Inconnu(e)
Page 32
“I didn’t do it. You did. I just”—Tony’s words flashed through her mind—“assisted.”
“Well, I appreciate your assistance.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Oh, move over and let me in, Hattie. Beaulah’s sitting in the front pew bending the sheriff’s ear. It’s me, Millie.”
Miss Millie skirted around Miss Hattie and stopped in front of Maggie.
“Lovely,” Miss Hattie said. “Absolutely lovely. Isn’t she lovely, Millie?”
“She’s lacking,” Miss Millie said, then nodded to show she meant it. “She needs this.” She held up an antique lace sachet. White tulle and lace.
“It’s your favorite fragrance, too, dear. Seashore.”
Maggie smiled. “Oh, Miss Millie. I’m surprised you remembered.”
“I said I’d make you another on your wedding day, didn’t I?”
“Yes, you did.” All the wonderful friends she’d made here. The love she’d found. MacGregor. Would life ever again be this good?
Of course it will, Maggie. And I echo my darling Hattie’s sentiments. You do look lovely.
Tony. She looked behind Miss Hattie and saw him standing there, the yellow carnation tucked into his green suit jacket’s lapel. But no one else seemed to see him. Not even Miss Hattie.
I can’t let her see me. It would hurt her too much. But don’t worry about us. One day, Hattie and I will be together again. Today is your day. You and Tyler are going to be very happy together, Maggie. Trust me. You’re blessed with that rare love.
I trust you, Tony. With all my heart. And don’t you dare laugh at me, but this trusting is getting easier all the time. She smiled, almost afraid Miss Hattie with her too-seeing eyes would sense the conversation, and Maggie wanted everyone happy today.
Tony smiled and winked.
A knock sounded at the door.
“Miss Hattie,” Jimmy Goodson called out. “It’s two o’clock straight up and down, and Pastor says they’re waiting on Maggie. Tyler ain’t looking too patient, either. Says she’s got ten seconds to get up there or he’s coming after her.”
Miss Hattie clasped both of Maggie’s hands in hers, crushing her hankie between their palms. “I’m trusting you to love Tyler well, Maggie. I’ve grown more than fond of the boy.”
“Yes, ma’am. I will.” Maggie had heard the catch in Miss Hattie’s voice and it nearly undid her. “We’re both fond of you, too, Miss Hattie. How can we ever thank you for everything?”
“You just did, child. And you can keep on thanking me by being happy and loving each other.” The wonderful woman nodded. “Now,” she cleared the rasp from her throat, “we’d best hurry, mmm? I do believe that today we’re starting a new era. I just love new eras. Don’t you love new eras, Millie?”
“I love antiques. And Christmas weddings. Especially ones Beaulah Favish and Lily Johnson are at solely as guests. Can’t abide them being nosy and strutting their snooty ways.”
Some things never changed. Maggie smiled to herself and moved toward the door, her long white gown rustling. “A new era?”
“Why, yes, dear.” Miss Hattie gave Maggie an angel’s smile. “One where Tyler believes in miracles... and so do you.”
Maggie gave her a watery smile. “Yes, a new era.”
Since Maggie had her mother on her side of the tiny church and Tyler had no kin, Hattie sat beside Vic on the groom’s side of the center aisle. She looked up at the rugged cross Collin Freeport had hand-carved decades ago. Seeing it bathed in sunlight from the stained glass window had her feeling a little melancholy. It was Christmas, and that had her feeling a little melancholy, too. Had Tony lived, they would be celebrating Maggie and Tyler’s marriage today, and their own golden wedding anniversary.
But he hadn’t lived. And they hadn’t shared a lifetime of love and memories together. She fingered her hankie. How joyful and loving their lives would have been.
Standing beside his best man, Bill Butler, Tyler winked at Miss Hattie then turned to watch his bride come up the aisle and join him. Such love burned in his eyes. They would have that joy, that lifetime of memories and love that Hattie had not. There was solace in that.
Maggie lifted her hand and placed it in Tyler’s. The pastor began the ceremony, “Dearly beloved...”
Hattie let her thoughts steal away, dreaming a little herself. If only she could see Tony. Just once...
No. Once would never be enough. Seeing him and not being able to hold him—it would be torture for both of them. One day they’d be together again. Until then, she had to take comfort in putting yellow flowers on his grave to remind him how much she loved him still, in just knowing he was near.
He was near, wasn’t he?
Tender, doubtful because she couldn’t feel his presence, she let her hankie flutter to the floor.
It lay there for only a moment, then an unseen hand lifted it and placed it back in her upturned palm. Soft as an angel’s breath, tender lips pressed a kiss to the back of her wrist. And inside the hankie’s folds lay a single, yellow carnation petal.
Her eyes misted, and Hattie whispered. “Thank you, Tony.”
Content, her heart full, she watched Tyler and his beloved Maggie share their first kiss as man and wife and once again delighted in the magic of Seascape Inn.
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About Vicki Hinze
Vicki is the award-winning author of 24 novels, 4 nonfiction books and hundreds of articles, published in as many as sixty-three countries. She is recognized by Who’s Who in the World as an author and as an educator. For more information, please visit her website.
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Table des matières
Blurb
Beyond the Misty Shore
Copyrights
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
About Vicki Hinze