find happiness together.” He hesitated a moment, drew a deep breath, then let it go. “You used me, Maggie. You used me to get what you wanted. The only difference between you and my ex is that there was no dog for you to take.”
“No, Tom, that’s not it at all. Please, you have to believe me.”
There was a click, then the telephone line went dead.
That night Margaret did not even try to sleep. She waited until after midnight to fold back the coverlet and climb into bed. After only a few minutes, she got up and stood by the window watching the rain.
She reminded herself that she’d known Tom less than six months, and in the beginning he’d been a friend; nothing more. This feeling she had for him was something that had come about while they were on the trip. She had to believe in time it would pass. Once she settled into her old routine, she’d be able to push aside the ache in her heart and move through the day without thinking of him. It wasn’t as if they’d been together for 50 years the way she and Albert had.
Trying to comfort herself with her memories, she snapped on the lamp, turned toward the dresser, and straightened the pictures. The silver frame containing the studio head shot of Albert in his dark suit was tarnished in the corners. Funny; she hadn’t noticed that before. She made a mental note to remind Josie they’d need to clean it with polish.
Next, she studied the one they’d taken at a country club dance. It wasn’t a particularly attractive shot of either of them, and she couldn’t imagine why she’d chosen that particular photo to frame. Well, it was time to change it up anyway. With all the pictures she’d brought home from the trip, she’d want to frame a few shots of her siblings. Maybe the group shot from the party at Dewey’s house. She smiled thinking back on that night and how Tom had gotten everyone together for a group shot.
“Oh, drat,” she said, remembering that the next-door neighbor had insisted he take the photo so Tom would be in the picture. She couldn’t use that one, but there were plenty of others.
Figuring she was unable to sleep anyway, she decided to pick out a new photo for the frame. She snapped on the second lamp, grabbed the packet from her bag, and sat in bed shuffling through the photos. Each was a memory to be treasured.
She stopped and lingered over the shot of her and Caldonia. They’d stood on the front porch with the sun on their faces. Tom had taken the shot so he wasn’t in that picture, but when Margaret looked closely she could see his shadow in the foreground.
Wondering if perhaps the shadow could be cut out she covered it with her thumb, but that made the picture lopsided. Gathering the photos, she slid them back into the envelope and tucked it into the nightstand drawer. There was no rush. She’d look at them again next week or next month when her mind was clearer.
——————
MARGARET WAITED TWO DAYS TO call Josie and say she was back.
“If you have time, I could use some company today,” she said.
“I can be there in a half-hour,” Josie replied. “On the way, I’ll stop and pick up some bread, fresh eggs, cream, and—”
“Don’t bother shopping. I went to the store yesterday.”
“You were home yesterday and didn’t call?”
“I unpacked and went through some mail.”
“Well, good. I’ll make us a nice lunch, and you can tell me all about the trip.”
That afternoon as they sat across from one another at the kitchen table, Margaret told of seeing her siblings for the first time in over 50 years and showed the photos.
“It was the trip of a lifetime,” she said nostalgically.
One by one, she described those she’d met. Nellie, who was in first grade when Margaret left home, was now the mother of four teenage daughters. Dewey had gone on to enjoy the medical career he’d once dreamed of having. Holding out the group picture they’d taken at the party, she pointed to the younger Dr. Hobbs.
“This is Dewey’s son, Oliver. He’s taken over the practice now.”
Josie held the photo and studied the faces as Margaret filled in the details. When she handed the picture back, she grinned.
“Seems like Mr. Tom Bateman fit in right well.”
“Why would you say that?”
Josie leaned over and pointed to the picture. “See this young fella