A Change of Heart (30 page)

"I just couldn't stand another day with bad feelings between us."

Sally sighed, "I've been feeling horrible since the whole thing happened.
 
I haven't been mad at you since I was twelve."

"You were mad at everyone at twelve."
 
Annabeth smiled.
 
"You know, I would never disappoint you for the world, but I'm kind of out of my element now, and I don't always know what I will do or what I should do.
 
I'm really just going on instinct."

"I guess I understand.
 
Laurel's been after me about the whole thing.
 
Maybe she's right.
 
After all, you have a right to be happy."

Annabeth breathed deeply, in relief.
 
"Oh, hon, you don't know what it means to me to hear you say that."
 
She reached out and enfolded her daughter in a hug.
 
"Now should I make an excuse and run off?
 
Maggie looked like she was ready to drop."

"I don't see how you can do that.
 
You'll just have to stay.
 
Make the best of it.
 
Maybe now Maggie will have to snap out of it."

In a short while they were all seated at Sally's table, eating good food and sharing stilted conversation.

"How're Emma and the kids?" asked Annabeth.

"They're great," said Hugh.
 
"How's your job?"

"Still kind of fun.
 
Maggie was in the other day, weren't you?"

Maggie blushed, nodding her head, remaining silent and pointing to her mouth, which didn't appear as full as she implied.

"Soon we'll have to get busy planning the wedding," said Jackson.

Annabeth nodded.
 
"Still planning to have it outside at our house?"

Maggie's mouth dropped open.
 
"Outside?
 
In February?"
 

"Maybe it would be too cold," answered Sally.
 
"I had just thought of that in the summer, but I don't really know yet."

"Wouldn't it be a lot easier to have it at a nice, simple place?" asked Jackson.
 

"Oh, probably so," said Sally.
 
"We'll have to check some places out, I guess."

"What about..." began Annabeth.

"The Rusty Lantern?" asked Maggie.

All eyes turned toward her.
 
Hugh looked incredulous.
 
"Are you kidding?"

"Actually I hear it's a really nice place," said Sally.
 
"With great food."

Annabeth smiled at her daughter.
 
"I was going to say the Women's Club or the Garden Club.
 
They both have nice party rooms, don't they?"

"I'll check into it all.
 
I still like the idea of a tent outside.
 
I think it would be so pretty to be outdoors with the pine trees all around."

"They rent heaters for outside, don't they?" asked Jackson.

Sally nodded, "I bet they do."

"Will you girls be making all the food again?
 
That's a big job," said Hugh.

"Oh, no," said Maggie, "I don't think so.
 
We couldn't possibly."

"I was hoping for an afternoon wedding.
 
Just some little things, hors d'oeuvres, and of course cake."

"That would be lovely," said Annabeth and Maggie at the same time, causing them to peer into each other's eyes and then turn away.

Later as they were in the kitchen cleaning up, Sally took a deep breath and began to speak, "I don't want to ruin the evening but I just don't understand what's wrong.
 
We've known each other all our lives.
 
You're going to be my mother-in-law," she said looking at Maggie, "And all my life you've been like my second mother.
 
What's wrong?
 
Why are you so upset with Mom?
 
Surely it isn't the spoiled Jambalaya for the engagement party?
 
That just doesn't make sense."

A silence fell.
 
Annabeth hoped that Sally's comments would make a difference, that at last they could make up.
 
Maggie opened her mouth to speak, once, twice, then closed it each time.
 
Finally she said, "I don't know what you mean.
 
Okay, sure I was upset when that happened, but of course I'm not upset any more.
 
We've just all been busy."

"I could never be too busy for you.
 
We've shared our whole lives and now it seems like we're strangers, or worse, enemies," said Annabeth.

"That's silly," answered Maggie.

"Look, I've had enough of this.
 
I want you two to hug and make up.
 
How can we plan a nice wedding with all this tension?"

Annabeth and Maggie embraced then, on command, and they even smiled at each other.

"See," said Sally, "Isn't that better?"

Annabeth thought of her daughter's intervention as she drove home.
 
She smiled to herself softly, thinking of Sally's skills with people and sweet nature.
 
She would be a wonderful mother.
 
Annabeth was filled with pride, not just for her daughter, but for herself and the good job she had done raising Sally, and a deep sense of fulfillment flooded her heart.
 
Then she turned her thoughts to Maggie and she sighed.
  
Hugging her old friend was like embracing a cigar store Indian.
 
What was it that Maggie refused to say?
 
Why was she so determined to end their friendship now when Annabeth needed her the most, and how could she maintain this crazy feud over that party?
 
She rolled down the window of her car, allowing the night breeze to flow in.
 
She took a couple of deep breaths, trying to relax and let it all go so she could end the day peacefully.

"You're looking extra pretty today," said Charles on Wednesday.

Annabeth blushed.
 
"Just a little bit of eye shadow," she mumbled.
 
She felt like a bonafide femme fatale, wearing makeup to inspire one man to take her to dinner so she could connect with a second.

"It certainly brings out the blue of your eyes."
 
He examined her carefully. "Seems a shame to waste all that beauty.
 
Let's have supper, why don't we."

Annabeth didn't hesitate for a moment.
 
"All right, sure, that would be nice."

Charles reached into his pocket and removed his cellular phone.
 
He pressed a couple of buttons, then stated, "This thing needs a new battery," and he tossed it behind his pharmacy window.
 
"Let's go!"

What was she to do now?
 
His wife couldn't call him, and maybe he'd stay the whole evening.
 
Even if George were there, she wouldn't be able to talk to him.
 
What if George tried to talk to her, with Charles right at the table?
 
Annabeth cringed, but followed Charles out the door.

She sat nervously across from Charles, glancing about.
 
At least there was no sign of George, but it was early.

"So how's the single life?" Charles asked, probably wondering again about Maggie's comments the previous week.

"Pretty lonely."

"Sometimes I wish I'd had the courage to begin again.
 
Sara's a wonderful person, but it often seems that we had more in common in the past than we'll ever have in the future."

"I'm sorry to hear that.
 
Maybe you need to develop some new interests together."

Charles nodded.
 
"That would be a good idea.
 
If there were anything either of us wanted to do that the other also wanted."

"What about a trip?"

"I would love to travel more.
 
If only Sara wanted to."

"A hobby you could share--bridge--golf--something like that?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe.
 
We never discussed those."

"You folks ready to order?" asked Wanda.
 
"We have some nice fried catfish tonight.
 
Ham with sweet potatoes.
 
Spaghetti and meat balls."

"Catfish sounds good," said Charles.
 
"And for you?" he gestured toward Annabeth.

"Catfish is great, thanks.
 
And a glass of water."

"You seemed to enjoy that white wine we had last time.
 
How about a bottle of that?"

"I thought you didn't like wine."

"It's not so bad."

"Don't buy a whole bottle on my account.
 
I'm not really a drinker."

"All right then, two catfish plates, two glasses of wine."

"Salads and fries?" asked Wanda.
 
"Or rice.
 
We have steamed broccoli."

Charles looked toward Annabeth.
 
"Rice and broccoli, please."

He nodded, then said, "No, I think fries for me.
 
And salad.
 
Not a big broccoli man."

Wanda nodded, then walked toward the kitchen.

"I bet you have lots of men wanting to date you," Charles said abruptly.

Before Annabeth could reply, Doug walked in and came over to their table, offering his hand to Charles.

"This is getting to be a regular thing, isn't it?" asked Charles, gesturing toward a seat at their table.

"I grab a bite here most evenings, then go back to work for a bit."

"That's a long day," commented Annabeth.

"It's not so bad."

Wanda returned, setting plates of catfish with French fries, and salads in front of Annabeth and Charles along with two glasses of white wine.

Annabeth looked down at her plate, shrugged her shoulders and remained silent.

Wanda smiled and asked, "Ready, Doug?"

"I'll have what they're having.
 
Tanqueray and Tonic, and a glass of ice water, please."

Wanda nodded, disappeared for a short while, then returned with Doug's order.

"Thanks," said Doug, pushing the glass of water toward Annabeth and saying, "I bet you wanted this, didn't you?"

She nodded, smiling at him.
 
"Thanks, yes I did."

Charles looked toward Annabeth and Doug as though he were weighing what was between them.
 
"Patsy meeting you?" he asked Doug.

"No, no plans to meet.
 
Usually I just eat and run."
 
He turned toward Annabeth and asked, "Furniture painting going well?"

She nodded.
 
"Yes, thanks.
 
I did a crafts show this weekend.
 
It was great."

"That's wonderful."

"I hope you don't get rich too quickly," said Charles with complete seriousness.
 
"Wouldn't want you running out on me."

Annabeth looked at him.
 
Something was on his mind.
 
"Not much chance of that," she said and smiled at him, trying to be kind, but wondering why he was acting so peculiarly.

Wanda returned to the table and said, "Excuse me, Charles, right?"

Charles nodded.

"You have a phone call."

Charles shook his head.
 
"Excuse me."
 
He walked to the bar to take the call, then returned to the table.
 
"Seems my wife has flooded the bathroom.
 
I guess I need a disguise to go out without being tracked down."
 
He reached in his pocket, removed a twenty-dollar bill, tossed it onto the table, then said, "Gotta run.
 
Sorry, Annabeth."

"Thanks for the supper," she replied.
 
"I hope the flood's not too bad."

Charles clenched his jaw, shaking his head, then added, "See you tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Take it easy," said Doug nonchalantly.
 
"I'm glad I ran into you this evening," he confided to Annabeth after Charles was gone.
 
"I've been thinking about what you said all week."

"About being competitive?"

"I knew you'd remember.
 
I wouldn't expect that of most people, you know."
 
Annabeth smiled at this praise and he continued, "All my life I've been in the shadow of my father and brother.
 
They're both ladies' men, social, sparkling."

"I remember when your folks split up and your dad married that blonde."

Doug nodded.
 
"He's had two more since her."

"But you were always a real achiever."