Just in Time

by Suzanne Trauth

  “I’ll get back to you.”

  We chatted a bit longer about their neighbors in Naples, my father’s arthritis, and my brother’s plans to spend time in Cape Cod this summer. Before I hung up, I had a final question for them.

  “You know the picture we found in Aunt Maureen’s bureau drawer after she died?”

  “The young man in a uniform?” my mother asked.

  “Yes. Who was he?”

  “That was David.”

  “A boyfriend?”

  “David? Oh no, he was her husband,” my mother clarified.

  “Great Aunt Maureen was married? Why did I not know about this?” I asked, astonished.

  “It was so long ago. They were only married for two years before he died in a car accident. She never wanted to talk about him,” my father said.

  I wished I had known about this relationship in my great aunt’s life, that we had spoken about David.

  I turned onto Anderson, and left down Bennington until I reached Bill’s place on Gracie Avenue. The weeping willow in his front yard was lush, bending and swaying in the evening breeze. The aroma of his rose beds permeated the air as I walked up the flagstone path to his house. I straightened my silk blouse and tossed my tresses, which were curlier than usual because of the day’s humidity, over my shoulder. It would be a nice night. I knocked on Bill’s locked door.

  “Surprise!” screamed a barrage of voices. The groundswell of noise echoed around the foyer and thrust me backwards. My mouth fell open. My pulse pounded. OMG! There was a second of silence as everyone waited expectantly for my response.

  “Ahhh…huh…ohh…!” was all I could muster. People broke ranks and descended upon me with congratulations.

  “Happy Birthday, Dodie,” said Lola with a big hug.

  “Th-thanks. I can’t believe this!”

  “Bet you thought we all forgot!” said Carol with a twinkle in her eye. She paused. “You need a trim,” she murmured into my ear.

  “See you at Snippets tomorrow,” I said.

  Mildred and Vernon, Georgette from the bakery, Abby and her husband Jim, Edna and Suki—Ralph was on dispatch—all offered best wishes. I had no idea so many people cared about my big day! It had taken several years but, finally, Etonville felt like my town.

  “Hey, O’Dell, pretty good secret, right?”

  “Yes, Penny, this was.”

  “Hard to keep secrets with this crew.” She gestured around the room, and then lowered her voice. “By the way, did you hear Walter’s ex-wife is taking him back to court? Don’t tell anybody.” She meandered off.

  I laughed.

  “We love birthday parties, don’t we?” one Banger sister said.

  “Especially if they’re for us!” said the other.

  “Uh-huh,” I said.

  Bill placed a glass of chardonnay in my hand. “Happy birthday,” he said. He kissed my cheek.

  “Wow! How did you manage this?” I asked and took a sip of wine.

  “It’s all in the game plan.”

  “Spoken like a former running back.”

  He hurried off. Ever the good host, Bill patiently led the Banger sisters to the dining room where he had a buffet table laden with pasta dishes, cold sandwiches, and salads.

  I walked into the living room. Pauli and Janice huddled on the sofa. She was talking non-stop, he was listening, fixated and attentive. Jocelyn attempted to corner Walter, one arm hooked through his, while he looked confused and slightly terrified. Relationships. I guessed Lola missed Dale. She had high hopes for that relationship… Although she’d confided this week that she’d dodged a bullet there. I thought of Great Aunt Maureen and David. Even Bill and I were navigating our way through this twosome thing. The loss of a relationship had sparked an extreme reaction from Ruby that led to a suicide and a murder. It was true…hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

  The front door opened and Henry, Benny, Enrico, and Carmen came in.

  “Who’s minding the store?” I asked as the Windjammer staff enveloped me in a group hug.

  “Wilson offered to keep it open until ten. He’ll be by later,” Benny said.

  Henry handed me a wrapped package. “Happy birthday. From all of us.”

  I wiggled it, weighed it, and turned it over and over. “Let’s see.” I tore off the ribbon and wrapping paper to reveal a high-end first aid kit.

  “Just in case,” Henry said and we all chuckled.

  “Where’s the bar?” asked Benny.

  * * * *

  The sun set. The guests ate. Friends made champagne toasts. We cut the Georgette’s Bakery cake. I’d made the rounds, thanking everyone. It wasn’t the birthday I’d expected. My horoscope was correct: be ready for unplanned activities. Out on the deck, Romeo sang “One Last Kiss” from Bye, Bye, Birdie and the rest of the party joined in. Bill motioned to me from across the kitchen and I followed him to the garage.

  “What are we doing out here?” I asked, in the midst of his too-neat metal shelving laden with sports equipment, camping gear, and car products.

  “Patience!” He smiled sphynx-like and handed me a foam rubber drink holder.

  “Thanks. This is nice,” I said.

  “Yeah. You can take it on vacation,” he said.

  Right. We had yet to settle that particular issue. “As we sit around the campfire,” I joked.

  Bill gave me an envelope. “More like the beach.”

  “What?” I looked inside. It was a computer-made gift certificate for two weeks at the Jersey Shore. Reservation already made and paid for. Just in time! “I can’t believe it!”

  “I know. I like to keep you guessing,” Bill murmured.

  “Well, guess how much I love this gift.”

  He held me so close his heart beat against mine. “As much as I love you?”

  “Wh-what did you say?” I asked, my pulse shooting from zero to sixty.

  “Who? Me?” Bill asked innocently.

  OMG!

  About the Author

  Suzanne Trauth is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and a former university theatre professor. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Dramatists Guild. When she is not writing, Suzanne coaches actors and serves as a celebrant performing wedding ceremonies. She lives in Woodland Park, New Jersey. Readers can visit her website at www.suzannetrauth.com.