Spinning Forward. Terri DuLong
I married, I moved to Lexington, which is nearby.”
“I’m sorry to hear that your husband passed away,” Dora told me. “Please accept my condolences.”
“Oh, I remember Lexington from history classes,” Polly said with pride. “The battle of Lexington and Concord.”
“Yeah, we have a lot of history in that area.”
“And your family?” Dora questioned. “They’re still living there?”
“My parents passed away and I’m an only child. I have a daughter, Monica, that lives in Boston. Do you have children?”
“I do. I also have one daughter, Marin. She’s married and lives in Gainesville. She and Andrew have two grown sons. They spend Thanksgiving with Andrew’s family in South Carolina and come here for Christmas.”
“That makes it nice to share the holidays. I was sorry to hear your sister couldn’t make it today.”
“Oh, you’ve met Sybile?” Dora seemed surprised.
“Well, no, not formally. But I’ve seen her a couple times and people told me her name.”
Alison joined us and passed around a plate with mullet dip and crackers. “Yeah, what happened to Sybile today, Dora? Isn’t she feeling well?”
“Nothing serious. A bit under the weather with a cold.”
“That turkey sure smells good, Miss Ali,” Officer Bob said.
“And there’s plenty of it, so I hope you’re hungry.”
“Anyone know what’s to become of those restored shops downtown?” Polly questioned.
“From what I hear, Noah Hale’s interested in renting one of them,” Saren said with excitement.
I had a feeling he enjoyed being the first to spread any island news.
“Hate to burst your bubble, Saren,” Ali told him, “but we already knew that. Syd was downtown and ran into him at the corner shop.”
“Well, that’s nice,” Polly said. “This place has always been a selling point for artists and writers. Seems they get what they call ‘inspiration’ here.”
“I can understand that,” I said, biting into a cracker. “It’s really beautiful.”
It didn’t escape me that Dora remained silent.
Officer Bob reached for another cracker, popping it into his mouth. “How’s Miss Elly these days, Saren?”
The elderly man’s face lit up with pleasure. “Fine, just fine. Thank you for asking. I told her I’d be home by evening so we can have our cognac together.”
Now I was confused. I thought Saren Ghetti had no family and lived alone. “You have a wife?” I asked.
My question was followed with Polly clearing her throat, while an expression of embarrassment crossed Bob’s face.
“Saren has a live-in ghost,” Alison explained to me, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Miss Elly has been with Saren for over thirty years.”
The man’s face flushed like a schoolboy and he nodded his head. “Yup, that’s right. I couldn’t believe it myself the first time I saw her. There I was, sitting in my parlor enjoying a cigar and cognac and Miss Elly walked into the room. Dressed in one of those long, frilly, old-fashioned dresses she was. And a more beautiful sight, I’d never seen. Wears her dark hair all piled up on top of her head. She’s a vision, she is. Told me I wasn’t much of a gentleman not offering her a bit of cognac. So I jumped up to get her a glass and since that night, she joins me every evening.” He smiled fondly as if just the thought of her brought him pleasure.
I stifled a giggle. Surely, he was kidding. Wasn’t he? But nobody in the group was disputing his story. “Do you talk with her?” I asked, unsure what to say.
“Oh my, yes. We have delightful conversations. Now you’re probably thinking I’m a crazy old man, ’cuz that’s what I thought at first too. Thought maybe I was gettin’ one of those mind problems old people get, ’cept I was only in my fifties when she first paid me a visit. It’s all pretty simple to understand. See, Miss Elly, she was married to a fisherman, and they lived in the house that my family bought in the thirties. Her husband, that would be Mr. Cecil, he drowned at sea. Never did find his body. Miss Elly died shortly after. The town said she died of a broken heart. You believe in that sorta thing?”
My marriage to Stephen had probably been as satisfying as most other couples. Certainly not any more so. When I recalled stories like The Notebook, where Nicholas Sparks weaved a love story of passion that was ageless, my relationship paled in comparison.
I felt uncomfortable with Saren’s question, but managed to say, “Well, yes, I imagine that could happen.”
“Darn right it can. Ya meet that one great love of your life and nothing else equals.”
I wondered if he was speaking from experience. “But then why hasn’t Miss Elly gone on to join him?”
“Well, that’s the strange part. She’s stuck between. Says because Cecil’s body was never found, he could still be here on the island. So I guess she’s still lookin’ for him, but she comes every evening to sit and keep me company.”
Alison was right. The island had its fair share of eccentrics.
“Okay, everyone, dinner is about to be served. So bring your appetite and find a place at the table,” Alison told us, heading to the kitchen.
“I’ll help you carry things out,” I offered, grateful to get off the subject of Miss Elly. “Is he for real?” I whispered.
Alison laughed as she placed the turkey on a platter. “He’s very much real. Can’t prove it by me that Miss Elly doesn’t visit him. Sometimes a little belief goes a long way,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.
“But everyone out there acts like she’s real too—well, like she’s a ghost.”
“We don’t know that she isn’t. There’s a lot of good energy on this island—some souls might not ever wanna leave. You’ve always been too cynical. Get those bowls and let’s get this feast on the table.”
Surrounded by my best friend and new acquaintances, I clasped Polly’s and Dora’s hand as Alison said grace.
“Lord, thank you for another beautiful day on Cedar Key. Thank you for all that you’ve given us and thank you for the wonderful friends that grace my table.”
“Amen,” we all said in unison.
6
I had survived my first week as a gainfully employed woman. Sure, my legs ached from all the walking and carrying trays of food. And I had to admit, it was pretty menial work, but I felt good with a sense of accomplishment. Making it enjoyable were the customers—mostly locals, all of whom were friendly. But even the tourists were chatty and appeared happy just to be on the island visiting.
Stepping on the bathroom scale, I was thrilled to discover I’d lost five pounds since arriving in Cedar Key. Even workouts at the gym in Lexington hadn’t brought about the loss of weight I’d hoped for.
I looked into the bathroom mirror and frowned. “God, maybe Polly was right. I’m a mess,” I said, pulling my hands through hair that refused to do anything but droop like wilted flowers.
Lilly was sitting in the doorway, staring up at me with furrowed brow.
“I’ve managed to lose five pounds,” I told her. “Maybe it’s time for a new hairstyle.”
After pouring myself a cup of coffee, I wondered if Polly could squeeze me in. It was my day off and I had no plans.
“Come on, girl,” I told Lilly.