“The woman who runs it owns a very well-known and prestigious gallery in New York, among other places. She heard about a sale I made up there, read a few of the articles that followed that sale, realized I was from Cannonball Island, and since she likes to show the work of local artists, invited me to exhibit. She’s a very clever lady, this Carly Summit. She’ll exhibit local artists regardless of taste or talent. I’ve seen some of the stuff some of the locals have done, and I have to tell you, some of it is pretty bad. I think it’s so kind of her.”
“Kind of her to inflict terrible art on St. Dennis?”
Lis laughed. “Look, most people who are terrible artists don’t know how bad they are. She gives everyone the opportunity to see their work exhibited, makes them feel like a real artist, if only for a little while.”
“I get it. So will your paintings be hanging between Elvis on black velvet and the paint-by-numbers red-covered-bridge scene?”
“Please. It’s cats with scary eyes on black velvet, and I’m not sure, but I think maybe Carly draws the line at paint by numbers.”
“I guess the line’s got to be drawn somewhere.”
“Hazel Stevens been painting those cats for years.” Ruby shook her head. “Cats been gone longer than your daddy. Think she’d find something else to paint.”
Emily appeared in the doorway, two of her nieces behind her carrying trays.
“Dinner be served now. Hope you brought your appetites.” Emily came into the room, then stepped aside so the two girls could place bowls of creamy mashed potatoes, string beans, and new carrots on the table. “You all know it’s family style here, so Mr. Hawkins, you go on and start up here at this end of the table, serve yourself, then pass the bowls around the table clockwise. You get to the bottom of the bowl, you let me know and we’ll fill it up again.”
The girls left the room, then returned with platters piled high with soft-shelled crabs and fat wedges of lemon. A second platter of rockfish cut into fillets came next.
“Plenty more in the back,” Emily told them, “so you all go on and enjoy your dinner.”
She disappeared back into the kitchen, and for a few moments, the only sound in the room was that of spoons clinking on the sides of the well-used bowls.
By the time dinner was over and dessert had been served—blueberry pie with homemade vanilla ice cream—Lis found herself wishing she’d worn a tank dress or anything without a waist.
“I haven’t eaten like that since . . .” She paused to reflect. “Maybe never. I may need a forklift to get me out of this chair.”
“I know what you mean,” Owen agreed. “I think I just ate about five times my normal caloric intake.”
“That might have something to do with all that butter on the soft-shells,” Lis reminded him.
“Look who’s talking, Miss Please Pass the Potatoes.”
“I only did that once, and only because I never get mashed potatoes.”
“Seems to me calories not be the point,” Ruby said as she struggled to stand. Before she could blink, Lis was on one side, Owen on the other, to help her out of her seat. “Seems to me some people have eyes bigger than their stomachs.”
“Sad but true, Gigi,” Owen said. “I’m the first to admit it.”
Emily came out from the kitchen to applause from her diners and accepted their praise with pride.
“Been doing this longer than most of you all been alive,” she told them. “Nice to see I’m still appreciated. Now, you all go on out and set a spell on the porch, if you have a mind to.” She turned to Ruby. “You be staying a time?”
“Not tonight, Emily. I think I’d best be getting these two on home. We be back before long, though,” Ruby assured her.
“Don’t be a stranger, then.” Emily walked them to the door. “And you, Lisbeth—I’ll be by to see your paintings. Wouldn’t be missing it.”
“We’ll be looking for you, Mrs. Hart.” Lis held the door till everyone filed out, then along with Owen, helped Ruby down the steps and to the car.
“I’m glad you suggested that tonight, Gigi,” Lis said as she started her car after they’d strapped themselves in with their seat belts.
“Nothing like what comes out of Emily’s kitchen.” Ruby nodded.
“I am looking forward to trying Captain Walt’s while I’m home, though. I’ve heard a lot about it.”
“Wait. You’ve never eaten at Captain Walt’s?” Owen eyed her with disbelief. “And you’re how old?”
“I just never think about going to town, Owen. And most of the time when I’m home, I hang out with Gigi here on the island.”
Owen muttered something under his breath, but when Lis asked him what he said, he just shook his head.
It was still light out when they arrived back at the store, but only barely. The sun was setting across the bay and the fireflies were already dancing across the dune when Owen and Lis helped Ruby up the front steps.
“Wouldn’t need help out here if that railing was a little more stable,” Ruby complained.
“I’m surprised Jansen didn’t fix that, too,” Owen noted.
“Alec be spending his time inside and out back,” Ruby told him as she unlocked the door. “Seems to me someone else could toss a hammer just as good.”
“You’re right. And first thing in the morning I will do just that.” Owen went back out to the handrail and wiggled it back and forth. “Looks like a few nails at the base and another few at the top should do it.”
“Hammer’s in the shed, nails are, too.” Ruby looked over her shoulder and told them, “I’ll be reading a bit before I turn in. Owen, I ’spect you’ll be wanting pancakes in the morning.”
“I expect I will.” One foot on the first step, the other on the ground, Owen grinned. “Want me to make them this time?”
“I’m sure I do not.” Ruby closed the door.
“How do you rate pancakes?” Lis asked. “I never get pancakes.”
“You would if you were as pretty as me.” Owen came up the stairs and sat on the top step. He patted the space next to him.
Lis sat and looked out across the dune.
“It’s so peaceful here. I hope the island never changes,” she said.
“Everything changes,” he said.
“Not Cannonball Island. I bet it’s looked pretty much the same for the past eighty, maybe a hundred years.”
“Maybe it’s time.”
“Time for what? A Dairy Queen and a 7-Eleven?”
“Nothing that drastic, but maybe some new blood.”
“Owen, there’s not even a lot of old blood around anymore.”
“My point exactly. You wouldn’t want to see the island die out, right?”
“Of course not.” Lis frowned and picked at a fingernail she’d split when she was unloading her car.
“So you need some new blood. New energy. Change can be good.”
“I like things just the way they are around here.” She dug in her bag for a nail file.
“This from someone who wants to renovate that old shack down on the point?”
“It’s not a shack, and that’s different. That’s part of our family history, and if Alec thinks it can be salvaged, then yes, that’s what I want to do. But there are probably termites and water damage and I’m not sure what else. I’d love for it to work, though, Owen. The place is magic.”
“Well, then, let’s hope Jansen’s a magician. Maybe I’ll pay him a call tomorrow, see what he’s thinking.”
“You don’t have to check up on it for me. He’ll let me know when he knows.”
Owen stood. “I want to stop over at the boatyard anyway, pay my respects to Uncle Eb and the Annie G. Plus I owe him my thanks for looking after Gigi. Whether he ended up walking off with the boat for his troubles or not, it was good of him. Jansen always was a good guy. Sounds
like he still is.”
“He and Gigi are really tight,” Lis told him.
“That speaks well of him, then. She isn’t fooled easily.”
“She isn’t fooled at all.”
Owen went out to his car and opened the back, took out a duffel bag, and closed the hatch.
“Your old room is still up there,” Lis told him as he walked back to the porch. “You’ll probably have to put sheets on the bed, though. Look in the hall closet. Towels are there, too.”
Owen grinned broadly. “How many thirty-eight-year-old men can say their great-grandmother keeps a room ready for them?”
“My guess is that most grown men wouldn’t admit to it.”
“Hey, I don’t have a problem with it. Doesn’t threaten my masculinity. Most guys don’t have Gigi.” He stood on the ground and looked up at the store. “What do you think is going to happen to it when she’s gone, Lis?”
“The store?” She shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“And the rest of it? Poppa’s old place, the point?”
“I’m hoping to stake a claim to at least a little piece of the point. Gigi seemed pleased that I wanted it.”
“It should stay intact, stay in the family. There’s a lot of acreage there, but it should stay intact. Keep it together, Lis.”
“If I have any say in it, sure. But it’s Gigi’s to decide what to do with. As far as Poppa’s place is concerned, I haven’t even been over there. I forgot about it, to tell you the truth. I’d be surprised if it was still standing. Last time I was over that way, the old chapel next door was falling down and that little graveyard was overgrown. I said something to Gigi about it and she made a few calls and got some people out there to clean it up. She was threatening to go herself, but we—me and Hedy and Essie—were able to talk her out of it.”
“I’ll take a look tomorrow. You coming in?”
“In a minute. You go on up. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“See you in the morning.” He opened the screen door and took a step inside.
“Owen?” She heard him pause in the doorway. “I’m glad you’re here. When I’m here, I mean.”
“Yeah, kiddo. Me, too.” He closed the door softly behind him.
Lis sat on the porch step for a few more minutes, her head back, and watched the sky for shooting stars. She was in the mood to make wishes—there were a number of wishes on her list tonight—but stare as she might, there was no movement in the dark sky. Finally she went in, locked up the store, and went to bed.
ALEC HAD JUST finished sanding the repaired hull in preparation for paint when he looked out the window and saw a tall man with dark hair and dark glasses approaching the warehouse. He put down the sander and went to the door and looked out through the glass. The man stood with his back to Alec’s shop, his hands on his hips, and stared out at the bay. The visitor turned around just as Alec stepped outside.
“Hey, Alec,” the man called.
“Owen Parker, that you?”
“It is.” Owen offered a hand in greeting and Alec gave it a shake. Owen’s grip was just a little bit tighter than Alec would have expected for someone he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“How’ve you been?” Alec asked, waiting for the bones in his hand to recover. “Where’ve you been?”
“Here and there.”
“You planning on being around for a while?”
“A while.” Owen tilted his head in the direction of the warehouse. “Is that where you’re hiding her?”
“Her?” Alec frowned.
“Annie.”
Alec smiled. “Ah, the lovely Annie G. Yes, she’s safe and sound inside. Want to see her?”
Owen nodded. “Came to pay my respects.”
“Right this way.” Alec opened the door and gestured for Owen to go in. He followed and closed the door behind them.
“Just as pretty as ever. Showing her age, but still pretty.” Owen walked around the boat, a smile on his face. He patted the hull, took a long look at the hole in her side, and asked, “Dry rot?”
“Yeah. I’m replacing it, piece by piece.” Alec pointed to the stack of new wood. “I just finished sanding one that I’ll be replacing on her soon.”
“Shame she sat out there for so long. I bet there’s plenty of work before she’s ready to get back on the bay. Assuming that’s your plan.”
“That’s the plan.” Before Owen could ask, Alec told him, “Not going to use her for fishing or oystering or crabbing. I’ll just be taking her out for show, a couple of races in the summer. Otherwise, she’ll be treated like a valuable racehorse put out to pasture.”
“A worthy future.” Owen slapped the side of the boat lightly. “Are you making a new mainsail yourself?”
“No. Too tricky. I’m going to have one made when the time comes.”
“Well, I’d have liked to have kept her in the family, to be honest, but all things considered, she’s better off in your hands. There’s no one who can do for her what you can.”
“Thanks, Owen. I’m glad to hear you say that.”
“That was a sweet deal you made with Ruby.”
Alec let out a sigh. “If you’re going to imply that somehow I took advantage of an old lady, let me assure you, your sister already covered that base.”
“I think in terms of cold cash, Ruby got the best of the bargain. She told me about all you did for her.” Owen paused before adding, “I appreciate it. And I’m embarrassed that it didn’t occur to me to come home to watch out for her.”
“I don’t think she wanted that. She always talks about how good she thinks it is that you’re seeing the world now while you’re young, before you settle down.”
“Settle down?” Owen snorted. “I hope she’s not counting on that anytime soon.”
“You should take that up with her.”
“So I hear you’re going to help my sister fix up Ruby’s old cottage down on the point.”
“I did look at it, but I’m not so sure that it can be salvaged. There’s a lot of water and termite damage. I know Lis has her heart set on it, but I don’t know that it’s going to happen.” Alec added, “I hate to disappoint her. You should have seen her face when she was walking through it. It’s obvious that place means a lot to her.”
“If there’s anything I can do to help out, just let me know. My sister’s had a rough year. I’d like to see her happy.”
“I’ll do that. I think she’s glad to be back on the island, and she has that big showing of her work tonight.”
“Yeah, it’s a big night for her, all right. I’m looking forward to it myself.”
Owen walked around the boat one more time. “I have to admit the landscape on the island isn’t quite the same without Annie standing guard in Ruby’s backyard, but I guess it’s time she moved on. And that new living space for Ruby—well, we should have done something about that a long time ago.”
“No harm, no foul, as they say.”
Owen moved toward the door and Alec fell in step with him.
“So are you planning on building any more boats here, or are you keeping busy enough with your home-remodeling business?”
“Keeping busy all the way around.” They’d reached the door, and Alec pushed it open. “Though eventually I would like to start where my uncle Cliff left off. Build a skip from scratch. Maybe a few other bay boats. We’ll see.”
They stepped out into the sun. “So I guess I’ll see you tonight at the gallery,” Alec said.
“Wouldn’t miss it. My little sister, showing off her paintings to the hometown crowd.” Owen shook his head. “Who’d have figured that?”
“She’ll draw a crowd, all right.” Alec slipped on his sunglasses. “So, you planning on being around for a while?”
“Not sure how long, but yeah, for a time. I met up with a guy
I knew from school who’s going to be doing a salvage operation in the bay. I’ll be working with him.”
“I heard someone was going to try to pull up some old boat from the War of 1812. That your friend?”
Owen nodded.
“Great. Good luck with that,” Alec told him. “Guess I’ll see you tonight.”
“See you there.” Owen walked off down the sidewalk.
What, Alec wondered, was the point of that? Just to let me know that he’s back and he’s looking out for Ruby? Or is it Lis he’s watching over?
Alec turned and went back into his shop. He had a few more hours before he had to quit and go back home to clean up for Lis’s showing. He’d sensed that she might be a little nervous about tonight, and he wanted to be there for her. Besides, this was a date that had been seventeen years in the making, and he wanted to savor every minute they had.
Chapter Eleven
What do you think?” Lis came down the steps and into the store, where Ruby and Owen waited. “Do I look okay?”
“Other than the fact that the dress is a little low in the front and a little short on the bottom, I guess you look okay,” Owen told her.
“You hush, you.” Ruby frowned at him. “She looks just right.”
“Thank you, Gigi.” Lis planted a cheek on the older woman’s cheek.
“Just right” was one of Ruby’s highest compliments and was exactly what Lis needed to hear. Knowing that she and her work would be on display for all the world to see that night was enough to make the butterflies in her stomach go wild, but it was her date after the showing with Alec that was making her nervous. What if it didn’t go well? Once she got past her initial suspicion and realized he was really helping Ruby and not taking advantage of her, they’d gotten along just fine. Better than fine, considering that kiss in the cottage the other day. But say the word “date,” and things have a way of changing, sometimes for the better, sometimes not.
“You be driving, Lis,” Ruby reminded her. “I can’t—”
“We know. Climb into that beast I drive. I promise that my next car will be more Gigi friendly.” Owen took her arm and helped her down the steps while Lis locked the store and put the CLOSED sign face out on the window.
Driftwood Point Page 18