The Shell Collector

by Nancy Naigle

She watched Maeve stop and turn back, taking a last look at her home of so many years.

  I still can’t believe you’ve entrusted me with your home. I promise I will take care of your priceless treasures and love this place, this town, and its people as much as you have.

  “Are you ready?” Amanda asked.

  Maeve turned and kissed Tug. “Now I’m ready.” She ducked her head and inched her way inside. “My. Would you look at this?” Her head swiveled, seeming to take in the rows of LED lighting, the beautiful accents, and the fine-crystal glasses next to the ice bucket.

  “Let’s do this.” Amanda slid into the back of the limo. “Oh wow. The leather is like butter, Maeve. We are really in for a treat.”

  Blue bottles of water lined the shelf, almost too pretty to drink. Amanda opened one and poured them each a glass. Then she discovered the small refrigerated section with the fruit garnish. She put a slice of lemon and a cherry in each of their glasses. She handed a drink to Maeve, then raised hers.

  “To road trips, and forever friends.” Amanda tapped her glass to Maeve’s.

  “And adventures.” Maeve took a sip, then set it in the indention on the console.

  Tug carried two coolers from his truck and put them in the back of the limo. “Wooo! This is fancy, girls.” He shook his head. “Don’t worry about bringing the coolers back. I have a million of them. You just enjoy all this or give it away. Have a great time.”

  “Thank you, Tug.” Amanda noted the sadness in Tug’s eyes as he stepped away from the car and shut the door.

  Maeve had tears in her eyes. “He’s a good man.”

  The driver settled behind the wheel and lowered the privacy glass. “Ladies, we’re in for about a five-hour ride down to Charleston. We’ve got beautiful weather, so you sit back and relax.”

  “I didn’t catch your name,” Amanda said.

  “James,” he said. “James Hall.”

  Maeve started laughing. “Home, James.”

  “Not the first time I’ve heard that. You just give me a heads-up if you’d like to stop, or we can plan to do so every hour where you can get up and stretch your legs.”

  “Yes, please,” Amanda said. “We won’t dawdle, but it would be good to take a break and move around.”

  “We could practically line dance back here!” Maeve shouted toward the driver. “How about we stop at around two hours and then an hour after that, then just two more hours and we’ll be there?”

  “You got it. Push that button if the situation changes or you need to break for snacks or anything else. I’m at your service. You have your own access to the radio and movies back there.”

  Amanda started pushing buttons. “Movies too? Check this out.”

  “I’m truly delighted to experience such grandeur. And more than the limo, I’m glad to be with you,” Maeve said.

  “Well, here we go.” Amanda took Maeve’s hand in hers.

  The limousine backed out of Maeve’s driveway. Tug raised his hand in the air, waving as they left.

  “This town looks different from this vantage point,” Maeve said. “It’s grown so much since I was a little girl.”

  “I’d loved to have seen it back then.”

  The ride was so comfortable that time flew by, but getting out to stretch did make it an easier day.

  Maeve told Amanda all the town secrets. Who she could count on and which people to watch out for.

  As they crossed into South Carolina, the landscape changed.

  “I wonder if Jarvis and I would’ve ever made this trip had he not died so unexpectedly.”

  “I wonder. I think about things like that too. Like our trip to Denali.”

  “You know what I’ve missed most about Jarvis?”

  “What?”

  “The way he held my hand.” She put her own hands together. “There was something about the way he held my hand. Not too tight, but firm, and I could feel his love in that simple gesture.”

  Amanda’s heart pinched. “Jack always gave me forehead kisses. I loved them.” She closed her eyes. She could almost feel him kissing her on the forehead now. The way he pressed his lips to that spot. She blinked away tears.

  “It’s the little things.” Maeve pointed her finger toward Amanda. “Always the little things that make the difference.” She clicked her tongue against her teeth. “The funny thing is, I can’t pinpoint what might’ve been the little thing he would have loved about me. I bet he had no idea how much the way he held my hand meant to me.”

  “Interesting. Jack always told me forehead kisses were the most honest and complete showing of love. For that reason alone, they meant the world to me. I wonder what he would’ve missed about me.”

  “I hope I remember to ask Jarvis when I see him again.” She patted Amanda’s leg. “When I see Jack, I’ll ask him too.”

  “Good. Let me know.”

  “I’ll see if that’s allowed. Listen to the ocean, because if at all possible, that’s where I’ll be.”

  Amanda had no doubt that would be the case. “I’ll do that. Did Jarvis love shells like you do?”

  “No, and I didn’t collect them like I do now when he was alive. But back then, I had a few special pieces. Doesn’t everyone? You know, the obligatory jar of shells, and the one on the back of the toilet in the bathroom. I found comfort in collecting them after he was gone.”

  “You’ll have so much to tell him.”

  “So much to share.”

  “I hope there are shells for you in heaven. Whatever is there, it will be enough.”

  “You’re so right.”

  When they pulled in front of the hotel, James went inside to check them in. Amanda had already prepaid for the room, but she wanted to get the key before they took their drive to see the trees Maeve had dreamed about all these years.

  James came back and gave Amanda the key. “Here you go. Are we ready for the main event?”

  “So ready,” Maeve said.

  The driver headed through town. It wasn’t long before the privacy window lowered again. “Almost there.”

  “I’ve got my camera so we can take some pictures,” Amanda said.

  “I’m not taking any,” Maeve said. “You take all the photos you want. I want to experience it and be present in the moment.”

  “We’re now entering Boone Hall Plantation,” the driver announced. “Almost three-quarters of a mile of these trees and Spanish moss.” He opened the sunroof and slowed the car to a crawl.

  Maeve rolled down the window, marveling at the site. “It’s more beautiful than I dreamed.”

  “Can you pull over and stop the car?” Amanda asked.

  “Sure.”

  When James pulled over and put the car in park, Amanda took Maeve’s hand. “Come. Stand up with me.”

  Maeve climbed to her feet, and they stood with their heads out the top of the limo. Maeve reached up, her fingers grazing the dripping moss hanging like an old man’s beard. “It’s amazing.”

  They spent an hour enjoying the lane leading to the plantation, all from the comfort of the limousine. Amanda took a ton of pictures. Just as much for her as for Maeve, though.

  “This is the neatest place I didn’t know I wanted to see,” Amanda said.

  “Thank you,” Maeve said. “It’s even better than I dreamed.”

  “Would you like to see the plantation?” Amanda asked. “They have a butterfly garden and all kinds of historical things here.”

  “No, I really don’t.” Maeve shook her head thoughtfully. “This is the one thing I wanted to see, and I don’t want anything else to land on top of this memory.”

  “Fair enough.” She looked at Maeve. “Do you want to say it?”

  Maeve looked questioningly at her, then started to laugh. “Oh, I do! Home, James!”

  J
ames announced a couple of other landmarks as they headed back, such as a tree that was estimated to be more than four hundred years old, and he also offered a colorful history lesson as they cruised down Rainbow Row on their way back to the hotel.

  “The houses here on Rainbow Row were built in the seventeen hundreds. Originally, all of them were painted pink, but there are many rumors about how the rainbow of pastel houses came to be. One story—my personal favorite—is that the different colors helped drunken sailors identify which house they were to bunk in,” James explained. “It’s the longest cluster of Georgian row houses in the country and said to be the most photographed spot in the fair city of Charleston.”

  “My goodness. And people think the beach houses on Whelk’s Island are colorful. We have nothing on these folks!” Maeve exclaimed.

  “It’s cheerful. I kind of like it.” Amanda snapped a picture to share with Hailey. This would be right up her alley.

  James pulled in front of the inn and got a cart so Amanda and Maeve could take the coolers and their overnight cases upstairs. He had the room across the hall, and the plan was to be ready at eight in the morning to head to Macon. “I’ll take this up for you rather than calling the bellhop.”

  “Thank you, James.”

  Amanda was grateful she didn’t have to navigate the luggage cart, as James himself seemed to be having trouble with it, and he was a big guy. She opened the door to their room and let Maeve go in first. She couldn’t wait to hear her reaction. “Amanda!”

  She stepped in behind Maeve.

  “I’ve never stayed anywhere so opulent. This was not necessary. We could have spent the night at a little beach inn and I’d have been fine.”

  “No way. This is a girls’ road trip. We have to do girlie, fun things. We deserve some pampering.”

  Maeve walked over to the huge oak armoire against the wall and opened one of the doors. “Look at these robes.” She squeezed the fabric between her hands. “They’re so soft.”

  “Those are for us.”

  “If it’s okay with you, I’d rather eat whatever Tug sent along for us, put on our nightgowns, and call it an early night.”

  “Works for me.” Amanda went to the bathroom to wash her face. When she finished, Maeve already had dinner set out for them. The aroma of home cooking filled the room. “That smells good.”

  “It’s still warm too.” Maeve picked up a fork and knife. “He even sent us real silverware.”

  “Nice touch.” She sat in the chair across from Maeve.

  “Fried pork tenderloin, one of his specialties. My absolute favorite. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Green beans—the good fat ones.” Maeve unwrapped a square pan covered in foil.

  “What is it? Rolls?”

  “Nope. Corn bread.”

  They ate, nibbling on everything and not saying much. Amanda got up and looked outside. “It’s starting to get dark. There’s another reason I picked this hotel, besides the fact that it looked really pretty online.” She pulled back the curtain. “In about thirty minutes, all of these beautiful trees out here are going to light up.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. We can sit out on the balcony and watch it all come to light.”

  “You’ve really thought of everything. I definitely don’t want to miss that.” Maeve grabbed her overnighter and headed into the bathroom.

  A few minutes later, they stood out on the balcony in their nightgowns and fluffy white robes. They weren’t the only ones doing that. To the left and right, Amanda noticed couples in their robes too. They stood waiting for something to happen. People meandered along the road below, anticipating the event. A nervous energy filled the air.

  “Even if they didn’t light them up, the trees are lovely here,” Maeve said. “Almost as beautiful as those at the plantation.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I’m loving it.”

  Suddenly everything lit up and the town went silent. Seconds ticked by, peacefulness cloaking them. White twinkle lights lit every single tree for as far as they could see. The moss blurred the lights, making it appear like a misty haze.

  And just as quickly as the lights came on, voices rose and chatter started filling the air. The perfect moment had passed.

  Maeve went back inside. “This has been a perfect day.” She sat down on the bed. “I’m going to have amazing dreams tonight.”

  Amanda had followed her inside, locking the french doors behind her and pulling the curtains. “Me too. I’m going to sleep like a baby.” Amanda picked up a small box from the nightstand and peeked inside. Thank goodness the hotel had been able to do this for her.

  “This is for you.” She handed the small box to Maeve.

  “What is it?”

  “Open and see.”

  Maeve opened the box, then put the top back on it. “You did this?” She lifted the lid again. “Spanish moss of my very own.”

  “Yes. I had them freeze it to be sure we weren’t delivering you to Judy with a bunch of bugs, but I wanted you to have something to help you remember this trip every day.”

  “Oh my. Judy would’ve gone crazy at the thought of bugs. Almost worth the look on her face, but I wouldn’t dare do that to her.”

  “Not exactly the way you want to be remembered.”

  Maeve shook her head. “Could shorten the grieving process. She wouldn’t miss me as much when I’m gone. It could be considered a favor.”

  Amanda couldn’t hide the shock. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

  “You’re right. That wasn’t nice.” Maeve covered her mouth. “That was really bad. Thank you. Very thoughtful.” She scooched down on the bed, laying her head on the pillow. “I can’t believe you’ve done all this for me. We’ve known each other such a short time, but it feels like longer, doesn’t it?”

  “You feel like forever family to me.” Amanda turned off the lights over the beds, then went back over and opened the drapes. “The lights will be nice to fall asleep to, don’t you think?”

  “Yes.” Maeve pulled her covers up under her chin.

  “Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s pretty or spooky at night,” Amanda said.

  “I guess that’s a matter of perspective, but I still think it’s gorgeous. I wish I’d been able to put some of this moss in my tree in the backyard. It would’ve been so beautifully out of place on that live oak. I would’ve…”

  Amanda turned toward Maeve, who had fallen asleep midsentence. She wondered if she was dreaming of the moss in the trees tonight. She hoped experiencing it firsthand had lived up to Maeve’s dreams.

  She missed Hailey and Jesse, but she treasured this time with Maeve. She was so glad she’d been able to take this trip with her. It seemed like such a small thing compared to the gifts Maeve had given her. Not just friendship, but the strength to move forward. The trust Maeve placed in her buoyed her faith. Amanda and her children would be better people for having known her.

  She thought of that first shell she found with the quote by Havelock Ellis: “All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” I’ll miss you so, Maeve. I’ll let you go, but I’m holding tight to these memories forever.

  29

  Amanda woke to the gurgling coffeepot in the hotel room.

  Maeve grabbed a towel, trying to smother the noisy pot. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. I was trying to do something nice and have coffee ready, but this is a whole lot noisier than my old drip coffeepot.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’m ready for coffee too.”

  “Coming right up.” Maeve poured a cup for them both.

  Amanda took one of the mugs. “How are you feeling today?”

  “I’m still flying high after yesterday. It was a perfect day.” Maeve’s eyes glistened. “It was so beautiful. I dreamed of Spanish moss and st
arlit nights.”

  She’d seen Maeve get up in the middle of the night for medication. She wondered how she really felt. She hoped the trip wasn’t too much for her, but she pushed the worry away, instead concentrating on enjoying another wonderful day together. That was her priority. “I’m going to have to bring Hailey and Jesse back to see this someday when they’re a little older. I’m so glad we got to do this.”

  “Me too.”

  They both changed out of their nightclothes and packed so they’d be ready before enjoying a second cup of coffee out on the balcony.

  A double knock came at their door. “That must be James.” Amanda walked over to the door and opened it. “Good morning.”

  “I’m here to collect your luggage.”

  “We’ve got everything ready,” she said.

  James rolled in the cart and piled their bags on it. “You ladies take your time. We’re in no hurry. I’ll be parked right out front.”

  “Thanks, James.” Amanda walked through the room to be sure neither of them had left anything behind. “I think we’re all set.”

  “Okay, then let’s get this show on the road.” Maeve clapped her hands together.

  “I hate for this trip to end,” Amanda said. She walked over and hugged Maeve. “I’m going to try so hard not to blubber. I keep reminding myself that you’re the lucky one.”

  “That’s right. Don’t forget that.”

  They checked out of their room and, as promised, James was parked just outside the door. It looked like he took up the space of three cars with the limo. Well, three little ones, anyway.

  Maeve giggled. “I feel so important.”

  “Like a star traveling incognito. I’ll be your assistant.” Amanda did a suspicious double take, pretending to clear the way for her. “This way, Ms. Maeve. We’ve got the paparazzi at bay.”

  “You know how I love the bay,” she teased.

  Amanda laughed all the way to the car.

  James closed the door behind them. Then, as he pulled away, he raised the partition.

  Amanda stretched out. “Want to watch a movie? Or maybe listen to some music? We’ve got a little less than five hours to get there.”