A Wedding at Keegan Bay: A Blenders Mystery, #5

By Veronica Helen Hart

Will the arrival of a newly discovered granddaughter spoil Doll's wedding?
 

The wedding is a week away and Doll is having second thoughts as she observes Michael's reactions to her quirky family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Champagne Book Group
• Release date: Sep 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781771559935

Book preview

A picture containing text, tree, ground, reptile Description automatically generated

A Wedding at

Keegan Bay

VERONICA H. HART

CHAMPAGNE BOOK GROUP

A Wedding at Keegan Bay

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Published by Champagne Book Group

2373 NE Evergreen Avenue, Albany OR 97321 U.S.A.

~~~

First Edition 2021

eISBN: 978-1-77155-993-5

Copyright © 2021 Veronica H Hart All rights reserved.

Cover Art by Chris Holmes

Champagne Book Group supports copyright which encourages creativity and diverse voices, creates a rich culture, and promotes free speech. Thank you by complying by not scanning, uploading, and distributing this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher. Your purchase of an authorized electronic edition supports the author’s rights and hard work and allows Champagne Book Group to continue to bring readers fiction at its finest.

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Version_1

To Bob Hart and

Marie Louise McIntyre

Chapter One

Maggie

Mary Margaret Fleming sat in front of the mirror in her pink bikini panties and matching padded bra. She brushed her long straight brown hair that she hated. She hated her tiny breasts and her long skinny arms and legs. That’s what God gave her, and she had to live with it.

She drew her hair up and pouted at her reflection. Too sexy. She let it drop down around her shoulders. It was hot that way, but she’d be on the ship soon and there, at least, they’d have air conditioning. Like in Momma’s bedroom. Momma had air conditioning because the doctor ordered it. Between her asthma and diabetes, she couldn’t breathe well in the heat.

If they moved out of this swamp and into a nice trailer park, Momma could get out more and maybe feel better. She could walk around some and lose about a hundred and fifty pounds. Then maybe Daddy would want to sleep in Momma’s cold bedroom with her instead of across the hall in Lou Ann’s old bedroom.

Maggie pulled on the coral pink tank-top, then tugged a black satin skirt over her hips. One plain thin silver chain with the delicate cross around her neck, medium-sized silver hoop earrings, and she was ready. She turned and finished her inspection.

She told Momma she’d be spending the night at Kaitlyn’s house. Not that Momma cared. She only cared when she needed something from the kitchen, or wanted her neck massaged. Maggie never knew if Daddy noticed the nights she was gone.

She picked up a purse, her car keys, and a black shrug she’d crocheted last winter. The boat might be chilly.

Momma sat in the oversized recliner, watching a talk show. Her hair hung in sweaty tendrils around her face and neck. Maggie looked at her sitting there, a wallowing fat slob in a brightly colored, flowered muumuu.

She studied her for a moment, seeing her as a stranger might. Want me to fix your hair before I go, Momma?

That’d be nice, Sister. Your skirt’s a bit short. What are you and that Kaitlyn girl gettin’ up to tonight?

Nothin’, Momma. I just like to look nice when I go there.

Though Maggie always cringed when she had to touch Ida Mae Fleming, she always hoped one day Momma would suddenly look at herself and say, Why, what a fat slob you have turned in to. You need to be getting on that treadmill your beautiful Maggie bought you with her hard-earned money.

Maggie quickly pasted the hair up and away from Ida Mae’s face and neck and put the hairbrush back on the fake mantel over the fake fireplace.

I’ll see you in the morning, Momma. You take care now. And make sure Daddy checks Ralph Waldo’s water, will you? His dish was dumped over when I got home from work last night.

You wanted a dog, you take care of it. Hush now, this here is the doctor I told you about. He talks about healing relationships through the Lord. Wouldn’t hurt you to stay home some evening and listen to him for yourself.

The sadness that lurked in Maggie’s heart crept up to her face and tugged the edges of her mouth down. Momma watched those shows and criticized all those crazy people on them, never once recognizing herself.

Ida Mae kicked her slippers off, exposing the black bottoms of her feet. Maggie shuddered. Averting her gaze from the sight of the woman, she filled the dog’s bowl with dry food and headed out the door. She walked around to the side of the dirt yard to where Ralph Waldo Emerson lived his life chained to his doghouse.

Somehow, when she brought him home from the shelter when she was in high school, she had the idea he would stay in the house and protect her. Stupid girl. That’s what Daddy called her the first night she had the big black lab in her room. The dog snarled when Daddy came in late that night.

No damned flea-bitten, mangy dog is living in my house and growling at me. You get that sucker out of here tonight. He can live in Ernie’s old house. Ernie was Daddy’s hunting dog that died a long time ago. Maggie was sure an alligator snuck up out of the swamp and ate him. Daddy kicked Ralph Waldo in the ribs to prove he meant business. She tied Ralph out by the doghouse, and that was where he lived ever since.

She loved Ralph Waldo and always spent time talking with him when she came home and before she left. She unchained him when Daddy wasn’t home and let him run along the levee that formed the driveway into their property.

Not long, Ralph Waldo. She scratched behind his ears. I’m going to see my grandmother for the first time tonight. She doesn’t even know I exist. What do you think of that?

Chapter Two

Doll

I’d been sitting in front of the mirror for at least half an hour wondering who was the old woman staring back at me. What business did I have getting married at my age? My brown hair didn’t fool anybody. I took a sip from my wine glass then saluted the image in the mirror. She smiled back at me.

Mom, are you ready? The limo will be here in ten minutes, my youngest, Kevin, called from the living room.

Instead of a shower or a bachelor party, Mike and I agreed to take the wedding party on a dinner boat cruise out of Daytona. Most of the Blenders, friends from the old trailer park where I used to live, made up the party. Old Howard asked if he could give me away, and I was delighted to let him. He actually was old enough to be my father. I returned the smile at the image and got up. The blue dress looked nice, and I’d found comfortable dressy sandals to go with it. Satisfied with my appearance, I headed out into the hallway.

Kevin stood at the sliding glass doors seeming to stare at the fence next door. What are those men doing over there?

What men?

He pointed to the back yard of the neighboring house. It belonged to snowbirds, so no one lived there in the summer as far as I knew.

A speed boat of some sort was tied up to their dock. Three men carried duffel bags from the boat and disappeared behind the fence that separated the properties. I shrugged. None of our business. Maybe they have family that uses it in the summer. I haven’t lived here long enough to know the habits of my neighbors.

Your new dock is coming along nicely. When do you get your yacht?

I laughed at him. Ever since I struck it rich, he and his brothers had been teasing me because I tended not to be extravagant. In some ways. They didn’t know about the trusts I had set up for them and for a couple of charities.

The boys had convinced me to buy a boat, and they promised they’d come down with their families and use it regularly so it wouldn’t just sit in its berth, growing barnacles or whatever unused boats did. I’d hired a captain to take care of it.

They’re waiting for my call once the dock is finished, I said.

Kevin continued to gaze out the window. Looks like it’s going to be huge.

I think it’s a hundred feet. Does that sound right?

Geez, Mom. We’re not going around the world. We just wanted something to use for fishing and maybe going down to the Keys.

Oh. After being on the lower end of the income scale most of my life, I still had trouble understanding wealthy peoples’ toys. Should I change it for a smaller one?

No, that’s fine. But you might check to make sure you can keep it out here. You might have to dock it at a marina.

That would be a nuisance. I’ll have my man check.

Speaking of men, that butler guy is creepy. Did you do a background check before you hired him?

He belongs to Sandy. He came along with her. There’s plenty of room for them in the mother-in-law apartment, and he likes to garden. Anyway, it’s too complicated to bother explaining, but they worked here before I bought the house but not for the woman who used to live here.

His eyes didn’t exactly cross, but he’d lost interest in my domestic staff.

So, when are you going to retire? I folded my arms and stared out the window with him.

I have a long way to go, Mom. So, you really love this guy? Mike?

We’re very good friends, I replied. Violet asked me the same thing when I told her I accepted his proposal. Secretly, I dreaded the idea that maybe he just wanted a housekeeper. Heaven knows, it wouldn’t be for frolicking in bed on a regular basis. She and I discussed the pros and cons of marrying after age seventy. The balance came out on the pro side. It’s nice to have a companion at dinner and someone to share a cup of coffee in the morning. And maybe be there if you fall.

If that’s good enough for you, we all wish you happiness. You know that. He put an arm around my shoulder and gave me a gentle hug.

This youngest child of mine, a wild child. Biker in his youth. While his older brothers studied, graduated from college, and secured good jobs, Kevin lived as a free spirit, traveling around the country doing odd jobs to support himself. He eventually settled down in his late twenties and joined the police force in Detroit. A tough job, but he apparently loved it.

Your car is here, madam. Sandra startled both of us. I never heard her enter a room. Her silence as she moved through the house unnerved me at times. And, Mr. Burns, there’s a call for you on the house phone. In the office. She pointed toward the room I’d designated as my office when I bought the house.

Be quick, Kevin.

He left, and I followed Sandra to the front door.

A handsome young man wearing black trousers and a white shirt leaned against the car, arms folded, his eyes squinting as he faced the late afternoon sun. Longish blond hair ruffled in the breeze. Ah, would that I were twenty-one again.

Chapter Three

Maggie

Maggie whistled as she drove along Beach Street while listening to her GPS guide. She turned into the marina and the dinner boat. Her heart raced. She was so excited, she prayed she wouldn’t make a complete fool of herself. Deep breaths, deep breaths, she chanted as she cruised the parking lot for an empty space. She doesn’t know you, so you’ve nothing to worry about. Remember that.

Her mouth went dry as she got out and locked her car. It looked forlorn among all the Mercedes Benzes and BMWs in the lot. I’ll be back. She patted the roof of the car and stepped away. Away from her past and into her future. She hoped.

Everything she’d read about the family suggested a nice middle-class bunch of people. She’d watched them online for over six months. Ian, the oldest son, was married to Audrey. They had three sons. He had two brothers. Any one of the three brothers could be her father. Maybe tonight she’d find out.

She hiked up the sloping parking lot, and when she reached the sidewalk that ran along the dock, she slowed to admire all the boats. Lights were already on in one of them, a large cabin cruiser—at least that was what she thought it was called. Party music drifted out along with the mouth-watering scent of barbecue. She paused for a moment, enjoying the idea of living on a yacht and having friends come visit, then picking up the anchor and traveling to some exotic port in India or China.

Voices further on caught her attention. People boarded the large paddlewheel boat. She was too far away to recognize if they were members of the pre-wedding party. That was what Audrey called it. Audrey said there would be a huge family affair at an Italian restaurant near New Smyrna the night before the wedding and then an even grander reception and dinner at the clubhouse in Keegan Bay Park on Sunday. Maggie hadn’t figured out a way to be there yet.

She really wanted to scope these people out before approaching them. Especially with the younger brother, Kevin, a cop, in the mix.

She hiked the rest of the way up to the boat. Her eyes had to be big as silver dollars as she stared at the looming structure before her. It appeared at least ten times bigger than the trailer she lived in. More music floated out of this boat, drowning out sounds from the smaller boat down the way.

Everybody boarding ahead of her had to be at least eighty years old. Like, really old.

You have to go inside and get your beeper, honey, a white-haired woman said. They’ll tell you when to board. Unless you’re with a party? Maybe they’re already in there.

Um…I’m on my own, thank you.

Maggie headed into the office, gave her name, and told the man at the desk she wanted the macaroni and cheese for supper. He handed her a beeper.

Hoping to see some younger people on board, she scanned the small office, but only more old people sat staring at their beepers as if that would make them go off sooner. Maggie chose to stand outside and watch the others first. Maybe she’d spot the family.

But everyone was so old. One lady used a walker. She had to think this through. How conspicuous she would be, the only young person there? What excuse could she give? Research for a school report? What kind of research? She wasn’t even in school. Couldn’t afford it, and both her parents refused to fill out forms when she wanted to apply for financial aid. The two scholarships she’d received, and returned, didn’t come close to covering the first semester’s tuition much less books and room and board. She took a job at the hospital in Deland, close to home, planning to work there two years, save money, then try for college again.

Working in the admissions office, she learned a lot about people in just the few months she’d been there. So many sad and lonely people. So many scared people. She wanted to help them all. Someday, she would be in a position to do just that. She just had to stay focused. One step at a time. And that hospital had beautiful, positive signs all over the place. She always liked entering the air conditioned building with its clean fresh fragrance and the floors so shiny she could see her reflection in them. Her spirits lifted much like when she went to school. Everything had its place; people were almost always nice to her; she knew exactly what was expected of her. Having to go home was just the opposite. Except for Ralph Waldo, the squalor of the old trailer depressed her.

Today, maybe her life would really change.

After fifteen minutes, her beeper buzzed. She headed to the ramp that led up into the nose of the boat.

A man took her beeper. Sit where you like. Upstairs is nice today.

Ah. Next problem, where to sit? Where would they sit?

Did you see that limousine before? someone said behind her.

No, I was probably in the bathroom, someone else replied.

Must be a famous person aboard. I wonder who it could be?

Two old women talking. Maggie debated; open-air upstairs or inside downstairs? She knew what she preferred, but what would the old folks want? Remember, Kevin is with them. He’s not so old. Maybe he’ll encourage them to sit outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.

Toward the far end of the downstairs dining room she caught sight of an extremely tall old man. He seemed to be in charge of his group, pointing this way and that. Though the boat was nearly full, she heard him call out, Doll, over here!

Doll. That’s what they called Doris Burns Reynolds. Downstairs it would be. Maggie entered the already crowded room, voices overwhelming any music that might be playing. And all of them old, old, old. Seriously uncomfortable and definitely an odd duckling, she backed up, bumping into the walker lady.

Careful, young lady, she cautioned.

Perspiration not caused by temperature formed on Maggie’s forehead. Panicked by her reaction to the people, she pushed her way through the crowd still trying to enter. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, she said over and over as she fled the scene.

Once on the safety of the concrete sidewalk she paused for a breath. Her eyes burned. The man with the beeper crossed the ramp and stopped beside her. Are you all right?

I-I’ve never been on a boat. I panicked. I’m sorry. Maybe I’ll try again another time.

I’m sorry. You know there are no refunds, right?

I know. I’m sorry.

Not to worry, young lady. Everyone is afraid of something. Sometimes they don’t even know what it is until they see it. Like you and boats. You go on and have a nice evening. Daytona has lots of nice places where you can meet young folk like yourself.

Chapter Four

Doll

This should be fun, Michael said. We’ll get a different perspective of your house and of Keegan Bay Park.

We sat at the front end of the boat at a long banquette. Pete and Alice, Maggie Brown, Violet and John Hathaway, Old Howard, Justine, and Larry and Al from Keegan Bay Park had joined us along with Kevin.

As soon as we left the dock, Michael and Kevin went upstairs to buy wine and beer for everybody at our table. Old Howard slid closer to me. I’m happy for you, Doll. As long as you’re happy.

Thanks, Howard. I’m not so sure, you know. This makes number three. Who needs to be married three times?

Having second thoughts?

I fiddled with the salt and pepper shakers, twisting them this way and that, making them match up and then separating them. Nerves. Isn’t that what happens to all brides just before the wedding?

Be-boppa-lula, blasted over the sound system.

"So I’ve heard. I don’t recall my wife ever saying she felt that way. But then that was over seventy years ago. I might have forgotten. Thing is, until you say, ‘I do,’ you’re not married. Once you’re hitched, you change your name, go to the Social Security office, the driver’s license office, and I don’t know what all. Change your will, I suppose."

She’s my baby…

He continued in spite of the music, making my heart sink lower and lower, ready to bypass my stomach and drop to my toes. Then there’s fixing coffee in the morning.

He’s a very independent fellow, I said. It was true. Mike had never been married except to the Marines. He knew how to take care of himself.

Howard nodded as if he knew far more than I about it. My point, exactly. He’s set in his ways. I’ll bet he’s not nearly as flexible as I am. He’ll jump out of bed in the morning and do his calisthenics, fix his coffee, make a fried egg and toast, maybe some juice, and be ready to start his day. What does he do with his time?

I had to think about that. Well, at the park, he was always helping people. That’s his way. He’s very sweet about it too. One of the things I love about him. His kindness and generosity.

Um-hmm. And what do you expect out of this marriage?

Now that my heart had reached its destination, my mind had also emptied. What do I want? I don’t want anything. I guess.

Old Howard drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then that’s probably exactly what you’ll get. What about joy? What about a shared commitment, making plans, laughing in bed together?

Howard! First of all, joy seems like something lost with youth. And—and making plans seems a bit silly at our age. What can we plan? Our funerals? My voice had risen, and the others at the table stopped their chatter and stared at me.

I gaped at them, ashamed of my outburst and distressed by my feelings. Maybe Howard was right, I was having second thoughts about marrying Mike. When I married Don, I remembered joy. I recalled planning a honeymoon, talking about the children we would have, the house we would build, growing old together. The growing old part didn’t happen, but everything else did. Even after the glow of the honeymoon wore off, we laughed and sang together. We loved the same movies and television shows. He wasn’t a reader, but he never complained when I read in bed at night. I didn’t even know what movies Michael liked or what television shows he watched. Did he read? I didn’t recall him mentioning books, but then I never talked about the books I read. Did we laugh and giggle together? Or sing? Too late to plan for old age.

I was anxious for him to get back with the wine. I hoped he bought a whole bottle just for me.

The sixties music was getting on my nerves. I was married to that music the first time. What was popular when I married Barclay? I couldn’t remember. How odd that we enjoyed music together, but I couldn’t recall a single song we might have called our own. Nineteen-ninety-nine. My mind drew a blank. Two lost husbands. Did I want to go through that again? At our ages, well…

I found my thrill…

That did it. I turned my ears off and leaned forward in an effort to catch the conversations going on around me. I refused to think about weddings, husbands, or anything else. This was a party, and I intended to join it.

A speedboat rocketed past us, making our boat rock a little as Michael and Kevin staggered across the length of the dining room with trays of drinks.

Sorry, Howard, Michael said. No cognac, but I brought you a choice of house red, white, or beer. Take your pick.

The house red will go well with the prime rib. Howard accepted the plastic glass.

I’ll have a red as well, I said.

Red for the blushing bride. Michael laughed as he passed my glass across the table.

Hardly, I grumbled under my breath, but Old Howard, in spite of his age, heard me.

He elbowed me. Think about it, Doll.

Hey, isn’t that your house, Mom? Kevin shouted from the other end of the table where he was dispensing drinks.

I stretched up to see. Sure enough, my new house. And next door, the boat still there, three men lolled on the deck by the swimming pool, making themselves right at home. Maybe they were. Somehow, I expected my neighbors to be retired like everyone at Keegan Bay Park, not half-naked, tattooed and bearded men. They looked more like thugs than the kind of people who would live in such a nice neighborhood.

Chapter Five

We arrived home by eight o’clock. Too early to call it a night, but my eyes could barely focus and it might as well be midnight. Too much food and drink. The gorgeous chauffeur had dropped us off and reminded me he’d be available all week right up to the wedding, the reception then home again afterward. That’s what I’d hired him to do, but the way he said it, it came across as if he’d planned his life around me and my wishes. Spending my money was beginning to feel good.

Now you can have your cognac, Howard, I said. Sandra had set up a drinks cart outside by the pool. From day one, she seemed to know what I wanted before I did. She was like that with the guests as well.

We lounged about like a bunch of beached whales. The tiki torches kept the mosquitoes away. When the sun set, they would add a warm glow to the evening. A high white fence lined both