Chapter 10
I
awoke the next morning with a throbbing headache. My punishment for the wine consumption. I glanced toward the French doors and saw that the rain from the day before was gone and sunlight was streaming into the room. That's when I recalled the dream.
How crazy was that? Was the woman in my dream really Emmalyn Overby? I had never even met her, but the dream woman certainly fit the description I'd heard from Chloe.
After my shower, I headed downstairs to the kitchen and found Chloe sipping coffee while reading the newspaper. She'd spent the previous night at Henry's condo.
“Good morning,” I said, pouring myself a mug of coffee. “You're back. Nice evening?”
“Very nice. And yours? Did the girls have fun with their sleepover?”
The evening before was a bit foggy in my mind, but I nodded. “Yeah, I think they did. They're still sleeping.”
“I'm so happy that Haley has found a new friend. Tina seems like a nice girl.”
I nodded. “I like her too.”
Chloe folded up the newspaper. “Anything else going on?”
“Well, let's see. My mother changed her mind about coming here at the end of March.”
I saw Chloe raise her eyebrows. “Oh, she's not coming to check out the area for retirement?”
“Ah, no. She already made a decision on that. She's arriving in about three weeks and . . . she'll be staying permanently.”
Now surprise covered Chloe's face. “Really? What brought this about?”
“Well, it seems her mind had really already been made up about moving here. So she figured why bother with the pretense of a hotel. She found a townhouse to purchase in The Trails and got everything arranged.”
“Hmm, yeah, that's quite a shift in plans. So she's bought a place sight unseen?”
I took a sip of coffee. “Apparently so. She said the photos online were very descriptive.”
“Well, that
is
how I originally found Henry's condo to rent. But I had never planned to stay there permanently.” She let out a chuckle. “Gee, and look how that worked out.”
“So she's arranged for the movers and will be flying down the day before, on the twenty-fifth.”
“You're not happy about this, are you?”
“No. Not really. I mean, she's been out of my life for thirty years. And now, what? She thinks she can just wiggle her way back in? Hey, she can do what she wants. Haley might be happy to have her grandmother in her life, but it doesn't mean I have to be involved.”
“Hmm, true,” was all she said.
“Oh, I wanted to ask you about my room and Emmalyn.”
Chloe's head shot up. “What do you mean?”
“I remember you said you had some weird dreams when you stayed in that room.”
“Are you having dreams?”
“I did last night. Didn't you say she was quite beautiful, with long auburn hair, and she always wore a red evening gown in your dreams?”
Chloe nodded.
“Well . . . I think she's back. I mean this is just plain silly. I never even knew her. Why on earth would I be dreaming about her?”
“Remember I also told you we think Emmalyn never really left this house? She loved it here and Mavis Anne is convinced that her sprit has remained.”
I waved a hand in the air and laughed. “You've got to be kidding. You sound like you believe that foolishness too.”
Chloe remained quiet.
“Well,
do
you?”
She let out a deep sigh. “I can't discount it. I've had too many experiences here involving Emmalyn not to consider the possibility. What was your dream about? Was she out by the fishpond?”
I shook my head. “No, she was right there in my bedroom. At first she was sitting on the edge of the bed and I was sleeping on the lounge. Then she walked over to the French doors and opened them. She told me that I just didn't get it, whatever that's supposed to mean. But the really bizarre part was after I woke up, I went into the bathroom and when I came out . . . the French doors were wide open just the way she left them. With all the rain yesterday, I sure as hell had not opened those doors.”
Chloe's lips were pursed as she fiddled with the handle of her coffee mug.
“So am I to believe that I'm sharing my room with a ghost? Is that what you're saying?”
Chloe smiled and shrugged. “I honestly don't know what to tell you, Isabelle. All I can say is that if it is Emmalyn, she's harmless.”
“Oh, gee. Thanks. That's very comforting.”
“Will you and Haley be here tonight for supper? Henry plans to come over and grill some steaks and he's hoping you'll both join us.”
“Yup. No plans for us.”
The house phone rang. I answered to hear Mavis Anne's voice.
“Isabelle, I'm glad I caught you. I wasn't sure if you'd be in the shop later and I wanted to ask if you were free this afternoon.”
“Yes, as far as I know. Why?”
“Well, David and I thought perhaps you could come over and we could show you around the house and explain what will be required when he and Clive leave for Italy next week.”
“Oh, sure. Would around two be okay?”
“Perfect. See you then.”
I hung up and explained to Chloe that Mavis Anne wanted to instruct me on my upcoming caregiver duties.
She shook her head and laughed. “She wants to be sure she's cared for in the manner she's become accustomed to. I hope she's not too demanding. It's really nice of you to do this.”
“She'll be fine. I like her a lot and I'll enjoy her company. I'm just not a great cook, though. Certainly not even close to David and Clive, so I hope she's not disappointed with my cooking skills.”
“Nah, I'm sure she'll appreciate whatever you put together. I think their main concern is safety and that you'll be company for Mavis Anne.” She glanced up at the clock on the wall. “Well, I need to get over to the yarn shop and open. It's going on ten. What're your plans for today?”
“Since I have no deliveries, I think I'll get caught up on laundry and straightening up a bit around here.”
“Well, don't forget that Marta comes to clean on Monday, so don't go crazy. Will you be over to the shop later?”
“Yeah, I'll come by for a while. I want to keep working on that baby blanket.”
“Okay, see you later.”
A few minutes later Haley and Tina walked into the kitchen laughing.
“Good morning,” I said. “Sleep well?”
“Very well,” Tina said. “It was nice having my own bed.” Then, as if realizing what she'd said, she looked down and refrained from saying any more.
“Mom, can we have pancakes? We're starved.”
I laughed. “Of course you are,” I said, but once again I was surprised my daughter was willing to abandon her usual yogurt and fruit. “And yes, I'll whip some up for you.”
“We're going to the beach after. Is that okay?” she asked.
“Sure. The water might be a little chilly, though. It's only early February.”
“That's okay. I'm not sure we'll go in. We're going to walk.”
She might be deviating a bit from her stringent diet but not the exercise.
“Okay, then,” I said, reaching into the cabinet for pancake mix. “I'll have these ready in a jiffy.”
They each pulled up a stool at the counter and watched as I mixed and measured.
“Have you lived in Ormond Beach long?” I asked Tina.
“No. We moved here last year from Texas. My parents got a divorce and my mom was able to get a job over here.”
“Oh, so you don't have any family here?”
“Nope. Just the two of us.”
“What kind of work does your mother do?” I asked as I poured batter onto the grill.
“She's a nurse. She works in the emergency room at the hospital in Daytona Beach.”
“That's great. So do you both like it here?” I questioned.
“Yeah, I like it a lot. I guess my mom does. She works a lot.”
I was beginning to get a picture of a single mom struggling to make ends meet, and not for the first time, I felt fortunate that Roger had been so generous regarding the breakup of our marriage.
“Well, I'm very glad that you and Haley have become friends. You're welcome to come here any time you want. Although we're just living at Koi House temporarily. We'll be finding our own place within the next few months.”
I saw the look of awe that crossed her face as her glance took in the designer kitchen. “Gosh, I don't know how you could leave this house. It's so beautiful. I'd want to live here forever and never leave.”
I laughed as I stacked pancakes onto a platter, but Emmalyn Overby crossed my mind.
Chapter 11
T
he girls left for the beach and I got a few loads of laundry done in between filling the dishwasher, emptying trash, and running the vacuum through the downstairs. After I had a sandwich with iced tea for lunch, I got my knitting bag and headed to the yarn shop before meeting with Mavis Anne.
A few customers were browsing when I walked in, and Chloe was knitting. I joined her at the table and removed my blanket.
“Oh, that's working up very nice,” she said, leaning over to get a better look. “Once you finish the blanket, I have to get you working on new stitches so you can broaden your knitting skills.”
“That would be great. I'm surprised that I'm enjoying it as much as I am. What's going on here?”
“Not much. Quiet this morning but a group will be here at two. Louise teaches a crochet class on Saturday afternoons. Oh, I wanted to run something by you before I mentioned it to Haley. My wedding is going to be small and I really don't want a lot of fuss, but I do need somebody to stand up with me, so I thought it might be nice to have Haley. Do you think she'd be interested?”
“Oh, definitely. That's so nice of you, Chloe. I know she'd be thrilled.”
“Oh, good. Well, Henry and I talked it over and he doesn't really have anybody to stand up with him, so we thought we'd be a bit unconventional and Haley could be a witness for both of us. And I'd love to include my niece, so I was thinking Solange could carry a basket of flowers and be the first to enter. I really don't want a traditional wedding party.”
“I think that's a wonderful idea. I'm sure Haley will love it.”
“Great. Well, we'll make plans to go shopping together for our dresses. Maybe you'd like to join us?”
“Absolutely. That would be fun.”
Chloe went to ring up the purchases for her customers. I thought of my father. I wondered, if he hadn't died, whether Chloe would have ended up marrying him. I had a feeling that probably wouldn't have happened. I'd only observed the two of them together once when they came to visit me in Atlanta, but I hadn't seen the same interaction between them as I saw when she was with Henry. It made me realize that some couples just exuded a chemistry that was real and solid. I had to admit I had never shared this with anybody. Certainly not Roger. He was a nice guy, friendly and a very good provider, but passion wasn't something that he had in abundance.
Chloe returned to the table. “You know, I was thinking of designing a new scarf. Something to welcome you as you begin a new chapter in your life.”
“Really? Like the Chloe's Dream shawl you did last year when you moved here?”
“Yeah, it would be a nice keepsake for you, and I'll include some new stitches for you to work on.”
“I'd like that. Thanks. Well, I have to get over to Mavis Anne's. It's almost two.”
I walked through the gate that separated the two houses, across the lawn and up the steps of David and Clive's home.
David opened the door and pulled me into a hug. “Isabelle, how nice to see you. Come on inside.”
I followed him to the living room, where Mavis Anne sat knitting in a wingback chair. She looked up with a smile. “Ah, Isabelle. Right on time.”
“How about some coffee?” David asked. “I just brewed a pot.”
“That would be great,” I said, sitting on the sofa. “Thanks.”
“So everything's going well? Do you still like the house, and are you settling in okay?”
“It's wonderful. I can't thank you enough for allowing Haley and me to stay there. She had a sleepover last night with a new friend. I haven't seen my daughter this happy in ages.”
“That's wonderful. Koi House loves people, and people fill it with happiness. So really, you're doing the house a favor.”
I indulged her thoughts on the house having feelings and just smiled and nodded.
“Okay, here we go,” David said, returning with a tray holding three cups of coffee, a sugar bowl, and creamer.
“Thanks,” I said, adding a bit of cream to my cup.
David passed a cup to his sister and sat down.
“You and Clive must be so excited about leaving for Italy,” I said.
“Oh, we are. We've been to Rome and Tuscany but we're renting a villa on Lake Como. We're looking forward to exploring that area.”
“And do not forget your promise,” Mavis Anne said. “You
will
look for some Italian yarn to bring back to me.”
He laughed and patted her arm. “Not to worry. It's at the top of my shopping list.”
“Okay, so let's discuss what I will need you to do for me in David's absence. First of all, you will not be required to do any heavy cooking. Marta will take care of that.”
I was relieved to hear this.
“I may need you to prepare a sandwich and some soup a few evenings, but any larger meals will be taken care of by Marta. Now, David disagrees; however, I don't think it's that necessary for you to actually sleep here. I thinkâ”
David interrupted her. “Mavis Anne, we had a deal. I don't like the thought of you being here in this house alone overnight. What if you fell? What if you needed something?”
“I totally agree,” I said. “It's really not safe for you to be here by yourself overnight.”
“I think you're both being a bit silly.”
“No, we're not,” I said. “Listen, I just had an idea, and I'm not certain she'd agree, although I think she will. How about if Haley stays here with you? I know you have a guest room, and to be honest, I think she'd love it. She adores you and she's extremely responsible.”
Mavis Anne sat up straighter in her chair and smiled. “Oh, now that plan I would agree to. I adore Haley and love spending time with her. If she agrees, that would work out very nicely. And I wouldn't feel as if I was imposing on you. I know you're busy with a lot of other things.”
“Great. I'll speak to her later when she gets home.”
“Okay. I have a doctor's appointment the first week David is gone, on Friday, and I have a hair appointment every Thursday at two. Would you be able to drive me?”
“Of course,” I said. “That won't be a problem.”
“Good. Marta does the cleaning and laundry, so you won't be responsible for that either. During the day, I'll be at the yarn shop. Oh, and maybe once a week you could take me food shopping? Would that be okay?”
“Absolutely,” I told her. “Maybe we could go out for lunch before we do the shopping.”
“Oh, yes. That would be fun. Well, Isabelle, I can't think of anything else at the moment except to discuss your pay.”
I put my hand in the air. “No. What I'm doing for you is minimal and I won't accept any money. I insist. You've given me an incredible break on the rent at Koi House, so consider this a small repayment.”
“Well, I won't argue with you, but if Haley agrees to stay here each night, I'll get her a gift. Maybe you could take me shopping for that.”
“That would be nice.”
David stood up. “Okay, well, if we're finished here, I'm heading to Publix. Chloe invited us to dinner this evening. Henry is grilling steaks and I offered to make some scalloped potatoes to go with them and I need to get a few things.”
After David left, Mavis Anne said, “Chloe tells me that your mother is moving here permanently. She bought a townhouse in The Trails?”
“Hmm,” I mumbled.
“You don't sound too happy about this. Is there a problem?”
“I think you know she left when I was fifteen. She left my father and me and took off for Oregon.”
“Yes, Chloe did explain that to me. Oh, so you've never forgiven her for leaving?”
“No, I guess I haven't. It just irritates me that she chose to have her own life thirty years ago and now . . . all of a sudden she wants back into mine.”
“Yes,” Mavis Anne said and let out a sigh. “I can understand that would be difficult for you. My mother left when I was fourteen.”
“She did?” I was surprised to hear this.
“Well, different circumstances. She passed away. However, no matter the reason, I was fourteen and without my mother. David was twelve and Emmalyn was only eight. I think it was probably the hardest on her. My father tried, and I did the best I could, but I don't think she ever adjusted to losing her mother. So I know it's not easy.”
“Exactly. And your mother had no control over what happened. My mother did. She
chose
to leave.”
“Yes, that's true. But you know, Isabelle, we all make mistakes in life. It seems to me that she wants to make amends with you. She could have stayed in Oregon or chosen anyplace else to retire. But she chose here. Near
you
. Believe me, I know a thing or two about forgiving, and it's one of the hardest things to do. I don't mean to badger you, but you might want to see what happens when she gets here. Maybe things will work out better than you think.”
“I seriously doubt that,” I said, and recalled that Petra had told me the same thing.
* * *
When Haley and Tina returned from the beach, Haley asked if her friend could stay one more night.
“That would be fine,” I said. “But doesn't your mother want you home with her?”
“She's working night shift tonight. I did call to ask if it would be okay and she said as long as you were okay with it.”
“Oh. Well then, yes. That's fine. Do you like steak?”
Her face lit up. “I love it.”
“That's great. Henry is grilling for supper.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Haley called as they ran out the back door to the patio.
I stood watching them out the window. Haley was attempting to teach Tina how to knit. Another common interest they would share. It was then it hit me that I should invite Tina and her mother over for dinner sometime. This would give me a chance to meet the woman and she'd probably appreciate an evening out. I'd be sure to get her phone number from Tina and give her a call the following week.