Back to Madeline Island (23 page)

“Okay—hang on to your hats, ladies—hair, I mean.”

Off to our left sits a tidy little cottage; several people are milling around on a deck built on top of the garage. We wave. As I round a curve, a naked man in an outside shower stares in disbelief—I honk. Ruby tries to cover Helen's eyes. We wave him off, then splash into Lake Superior. I switch the motors and turn us back toward the cottage. Rounding the bend, Charlie, standing on the end of the dock, signals to the musicians.

“You sure you want to do this?” I ask one last time for the hell of it. “I mean, I could hit the gas and we'd be in Canada before dark.”

“I'm sure—I'm
very
sure,” Helen gives us each a peck on the cheek and then heads to the back and waits on the platform.

As we turn the corner and come into view, everyone stands up and starts to clap and cheer. I look over to Ruby; she reaches out and squeezes my hand. I gently pull up to the end of the dock, where a handsome Ryan reaches out for his bride; a tear slides down his cheek.

 

The service is short and sweet, not a dry eye in the audience. It ends with Ryan kissing Helen under the archway; they're framed perfectly by the blue, blue sky, and right on cue, an enormous flock of seagulls pass over. The bride and groom turn and face us—more cheering and clapping and then the party begins.

“Look at the two of you,” I say. “I haven't decided who's more beautiful.” Howard blushes and bends his head as he enters the tent area with Johnny beside him.

“I suppose,” Ruby adds, “you're both about to
beg
us to dance with you.”

“Let 'em beg,” I chide. “What a wedding—huh? I mean, the entrance was really the pinnacle, but I think the kissing part was pretty amazing.”

“It's all set,” Johnny whispers into Ruby's and my ears. “Howard says the storm is about to hit—can you get over the timing, like it was ordered or something. It's very—”

All of a sudden thunder rumbles across the sky. Back over the cottage, a line of gray clouds, like a thick quilt, is swiftly covering over the sunny sky.

Howard nods at me, then climbs on top of a chair. “We have a little surprise planned for you all.” His deep baritone quiets the group. Everyone turns to listen. “Please take all your belongings and follow Charlie, the man standing over there.” He points as Charlie tips his hat and grins.

Charlie leads the group through a small door directly underneath the stair leading up to the sewing operation, and heads in. Normally concealed from view, it leads directly into the hidden room behind the boathouse area, down the metal staircase and then through the hidden barrel door to the speakeasy!

The thunder rumbles again and then lightning snaps and crackles. Just as Ruby and I step through the door, the sky lets loose and rain pours down. I pull the door closed and we follow the end of the procession back.

As we cross the threshold, it's as though we're stepping back in time. The boys—Charlie, too—have cleaned and polished the bar and now it gleams. Ceiling fans slowly turn, and with the frog lamps back on each small table, it looks exactly like the photo we found. In the center of the room, the lily-pad-shaped dance floor is now a shimmering green. The supporting columns have potted palms standing next to them; their branches bounce and bob in the fans' gentle breeze.

Howard and Johnny, now dressed in their white shirts and black armbands, are behind the bar pouring drinks for the noisy, happy crowd. Up on stage, Lilly, Bonnie and Marsha have tied on frilly matching aprons and are chatting with Charlie as several other men take up instruments and prepare for the show. The band is situated on a small half-round riser directly behind the lip of the stage where two old-fashioned microphones stand at the ready.

Lilly demanded we take down the original black velvet curtains that hung on either side of the stage and replace them with new ruby red ones. Now I'm glad we did; it's too exciting! Helen motions us to come over to their table, which is right up front by the stage area. We wave and head over.

“I can't get over all this.” Helen's eyes are glistening. “What
more
can you have planned—and this place.” She sweeps her arm around the room.

Ryan has his arm around her; he just grins. I glance over toward the table one over. Saundra catches my eye, and then smiles brilliantly.

“Just a
few
more surprises,” I practically have to yell over the crowd.

The boys plunk down goblets of wine for Ruby and me, and they stand behind our chairs as we sit down, such gentlemen.

“Thank heavens,” Ruby says and raises her glass. “To a resounding success.” The four of us clink and then take a nice slug.

The lights begin to dim and then the room becomes silent. Lit from behind, the band members are silhouetted in deep lavender, over their music stands; small white lights glow, reflecting handsome faces. Charlie lifts his clarinet and begins to play a lone tune; the others join in, building in sound. It's an old jazz tune; sure hope Helen likes it.

Two circles of bright light illuminate the stage in front; Sam steps up to one of the microphones and then Connie Evingson joins her. Connie's shimmering in a red gown, her blond hair held back by a twenties-style hat. They begin to harmonize, then another spotlight hits the three sewing gals and they sing backup as the two jazz singers belt out the best rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” I've ever heard!

Helen and Ryan hit the dance floor halfway through the song, and at the end, Ryan dips her, then pulls her up and plants a huge, wet one on her lips. Saundra stands, puts her fingers in her mouth and lets out one of the loudest whistles I've heard. After I stop laughing, we clink and cheer and dance the night away.

 

Early the next morning—well, okay, it's not
that
early—Ruby and I are slumped around the stump table down in the kitchen. Even Rocky's food crunching is painful, but between the strong coffee and cigarette number
two
, I think I'm going to live.

“Just what time do you think we went to bed?” I ask Ruby.

She adjusts her sunglasses. “I haven't the slightest idea, darling. But I
do
know, I won't be dancing like that anytime soon. Good heavens, my heels are
still
jolly well throbbing to my heartbeat. Surprised it's beating at all, poor thing.”

“What a beautiful—everything. Even Saundra loosened up and apparently that's saying something.”

“Weren't Sam and Connie
brilliant
together? Perhaps we should manage their career and
chuck
the apron business. We could hit the road and…what in the world am I saying? She's
already
famous, and Sam, well, I think she's one of the most content women I know.”

“My God—can she belt out a note and hold it or what?” I pour us more coffee. “The trio can hold their own, too, don't you think? I mean—they've got the Andrews Sisters beat cold.”

“We're simply
stewing
in talent,” Ruby limply offers. “Helen's mum handed me this. You open it, darling.”

She hands me a monogrammed envelope; I slice it open with one of my now chipped nails. “Jesus—it's a check made out to Toad Hollow for
ten grand
, and in the memo area she's written, ‘One of many.' Can you believe it?”

“She did? Must have been the martinis. They certainly flowed. Good thing
we
stuck to wine…” Ruby moans.

“Oh boy,
somebody
had a martini,” I singsong and Ruby holds up three fingers. “Three!” I say a bit too loudly.

“Johnny dared me, what could I do?”

“I see your point.” We sit in silence a moment. “I bet Al's Place is getting busy serving brunch—I suppose the wedding party is over there. Sure was generous of Saundra to rent all those rooms for Helen's friends.”

“The woman's loaded. She told me so herself.” Ruby stands up and heads toward the living room. “Listen—darling—I'm going up to shower, and if I'm not back in, say, a week, send someone 'round, won't you?” She drifts upstairs.

“It's just you and me,” I say to Rocky, who's now up on top of the countertop doing some heavy-duty house cleaning. “You animals are so smart. I bet you've never even
had
a hangover—have you?” He gives me his “don't be stupid” look and resumes licking.

I go over and check my reflection in the mirror by the back door. “Good grief.” I put on Ruby's sunglasses and then take down a huge tumbler. While I'm letting the tap run good and long, the phone rings. I pour a glass full, have a sip and grab the phone.

“Weddings are us,” I chirp into the mouthpiece.

“Hell-o, Eve, it's me—
married Helen
—how
are
you?” She's
way
too happy.

“As soon as my double vision ends and the ringing in my ears becomes more of a low buzz—I'm thinking in another couple of years—I'll be ready to do it all over again,” I say and then chuckle.

“Some of us are having breakfast together—hang on a second.” I can hear her tell Ryan something. “Sorry, Ryan's riding over to Bayfield with his parents, then coming back. He wants to show them around and I'm just too exhausted.”

“I can identify.” I plop down on a stool and spin real slow. “You sure were—are—a beautiful bride there, kiddo—hey, since Ryan's gunna be gone for a bit, why not come over here until you head back to Duluth?”

“I'd love to. I'll be over in a couple.”

 

Helen breezes in the back door looking fabulous. If I weren't so crazy about her, I'd hate her. She's dressed casual and looks just a tiny bit tired around her happy edges.

“Have you got any tea?” Helen sits down at the stump table. “I've never really enjoyed the taste of coffee. Did you see Howard and Johnny dancing together? They're wonderful. My mom had a great time, too, though she was pretty green this morning.”

“How about some
green
tea?” I raise my eyebrows in question and then wince in pain. “Maybe I'll have some, too.” I put on the kettle and join her.

“Everything turned out just perfect,” Helen gushes and I grin.

“Even the weather behaved,” I say.

“Are you kidding? It rained like—hey, you couldn't have arranged that—could you?”

“Maybe, maybe not. I
do
have a lot of connections.”

“No kidding, when that Connie Evingson came on stage, well, at first I didn't believe my eyes, then, when she started to sing, God, what a voice. Of course, Sam's voice is out of this world, too. Then there's the fact you have an entire miniature nightclub down there. Ryan explained how it wasn't
that
unusual long ago, but it's just so astounding. I will
never
forget yesterday—”

“Certainly you won't,” Ruby adds, coming into the room and looking entirely refreshed.
Her
, I can hate. “It's not every day that women are duck-delivered to their wedding dock, experience a ready-made storm in order to be corralled into a private nightclub. You simply have to know the right people.”

“God,” Helen says while laughing. “You sound a lot like my mother.”

“Oh dear.” Ruby sends me a wink.

Suddenly there's a knock at the door. I shrug and head over and open it. A very tall man, dressed in a dark brown uniform, is nervously holding his hat in his hands. I know him, but I don't. We stare into each other's eyes for a few moments. Then it hits me like a brick.

“Tony? Is that you?”

Tears slide down his cheek; he looks down at the floor and then back up into my eyes.

“Who is it?” Ruby asks.

I pull the door open further. “It's Tony Giamonna—Helen's dad.”

 

Ruby and I are lying back on pillows out on the end of the dock. It's nighttime, and a half-moon is eerily lighting up the sky. Our cigarettes glow orange in the blackness.

“Of all the days,” I say for the hundredth time. “He
would
have to look—perfect—just when you think you've got—”

“Eve, darling, what does it matter? I mean, he had to show up sooner or later, and it's because of that Sam he came, you know.”

“I know, I know—and honestly, it's a huge relief to have all this out. I can't tell you how it feels. What am I saying, you
know
how it feels. But it's not like he
cared
when I was pregnant. He
never
came to see me—ever. He just moved away, end of story. Can you imagine?”

“Of course I can, darling. You can, too, if you'd simply
think
and not get so damn
emotional
. Good heavens, after you introduced him, I didn't think you were going to stop shouting. The poor man, but then—when you finally hushed, it was
terribly
moving.”

“I
did
rip him a good one, didn't I?” I did, trust me. “I'd been wanting to give him hell for, well, for going on thirty years! I certainly didn't expect the hug; he wouldn't let go.”

“And of course it was important for Helen to meet him, too, and—you must admit—he looked quite
dashing
in his UPS uniform.”

“He certainly
dashed
right on out the door, and he'd driven all the way up from Hayward, too. But he and Helen really wanted to talk. It was generous of him to drive her back to Duluth.”

“They have so much to chat about.” Ruby sits up, pours us a much-needed drink and then hands me a goblet. “Hair of the dog.” We clink. “That Tony, he made sure you knew he's divorced, now didn't he?”

“I hardly noticed.” I laugh and then so does Ruby. “Makes me think of Toad Hollow, being pregnant and…it could hit a lot of people's sore spots; underage pregnant girls aren't something everyone's comfortable supporting…”