeth was dubbed Lizard, Cathy was shortened to Cat, Emily got stuck with Redbird because of her red hair and Isabel had to settle for Izzy since they couldn’t think of an animal name for her. Emily liked all the girls, but by far, Isabel was her favorite and closest friend. Isabel even gave her first child Emily’s middle name, Marie.
Emily thought of all those fond memories now as she answered Isabel’s e-mail.
Dear Izzy,
It is so wonderful to hear from you! Yes, that is weird that we were looking for each other at the same time after all these years. Sort of gives me goose bumps. I won’t even try to catch up all the events of my life in an e-mail. I’ll give you a call soon and we can reminisce about the “good old days” and all the great times we had together. It will be good to hear your voice again. I hope life has treated you well over all these years. We have a lot of visiting to do. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Emily (AKA Redbird)
Emily finished sending the e-mail, then leaned back and stretched to work the kinks out of her shoulders. She spent a lot of the day on the computer and had to remind herself to stop and rest every so often or she paid the price in stiff shoulders. As she leaned back, she looked up at the clock. It was almost time for Michael to come home, so Emily shut off the computer for the day and went downstairs to start supper.
By the time Michael arrived, the house was filled with tantalizing aromas coming from the kitchen. Aunt Agnes, Michael’s elderly aunt who lived with them, had come into the room to talk with Emily while she prepared the meal.
“Emily, honey, is there anything I can do to help you?” she said as she sat down at the table.
“No, thanks, Agnes. I think I’ve got everything under control. I’m keeping it simple tonight – soup and salad. And I think we have some leftover apple pie that will do for dessert.”
“That sounds good, dear. What kind of soup is it?”
“Just a concoction of mine. Sort of a cream of chicken with vegetables creation. I hope you like it,” she said as she sat down with Agnes.
“Oh, I’m sure I will,” answered Agnes. “So how has your day been? Did you get a lot of writing done?”
“Not as much as I would have liked. I did get an e-mail from an old friend of mine, though. I haven’t heard from her in over 25 years. I plan to call her later this evening.”
“That’s nice, dear. It’s good you’re getting in touch with her again. I miss all of my old chums. Unfortunately, I’ve outlived them all,” she said somewhat sadly. Then she perked up, “But of course, I’ve still got friends. I guess it just goes to show that if you plan to live a long time, you should make younger friends as time goes on!” She chuckled at the thought.
Emily smiled. She enjoyed Agnes’ company and was amazed she was still so alert at 93. “Now that’s something to think about,” Emily commented.
“So where does your friend live?” Agnes asked.
“In south Texas, down near Corpus Christi. Lord, I haven’t been down there in years. Not since I was a teenager.” A wave of nostalgia washed over Emily and she fervently wanted to see Isabel. “I would love to go back for a visit.”
“Well, maybe you can talk Michael into going with you. It would be a nice vacation for you,” Agnes suggested. “It would be good for you to get away together.”
Emily thought about it, but was concerned about leaving Agnes alone. She would never leave her there by herself. As if she read Emily’s thoughts, Agnes spoke up. “Now you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll bet that nice friend of yours in Kansas City would come and stay with me, don’t you think?”
“I’m sure she would if she doesn’t have something going on. But, first things first – I haven’t even talked to Isabel yet. I’ll just have to see how our reunion goes and then we’ll think about making a visit.” About that time Michael came into the kitchen and all talk of vacations was forgotten as they sat down to supper.
After supper was over, Agnes went to her room to watch TV, but not before reminding Emily about making the trip. “Now don’t forget about going to see your friend. Don’t wait until it’s too late and she’s gone,” Agnes warned.
“I won’t forget, Aunt Agnes,” Emily promised as she cleared away the supper dishes. Michael, who had gone into the living room, came back into the kitchen just in time to catch the last of the conversation.
“Won’t forget what?” he asked Emily.
“Let’s go get comfortable in the living room and I’ll tell you all about it,” she said.
When they were settled on the sofa, Emily explained to Michael about the e-mail she had received from Isabel and how Agnes was encouraging her to go down for a visit. “I think she wants to get rid of us for a while,” Emily teased. “We must be cramping her style.”
“No doubt. I’m sure she wants us to leave so she can whoop it up with the other senior citizens in the neighborhood,” Michael countered. “But, seriously, we can’t go off and leave her alone like that.”
“Oh, Michael, I know that. Actually, Agnes had a suggestion; she thought maybe Sabrina could come up and stay with her while we’re gone. I’m sure Sabrina will if she can. But I really need to talk to Isabel before making any plans.”
“Well, I’m game if you are. I have some vacation time accumulated. Just let me know.”
“I will,” said Emily as she glanced at the clock. “In fact, I think I’ll go ahead and call Isabel now. Then I’ll have a better idea of what I want to do.”
Emily talked to Isabel for over an hour. She told her all about her adventures in Michigan, with the exception of Anna Marie. She wasn’t sure how Isabel would react to the idea of Emily’s resident ghost. But there would be plenty of time for that later, Emily was sure.
There was so much for them to share it couldn’t be done in one call. They discussed getting together and Isabel said it wouldn’t be possible for her to come to Michigan. “There’s just too much going on here I have to take care of for now. Do you think you could make it down here?”
Emily reassured Isabel it would not be a problem to make the trip. “I’m not sure when it will be. I have some writing assignments I need to finish up and I’m not quite done with my novel, so it may be a couple of months before I can get free. But I will get down there,” she promised.
“It’s a good thing we have e-mail. That will help a lot,” Isabel had told Emily. “I can hardly wait to see you. I’ll probably write every day!” There seemed to be just a hint of desperation in her voice. It made Emily wonder what was going on in Isabel’s life that she wasn’t telling.
I guess we all have our little secrets, thought Emily. And some big secrets, too, she admitted to herself. Anna Marie was just such a secret. Of course, Michael and Sabrina knew about her, but even they didn’t know everything.
Chapter 2
Emily felt she had gotten to know Anna Marie very well over the past year. After her experiences with Michael, Emily had decided to write Anna Marie’s story – as fiction, of course, but sticking as closely as possible to the true story. To do this, she had to research Anna Marie’s life to glean as much information as she could about the young woman who had died so tragically all those years before.
What no one knew was that Anna Marie was helping Emily. Even Michael was not privy to the secrets Anna Marie shared with Emily through dreams. He would have quite possibly considered having Emily committed if she had told him how her novel had evolved day after day with the ideas she drew from the vivid dreams of Anna Marie. Of course, how much of it was due to Emily’s over-active imagination, she could only guess, but she knew the book would not have been written without this information. The bits and pieces she could find in the newspapers and by using conventional research methods were not enough to unfold the whole story. So those intimate details Anna Marie shared in dreams gave the book its depth.
Although it took Emily a while to discover it, she began to recognize there was always the fragrance of lilacs in the air when Anna Marie was present. At first Emily had thought nothing of it; in fact she had hardly noticed. Then one day in March it dawned on her there was no source for the scent. It was much too soon to be smelling flowers from outdoors and, indoors, no one else was near Emily. She wasn’t wearing perfume, so it had to be something else. Search as she might, she could never find any reason she should be smelling lilacs. Even though she was not frightened of Anna Marie, Emily still shivered a little when the realization came to her.
After that day, Anna Marie was a frequent visitor when Emily was working on the novel. It was as if she wanted to be sure the words expressed what really happened; to have her story told the way it was lived. If Emily reached a point in the story where she felt at a loss for words, she would have a dream that night and the next morning, the mental block was gone. After a while, she didn’t bother to question the source, but took the ideas which were offered to her and wove them into a story she hoped did justice to Anna Marie’s life.
While she worked on finishing up the novel and her other writing assignments, Emily continued corresponding with Isabel. It surprised her that she and Isabel had so much in common. They both liked mystery novels and even had some of the same favorite authors. However, Isabel’s life had been very different from Emily’s.
Isabel had four children and a step-daughter, whereas Emily had never borne a child. Although both had lost their husbands in death, the circumstances were very different. Isabel’s husband, Travis, had only recently passed away after a long battle with leukemia. For the three years prior to his death, Isabel had carried the burden of caring for him. She confided to Emily that it had taken a toll on her physical and mental health.
When Emily read the messages from Isabel, she couldn’t help but feel there was something Isabel was holding back. However, she didn’t press for an explanation from her friend. Maybe once they were together face to face, Isabel would be willing to share about whatever was going on in her life. Until then, Emily tried to keep her messages informative and friendly without being intrusive.
By the end of August, the novel was finally finished and Emily was ready to think about making the trip down south. Isabel said she didn’t have any extra room at her house, but there was a little summer cottage which had belonged to her parents and it would be available to use anytime before December. After that it would be rented to a couple from Minnesota – snowbirds, Isabel called them – who chose to spend their winter in a milder climate. Emily and Michael were discussing the best time to make the trip when the call came from Isabel.
“Hi, Emily. I just had to call you this time; I couldn’t wait for an e-mail to get your reaction,” said Isabel excitedly.
“Isabel! How good to hear from you. So what’s got you so excited that you had to call?”
“Do you remember how all of us girls used to have slumber parties out at the Pierson’s?”
“Yes,” replied Emily as she pulled up the memory of the Pierson home. “What about it?”
“Well, do you also recall the game we used to play called ‘Murder in The Dark’ when we stayed over?”
Emily frowned in concentration. “Vaguely. I remember we drew roles to play and we could either be an innocent bystander, a victim, or the murderer. And I suppose there was a detective, too.”
“I’m not sure, but, yeah, you’ve got the idea. Well, we’re planning an adult version of that here in Bayside!”
“Tell me more,” urged Emily.
“It’s going to be one of those ‘mystery weekends’ where participants come and try to solve a murder.”
Emily was surprised. “In Bayside? Why there? I wouldn’t think it would draw many people.”
“Well, it’s sort of a special event. The only people involved are the people who went to school here at the grade shcool before it was closed down.”
“That was years ago, wasn’t it?”
“Yes. It closed down back in the mid-sixties sometime. However, those of us who went there still feel some attachment to it. Don’t you?”
“Definitely. It was a big part of my life during probably some of the happiest years of my childhood. I’m just surprised there would be that many people still around.”
“The number has definitely dwindled down and, of course, not everyone will be interested. Plus, there will be a charge. But here’s the best part. It’s going to take place in the old hotel. Of course, it’s a national historic site now, you know.”
“Yes, I know. I saw that on the website. But it’s not a hotel anymore, is it?”
“No. There’s a family who owns it now and they’ve agreed – for a price, of course – to let us hold the event there. We’re planning it for the weekend of Halloween. The 31st is on Sunday, so we’re doing it on Saturday. What do you think?”
“I think it sounds like fun! I’ve always wanted to do one of those mystery weekends, and it will be even more fun to see old friends at the same time. How many people do they expect to be there?”
“Not sure. We’ve contacted about 25 people, but so far only 12 have responded. It will probably be a small group. Still, we have another good six weeks before we’ll cut off reservations. I just wanted to be sure you got in on it!”
“Well, let me talk to Michael and see what he says. Even if he can’t make it, I would like to come down.”
“Okay. Then I’ll go ahead and get the cottage ready for you. Feel free to stay as long as you want. I’ll send you all the details on the weekend activities,” Isabel told her.
“Great. I’ll be looking for it and I’ll let you know for sure if we both can come.”
“Fine. I’ll talk to you later then. Bye.”
“Goodbye,” Emily said. She hung up the phone and turned to Michael, who had been sitting quietly beside her. “That was Isabel. She was telling me about this ‘Mystery Weekend’ they’re planning in Bayside in October. It sounds like great fun. What’s your schedule like the last week of October and the first part of November? Do you have time to take a couple of weeks off?”
Michael leaned over and kissed her gently on the forehead. “Consider it done. Let me know when you want to leave and come back so I can put in for the days off,” he told her.
“You are a sweetheart, Michael.”
“I know,” he said with a smile. “That’s why you married me.”
After they went to bed, Emily laid awake thinking about Bayside and the many happy memories she had of the place. She remembered the old hotel. She had been in it a couple of times as a child, but had only fragmented memories of hallways, high-ceilinged rooms and furniture covered with sheets. At the time, a friend of Emily’s grandmother, Mrs. Braden, lived there. As Emily recalled, the woman had been somewhat eccentric and there were a large number of cats living with her. Emily was sure it was quite different now. She finally drifted off into a dream where Anna Marie beckoned Emily to follow up dark winding stairs which filled her heart with foreboding.
Chapter 3
The next morning as they finished up breakfast, Emily talked to Agnes about the trip. “Well, Agnes, I took your advice. Michael and I are going to make the trip down to Bayside in October.”
Agnes beamed at her from across the table. “I’m so pleased, dear. I know you won’t be sorry. Like I said before, you need to spend time with people before it’s too late.”
Emily nodded. “You’re right. I really should have looked Isabel up long before this. Life just has a way of distracting us, though, doesn’t it?”
“That’s the truth. Young folks get so caught up in making money and raising families, they seem to push some of the important things aside. Then by the time they get to be my age, it’s too late to let your friends know how you feel about them.” Agnes shook her head sadly, as if she was speaking from her own experience.
Emily gazed at Agnes lovingly, thinking how fragile the old woman looked sometimes, with her wispy gray hair curling softly about her small face. Emily had a strong attachment to Agnes even though she was actually Michael’s aunt. She had lived with them for almost a year now and Emily had grown very protective of her.
“I guess that holds true for friends and family. Sometimes we neglect our families, too. I promise I’ll try not to do that, Agnes,” Emily said as she reached across the table and patted Agnes’ hand.
Agnes smiled then and her face lit up again. “Don’t worry, dear. You do a good job of taking care of the people in your life. You’re a good woman. I’m glad Michael has you.”
“And I’m glad I have him, Aunt Agnes. He’s a good man.” Emily stood up then and began clearing away the breakfast dishes. “I’ll give Sabrina a call today and see about making arrangements for her to come and stay with you. I’m sure she’ll be happy to come back for a visit.”
As she had promised, later that morning, Emily called Sabrina. There’s another friend I need to keep in touch with, she thought as she dialed Sabrina’s number. They had been friends for many years and Emily had missed her since moving to Michigan. Not that she would change her life with Michael, but she sorely missed having Sabrina nearby to share the small joys and sorrows of life. Of course, she had Michael, but it wasn’t quite the same. Sabrina answered on the third ring.
“Hello?”
“Sabrina, this is Emily.”
“Emily! It’s great to hear your voice. How are things going? Is everything okay up there? When are you coming to visit?” As was usual for Sabrina, the conversation started with a string of questions.
Emily laughed. “One question at a time, Sabrina!”
“Sorry,” Sabrina said contritely.
“That’s okay. Things are going just fine up here. I finally finished my novel and I’m about ready for some leisure time. That’s why I’m calling.”
Before Emily could continue, Sabrina burst in, “Oh, are you coming down to see me? That would be great. When will you be here?”
“Back up a little, Sabrina. Actually, I was calling to see if you could come up here. Michael and I are planning a trip to south Texas and we need to have someone stay with Aunt Agnes. She asked for you and I told her I would see if you could come up.”
“Oh. So you need a babysitter, huh?” Sabrina said.
“Not exactly. Agnes just needs a companion to stay here in case she needs anything. She is 93, you know. And we’ll pay you well. It’s either that or she’ll have to go back to stay at the nursing home for a couple of weeks,” Emily said.
Sabrina’s poutiness vanished quickly. “Oh, Em, you know I wouldn’t want that! So when do you need me?”
“Well, we’re planning to leave here on October 23rd and we should be back about November 6th, give or take a day.” Emily went on to explain where they were going and how it had all come about.
“Well, it sure sounds like fun, but I hope I’m not going to be replaced as your best friend!” Sabrina said.
“Never, Sabrina. Isabel is a friend from many years ago, but you and I have had many years together as friends and that will never change. If you can take another week off to stay up here, we can spend some time together when Michael and I get back. I would love that.”
“Me, too, Em. Well, let me take a look at my schedule and see what’s going on then, but as far as I know, I should be able to do it. October is a really busy month for Lloyd, so he’ll be on the road most of the time and he won’t miss me. As for the shop, I think his mom can handle it on her own. Halloween’s not a real busy time for floral deliveries, you know.”
Emily laughed. “I wouldn’t think so. It’s not exactly a lovers’ holiday.” When Sabrina didn’t respond, Emily continued, “Sabrina, I really appreciate this. I suppose we could hire someone from an agency, but I would much rather have you here than a stranger, no matter how nice she might be. And I’m sure Aunt Agnes would prefer to have you here.”
“Well, you know I have a soft spot for the old dear. So just plan on me being there, unless I run into problems. If anything comes up, I’ll let you know. Do you want me to drive up or fly?”
“Go ahead and fly. We’ll leave the Taurus here for you to use. No sense in you having to make that long drive. I’ll go ahead and arrange for the ticket. Since we aren’t sure what day you’ll go back, I’ll just make it a one-way ticket and then we can go from there.”
“Sounds good to me. I’ll get back with you and confirm that I’m able to make it.”
“Okay. I’ll wait until I hear from you to make reservations. Let me know as soon as you can.”
“I will,” promised Sabrina.
“Well, bye for now,” said Emily. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Bye.”
Emily hung up the phone and went to find Aunt Agnes to tell her the news.
When Emily found her in her room, Agnes was delighted to hear Sabrina would be staying with her. “I always liked that girl. She gets a little excited sometimes, but she’s really nice,” Agnes said.
“Well, it’s not confirmed yet,” Emily warned Agnes, “but as far as she knows right now, Sabrina thinks she’ll be able to take the time off in October.”
“That will give me something to look forward to,” Agnes said. “Maybe I can teach her to play cards. I hope she won’t be too bored, sitting around with an old lady.”
Emily laughed. “Aunt Agnes, I’ve never known Sabrina to be bored. She can always find something to do. She’ll probably spend most of her time fretting over you like a mother hen!”
Agnes chuckled, “That’ll be a switch. Used to be I was the one doin’ all the frettin’ in the family.”
“Well, if Sabrina gets too fussy, just tell her to settle down. I imagine you can do that, can’t you?”
A sly grin spread across the old woman’s face. “You bet I can. I didn’t get to be this old by letting folks boss me around!”
Emily laughed at the thought of Sabrina being scolded by Agnes. “I’m sure you can hold your own with Sabrina. You two will probably have a good time up here in Michigan.”
However, things didn’t quite work out the way Emily expected.
Chapter 4
One evening about three weeks before Sabrina was scheduled to arrive in Michigan, Emily received a frantic call.
“Em, I have some bad news. It looks like I won’t be able to come up to Michigan, after all.”
Emily frowned at Sabrina’s announcement. “What happened? I thought you were all cleared to go.”
“I was, but about three weeks ago, Lloyd kept complaining about his feet hurting, so I finally got him to go to the doctor. It seems he has bunions, of all things, and he has to have surgery on his foot. The only time he could get it scheduled was for next week and that wouldn’t be so bad except now he’ll be laid up here at home and he needs me here to take care of him. I’m so sorry. I certainly never expected anything like this. I asked him if he couldn’t postpone the surgery until mid-November, but he said he was in too much pain and it was interfering with his driving. Anyway, the company insisted he take a leave of absence right away and get the surgery done.”
Emily was quiet for a moment before reassuring her friend. “Don’t worry, Sabrina, we’ll come up with an alternative plan. I just need time to think about it. I’m really sorry to hear about Lloyd, though, and I do understand. Those things happen in life.”
“I know, but it’s such lousy timing!” Sabrina wailed.
Emily laughed, “Well, it isn’t like Lloyd planned it on purpose, Sabrina. Like I said, don’t worry.”
“I just hate to ruin your vacation – and mine, too! I just feel so wretched about it all.”
“Well, quit fussing and let me talk to Michael and Aunt Agnes. There might be a way to do this, after all.”
“Okay, Em, what’s going on in that head of yours? I can almost hear the wheels turning.”
Emily continued, “Let me ask you this: if we brought Agnes down to Kansas City, would it be too much of a strain on you? If she’s up to making the trip, we could drive down to Texas instead of flying and visit a few people along the way.”
“Like who?” asked Sabrina.
“Remember David’s Uncle Joe?”
“How could I forget him? He was such a dapper little guy.”
“I agree and I think he and Agnes really hit it off at the wedding last year. I’d be willing to bet they wouldn’t mind getting together again. Then I have some relatives in Texas, up around Dallas, that Michael and I could stop in and see. We could just make it a visiting vacation!”
Sabrina eagerly agreed, “I would be happy to have Agnes here. We have plenty of room and she and Lloyd could entertain each other telling stories.”
“You sound like a woman with a plan,” Emily said with a laugh. “So let me run it past Agnes and Michael then I’ll get back with you.”
They chatted for a bit longer before Emily went to talk to Michael, who was amenable to the idea of taking his aunt to Kansas City as long as she was willing.
When apprised of the new plans, Agnes readily agreed to the trip. “I may be old, but I can still sit in a car, you know,” she told them. Then she smiled coyly and added, “And I wouldn’t half mind seeing that old coot, Joe, again. I’ll bet he could cut a rug when he was younger.” Emily smiled as she recalled seeing Joe holding Agnes very gingerly for a slow dance at the wedding after coaxing her to lean on him and leave the walker at the table. Emily guessed it meant more to Agnes than she would admit.
The next day Emily called and cancelled the airline reservations, then sat down to work out the logistics of the trip. She made phone calls to the relatives in Texas, who were quite pleased to hear from her and looking forward to a visit as she and Michael made their way to south Texas.
When she called Uncle Joe, he was delighted to have them come by. He was disappointed they could only stay one evening, so Emily promised to stop by again on their way back home. Joe insisted they stay at his home rather than a motel.
“Can’t have family paying out good money for rooms when I’ve got plenty here. The place is kinda messy, but I’ll get it cleaned up enough to pass muster by the time you get here.”
Emily reassured him it was not necessary to go to a lot of work on their account, but Joe insisted. “It’s about time I cleaned the damned place up, anyhow,” he told her.
By the end of the day, Emily had contacted everyone on her list and made arrangements for motels when needed. She leaned back in her office chair and sighed in relief. Now all she had to do was relax until it was time to pack, which wouldn’t be long now.
Emily was excited about the trip. Finally, it was her turn to show Michael where she had spent a lot of her childhood. However, two things had troubled her since making the decision to return to Bayside. One was the unsettling undercurrent she sensed each time she spoke with Isabel. There was a tension in Isabel’s voice which Emily could not quite identify.
The other thing which disturbed Emily was the strange dreams she continued to have. On several nights she had awakened with a sense of apprehension after dreaming of Anna Marie and the mysterious stairway, but each time Emily shook off the apprehension as she chalked this, too, up to her fertile imagination.
Despite it all, Emily continued with her plans, though she was beginning to feel that familiar sense of urgency which compelled her to push herself into unfamiliar territory. Only time would tell if her premonitions were real or flights of fancy.
Chapter 5
Plans for the trip were temporarily forgotten when Michael reminded Emily their first anniversary was coming up in three more days. He had gone to bed and was reading while he waited for Emily to join him. Suddenly he put the magazine down and looked over to where she sat brushing her hair. “Em, do you realize what the date will be on Thursday?”
She turned around and looked at him blankly. “Thursday? I don’t know…I guess it will be…” she stopped as the realization dawned on her. “Oh, Michael, I’m so embarrassed. I’ve been so excited about going to Bayside, I hadn’t even thought about our anniversary!”
Michael feigned a somewhat injured tone of voice. “Well, that’s probably a first. It’s usually the husband who is notorious for forgetting important dates.”
“I know. And I can’t believe I would forget something so outstanding. Can you ever forgive me?” she asked as she joined him in bed.
He took her in his arms and gazed lovingly into her face. “Darling, there’s nothing to forgive. Actually, I just realized it myself.” With that he kissed her gently then began laughing. “You should have seen the look on your face. It was priceless.”
She pulled away from him and scowled as she shook her finger at him. “Shame on you, Michael Jacobs! A fine one you are to scold me when you didn’t remember anymore than I did!” She laughed, too, then and they finally settled into the bed. “So what should we do to celebrate?” she asked him.
“I don’t know. What do you think?”
“Well, with the trip coming up so soon, I think we probably could get by with just a nice evening out on the town. Just something quiet.”
“I could go for that,” he agreed. “Then we could come home and watch the video of the wedding. How does that sound?”
“It sounds perfect. Then it’s settled. I’ll let you choose the restaurant, if you don’t mind. I’m a bit tired of making decisions these days, what with the trip and all.”
“Okay,” Michael told her as he stifled a yawn. “Well, good night, Sweetie.”
“Good night, Michael dear.” With that Emily drifted off to sleep recalling their beautiful wedding in the park and all the guests, both seen and unseen.
The following two weeks passed quickly and soon they were on their way to Indiana to see Joe. The trip was uneventful except for the short stop they made in Somerset Center to see the park and eat a picnic lunch. They were only there for an hour, but it brought back many memories to Emily. She would never be able to think of the park without thinking of their wedding and, of course, Anna Marie. She wondered if Anna Marie still made appearances at the park; that is, when she wasn’t helping Emily write. Emily wondered if it was possible for a ghost to be in two places at once, but kept her thoughts to herself. No sense in making people think I’m weird, she thought as they enjoyed their meal. Soon they were back on the road with Emily driving and Agnes napping in the back. Michael was reading, so Emily lost herself in her thoughts as she drove.
It was late afternoon by the time they reached Joe’s house in Highland. Emily smiled as she recalled the first time she and Sabrina had met Joe. He was definitely not what she had expected. This time there was no wait when she rang the doorbell; Joe was watching for them.
“Come in, come in,” he said as he stepped back and held the door open. They trouped in, Agnes in the lead. Joe smiled at them and told them to follow him to the kitchen. “I’ve got some coffee made and I picked up a cake at the grocer’s yesterday. I hope you like chocolate,” he said.
“Sounds good,” said Emily as she walked behind him to the kitchen.
As they entered the room, Joe began pulling out chairs for them. “Here, have a seat,” he said, then gently guided Agnes to a chair by the window.
Emily gave him a hug then took her seat at the table. “It’s so good to see you again, Joe. How have you been?”
He nodded his head, “Doing okay. Still kickin’, anyway. How about yourself?”
“I’ve been doing well, thank you,” Emily told him.
He glanced over at Agnes then and inquired, “And what about you, young lady?”
Agnes smiled sheepishly. “Like you, I’m still kickin’, at least as much as an old lady with a walker can kick,” she said with a chuckle.
“Now don’t go callin’ yourself an old lady, ‘cause that would mean I’m an old man!”
“Well, we’re not exactly spring chickens, now are we?” Agnes countered.
Joe chortled. “I guess that’s so. I just don’t see myself as old, he said.”
Michael spoke up then. “I’ve heard you’re only as old as you feel.”
“Lord, I hope not! Some days I feel like Methuselah!” Joe said.
Emily joined the conversation at that point and reassured Joe she didn’t think he looked like Methuselah. “I’ll bet Methuselah didn’t wear designer jeans and Nikes,” she told him. With that everyone laughed and began to visit back and forth.
After they had rested a while, Michael suggested they all go to a restaurant for supper. Joe said he had planned to fix supper for them, but Michael insisted it was the least he could do since Joe was so generous to provide lodging for them. “We’ll let you fix breakfast in the morning, if you feel you have to cook for us,” Michael finally conceded.
Shortly after they returned from eating, Agnes excused herself and said she was going to bed. Joe showed her to the spare room he had prepared for her, then gallantly kissed her hand and told her goodnight while she blushed becomingly. When Joe returned to the living room, Emily went in to make sure Agnes had everything she needed. “I sure like that old man,” Agnes said as she snuggled into the bed and pulled the covers up under her chin.
Emily smiled at her. “Yes, I can see that. I don’t blame you; he’s a very nice man.” Then she kissed Agnes goodnight and rejoined the men in the living room. They visited for a while longer until Emily felt herself drifting off and said she was about ready for bed herself. Joe and Michael agreed it was time to turn in so Joe fixed up the sofa- bed that was in the basement room.
When they were finally settled in bed, Michael and Emily talked quietly for a few minutes. “I think Aunt Agnes has a crush on Joe,” Emily said.
“I think you’re right,” agreed Michael. “And I think maybe he’s kind of keen on her, too.”
“Isn’t that sweet? It makes me think maybe there’s hope for us yet.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that we’ll still love each other when we’re old and gray,” said Emily softly.
Michael leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m glad we have each other to grow old with,” he whispered.
“Ah, just what I love – sweet nothings in my ear,” murmured Emily as she slipped quietly into sleep.
The next morning they had an early breakfast with Joe, as promised, then started on their way to Kansas City. Michael and Emily agreed to make several stops along the way to be sure Agnes didn’t get too tired from riding, so it was almost 7:30 by the time they reached Sabrina’s house in Kansas City.
After a tearful reunion between Emily and Sabrina, introductions were made. Lloyd had not been able to attend the wedding the year before, but he said he felt like he knew everyone already. “Of course, I know Emily here, but I’ve heard so much about everyone else and seen the wedding pictures, it’s almost like I was there.”
They had not been there long until Sabrina offered to take Agnes to the room she would be using. “This was our daughter’s room when she was here. She was the last one to go off to college. She’ll be graduating this year,” Sabrina explained.
“That’s nice, dear. Education is so important you know,” said Agnes.
“Yes, it is,” agreed Sabrina. She recalled Agnes telling how she had taught school many years ago when she was much younger.
“Anyway, I think you’ll be comfortable in here. There’s a bathroom right through here,” she explained as she opened a door in the room. “It’s between two bedrooms, but the other room is my sewing room, so you won’t be sharing the bathroom. In fact, I’ll lock the other door – just to be sure no one is tempted to use it.” She stepped into the tiny bathroom and turned the latch to the locked position. “When you’re ready for a bath or shower, I’ll show you where the big bathroom is located.”
Agnes had sat down on the bed. “Thank you, dear. I’m sure I’ll do just fine. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll skip the bath and go on to bed. I’m a bit tired.”
“Oh, I understand. I was only letting you know since this is really only what they call a ‘half-bath’ in here.”
“I see. Well, it’s good to know it’s there. I’ll see you in the morning, dear. Thank you again for letting me come visit. I hope I won’t be too much trouble,” Agnes said with a worried frown.
Sabrina sat down beside her and gave her a gentle hug. “Now don’t you worry. I’m thrilled to have you come to visit and I know Lloyd will be happy to have someone besides me to talk to,” she assured Agnes. “So you hop in bed, get a good night’s sleep and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Agnes grinned at Sabrina. “Don’t know that I’ll be exactly hopping anywhere, but this bed looks mighty good right now. Good night, Sabrina, dear.”
“Good night, Aunt Agnes.” Sabrina shut the door and joined the others in the living room.
Emily and Sabrina stayed up talking even after their husbands had given up and gone to bed. It had been over a year since they had seen each other and Emily hadn’t realized how much she missed Sabrina.
“Oh, Sabrina, it’s so good to see you again. I’ve really missed you. I know we e-mail and call once in a while, but it’s not the same as having you close enough to visit and go to garage sales with me.”
“I know. Every time I see a garage sale in a ritzy part of town, I wish you were here to go with me.”
Emily laughed. “Sabrina, I swear you really are the ‘Queen of Garage Sales’ just like it said on that tee shirt you used to have. Do you still have that?”
“I’m not sure. I probably got rid of it long ago. You know me – I recycle stuff all the time. That’s why I like garage sales. If I get something home and decide I don’t like it, then I haven’t lost much – maybe fifty cents or a dollar.”
“Yes, I understand your logic. I feel the same way. Actually, I’ve found a few treasures at garage sales.”
“Me, too. That’s why I keep going. Not to change the subject, but how long can you stay?”
“Just one day. This is a really long trip we’re taking, so we can’t stay long this time. I was thinking if Lloyd can manage without you by the time we come back through, maybe you could go back with us and stay a while. Then we can send you back on a plane.”
“Let’s just see how it goes. He’s feeling better, but still hobbling around a lot. Exactly when do you plan to be back?”
“I’m thinking it will be November 6th. That’s about two weeks from now.”
Sabrina nodded her head, “It’s possible Lloyd will be a lot better by then. I’ll talk to him and see what he thinks.”
“Okay,” said Emily as she stood up and stretched. “Well, Sabrina, I think I’ll turn in. It’s been a long day and I’m pooped.”
Sabrina stood up, turned out the living room lights and then they headed up the stairs. When they reached the second floor, Sabrina gave Emily a quick hug after which they went to join their already sleeping husbands.
As Emily crawled into bed, Michael stirred slightly, but didn’t wake. She kissed him lightly on the cheek then fell into a deep, untroubled sleep.
Chapter 6
After leaving Kansas City, Emily and Michael traveled on to Fort Worth where they stayed with Emily’s Aunt Theresa, her father’s sister. Though Emily knew Theresa had to be in her seventies, she seemed much younger to Emily, who hoped she would be as active when she reached that age.
They had a very pleasant stay with Theresa, who had a beautifully furnished home in one of the small suburbs of Fort Worth. Theresa’s husband had died several years before, leaving her financially comfortable, especially after she sold the ranch they had owned. Emily admired Theresa’s impeccable taste in décor and her enthusiasm for life and wondered if they were a family trait. If so, Emily hoped she had inherited them.
Theresa treated them to dinner at a fine restaurant and refused to let Michael pay. She insisted she wanted to do something nice for them since she had been unable to attend their wedding. Of course, Emily reminded her she had sent them a very generous gift, but Theresa waved their protests away and would not budge.
Michael finally persuaded her to let him leave the tip. “It would make me feel better,” he told her.
“I suppose, if you feel you simply must spend your money, you can leave the tip,” Theresa agreed, somewhat grudgingly, but with a smile.
“Thank you,” said Michael.
The next morning, Theresa fixed breakfast for them before they left for Bayside. They promised to stop on their way back and Emily told Theresa she would call to let her know for sure when they would be coming through.
“I might see if I can manage to get Gwen and Geneva to come down from Arkansas and have a family reunion of sorts,” Theresa told them.
“That would be great,” Emily said. “I would be delighted to see them again, if they can make it.”
Theresa said she would do her best, but she couldn’t promise anything. Emily said she understood, gave her aunt a hug, then she and Michael started for Bayside.
Michael took the first shift of driving, so Emily leaned back and rested as she watched the landscape flying by. Her mind also flew to the upcoming reunion with Isabel. It wouldn’t be long now. According to the Internet, the trip from Fort Worth to Bayside took almost as long as the one from Kansas City to Fort Worth, even though it was almost 100 miles shorter. She assumed it was because having to take some two-lane highways would slow them down. Thinking the time would pass more quickly if she slept, Emily drifted off into a nap while Michael drove, waking only when he was going through Austin.
“Where are we?” she asked groggily.
“Just getting out of Austin,” he told her. “We won’t be on I-35 much longer. Do you know where we need to get off?”
Emily pulled out the notebook she had prepared for the trip and turned to the maps she had gotten from the Internet. After studying them for a moment, she looked at the Atlas. “It looks like we can go a couple of different ways. If we go on down to San Marcos, we can take what looks like Highway 123 south to Lockhart. From there, we go through a lot of different little towns, so I’ll take over after we get to Lockhart.”
“Suits me. So San Marcos, it is.”
When they reached Lockhart, they stopped for fuel and something to eat then Emily climbed into the driver’s seat and let Michael take his turn at napping. As she passed the once familiar scenery, Emily was filled with sudden nostalgia. It had been too many years since she had been here. She had forgotten how lovely the mesquite trees were, at least to her eyes. She recalled playing around the trees and having to be careful of the huge thorns they bore. But her very favorite trees on the coast were the ones she called salt cedars. Their graceful, drooping boughs held fine, almost delicate needles. She used to love to touch them and let them tickle her hands and arms.
Emily remembered there were several salt cedars near her grandmother’s house, which Isabel said was still standing. That was definitely one of the places she and Michael would have to see. There were also salt cedars around the old bayfront hotel. What fun it will be to see the place again, thought Emily as she glanced down at the speedometer. She had to keep watching her speed; in her eagerness to see Bayside again she kept gradually increasing her speed then would catch herself and have to slow down again.
As she passed through the various towns along the way – Seguin, Gonzales, Goliad, Cuero and Refugio – she felt a sense of longing for those childhood days when she would travel with her grandmother back and forth to Fort Worth where she lived with her mother after seventh grade. Even after her parents’ divorce, Emily came back to Bayside for the summers and it had always remained in her heart as her home of homes.
Before long the landscape flattened out and soon she was pulling into Isabel’s driveway. Emily knew Isabel must have been waiting, for she stepped out the door as soon as she saw the van turn in. Even though Emily realized she and Isabel had both aged since they had last seen each other, she wasn’t quite prepared for the care worn face that greeted her. Isabel had warned her time had not been kind, but Emily just couldn’t imagine anything other than Isabel’s soft, lightly tanned skin beneath her dark brown hair, so it was with dismay that she faced a woman who looked a good ten years older than her true age. Her brown hair was liberally streaked with gray and her brown eyes looked haunted. Then Isabel smiled and Emily only saw the dear friend of her childhood years.
Stepping out of the van, she grabbed Isabel and held her close in a long-awaited hug. When the two women released each other, they both had tears in their eyes. “Oh, Isabel, I’m so happy to see you. I can’t believe I went this long without looking for you. We have so much to catch up on!”
Michael had gotten out of the van and was stretching when Emily finally remembered to introduce him. “Isabel, this is my dearly beloved, Michael Jacobs.”
Michael reached out his hand. “Pleased to meet you Isabel. I’ve heard a lot about you – all good, of course.”
Isabel smiled. “That’s good to hear. Why don’t y’all come in and rest a bit. I fixed a little supper for us and then I’ll take you down to the cottage where you’ll be staying.”
Michael stretched again. “Sounds good,” he said as they followed her into the house.
Isabel turned to them when they got inside. “The restroom’s right now the hall there if you want to freshen up.” As Michael wandered down the hall, Isabel told Emily, “Make yourself comfortable and I’ll get supper on the table. It’s not much; just some spaghetti and a salad.”
“That will be plenty,” said Emily as she sank into a nearby rocking chair and watched Isabel moving around the kitchen/dining area. The house wasn’t large, but seemed very comfortable. “How long have you lived here, Isabel?”
“We’ve been here about six years. We had been living in Corpus Christi, but when Travis retired, he wanted to come back here. We had this lot just sitting here on the waterfront not being used, so we decided to build this house. We did a lot of the work ourselves. Once we sold our place in Corpus, we moved in here and started finishing it up. We were almost done with it when Travis was diagnosed with leukemia.”
“That must have been a hard blow to take,” said Emily.
“It was. Not only because he was looking forward to retirement, but by that time he only had Medicare for insurance and there was a lot it didn’t cover. Between the budget juggling and taking care of Travis, I thought I would go crazy.”
“I can only imagine. I lost a husband, too, but it was completely different from your situation,” Emily said.
“Yes, I remember you telling me about him. David, wasn’t it? Killed in a boating accident, I think you said. Still, it doesn’t matter how it happens, it’s hard to handle.”
“True enough, but at least with David it was quick, if unexpected. I didn’t have to struggle the way you did,” Emily sympathized.
Isabel put the last of the food on the table and looked at Emily. “You don’t know the half of it,” she said wearily. She was about to say more when Michael came back down the hall. Quickly she changed the subject. A little too quickly, Emily thought.
“So are y’all ready to eat? I’ve got tea, juice or milk to drink,” Isabel informed them. They both asked for tea then joined Isabel at the table. For a few moments there was nothing but the sound of eating. Emily was wondering what Isabel had started to say before Michael came in and Michael was too busy eating to talk. The silence was finally broken when Isabel asked Emily about their trip.
“It’s been good, so far. We’ve made a couple of stops along the way to do some visiting,” Emily told her. Then she and Michael told Isabel all about Aunt Agnes and Uncle Joe.
“They sound like a couple of real characters,” Isabel said.
Emily nodded. “They are. It’s too bad they live so far apart. I think they would enjoy getting together more often.” Then Emily turned the conversation to their current situation. “So is everything set for the big mystery weekend?”
“As far as I know,” Isabel told her. “We’ve been working hard on getting in touch with everyone. Only a few are going to actually be taking part in the mystery part, but I think about 40 are going to be coming to the Friday night party.”
“There’s going to be a party?” asked Michael.
“I’m sorry, didn’t I tell you about it, Emily?”
Emily shook her head. “No, I don’t recall that you mentioned it. You say it’s going to be Friday night. You do mean the 30th , don’t you?”
“Yes. We decided to have a regular class reunion and then those who were interested could stay over for the big mystery event on Saturday evening. We plan to have a dance on Friday night, then a cookout at noon at the bayfront park, weather permitting.” It wasn’t cold yet in South Texas, even for the end of October, but Isabel explained they might possibly have some rain. “If it rains, we’ll move the party indoors to the Community Center.”
“That’s the old schoolhouse, isn’t it?” asked Emily.
“Yep, that’s the place. It’s the City Hall and Community Center now,” Isabel explained.
Emily smiled. “I saw that on the website. I’m so glad the building is being used. Is that where the dance will be?”
“Yes. We’ve got it all arranged. Dylan found someone to act as the disc jockey. Do you remember Kenny Burroughs? You know, the red-headed kid…real friendly?”
“Vaguely. It’s been a long time, you know.”
“Don’t I know it! Well, anyway, Kenny worked for some small radio station for a long time until he started his own business as a sort of freelance disc jockey and he volunteered to handle the music for the dance.”
“That was nice of him,” said Emily.
“Yeah, he always was a nice kid,” Isabel said. “He was smart, too. Graduated with honors.”
Emily sighed. “Sometimes I wish I had been able to stay here and finish school with you. I feel a closer tie to my classmates here than I do the kids I actually graduated with in Fort Worth. Oh, I had a few good friends, but it just isn’t the same.”