“Well, why didn’t you say so?” Jim gripped Frederick’s arm.
“Just help me to the chair, okay?” Frederick pleaded.
Once he was settled, Frederick scooted all the way back and squared his feet on the floor. His spine liked that move. He released his breath and said, “There. I think I can talk now.” He looked up at Jim, who hovered over him. The guy had dark circles under his eyes, and he didn’t look like he’d slept in a week.
“You’re like a brother to me, you know that,” Jim said. “And I never dreamed I’d—” He gazed downward.
Finally Frederick decided to just put him out of his misery. “You and Louise like each other, don’t you?” he said.
Jim looked up. His agonized soul answered for him.
Frederick barked out a joyous laugh. Jim jumped, and a veil of confusion covered his face. Frederick placed a flattened hand on each side of Jim’s face, pulled him close, kissed his forehead, and laughed again.
“What’s the matter with you?” Jim croaked and jerked away. “Are you crazy?” He grabbed a napkin from near the coffeepot and scrubbed at his forehead.
“No, I’m thrilled!” Frederick exclaimed and tried to thrust both fists into the air. His back caught, and Frederick minimized the thrust. “I was hoping this would happen.”
“You were?” Jim squeaked.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Frederick vigorously nodded. “Listen to me! I am not in love with Louise, and I don’t want to marry her.”
“You don’t? But I thought . . .” Jim shook his head. “I mean even before the accident, she and you were flirting. . . .”
“No!” Frederick said. “She was. I wasn’t.”
Jim leaned against the wall and reminded Frederick of a tire slowing deflating.
“I think Louise just had a really hard crush on me, and that’s about it,” Frederick said.
“I think it’s more than that with me,” Jim said. “I really do. At least it is on my part.”
“I’m sure it is on hers, too,” Frederick assured him and prayed Louise didn’t break his friend’s heart.
“She says it is,” he nodded, “and I believe her. I guess I should, anyway, because I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
“You are! Congratulations, man!” Frederick eased forward, slowly stood, and extended his hand.
Jim pumped it, and his smile couldn’t have been more exultant. “I’m hoping we can set a date next year—once she really gets back on her feet. She’s doing so well, you know. She’s taking several steps at a time now.” He finally quit shaking Frederick’s hand.
As the relief rolled through Frederick, he’d never felt so free. He covered his face with his hands and heaved through a fit of hilarity.
After a few nervous laughs, Jim finally said, “Is there, like, something I’m missing here?”
Frederick nodded his head. “Yes, all sorts of stuff,” he said and lowered his hands. “You never knew this,” he explained. “It all happened when you were up to your neck in pre-med at school. . . .” And he told Jim the whole story of his love for Allie.
Thirty-Three
From the time Allie told her aunt she was going to visit her father and sister in Atlantic Beach, Landon insisted on going with her. That didn’t surprise Allie. Her aunt had subtly pried for any hint of what Allie was up to. Despite Landon’s nonchalance, her suspicious eyes had clued Allie to her awareness that something was underway. But Allie had remained steadfast in keeping her townhouse a secret until she could develop the best approach to the subject.
When all her furniture arrived and she was ready to move in, Allie had nearly spilled the truth to her aunt. But she had held off because she wanted to tell her father, sister, and Landon at the same time. She knew if she leaked the information to her aunt, Landon would tell Allie’s sister and father before Allie had the chance. This way, Allie would make her announcement once, and they would all find out together. However, having arrived at Atlantic Beach, Allie was finding it difficult to pull together the courage to drop the news.
Brent Everson’s showing up the second day of her visit surprised Allie as little as her own reticence to broach the townhouse subject. Allie certainly hadn’t invited him, so she assumed Aunt Landon had. He’d dined with the family last night and dazzled her father as thoroughly as he had Landon. Evelyn was another story. As Sarah’s mom would have put it, Evelyn was fit to be tied and eaten up with jealousy. Allie understood the source of her father’s bedazzlement and Evelyn’s envy: Brent’s obvious money.
Before dinner was over, Allie sensed that Landon thought the big secret involved Allie’s announcing her engagement to Brent. This nearly catapulted Allie into blurting the truth about her townhouse right there over the chocolate mousse. But she didn’t. She held her tongue and continued to work on her emancipation proclamation and the courage to deliver it.
The next morning, a phone call from Macy proved to be the catalyst that sparked Allie’s courage. Her cell phone began its series of beeps at seven-thirty that fine Friday, and Allie covered her head. She’d lain awake half the night in the luxury condominium’s bedroom, working on her freedom statement. The whole mental scenario always exploded into a family upheaval that ranked a nine on the Richter scale, which led Allie to scrap the latest version of the speech and start over.
Despite Allie’s need for sleep, the cell phone refused to cease ringing. Finally, she extended her hand from beneath the covers and felt for the phone on her nightstand. Once she found it, she uncovered her head and opened one eye only enough to see who it was and swipe to answer.
Allie placed the cell to her ear, mumbled a groggy hello, and grimaced. Her mouth tasted like glue gone bad.
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead!” Macy chirped. “Do I have news for you!”
Pulling the phone away from her ear, Allie frowned. Macy’s voice could slice concrete when she was excited.
“Hi,” Allie mumbled.
“You are not going to believe this!” Macy continued.
“Oh really?” Allie said through a yawn.
“Yes. I found out last night late, and I didn’t want to call so late so I waited.”
“Mm-hmm. . . .” Allie replied.
“Okay, you!” Macy declared. “If this doesn’t wake you up, nothing will. Louise has dumped Frederick. She and Jim Bennington are engaged!”
Allie’s eyes popped open. The shadowed room came into focus. She held her breath and decided she must be dreaming. But after flexing her fingers against the phone, wiggling her toes, and sitting straight up, Allie determined this was no dream. The dreadful taste in her mouth confirmed she was awake. She wondered if she’d misunderstood Macy.
“What did you just say?” she asked and held her breath.
“Awake now?” Macy’s laughter gurgled over the line.
“Yes,” Allie confirmed. “Did I hear you right? Louise and Jim Bennington?”
“Correct!” Macy sang. “Helena called late last night to tell me. They’re not setting a date until next year, but—”
“Frederick!” Allie shouted and covered her eyes. “What about him?”
“Jim’s saying Frederick gave his blessing and is gracefully bowing out.”
Allie flopped back on the pillow. She wanted to laugh and cry and drop to her knees in thanksgiving all at once. Instead she stared at the ceiling in dumbfounded silence.
“And guess what else?” Macy continued.
“What?”
“Helena and Craig Hayden are engaged, too.”
“Really?” Allie replied as this bit of news barely registered.
“Helena says they might have a double wedding.”
“Frederick!” Allie said again. “Where is he?”
“How should I know?” Macy responded. “Probably at home in Charlotte. He hasn’t been here in ages.”
“He hasn’t?”
“I mean, like, weeks.”
“Weeks?” Allie echoed and tried to piece together the situation.
Frederick was free! She recalled those sweet minutes before Louise broke her neck. He’d asked Allie to ride in the copilot’s seat. He’d taken her hand. His eyes held promise, excitement, expectation. And Allie had been ready to elope with him that second and let her family just deal with it. Then he’d pledged allegiance to Louise and left Allie to deal with it. His only condolences involved yelling at her about not being more attentive to Louise.
By the time the phone call with Macy ended, Allie was trapped in the winds of anticipation. Yet the anticipation was not without clouds. Sure, Frederick is free, she thought, but would he have still married Louise if she hadn’t dumped him for Jim? But then, why hasn’t Frederick visited Louise for weeks if he’s so devoted to her?
A still, soft voice suggested that the news Allie received was only bits of a bigger story. And on the heels of that revelation came the desire to discover the whole truth. Only one person could supply that information to the fullest accuracy: Frederick.
A fresh surge of confidence and hope flowed through Allie. She swung her legs out of bed, stood, and dropped her cell phone back into her purse. Today she would do what she should have done ten years ago. Allie would go after her man.
But first, her emancipation proclamation. If she and Frederick did get back together, Allie figured her family would take the news better if she’d already staked out her freedom. Breakfast would provide the perfect opportunity to do exactly that.
After slipping into shorts and a tank top, Brent stepped out of the bathroom to the tune of a high-pitched jazz song flowing from his cell phone. Still toweling his hair dry, he picked up the phone and checked the caller’s identity. He smiled when he noted Penny’s cell number. She had said she’d call this morning. She was punctual as usual.
After the warm reception from Allie’s father last night, Brent had been encouraged to go ahead and ask Allie to marry him. Even though Allie was still keeping him at arm’s length, Brent suspected that her family would pressure her to accept. Allie was such a pliable creature, he was certain she would bend to their wishes. Landon had already given Brent her approval, and Richard had all but assumed Brent and Allie were already engaged. Evelyn was another story. She’d spent the whole evening sullenly glaring at Brent and snapping at Allie.
Penny was calling to report on the aftermath of last night. If her report was as positive as Brent hoped, he would pop the question very soon . . . possibly even tonight.
He swiped to answer, placed the receiver to his ear, and said, “Hello, beautiful,” in his most seductive tone.
Penny’s sensuous laugh assured Brent his effort was not wasted. “Hello, yourself,” she replied in a throaty voice.
“What do you know this morning?” he purred.
“You’re going to love this,” she replied.
“Oh, really? As much as I love you?” Brent lied.
“Don’t know,” she crooned. “Depends on how much you love me these days.”
“The way things are going, I’m lovin’ you more all the time,” he teased and knew Penny probably didn’t believe a word he said. But the good part was she didn’t care. Like Brent, as long as her pockets were lined with green, Penny Clayton could live without love.
“You’re lying,” Penny said through a knowing laugh.
“And you love that,” he shot back.
Brent settled onto the end of the bed and looked at himself in the mirror. As usual, he was satisfied with what he saw. Very satisfied. And he couldn’t imagine that Allie was immune to his classic good looks.
“So what gives?” he prompted and detested the smell of the cheap shampoo he’d been sentenced to.
“Last night after you left, I overheard Landon and Richard talking. You’re right in your assumptions. They’re dying for you to ask Allie to marry you.”
“Oh, really? Dying?”
“Dying!” Penny drawled. “All I heard was the first of their conversation though. Evelyn came down the hall, and I had to duck into the bathroom.”
“How’s she taking all this?”
“She’s furious!” Penny said.
Brent snickered. “Good. I’ll look forward to spending the rest of my life making her eat her snotty attitude.”
Penny joined his laughter. “Good. Can I help you force feed her?”
“Anytime, doll, anytime,” Brent replied. “I think I’ll go ahead and pop the question tonight,” he mused and dug his toes into the short-napped carpet.
“It can’t be soon enough for me,” Penny pined. “I’m ready to get out of here and be a kept woman again.”
“Hold that thought!” Brent replied before suavely bidding adieu.
He cut the call off and thoughtfully tapped the phone against the palm of his hand. Gazing around the cheap hotel room, he was tempted to leave this place and switch to a luxury suite tonight. His days of being on a budget were almost over. He smiled at his own reflection in the mirror.
Thirty-Four
Allie sat on the condominium’s terrace and awaited her family’s arrival for breakfast. Once she made her decision, she had immediately showered and dressed. She finished her makeup just in time to allow room service access to their condo. Room service was part of the sweet package deal on the condo. Allie sat at one of the glass-topped tables sipping her cinnamon tea while the Atlantic licked the beach in time with the heartbeat of the ocean. She’d alerted the family to breakfast and expected them to appear any minute with their yawns and house robes intact. The only Elton who ever claimed to be an early and graceful riser was, ironically, Macy.
Gazing onto the ocean kissed by the sun’s eastern ascent, Allie prayed for the Lord to give her the words for the hour. No matter how Allie tried to arrange her spiel, it sounded awkward and invited argument. She didn’t know what else to do but commit the speech to the Lord and depend on Him to give her the right words.
She absorbed the salt-laden air, the sound of sea gulls’ high-pitched squawks, and exulted in the sun’s royal rising. Even at eight-thirty the streaks of indigo and scarlet and mauve were vibrant with life and the promise of new things to come. Allie found the strength and courage she needed to say what she had to say. Freedom lay on the other side of breakfast. Hopefully Frederick Wently waited in the midst of the freedom.
As predicted, the robed family gradually wandered in and helped themselves to breakfast from the heated service dishes. Allie silently sipped her tea until everyone, including Penny Clayton and Aunt Landon, had settled at the table and began eating. Allie couldn’t have eaten if someone put a gun to her head; her stomach was in a knot so tight no food could penetrate. There was barely room for even the smells of bacon, eggs, sausage, and hash browns.
“Aren’t you going to eat, Allie?” Aunt Landon queried before daintily nibbling a slice of crisp bacon. With no makeup, Landon’s translucent complexion and blonde lashes made her appear ghost-like. The pale satin robe accented the effect.
“No, I’m not very hungry this morning,” Allie admitted and glanced toward the sun. She picked up her spoon, stirred her tea, laid the spoon down, and repeated the whole process.
“Maybe Allie’s lovesick,” Richard drawled.
Landon chuckled and squeezed Allie’s hand. “Now, Richard,” she teased. “You remember what it was like to be young and in love. Don’t pressure her.”
Allie picked up a package of sweetener and tormented the corner. She gazed into her father’s sharp blue eyes. He was the only one who’d fully dressed. All he needed was a
ship captain’s hat to round off his outfit. His crisp white shirt and pleated cotton slacks made him look like the king of the sea. As always, Allie felt like a dowdy coal girl in his presence. She swallowed hard, cleared her throat, and found her voice. “Actually, this doesn’t have anything to do with being in love,” she said, and sensed Evelyn’s undivided attention.
Allie glanced toward her and at Penny Clayton, who, as usual, seemed about as interested in Allie as she might have been the phone book. Both women wore their housecoats and mussed-by-sleep hairdos.
“What does it have to do with, then?” Aunt Landon prompted.
Allie looked into her aunt’s eyes and encountered suspicion laced with fear. Until recently, Allie had held no secrets from her aunt. Landon probably didn’t know what to think now.
“It has to do with . . .” Allie dropped the sugar packet, eyed the seagulls, as free as they pleased, and joined them in spirit. “I’ve leased a townhouse,” she announced and looked her father squarely in the eyes.
“What!” he bellowed and plunked down his coffee, which sloshed onto the table’s glass top.
“I leased a townhouse in Atlanta,” Allie repeated and squared her shoulders.
“I thought we were supposed to be on a budget!” Evelyn squealed. “And you’re the one who thought it was such a good idea!”
“Yes, and I still do,” Allie said and laced her hands into a tight ball in her lap. Her eye quivered, and she was amazed at her next statement. “And to help you stay on budget, I’m going to stop receiving my allowance.”
“She’s gone nuts!” Richard spewed.
Allie fixed her gaze on the salt shaker and decided her last admission must have been an answer to her prayer for the right thing to say at the right time. She’d not even considered denouncing her allowance until now. But who needs it? Allie thought. I’ve still got a chunk in my trust fund. If I have to use some of those funds, it will tide me over until I get a job.
“Landon, is this your doing?” Richard raged.
“Are you nuts?” Landon challenged. “This is the first I’ve heard of it!”
Possibilities: A Contemporary Retelling of Persuasion Page 24