Miz Callies smile blossomed. Itd be a sad summer day there wasnt sweet tea in this house. You fill up the glasses with ice.
It was like old times, moving around the kitchen with her grandmother. In moments theyd assembled a tray with glasses, the pitcher of tea, a sprig of mint and a plate of Miz Callies famous pecan tassies.
Georgias mouth watered at the sight of the rich, sweet tarts. Her favorite. But her grandmother hadnt known she was coming, had she?
Shed ask, but Miz Callie was already heading out to the deck off the living room, picking up the battered sun hat she wore outside. Carrying the tray, Georgia followed.
She stepped through the sliding glass door and inhaled the salty scent of sea air. The breeze from the water caressed her skin as it tossed the sea oats that grew thickly on the dunes.
I love it here. The words came without thought as the endless expanse of sea and sky filled her with a sense of well-being.
Miz Callie gave her characteristic short nod. Then you understand how I feel. She sat down, reaching out to take Georgias hand and draw her to the chair next to her. Stay here at the beach house while youre home, wont you? Id love to have you.
She hadnt really thought about where shed stay on this rushed visit, but she could combat whatever Matthew Harper was planning better if she were on the spot.
Id love to. Im sure the folks wont mind.
That was a positive step forward. Now if she could get Miz Callie talking about what the family called her odd behavior
You want to tell me what happened to your engagement ring? Her grandmothers soft voice interrupted her thoughts.
Her gaze flew from Miz Callie to her ring finger. You noticed. Her mother hadnt, when shed stopped briefly at the house, and that had been a relief.
Of course I did, the minute I saw you. What happened with you and James, darlin?
One part of her wanted to spill the whole sorry mess into her grandmothers sympathetic ear, the way she would have poured out her problems when she was ten. But she was a grown woman now, and maybe she should act like one.
It was nothing very dramatic. Wasnt it? A shaft of pain went through her. It hadnt been dramatic only because she lacked the courage to make a scene. We both realized wed made a mistake.
She could still see Jamess facehis amazement that shed object to his stealing her work, jeopardizing her job and lying about it. The irrevocable differences between them had been shown up as if by lightning.
She forced his image from her mind. Better now than later, right?
Thats certain. Her grandmothers clear blue eyes said that she knew there was more. Still, if you want to talk about it
I know where to come. She pressed Miz Callies hand.
Does your mamma know?
Georgia shook her head. Im not looking forward to that. The day I told her I was engaged was the first time she felt proud of me since I learned to tie my own shoes.
Oh, sugar, thats not true. Miz Callie looked concerned. You and your mother dont always see eye to eye about what your life should be like, but she loves you.
The point wasnt that they didnt love each other. Shed just never managed to be the daughter her mother wanted. I know. Ill tell her.
Just not right away. It was enough that she knew her love life was a disaster. Somebody ought to put up poles and orange tape around her to warn others, the way the turtle ladies did around the loggerhead turtle nests on the beach.
Enough of my sad story, she said. Tell me whats happening with you.
Her grandmothers eyebrows lifted. Dont you already know, Georgia Lee? Didnt the family send for you? Tell you that you had to come talk some sense into your foolish old grandmother?
It was so near to what the family had said that for a moment she couldnt speak. She took a deep breath and sent up a wordless prayer.
They love you. They dont understand, and theyre worried.
If they dont understand something, they should ask me instead of jumping to conclusions. Miz Callies voice was as sharp as shed ever heard it.
Georgias heart sank. She was used to her father and uncles overreacting to things. But for Miz Callie to take offensethe chasm between them must be bad.
Im asking, Miz Callie. Theyre saying youre giving away things from the Charleston house. That you brought a derelict home for dinner. That youre talking about living here in the cottage year-round all by yourself. Dont you understand how that worries them? Youve never done anything like that before.
Exactly. Miz Callie leaned back, tipping her battered straw sun hat forward. Im seventy-five years old, Georgia Lee, and Ive spent my whole life doing exactly what other people think I should. I decided it was high time I tried living the way I feel I should.
For a moment Georgia couldnt speak again. Miz Callie was the rock in their livesthe one unchanging point. To think that shed been dissatisfied all that timeShe couldnt get her mind around it.
But you and Grandfather always seemed so happy together.
Darlin, of course we were happy. I purely loved Richmond Bodine to distraction. Miz Callies smile eased the tension that was tying Georgia in knots. Im not talking about him. Im talking about society in general. You cant imagine how often I wanted to do somethin odd, just to shake everyone up.
That feeling she did get. I always wanted to walk into dancing class in jeans, just to see what would happen.
Laughing, her grandmother took her hand again. So were more alike than you thought.
Im honored, she said. But, Miz Callie, bringing a homeless person back to the housethat could be dangerous.
That poor old man. Her face crinkled in sorrow. Georgia Lee, that man fought bravely for his country in World War II, and there he was living on the street. I declare, it made my blood boil. Yes, I brought him home, but I called Lola Wentworthyou remember Lola. Her mother, Alma Sue, was a great friend of mineand she came over and met us. We gave that poor old soul a good meal, and then Lola was able to get him into a decent living situation.
Georgia untangled the digressions into Lolas heritage and realized that the woman must be in social work of some kind. It sounded as if Miz Callies actions, if unusual, had at least been sensible.
Did you tell all this to my daddy?
I did not. Miz Callies lips pressed together in a firm line. He never asked, just started lecturing me as if I were a child.
Her head began to throb. If shed been hauled home from Atlanta just because her parents and grandmother couldnt sit down and talk things through
It couldnt be that simple. They hadnt even touched on Miz Callies move to the cottage, or the rumors of her plans for the property she owned on remote, uninhabited Jones Island, just up the coast.
Or, most of all, how Matthew Harper fit into this.
Chapter Two
Before Georgia could open her mouth to get in her next question, she heard quick, light footsteps on the stairs that led up to the deck from the beach.
Miz Callie, I found a whelk. Wait til you see. A young girl reached the top of the stairs, saw Georgia and stopped. Her heart-shaped face, lit with pleasure, closed down in an instant, turning into a polite, self-contained blank.
Miz Callie, I found a whelk. Wait til you see. A young girl reached the top of the stairs, saw Georgia and stopped. Her heart-shaped face, lit with pleasure, closed down in an instant, turning into a polite, self-contained blank.
The girl reminded Georgia of herself as a child, running to Miz Callie with some treasure. But would she have shut down like that at the sight of a stranger? It was oddly disturbing.
Lindsay, darlin, how nice. Come here and let me see. Miz Callie held out her hand to the child as she would to coax a shy kitten closer.
The little girlseven or eight, maybeshook her head, her blond ponytail flying, blue eyes guarded. Ill come back later.
No, no, I want you to meet my granddaughter, Georgia Lee. Why, when she was your age, I believe she loved the beach just as much as you do. Georgia, this is Lindsay.
Hi, Lindsay. Some neighbor child, she supposed. Id love to see your shell, too.
Come on, sugar. Miz Callies tender words had the desired effect, and the child crossed the deck to put her treasure in Miz Callies cupped hands. It is a whelk. What a nice onetheres not a chip on it.
Georgia blinked, as if to clear her vision. For a moment shed seen herself, her dark head bent close to Miz Callies white one, both of them enraptured at what her grandmother would have called one of Gods small treasures.
Only when the shell had been admired thoroughly did Miz Callie glance at Georgia again. Georgia Lee, will you bring out a glass of lemonade for Lindsay?
She started to rise, but the child shook her head. No, thank you, Miz Callie. I better go.
Miz Callies arm encircled the girls waist. At least you can have a pecan tassie before you go. I know theyre your favorite.
So her grandmother hadnt known she was coming after all. The tassies were for Lindsay.
She smiled at the girl. Do you live near here, Lindsay?
Lindsay, faced with a direct question from a stranger, turned mute. Face solemn, she pointed toward the next house down the beach, separated from Miz Callies by a stretch of sea oats and stunted palmettos.
Weve been neighbors for a couple of months now, Miz Callie said. Didnt I say? Lindsay is Matthew Harpers daughter.
Georgias assumptions lifted, swirled around as if in a kaleidoscope and settled in a new pattern. Matt Harper wasnt just a strange attorney picked at random from the phone directory. He was a next-door neighbor, and his daughter was welcomed as warmly as if she were a grandchild, with a plate of her favorite cookies. He was far more entrenched than anyone had seen fit to tell her.
Matt welcomed the breeze off the ocean, even when it ruffled the papers hed been working on at the table on the deck. He leaned back, frowning.
After looking through her notes, he understood what Mrs. Bodine wanted, but it would be more complicated than she probably suspected. Hed have to deal with a tangle of county, federal and state regulations, many no doubt conflicting.
And that wasnt even counting the opposition of her family. How far were they willing to go to stop her?
He put the folder on the glass table top and weighted it down with a piece of driftwood Lindsay had brought from the beach. Hed start work on the project, and hed fight it through for Miz Callie. But hed like to be sure she wouldnt call it off after a talk with Georgia.
Standing, he scanned the beach for Lindsay, not seeing her. She was responsible about staying within the boundaries theyd set up together, which meant that if she wasnt on the beach, shed gone over to the Bodine house.
He trotted down the steps. He should have mentioned to Lindsay that Mrs. Bodine had a guest. Now hed have to go over there and retrieve her under Georgias cool gaze.
The woman had gotten under his skin, looking at him as if he were a con man out to steal a little old ladys treasure. Couldnt the Bodine clan understand that this was all Miz Callies idea? If he didnt do the work for her, shed find some other attorney who would.
He couldnt afford that. He didnt intend to sponge off Rodney any longer, accepting the clients Rod managed to persuade to use his new colleague. He needed to bring in business of his own, and Miz Callies project was the first opportunity hed had since he and Lindsay moved here.
His steps quickened across the hard-packed sand. Hed taken the chance that this move would be good for Lindsay, a fresh start for both of them. Heaven knew they needed that.
The expression caught him off guard. Once hed have been praying about this. Once hed thought the faith Jennifer had introduced him to was strong. But when she died, hed recognized it for what it was. Secondhand. Nowhere near strong enough to handle a blow like that.
He heard the voices as he reached the stairs to Miz Callies deck. Three of them: two soft with their Southern drawl, and then his daughters light, quick counterpoint.
She was talking. It was a sign of how desperate he was about Lindsays unremitting grief that he didnt care who she was talking to, as long as she talked. At first, after Jennifers death, the two of them had gone days without saying anything, until hed realized that he had to rouse himself from the stupor of grief and make an effort for Lindsays sake.
He went slowly up the steps, hearing the conversation interspersed with gentle female laughter.
So my brother and I both went under the waves after the shell hed dropped, but I was the one who came up with it, Georgia said as he reached the top. Not that Im suggesting you should do that.
No, dont, please, he said.
All three of them turned to look at him, but Miz Callies was the only face that relaxed into a smile. Matthew, I thought youd be coming along about now. Come and have some sweet tea.
He shook his head, crossing the deck to them. There was an empty basket in the center of the table, with shells arrayed around it. His daughter was bent over two shells she seemed to be comparing, ignoring him.
Lindsay and I need to start some dinner.
At least take a minute to look at our shell collection. Georgia Lee and I were teachin Lindsay the names of the different shells.
Not I, Georgia protested, shoving back from the table. Im afraid Ive forgotten most of what you taught me.
Youll have to take a refresher course, wont you? he said, planting his hands on the back of his daughters chair.
How are you at naming the shells of the Carolina coast? Every time Georgia looked at him, she had a challenge in her eyes.
Worse than you, he said promptly. You may have forgotten, but I never knew. He patted Lindsays shoulder. Come on, Lindsay. Its time we went home.
Just a minute. I have to line all the shells up before I go.
He tensed, hating the habit Lindsay had developed, this need to have everything lined up just so. The child psychologist hed consulted said to go along with it, that when Lindsays grief didnt require her to seek control in that way, shed lose interest. But sometimes he wanted to grab her hands and stop her.
A desperation that was too familiar went through him. Hed never known family before Jennifer. Bouncing from one foster home to another hadnt prepared him to be a good father. How could he do this without her?