Emmarie turned to look at him. Her smile was radiant, her dark eyes bright.
“Emmarie Whistler,” announced the principal.
Landon gave Emmarie’s hand a final squeeze before she walked up the steps. He watched as she walked across the stage and took her diploma.
“Landon Young,” the principal said.
Landon took a deep breath and went up the stairs. The audience looked blurry as he glanced over his shoulder at the crowd. Taking his diploma from one of his teachers, he looked over at Emmarie who was waiting on the other side of the stage. He smiled at her as she blew him a kiss.
✽✽✽
It was later that week when Landon dropped Emmarie off at her house in the early evening. She was wearing a faded jean mini skirt and tank top, her caramel skin bronzed from the summer sun.
“Let me know how things go tonight with your dad,” she urged him as she unbuckled her seat belt.
“I will,” Landon said. He gripped the steering wheel tightly with his hands as the dread took hold in his gut.
Emmarie leaned over, putting her hand on his face. “It’ll be okay,” she reassured him. She ran her hand across his cheek. She knew Landon’s relationship with his dad was tense.
Landon looked over at her. “You think so?” He gazed into her sable eyes.
"Your dad loves you. He just wants you to be—“
“Like him?” Landon asked. He exhaled with annoyance, shaking his head as he recalled the ultimatum his dad had given him.
Emmarie shook her head. “He just wants what he thinks is best for you.” She gave him a discerning look.
Landon sighed, nodding in agreement. “You’re right.” He leaned over and kissed Emmarie, her touch familiar and comforting.
She gave him an encouraging smile, and then opened the passenger door. She got out of the car and bent down to look at Landon. “Call me later, okay? I want to know how it goes with your dad." Her dark hair fell down around her face as she looked at him anxiously.
“I will. Are you still wanting to go to the store?”
“Either later or sometime tomorrow,” she said, glancing back at her house. “So, I’ll see you tomorrow?” She turned to look back at Landon, unable to conceal her smile of excitement. Only two more nights and they were leaving for Boston, and in just a few weeks she would start her summer classes. Her eyes flitted to the backseat of the car, which was already loaded with boxes.
“Yeah. Maybe we can go to Duke’s tomorrow,” Landon suggested.
“For one last order of Duke’s cheesy fries?” She grinned.
“That sounds good.” Landon smiled back at her.
Emmarie sighed, her grin fading. “I love you,” she said, gazing intently at Landon.
“I love you, too,” he said.
She slammed the car door shut and began to walk up to the little house, her jean mini skirt swaying.
Landon watched her for a moment until she was safely back inside the house, and then reversed his car to return to his mom’s. He drove past the fields of soybeans on his way back into town. He had driven to Emmarie’s hundreds of times before, but this would be one of the last times he would ever drive out this way.
Landon sighed happily. He couldn’t help but feel elated as he thought of their imminent departure from Willow Creek, and starting the next chapter of his life together with Emmarie.
Little did he know that he would never see Emmarie again.
Chapter 9
Auntie Georgia
Flicking up the tap with her hand, Georgia slowly filled her glass with water, the ice tinkling against the glass as the water rose towards the brim. She pushed the tap back down and took a long sip.
“How was Duke’s this mornin’?” her dad asked as he hung the towel over the oven handle.
They had just finished dinner and were cleaning up the kitchen. Georgia’s stomach was completely satisfied from their filling meal of chicken-fried steak, corn on the cob, and summer squash casserole. She had definitely missed her Southern foods back at college, where cereal, Ramen noodles, and instant oatmeal had been her staples. “It was…okay.” She hoped her dad hadn’t heard her hesitation. She thought about her unpleasant encounter with Jace at the diner, and his uncomfortably warm breath on her face. “I’m getting really good with the espresso machine now,” she added quickly.
Over in the corner, Millie sighed happily as she lay comfortably in her bed, her eyelids drooping.
“But it was just okay?” her dad asked. Yes, he had definitely heard the vacillation in Georgia's voice.
“Well, I had a run-in with someone from high school—”
“A boy?” he cut her off instantly, and Georgia could sense the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end.
Millie lifted her head at the change of his tone and blinked up at them, her eyes more alert now, wondering if she needed to be on guard.
“Yeah. But don’t worry, he’s not anything special.” Georgia rolled her eyes as she took another sip of her water.
“Who was it?” her dad asked, his voice a bit more composed as he attempted to act casually. He finished scooping the squash casserole into a glass storage container and snapped the plastic lid onto it.
Hearing the calmer voices, Millie rested her head down again on the floor, but still kept an eye on them both.
“Jace Montgomery,” Georgia answered.
Her dad looked up again and furrowed his eyebrows quizzically. “Jace Montgomery? Let’s see, wasn’t he a friend of Monty’s?”
Georgia nodded.
Her dad rubbed his temple, and Georgia was sure he was silently cursing Monty for all the pain he had caused Virginia. “Virginia wasn’t really a fan of Jace, was she?” He opened the fridge and slid the container in.
“No. In fact, the only time she ever spoke of him was to complain about how much of a jerk he was, and how Monty would be better off without him.”
Her dad took a beer from the fridge and let the fridge shut behind him.
Georgia squatted down next to Millie, rubbing her silky ears. She heard her dad pop open the bottle of beer, the bottle cap pinging as it landed on the countertop.
“So…” her dad started.
Georgia kissed Millie’s nose, not really listening.
“Did you, uh, see anyone this last year in college?” he asked.
Georgia froze. She hated talking about this kind of thing with her dad. She stood up, smoothing her shirt. “Like, did I date anyone, you mean?” She felt suddenly uncomfortable.
“Well, yeah.” He took a swig from his beer.
“No. I didn’t see anyone. I was too busy studying…” Her voice trailed off.
Her dad raised his eyebrows.
“Nope. There’s no one, dad. At least, no one I’m interested in.” Georgia looked down at her hands and bit her lip, thinking of her last year at college. She thought of the few boys that had tried to walk with her to class, or the several that had attempted to catch her eye during a lecture. But none of them interested her, and nothing was more important to her than her studies and applying to medical school one day.
As if reading her thoughts, her dad spoke again, “You know, there’s a lot more to life than studying, Georg.”
Georgia narrowed her eyes at him. “I know that, dad.” She sighed and crossed her arms against her chest.
Her dad didn’t say anything, but took another drink of his beer, its amber coloring catching the light.
“Well, I’m off to bed. I’m tired from my early start,” Georgia said. She yawned. Although it had been an excuse to end the awkward conversation, she realized that she actually was exhausted from the last few days of getting up early.
“Sure thing, Georg. Sleep tight.”
“You too, dad. Love you,” she called over her shoulder as she headed up the stairs.
“Love you, too.”
Georgia looked back at him from the top step. He had already flopped onto the couch and was watching TV, the remote on the
cushion beside him. Millie had followed him in and was lying at his feet, her nose resting on his toes. Georgia smiled. Millie was the resident guard dog, therapist, and consummate best friend. Georgia walked down the hall to her bedroom, her socks noiselessly moving against the hardwood floor.
In the bathroom, Georgia began to undress for the shower, unbuttoning her blouse, but she stopped as she caught her own eye in the reflection of the mirror. She abandoned the buttons on her shirt, dropping her hands to her sides as she gazed at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes were a darker blue, much deeper than Virginia’s or her mom’s, or perhaps they only looked as dark as they did because they were offset by her ivory skin. Her fair skin was a shade that obstinately refused to tan, and instead developed freckles throughout the summer. Georgia peered closer at her nose. It had already been flecked with more freckles. Her eyes traveled downward to her lips. They were dark pink and full, resembling a rosebud in early spring. She lifted her hand to her hair and pulled the band out. Thick, dark waves cascaded down past her shoulders, glad to escape the tight hold of their captor. She began to unbutton her blouse again, cringing at her snow-white skin that peeked out from under her shirt.
Tossing the shirt onto the floor, Georgia examined her figure in the mirror. She had always been tall and thin. Though she had been ganglier throughout high school, the sharper angles had softened a little in the last year and a half. Her once-lanky figure now had the feminine curves that resembled those of a grown woman, and not those of a teenager.
Georgia unclasped her bra and slid it off of her arms before dropping it onto the floor. Then she unbuttoned her jean shorts, revealing just a glimpse of her white lace panties. Bending over slightly, she slid the clothing off her hips and kicked them off onto the growing pile of garments. She turned on the shower full blast, waiting for the temperature to warm as she watched the steam rise and fog the mirror, blurring her reflection.
✽✽✽
It was almost eight o-clock in the morning when Georgia woke up. Off in the distance, she could faintly hear the sound of a train horn, the train likely speeding its way through Willow Creek on its journey northwards.
Georgia inhaled the heady scent of freshly brewed coffee as it wafted its way upstairs and into her bedroom. Although she had worked only a couple of days at her new job, she was relieved today was Sunday and that she didn’t have to go to work. She stretched in her bed, relishing the fact that the morning belonged to her today.
After brushing her teeth and combing through her hair, Georgia headed downstairs, still in her pajamas. The kitchen and dining room were quiet though, her dad nowhere to be seen. She checked Millie’s bed, but it was empty. Georgia walked back through the living room, and then saw her dad through the front window.
He was sitting outside, swinging gently on the porch swing as he read the Sunday paper, his steaming mug of coffee beside him on the small end table. No doubt Millie would be out there as well within a two-foot radius of him.
Georgia opened the screen door and stepped out into the bright sunshine. She blinked several times, her eyes slowly adjusting to the light. She walked over to the swing.
“Good mornin', sweetheart. Sleep well?” her dad asked, glancing up from the paper.
Georgia bent down to pat Millie. “I did.” She yawned, and then sat down on the padded swing and crossed her legs, as Millie was curled up under her side of the swing.
“Help yourself to some coffee inside. It’s strong, the way you like it,” her dad said as he turned the page of the newspaper.
“I will shortly.” Georgia looked out across the yard. The grass had been freshly cut yesterday and was glimmering with morning dew. “The grass looks nice, dad.” She admired the lawn.
“Thanks, Georg.” Her dad took a sip of his coffee and looked out at the grass, appraising his work.
Georgia surveyed the neighborhood. Most of the houses were still quiet on Magnolia Lane at this hour on Sunday morning, only a few showing signs of life. She saw their neighbor, Mrs. Sullivan, hanging a sheet on the clothesline outside. A gentle breeze swayed the white cotton as it dried in the morning sun. Georgia inhaled deeply through her nose, appreciating the fragrant magnolias that continuously released their divine scent. Her dad folded up the newspaper and set it on the end table.
Seeing that she wouldn’t interrupt his reading now, Georgia asked, “Do you have any plans today, dad?”
“Well, I’m on call today and may have to go in for a bit at some point.”
Georgia nodded.
“And I was thinkin’ we could have Virginia and the girls over later for dinner. What do you think?”
“Sure. In fact, I was planning on going over to Virginia’s today to hang out with her and the twins.”
“She’d like that, I’m sure.” Her dad paused as he lifted his mug again to his lips. “She’s really glad you’re home. I think she’s been missin’ you a lot this last year, Georg.” He took another sip.
Georgia didn’t say anything and looked out over the yard again. She had missed her sister, too. Virginia and she hadn’t always been close, but after their mother had died, things had changed between them. Over the years they had grown out of their immature, childish quarrels and bickering as sisters, and into a relationship that was built on friendship. Of course, Virginia becoming a mother had also hastened the maturation process for both of them, especially since the job of parenting fell solely on Virginia’s shoulders. Georgia cursed Monty silently in her mind. “I’m going to get some coffee. Can I top yours off?” Georgia asked, shifting her thoughts as she hopped off the porch swing.
“No thanks, Georg. Besides, you’re off duty today!” He chuckled.
Georgia rolled her eyes and fought back a smile as she went inside.
✽✽✽
“Charlotte! Ella Mae! You git back in here for lunch now. I won’t repeat myself!” Virginia yelled from the back porch.
Georgia tried to keep a straight face as her sister came back inside. “You’re such a liar, Virginia. Give it one, maybe two minutes and you know you’ll be back at that door hollering at them again to get in here,” Georgia said as she poured herself another glass of iced tea.
Virginia laughed and shook her head as she plunked herself down into the chair next to Georgia. “You’re right. Golly, I’m wore slap out from those girls.”
Georgia listened for the girls. She could still hear them out in the backyard, giggling and squealing as they played their newest imaginary game. Georgia poured Virginia a glass of iced tea, and Virginia gratefully took a long drink. Leaning back in her chair, Georgia gazed at Virginia. “Motherhood suits you, Virginia. It really does.”
Virginia set the glass down on the wooden table. “Well, I guess that’s a good thing. I mean, I can’t really return them at this point.” She laughed and pulled a hair band off her wrist. Pulling her curly blonde hair back into a high ponytail, she looked like she was seventeen again, her smooth, youthful face concealing the fact that she actually had twin girls who were far past infancy. She looked out the back window and watched the girls run around in the grass. “Being a young, unwed mother is what I get for being a hopeless romantic.” Virginia sighed.
Georgia bit her lip, knowing that Virginia was thinking of Monty. She thought of her uncomfortable run-in with Jace yesterday at the diner. “Speaking of Monty, I actually ran into his old pal, Jace.” Georgia recounted her story to Virginia while Virginia listened intently.
“Well, I’m glad Duke was there to tell him off. Jace Montgomery is bad news. I never liked him much in high school.” Virginia shook her head with disgust and went on, “He was a bad influence on Monty, always actin’ like he was too big for his britches. Somethin’ about Jace just seemed…off.” She ran her hand along the wooden table, feeling the familiar grooves.
“How so?” Georgia asked, knitting her eyebrows together.
“Well, I didn’t like the way he treated women. I told Monty I couldn’t stand bein’ ar
ound him for that reason. Somethin’ about the way he looked at and talked about them. Like they were only good for one thing, and one thing only.” Virginia frowned with distaste.
“Yeah, I know what you mean,” Georgia said as she thought of that sickening sneer Jace had given her at the diner.
“If I were you, I'd steer clear of him. Like I said, that boy’s bad news.” Virginia stood up and walked over to the back door again.
“Don’t worry. I’ll happily avoid him at all costs,” Georgia said, shaking her head.
Virginia opened the back door again and yelled at the top of her lungs, “Ella Mae! Charlotte! Git in here NOW!”
A few moments later the girls stumbled into the kitchen, both of them in a fit of giggles as they picked leaves and grass out of each other’s flaxen hair.
“What’s all over your face, Ella Mae?” Virginia asked.
Ella Mae looked up at her mom, her face streaked brown with dirt.
Charlotte answered for her sister, “We were looking for buried treasure, mommy.”
Virginia wiped Ella Mae’s face with a wet rag. “Well, did you find it?” She wiped Ella Mae’s hands.
Ella Mae shook her head. “No. We’ll have to keep looking.” Ella Mae watched her mom clean her hands off, her big, blue eyes sincere and trusting.
“Well, don’t go lookin’ too hard in my flower beds. I don’t wanna find any more dug-up dahlias again,” Virginia said as she checked to make sure Ella Mae’s hands were all clean.
Charlotte skipped over to Georgia and began to climb into her lap. She threw her arms around Georgia’s neck and looked up at her, scanning her face with curiosity. “Auntie Georgia?”
“Yes, Charlotte?”
“I have a secret for you,” she said knowingly, her eyebrows raised. She leaned forward, tightening her arms around Georgia’s neck. She whispered into her ear, her blonde hair tickling Georgia’s cheeks, “I love you, Auntie Georgia.”
“I love you too, sweetie,” Georgia said. She hugged Charlotte, breathing in the scent of her baby shampoo. She wished she could stay in this moment forever with her nieces, that they could stay in the safe cocoon of childhood and never grow old or face the hardships that life would inevitably inflict upon them. Georgia kissed her niece’s golden hair as she leaned back against her aunt’s chest, sighing contentedly.
Georgia Summer Page 7