Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
By the time we finished eating, we had planned the rest of our day which would mostly involve driving to the Washington Street Mall in Cape May.
Alicia and I weren’t familiar with it, but Heather and Rita described the city’s three blocks closed-to-traffic shopping area with lots of eclectic stores and eateries.
“I think there may be a bridal shop nearby if it’s not on the mall,” Rita told Heather. “I don’t need anything quite as fancy as you.”
“True,” I agreed. “What are you looking for?”
She paused, thinking. “I want something nice enough for a wedding that I could also wear to church.”
Alicia turned to me. “Am I invited?”
“Of course,” I said readily. “I’d have sent you an invitation if I’d known you’d be home.” I hadn’t met her before, but I’d heard so much about her from Heather. I wanted to include her on my guest list since it sounded as if she’d be staying with her mother for an extended visit.
Rita bargained with Alicia. “If you help me select my dress, I’ll do the same for you.”
Alicia laughed. “That’s a deal.”
Benjamin returned with our check, which Rita inspected before giving him her credit card. “As usual, we enjoyed our meal,” she remarked. “Where do you work out?”
“The Fitness Center in Avalon. Why do you ask?”
“Just wondered,” she replied. “You’re in good shape.”
He gave Rita an enthusiastic smile. “Thanks. They have Tai chi, if you’re interested. The older folks seem to like it.”
“Maybe,” she said, more for my benefit than his. I’d once suggested the activity, although she had no interest at that time. I wondered if she’d changed her mind.
When he went off to process her credit card, she turned to Alicia, leaning in as if to conspire. “You could probably use a little exercise during your visit.”
Alicia gave Rita a questioning gaze. “Do I look fat?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sakes. Do I have to spell it out? You now know where that waiter hangs out when he’s not working.”
We all laughed, including Alicia who, I felt certain, knew what Rita had implied.
When Benjamin returned with Rita’s credit card and copies of the transaction, I noticed she added a nice tip before signing. He pulled out her chair and lent her a hand to stand, then turned his attention to Alicia.
Heather and I pushed our own chairs out instead of waiting for his assistance, then joined Rita for the walk to my car. I figured Alicia would be along in a moment or two, which she was.
We had decided to drive directly to Cape May instead of stopping at home first, so I let my GPS direct us. Rita sat up front with me and made sure I took the right roads. Once she felt that I’d be fine, she asked if our wedding plans were going smoothly.
I nodded. “Everything is on track. My mother’s working on the table assignments for the reception, so I’ll be sure to add Alicia to our list.”
“Are you getting married in Stone Harbor?” Alicia asked.
“No. Rita’s church, which I liked, was booked until January of next year, so we ended up with one in Phoenixville for October 18. It’ll be nice.”
“That’s good,” Alicia remarked. “You can use fall colors for the wedding party.”
“My matron of honor chose royal blue, since the guys are wearing navy blue suits.”
“Oh,” she said, not very enthusiastically.
“Fall colors go with blue, don’t they?” I asked. “Maybe you and Rita could pick up on that vibe.”
“Sure,” she agreed, still not enthused. “Did Mom tell you I majored in Fashion Design?”
“I don’t think so, although I’m not surprised. You probably inherited your mother’s natural art ability.”
“Maybe,” she said simply.
I wondered if she knew that an art gallery in Philadelphia had consigned her mother’s artwork.
In the past, Heather down-played her talent until I’d made a big deal of it.
I suspected she hadn’t shown Alicia any of the finished canvases she stored in her garage or her studio, but I intended to say something about that at some point.
In the meantime, we had shopping to do.
On our drive to Cape May, Alicia engaged us with her stories about visits to the fashion houses in London and Paris, and described her ideas for a line of clothing which would become her senior project.
It struck me that she didn’t seem sick, nor did she put on airs as she had the day before. I totally enjoyed her presence.
Rita did, as well. We hadn’t thought to put her walker in the car before going to church because she didn’t need it for short jaunts.
The Washington Street Mall, however, posed a challenge even if there were plenty of places for Rita to sit for a moment or two after I parked the car.
Alicia took it upon herself to scout out those locations, and we’d all pause to get our bearings.
At the bridal shop, we assisted Heather in her search for a bridesmaid gown.
She tried on four before becoming frustrated with the process, yet the last one looked lovely on her.
Heather told us she felt smothered in solid royal blue, but Alicia selected a colorful shawl that turned a rather ordinary dress into something sensational.
We agreed that the burnt orange, russet, and maroon swirl intensified the effect, so I bought another as a gift for Angela.
From there, we went to a dress shop for an outfit Alicia and Rita might wear to my fall wedding.
The place catered to all ages, and they helped each other pick out a pretty ensemble, suitable for any occasion.
They both had fun finding what matched their tastes and personalities, and we all left happy.
Before returning to the car, we found a bench on the mall where Rita could rest. It happened to be directly across from a trendy sportswear shop. “What are you going to wear to the gym?” she asked Alicia.
“Probably sweats, if I even decide to go there.”
“I remember a segment on the Golden Girls,” Rita noted, “where they signed up for an exercise program at a fitness center and wore their new outfits. It cracked me up. Anyway, you should go over to that store and buy something sexy to catch that young waiter’s eyes.
” She reached into her purse and handed Alicia two twenty dollar bills. “It’s on me.”
Heather protested. “A sweatsuit is fine at a gym, and Ali’s here for medical treatment, not hooking up with some guy.”
“Oh, for heaven sakes, she can enjoy life even if she’s sick, and I’d like to gift her for helping me choose an outfit for Jodie’s wedding. Let her have some fun.”
“Fine,” Heather replied with a shrug. “We’ll wait here for you, honey.”
When Ali made her way across the mall, Rita said, “I don’t want you to be upset, Heather.
When you were her age, I didn’t have money to buy you things the way I wanted, so I’d babysit for you.
Now, I have more savings than I’ll ever use in my lifetime.
Please let me share what I can, with whom I want. ”
Heather smiled with a nostalgic cast to her eyes. “Could I really have been Ali’s age when we first met?”
Rita nodded. “Pretty close. Alicia’s not a baby anymore.”
“I know, and I’m trying not to treat her as a child, but she’s sick. It’s just my motherly instinct kicking in.”
“She’s going to need space,” Rita advised. “I’ve had to make the adjustment with my grandson, and you’ll need to do the same with your daughter.”
“I guess you’re right.” Heather sighed audibly, but stopped protesting.
While we waited for Alicia, we discussed supper options.
Rita didn’t think she could manage walking the mall to find a nice place to eat, so Heather suggested we drive to a restaurant in Cape May that she and I had visited previously.
“It turns out,” she noted, “Jodie and Tony had eaten there during their honeymoon.”
Rita smiled. “What a small world. I’d enjoy going, as long as I won’t have far to walk and it won’t dredge up sad memories for Jodie.”
“It was initially hard for me when Heather and I went, but I’m good now. That sounds like a great idea.”
“It will be my treat,” Rita said, “and don’t argue.”
We laughed at her expression, then simply thanked her. I began taking photos of the mall, thinking I could add to my travel blog about Cape May. Pictures wouldn’t go into the magazine since that issue had been printed months ago, but online subscribers would have access to newer content.
As I meandered, I avoided camera shots of people because I’d need their permission to publish. I merely caught storefronts, sunlight bouncing off shop windows, and quaint signs I thought readers might enjoy seeing.
Halfway down the next block, I encountered a shoe store which beckoned me in. Before I knew it, I tried on a pair of white, glitzy, sling-back heels that would look perfect with my wedding gown. Better yet, they were on sale, and fit like a glove.
Ecstatic, I handed the clerk my credit card, thanking him for taking an important item off my to-do list. By the time I made it back to Heather and Rita, Alicia had also returned with her own bag. “It looks as if we both had luck,” I exclaimed.
She gave a jubilant grin. “If my new outfit fits, I’ll model it on my way to the gym. What did you buy?”
“My wedding shoes,” I said, pulling the box from the bag. They all leaned in for the viewing, then praised me for my great find.
“I think it’s been a successful shopping trip,” Rita noted. “If you’ll help me back to the car, we’ll enjoy a pleasant supper.”
She managed to make it to a bench at a bus stop on the through street, and the others stayed with her while I scurried to my car in the parking lot. I picked them up, then Heather directed me to the restaurant.
Thoughts of Tony barreled into my consciousness, though I gave them only a fleeting moment to tug at my heart. We arrived in time for their early-bird specials, and I chose the penne pasta with spicy chicken sausage, mushrooms, and onions. He would have loved that, and I did, too.
Alicia looked as if she enjoyed the company of her mother, me, and the next-door neighbor, at least until Heather told stories about her trip to Morocco with Wyatt. At that point, Alicia merely listened politely as she ate her grilled chicken salad.
Rita, of course, loved hearing about her grandson, and she often interjected with questions. Finally, she asked, “Will he be coming home soon?”
“One more week,” Heather replied joyously. “I’m glad I was able to visit the historic sites and happy he could finish out the rest of our itinerary.”
“If it weren’t for me,” Alicia muttered, “you wouldn’t have had to leave your boyfriend.” She accentuated the last word.
Heather stared at her. “You’re my daughter; my flesh and blood. Honey, I’d have dropped everything and everyone to spend time with you. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Alicia kept busy cutting a tomato in her salad. I detected a slight shrug, but I minded my own business. Rita caught my eye and, for once, she didn’t comment. She did, however, change the subject.
“Did I mention that my friend, Sam, and I enjoyed eating here after his wife died?” she asked. “He was a penny-pincher, you know, so he liked the early bird specials.”
“Tell us about Sam,” I said, although I’d often heard about him during the summer. I expected her to tell everyone about his hot dog stand in Stone Harbor, but she focused on the loneliness they both felt after their spouses died.
I knew she meant that message for Alicia, but she may have intended it for me, as well. “Humans are social beings,” she said. “We need to open our hearts to others, even if we’ve committed to one person. There’s more than one kind of love, you know.”
Alicia glanced at Rita, not sure what the older lady meant.
I hesitated to ask, knowing Rita had loved three men. She meant well, and we were able to finish our meal in peace.
Everyone was quiet for the trip back to Stone Harbor, and I attributed that to our delicious dinner and lots of walking. The silence was interrupted only by the sound of the lady on the GPS, which Rita defined as comforting.
I thought that was a good description to end our busy day.