Chapter 24

twenty-four

A round six o'clock that evening, Isabelle was inspecting the meager contents of her refrigerator when the cottage door flew open, and Blossom sashayed in on a cloud of floral perfume. She was dressed in a green flowing jumpsuit that matched her emerald eyes, and her silver coils were tied in a loose knot at her nape.

"Get dressed!" Blossom demanded. "We're going to town for dinner."

"No thank you. I'm exhausted. I'll eat a quick bite here and go to bed."

"You've been resting all afternoon," Blossom said, peering over her shoulder into the refrigerator. "It doesn't look like you have much in the way of food here anyway. Besides, when's the last time you had any fun?"

Isabelle couldn't remember when she last went to town for dinner, and she knew Blossom wouldn't take no for an answer. She closed the refrigerator door. "Okay. I'll go with you." She glanced down at her seersucker slacks and white blouse. "I should change though."

Blossom gave her a once-over. "Why? What you have on is fine."

Isabelle lowered her gaze to Blossom's feet. "Where's Jolene?"

"Shelby is dog sitting for me."

"Then what are we waiting for? I'm starving." Isabelle grabbed her purse and followed Blossom out of the cottage. When she saw the blue school bus idling in the courtyard, she stopped in her tracks. "Surely you don't expect me to ride in that contraption. We'll take my car."

Blossom kept on walking. "Sorry, Charlie. The Blossom Bus is way more fun."

"If you say so," Isabelle said, lacking the energy for an argument.

Gospel music sung by rich, soulful voices greeted Isabelle inside the customized school bus. The interior boasted an all-white decor featuring leather seats, velvet pillows, and faux sheepskin rugs. There was a small galley kitchen outfitted with white and chrome appliances, and at the rear was a bed made with fluffy white linens.

"It's like heaven in here," Isabelle said in awe.

Blossom laughed out loud. "Exactly. This is my home away from home." She put the bus in gear, and they glided out of the driveway.

"The ride is so smooth."

Blossom winked at Isabelle. "Because the tires aren't actually touching the road."

On the way to town, she tooted her trumpet-sounding horn at every car they passed. Most of the other drivers responded in kind. Isabelle pressed her lips tight to hide her smile. She didn't know when she'd had such fun.

They never discussed where they would eat. But Isabelle wasn't surprised when Blossom parked in front of her favorite restaurant, Clam and Claw, or when the hostess showed them to the table in the front window where she and Edward always sat.

When the waitress arrived, Blossom took the liberty of ordering a glass of Champagne for Isabelle and a sparkling cider for herself.

"What're we celebrating?" Isabelle asked.

"Your resurrection," Blossom said with a straight face as she studied the menu.

The color drained from Isabelle's face. "My resurrection ? Did I die? Was the ride in the Blossom Bus my trip to heaven?" she asked, taking in her surroundings. "Is Clam and Claw my eternity?"

Lowering her menu, Blossom set her gaze on Isabelle. "You're not dead, Izzy. I'm referring to your emergence from the past that's been holding you hostage for too long."

"Oh. That again." Isabelle lifted the menu to hide the tears welling in her eyes. She'd been an emotional wreck since she'd told Blossom about her mama and the pearl bracelet. With blurred vision, she ran down the menu items. As much as she loved peel-and-eat shrimp, she found them too messy to eat in public.

When the waitress returned with their drinks, Blossom once again ordered for them. "We'll have house salads, hush puppies, and peel-and-eat shrimp."

Isabelle waited until the waitress left. Leaning across the table, she whispered to Blossom, "You're either a mind reader, or Edward told you everything about me in great detail."

"I told you Edward did not send me here. You summoned me."

"That's the most preposterous thing I've ever heard."

"Believe what you will. As for the shrimp, I'm blessed with a keen perception, and I sensed you were longing for them."

Isabelle gave her a curious look. "What about the hush puppies? Since you know so much about me, you know I never splurge on carbs."

"I'm aware. But you should splurge on carbs. Life is short. Enjoy every minute."

Isabelle braced herself against the table. "Are you trying to tell me something, Blossom? Am I going to die soon?"

Blossom laughed. "I'm not privy to such information. My job is to help you live whatever time you have left to the fullest." She held up her glass of sparkling cider. "To new beginnings."

Isabelle clinked her glass and took a sip, the bubbles tickling her nose. The Champagne was dry and crisp. She couldn't remember the last time she drank Champagne, the last time she had reason to celebrate. Her hopes soared as she realized she very much wanted a new beginning. But her hopes came crashing back down when she realized a new beginning was beyond her reach.

Blossom settled back in her chair. "Tell me about your relationship with Edward. How did you two meet?"

Isabelle inhaled an unsteady breath. "We met our senior year in college when his fraternity at the University of Georgia came to Lindenwood College for a mixer. We hit it off right away." She drained the rest of her Champagne and summoned the waitress for another.

"How much did you tell him about your background?"

Isabelle waited until the second glass of Champagne was in hand before answering. "I never told Edward the truth about my upbringing. I lied. I told him that my parents had died in a car accident when I was a young child and that my mean aunt, from whom I was estranged, had raised me. While he was suspicious of my story, I don't think he wanted to know the truth. When he suggested we elope, I packed my suitcase, and we ran off to the nearest justice of the peace. Our elopement didn't sit well with Edward's socialite mother, who had in mind for him to marry her best friend's daughter, the season's most sought-after debutante."

The waitress delivered their food, and Isabelle dug into the peel-and-eat shrimp, not caring how messy her fingers and lips got. They ate in silence until a pile of discarded shells was the only evidence left of the shrimp. When the waitress suggested Key lime pie for dessert, Isabelle shook her head and asked for decaf coffee.

Blossom held up two fingers. "Make that two, please." She folded her hands on the table. "Did you and Edward move back to Water's Edge after college?"

"Not immediately. At the time of our elopement, Edward had been accepted to law school at the University of South Carolina." Isabelle's features softened as she reflected on the early years of their marriage. "I supported us by working at the makeup counter at Tapp's Department Store. Those were the happiest times of my life." She stiffened. "Then he graduated, and we moved in with his parents at Magnolia Shores."

"How was that?" Blossom asked as she dumped spoonfuls of sugar into her coffee.

"Terrible. Edward's mother hated me. She made my life a living hell." Isabelle lifted a finger. "I'll say this much about Bethany. I learned a great deal from her about social etiquette and taking care of a fine home. I also learned how to be a snob."

"Being Edward's wife and Bethany's daughter-in-law secured my admission into the right social groups. But their friends merely tolerated me. I never truly belonged—even to this day."

Blossom planted her elbows on the table as she sipped her coffee from the mug. "Is that your perception or reality?"

"What do you mean?"

"You have a chip on your shoulder, Isabelle. Maybe you psyched yourself out. Is it possible your feelings of inferiority skewed your perception of reality?"

Here we go again with the chip-on-the-shoulder nonsense. "I'm not sure, honestly. I never let anyone get too close for fear they would discover the truth about my past."