Secrets in the Lowcountry--The River (4 page)

Taylor looked
down
at the short, round, loveable woman.
When her husband was killed in the Korean War, s
he
’d moved into
a small house on their
plantation.
Great
-
aunt B
ertha had tried to fill the role
of a grandmother ever since Taylor’s mom had left home twenty years before.
Her aunt’s
interruption
reminded Taylor of her other obligations.
She
studied
her bridesmaids who had
congreg
ated in the dining room. They
look
ed
confused and unsure of what to do or say
to help
. Walking toward them, and trying to put a
hopeful
spin on a very difficult situation, she said,
“I guess we change and wait
for the missing groom to appear.
”

Several
look
ed
as if
they
want
ed
to stop and say something, but she shook h
er head unable to talk.
Understanding her body language,
they either kissed her cheek or squeezed her hand as they headed for the steps and their rooms upstairs.
She
waited until they’d gone
before turning back. “Thanks again, Jeff.”
Taylor reached up and kissed his cheek.
“You’
ve always
been
here for me.
I truly
val
ue our friendship.”
She
twisted
around with
the long train dragging behind her
as she started up the steps
.

“When we get to your room and you’ve taken off your gown
, I want you to lie down,” her aunt said
, picking up the long train
to
help carry it upstairs
.

Taylor stopped at the
landing and
regarded
her aunt
. “As soon as I can get this dress off, I’m going to start looking for Rod.”

Aunt Bertha dropped the train
in shock
.
“
M
y dear, you should lie down
…”

“Dear Aunt, have you ever know
n
me to sit back and wait?
Staying upstairs in my room would drive me crazy.
I
have to
help.
All I want to do now is
change my clothes
and start
searching
.”
With that, she let go of the railing, grabbed two handfuls of the heavy, silk overskirt and charged up the stairs.

“What about your bridesmaids?
Shouldn’t you sta
y with them?” Aunt Bertha called
after Taylor, her words holding a slight scold.

Without staying her departure or
glimpsing
behind, T
aylor
replied,
“Please,
dearest
Aunt, take care of them for me.
You entertain
far
better than I do.
”

“Of course, dear one,” she replied
, her voice still showed her shock
. “If
that’s what you
desire
.”
The scold
showed
in her intonation
and
in each footstep
. Her
normally soft, almost gliding step was replaced by a heavy trod.

Aunt Bertha
did not agree, but the
darling
woman would never directly challenge Taylor’s decision
,
and
for that her niece was extremely grateful
.
Taylor
recognized
that
h
er aunt believed
her obligation was to play hostess for
her friends
.
Her bridesmaids would
realize
,
even if her great-aunt didn’t
,
that
Taylor needed activity to keep
her
san
ity
.

* ~ *

Jeff
stayed rooted at the bottom of the steps watching Taylor mount the stairs.
I’m glad that the wedding has been postponed.
If I could stop them from ever being married, I would.
Although he’s one of my oldest friends,
or should I say was a friend,
he’s not good enough for her.
He placed his hand on the carved-wooden pineapple, closed his eyes, and
started to
remember the good times he and Taylor had had together.

J
eff,” Martin Harris called
as he entered the hall from the front door.

H
e
reluctantly released
the memories he’d just formed
and faced the doctor
. “Yes, S
ir.
What can I do?”

“T
ake
care of my little girl,
”
her father
intoned
with
worried
concern
.
“You
’ve always been
like a brother to her
.”

That was not the role I wanted,
he longed to say, instead he replied,
“She has many friends and her bridesmaids cert
ainly
will
help
.
”

Martin shook his head. “You two grew up in each other’s pocket.
If she had a problem that she couldn’t or wouldn’t share with me, you helped.
B
etter than anyone, even better than Rod.
Do whatever is
required
to ease her grief.”
He patted Jeff on the shoulder. “You’ll find the right words and do what’s
vital
to help her.”

Jeff
swallowed.
Dr. Harris had no idea what he asked.
Jeff
’s
love for Taylor remained a
s
strong as ever.
In his heart, although he would never
express
the thought, he almost wished Rod had skipped the marriage
noose
.
He
drove
the idea aside
,
for
the agony etched on Martin’s face tipped the scale.
Jeff
nodded
.
R
emembering Taylor’s mom, he asked,
deciding this might be a way to help without being so close to Taylor
,
“What about Mrs. Harris?
Will
she be al
l
right?
I’d be glad to help.
”

“
Thanks anyway
.
I’ve arranged f
or Mary
to take my estranged wife back to her cottage in town and stay overnight with her.
She’ll only
upset Taylor if she stays here.”
Martin’s shoulders rounded as if an invisible yoke had been placed on them.
“I only wanted both of my girls to be happy,” he said as if unable to believe the earlier scene.

For the first time, Jeff saw how tragedy could change a person in a
very
short time
.
Pulling himsel
f back to the conversation, he
recalled
Dr. Harris’s last comment,
Taylor’s relationship with her mother.
Only the Arctic ice cap was warmer than the animosity the daughter
bore
toward her mother.
No time to dwell on that problem
now
.
Jeff
concentrated
on the present
.
“Where ever you need me, just plug me in.
”

Martin nodded.
“While I’m waiting for the sheriff to arrive, I’ll get a nautical map of the region and start dividing the area.
We’ve plenty of
volunteers and
boats
,
and most of the men
and women are familiar with th
ese waters.
W
e’ll find him.
”
He paused for a moment
as if gathering strength
. “
Whe
n we
do, I may
push him back in
to
the Broad for all the problems he’s caused.”
Anger stamped each word
and appeared to he
lp Martin regain his core strength
.

* ~ *

Arriving at
Julia Ann
’s
well-maintained, white Lowcountry, style
cottage in Beaufort
,
Mary Campbell said with concern, “A
re you sure you don’t want me to stay overnight
with you?”

“I’d be better if
Taylor and Martin had
permitted
me to stay wit
h them instead of pushing me out
,” Julia Ann
said
bitterly,
as she started to open the car door.
Bending down to retrieve her evening bag, she added,
“My daughter a
nd my husband
require
my help
.
I am her mother and Martin and I still love one another.
” Julia Ann
placed her fe
et on the driveway
,
and
then stood up
.
Be
fore
mov
ing
away, she be
n
t down
and
stared at Mary
. A
nger r
uled
her face
.
“I’m
sober
and have been for almost six months.
Why don’t they accept that?”
S
he a
ccented each word; her fury scalding.

M
ary, who had known Julia Ann for most of their adult lives and had seen the sorrow
and heartache
that she’d caused the
family,
drew back from the verbal assault.
She tightened her hands into fists, fought back the sharp retort she
craved
to unleash,
and
swallowed hard
. As
gentl
y
as possible
,
Mary replied,
“Julia Ann, you haven’t always been in control
…
”
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             

“Don’t
start.
” The other woman
lashed back
, h
er
dark eyes almost devoid of color.
“
I made
my mistakes;
but
,
I attend AA regularly and
I’m not drinking.
They
know that.”
Julia Ann
slammed
the car door and
began walking to her home
.

Quickly g
etting out of her car,
Mary
followed her friend to
the
house.
“Martin does, a
nd he’s very proud of you.
Taylor is
still getting use to the idea.”

Wheeling around
, she gave
Mary a harsh look
.
“I’m perfect
ly capable of unlocking my door
.
I certainly don’t need a nursemaid to look after me.
” Her face tightened.
I
n the glow of the late afternoon light, her eyes shone with hatred.
“
You’d better get back.
I’m sure M
artin would be lost without you.
”
Her tone
ra
ng out
bitter
and
scathing
.