Beach Winds (2 page)

“
Don’t do what?”

“
I drove down to the beach for the day. I don’t need your permission.”

Her mother came to stand close to her.
She smoothed the remaining strands of hair away from her daughter’s cheek.

“
I’m sorry, sweetheart. I was worried.” She touched Frannie’s arm. “Let me take your coat. You’ll get overwarm and it’s time to dress for dinner anyway. Our guests will be here soon.”

“
Our
guests?”

She stared beyond her mother.
Her dad’s chair still sat in front of the fireplace, empty for almost fifteen years. The worn chair was lost amid a roomful of newer, more expensive furnishings.

“
Don’t sulk, Frannie, and don’t blame me. Will Denman had no right to ask this of you. I begged you to refuse. You agreed just to spite me.”

“
I agreed because it was the right thing to do.” She shook her head. “The attorney is handling the difficult decisions like medical and veteran’s benefits and such. I’m doing the easy stuff.”

“
It’s not your responsibility.”

“
He’s dad’s uncle. How can you be so cold?”

“
I hardly knew him. I think I met him once in all the years your father and I were married.”

“
He was in the navy. At sea.”

“
He’s been retired for years.” She shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t understand how you got pulled into his life at this late date, but he has a lot of nerve expecting you to put your life on hold while he’s… sick.”

“
A stroke, Mother. Bottom line, he doesn’t have any other family. His attorney will be his executor when it’s time for that. Uncle Will needs me to deal with his house, bills and personal property in the meanwhile.”

“
A realtor and a low-end auction house is all that’s needed. Or just call the Salvation Army.”

“
There’s more to it than that. Besides, he’s not ready to sell.”

“
You’re not up to this, darling—that’s
my
bottom line. As for going there today, you know I have a dinner planned and how much it means to me, yet you leave without warning and stay away until the last minute.”

Frannie gripped the stair rail, wanting to walk away.
“I told you I’d be here. I shouldn’t though, because I know what you’re up to. You’re match-making.”

In a low voice, Laurel said,
“I’m trying to prevent another disastrous choice on your part. Joel’s a fine young man.” She mumbled a few more words.

“
What?”

Laurel stood taller, her neck long and smooth.
“He won’t hold your past against you.”

Angry
words tumbled in her brain, wrestling for an exit, but Frannie set her jaw and refused to allow them out.

“
You’re an attractive woman and you have money. Joel might not be exciting, but he has money of his own. He won’t try to take yours, and he won’t abuse you.”

She
moved to continue up the stairs, but Laurel stepped closer and rested her hand on her daughter’s arm.

“
If you don’t show up, it will be embarrassing for me, which won’t bother you, but it will be cruel to Joel. You may be cold, but you aren’t heartless.”

Cold, but not heartless. That about summed her up.
Frannie hurried upstairs, leaving her mother standing there, her hand suspended mid-air. She ran to her room. Her lifelong room.

“
Still living at home?” someone had asked her recently. She’d tried to salvage a speck of pride by explaining, “My mother needs me.”

On her dresser, there was no dust but only the usual items, carefully replaced in the exact same spots each time Hannah came through with her feather duster, the lamb
’s wool duster and her anti-static cloth. A photo of daddy and little Frannie was protected in its glittering crystal frame. The one next to it showed them in the garden. She was maybe two or three? The sun shone on them, both with their brown hair and deep blue eyes and big, happy smiles. Then the trio, her dad, her mother and herself. She’d been almost four, she thought. Back then things had been better between them. She turned that frame to rest face down on the dresser.

Despite appearances, and apparently despite
the opinion of some, she wasn’t an emotional ice cube. The cold was her protection, her armor. Without the armor she was no more than a shy, awkward, almost thirty-one-year-old woman who’d never been able to make a go of independence.

She knew she was attractive. People told her so and she could see it with her own eyes, but that was on the outside. Inside was a different story. She was good at hiding the mess inside—could almost make it cease to exist—at least until someone reminded her, someone like her darling mother.

****

The light from the crystal chandelier reflected in
the high gloss of the china. Frannie spread the linen napkin across her lap. To her right, Joel sipped his wine and smiled. Rather, he smiled at his plate. His short brown hair was unremarkable, but his eyes were sweet, open and honest. He was attractive enough and he was kind, but there was no spark. No electricity. She’d been in love before and though it had ended badly, she wasn’t willing to settle for less, even if it meant she’d never be in love again.

She should
n’t have agreed to this. The small group, with only Joel and his father, was too intimate. They were nice people, but under the circumstances, it felt like a lie.

Joel startled her, saying,
“That dress is beautiful on you. That shade of blue, I mean. The color matches your eyes. What do you call it? Sapphire?”

Sapphire. In
reflex she looked at the ring, deep blue and flashing with light. She refrained from reaching up to touch the drop earrings.

“
Thank you, Joel. Sapphire blue was my father’s favorite color.”

“
I remember. He gave you those at your sixteenth birthday party.”

She frowned.
“That was a long time ago and a lot of people were at that party.”

“
It was and there were, but it made an impression. Most of our friends got a car. You got the car and the crown jewels.” He laughed gently.

She didn
’t want to go back there, not back to that dear memory while sitting here with these people. Father, beaming, happy to show his love and pride in her—she felt again the warmth of his hands as he’d fastened the necklace. Mother had been far from pleased with the gift.

She
glanced up, sensing Laurel’s eyes upon her, staring. Involuntarily, Frannie touched the pendant. The platinum setting was cool against her skin; it reminded her to cool down. Joel’s father spoke to Laurel and her mother looked away.

Joel c
leared his throat and blushed. “I heard you were down at the beach today.”

From Mother, of course. Who else would know or care?

“Yes, I was.”

“
We have a house at the beach, too. At Hatteras.”

“
I know.”

“
Were you anywhere near there?”

“
No. Not near. Emerald Isle.”

“
It’s not that far. I didn’t know you liked the beach.”

Frannie interrupted, shaking her head.
“I don’t. I’m not a swimmer or a sunbather. I’m helping a relative.”

“
I see.” He looked away. “That’s nice of you.”

“
Sorry. That was rude.” She took a deep breath.

He shook his head.
“I shouldn’t have asked. I didn’t mean to pry.”

He really was a nice guy. Too nice.
It was stressful being around someone who could be so easily hurt or cowed. She felt compelled to smooth it over.

“
My father’s uncle. He had a stroke and I’m helping to manage, perhaps dispose of, his property.”

“
How sad. No wonder you don’t want to talk about it.” He folded his napkin and set it on the table. “If you need anything at all, please let me know. Anything I can do, I’m happy to help. No matter what.”

Joel leaned in closer. She tried
to relax, but then caught the approving look from her mother. She sat back and glared at Laurel, ignoring Joel’s look of surprise.

Laurel
said, “Your father told me that you are getting a promotion, Joel. That’s lovely and so well deserved. Isn’t that marvelous, Frannie?”

“
Wonderful.”

Joel tugged at the front of his sports jacket as if
the fit wasn’t quite right. He smiled. “Yes, very exciting. I’m glad of the opportunity.”

T
hat was one of the big problems with Joel. Always correct. Always courteous. Not a bad guy, and maybe someone she could spend an evening with under other circumstances, but a lifetime? Not a chance.

Laurel whispered to Joel
’s father and both looked their way. The beaming expressions they bestowed upon her and Joel were blatant.

Anger flooded her
. The noise of it roared in her ears and her hands trembled. Frannie folded her napkin carefully.

“
It’s been lovely, but I must go.” She pushed back the chair and stood abruptly, pre-empting Joel’s move to assist her.

Her mother
’s expression of benevolence didn’t change, but it hardened, and her eyes grew large.

Laurel
could be counted on not to make a scene in front of her guests. Frannie didn’t want a diva scene either, but she didn’t have the least problem with a dramatic exit.

Within minutes
Frannie heard Laurel’s soft footfalls on the thick carpet in the hall.

Her mother
stopped in the open doorway and, in a low voice, she hissed, “How could you do that? What on earth are you thinking?”

“
I tried. I really did, but you overplayed it.” Frannie tossed the last, hastily grabbed items, into her duffle bag. Time apart would be good for them both.

“
It’s humiliating to make excuses for you. I told them you were unwell earlier today and it might have returned. It’s not too late. Come back to the table. If you must go, do so after dinner.”

“
No.” Frannie heard the shakiness in her voice and willed it away. “If it’s any help to you, I’ll leave by the side door so they don’t see me.”

“
If you thought it would help me, you wouldn’t do it.” She clenched her fists. “Am I supposed to go back down to our guests and pretend my daughter has taken ill and has retired for the night? All while you’re sneaking out of the house?”

“
I’m sure you’ll do a fine job.” She yanked the zipper with finality.

“
Then go. Suit yourself. That’s what you’ve always done. You run away.” Laurel placed a hand on the door lintel and leaned against it as if exhausted. “No, please don’t go. It’s too late to drive back tonight. Wait until morning. Don’t put yourself at risk just because you want to hurt me.”

“
I’m ready now.” She put the bag’s strap over her shoulder. “A couple of hours or so and I’ll be there.”

“
Be where? A house at the beach that means nothing to you? He has no money. All he has is that house.”

She
drew in a deep breath and held it, then released it very slowly. “It’s not about money.”

“
Well, it’s certainly not about family because I’m here, I need you, and that man is a distant relative you hardly know. That doesn’t make him family.”

Frannie
bit her lip. She wanted to scream that it wasn’t about close relationships or blood ties. It was about toxic love. However, some words shouldn’t be spoken aloud no matter what the provocation, no matter how their sharp edges tore her up inside.

Mother was silent. Her face was still, almost resigned. Finally, she said,
“Do as you will. You’ll only be hurt and your troubles will start up all over again. Smart people learn from their mistakes. I can’t say that for you. Joel might not be exciting, but a man like Joel won’t hurt you. You might not recover from your next true love as easily as you did from the last one. When you fall apart again, and you need my help, remember I told you so.”

Easily? Recover easily? Had her loving mother really said that? Yes, along with
‘when you fall apart again’ and ‘I told you so.’

“
You aren’t going like that?” Laurel looked her up and down.

In this case, M
other was right. She was still in her party dress and heels.

“
You wore that jewelry tonight to wound me.”

Frannie
touched the necklace again and ignored the last question. She set the duffel bag down near the door, as if that had been her plan all along.