Second Chances (6 page)

Abby turned to see Betsy wipe her nose and cheeks with her forearm. “What’s wrong?”

“A memory, that’s all… I’m sorry.”

“Tell us about it, please.” Abby and Melanie came out of the closet and sat on the edge of the bed.

“It’s just going to be so different going forward. Everything I’ve been programmed to do or not do over the last fifteen years will change. I used to bring Miss Charlotte a tray with warm milk and cookies every evening, and I’d set it right here on this table. It makes me sad, that’s all. I guess it’s been a long day.”

“My mom had her sweet moments, didn’t she?”

“Yes, she did… but she could really get under my skin, too,” Betsy said with a laugh. “I would be honored to help write the eulogy.”

“Thanks, I’m counting on it. I really believe you knew her best. Now use that energy and think really hard. Where would my mom put that money?”

“Well… she was very particular about her shoes and always stored them in the shoe boxes. She was extremely fond of an ugly pair of knee-high boots. I never could figure out why. The box is on the top shelf over here.” Betsy led the women back into the closet and pointed to a large boot box on the far right top shelf. “I never understood why she kept that box up so high if she loved those boots so much. As short as she was, she had to get the step stool out every time she pulled it down.”

Mel gave Abby an encouraging grin. “Go for it, girl. You’re the tallest one in the bunch.”

Abby reached as high as she could and caught the edge of the box with her fingertips. She pulled it forward until it dropped into her arms. “Shall we have a look?”

The three sat on the bed and paused for a moment. “Do it, Abby. Open the lid,” Melanie said.

Abby apprehensively lifted the lid, afraid she’d be disappointed. Inside lay a pair of tan knee-high fashion boots with suede fringe and buckles along the side.

“Damn it, no money.”

The three exhaled the breaths they were holding with loud sighs. Abby pulled the boots out of the box to have a closer look.

“I see what you mean. These are hideous. What the…?”

“What?”

An enormous grin brightened Abby’s face. “Check it out!” She turned the boots upside down and hit the soles with her open hand. Stacks of money fell out of the shaft of each boot.

“Oh, heaven’s to…”

“Betsy?” Abby chuckled.

“Yes, that’s what I meant. I’ve never seen that much money in my entire life. Should I go downstairs and lock the doors?” Betsy asked.

Abby agreed and laughed with relief. “Sure, go ahead. We’ll wait for you and drink our tea. We’re counting this money together.”

By eleven o’clock, all of the cash was counted and rubber banded. The ladies lay back on Charlotte’s king-sized bed, relaxed and happy. In all, they counted seventeen thousand sixty-eight dollars.

“This will hold us over until after my mom’s will is read and the estate is settled. Thank you, Mom, for setting this cash aside, even though I’m positive it wasn’t meant for me. I appreciate it anyway. Tomorrow, I’m going to call Mr. LaRue and have him set the time for the service. I think I’ll have a luncheon served, too. Betsy, we need to go through Mom’s phone again and figure out which people on her contact list we need to notify, and tomorrow, your bedroom is getting an overhaul. Mel, pick out a room. I’m exhausted, so I’m going to bed. Good night.”

Abby lay in bed with the pillows plumped behind her shoulders. Darkness filled the room, and the night was quiet. She could finally unwind and hopefully sleep. The low whirring sound of the ceiling fan brought back memories of St. Thomas and Remy. Would he have consoled Abby about her mother’s tragedy if he were still in her life? Today had been a blur, too unbelievable, too busy, and too heart wrenching. She focused on the spinning blades. The only light came from the inch of space beneath the door. On the other side was the long hallway, the hallway Charlotte Melrose used to walk with her high-heeled shoes, always going somewhere special. For the first time that day, Abby felt absolutely, completely alone. Silent tears streamed down her face, pooling in her ears until they slid farther to hit the pillow bunched up underneath her head. In the short span of a month, Remy had gone, and now her mother was gone, too. As much as Abby wanted to hate Remy, she found it difficult. It wasn’t in her to hate anyone. She thought about his golden skin and stunning green eyes. Those dreadlocks and his sleek, muscular body—along with his charismatic personality—were enough to have every tourist and island girl panting after him.

Why didn’t I see the signs? He was bad news from the start. I felt it in my gut. I alienated Mom because of him, and now she’s dead. I can’t ever apologize to her. It’s too late for us to be a family. I wasted two years of my life throwing myself and my money at this man who told me how much he loved me when I could have been spending that time with Mom. Maybe I do hate you after all, Remy… maybe I do.

After counting each rotating fan blade for an hour, Abby finally drifted off to sleep.

Saturday arrived with dark, threatening skies and thunderstorms. Lightning strikes sounded in the distance but were closing in on Charleston. Every rumble made the windows shake and the women jump. They sat at the kitchen table together, each holding a mug of coffee and going over the finalized eulogy for Charlotte Melrose, Charleston socialite and philanthropist. The newspaper release and obituary went out two days ago, and the calls were pouring in. Betsy was in charge of handling telephone condolences and letting people know when to arrive at Magnolia Cemetery for the service and the luncheon being held afterward in the dining room next to the chapel. Abby had already contacted any relative that might care enough to attend. Most of Charlotte’s family was envious of the good fortune bestowed on her over the past twenty years. Abby didn’t care if they showed up or not since she hadn’t seen any of them for years. She assumed most of the people that would attend the service were true friends of Charlotte’s and likely members of the organizations she was involved in.

The doorbell rang, and Betsy ran to answer it. Even the rain couldn’t ruin her excitement. The new furniture for her room had arrived. She instructed the delivery driver to back up under the driveway portico so nothing would get wet. They could unload the furniture there and bring it up to her new bedroom. Yesterday, Abby had instructed Betsy to take the last unused room on the third floor as her own. The worn-out furniture Betsy had lived with for the last fifteen years was given to a women’s shelter, and the furniture in Betsy’s new room was moved to the second floor, into her old room. Abby hoped that having a large bedroom with a private bath in her new accommodations would make Betsy feel like one of the family. Abby gave Melanie her old room, and she took over Charlotte’s master suite.

The three women stood in the doorway and admired Betsy’s new bedroom set after the delivery men left.

“Here’s what I think,” Abby said. “I think this room looks beautiful, fit for a beautiful woman such as yourself, Betsy. I also think it was way overdue, and I apologize for the condition your old room was in. Going forward, we’re making a new family in this house. It’s going to be a family created not by blood but by love… so here’s to us.” Abby lifted her cup of coffee and clinked it against Betsy’s and Melanie’s cups. “This beautiful mansion on South Battery is going to spring to life, a rebirth if you will, starting with us, her new residents. As long as there’s nothing we can do outside today, let’s box up everything in your apartment, Mel, and start bringing your things here. You have a new zip code, girl.”

“Abby, there’s a phone call for you from Attorney Lewis. He says it’s urgent.”

“Oh, for Pete’s sake… Fine, I guess I’ll take it. Hello, Mr. Lewis. What can I help you with on this rainy
Saturday
?” Abby paced back and forth in the library as she listened to the pushy attorney, aggravated that he called on a weekend.

“Yes, Miss Melrose, it’s
Attorney
Lewis calling. I’m wondering if your mother’s car insurance company has contacted you yet.”

“Nobody has contacted me other than you, Mr. Lewis.” Abby enjoyed irritating him since something about his demeanor annoyed her. “I don’t even know what car insurance company she used.”

“That’s my point. I think you should come in on Monday morning so we can have a sit-down. I have copies of your mother’s important documents, and I’m sure you’ll need them to wrap up legal matters for her estate. I’m quite certain there’s a lawsuit to be filed against the garbage company. Of course, it is unfortunate Mr. Hanson passed away in the accident as well, but I believe I can get you a very sizable settlement from City Waste and Recycling. We can discuss those details and everything else on Monday morning, let’s say nine a.m.?”

“I guess I can do that. Do you need a copy of my mother’s death certificate? Have you set up a date to read her will?”

“No, I haven’t yet. I’ll arrange that after her funeral, as per your request. And yes, I should have a copy of her death certificate. It appears as though there are four other people I’ll have to contact for the reading of the will.”

“Four others? Who on earth can they be?”

“I’m sorry, Miss Melrose. I can’t discuss the will until all parties are present for the reading. I can arrange it for the week after next if you like.”

“Okay then. I’ll see you Monday morning.” Abby hung up, more confused than ever. What Mr. Lewis had said about the will was beginning to make her nervous. “So are you two ready to go? We’ll pack up your stuff for a few hours, Mel, and then go out to lunch. Betsy, you aren’t going to wear your house dress, are you?”

Betsy hung her head. “Abby, I have blue house dresses for daytime and black, nicer ones for whenever your mom entertained. I don’t own much else.”

Abby shook her head in disbelief. “This is the twenty-first century, isn’t it? I’m just shocked, Betsy. It isn’t your fault. What size do you wear?”

“Size eight, I think.”

“Good. Go in my closet and pick out something casual to wear, something like we have on. We’re going shopping on King Street after lunch. Hopefully, this weather will break.”

By twelve thirty, every square inch of Melanie’s Toyota was packed full, and there wasn’t room left for a single knickknack. The unanimous choice for lunch was Southwest Grill, then they were off to Nina’s on King Street. Abby would do everything in her power to help Betsy feel like one of the girls. After all, the housekeeper was only thirty-five years old. Because she’d been a maid for the Melrose family since she was twenty, Betsy seemed much older.

“Abby, I want you to know how grateful I am for the outfits and the furniture. You’re truly a wonderful person,” Betsy said as she helped carry boxes upstairs to Melanie’s third-floor bedroom.

They were exhausted by the time they sat down for a break at four o’clock.

“I just want to let you both know I have an appointment with Attorney Lewis on Monday morning. He thinks I have a good chance of suing the garbage truck company for Mom’s death. The idea of it makes me feel kind of creepy.”

“Isn’t that bad karma? This is the South, Abby. Voodoo, spirit stuff, bad juju. Call it what you like, but anything can happen if you sue someone due to accidental deaths,” Betsy said.

“Do you know that for a fact?” Abby poured three glasses of wine and handed them out.

“No, not really,” Betsy said. “Just spooky stories our great-grandpappy used to tell us of bad luck folks had. His stories went back generations to the slave days. It was all that dark spiritual stuff like poking dolls with needles and such. He used to scare us to death.”

“Luckily, we live in more modern times, and I don’t believe in that hocus-pocus stuff,” Abby said. “Anyway, I’d still be interested to hear what Attorney Know-It-All has to say. If there’s a chance for a settlement of some kind, not laying blame on anyone, it would definitely help with expenses around here until I finish school and open my own practice.”

Mel asked, “Are you still planning to be a relationship counselor? I mean, why bother? You’ll likely get millions from your mom’s estate. You won’t have to work a day in your life if you invest right and avoid people like Remy. Sorry, girl. I couldn’t help myself, I just had to say that.”

“Gee, thanks, Mel. Anyway, I’ll think over all my options after the will is read. Apparently, there are four other people involved.”

“Huh? Like who?” Mel asked.

“I have absolutely no idea, but I’ll find out when I see who shows up for the reading. Attorney Lewis is setting it up for the week after Mom’s funeral.”

“Speaking of the funeral, I appreciate the nice dress you bought for me to wear to her services. She’d be appalled if I wore anything inappropriate,” Betsy said.

Abby patted Betsy’s hand. “You’re more than welcome. Maybe now would be a good time to finish the eulogy so I can give it to Mr. LaRue. I told him to go ahead and hire a non-denominational minister and a speaker.”

The gloom lingering in the air wasn’t from the weather. As a matter of fact, the skies were the bluest blue Abby had ever seen beyond the Caribbean. The Friday of the funeral had arrived, and the mood in the house was dreary. Abby hadn’t seen her mother since those few seconds at the morgue. Several days ago, she had met with Mr. LaRue to give him the eulogy she and Betsy had written, along with what Betsy said was one of her mother’s favorite dresses. The dress was a simple sheath in a colorful floral pattern, something Charlotte would have picked out herself.

Abby checked the time on the antique mantel clock in the library. Only a minute or two alone was all she needed before they left for the cemetery. Abby prayed for guidance and composure to last her through the day. She had to remain calm and be pleasant and thankful to anyone that showed up, whether friend or foe, relative or stranger. She heard footsteps descending the staircase and looked at the clock again. It was time to go. Mel and Betsy entered the library, dressed impeccably, just as expected. Abby felt blessed to have the two women in her life. They were like sisters and her dearest friends.