“Oh, get out of here,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I look terrible. I’m sweating like Pattie’s pig.”
“You’re out running. You’re supposed to.”
Dora wasn’t going to argue with that.
They reached the corner where Dunleavy’s Pub sat.
“Hey,” Dev said. “Can I buy you a drink? There’s a parking spot right in front. That don’t happen every day.”
“Good God, no. I’m not going in there dressed like this.”
He continued on past Dunleavy’s and the strip of restaurants on Middle Street, most of them not crowded yet. In another hour, all of them would be overflowing with guests.
“Well, how about I drop you off, then you can spruce yourself up. Then I’ll swing by and pick you up in, say, an hour? How does that suit you?”
“I don’t know . . .” she hedged. This was going too fast.
“Come on, Dora,” he cajoled in that easy drawl she never could say no to. “We’ve got a lot of catching up to do. Let me buy you a drink. Or dinner.”
Right now, all she wanted was to shower and collapse back into bed. Maybe she’d watch a little television. Going out for a drink was not part of her usual repertoire.
“Not tonight.”
“Tomorrow night?” he persisted.
“I don’t know.”
“I’m just gonna keep on asking, so you might as well say yes.”
She laughed, falling under the charm of his smile. “Okay,” she said, surprised that she was sincere. “What time?”
Devlin pulled into the gravel driveway of Sea Breeze, put the car into park, and turned toward her, letting his arm slide over the top of the seat. He had that same irascible grin on his face now that she remembered all too well.
“Honey,” he said, playing out each vowel, “I’ll sit there till judgment day if you tell me you’ll be there.”
She tilted her head, believing he might just do that. “We can’t have that. Let’s say the day after tomorrow? Five o’clock.”
Dora waited till Devlin’s car drove off before letting loose the belly laugh that she’d been holding down. What a hoot! After all these years, Devlin Cassell had invited her for a drink.
She felt flustered. Giddy. She hurried to the house to shower and change, then stopped short as a new thought took root. She recalled how Harper and Carson always went to the outdoor shower after a run or a trip to the ocean to hose down before entering the house. There hadn’t been an outdoor shower when she was a girl coming to Sea Breeze. Back in the day, they’d just used the hose to wash off.
Dora retraced her steps and followed the stepping stones around the enormous gardenia bush to the outdoor shower. It was just four wood walls with no ceiling. Dora stepped inside, avoiding the spiderwebs in the corners. There was only one spigot; in the summer on the island all the water came out warm. Mamaw had lavender soap, shampoo, and conditioner in wooden bins, and smelling them, she recalled catching that scent on her sisters.
Dora stripped down and stood under the miserly spray of water. Even still, it felt luxurious on her hot skin. Being buck-naked outdoors under the sun was exhilarating—freeing—and she laughed for the pleasure of it. And the idea that she was like her beautiful, trim, sexy, and single sisters. Sure, she had a way to go before she got back in shape, but for the first time, she felt like she could do it. Her goal wasn’t to be thin. After the scare with her heart, Dora just wanted to be healthy and glowing with the confidence of a woman at ease in her own skin.
Harper and Carson sat at the kitchen table eating fresh strawberries and rehearsing what they would say to Dora.
“I don’t think she’ll go for it,” Carson said.
“I think she will,” Harper countered. “We’ve done all the research.” She lifted up the pile of papers she’d printed about various dolphin therapy programs and pertinent medical reports as proof.
“You’ve done the research,” Carson amended.
“You asked Blake to help. I still can’t believe he got us a slot at the Dolphin Research Center so quickly.” She looked at her sister, eyes narrowed in speculation. They’d both been excited about the plan, but now Carson appeared hesitant. “Are you getting cold feet because you don’t want to take Nate? If so, I can take him alone.”
“No, it’s not that at all. I was just remembering how Dora responded when Cal suggested she leave Nate at Sea Breeze.”
“For the summer,” Harper reminded her. “This is only for a week. And it’s completely different. She won’t be dumping Nate. We’re offering to take him. This is for Nate’s benefit. And hers. Once she understands that, I think she’ll go for it.”
Carson puffed out a plume of air, then slapped her hand on the table. “All right, then. Let’s do this.”
They gathered the reports and Harper’s laptop and headed to the bedroom Dora shared with Harper. After a quick knock, they pushed open the door, rushed inside, and jumped onto her bed like they used to as girls.
Dora grabbed hold of her magazine, laughing.
Carson and Harper moved to sit cross-legged facing her, their eyes wide with excitement. Harper could smell the clean, lavender scent of her soap and shampoo.
“What’s going on?” Dora asked them.
“You look good,” Carson told her. “Your cheeks have some color.”
“Thanks. I was walking.”
“Good for you!” Harper exclaimed, settling onto the bed. “Did you do warm-ups?”
“No.”
“I’ll teach you some. You don’t want to get stiff.”
“Okay,” Dora drawled.
There was a beat of silence while Harper and Carson shared a glance.
“We have a proposition for you,” Carson announced with import.
“Just hear us out before you say anything,” interjected Harper at seeing the quick flare in Dora’s eyes.
“Okay,” Dora replied, this time more hesitant.
“So,” Carson began while Harper opened her laptop and flicked it on. “While you were out walking, we’ve been talking. Here’s the thing,” she said, putting her hands out to emphasize the point. “We think you deserve some time for yourself, totally selfish time, without anything to worry about.”
“Kind of like going to some spa for a week, only the spa is here,” added Harper.
Dora smirked. “I like the sound of that.”
“We were also talking about Nate,” said Carson. “What he needs.”
Dora’s focus immediately sharpened.
“And how he’s having a hard time letting go of what happened to Delphine,” she continued.
“We know you’re worried about how he’s holing up in his room too much,” Harper said. “So we asked ourselves, what would bring him out of his shell? And the answer came quickly—dolphins. But he feels guilty about what happened to Delphine, even though he shouldn’t. You know that, we know that. But Nate doesn’t. So I did some research and discovered that there are several places that offer special dolphin programs for kids. A place where he could interact with them in a safe and secure way to give him a new perspective. We checked with Blake and he agreed that the program at the Dolphin Research Center in Florida would be a good one.”
“Is it a therapy program?” Dora asked, more than a hint of skepticism in her voice.
Harper answered, “It’s not a therapy program per se, but a program for children with special needs. The goal of the week’s program is set by the staff and you, to personalize it, which I think is important, especially for Nate.”
“Nate will be with dolphins again,” Carson said. “Only this time, it’s the proper setting. Not in the wild. He can feel safe and know he can’t hurt them, or they him.”
“Take a look,” Harper said, moving the laptop so Dora could see the screen. “Here’s the website.”
Dora took the laptop from Harper. “It looks interesting. Nate had always responded better to animals than to humans, especially dolphins. So you think I should ta
ke him there?”
Harper looked at Carson before turning back to Dora. She knew this part was going to be the hard sell.
“Actually, we think we should take him and you should stay here.”
Dora drew back. “What?”
“We know this is outside your comfort zone, so try to indulge in a little sideways thinking,” Harper said. “You need a break, Dora.”
“Absolutely not. I can’t let you take Nate without me.”
“Why not?” asked Carson.
“First of all, he won’t go with you. Secondly, well . . .” she sputtered. “I won’t let you take him.”
“It’s your decision, of course,” Harper said in a persuasive voice. “But consider this. Mothers of special-needs kids need a break. Right? Does Nate have special needs?”
“Of course he does,” Dora said with short temper.
“Are you his mother?”
Dora shook her head, her brow furrowed. “I know where you’re going with this,” she said irritably, “and I can’t let him go.”
“Listen to what you just said,” Carson said gently. “You can’t let him go. Dora, sweet sister, you’re holding on to him so tight. Ease up a little. There’s no way we can persuade you that what you fear might happen won’t happen, but trust Nate. Trust us. We’ll be fine.”
“He’s still angry at you!” Dora countered. “What makes you think he’ll go with you?”
Carson smiled and in that moment Dora thought she looked uncannily like Mamaw.
“Delphine,” Carson said cagily.
Dora narrowed her eyes.
“I’ll take him to see Delphine after the program,” Carson added.
“How many extra days will that be?”
“Just one. And you’re missing the point.”
“And that is?”
“If he needs to see Delphine, he’ll say yes and that will be our answer. If he says no . . .” She flipped her hands up. “We’ll agree with you and we’ll nix the whole idea.”
“Regardless of what he answers, why don’t I just take him to this program?” Dora said.
“You could,” Harper answered. “Or, you could take a break instead.” She took hold of Dora’s hands and inspected them. “Look at your nails. You desperately need a manicure.”
Dora tried to tug back her hands but Harper held tight.
“You need time to notice such things,” she said gently. “To take some time for yourself.”
“One week,” Carson said. “That’s not long. If you went away to a spa, it would be at least five days.”
Dora turned to Carson, the struggle visible on her face. “Carson, do you think you could handle Nate? He is a sweet boy, but he can be difficult.”
“Did you forget I took care of him for almost as long last month and look how well he did.”
“But that was here . . . with dolphins.”
“We’re going to see dolphins!” Carson persisted. “Dora, I love Nate, and even though he’s mad at me, I know he loves me, too.”
“And me,” Harper added. “We’ve become fast friends.”
Dora took the papers Harper had printed and began leafing through them. Harper exchanged a hopeful look with Carson. After several minutes, Dora set the papers aside and looked long and hard at Carson, trying to make up her mind.
“This is scary for me.”
“We know,” Carson said.
“It seems like a good idea . . .” she hedged.
Harper and Carson remained silent, giving Dora time. The silence stretched on while Dora rocked slightly in thought. When she stopped, she reached out to rest her hand on Carson’s arm.
“I couldn’t trust Nate to anyone but you.”
Carson’s face softened as she put her hand over Dora’s. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down. I’ll take good care of him. And I’ll call you if I need you. But, hey, he’s my nephew. I’ve babysat for him before, remember? We’ll be fine.”
“You’re so kind to do this.”
“You’d do the same for me,” Carson replied.
Harper shifted back, feeling her enthusiasm wither. She knew in her heart that it made sense for Carson to take Nate to Florida. Carson and Nate had shared experiences with dolphins, Carson could take him to visit Delphine. It was their thing. Yet it had been her idea in the first place to go to the program, and Carson had run away with it. That and the fact that Dora didn’t even consider her qualified to take Nate made her feel as she did when she was very young and her two older sisters walked off together engaged in intense dialogue that didn’t include her, not even realizing they’d left her behind.
“Here’s the good news,” Carson said, leaning forward with excitement now that the decision had been made. “Blake called the director and got Nate a slot in the Pathways program.” She paused for dramatic effect. “They got him into a slot later this week!”
Dora was stunned. “So soon?”
“Someone canceled. Otherwise we would have had to wait for who knows how long. The sooner the better. Everything just dovetails. It’s like it’s meant to be, right?”
Dora laughed lightly and lifted her hands. “I guess so.”
“You can talk to the director of the program tomorrow,” Carson continued. “Together you’ll set goals for the program.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Dora said, looking at both her sisters. “Thank you.”
Harper saw the relief and gratitude in Dora’s eyes, then dug deep and let the perceived slight go. It was better this way than if they both went to Florida, she thought. Divide and conquer. Carson could take care of Nate, and she’d take care of Dora.
“The other day you asked for help. We’re just trying to give it to you,” Harper told her. “While Carson takes Nate to Florida, I’ll help you get started on a workout program. We’ll have fun. We’ll get manis and pedis. We’ll have massages. We’ll do whatever you want to do without thinking about schedules or routines or who needs something. Best of all, while you are healing, you can relax knowing that Nate is healing, too.”
“I don’t care if I get my nails done,” Dora told her, and sniffed as tears flooded her eyes. “I just want to roam the beaches and sleep.”
God help me, Harper thought. She wasn’t sure handling Nate wouldn’t be easier than her opinionated and currently emotional sister.
Chapter Eight
The two-block strip of restaurants on Sullivan’s Island was buzzing with chatter and laughter from the summer crowds. Dora grumbled to herself upon seeing the throng of tourists from all over the area crowding the streets looking for an island restaurant to enjoy dinner. The days of Sullivan’s Island being a slow, quiet Mayberry by the sea were long gone. Word got out and now it was tough to find a parking spot for dinner, much less a table. A golf cart, however, was small, and she found a spot on a side street between a tree and a cluster of rocks that she could squeeze into.
She pushed the parking brake and sat for a minute in the island quiet, feeling uneasy. What was she doing here? she asked herself. She was still a married woman, and here she was, going to a bar to meet a man she hadn’t seen in some fifteen years. She should have stayed home with Nate. After all, he was leaving for Florida in a few days. Though, when she’d left, he was playing video games with Harper and had barely said good-bye. Lucille would feed him dinner and she’d be home by the time he went to bed.
Dora knew the anxiety lay in herself. She was reluctant to let Nate go, afraid that something might happen to him if she wasn’t with him. She was also nervous about tonight—saying the wrong thing or doing something tactless with Devlin. What would they talk about?
She checked her watch. If she was going to meet Devlin, she had to go now. She hated being late. She brought to mind Devlin’s face. At the memory of the spark she’d felt when he’d asked her for a drink, she felt again a flutter of anticipation. It had been a very long time since she’d gone out with a man for a drink.
Dora gathered her purse and strolled behi
nd a young couple walking arm in arm, talking in that polite way that told her it was probably a first date. It was a night for romance. The air was balmy, not humid, and the fairy lights along the outdoor eating areas were twinkling in the dusky light. Dora felt pretty in her Lilly Pulitzer summer shift. Her blond hair fell softly to her shoulders, tucked behind her ears, which bore pearls. She knew her hairstyle and clothing were much the same as they were in high school, but her mama told her classic never went out of style. When she reached the corner, diners spilled out onto the outdoor umbrella tables.
Dora checked her watch; it was two minutes after five. She sucked in her tummy and stepped inside the door. The booths were crowded with patrons laughing, eating, having a good time. Overhead, the fans were whirring and all the windows were open. She nervously searched the tables for Devlin.
He wasn’t there.
All the giddiness she’d felt coming here fizzled in her stomach. She stood awkwardly at the door, feeling heat color her cheeks. Devlin had not waited for her after all.
Her disappointment was greater than she should have felt. After all, it wasn’t a real date. Devlin merely suggested they have a drink. It was a last-minute gesture, a kindness to an old friend. He may have waited a few minutes, but why would he choose to spend the night here on the off chance she’d show up?
Another couple was trying to enter the restaurant. Dora stepped aside to let them pass. All the tables looked full but she didn’t want to tuck tail and go home. Searching, she spied an open seat at the bar.
She could hear her mother’s voice in her head: Nice girls don’t sit alone at a bar. Dora never had. She’d always followed the rules of a good girl. And look where that got you, she reminded herself. Tonight she’d showered and put on a pretty dress, took care with her makeup, and even spritzed a bit of scent. To go home now felt defeatist. Dora decided she’d had enough of retreating.
Quieting her mother’s voice in her head, Dora walked straight to the bar stool, feeling like a brazen hussy as she took a seat. She folded her hands on the bar and looked from left to right. Truth was, she felt awkward sitting alone on the stool, as if she were wearing two left shoes.
The Summer Wind (Lowcountry Summer) Page 11