Lowcountry Summer eBoxed Set

by Mary Alice Monroe

  “He’s not happy about it,” Carson replied honestly. “But he understands why I have to do this. He arranged for me to see Delphine. I could never have gained access if he hadn’t.”

  “I see. Well, he’s a very nice young man.”

  “You’ve already told me that, Mamaw,” Carson said with a gentle nudge. “Seriously, I do care for him. A great deal. More than I’ve cared for anyone before. And I’m quite certain he feels the same way. It’s like you said. We’re taking it day by day. Okay?”

  Mamaw tried to disguise her pleasure in this revelation by looking down at the package in her lap. “So,” Mamaw said in an upbeat tone, straightening in her chair and taking hold of the box. “I have a little gift for you.”

  “A gift? It’s not my birthday.”

  “I know very well it’s not your birthday, silly girl. And it’s not Christmas, Fourth of July, or Arbor Day.” She reached out to hand Carson the small box wrapped in shiny blue paper and a white ribbon. “Can’t a grandmother give her granddaughter a gift if she wants to? Open it!”

  Carson’s face eased into a smile of anticipation as she bent over the box and tidily unwrapped the ribbon, rolling it in a ball, then slowly undid the tape, careful not to tear the paper. Mamaw enjoyed watching her open the gift delicately, recalling once again Carson as a little girl. So unlike Harper, who ripped through the paper, shredding it and letting the bits scatter around her.

  Before opening the lid, Carson shook the box by her ear, eyes skyward in mock appraisal. “A bracelet, maybe? Or a brooch?”

  Mamaw didn’t reply and only lifted her brows, her hands tightening together as her own anticipation at Carson’s response mounted.

  Carson opened the box, then lifted the corners of the yellowed, fragile cotton handkerchief, one that Mamaw had tucked in her sleeve on her wedding day, delicately embroidered with the initials MCM. Then she went still. Wrapped in the cotton was a key attached to a silver key ring in the shape of a dolphin. Carson looked at her grandmother with an expression of disbelief.

  “Are you kidding me? Is this . . . is this the key to the Blue Bomber?” Carson cried.

  “The same.”

  “But . . . I thought you said . . . I don’t understand,” Carson stammered.

  “There’s nothing to understand,” Mamaw said with a light laugh. “It’s my gift to you! That Cadillac might be old, but she’s in perfect condition. She’ll take you to Florida and back safely. And anywhere else you might want to go. It’s yours now. I want you to have it. You’ve earned it.”

  Speechless, Carson leaned in to wrap her arms around Mamaw’s shoulders and squeezed tight. Mamaw caught the scent of her own perfume on Carson’s skin—their scent now—and felt the age-old bond she’d always felt with Carson.

  “I don’t know what to say,” Carson said, sliding back in her chair. She stared at the key in disbelief.

  “ ‘Thank you’ is usually appropriate.” Mamaw winked.

  Carson laughed, then smiled at her. “Thank you.”

  Mamaw felt a rush of emotion mist her eyes. “Oh, I do hate to see you go. Well, kiss me good-bye now, my precious girl,” she said with false bluster. “Then off to bed. You’ll need your sleep for the long drive.”

  “I’ll kiss you good night now, and kiss you good-bye tomorrow.”

  Mamaw shook her head. “No, all now. I hate good-byes.” She sighed. “There have been too many in my life.”

  Carson kissed her grandmother’s cheek, lingering at her ear. “I’ll be back soon. I promise.”

  It was a fitting morning for travel. The sky was cloudless and the air was clear, free from the heavy Southern humidity that made one feel drenched by nine A.M. Mamaw stood on the widow’s porch, her hands clutching the railing, looking at the scene unfolding below.

  “You sure you don’t want to go down and join them?” Lucille asked by her side. “We’re like a couple of old hens roosting up here.”

  “Quite sure,” Mamaw said, feeling again the twinge in her heart that she always felt at partings. She rallied, straightening her shoulders, and said archly, “We’ve said our good-byes, and you know how I despise melodrama.”

  “Uh-huh,” Lucille said with heavy sarcasm. “You sure do hate any drama.”

  Mamaw had the grace to chuckle. She directed her gaze to the cluster of young women gathered around the blue Cadillac. The car was packed; the top was down. For a moment she recalled herself as a young woman standing in that very driveway, laughing, hugging, kissing when she’d said numerous good-byes to Parker as he followed his wanderlust, and the forced smiles that belied her heartbreak each time her Summer Girls returned to their distant homes at summer’s end. And, too, the dreadful, final farewells to her husband and son. Such was the burden of a long life. There were too many good-byes, so many sunrises and sunsets, memories joyous and painful.

  Carson was the tallest, dressed in faded jeans and a pale blue linen shirt. Her dark hair was bound in a braid that fell down her back like a long rope. Over this she wore a straw fedora-like hat with a bright blue band. She was leaning against the big car with a proprietor’s air, dangling the keys in front of her sisters’ faces. Dora stood beside her in pink Bermuda shorts and a floral T-shirt, her blond hair flowing loose to her shoulders. She sipped from the mug in her hands as they talked. Harper was as sleek as a little black bird in ankle-length pants and a shirt, her coppery hair pulled back in a ponytail. How she could stand in those high-heeled sandals, Mamaw didn’t know.

  “They’re as different from each other today as they’ve ever been,” she said to Lucille. “And yet, in the past few weeks I believe they’d discovered that they’re not without some rather profound commonalities. Don’t you think?”

  “If by commonalities you mean they’re not at each other’s throats and beginning to like each other again, I’ll give you that,” Lucille replied.

  “That, too, of course,” Mamaw said with a hint of impatience. But it was so much more than this, and yet too difficult to put into words. Though the girls were still negotiating the delicate bonds of sisterhood, in the past weeks she’d heard in their voices, and seen in small gestures, the beginnings of reconnection. A rediscovery of the magic they’d once shared when they were together at Sea Breeze during those long-ago summers—the three of them huddled on the beach under a single towel, whispering together in their beds, sipping from three straws in a single root-beer float, exploring the mysteries of the island and beach. Her prayer was that as the summer unfolded and the women shared time again at Sea Breeze—the very name implied a breath of fresh air—they would discover the life force that would give their lives purpose and meaning.

  The sound of laughter swelled from below, drawing Mamaw’s attention again. Something had stirred the girls to that belly-holding, bent-over laughter that brought tears to the eyes. Their high-pitched hoots were louder than the piercing call of the osprey circling above them. Mamaw’s heart swelled and her eyes grew misty again.

  “Look at them,” she said to Lucille. “That’s how I always want to see them. Happy. Bonding, supportive of each other. After we’re gone, that’s all they’re going to have. Is that too much to ask?”

  “I reckon that’s every mother’s prayer,” Lucille said.

  “I’m worried about them,” Mamaw said from the heart. “They look happy for the moment, but they’re still so unsettled. All of them. I wonder what I can do to help them.”

  “Now don’t you start up on that again. Remember the trouble that caused? You got them all here. You got them back in the game. That’s all you can do. Now it’s up to them to play out their own hands.”

  “But the cards are still being dealt,” Mamaw cautioned.

  Lucille shrugged. “Sure enough. Till the game is over.” She turned to Marietta and they exchanged a look that spoke of a lifetime of shared worries. “You win some, you lose some.”

  The symphonic honk of the Cadillac’s horn brought their attention back to the girls below. Carson was
looking up to the rooftop, her arm straight in the air, waving. Mamaw and Lucille raised their hands and enthusiastically returned the wave. They watched as the big car pulled slowly out of the driveway with Dora and Harper trotting after it, shouting “Death to the ladies!” With a final honk, Carson hit the gas. The engine roared and she took off, disappearing around the hedge of greenery.

  Dora and Harper remained at the end of the driveway waving for several moments. Then they linked arms and began walking together toward the beach.

  “My, my, my,” Mamaw muttered at the sight. That was a first for those two. She looked beyond to the sparkling blue ocean. The waves rolled in and out in their metronome rhythm. Maybe Lucille was right, she thought, though she’d never admit it to her. Life really was just a game of cards.

  Mamaw turned to Lucille. “Time to get out of this sun. Are you up for a game of gin? I’ll spot you twenty points.”

  Lucille harrumphed. “The day I need you to spot me is the day I take up checkers.”

  Mamaw laughed, feeling suddenly buoyed with hope. She grasped the stair railing, but before leaving the porch she paused, lifted her gaze, and took one final, sweeping look toward the sea. The blue Cadillac was nowhere to be seen, but in the distance she caught sight of the two women making their way together down the long, winding path.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  The world of dolphins is fascinating and complex and I owe a debt of thanks to many people for sharing their knowledge and expertise, and for enlightening me about these intelligent and charismatic creatures.

  I owe a huge debt of thanks to Dr. Pat Fair, Director, Marine Mammal Program, NOAA, for serving as my mentor, friend, and editor for all things Tursiops truncatus. Also, my appreciation to Eric Zolman of NOAA for memories on the Zodiac. And to Justin Greenman and Wayne McFee.

  My sincere gratitude goes to all the dedicated staff at the Dolphin Research Center, Grassy Key, Florida, for an education of the mind and spirit. Special thanks to Linda Erb, Joan Mehew, Becky Rhodes, Mary Stella, Rita Erwin, and Kirsten Donald for answering my countless questions, and providing keen insights, for your support, and for dolphin experiences I’ll cherish forever. And to all my fellow volunteers—Sarah, Candace, Stacy, Nate, Lindsey, Ryan, Alice, Marissa, June, Clare, Arielle, Abby, Jeanette, Donna, Abby, Debbie, Viv, and Misty—who helped me go through the paces of animal care. A big hug and thanks to Joel Martino, who made my stay at Port Kaya note perfect.

  A special thank-you to Stephen McCulloch, Harbor Branch, Florida Atlantic University—your expertise and imagination are amazing and inspiring. Sincere thanks to Lynne Byrd, Randall Wells, and Hayley Rutger of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, to Shelley Dearhart at the South Carolina Aquarium, and to Ron Hardy of Gulf World for all their help and advice during the writing of this book.

  As always, heartfelt thanks to the fabulous team at Gallery Books for continued support. I’m blessed to have the talent and great heart of my editors, Lauren McKenna and Alexandra Lewis; my publisher, Louise Burke; and in publicity, Jean Anne Rose.

  I send my deep appreciation to my agents Kimberly Whalen and Robert Gottlieb and all the team at Trident Media Group, and to Joe Veltre at Gersh, for wise advice and guidance.

  On the home front, my continued love and thanks to Marguerite Martino, James Cryns, and Margaretta Kruesi for all your critiques, brainstorming, and support. And to my team: Angela May, Buzzy Porter, Kathie Bennett, Lisa Laing, and Lisa Minnick.

  Finally, to Markus—let me count the ways.

  Dear Reader,

  Dolphins are beloved around the world. From the dawn of history stories have been told about the intelligence, beauty—that deceptive smile!—and curiosity of dolphins and their enduring connection with humans.

  Yet, despite our love for dolphins, mankind is their greatest threat. Hazards include injury and mortality from fishing gear, such as gill net, seine, trawl; marine debris; longline commercial operations; and recreational boats that lure dolphins near with food. Other perils include exposure to pollutants and biotoxins, viral outbreaks, and direct harvest.

  How can you help? Be S.M.A.R.T.

  S

  Stay back—fifty yards from dolphins.

  M

  Move away if dolphins show signs of disturbance.

  A

  Always put your engines in neutral when dolphins are near.

  R

  Refrain from feeding, touching, or swimming with wild dolphins.

  T

  Teach others to be dolphin-smart.

  If you’d like to learn more about dolphins, you can visit www.education.noaa.gov.

  We can all do our part to protect these “angels of the deep.”

  Mary Alice Monroe

  DOLPHIN FACTS

  • The Atlantic bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus ) ranges in size from 6.0 to 12.5 ft (2–4 m) and in weight from 300 to 1,400 lbs (135–635 kg).

  • Dolphins live in fluid social groups called pods. The size of a pod roughly varies from two to fifteen individuals. The natural diet of the bottlenose dolphin consists of fish and crustaceans. They do not chew their food but swallow it whole. Dolphins usually forage for food in groups and use their intelligence to cooperate in hunting strategies.

  • Coastal bottlenose dolphins are very social animals. Groupings of females with calves are called maternity pods or nursery groups. Female dolphins help rear pod dolphins as babysitters or “aunties.” Mature males congregate in bachelor groups and sometimes two to three individuals form what is known as a “pair bond.” Pair-bonded males will stay together for an extended period, if not all of their lives. Both young and old dolphins chase one another, carry objects around, toss seaweed to one another, and use objects to invite each other to interact.

  • A bottlenose dolphin pregnancy lasts twelve months. Being mammals, dolphins bear live young and nurse them for about two years. Mothers remain with their young, teaching them forging and social skills, for an average of five years.

  • The average lifespan of a coastal bottlenose is twenty-five years. Though it is uncommon for them to do so, dolphins can live into their fifties.

  • Vision: Dolphins have highly specialized eyes that accommodate changes in light in and out of the water. Bottlenose dolphins can see up to nine feet underwater with good visibility and up to twelve feet in the air.

  • Hearing: Sound travels farther and faster than light in the ocean. Dolphins have highly sensitive hearing. They create and listen for sounds in order to detect prey or predators, to navigate, to communicate, and to determine the location of other dolphins.

  • Vocalization: Dolphins produce clicks and sounds that resemble moans, trills, grunts, and squeaks. Above water they make sounds by releasing air through their blowholes. Dolphins develop signature whistles, or “names.”

  • Echolocation: Clicks emitted by a dolphin strike objects in the underwater world and bounce back as echoes that are picked up through the dolphin’s lower jaw. From the returning echoes, dolphins can tell the size, shape, distance, speed, direction of travel, and density of the object, thus allowing them to “see” underwater. Dolphin echolocation is considered to be the most advanced sonar capability, unrivaled by any sonar system on earth, man-made or natural.

  GALLERY READERS GROUP GUIDE

  The Summer Girls

  MARY ALICE MONROE

  SUMMARY

  Marietta Muir is worried that her much-loved granddaughters, though as different as can be, are estranged. Now fully grown, Carson, the free spirit; Dora, the Southern-belle-turned-stay-at-home-mom; and city girl Harper haven’t spent time together since their long childhood summers with their Mamaw at Sea Breeze, the beach house on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. But when Marietta schemes to bring her girls back together for her eightieth birthday party, the women’s differences threatens to tear them apart once and for all.

  An L.A. photographer, Carson feels most at home when she’s in the water. But the ocean’s magic isn’t enough
to keep her emotional demons at bay. When she comes to Sullivan’s Island, Carson is offered a fresh start . . . with some help from a marine biologist, a dolphin named Delphine, and her sisters—the summer girls.

  QUESTIONS AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

  1. Dora’s initial reaction to Mamaw’s plan to bring the summer girls together for the season is to call it “blackmail”. Do you agree with Dora, or are you sympathetic with Mamaw’s scheme? Why or why not?

  2. Besides Harper, Carson, and Dora, Mamaw and Lucille have perhaps the most complex and important female relationship in the book. Describe their friendship. How do the two older women serve as role models to the younger three?

  3. Mamaw plans to give her granddaughters their pearl necklaces early in the book, before we know Dora, Carson, or Harper very well as characters. What could you assume about each of the summer girls based on Mamaw’s choices for them? Were those assumptions accurate?

  4. Carson is Mamaw’s favorite granddaughter: “It might have been because she’d spent the most time with the motherless girl when she’d come for extended stays after being unceremoniously dumped by her father when he was off on a jaunt. But Carson was also the most like Marietta, passionate about life and not afraid to accept challenges, quick to make up her mind, and a tall beauty with a long history of beaus.” Which of the three sisters did you relate to most, and why?

  5. Dora has not been open with her family concerning Nate’s autism. Do you think this was a decision on Dora’s part, or simply benign silence? What would prompt this? Do you think her hesitancy was ultimately more helpful or harmful for Nate?

  6. Discuss how Parker’s legacy affected his mother and each of his three daughters. The negative sides of his alcoholism and abandonment are obvious, but can you identify any positive effects of his actions?