Secrets on Cedar Key (14 page)

D
uring the following week, two things occurred to me—that Worthington Slater was an expert kisser and that perhaps my mother and Chloe knew better than I had what was good for me.

I saw him at the yarn shop while he was there working, and I was relieved that nothing had changed or felt different between us. I recalled from my dating years that sometimes when a relationship moves in a different direction it can feel awkward or uncomfortable. But with Worth—it only felt right.

For the first time since I had moved in with my mother, I wished that I had my own place. It would have been nice to invite him over to
my
kitchen, cook him a nice meal, and spend an evening together. Maybelle's memorial was in three days and Victoria had arrived the day before. We had plans to meet at the house at three.

“You must be getting so excited,” I heard Chloe say as I looked up from the computer. “You'll be leaving for Paris a week from Monday.”

I stretched my arms above my head and nodded. I had been sitting at the computer for more than an hour tending to all of the on-line orders and felt stiffness in my shoulders. I stood up and stretched again.

“I am pretty excited, but I'm also excited about going out to see Maybelle's house this afternoon.”

Chloe removed the last of the yarn from the shipment box and arranged it on the shelf. “Gee, with a private sale, you could be in there by Christmas, couldn't you?”

“I guess I could be, but with Bella and the boys coming, I think I'll stay put at my mother's, get through the holiday, and probably move in the following week. If I buy it.”

Chloe laughed. “Who are you kidding? The way you've been going on about that house—I think it was meant to be.”

We both turned around to see Berkley walk in, accompanied by her aunt, Stella Baldwin.

“Hey, Stella,” I said. “Welcome back to the island. I didn't know you were here.”

“I got here yesterday. I'm planning to stay till after Thanksgiving.”

“Great. Did you bring that cute little Yorkie, Addi, with you?”

Stella laughed and nodded. “Oh, yes. I don't go very far without her. She's napping back at the Faraway.”

“And how's Doyle?” I asked, knowing that although she came to visit her niece, meeting Doyle Summers the year before had added to Stella's desire for return visits to the island from Atlanta.

“Oh, he's very well. He's taking Berkley and me to dinner this evening at the Blue Desert.” She walked toward the archway. “Oh, this looks wonderful, Marin. When will the needlepoint shop be open?”

“Well, it should have been before Christmas, but we had a bit of a glitch, so it'll be after the first of the year.”

She peeked into the other room and nodded. “It's going to be perfect. It already looks nice. So what you are naming it?”

Naming it? I hadn't given a thought to that. “Gosh, I guess I thought it would just be an extension of the yarn shop.”

“No, no. You have to have your own name for it. You know, something that will be special for you and be meaningful. Like when Sydney named the yarn shop Spinning Forward and then Monica renamed it Yarning Together.”

“She's right,” Chloe said. “Even though it's on the other side of the wall, it'll be a separate shop.”

“Hmm, true,” I agreed.

“I go to a nice shop in Tuscaloosa. It's a combination yarn shop and needlepoint. They have a wonderful selection of everything, and the owner and her clientele are so friendly. It's called Serendipity Needleworks.”

“Serendipity,” I repeated. “I like it a lot.”

“Oh, me too,” Berkley said. “I've always loved that word because it means coming upon fortunate discoveries when not in search of them.”

I knew she was referring to the needlepoint shop, but I couldn't help but think of Worth. I certainly had not been searching for him, and yet—he'd walked into my life.

“Serendipity Needleworks it is,” I said and laughed as all three women clapped.

 

I headed over to Safe Harbor a little before three. When I pulled the golf cart onto the gravel beside the house, I sat for a few moments staring at the sun casting a glow on the water as dragonflies once again dipped and swirled by the shore, which made me wonder if perhaps purchasing this house might also be serendipitous.

Victoria opened the door to my knock and greeted me with a hug. “Come on in,” she said, gesturing to the open-plan living room and kitchen.

My eyes immediately went to the red appliances. Worth was right. They were quirky, but they also held a hint of Maybelle and her vintage style.

“You've been in here before, right?” she questioned.

“Yeah, but not since I was a teenager.”

Victoria laughed. “Knowing Maybelle, probably not too much has changed. Well, this is the living room.”

I took in the good-size room with French doors that gave an unobstructed view of the water. “I have my own furniture,” I said. “Were you planning to take Maybelle's?”

“No. I've made arrangements with Flora to hold an estate sale for me and get it sold. But if there's anything that you'd like, just speak up. I'll include it in the sale price.”

I followed her to the kitchen. “I like how the counter and cabinets divide the two rooms, but yet if you're cooking in the kitchen, you can see right into the living room.”

“Yes, I've liked that myself when I've stayed here. If I'm busy in the kitchen, I can still keep an eye on Sam.”

I looked around. “Where is he? Didn't he come down with you?”

“Oh, yes, he's here, but he's over at Clarissa's house. Monica offered to take him for a couple hours. Come on, this way to the bedrooms and bathrooms,” she said, and I followed her to the back of the house.

“This was Maybelle's bedroom,” I said, stepping over the threshold. “I remember this is where she showed me all of the costumes she wore as a Copa Girl.” A beautiful double mahogany bed dominated the center of the room, and a matching bureau and armoire took up space against two walls.

“Right,” Victoria said. “And this is the master suite bath.”

I followed her to the en suite bathroom and was surprised to see modern upgrades. A Jacuzzi tub was positioned in a corner, and next to it was a walk-in shower, along with a toilet and double vanity.

“This is a great bathroom,” I said, noticing the high windows, which allowed for privacy but didn't require any covering, letting in full sunshine.

“It is. Maybelle only had this remodeled a few years ago. I love soaking in that tub.”

I had visions of myself doing exactly that—and maybe not solo.

Before my mind could wander any further, I heard her say, “And the other bedroom and bath is this way.”

Down the hall was another good-size bedroom with attached bath. Although this one didn't have a Jacuzzi, it did have a wonderful claw-foot soaking tub with combined shower. This guest room would be perfect for Bella and the boys when they came to visit. We walked back into the kitchen, and I knew my decision had been made.

“I want it,” I said. “I'll take it.”

“Really? But you haven't even seen the outside yet.” Victoria gestured toward the French doors. “There's a wonderful patio out there, and a brick path leads right down to the water.”

“I came here snooping,” I told her. “I've already checked out the outside property. Let's talk price, because I'd say that Safe Harbor has a new owner.”

After we went over all the financial details and they were agreeable, Victoria hugged me. “I'm so happy that you're going to be the new owner, and I have no doubt that Maybelle would be happy too. Gosh, I can't believe you're doing a cash sale.”

I nodded. “Yes, I think I'm meant to be here in this house, and because I sold my house in Gainesville, it's enabled me to purchase this one.” I recalled my mother's reluctance about my choice but hoped that now that it was a done deal maybe she'd feel differently.

“Okay. Then I'll have my lawyer . . . well, Maybelle's lawyer . . . get in touch with yours. I'll sign my part of the papers before I head back to New York next week and I'll get with Flora about doing the estate sale soon, so the house will be empty for you to move in.”

“Sounds good. Oh, I'd like to have Maybelle's bedroom set, if you're sure you don't want it. I'd like to put it into the guest room and have something of hers still here. I'll pay extra for it.”

“That would be nice, but absolutely not. You were very generous in the sale offer. The bedroom set will be included in the price. And here,” she said, handing me a set of keys on a ring. “Here's the keys for both doors. Congratulations, Marin. You're almost the new owner of Safe Harbor.”

She pulled me into a hug and I felt my eyes blur with moisture. Yes, it had been a very rough year, but I had a feeling that maybe the tides were now turning, and I felt ready to charge ahead.

W
hen I woke the following morning, the thought uppermost in my mind was the fact that by the end of the year, I was going to be a home owner. Yes, I had owned a home before—but jointly, with Andrew. This time only
my
name would be on the deed. I realized that many single career women had also accomplished this feat, but for me, it was a big deal. Especially when I recalled that there was a time in our country when married women were denied the right to own property.

I smiled and thought of Maybelle. She, too, had purchased Safe Harbor on her own and had gone on to live a full and happy life there for more than fifty years. And this morning many of us would be gathering to remember her and pay her tribute.

My eyes strayed to the bedside clock and I saw that it was already seven. I put on my robe and could smell the aroma of coffee drifting into my room.

My mother was seated at the table, head bent over the newspaper, when I walked into the kitchen.

“Good morning,” I said, heading to the coffeemaker.

“Good morning, Marin. Sleep well?”

“I did. How're you today? Ready for Maybelle's memorial?”

“Yes, I'm ready to say good-bye.” She got up to refill her coffee mug. “I sure miss having her around.”

“Yeah, Maybelle was quite a character. Did you get your words written down for what you want to say?”

My mother nodded. “Yes, I'm all set to read them. I know Victoria will be speaking, but I don't know who else.”

I hadn't instructed Victoria not to say anything about me purchasing Safe Harbor, and I didn't want my mother hearing it from somebody else. I took a deep breath and joined her at the table.

“I have something to tell you,” I said and saw her look at me with raised eyebrows. “I wanted you to be the first to know—it's official, I'm purchasing Maybelle's house.”

She nodded. “I thought you might. Well . . . I hope you'll be happy there, Marin.”

I waited a few moments before I said, “But are you happy for me?” And I realized that even at age fifty-six, I wanted my mother's approval.

She reached over and patted my hand. “Of course I am, Marin. You seemed pretty determined to have that house.”

“Do you still think it's a bad idea?”

“I don't recall having said such a thing.”

“Well, maybe not in those words, but . . .” There was certainly an indication that she felt this way—and a definite lack of enthusiasm.

She took the last sip of her coffee, placed the mug in the sink, and said, “I'm going to take my shower. Will you be ready to leave a little before eleven?”

“Yes,” I said as she walked out of the kitchen.

I had just poured my second cup of coffee when my cell phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and smiled. Worth. “Good morning,” I said.

“Hope I'm not calling too early, but I wanted to know if you're the new owner of Safe Harbor.”

I let out a laugh. My mother might not be too interested, but Worth easily shared my excitement. “Actually, yes, I am. I fell in love with the house and I think it'll be perfect for me.”

“That's great. How soon do you think you'll be able to move in? It won't interfere with you leaving on Monday for Paris, will it?”

“No, not at all. I'll sign all the papers when I return, and Victoria had Maybelle's attorney fax them to her last evening, so the lawyers will get it all squared away. I should be able to move in the week after Christmas.”

“That's wonderful. I'm happy for you.”

I could tell by his voice that he was. “Hey, listen. I just had a thought. If you're not busy tomorrow afternoon, maybe you'd like to go over to the house with me. Victoria has given me the keys and I'd kind of like to check it all out on my own. Plus, I could use a male point of view.”

I heard Worth's chuckle across the line, as he said, “Well, I'll take that as a compliment, and yes, I'd love to go with you. I'll see you at the memorial at eleven and we can decide on a time.”

I hung up the phone and felt a smile cross my face. No doubt about it, this man just plain made me feel good.

 

My mother and I arrived at Maybelle's house shortly before eleven. I was glad we took the golf cart rather than the car. Parking spots were limited on the small dirt road, and most of them already seemed to be taken. I squeezed in on a patch of grass and we walked toward the house.

Folding chairs had been set up on the patio, and people were milling about, talking quietly. We spied Victoria standing in back of a wooden podium talking to Saxton. She turned as we approached, pulling us each into a tight embrace.

“Thank you so much for coming. I've never organized a memorial before, and I don't know what I would have done without all of Saxton's help.”

Saxton smiled as he nodded toward the covered bowls in our hands. “Thanks for contributing to the lunch. You can bring them over there,” he said, waving to a table set up in back of the chairs. “Flora and Maude will know what to do with them.”

We passed our meatballs and macaroni salad to the women.

“Thanks so much,” Maude said, adding the bowls to the table, which was quickly filling up with sandwiches, casseroles, salads, and desserts.

“Nice turnout for Maybelle,” Flora said. “I think she'd be pleased.”

I looked around and nodded.

“We should get a seat,” my mother said, walking toward the chairs.

I saw Worth walk around the side of the house and waved my hand in greeting. “Worth just arrived. So we'll need three.”

“Hi,” he said, a smile covering his face. “Mind if I sit with you ladies?”

“That would be nice,” my mother said. “There's three seats together in the second row over there.”

We followed her and I sat down between them.

“Beautiful morning for a memorial outside,” Worth said.

I nodded. “It is.” I glanced at my mother and noticed she was staring beyond the patio to the area near the water, a pensive expression on her face. I was sure it couldn't be easy saying good-bye to her friend.

A little after eleven Victoria approached the podium and the seated crowd refrained from any further talking.

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for coming here today to remember and honor Maybelle Brewster. I've known Maybelle since I was a little girl and she was my godmother. Unfortunately, due to a falling-out between my mother and her when I was only ten, I lost touch with Maybelle—until last year. After my mother passed away, I contacted Maybelle, and she welcomed me back into her life with open arms. But—that's the kind of person Maybelle was. She didn't judge. I'm fortunate that my son, Sam, and I had this past year to spend with Maybelle. She was a delight to spend time with, and my fondest memory of her will always be the year she introduced me to the wonderful character Eloise and took me for afternoon tea at the Palm Court at the Plaza Hotel. I will greatly miss her”—Victoria paused to dab at her eyes with a tissue—“but a part of Maybelle will always be with me. She would be pleased that so many of you came today, because as you know, she always loved a party.”

Chuckles filled the crowd and I saw a smile cross my mother's face.

“And now,” Victoria went on, “a few of you would also like to share some memories of Maybelle. Dora?”

I watched my mother walk up to the podium, exchange an embrace with Victoria, and clear her throat.

“My friendship with Maybelle goes back fifty years, almost to the day she moved to the island and made Cedar Key her adopted town. When she first arrived, back in the sixties, many of us weren't sure what to make of her. Maybelle arrived here from the glittering lights of New York City, and as all of us eventually found out, at one time those lights literally shined on Maybelle when she performed as a Copa Girl. She once told me that yes, it had been exhilarating to be part of that dance group, with the exotic costumes and attention from patrons, but she admitted that her true self only emerged once she found Cedar Key. Maybelle loved this town and the people. Till the day she died, Maybelle took pride in a style of dress that had disappeared over the years. I don't think any of us will ever forget Maybelle Brewster strolling Second Street looking like she'd just stepped out of a 1950s fashion magazine—complete with hat, gloves, handbag, and pumps. So it was her distinct style and eccentric nature that added to the flavor of our island. Maybelle was that and so much more. She was a good and loyal friend to me. There were times that she helped me to understand life lessons, so I'm very fortunate that our paths crossed. She had a zest for life that was infectious to all of us in her company—and in death, she will be greatly missed.”

I watched my mother bring a tissue to her eyes as she left the podium to return to the seat beside me. Reaching for her hand, I gave it a squeeze and whispered, “That was a beautiful tribute to Maybelle.”

We sat quietly as others stood and related touching and humorous stories about Maybelle Brewster. When everybody had spoken, Victoria walked to the podium.

“Thank you again for coming this morning. There's plenty of food, so please, help yourself to lunch. Don't forget to sign the guest book and browse through the photo albums that are on the other table. I took Maybelle's favorite photo as a Copa Girl and had memorial cards printed, so be sure to take one as a keepsake.”

Worth and I both stood up as the crowd made their way toward the tables.

“That was a very nice memorial,” he said. “I wish I'd had the chance to know Maybelle better.”

“It was,” I said and noticed my mother was still sitting. “Are you okay?” I asked.

She nodded as she slowly got up. “Just a bit of a headache. Would you mind if I went home, Marin?”

I became concerned. This wasn't like my mother. “Are you sure you're all right?”

She patted my arm. “Yes, yes. Fine. I'm just not very hungry and would like to go home. Would it be okay if I took the golf cart? Worth, do you think you could drop Marin off when you leave?”

“Of course I can,” he said.

This was definitely out of character for my mother, making me feel uneasy. “I'll go with you. I don't have to stay.”

“No, no,” she reassured me. “Really. I'm fine. Just a bit tired. You stay.” She leaned over to kiss my cheek and headed toward Victoria to say good-bye.

“She'll be okay,” Worth said. “I think the final good-bye today was a bit emotional for her.”

I nodded. “Maybe. Are you staying for lunch?”

“Definitely, and I'd like to look through those photo albums,” he said, placing his hand at my lower back and guiding me toward the tables.

I chatted with others while we ate and looked at the pictures. After about an hour I found Victoria to say good-bye.

“I'll be in touch,” she said. “But I think the attorneys will contact us when the paperwork is all finished on the house. I hope you'll be very happy here, Marin. I'm glad it's you that will be the new owner of Safe Harbor. Give your mother my best. I hope she feels better.”

“Thanks,” I told her and spotted Worth near the water talking to Saxton.

Almost intuitively he caught my glance and nodded before saying a few more words to Saxton and then heading toward me.

“All set?”

“Yes. I'd like to get home and make sure my mother's okay.”

On the short drive to Andrews Circle, I said, “Would you still like to go to the house with me tomorrow afternoon?”

“Absolutely.” He reached over to lay his hand on my knee. “I'm looking forward to it.”

I felt a smile cross my face. “Good. I'll meet you there around two.”