Another Stab at Life Page 14

  “Really? I think I could get used to this pampering thing.”P

  Later that day, after we disembarked, the air engulfed us like a steam bath. I looked back at the yacht wistfully. “What a fine day. Thank you, Max.”

  “You’re welcome.” He pulled me into an embrace. I laid my head on his shoulder as we strolled back toward the yacht club. “You know, we left so hurriedly from your grandparents’ anniversary party, I didn’t meet your mom and dad or your five sisters. They must think I’m rude. I am sorry about that.”

  “Forgiven.” Max smiled. “By the way, my sisters are Evetta, Mary, Hana, Jackie, and Holly.”

  “Those are good names.” I fiddled with my earring. “Do you think. . .they’d like me?”

  “They would love you. I know there’re a lot of us. We’re intimidating at first, but I think they’ll grow on you.” Max took my hand in his as we walked. “I don’t want to exaggerate. I mean, we’re not the perfect family by any means. We don’t agree on everything, but we all love each other, and we love the Lord. And somehow it all works.”

  “You make it sound so. . .charming.” I squeezed his hand.

  “It can be,” Max said. “And my family can be a pain in the neck, too.”

  I laughed.

  Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone approaching us at a fast clip. I turned to see a man who looked familiar, but his face was covered with the brim of a baseball hat. The stranger looked up. I saw him fully, with his blue eyes and cocky manner. Oh no. What was he doing here? Sam?

  19 – A Demented Notion

  Sam strode up to us. His eyes narrowed as he challenged us with his defiant facade. I squeezed

  Max’s arm.

  “What are you doing?” I asked Sam. “Why did you follow me here?”

  “You can’t walk away from me that easily,” he said, slurring his words.

  “Yes, I think I can. I was finished. And I think you need some new lines. Those sound like you got them from a soap opera.”

  Max walked up to Sam. “You’re drunk. Who are you?”

  Sam sneered. “None of your business.”

  “It is my business. I love Bailey,” Max said without hesitation as he stepped up to Sam, nose to nose.

  Sam stumbled but recovered. He put his hands on his hips. “Yeah, well, I loved her first. Bailey is mine.”

  This whole scene was more than I could endure. He was ranting like a maniac. How outrageous and childish. Bailey, you can do this. I stepped right up to Sam. The heavy smell of liquor made me wince in disgust. “Get ahold of yourself,” I said in the most forceful voice I could muster.

  Sam tottered back in shock.

  “You chose to no longer be a part of my life many years ago when you married Annie.” I tried to remain calm. “What made you think you could come here and claim me like some Neanderthal? It’s a demented notion you’d better get rid of right now. I’m sure you made yourself sick in the head when Annie left you. I’m sorry for you.”

  I intensified my stare. “Your sweet mother would be so ashamed at the way you’re behaving. I knew her well. I loved her. How could the son of such a wonderful woman allow himself to sink so low? I cannot help you. Only Jesus can. I would suggest you go to Him. . .no, make that run to Him for some real help. You’ve got to get over this delusion and move on with your life. Because if you follow me again, I will tell the police you’re stalking me. If you go now, I won’t call the police. I think it’s a fair deal. I’d take it if I were you.” I folded my trembling arms and stared at Sam, trying not to blink first.

  Every blood vessel in Sam’s face seemed to swell with rage. So much that I thought he might self- destruct. He opened his mouth and then stopped. He turned and stomped off, mumbling and cursing to himself.

  As he stormed away, for a second I saw him slip something from one pocket to another. A knife. He had a knife. Is Sam trying to send me a message? I watched until he was out of sight. A gull let out a mournful cry somewhere. My sentiments exactly.

  Max whistled softly. “Incredible. You were like this Amazon woman.” He held my arms gently. “I mean, this could have turned into something really nasty, but you defused it. I’m so proud of you. I’ll be telling our children this story until they tell me to be quiet.”

  I chuckled. Guess he didn’t see Sam’s knife. Maybe that’s best. “It wasn’t easy. I was shaking. In fact, I’ve never done anything like that in my life.”

  “Listen, I do think you got rid of the guy,” Max said. “But if you ever see him come around again, I want you to tell me. Okay? There’s always a chance he might want some kind of revenge.”

  “Okay.”

  “That sounds like the independent Bailey talking.”

  I grinned. He already knew me well. “Okay. I promise.” “Do you think he was the one who was frightening you when you first moved in?” Max looked concerned. “I don’t know.” I felt a pang of guilt for not keeping Max current on all the disturbing incidents at my house, but to unload now didn’t feel right either.

  Max circled my waist. “Why don’t we go back to the limo. I phoned Jarrett earlier. He knows we’ve returned.”

  We walked in silence for a moment. “I can’t get over this,” Max finally said. “So, that’s the Sam you were talking about earlier.” He shook his head. “I just have to know this. . . . How could you have ever fallen for him? He’s nuts.”

  “He wasn’t crazy. . .a long time ago. But life does that to people sometimes—makes deviled eggs out of them.”

  “Yes. Sometimes,” Max said. “But. . .”

  “But what?” He moved his arm up around my shoulder as we headed to the club.

  “But other times”—Max grew a silly grin—“other times, Bailey, dear, life wraps you in a soft tortilla blanket and dips you in a pot of spicy salsa.”

  I grinned up at him. “Okay. Next outing you’ll have to take me to your favorite Mexican restaurant.” Life with Max just seemed so effortless and natural—as if things were happening too easily. Bailey, don’t go there.

  “It’s a deal,” Max said.

  We strolled through the yacht club and out to the porte-cochere where Jarrett waited for us by the limo. Without warning, Max pulled me into his arms and kissed me again. Boy, I think I could get used to this. It didn’t seem to matter to him in the least that people passed by grinning at us. Maybe I didn’t care either.

  Jarrett cleared his throat at us, and we both laughed.

  “I think you’ve both had a good day.” Jarrett winked at us as he helped us into the limo.

  On the ride home, Max cradled me in his strong arms. I drifted. And drifted. And drifted until I was so sleepy I knew I’d never be able to make it all the way home awake. “Max?”

  “Hmm?”

  “We’d make quite a team.” Did I say that? Must have been dreaming? The cool air and Max’s woodsy scent swirled around me as I floated away on that last thought.

  Sometime later, Max kissed me awake. I looked around, rubbing my eyes like a small child. I knew I must have looked silly, but he didn’t laugh. He offered his hand, and I stepped out of the limo and onto the sidewalk. The afternoon sun had nearly gone home for the evening, so only the last rays lingered to play. Home again. What a day!

  After Max said his sweet good-byes, I glanced across the street. I could see Magnolia hauling a wheelbarrow around the side of her house toward her backyard. To my horror I saw two cats trotting right behind her. Must be strays. Oh, no. This could be bad. Did Magnolia have an irrational fear of cats, or did she simply loathe them? Just in case her apprehension was a full-blown phobia, I decided to take things in hand and help out a neighbor in need.

  I strode across the street, nearly breaking out into a run as well as a sweat. I thought of hollering to Magnolia but stopped myself for some unknown reason. I slowed my wild pace, since my heels weren’t conducive to sprinting on concrete.

  Magnolia disappeared through her gate with the two cats still in tow. Appa
rently, she had no idea what scampered just behind her. As I reached the path down the side of her house, I noticed broken pieces of some weeds sprinkled on the grass, which made a trail to the backyard. I picked up some of the plant, crushed it, and sniffed. Smelled citrus-like and, on closer inspection, looked a bit like mint with its green-gray leaves. What is that? Oh, yeah. Catnip. Granny had always kept some of the aromatic plant around for her cats.

  But why in the world would Magnolia keep an herb in her yard that would attract the very animal she detested? If she was luring cats into her backyard, what was she doing with them? The plant fell out of my hand. A strange kind of dread welled up inside me. No. Surely not. Curiosity overwhelmed me, so I decided to allow myself just one small peek. I tiptoed, which was unnecessary since there was grass below my feet, but I was in a tiptoeing kind of mood.

  The low growl of a cat filled the air—the kind of sound when you know you’ve got one fuming cat on your hands. What was happening? I crept up to the edge of her house and peered around the corner. In that second, Magnolia came around the bend and almost ran into me. Before I could get my bearings, I let out a shriek.

  Magnolia dropped the shovel she’d been holding and let out a whoop. “Honey child. What are you doing back here?” She slapped her hand over her heart. “You scared the woolies out of me.”

  I suddenly felt like the criminal I was. “Well, I. . . you know. I saw cats, and so I was worried about you.” That was truth. I was worried. Of course, I was also concerned for the animals, wondering if all the neighborhood cats were being bumped off one by one.

  “Cats? Yes, I’ve got a couple strays back here. I cage ’em and then transport ’em.”

  “Transport them?” Was that a euphemistic way of saying she was helping them relocate to a kitty graveyard? Why was everybody in this whole neighborhood determined to act creepy? Where did all the normal people go? “Um. I’m curious. Where do you take the cats?”

  “Oh, just here and yonder.” She chuckled.

  Dusk had settled in around us, making the backyard lights suddenly blink on. I startled for no reason. “Really? Here and yonder?”

  “Honey, there’re just too many stray cats around here. I’m just helping out the local agencies. They’re plum overworked.” Magnolia looked down with a glint in her eyes.

  I followed her gaze to the shovel. The blade on the tool, which looked impressively sharp, gleamed in the porch light like some kind of eerie foreshadowing in a horror flick. Hmm. That cat in the box must have been a stray. But Magnolia didn’t appear to have any real motive to scare me out of my house. In fact, she’d wanted me to tear it down!

  “Been on a date with that handsome Mr. Max?” Magnolia raised her eyebrows.

  “Uh-uh.” So glad we’d moved on to another topic. Magnolia folded her arms. “He sure is a catch.

  Mm. Mm. Mm.”

  “Yes, he is.” I wondered what she’d say if she knew Max had already proposed. She’d probably make me march right over to his house and say yes.

  Magnolia wiped her hands on her garden apron. “You been enjoying your house?”

  I nodded. “It’s slowly coming together.”

  “Yes, but I wondered if you liked living there.” “Why do you ask?” Time to go home, Bailey.

  “Oh, no particular reason. Just curious.” Magnolia winced.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Just a touch of arthritis.” She picked up the shovel and leaned on it. “Thanks for asking, child.”

  I offered her a smile. “It’s almost dark. I guess I’ll head back. Good luck with your cat catching.” Magnolia and I wrapped up our curious little meeting, and I strolled home in the semidarkness. As my thoughts coasted from the delights of the day with Max to the alarm of Sam’s intrusion into it, I couldn’t help but wonder about the latter. Why had he become so scary?

  Were his harsh words going to turn into a vengeful madness? I hadn’t a clue, but I hoped he wouldn’t try to do anything rash—like make use of the knife I saw in his pocket. I reached out and let my fingers touch the oleanders as I breezed by them. Poisonous, weren’t they? Yeah. Just like Sam.

  My life had indeed moved on without him, but I knew in my heart I’d never forgiven him or grieved properly for my loss. I scurried up my walkway to my front porch. Oh Lord, I want to forgive Sam and trust again. Hmm. Not a very profound prayer. Surely I can do better. But before I could think of something weightier and more eloquent to say to God, tears had already started to stream down my cheeks. Right there on the porch, I wept over Sam’s betrayal as well as the loss of my friend Annie.

  And then I spilled the unshed tears for my loved ones now in heaven. I touched the wetness on my face, since the sensation was so unfamiliar to me. I grabbed a tissue from my purse and blew. I sighed, thinking what an odd place I’d chosen to shed my anguish and tears—and an odd place to forgive. But I did feel lighter, as if I had cut something loose from my spirit and it was flying free.

  Hearing a crunching sound inside my gate, I turned around to look behind me. A woman hurried up the path toward me. I could see her face but not clearly. I dabbed at my eyes, thinking I must look like quite the red-eyed monster. “Hi there.” I just hoped she wasn’t going to try to sell me anything. “May I help you?” I slipped the wadded tissue into my evening bag.

  “I just need a little of your time. That’s all,” the stranger said.

  “Okay.” The woman didn’t look familiar to me, but something about her deep voice teased my memory.

  When the woman reached the base of my porch, she looked up at me with eyes glistening with intensity. “So tell me, do you know who I am?”

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t think so. But I should know. Shouldn’t I?”

  “I’m your dear old friend Annie. . .from another life.” She offered me a hollow chuckle.

  I nearly collapsed right there on the porch. It took every ounce of my will to stay standing. Annie? I took a step toward her. We stared at each other for so long, I suddenly felt rude. “Annie Russell?”

  She frowned. “Well, I was Annie Hunter, until the divorce.”

  “This is such a surprise. I’m. . .” I started to say, “shell-shocked,” but held my tongue. Little did she know I had just been thinking about her. Forgiving her. Letting her go.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s hard to find me in here.” She looked down at herself. “I’ve put on some pounds. That’s what life will do to you. But you did all right so far, keeping that old lard off your hips.”

  “Thanks.” I think. My hand covered my mouth as I still tried to absorb the moment. Amazing. After all these years, I finally forgive Annie for marrying my fiancé, and then she shows up at my house. What were the chances of that? Pretty much zero. Unless God was up to something. Was this some kind of test? If so, failure had to be imminent. But I should invite Annie inside. She may have driven all day. I could offer her coffee. Show some hospitality. Or maybe we’d just stare each other into the ground. But if I’d truly forgiven Annie for her betrayal, then coffee would seem right and good. Okay, I’ll do this for You, God. I smiled. “Would you like to come in?”

  Annie shook her head. “No. I was hoping you’d just sit with me for a while in my car.” She motioned toward the black sedan parked in front of my house. “We could have ourselves a little visit.”

  “Sure. Okay.”

  She nodded but didn’t smile.

  Why had she come? I had no idea really, but from her demeanor, I doubted she was here to renew our friendship. I followed her down the path, noticing her tattered jeans and unkempt hair. Her body leaned a bit as if she were carrying another weight she hadn’t mentioned. When we approached her car, I opened the passenger door and slid in.

  Annie scooted in on the other side and turned on the interior light just above me. “There. Just what we need. A little light on the subject.” That time she smiled.

  Oh dear. I hoped our whole conversation wouldn’t be in riddles. My body settled onto the se
at. Waiting. The inside of the car looked neglected, and it reeked of cigarette butts mingled with body odor. Not a good combo. The only thing in her vehicle that came close to being cheerful was a toy airplane, which dangled from her rearview mirror. But the poor thing had faded paint and a wing broken off. I glanced over at Annie.

  She sat there, lacing and unlacing her fingers. Her hands were calloused, her nails dirty. Certainly not the hands of a woman who was to marry someone with a bright political future. I swallowed any temptation to gloat. The moment felt cold, since two old friends usually went through the warm and welcoming routine of hugging and laughing and catching up. And then here we were—icicles. The kind with sharp edges. Maybe she’d come to Houston to apologize but couldn’t think of the right words. “Well, so how have you been?”

  “You’re curious, aren’t you?” Annie looked at me. “Why I’m here. Our lives didn’t play out as you’d expected. Did they?” She chuckled.

  “No, they didn’t.”

  “You should know something.” Annie raised her chin. “It was my idea to break up your little engagement with Sam. I chased him and flirted with him and tempted him until he became helpless to say no.” She arched a defiant brow. “So tell me, what do you think of me now?”

  Well, that confession wasn’t what I’d expected. Or wanted to hear. “Why did you do it?” I chewed on my lower lip, not knowing if I wanted to hear more of the story.

  “That’s easy to answer. I fell in love with Sam. And not the way you did. Mine was real.”

  Her words made me flinch. “Even so, the way you both handled the situation was a little heartless. Wasn’t it? I thought friends would at least—”

  “You’re still so naive, aren’t you? Haven’t you figured it out yet? Friends are disposable gloves. Use them and then toss them. But love is gold. Worth pursuing. And practically speaking, that gold pays the bills.”

  Annie’s total lack of compassion made my whole body sag and my soul ache. But in reality, I knew I should thank her for what she did to me all those years ago. Back then, there’d only been the illusion of great loss. In the end, the turn of events had been a blessing, since I hadn’t lost my life, my love. Not when God was meant to be my life and when Max was meant to be my love. But maybe a simple response was all she needed. “I forgive you, Annie.” In spite of everything, I wanted to hug her, to let her know all could be well again.