“Your sister?”
“Yes.” Marge wiped the tear from her eye with the back of her hand. She then leaned back in the chair and resurrected a rumpled tissue from her pocket, blew her nose, and clasped it so tightly that her hand turned almost translucent.
“I didn’t know you had a sister. Where is she? I’d love to meet her. To talk with her, and get to know my grandfather’s lost love —”
Marge interrupted with one swift comment, “Dear, Maggie’s dead. She’s been gone a long, long time now.” The older woman dropped the tissue into her lap, and then tapped Rain’s hand gently.
“Oh,” Rain said, slumping in the chair. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” But the words seemed hollow somehow. She knew the feeling of loss, and sorry just didn’t cut it. Not when she witnessed and felt the enormous sadness sitting next to her.
“My sister has been gone so long; I’ve begun to lose the sound of her voice. You know how that happens? Remember how you told me you’ve forgotten, too? The sound of your grandfather’s voice? Or words the deceased once spoke. I can’t even hear the tone of her voice anymore. Maggie used to be such a great singer …” A smile began to form on her lips. “Sweet, sweet Maggie-pie.” Marge sniffed. “That’s what Luis used to call her; you know … Maggie-pie.” She brushed her hand across the edge of the table and then folded her hands in her lap, balling the tissue between them.
“What happened?”
Marge continued. “The novel your grandfather Luis wrote, Always You, was a love story about his relationship with my sister Maggie.”
“Wow.” Rain leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table and then tented her hands, resting them to cover her mouth.
“Yes. Even your grandmother didn’t know that the book wasn’t a work of fiction. She believed Luis just had a gift of the written word. And, surely, he did. I’m not at all discounting his accomplishments.” Marge smiled and then her smile faded. “But Always You was not a work of fiction, I assure you that,” she added firmly.
Rain rested her chin on her closed fist, “So, nobody knew? No one ever put the pieces together. Besides you?”
“No.”
“But how then? How do you know for sure it was a love story about my grandfather and your sister? Did Luis affirm that to you before he died? Did he tell you the truth himself?”
“No, dear, he never admitted it to me. But I knew.” She raised a pointed finger to the air, and then leaned forward and whispered, “Because in the story, the protagonist’s lover, the very love of his life, dies in childbirth, just like my sister Maggie did.” Marge’s lip quivered. “And I know for a fact, my sister loved Luis and never made love to another man. Luis was her one and only. Maggie confided that to me, in secret.” She rose her finger to her lips as if to remain hushed. “But Luis never knew that she’d told me.”
Rain’s heart thundered in her chest. “I didn’t get to that part in the book yet … but Julia mentioned something … about a baby … what happened to the child? After your sister died.”
“I was told the baby was stillborn and my sister died not long after giving birth. I think your great-grandfather Lorenzo was relieved to be honest.” She scoffed and then lifted her chin in indignation. “Our family wasn’t considered good enough by Luis’s parents. Your great-grandfather completely disapproved of the relationship. When he knew my Maggie was never coming back, that made Lorenzo happy. Very happy indeed.” Her lips turned downcast.
Rain couldn’t help but feel the generational shame on behalf of her family. It made her heart hurt. “Was it a boy or a girl?”
Marge’s shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. “I never learned the sex of the baby. No one would tell me,” she said sadly. “It was as if the baby never existed at all. It was as if Maggie died another way …” Her voice trailed off and her eyes moved toward the lake and then back to Rain. “Sometimes, I can still picture her out there on water skis, you know. She was so incredibly talented. I always envied her.” She smiled. “She had so much promise. So much life ahead of her.”
Rain didn’t speak for fear of interrupting the spell.
Marge’s smile faded, and a heaviness took over once again. “They sent her away to stay with extended family out east. I almost didn’t believe my parents when they told me Maggie had died. I kept waiting for her to come home.” Marge waved a hand airily. “I never saw her again.”
Rain slumped back in the chair.
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Rain. And I’m certainly not trying to talk ill of your great-grandfather Lorenzo, I hope you understand. I just think it’s important the secret doesn’t die with me. I think it’s important for someone to hear Maggie’s side of the story. And I always wanted someone else to know, she’s alive in that book.” Marge tapped a finger to the table.
“No, that’s not it.”
“What is it dear?” Marge leaned toward Rain, her eyes studying her intently. “The color has drained from your face, child. It looks as if you’ve just seen a ghost!”
“I think I just did,” Rain whispered.
Chapter Twenty
The spell dissipated, and the deep discussion between Rain and Marge ended rather abruptly when the screen door opened. Julia poked her head just outside the door.
“You ladies need a drink? I brought iced tea! I came inside to grab some after leaving the library door open. It’s getting awfully stuffy inside there pretty quick. I think it’s gonna take a few minutes for the air-conditioning to catch up again, so you might wanna grab a drink before heading back to the library.” Julia’s eyes toured the sky. “I can’t believe how quickly it heated up out here, I guess we’re in for another doozy today!”
Marge lifted from her seat to regard Julia. “No, thank you, dear, I think I’ll pass.” The older woman then turned to Rain. “Do you mind if I come back later to work in the library? I think I might need a rest. Suddenly I’m not feeling the best, to be honest. Maybe the heat is getting to be too much for me.”
Rain rose to meet her. “Of course. You take all the time you need. We won’t open the library to the public until next week anyhow. And honestly, there isn’t much pressing except for discussing the hours of operation and shifts to split between us. Please, go on ahead,” she encouraged, before waving Julia back inside who was still waiting by the door for an answer.
“Julia, I’ll be in, in just a minute, okay?”
“Sure thing,” Julia said before disappearing back inside the cabin.
Marge opened her arms for an embrace and the two grasped each other tight.
“I’m so sorry for the way my great-grandfather behaved. And I’m deeply sorry for the loss of your sister. I wish there was something I could do to make up for my family’s poor judgement.” Rain held Marge at arm’s length. “They had no right to treat Maggie that way.” Her gaze dropped to the ground in shame.
“Sweet Rain.” Marge patted her lightly on the cheek. “I didn’t share all of this to upset you or blame your family for anything. It was a long time ago. I just wanted to be sure that my sister’s love story lived on in Always You, the book your grandfather wrote, and that the secret didn’t end with me because now you know it, too.” She smiled. “For that, I’m eternally grateful.”
Rain noticed the beads of sweat forming on the older woman’s forehead and took her by the arm to lead her away from the deck. “Do you need me to drive you home? You sure you’re okay to drive?”
“Yes, I think I’m a little overcome, that’s all. It’s been a long time since I’ve talked about Maggie.” She smiled weakly. “I’ll blast the AC in the car, no worries, dear. I’ll be happy to get home to Rex real soon. I didn’t want to bring him back over here, instead I left him home to stay inside where it’s nice and cool, and I wasn’t sure how you felt about me bringing him inside of the library when I work. I tend to baby him, you see. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
“Of course. And Rex is welcome inside the library anytime. I bet the patro
ns would love to meet him,” Rain said as she walked Marge to her car and opened the door for the older woman to slip inside. “You just take care of yourself, and Rex, and call me if you need anything. Promise?”
“Thank you,” Marge said as she adjusted herself behind the wheel. She then grasped Rain by the wrist before shutting the car door. “I know I probably don’t look like it, but I feel so much better unloading the secret I’ve carried for so many years. Thank you for letting me tell it. And don’t worry, I’ll be okay, dear. A little rest, and I’ll be good as new.”
“I’m glad you felt safe to share the secret with me, and in some ways you and I are even more deeply connected now. We’re almost like family,” Rain said. “Thank you for opening up to me. I won’t tell a soul, I promise.” She held a hand to her heart and closed her eyes momentarily taking it in.
“Yes, I appreciate that. I would like to be the one to tell your mother if that’s okay. But if something ever happens to me … before I get the chance …” She let the implication linger.
“No worries. If something happens to you, Marge, I will be sure my mother learns the truth. You have my word.” Rain held up her hand as if she was taking a sacred oath.
Marge turned the key in the ignition, signaling it was time for her to go. Rain lifted her palm in a wave. Her mind battled between what she had learned from Marge, and what could potentially blow her life wide open. Pieces of the puzzle were beginning to shift and come together in her mind. She turned and dashed up the deck stairs and hurried into the kitchen through the backdoor. Her entrance was so rapid, Julia stopped mixing the batch of iced tea and looked at her, alarmed.
“Did I offend you by using your kitchen? I’m not trying to overstep, I’m sorry. Willow always lets me bring my tea over here and—”
Rain stopped her with a raised hand. “Are you kidding me?” she laughed. “No worries, you’re welcome to use anything here, in the kitchen, or anywhere, you should know that by now.” Rain slipped her hands onto her narrow hips. “But I think I just learned something that could change everything.” She looked over her shoulder to see if anyone was there, knowing full well, they’d be the only two in the room.
Julia took her cue. “Nick’s not here, we’re alone.” She put down the ladle she was using to mix the tea and set it beside the carafe. Her eyes narrowed, waiting for Rain to unload.
“I’m not sure what’s happening right now, my mind is working a mile a minute!” Rain rolled her hands around her head like she was going crazy.
Julia’s eyes skirted around the room and then she moved over to the back door, “Wait. Where did Marge go? Is she not right behind you?”
Rain shook her head.
Julia persisted. “Did she quit working at the library or something? What happened between you two? I’ve never seen the poor woman so upset. What did she need to talk to you about? Is that what this is about?”
“Hang on a sec, you’re firing too many questions.” Rain chuckled.
“Hey, I’ll try and be patient, but if this is just a way to deflect and not tell me what’s going on … Well …” Julia placed her hands firmly on her hips.
“You’re not going to let me get out of this one, are you?”
“Nope.” Julia smiled with smug satisfaction.
Rain encouraged Julia to take a seat next to the center island. “I’m not supposed to share this … but I guess I have to trust you. I have to trust somebody,” she uttered beneath her breath. “And I couldn’t tell Marge until I know for sure … I need your help.” She bit at her thumbnail before adding. “I’m almost too afraid to find out. You might have to do it for me.”
“Do what? You’re not making any sense.” Julia pulled out the stool beneath the island and plopped onto it. “Rain, what are you talking about? Did you tell Marge about Thornton being your uncle? Is that what this is about? I thought you weren’t ready to share that with anyone yet.” Julies eyebrows narrowed in question.
Rain vigorously shook her head. “No, I didn’t. But wait until you hear this one.”
Julia folded her arms across her ample chest. “Go on, now you really have me intrigued.” Her eyebrows danced in amusement.
Rain reached for two glasses in a nearby cabinet and handed one to Julia. She then brought over the tea and began to pour, her hand trembling. “Maybe we should have something a little stronger for this conversation,” she teased. “Too bad this isn’t a Long Island Iced Tea.” She rolled her eyes. “Not that I’ve ever had one, but now, if ever, would be the perfect time to give it a go.”
“Actually, a Long Island Iced Tea doesn’t actually have any tea in it. It’s the amber color that gave the alcoholic drink the name. But I bet Nick has some vodka at home if you want a splash of that to settle you down.” Julia’s eyebrows danced as she pointed to the glass of tea. “Hey, It’s five o’clock somewhere. I’d be willing to join in, too … if you need a reason.” She smiled.
“I was just kidding,” Rain waved a hand of dismissal before taking a sip of tea and sliding onto the stool next to her friend. “Thanks for bringing this over by the way.”
“No problem.”
“I’m just getting a bit stressed, if you couldn’t already tell.”
“I can totally tell. You’re killing me here. What the cotton pickin’ candy is going on?” Julia leaned toward her and shook her by both arms, almost spilling Rain’s drink. “Tell me! Please!”
“You have to PROMISE you won’t share this with anyone. Not Nick, not Jace, especially not Jace yet.” Rain held her finger to her lips in a hushed position. “Not anyone, Julia. Can you promise me that?” Rain studied her friend and waited for final confirmation.
“You have my word,” Julia said, lifting upright on the stool and zipping her lips with her fingers.
“God forgive me,” Rain said, taking a breath and looking to the ceiling. “I literally just promised Marge the same thing; that I wouldn’t tell a soul. But you have to help me make sense of all of this,” she added, biting her lip as if subconsciously holding herself back.
“It’s okay, God will forgive you this once,” Julia said with praying hands and then a nudge of her elbow. “Spill.”
“Always You, my grandfather’s novel, wasn’t fiction. Marge just confirmed that. It was a story written about my grandfather, Luis, and her sister Maggie! Can you believe it!” Rain slapped her hand to the table. Saying the words aloud made the implication more real than ever.
Rain watched as the gears turned in Julia’s mind and a hush fell between them.
“But the girl in the book, she was pregnant, right? And then …” Julia rolled her finger in the air. “Then … the baby died, and the protagonist had his heart ripped out! That book was so sad.” She said sullenly. “I cried for days over that one.”
“Uh-huh, that’s how the story goes. But here’s the thing. I don’t think the baby dies like in the book. I think, in real life, the baby lived, and was adopted out.” Rain flung her hand behind them. “I think the baby just died! Over there … by my outhouse!”
Julia cuffed her hand over her mouth and then dropped her hands in her lap. “Son of a mother trucker. Thornton was the baby in your grandfather’s book.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Rain and Julia sat at the kitchen island in dead silence while they let the implication of an illegitimate baby sink in. If Thornton really was Grandfather Luis’s baby, then she’d have to tell Marge the truth. This wouldn’t be something she should ever hide from Marge. It wouldn’t be fair not to share that her nephew had in fact lived and indeed had lived a somewhat fulfilled life.
“How would I tell Marge?” Rain finally voiced aloud. “That would be devastating, learning that her nephew actually was born but now is gone?” Rain sipped her iced tea and then wiped the condensation from the bottom before setting the glass down. “It would be like grieving her sister Maggie, and the baby that she never got to meet, all over again.”
Julia blew out a breath of disillusio
nment. “Yeah, that’s a tough one. Especially since Marge didn’t speak very kindly of him the other night at the dinner table. Remember? I don’t think she was a big fan of Thornton Hughes. Uh-uh, not at all.”
Rain winced. “Ouch. Yep, nothing like adding salt to the wound. Gee-wiz, how do you wrap your head around that one?” She removed a hairband from her wrist, combed her hair with her fingers and wrapped it in a ponytail. “Maybe Marge would have felt differently if she knew they were blood related.” Rain cocked her head to the side and waited.
“I wish I had better advice, but maybe you’d better hold off. It’s not like you have any proof. Really, right now, it’s just a theory between us.” Julia ran her finger along the rim of her glass and then licked it. She then took a sip of her tea and set it aside.
“Is it just a theory though?” Rain tapped a finger to her heart. “Let’s go check right now if what I’m thinking is actually true! Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m reaching, and we can put this to bed right now.” Rain slipped off the stool and stood. She took one more sip of iced tea before turning on her heel in the direction of the library. “I think it’s just a little too coincidental, don’t you?” she added over her shoulder as Julia followed out the cabin door closely at her heels.
The closer the two came to the library, the more urgency Rain felt. She stepped up her pace and flung open the library door. And then headed directly to the bookshelf that hid the birth certificate. Books were tossed on the floor in a random pile until she revealed what she’d been looking to rediscover. She plucked her grandfather’s book from the hidden compartment inside the log, slipped out the birth certificate, as her fingers worked overtime to reopen it.
Rains eyes darted to the birth mother’s signature listed on the legal document. Her shoulders slumped when she read: Birth mother: Margaret Shay.
“Do you know Marge’s maiden name?”
“I don’t, why?” Julia asked.
“This states Margaret Shay as the birth mother. Marge said her sister’s name was Maggie, which is short for Margaret, so that could fit.” Rain chewed nervously on the inside of her cheek. “I was hoping for a slam dunk. Not another question.”
Murder at the Lakeside Library Page 17