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Authors: Terri DuLong

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BOOK: Postcards from Cedar Key
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26
A
s soon as I opened my eyes the following morning, I knew something was different. Stretched out beside me was Saxton, and I heard the soft sound of his breathing. Turning my head slightly, I gazed at his sleeping face. He was one handsome man. And after last night I knew he was also one incredible lover. Gentle yet passionate. We had shared an intimacy I couldn't recall sharing with another man.
I let out a sigh and allowed myself to relive the moments of the night before. My fingertip stroked his cheek and I smiled as he began to stir.
Shifting onto my side, I felt his hand reach out, and he placed it on my thigh as he opened his eyes, a smile covering his face.
“Good morning, beautiful. I love you.”
“Good morning, handsome. I love you too,” I said as I relished waking to those words.
His fingers drew circles on my inner thigh, and I luxuriated in the act of making love with a man I not only loved but felt a deep connection with.
“Coffee could be a little late this morning,” he whispered as he edged closer to me. “I hope you don't mind.”
At the moment, coffee was the last thing on my mind.
Later that afternoon, we sat at an outdoor restaurant in Dahlonega, holding hands and having a hard time keeping smiles from our faces.
“After we eat, we can walk around the shops,” Saxton said.
“It's most unusual for a man to enjoy shopping, you know.”
The smile on his face increased. “Oh, I'm not sure I'd go that far. But I do enjoy being with you. Besides, you don't take hours on end in the shops like some women do.”
“Well, I do know I want to stop at that chocolate shop we saw as we drove into town.”
“Ah, you have to make a comparison to your chocolate and Angell and Phelps?”
I laughed. “Yeah, something like that. But I have no doubt theirs doesn't have the magical quality that mine does.”
“I have to agree with that—everything about you is magical. I have a question for you though.”
“Yes, I most definitely love you.”
Now Saxton laughed and shook his head. “That's very good to know, and I love you too. But . . . I've never mentioned it . . . however. . . is there a reason you have that purple streak in your hair?”
I took a sip of ice water and shifted to see him better. “Before I answer that, I have a question for you. Why has it taken you so long to ask me that?”
“Well, I guess because . . . I honestly don't know.” He let out another laugh. “And it isn't that I don't like it. It's part of who you are, so I guess I'm just curious.”
“I'm not sure I have an answer for you. A few years ago after I broke up with the guy I'd been seeing, I wanted something different. Maybe I wanted to
be
different. I thought about a nose ring or a tattoo . . . but ended up deciding the purple streak in my hair was enough of a change.”
Saxton squeezed my hand. “I'm glad that's the choice you went with.”
“Gosh, tomorrow's our last day here,” I said, as the waitress placed quiche and a cup of soup in front of me.
“Will you be sad to go home?”
I shook my head. “Not at all. This has been incredibly wonderful. I've loved every single minute, but . . . it'll be good to get home.”
“And tomorrow we'll drive to Helen. It's a cute little Alpine village. I think you'll like it there.”
I leaned over to kiss his cheek. “I've loved all of this . . . and especially you.”
 
When we hit the Number Four bridge on Sunday afternoon, I let out a deep sigh. Saxton slowed the car to the requisite thirty miles per hour and I soaked in the view on both sides—shimmering blue water, patches of sawgrass, pelicans swooping—and I knew I was blessed. Not only did I live in a slice of paradise, but the man I loved was beside me.
We had mutually decided to spend the night at our own places. I had just finished unpacking when there was a knock on the door. Saxton changing his mind? But I opened the door to find Chloe with a casserole dish in her hand.
“Welcome home. I didn't think you'd want to cook, so I made you a tuna casserole. Nothing fancy but thought you might like it.”
“That was so nice of you. Come on in. Did you eat yet or can you share some with me?”
“I was hoping you'd ask,” she said, and followed me into the kitchen.
“I'll pop some biscuits into the oven to go with it. Wine? Tea?”
“Oh, a glass of wine would be good. Gosh, we were busy at the yarn shop today,” she said, removing a cabernet from my wine rack.
“Busy is good.” I placed two glasses on the table for her to fill.
“And guess who dropped by and will be starting the beginners' knitting class?”
I shook my head.
“Ava. Ava Wells. She's pregnant! Can you imagine? After all these years. Due in March, and she's over the moon. Says it's all due to your chocolate.” Chloe laughed and passed me a glass.
“Get outta here! Really? That's great, but I doubt my chocolate had much to do with it. Here's to Ava,” I said, lifting my glass in the air.
“Well, you'll have a hard time trying to tell her otherwise. She's convinced it was your signature chocolate clams that did it.”
I thought of Mr. Carl and Miss Raylene, but refrained from saying any more. “Thank you so much for watching Sigmund for me.”
“Oh, he's a sweetie. Very easy to care for. So I take it you had a good time?”
“The best. It gave Saxton and me a chance to really get to know each other. We're very compatible in almost every way.”
“Almost?”
I laughed. “Well, he tends to be a bit untidy, but I think we can work through that.”
“Keep separate living quarters?” Chloe chuckled and took a sip of wine.
I popped the biscuits into the oven and joined her at the table. “We haven't discussed living together, so I guess that's a solution.”
“I take it this has climbed up to serious?”
I let out a deep sigh. “I think you could say that. I thought I had fallen in love with him before we went on the trip, and over the five days together we both admitted it to each other.”
“That's great, Berkley. I'm really happy for you.”
“Oh, before I forget. My friend Jill is coming next month for Thanksgiving. I'm not sure what your plans are, but I want you to know you and Cameron are invited too.”
“Thanks, but we'll probably have dinner at Aunt Maude's with Grace and Lucas.”
“How're they doing? Any update on when they'll be back?”
“November first. I have to admit, after six months, I'm really missing my sister. I'll be glad when they get home.”
I removed the casserole from the microwave and the biscuits from the oven.
“Thanks again for supper tonight, Chloe,” I said as I placed it on the table.
“My pleasure. Plus I missed you. So I figured we needed to catch up.”
I took a bite of casserole. “Delicious. Yeah, there's something special about female friendships, isn't there?”
She nodded. “The thing is, I thought I had female friendships when I lived on St. Simons Island. But I know now they were only superficial. Women I knew from fund-raisers or the garden club or whatever. None of them were true friends. Not like I have here with you and Grace and Suellen.”
I knew the feeling. Except for Jill, I had never had genuine friendships with women until I moved to Cedar Key.
“Are you and Dora all set for Seafood Festival next weekend?”
“Oh, yeah. By the way, will you have that yarn you mentioned? The skeins with different shades of green?”
“I'll finish spinning it tomorrow and definitely have it ready for you. That reminds me, I'd better give Angell and Phelps a call. I'll be needing more of their chocolate for the weekend.”
“Looks like we have a busy week ahead.”
 
After Chloe left, I got into my pajamas, curled up with Sigmund on the sofa, and knitted till bedtime. I was just about to shut off the lights and head to bed when the phone rang.
“Just wanted to call and say good night. I miss you, Berkley, and I love you.”
“I miss you too.” And I did. It would seem odd not falling asleep beside Saxton. “Are we still meeting for lunch tomorrow at noon?”
“Absolutely. I'll meet you at the Pickled Pelican. Good night.”
“Good night, Saxton. I love you.”
I got into bed, lay there for a few minutes, and then reached over and snapped off the light.
27
“S
he's what?” I said, and leaned across the table because surely I had just misunderstood what Saxton had told me.
He let out a sigh, ran his hand through his curls, took a sip of sweet tea, and nodded. “I know. I could hardly believe it either. I mean, God, I was thrilled that Resa agreed to come to Cedar Key. But with her mother? I certainly wasn't expecting that.”
Obviously, neither was I. “So Muriel will be coming with her?”
“Apparently so,” he said, and took another gulp of tea.
I couldn't account for it, but a ripple of jealousy spread through me. They had been divorced for years—why should her visit matter to me?
“I see. So when are they coming?”
“In two weeks. They arrive on November first for three nights. Muriel has already booked a room for them at the bed and breakfast. They're flying into Gainesville, will rent a car, and drive here.”
I took a sip of ice water and nodded. “Well . . . I'm sure you're thrilled that you'll be seeing your daughter again. I know you'll enjoy that. Did she say why her mother was coming with her?”
“Resa said her husband couldn't take time from his schedule to accompany her and she didn't want to come alone, which I can understand. After so many years, it might be a bit awkward. I just hope the meeting goes well.”
I did too. I really did.
“Listen,” he said, reaching to take my hand. “I was hoping you'd join us for a dinner. I'd love for you to meet Resa and, well, we are a couple now. I thought I'd also invite Doyle so he can meet her.”
Oh, great. Meeting his daughter was one thing—but the ex-wife too? I knew I should be a big girl about it, and said, “Sure. That would be fine. I'd love to meet your daughter.”
He gave my hand a squeeze, causing me to feel a tiny bit guilty for my jealous thoughts.
“Okay, I'll book the Island Room for one of the evenings that they're here.”
The child in me kicked in again.
Oh, goody,
I thought.
 
I returned home from lunch to find a message from my aunt on the recorder.
I dialed the number and heard her chirpy voice answer.
“This is Berkley. How're you doing?”
“Oh, ever so much better. I'm back on two legs again. But I guess my salsa dancing days are over. I'll just have to find another pastime, like I don't have enough already.”
Her chuckle came across the line. “I wanted to let you know that I will be coming for Thanksgiving. I called and booked the Faraway Inn for Addi and me, and we're all set. I'm driving down on Tuesday, if that's okay with you.”
“Oh, that's great. I can't wait to see you. Listen, I was wondering if you could do me a favor. Do you happen to have any older photos of my mother?”
“Hmm, gee, I'm not really sure. We weren't much of a photo-taking family. But I'll see what I can do. Any particular reason you want her photos?”
I smiled. “Oh, yeah, but it's a long story and I'll fill you in when you get here.”
“Sounds intriguing. Well, I'll see you in about six weeks, but I'll be in touch before that.”
 
On Thursday evening I walked into Yarning Together and was surprised to find it busier than usual.
Dora greeted me with a hug. “Come on in. We have five new additions to our group tonight.”
I saw Leigh Sallenger with her two daughters fumbling with needles as Chloe attempted to teach them the basics of knitting. Across the room Miss Maybelle was sitting next to Maude, her lap overflowing with a soft cloud of beige cashmere in the process of becoming a gorgeous sweater. It was then that Ava Wells looked up, dropped her needles with a few rows of yellow stitches, and came running over to me.
“Did you hear my news?” she said, filled with excitement. “I'm pregnant! And all due to your chocolates.”
“Oh, honey,” Flora said. “I seriously doubt it was
all
due to those chocolates.”
I joined the laughter that broke out. “I did hear, and I'm so happy for you. Whatever the cause. You're due in March?”
“Yes, and I decided the time had come for me to learn to knit. So Maude is helping me to make a baby blanket.”
I leaned over to give her a hug. “That's wonderful, and congratulations. Both on the baby and learning to knit. I bet in no time at all you'll be making all kinds of beautiful things for that baby.”
I grabbed an empty chair next to Suellen and brought out the lace socks I'd started that morning.
“Oh, nice,” Suellen said, leaning over for a better look. “I love that pattern, and the ecru color makes them look vintage.”
“Yeah, I found the pattern online at Ravelry. Thought they might be nice for winter, but not too heavy.”
“So,” she said as her voice dropped to a whisper. “What's this I hear about the ex coming to Cedar Key?”
“Chloe told you, huh? Yup. Seems Saxton's daughter is coming to visit but she's bringing mommy dearest with her.”
“Uh-oh. Do I detect a hint of tension there?”
I shrugged. “I just don't understand
why
she'd even want to come. They've been divorced for years and out of touch.”
“Hmm.”
I looked over at Suellen. “What's that supposed to mean?”
“Well, Chloe said her recent husband passed away. So maybe she just wants to reconnect again. You know . . . for the daughter's sake. So I take it you have a problem with this?”
“I don't know. I'm just not real pleased that she'll be spending three days here with him.”
“Yeah, but the daughter will be with them too, and aren't you going out for dinner with them? You'll be able to draw your own conclusions on the ex when you meet her.”
“That's what I'm afraid of. She's probably going to be drop-dead gorgeous. Lived in New York for years and then Seattle. Those are pretty trendy places.”
Suellen stopped knitting to look at me. “Hey, I don't think you're being fair to Saxton. You're not giving him any credit at all. He loves you. That's pretty obvious just by the way he looks at you. I don't think you have a thing to worry about.”
I hoped Suellen was right and changed the subject. “That's really great that Leigh and her daughters are also learning to knit.”
“I know. She said when they were here last spring they all fell in love with the different yarns. Paula now has her GED and will be starting college classes in January, so she thought knitting might be a nice break for her between studying. And Paige is at a good age to learn, so Leigh thought it would be a fun thing for them to do together.”
“I didn't know that Miss Maybelle also knitted.”
“Oh, gosh, yes. I guess she and Dora have been friends for years, and both of them have knitted since they were small girls. I'm glad she joined us tonight. She's such a sweetie.”
I looked up as Dora was clapping her hands together.
“Ladies, Maude and I were just talking about Thanksgiving. Making sure that everyone has a place to go for dinner. I'll be having my entire family this year. I'm so glad that Sydney and Noah won't be in France again and my daughter, Marin, will be coming, along with Monica, Adam, and the children. And my good friend, Maybelle, just accepted my invitation.”
“Oh, Saxton and I were going to invite you,” I said. “But I'm glad you'll be with Dora. I'm having my friend Jill from Maine, and my aunt Stella will also be here. I'll be doing the cooking, but we'll eat at Saxton's house because he has more room.”
“I've been invited to Maude's house for dinner,” Suellen said.
Dora looked over at Leigh, who had remained quiet. “You're not able to cook a turkey dinner in that travel trailer, are you? What are your plans?”
“Well . . . we thought . . . maybe this year we'd skip the turkey dinner.”
Without hesitating, I blurted out, “Absolutely not! The three of you will join us at Saxton's house. There's going to be plenty of food and plenty of room.”
Leigh's face lit up. “Are you sure? We don't want to impose.”
“It's not an imposition at all. We'd love to have you, and that's settled.”
I looked over and caught the wink that Dora sent me.
“Good, and I think everybody else is accounted for. Oh, Raylene's not here tonight. Anybody know what she's doing for dinner?”
“Probably going to be with her sweetie,” Flora said, and everyone laughed.
“Yeah, but she and Mr. Carl shouldn't eat alone. I'll check with him.”
What's two more on the growing list,
I thought.
I had to admit that I was getting excited about having such a large gathering for Thanksgiving dinner. All of my years growing up, it had only been my mother, my grandmother, and me.
BOOK: Postcards from Cedar Key
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