What Remains (12 page)

With a grin that seemed unforced for a change, he asked, “What in the hell is holler hopping?”

Chapter Nine

“That’s the house, there…” Mr. Richards pointed out with the strong ocean breezes blowing against them as they stood along the rails of the
Chappy Ferry that carried them to Chappaquiddick Island.

The chill in the air and constant spray of salt water coming up from the sides of the ferry as it cut its way across Nantucket Sound, caused Tessa to sink further down into the jacket he had placed around her shoulders.

“Oh my goodness, it’s absolutely beautiful,” she exclaimed, once she was able to locate the majestic old house in the distance, with its weathered gray siding standing in sharp contrast to the white shutters and trim.  It was still rather large to be a vacation home, but much smaller than most of the places she’d seen dotting the ocean front.  “Is that your sail boat?”

With a proud gleam and longing in his eyes, he nodded his head in affirmation.  “That’s her.  The Maggie May.  She’s named after my grandmother.”

“That’s so sweet.”

“Yeah, well, she’s strong and dependable, just like
Mems.”

“Who spoiled you rotten, I bet,” she accused, playfully bumping against him with her shoulder, relieved to finally see this side of her employer after a month of clumsy, strained interactions between them. 

“Not hardly,” he smiled in reverie.  “She ruled the household with an iron fist, and still manages to keep me on my toes.”

“Still?
  So she’s alive?”

“She’ll be ninety-three Sunday.  That’s why we’re here.  The family all gets together on her birthday and throws a big party—food catered in from the best restaurants in New York, endless champagne, live music, dancing under the stars…it’s become
the
annual event on the island, unfortunately.”

“Why didn’t you tell me,” Tessa whined, feeling a knot form in the pit of her stomach.  “If I had known it was a family thing, I would never have agreed to come.”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you.”

“This is so unfair!  I can’t believe you drug me here under false pretenses.  I should’ve known something was fishy when you said I needed a vacation after only a month.”

Mr. Richards chuckled when Tessa smacked his arm out of agitation and turned toward the open sea to pout.

“Don’t be angry with me.  I didn’t like the thought of you being there by yourself for an entire week.”

“Then why not just give me the week off so that I could go visit my children.”

“You wouldn’t have come back.”

Although his honesty infuriated her, it also forced Tessa to admit to herself just how transparent she was.  Within a few short weeks, he had already guessed her m.o.—modus operandi.   Chances were the thought would have crossed her mind more than once after spending time with them, especially with all the uncertainty surrounding her relationship with Gregory.  And wasn’t it how she always dealt with emotional issues in her past?  If they became too uncomfortable or frightening, she ran away so that the immediate thrill and excitement of starting over; a new city, a new home, a new job would all keep her too preoccupied to have to face anything unpleasant. 

“I’d rather be alone than feel like a party crasher,” she finally answered with some reluctance, realizing he would take her reluctance to rebuke his statement for what it was, her way of telling him he had been correct in his assumption.  “I’m never going to forgive you for this, just remember that.”

After reaching up and tussling the bun on top of her head, as if to say he understood and wouldn’t hold it against her, Mr. Richards said in earnest, “You won’t have to meet my family if you don’t want to, I promise.  They all stay at my grandparents’ house over there.”

Tessa allowed her gaze to follow in the direction of his pointing finger.  Just as she figured, the Collins’ family beach house was one of the most opulent ones in sight, and appeared more like a resort hotel than a private residence.

“I’m going to hold you to your word, because having to deal with one member of the Richards’ clan is about all I can handle.”

“I’m not that bad, am I?” he questioned with a devilish grin, which caused Tessa to roll her eyes in disgust.

The two of them spent the late afternoon and into the evening hours uncovering the furniture and making a list of supplies and groceries they would need to pick up at the local market.  After Mr. Richards left with the list in hand, Tessa roamed about the house admiring the simple but elegant décor of white on white, and the way the setting sun reflected warmly off every surface through the windows unadorned with drapery.  It was breathtaking, leaving her with the desire to soak it all in so that she could set every sight, sound, and scent to memory.  Instinctively knowing this was going to be the first and last opportunity she would ever have to enjoy all the beauty wealth could buy.

As the daylight slowly faded and the house grew darker and less welcoming, the sound of the waves washing ashore and the smell of the salt water lulled her outside to draw closer to it.  With Rex and Hank bounding happily at her side, Tessa followed the sandy path past through the tall grasses to the beach.  There was no one as far as the eyes could see. 

It was an overwhelming but peaceful experience to be standing by the ocean alone.  The sheer power of the tides made her feel small and vulnerable, yet in away, comforted.  Perhaps it was a case of waxing poetic, but at that moment Tessa could honestly say the realization of just how insignificant she and all of her problems were, provided a lucidity she had rarely felt in her lifetime.

Plopping her bottom down in the soft sand and digging her toes down into its warmth, Tessa sat and watched the last of the day’s sunlight vanish beyond the horizon.  Rex and Hank continued to chase after one another, and simply couldn’t be stopped from jumping into the waves, no matter how much she scolded them.  Unable to keep herself from laughing at their antics, she decided to give up and just enjoy watching them as they played.  The love of water had been bred into them, so who was she to try and keep them from being anything but exactly what they were.

The same could be said for herself, as well.  She was instinctively attracted Gregory Hayes, so why not just jump in?  Being with him felt natural, it felt good.  He made her laugh, he forced her to see things in a more youthful and optimistic way, and being near him made her feel like a woman again; a woman with needs and desires she had never allowed herself to give into.  There was no one left to judge her or disappoint.  Her children were all living their own lives now, with the freedom to make their own choices, their own mistakes.  Why shouldn’t she have the right to do the same?

When she returned to Amherst, even though her heart may very well get broken, Tessa was going to make some much needed adjustments.  The first and most important one was to allow herself to be open to a deeper relationship with a man who found her to be funny and intelligent, and though illogical, attractive, which was quite a contrast to being married to someone for almost twenty years who reminded her daily that she was none of these things.

The following morning, as Tess cleared away the containers from the Chinese take-out Mr. Richards had brought home from his trip to the market, he entered the kitchen in his pajamas with his hair yet uncombed, and handed her her cell phone.  Unable to stifle a broad smile at seeing him for the first time in such a relaxed and natural state, she took the phone from his out stretched hand, causing him to give her a questioning look.

“It’s your son,” he whispered, before making his way to the coffee pot, where he poured himself a cup and leaned backwards against the counter, seemingly content with standing there as she took her call.

Whatever, Tessa thought.  How many times had she remained in the kitchen cooking or cleaning up as he took a call from the office?   Their professional relationship was now one built on mutual respect.  The emotional detachment between them allowed for a great deal of openness, it almost had to be since they were living together.

“Good morning,
Sonshine,” she said cheerfully, happy to hear from him.

“Hey Momma-girl,” his rich baritone voice greeted.
  There was an underlying enthusiasm she picked up on immediately.

“What’s up?”

“I just called to tell you I love you.”

“Well thank you, I love you too, but what else
are you wanting to tell me?”

“How do you do that,” he laughed.

“Because I’m your mother and I know things.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Tessa saw Mr. Richards grin.

“I wanted to let you know that your son has been accepted into law school at Ole Miss.”

Unable to conceal her joy, she gushed, “Oh my goodness, Shane, you’re kidding me!”

“Nope.  I’m leaving for Oxford Mississippi in a few days.”

“That’s wonderful!  I’m so proud of you.” 

Then she immediately relayed the good news to Mr. Richards who was already smiling at her.  “Shane was accepted into law school!”

He nodded his head and softly murmured congratulations to both mother and son.  When she put the phone back up to her ear and reiterated how proud
she was of him, Shane right away asked to speak with Mr. Richards, which took his mother quite by surprise.

“I don’t know, son, he’s having his morning coffee right now…”  But before she could continue her protest, Mr. Richards was at her side reaching for the phone.

Tessa looked at him apologetically.  “I’m sorry, but he wants to speak to you.”

“I realize that, so why don’t you give me the phone.”

With apprehension, she handed over the cell, but stayed close by, confused and curious as to why her son felt the need to talk with her employer.  It was such bizarre request.  Why on earth would he want to speak with a total stranger?  Straining to hear the conversation, she became increasingly frustrated when Mr. Richards refused to say anything except one word acknowledgments to whatever Shane was telling him.

Finally, with Tessa wringing her hands and certain she was going to explode from the anxiety of not knowing what was going on, he stepped toward her and grinned as he touched her shoulder lightly, letting her know that everything was fine.

“I’m glad everything worked out.  I’ll call you next week when I get back to the office so we can talk in private without your mother eavesdropping…No, problem…I’m glad I could help.”  After handing the phone back to Tessa, he continued to smile as he left the kitchen.

“Shane, what’s going on?  Why did you need to speak with Mr. Richards?”

“Didn’t he tell you?”

“No,” she sighed.  “I have no idea what you two are up to.”

“Right after you started working there I called and Seth answered the phone and told me you were running an errand for him.  We started talking and when he found out I had applied to couple of law schools but hadn’t heard anything yet, he told me he would make a few calls and see what he could do to get me an interview.  The next day a recruiter from Ole Miss called.”

Tessa was flabbergasted.  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“He asked me not to.”

At a loss for words, she let the matter drop and finished the conversation with her son; getting enjoyment from just listening to the excitement in his voice.  As he talked questions about the cost of such a prestigious school kept running through her mind, though she was hesitant about voicing any concerns at this point.  That time would come soon enough, and she prayed that he would be able to handle the disappointment with maturity.  There were other law schools
he could apply to that would be a fraction of the cost, she was sure.  But for now, she would remain silent and allow him to enjoy it.

A few hours later, as she stood on the porch and looked out over the ocean, Mr. Richards came to stand beside her.

“You’re quiet this afternoon.  Is everything alright?”

“I’m just worried about my son.”

“Why?  You should be happy for him.  If he really wants to get into politics, Ole Miss is one of the best schools to help him lay the foundation.”

“Mr. Richards…,” she began in earnest, turning to face him squarely.  “Shane told me what you did for him, and I appreciate it.  In fact, you’ll never know how grateful I am.  But there’s no way he can afford it, and I’m in no position to help.  His heart is going to be broken.”