Snowbird Season

by B J Phillips

  “Oh, I’m a huge fan of chocolate pie. I’m looking forward to it. So, Carrie, can I help you with anything? I’m not extremely useful in the kitchen, but I can follow orders well.”

  “Sure, come on back. We’ll let Shawn and Kelly chat while we finish up with supper. Okay with you two?”

  “Um…sure. Carrie, don’t tell her anything embarrassing. We’re new friends and I don’t want to scare her away.” Kelly looked stricken, but then laughed.

  “Sure. I’ll be nice.” Carrie grinned at Kelly and reached for the dish towel on the side table “Come on, Andi, let’s get dinner on the table so we can keep an eye on these two.”

  “You bet. Besides, I’m getting hungrier by the minute, with all those delicious aromas coming from the kitchen.”

  Once Carrie and Andi were out of earshot, Kelly plopped into one of the overstuffed chairs and Shawn onto the sofa. “Well, what do you think so far?”

  “So far? Let’s see. She’s cute, she’s charming, and she seems quite nice.” Shawn grinned. “Hey, she even wanted to help out in the kitchen, it looks like. Not bad.”

  “Yeah, not bad for a rich girl.”

  “Rich girl? She doesn’t seem like some snobby rich girl. I guess I shouldn’t have said that. Not all rich people are snobby.”

  “No, she doesn’t come off like that. Her aunt raised her, mostly.”

  “Is the aunt just here for the winter, then…a snowbird?”

  “The aunt’s a snowbird now, but getting ready to make Florida her year-round home. That’s what the bookcases are for, to bring her considerable library here. They both live in New York City. Andi’s connected to an art gallery there. The aunt’s with a New York publishing house…an editor or the like, I believe. I get the impression they come from old money on the aunt’s side of the family.”

  “Hmm…do you know which one? I mean, which publisher? I wonder if AJ knows her.”

  “I never thought to ask, to tell you the truth. It’s very possible your publisher might know her or at least know of her. Her name’s Elise Wainwright.”

  “I think I’ll look her up after you guys leave this evening. I have a little niggling feeling that I’ve heard her name somewhere. Anyway, so back to Andi. You really like her now, or just friends?”

  “I do like her a lot, but I don’t see any future in this. She’s from New York. The city. Big city girl. I don’t see her moving here to stay.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to move there? She sure is cute.”

  “Oh, no…not me. I’m not the megacity kind of person, as you well know.” Kelly put her hands up in a stay back kind of position. “I like it where I am, thank you very much.”

  “Let’s just say you never know where life will lead you. I agree with you on the big city thing, though. I got tired of it, myself. I love it here and I’m glad I found someone who’s happy here, too.”

  “Yeah, why can’t I find a sweet local girl? Maybe I’m not in the right place at the right time. Perhaps it isn’t my turn yet.” Kelly shook her head. “I hope my turn comes soon—I’m not getting any younger.” She laughed.

  “No, you’re not, but you’re not ready for the retirement home, either. The right one’s out there for you, I have a good feeling about it. Who knows, Andi could be the right one and you don’t know it yet. She could be ready to give up big city life. She appears to be sweet, so far. You’ve spent time with her and you seem happy hanging out with her. Who knows…just let things take their course. Even if things don’t work out for more between you, you do enjoy her company.”

  “True. Very true.”

  Carrie and Andi reappeared. “Anyone else ready to eat besides us?” Carrie asked.

  “Oh, yeah. You don’t have to ask me twice, that’s for sure.” Kelly jumped up and grabbed Shawn by the arm, practically flinging her to her feet and making her laugh.

  “Me neither.” Shawn walked over and gave Carrie a little kiss. “I’m sure it’s wonderful, as usual, honey.”

  There on the table were dishes of roast beef, steamed broccoli with cheese sauce, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Kelly said, “Wow, Carrie, you went all out on this dinner. I feel special.”

  “Most of it was in the slow cooker all day, along with the potatoes. It wasn’t as big a deal as you might think. You are special. You’ll always be special.” She reached over and patted Kelly’s arm.

  Kelly blushed.

  “Isn’t she cute? I love it every time she does that.” Carrie giggled.

  “She’s very cute,” Andi said, looking right at Kelly.

  “Oh, now, stop it. I hate it when I blush,” Kelly said, her hands rubbing her cheeks and staring at her plate as she sat down. “Makes me look kind of silly.”

  “I don’t think so,” Carrie said. “I think it makes you rather appealing and sweet. Don’t you think so, Andi?”

  Now it was Andi’s turn to blush. “I do. But I think we should stop doing this to her, or she’ll never get to eat anything.”

  “Yes, please.” Kelly shook her head, trying to appear once more composed. “I’m starving and all you two want to do is make fun of me.”

  “Oh, come on, Kelly,” Shawn said. “You know you love attention from lovely ladies. But you’re right. Let’s get on with dinner.” She held her fork and knife up like she was ready to eat, making everyone laugh.

  As they passed the dishes around and chatted, Kelly watched as Andi got into the conversations, laughing and joking like they were all old friends. That was great to see. Andi appeared to be enjoying herself and Shawn and Carrie seemed to be enjoying Andi. And she was enjoying Andi as well. She could feel it every time Andi looked over at her. Sometimes during conversations Andi would reach over and touch her arm, sending an unexpected chill the first time and something warmer after that.

  ***

  Andi was totally immersed in the conversation over Carrie’s chocolate pie when she realized this was the first time in a while she hadn’t even thought about Jo. She glanced over at Kelly, who was laughing at another one of Shawn’s stories about camping with her publisher and friend AJ. This one had something to do with a spider landing on Shawn’s head. This was no fake, polite laughter here. This was the real, straight from the gut, tears running down the face belly laugh from all of them.

  I love this. This is what I’ve always wanted and I’d love to continue to be a part of it. She glanced over at Kelly. I know I’m having more than friendly feelings for her, but I must keep this in check as long as I’m still married to Jo. It wouldn’t be right otherwise. She was snapped out of her reverie by Kelly’s voice.

  “So, Andi, isn’t this pie everything I said it is?”

  Before Andi could answer, Carrie jumped in. “Come on, Kelly, not everyone loves it as much as you two do.”

  Andi put her fork down. “Carrie, this really is, as Kelly so aptly put it, to die for. I can’t imagine how you get that crust to come out so flaky but I sure love the result. It’s perfect. Now I know why Kelly’s eyes glazed over as soon as she started talking about it the other day.” Andi grinned at Kelly as Kelly started to blush once again.

  “That’s what Shawn does, too. I think this pie’s what got Shawn’s attention.” Carrie leaned over to place a kiss on Shawn’s cheek.

  “Well, it didn’t hurt, that’s for sure. But I’d love you even if you didn’t bake at all.” Shawn returned the kiss sweetly, making Carrie smile. Shawn put the last bite of her pie in her mouth and sighed. “Yep, I do love this stuff. Good thing she doesn’t make it every day. There’s no way we could run or bike enough to work it off.”

  Andi watched the exchange between Carrie and Shawn and let out a tiny involuntary sigh. This is what it’s supposed to be like. It’s what I want: a nice, uncomplicated, loving relationship. She glanced over at Kelly, she saw the same look on Kelly’s face—that same bit of longing. She wants the same thing. I know if we let it, we could have a wonderful relationship like theirs. But it probably can’t happen. I must go back
to New York and get a divorce and run a business. I have a life there. Or do I?

  After supper was over, the table cleared, and the dishes done with everyone’s help, they adjourned to the living room. Andi had barely noticed the living room when they first arrived, other than it was cozy and inviting. This time her eyes were drawn straight to a lovely wooden rocking chair.

  “What a gorgeous rocking chair you have. Is that a family heirloom?”

  Shawn smiled. “It’s fairly new, but it’ll be a family heirloom from now on. Kelly made it for Carrie. We love it.”

  “Go ahead and sit in it, Andi.” Carrie waved her over. “It isn’t fragile.”

  Andi eased herself into it, caressing the wood in the chair arms. “This chair is amazing. The wood feels like satin.” She leaned back into the chair. “What a wonderful present.”

  “There’s a great story behind this chair,” Kelly said.

  “Of course. That makes it even better.” Andi began to slowly rock, her head back against the headrest.

  “The wood for this chair came from a tree that grew in Carrie’s yard. Last fall a hurricane brought down the beautiful old tree that Carrie’s grandfather had planted there.”

  As the rest of them sat down, Carrie resumed the story. “My grandparents bought the house two doors down from us right after they were first married and he planted that tree out in the front yard soon after they moved in. They lived in that house for decades and raised my mother there. After my grandfather died, my grandmother started calling that tree George, after him. She’d go talk to George whenever she felt sad or lonely, and it made her feel better.” Shawn reached over and held Carrie’s hand.

  “I spent a lot of time with my grandmother and played in that tree as a child, the same as my mom. Grandmother died several years ago and left the house to me. I was living there at the time I met Shawn. Last year Hurricane Grace came through, Shawn and I went through the storm together there. It was during that storm that George came down.”

  “Oh, no.” Andi stopped rocking.

  Shawn chimed in, “Yeah, there he was, lying there with his root-feet sticking up and a big hole in the ground where he had lived all those years. It was heartbreaking to see. Carrie had the idea to call Kelly to see if she could make something out of part of the wood from that tree, so she’d have something to remember her grandparents by.”

  Kelly leaned forward. “I came over with my chainsaw as soon as the storm was over and I took some of the wood home with me. I spent a while trying to figure out what to do with it. It had to be something useful, something that wouldn’t just sit in a corner. I wanted it to be something that when Carrie used it she’d feel close to her grandparents. So, I came up with the idea for the rocker.”

  “And it turned out wonderfully, as you can see,” Carrie said.

  “I tried to make it her size, so she’d feel comfortable in it. I made sure the back and arms curved in a way that it would almost give her a hug each time she sat in it and remembered her grandparents.”

  “And I do. Every single time. I love it. We both love it.” Carrie looked over at Shawn, who was nodding. She noticed Andi was rocking slowly and listening with her eyes almost closed. “It’s an amazing place to sit, isn’t it, Andi?”

  “It sure is.” Andi opened her eyes and sat upright. “It’s almost hypnotic, rocking in it, the rockers are so smooth. Kelly, it’s such a…well, I’ve run out of words. It’s definitely amazing and such a lovely thing to do for your friends.”

  “It was a labor of love, believe me. I enjoyed doing it.” Kelly smiled at Carrie and Shawn.

  “That’s not the only thing she built for us.” Carrie got up and went over to a shelf by the fireplace. She picked up a wooden box and handed it to Andi. “She made this for us as a wedding present.”

  Andi ran her hands over the exquisitely made box, with two different colors of wood pieced seamlessly together as if one. “What an interesting box. Those are your initials carved so intricately into the top, right?”

  “Yes, they are. It’s our treasure box.” Shawn smiled at Carrie. When we go somewhere we pick up little things to remind us of where we’ve been.”

  “There was a bit left from Carrie’s tree, so I went over to Shawn’s yard and took a bit from one of the older trees there and combined them. It seemed fitting. The two trees had been growing there at the same time and now Carrie and Shawn would grow a life together.”

  “That’s very romantic,” Andi said. “Wow. Before now, I had no idea such romance existed outside of romance novels. I’ve read tons of them, but never had firsthand experience with it.” She sighed and leaned back against the rocking chair again. “Such a wonderful thing.”

  “Well, we think so. You never know where you’ll find ‘the one,’ do you?” Shawn winked at Carrie. “Could be right down the street.” She laughed.

  Andi examined the box further. “I had a thought. Kelly, have you ever considered making things like this for other people? I mean, custom made treasure boxes with their initials in them. I bet they’d sell very well.”

  Kelly shook her head. “Oh, no. That was a one off. I can’t imagine doing it again. It was a fair amount of work for a little box. No one would want to pay enough for that. Besides, it was, again, a labor of love and I enjoyed making it. I don’t like making things like that for money.”

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I guess I was thinking of other couples who’d love to own something like this. I mean, if I was getting married, I know I’d love a box like this.” Andi ran her hands over the box absently.

  “I hadn’t really thought of that. To tell you the truth, I stay busy doing other things. The house keeps me very occupied and of course there are the few outside jobs I take on.”

  “Well, if you ever decide to make some more of these boxes, let me know. I’m sure I could help you market them. This isn’t the time to get into that, anyway. That was my gallery voice. Whenever I see beautiful things like that, I hear my gallery voice coming on. I didn’t mean to offend you in any way, believe me.”

  “Oh, I’m not offended. It’s okay,” Kelly said.

  “Well, I can understand someone else wanting one of these,” Carrie said. “What makes it so special for us is that Kelly made it and it came from the wood from our two trees. That can’t be duplicated. For other people, it would simply be a box with their initials carved into the top. It might not be nearly as special.”

  “That’s true.” Andi laid the box gently on the table next to her. “Not everyone has as interesting a story as you two. I’m guessing the business about ‘down the street’ has something to do with how you met?”

  Carrie chuckled. “It does, for sure.”

  “Carrie and I first met at the local grocery store, believe it or not. She literally fell into my arms at Publix.” Shawn started laughing.

  “Well, I fell, anyway, and you were courteous enough to catch me. I was mortified. It wasn’t till later that we realized we lived down the street from each other.”

  “You actually fell for each other.” Andi grinned. “How cute.”

  Carrie nodded her head. “I guess it was cute in hindsight, but it didn’t seem like it at the time. Another coincidence was Shawn hiring the construction company I work for to add on a room and do some other work to her house. We got to know each other after that. But it was all coincidence. Her cousin had done some computer work for us and recommended us.”

  “Interesting. Guess you never know what’s going to happen in your life, do you? I love the part about actually falling for her in the grocery store. That does sound like the beginning of a romance novel.”

  Shawn spoke up. “So, do you read a lot?”

  Andi nodded. “I do. I especially love romances. My favorite author is S.K. Richardson. Have you guys read her stuff?” Shawn, Carrie, and Kelly started snickering before bursting into laughter, making Andi look around bewildered. She sat forward in her chair. “What? Did I say something funny?”r />
  “No, you didn’t.” Kelly reached over and patted Andi’s arm. “She’s our favorite author, too.” Kelly wiped the tears from her eyes.

  “What, then? I don’t get it.” Andi still looked stricken. “Come on, tell me.”

  Carrie put her hand on Shawn’s arm. “All right, honey, don’t leave her hanging. Tell her.”

  Shawn laughed. “Andi, I’m S.K. Richardson.”

  “What? Really? Oh. My. God. I can’t believe it.” Andi leaned back in the chair. “Shawn, I’ve read every one of your books. In fact, I’ve read most of them multiple times. Wow. Just wow.”

  “Well, thank you. S.K. Richardson is my pen name.”

  “I’m so excited to meet you. I wish I had my copy of your last book with me for an autograph, but I left it in New York when I came down.”

  “Wait a minute.” Shawn went to her office and returned with a pristine copy of The Beach House and a Sharpie marker. She sat back down on the sofa, opened the cover, and wrote something on the title page. She briefly blew on the writing, closed the book and handed it to Andi. “Here you go, with my compliments.”

  Andi stared at Shawn as she signed the book and handed it to her. She looked at it for a few seconds, gently opening the cover as if it was so precious it would break. There was the inscription: “For Andi. May you always be as happy as you look tonight and may you always have romance in your life. S.K. Richardson.”

  Andi felt a tear form in her left eye, then her right. She reached up to brush them both away. “Thank you very much. I really appreciate this and I’ll always treasure it.”

  “You’re welcome. It’s always a pleasure to meet a fan.” Shawn smiled at her.

  “Aw, now, don’t get all doe-eyed over meeting Shawn,” Kelly said. “She’s just someone who makes her living with words, like I do with wood. If you’d known her as long as I have, you wouldn’t be so amazed at meeting her.” She laughed. “I’m kidding, of course. She’s very talented, isn’t she?”