THE SANCTUARY (15 page)

“We’ll scrap it together somehow. We’ll figure it out,” Chris promised.

“It’s funny. It never dawned on me that Chris was a woman,” Lydia said.

“My dad wanted a son. Before we were born, he gave us boys’ names because he was so sure that, ‘this was going to be the one, his long-awaited son.’ After three daughters (Taylor, Chris, and Parker) my mom said enough. You know, that’s something else in common. My parents are deceased, too. They died in a car accident more than a decade ago. Sadly, I’m not close with my sisters. We’re scattered all over the place and don’t see each other much. You know, you and I have lost a lot, but maybe we’ve gained something. I’m so happy to finally meet you. Maybe this is too much to ask or too weird for you, but I’m hoping we can become friends. I think we both could use one,” Chris said.

“May I meet Mattie?” Lydia asked.

Twelve

CAROLINA GIRLS FOREVER

“N
o one knows why the power went out, but the utility company is on its way from Rapid City. Should be here within the hour,” Sonya said.

Sonya and Julia had just joined Lydia in their suite to find out what had happened with Chris Miller when the lights flickered and then went out. People began running up and down the halls looking for answers and flashlights. Liz had brought candles, and Julia had commandeered them so that the room was bathed in a soft, soothing light.

“Even if Liz was around to ask, I don’t think I’d dare ask why she had two candles in her suitcase. Would you?” Julia asked. She had found the candles when she rummaged through Liz’s suitcase looking for a flashlight, which she also found. “I assume she carries stuff like that because she travels to places where she might need them.”

“I’ve learned never to ask Liz questions unless you really want the answers, and I’ve learned that most times you do not,” Lydia said. “I’m just grateful for the candles. By the way, where are Liz and Grace?”

“They went to get a banana split. It’s their nightly ritual, and probably free tonight given that all that ice cream will melt if they don’t get the power on soon. I would have liked to join them, but I think they’re finally enjoying some quality mother-daughter time. Apparently, things have been dicey for them with Liz being gone so much. Grace became a rebellious teenager, probably just hoping to get Liz’s attention,” Julia reported.

“We can talk about Liz and Grace later. I want to know what happened during your big showdown before I explode,” Sonya said as she grabbed bottled water from the cooler for herself and two lukewarm colas for Julia and Lydia. “Sorry they’re not colder, but we’re almost out of ice and the ice machines are empty.”

Lydia popped the top but did not drink any. Instead she fiddled with it while she spoke, “I have good and bad news.” She explained everything.

“I should be furious that he cheated on me, even if there were extenuating circumstances. But it was such a long time ago that I can’t blame him for not wanting to tell me. He knew that it would only hurt me, and he couldn’t turn his back on his child, so he did the only thing he could.” She took a sip of soda.

“What does this girl know about her father?” Julia asked.

“She knows that David is her father. Chris is breaking the news tonight about his death. She knows that I’m his wife, and she thinks that he met Chris before me and that things just didn’t work out. We’re going to have breakfast with Chris and Mattie tomorrow before we head back. I wish we could stay longer, but Grace needs to get back to school and Sonya needs to see her doctor. Julia needs to get home while her house is still standing, and I need to get home and try to save mine. Chris and I are going to talk about financial stuff in the morning before breakfast and see what we can figure out. You know, I thought it would be too weird, but it’s not. I don’t see Chris as a home wrecker or anything like that. She’s a lovely person who made a mistake a long time ago. A lifetime ago. And as Liz pointed out, we all make mistakes and I need to let go and forgive—if for no one else’s sake but my own,” Lydia said.

“Can you believe how things turned out?” Julia asked.

“I know. Just when I thought I was alone in this world, I reconnected with my sisters—the CGFs—and I’ve got Chris and Mattie, too. Chris already feels like a sister to me. We talked for a long time, and she’s incredible. She’s run this place and single-handedly raised a smart, sweet daughter,” Lydia said.

Julia hugged Lydia. “I’m so glad that things have turned out so well. When I left Georgetown, I thought my marriage was over. I was so afraid that I almost gave up without a fight,” Julia said. “During our trip, I’ve realized that I don’t have to be so afraid. From now on I’m going to face my fears. Okay, maybe not all of them, but some of them—
really
. Not snakes or cellulite. Those fears are too hard to overcome! But things are going to change. I’m going to work at my father’s company. It’ll give John a chance to figure out what he wants to do, and I’m tired of being at home. I love my kids but after all these years I need a change. Let John play Mr. Mom and I’ll bring home the bacon. After all, I’ve got a business degree, and I know that company better than anyone besides Daddy. I’ve already talked to my father, and he’s actually excited about the idea. We haven’t talked specifics yet, but he’s so amiable that I think this just might work out. And you know what else?” Jules asked. Without waiting for a reply, she continued, “I’ve discovered that I’m still a desirable woman, but I need to start looking the part. Thanks to all of you for helping me realize that I’m more than a mom, chauffeur, and laundress. I hope that John will stick around, but even if he doesn’t, recent events—and you all—have helped me realize that I will survive.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Lydia said, hugging Julia.

“What about me?” Sonya asked. “Can you believe that I’m going to be a mom? And if my suspicions are right about Mike, I may be a single mother to boot. Maybe Chris can give me some pointers.”

“Whatever happens in your marriage or whatever else life tosses at us, we’ve always got each other. We’ll be there for the birth, the christening, birthdays, and graduations—count on it,” Jules said.

Just as they were crying and laughing and hugging like sorority gals, Liz and Grace walked in carrying bags and containers. “I swear all this group does is eat, drink, laugh, cry, and sleep. What’s up now?”

“We’ll tell you everything, but you first. What have you been up to?” Sonya asked, seeing all the stuff.

“It’s our last night. It wouldn’t be right to end this trip without a Carolina Kit. And I want to share this tradition with Grace. I had a hell of a time pulling this off between the fact that we’re not in the Lowcountry, and there was a power outage.”

“Liz, you amaze me,” Julia said, taking the cake out of her hands and setting it on the tiny table. “Only you could pull this together.”

“True. So very true. To be honest, it’s more of a southwestern Carolina Kit,” Liz said. “I had a tin of benne wafers in my suitcase. I order them online from Colony Bakery in Charleston and take them with me whenever I travel so that I have a little piece of home with me wherever I go and something that I know I can eat. You can’t believe the things that pass for delicacies in third-world countries. I’ve been served worm larvae in South America, pigeon pie in Morocco, and monkey brains in Beijing. Anyway, I paid the lodge chef an obscenely big tip to whip up a Coca-Cola cake, so that was no problem. It was in the walk-in cooler already done when the power outage occurred. But those two things are it for the Lowcountry, I’m afraid. These are southwest egg rolls, barbeque ribs, and southwestern deviled eggs. I’ve sampled everything to make sure it passed muster, and it’s all delicious,” Liz said, passing the items around. “Sorry about it not being hot. It was all prepared earlier today, and the cook was going to warm everything tonight, but then the power failure…so room temperature will have to suffice.”

“This is absolutely perfect. Thanks a million, Liz,” Lydia said, hugging her friend.

“You’re totally welcome, Liddie. Oh, here’s the best part,” Liz said, pulling a bottle of Riesling from her bag. “It’s not from the Lowcountry, but it is a Carolina wine. It’s from the Biltmore Winery in North Carolina. I was surprised to find it in their wine cellar. Chris has a better inventory than I would have expected.”

“Oh, this is good stuff,” Sonya promised as she opened the bottle with the wine opener Liz handed her. She poured it into plastic cups and passed them to everyone. She poured more orange juice into her cup.

“Are those my candles?” Liz asked, noticing the flickering lights.

“Sorry, Liz. Jules freaked out when the lights went out. Actually, we all did, so nothing was off limits. We thought you might have a travel flashlight, and we went into your luggage,” Sonya explained.

“I do, it’s right here. I always carry a flashlight, duct tape, bottled water, and a pack of crackers in my handbag. But enough about that. Tell me everything. What happened with Chris? Don’t leave anything out!” Liz demanded.

While everyone but Grace and Sonya drank the wine and ate the goodies from the Carolina Kit, the women took turns filling Liz in on everything. The Carolina Girls talked into the wee hours of the morning. The dim lighting made confessions of the soul easier, so it was a jolt when all the lamps came on at three o’clock in the morning. That’s when the conversation turned from serious to silly. They decided to finally write some bylaws for the Carolina Girls Forever. Number one was that they would never lose touch again.

There was a fine if someone went more than two weeks without getting in touch. They would have to put ten dollars in a fund if they forgot to call or email, which would go towards their annual CGF reunion. The reigning queen got to plan the trip, and everyone had to go along with whatever she chose. The only exception was a family emergency.

“How about if the reigning queen has to be addressed as ‘My Lady’ or ‘Her Majesty’?” Sonya suggested.

“Oh, I like it,” Liz exclaimed.

“I’ve realized just how precious y’all are to me. I couldn’t have survived David’s death and this whole ordeal without you gals by my side,” Lydia said as she wiped away tears.

“Friendship really does become more important as we get older. I need someone to tell me when it’s okay to have gray hair or to kick my butt when I need to do something about it. Only best friends will do that,” Julia said.

“I think that a celebratory toast must be made by each of us to the queen during her crowning ceremony,” Liz said.

“The queen must wear her crown during the crowning ceremony and then safeguard it for the remainder of her reign. She may wear it or choose not to when we get together, but she must wear it when it is time for the next one of us to be crowned. She’ll remove it and ceremoniously place it on the new queen’s head. I’ll take care of getting the tiara as soon as we get home. Oh, and I’ll get a perfectly gaudy satin sash, too,” Julia said.

“How about if only the current queen can determine the next queen-to-be? We can make a five-minute pitch to the queen at the end of her year’s reign to plead our case and then the queen decides?” Sonya suggested.

“Yes, I like that. The queen must make a parting speech before naming her predecessor,” Lydia added.

“How about gifts?” Liz asked. “Do we give the queen gifts?”

“No, I don’t think so. That could be construed as a bribe. We don’t want to get into a contest with each other to see who can come up with the best gift,” Sonya said.

Julia had documented the final bylaws by daybreak. She promised to type it up and send them all a copy.

Julia and Sonya found out on their way to breakfast that a pony had rubbed its rear end against an old power pole and knocked it over, causing the power outage.

The pole was replaced with a new post that was pony resistant. The pony was fine, the front desk clerk assured them.

Chris had reserved a long table in the back of the pancake tent just for their group. Lydia was already there because she had wanted to spend some time alone with Mattie and Chris. She waved as Julia and Sonya approached and happily made the introductions. They were in high spirits as they dined on giant pancakes smothered in butter and rich maple syrup. Chris and Lydia had a long talk over breakfast while the others got to know Mattie. At the end of the meal, Lydia made an announcement.

“Chris and I have been talking since sunrise. I had a brainstorm and to my delight, she agrees. I’m going to be the new activities director for the resort. Actually, it’s a newly created position. Chris was doing that, on top of everything else. I’m already heavily invested in this place, so why not help make it a success? Chris is going to make me a partner. We’re going to have Bob Tisdale draw up the papers making me an official fifty-fifty partner in the resort. She has found enough money to make the loan payment and pay the tax bill for Sanctuary Island, so I don’t have to worry about that anymore. I’ll worry about the next loan payment next month. I don’t know why, but I just feel like everything’s going to work out.”

Lydia confessed that she had been very worried about the Sanctuary. When Sonya and Julia began to reprimand her for not telling them sooner and assuring her they would not let anything happen to the island if only she had told them, she held up her hand in protest.

“I just couldn’t bear to tell y’all. What David had done…what might happen… But it all worked out so let’s focus on the positive—we’re still Carolina Girls Forever, and I have a great new job!”