Dusky Rose (16 page)

It was late afternoon when she pulled off the road into Carmel. First she drove by the small white clapboard antique shop where she had worked after school and during vacations. But the shop was shuttered and Laura continued driving until she reached the tiny green and white cottage which had been her home after the untimely death of her parents. She stopped the van and got out, happy to stretch after the long journey. A huge red Irish Setter came bounding out of the house and jumped all over her, as if he had just found a long-lost friend. Laura dropped to her knees and rubbed the dog behind his ears as he wagged his tail in happy contentment.

"Driftwood, you certainly didn't forget me. Where's Aunt Estelle?"

As Laura spoke, the screen door opened and a slim woman with short, gray, tightly curled hair came down the walk. Her sprightly steps belied her graying hair and she seemed to be much younger than her external appearance would lead one to believe. She came up to Laura and held out her arms. "Laura, what a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect you this early in the week since Midge's wedding isn't until Saturday. I'm delighted to see you, though. Now we can have some time to sit around and catch up before the other guests arrive. Come on, I'll help you take your bags and we can have some iced tea while you tell me all about San Francisco."

Laura gave Aunt Estelle a crushing hug. "It's so good to be back; I've missed Carmel so much. Sometimes I can't understand why I ever left here."

"Humph," Aunt Estelle said. "You felt trapped in this small town atmosphere and you know it. You were anxious to see the big city. Well, it sounds to me as if you've had your fill of Baghdad-by-the-Bay, so why not sell that silly plant shop and come back here? I've really missed you and Midge. Now that she's getting married, there's simply no reason why we should both continue to live alone."

Laura knew that she should tell Aunt Estelle about her own marriage. But somehow the entire affair made her feel so cheap that she couldn't bring herself to mention it. She wanted to enjoy the peace and security of Carmel without having to think about the troubles of her present life. Aunt Estelle helped her carry her luggage into her old bedroom and Laura sank onto the soft mattress of the white organdy canopy bed.

Her aunt eyed her curiously. "I haven't changed a thing since you and Midge left; your old bed and your old room are still waiting for you. I hope you'll think seriously about returning here. I don't like the idea of you trying to run the plant shop by yourself, now that Midge is getting married." Then she ran her fingers across the gold lettering atop the tan cowhide luggage. "This isn't your regular luggage, Laura. And whose initials are these, D.J.L.?"

Laura blushed. "I misplaced my own luggage, so I borrowed these from a friend."

"Humph, I don't understand how you can misplace an entire set of luggage. This stuff looks very masculine to me. Is your friend a man?"

"Yes." Laura could see the interest begin to sparkle in her aunt's eyes.

"Just how good a friend is this young man? People don't usually lend their luggage to casual acquaintances. And from the look of it, this stuff is quite expensive. I think maybe you'd better tell me more about this young man, Laura."

Laura knew she couldn't deceive her aunt, but she wasn't up to a long explanation of her miserable marriage. All she wanted right now was to relax and pretend none of it had ever happened.

"There's a lot to tell, Aunt Estelle, none of it very pleasant. But I'm here to relax and enjoy Midge's wedding. When the wedding is over and we're alone, I'll tell you the whole story."

"Whatever you say, Laura; I respect and trust you too much to ever press you into telling me something until you feel the time is right. Just remember I love you, no matter what you may have become involved in. Don't ever be afraid to share your troubles with me. We're family and family has no secrets from each other." She kissed Laura softly on the forehead. "Come on now, let's get our iced tea and you'll tell me all about Midge and Steven. I can tell you the whole town is excited about this wedding; they all remember when you and Midge came here as two frightened little girls. It's hard to believe that soon little Midge is going to be a married woman. Well, at least I'll still have you by my side."

Laura looked resignedly at her aunt. How could she tell her that she had been married before Midge? It was so impossible to explain her situation to anyone because she wasn't sure she understood it herself. Finally, she looked at her aunt and said, "You're right, so let's go have that iced tea now and I'll do my unpacking later."

They went into the kitchen that Laura remembered so well. The old-fashioned refrigerator with its small freezer compartment, the water faucets that had been scoured until the chrome plating was worn away and the checkerboard linoleum, shining brightly under its many coats of wax, were still the same. She sat down at the round oak table and watched as her aunt went to the refrigerator.

"How about a fresh piece of gingerbread? I baked it this morning. Tomorrow we'll have to start on Midge's wedding cake. There's so much to do, even though it's going to be a small wedding. I'm really glad you've come early to help me."

After helping clear away the glasses, Laura unpacked. Then she walked down to the stable where she found her old horse, Dapples, munching on hay. He remembered her and nuzzled her gently as she walked up to him. She ran her hand through his long white mane, threw a saddle on him, and rode down toward the beach. The sun was just setting as she reached the rocky edges of the water and Laura dismounted and sat by the gently rolling waves, admiring the crimson beauty of the swiftly setting sun. She looked across the broad foamy expanse, remembering how relaxed her life had been when she lived here. She decided to tell her aunt that she was returning. Let David keep her in the bondage of marriage; at least she wouldn't have to be there to feel his constant hatred of her.

The sun disappeared behind the horizon and darkness shrouded the rocky edges of the shore, giving it a frightening, eerie appearance. Laura felt chilled by the intensity of the sudden cold that always struck when the blazing California sun disappeared from the sky. She mounted and rode swiftly back to the small cottage with its many memories of childhood. After unsaddling Dapples and brushing his gray coat, she placed fresh hay in his stall and returned to the house. Her aunt was waiting in the kitchen.

"I'm so tired," Laura said, "that if it's all right with you, I'll just shower and go to bed. I'm glad to be home but it's been a hectic day and I just want to rest."

Her aunt eyed her quizzically. "You do look sort of peaked. You go get ready for bed. I can see that you need a good rest in the clean air of Carmel. That big city life just isn't healthy for anyone. As soon as the wedding is over, you'll pack and move your things back here."

Laura nodded her head. "There's not much to pack. I've brought most of my things with me." She knew she would never take any of the clothing that David had bought for her. The less she had to do with him, and the less she had around to remind her of him, the better. If she didn't see him, there was no way he could make her fall prey to his charms. Distance was her only protection, and she was going to make use of it.

The sun streaming in through the organdy curtains awakened Laura the next morning. She stretched, feeling completely rested for the first time in weeks. Dressing quickly, she followed the pungently tantalizing coffee aroma into the kitchen. Her aunt looked up from the morning newspaper as she walked into the room.

"Well, you look better already. I can see that you've had a good night's rest." She lifted her eyebrows. "You had a rather strange phone call last night. A Miss Wentworth from the Lattimer Corporation called to find out if you had arrived safely. What is your connection with the Lattimer Corporation, that they should be checking up on you?"

"It's a long story. I'll explain it all to you after the wedding, when we have more time to sit and talk. Now we'd better get moving or we won't be ready when everyone gets here."

Midge and Steven arrived Friday morning. Steven was staying at the local motel along with his parents and Midge once again shared a room with Laura, probably for the last time. She embraced Laura and Aunt Estelle and then quickly became caught up in the excitement of the wedding plans.

"I've made most of the food for the wedding already," her aunt said. "We just have to finish frosting the cake and then we can relax a bit until the rehearsal. Did you tell Steven and his family that we have to be at the church at six o'clock? Reverend Carmichael is still a stickler for punctuality. Laura, you help Midge get unpacked. Hang the wedding dress in the closet— carefully. We don't want it to get creased."

Midge followed Laura into their bedroom, hung her white lace wedding dress in the closet and sat down on the bed. She grasped Laura's left hand in hers.

"What's happened to your wedding ring? Haven't you told Aunt Estelle about your marriage yet?"
She sounded almost accusing
, Laura thought,
as if some injustice were being done to David
.

Laura slipped a long gold chain from beneath her blouse. "I'm wearing the ring on this chain. The only reason I'm even keeping it there is that I want to have it available when David wants it back." She couldn't admit to Midge that she wanted to hold the ring as close to her heart for as long as possible. "I haven't told Aunt Estelle about my marriage because I didn't want to burden her with my problems when she's all wrapped up in the excitement of your wedding. There will be plenty of time to tell her about my situation after you and Steven have left on your honeymoon because I've decided to come back here to live; I just don't want to live in San Francisco any more."

"And just how do you intend to explain David to Aunt Estelle when he comes here for the wedding?"

"You don't really think that he's going to come here to attend a small town wedding, do you? I doubt that he can spare the time from his business commitments. I don't think he was ever serious about attending your wedding but I'm sure he's not coming now, not after everything that's happened between us."

Midge pursed her lips. "What did he say when you told him you were leaving for Carmel?"

"I never told him, I just left word with the butler. You don't understand about David. He doesn't really love me. I'm just someone who interfered with his plans and now he wants to punish me for it."

Midge looked at Laura thoughtfully. "You're mistaken, Laura. David is quite serious about attending my wedding. He even put me in touch with a buyer for the plant shop and he's spoken to Steven about joining Lattimer Corporation's accounting department. It will mean a substantial increase in salary, as well as prestige for Steven. We're quite happy with the opportunity we've been given. In addition, David has offered us the use of his yacht for our honeymoon trip; it's anchored off Half Moon Bay and we're going there right after our wedding. Now will you reconsider everything you've said about David?"

Laura was fuming. "Absolutely not! Can't you see what he's doing? He's getting you and Steven under his control. He's turning you against me. That's his way of getting back at me and making me suffer."

"Laura, you're not making any sense at all. He married you. He loves you. Why should he want to see you suffer? He's only helping us because we're your family and he loves you deeply. Why can't you see that?"

Laura shrugged her shoulders. "What's the use? I'll never be able to make you understand. You've fallen under the spell of the Lattimer charm and nothing I can say will convince you that David is up to no good." She shook her head in anger. "Now can we please drop this discussion and get on with the preparations for your wedding?"

"Suit yourself. But I still think you'd better come up with some believable explanation for David when he meets Aunt Estelle."

Laura grimaced. "Let me worry about that. I'm quite sure he won't even bother to come."

They had just finished unpacking when Steven and Roger, who was to act as best man, appeared at the door. Laura felt her heart cringe with shame as she faced Roger for the first time since his ugly encounter with David. However, he approached her as if nothing had happened, taking her hands in his and speaking to her in a soft, concerned voice.

"How have you been, Laura? I've missed you. It's good to see you again."

Laura could not help but notice that Midge and Steven were watching her. She carefully considered her reply to Roger before she spoke. After all, he was Steven's best man and she was Midge's maid of honor, or was it matron of honor now? No matter what, they were going to be seeing quite a bit of each other over the next few days, and it would be best if they could keep things on a friendly basis.

"It's good to see you again, too, Roger. I hope you'll enjoy your stay in Carmel." That seemed safe, and about all she was capable of, under the circumstances.

Then Aunt Estelle came bustling into the room. "Let's go; we have to get over to the church if we don't want to be late for the rehearsal. And I certainly don't want to get the reverend angry at a time like this. Steven, you and Midge stop by your motel and pick up your parents. I'll go on ahead to the church with Roger and Laura."

Laura drove, and the conversation was strained as she tried to avoid any in-depth discussion with Roger, anxious not to arouse her aunt's suspicions.

They were early and the reverend came forward to greet them. "Laura, how good to see you again. I remember you and Midge as my best Sunday School students and now Midge is getting married. We're all so happy that she's decided to have her wedding in the church where she grew up. Maybe we'll be having your wedding here in the not too distant future." Then he looked meaningfully at Roger. "Is this your young man?"

Laura rushed to answer him before Roger, who was listening to the conversation in open-mouthed amazement, could gather his senses to say anything.

"No, Reverend, this is Steven's best man. He's just come to the rehearsal with us while Steven and Midge went to get Steven's parents at the motel. They should be here shortly." She looked cautiously at Roger, who wisely kept his silence.