The Hideaway

I walked him around, showing him some of the artwork hanging on the walls and propped up against door frames. He nodded and smiled when appropriate and poked his head into each room.

“Oh, this is nice,” he said when we got to the back porch. He sat in a glider facing the lawn. “I can see why you like it here. It’s peaceful.”

We sat silent a moment. Daddy settled into his seat, his arms stretched over the back, a picture of relaxation. I waited as long as I could.

“How did you know where to find me?”

“I didn’t at first. When you left, I thought you’d bunk with a friend for a week or so, then get back home where you belonged. But when the weeks kept coming with no word from you, I grew concerned.”

“I was going to call. I—”

“Then I remembered the check I gave you.”

I inhaled sharply. The check.

“After a couple of weeks, I called my bank and asked them to alert me the minute you cashed it. I was relieved you were still close by. A simple call to First Coastal in Sweet Bay told me you were here. The teller I spoke to was terribly complimentary about this place. I wanted to wait for you to come home on your own, but it’s tearing your mother apart not knowing what’s going on with you.”

I gave Daddy a look. “If it’s tearing her apart, then why isn’t she here with you?”

“Now, Margaret, that’s just not fair. Your mother loves you. And so does your husband.”

When I didn’t respond, Daddy cleared his throat. “So this is a bed-and-breakfast, right? Did you check in for an extended stay?”

“You could say that.”

“What have you been doing this whole time? I know you haven’t just been working on that old boat out there.”

“Actually, I’m managing the house now. The owner had to leave and she asked me to take over. I think the job suits me.” I smoothed down my pants—wrinkled and linen, so different from the pressed pencil skirt I’d be wearing back home.

Just then, Daisy crossed the backyard in yoga attire, her mat slung over her shoulders. “Hi, Maggie,” she called out.

I held up a hand in greeting.

“I just ran into William,” she continued, unconcerned with the strange man sitting on the porch with me. “He said to tell you he’ll be a little late for dinner tonight.”

My breath caught in my throat and heat crawled up my cheeks. I kept my eyes on Daisy making her way around the side of the house, even though I could feel Daddy’s stare.

Finally he broke his gaze and laughed to himself. “When you were born, I suggested we call you Maggie, but your mother refused. She said Maggie was the name of someone in pigtails and bobby socks. She said there was power in a name, and Margaret held the kind of power and influence she wanted you to have.” He shook his head. “I still think Maggie’s cute.” He paused. “Is William a guest here?”

I closed my eyes. “Daddy—”

“You know what? Whoever he is doesn’t matter. You’ve had your time away. I even gave you a little money to help you out, but you’ve made your point. It’s time to come on back.”

“What?”

“People are starting to talk, and you know how your mother feels about that. I don’t particularly care for it either. I know you’ve had a hard time with Robert, but we’ve let you stay gone long enough.”

“You let me stay gone?” I fought to keep my emotions under control. “You didn’t let me do anything. It was my choice to come here, and it’s been my choice to stay.”

“Okay, fine.” He held his hands up in surrender. “You’ve stayed gone as long as you needed to. But enough is enough. It’s time to get home.”

“Home? I don’t even know where that is anymore.”

“What are you talking about? Your home is with Robert, your husband. Where else would it be? Certainly not here.” He gestured toward the house with his hand, casually dismissing the place that had become my entire world.

“I don’t belong with Robert anymore—not in his life and definitely not in his bed.” Daddy’s mouth dropped open. I’d shocked him, but I didn’t care.

“Margaret,” he whispered. “Do not disgrace yourself by speaking of such matters.”

“Oh, Daddy, you sound like Mother. We’re both adults. Can’t we speak that way?”

“You want to speak like adults? Okay, you’re holed up here in this secluded hotel when all of Mobile is talking about how you packed your bags and left your war-hero husband. You may feel slighted by Robert’s actions, but you’re not coming out on the right side of this.”

“If I cared what side I came out on, I wouldn’t have left in the first place. And anyway, Robert left first, if you remember. Funny how no one mentions that. You knew it wasn’t business—you said so yourself. His leaving just showed me it was my time to leave too. He opened the door and I walked through it.”

“Tell me about this William, why don’t you? You talk about the speck in Robert’s eye, but what about you carrying on with another man?”

“What makes you think I’m carrying on with William?”

“Your red cheeks when that gal over there mentioned his name told me all I needed to know. If he’s here in this hole-in-the-wall hotel, he’s no one you need to be associating with. Does he even have a job?”

“Of course he has a job.”

“He does know you’re married, right?”

I sighed while Daddy drummed his fingers on the seat next to him.

“Let’s just forget about him for a minute. What about a job for you? A real one. You can work for me and I’ll make sure you’re paid double. Your own spending money in your pocket—that’ll give you the freedom you want without having to make your point living and working at a place like this.”

I shook my head slowly. “You don’t get it, Daddy. I’m not here because I want a job. This job fell into my lap and I took it, simple as that. I’m here because I couldn’t stay back home any longer. Not as the person I was. I’ve been forcing myself into molds for too long. I need to make my own life, and it’s happening here.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by needing your own life. Your own life is all you’ve ever known.” He threw his hands up. “I’ve worked hard to make sure you and your mother never have to go without a single thing. Do you mean to fling that in my face and tell me it was unnecessary?”

“No, I appreciate all you’ve done for me. It’s just that what I want—what I need—can’t be bought and paid for. Not with money, anyway.”

We both turned when we heard a noise coming from the doorway into the house, but no one was there. He took a deep breath before speaking again.

“Robert may have left, but he’s back now.” I raised my eyebrows and he nodded. “That’s the real reason I came to get you. He’s back in Mobile and he’s sick. He needs his wife by his side. If he’s a decent man, this William should understand.”

“Sick? Robert doesn’t get sick,” I said with a laugh. “He’s never even had a cold in the three years we’ve been married.”

“I don’t know why you’re laughing. Death is not a laughing matter.”