Brunonia Barry - The Map of True Places

Hawk listened as the sailor told the story of the house on Turner Street and of Zylphia and her sailor, a story he’d never heard before.

“That’s your ex-girlfriend’s house he’s talking about,” Josh whispered.

When the sailor detailed the part about the young sailor climbing the side of the house on Turner Street to make love to Zylphia on the widow’s walk, Hawk stood up.

“You okay?” Josh asked.

Hawk didn’t speak, but he listened to the rest of the story, about the beatings from the captain and how it was believed that Zylphia and her Haitian housekeeper had poisoned him, how Zylphia had made her escape, the worn oarlocks on the stolen dory found on the Miseries becoming the evidence that she’d gotten away. The lovers had simply and very mysteriously vanished, leaving behind only the dory with its worn thole pins.

The women in the front row loved the story, which led to teasing from the sailors. “It’s so romantic,” one of the women said, putting a hand to her heart.

“Remind me not to go out with you,” the host said.

“You can go out with her,” her friend said. “Just don’t marry her.”

“Fair enough.”

Hawk was standing now, a nervous feeling overtaking him. He didn’t find the story romantic-he found it brutal and horrifying. His mind wandered to Roy and what he’d done to Lilly. And how there hadn’t been anything he could do to stop it. And then he thought about Zee, had been thinking about her all along, really.

Roy had recently moved to New Hampshire. Not to this part of New Hampshire, but a couple of hours from here on the other side of the state. Hawk had made sure Roy was long gone before he left town. He couldn’t do much for Zee, but he could do that.

Still, he didn’t feel better. He was very agitated. It was hot in here. He needed to get some air.

Josh caught up with him outside. “I thought everyone knew that story,” he said.

“I didn’t,” Hawk said.

SIGN THE DNR IF they let you,” Melville said to her. “But I’m not certain that a doctor can declare him incompetent. I think you might have to go to court to do that.”

“It sounds as if you’ve looked into this,” she said.

“I thought it might come to this, yes.”

Zee kicked herself for bringing it up. “I don’t want to sign a DNR.”

“But it’s what he would want.”

“If he wants it so much, why didn’t you have him appoint you as his health-care proxy?” she said.

“Probably for the same reason that we didn’t make marriage plans,” Melville said. “We always thought we had time.”

“I’m sorry,” Zee said. “I wish you had gotten married.” She thought about the wedding she was going to tonight, and how lucky Mattei and Rhonda were by comparison.

“Let’s change the subject,” Melville said finally. “Happy birthday.” He held up his glass and toasted her. She smiled.

“Virgo,” he said. “Very neat and organized. Great at detail work. Observant. Picky. You can think a thing to death. The phrase ‘analysis paralysis’ comes to mind.”

“You’re quite the little astrologer,” she said.

“Happy birthday,” he said again. “To better things in the year to come.”

She looked up in time to see Mickey and Ann walk into the bar. Mickey held a chair for Ann, and she sat down. Melville and Zee exchanged looks.

“Is that a date?” Zee was amazed.

“It sure as hell looks like one,” Melville said.

“I don’t believe it.”

JESSINA SEARCHED THE CABINETS FOR cake decorations. She had used most of the colored sugar on the Fourth of July cookies. Now she found some green shamrocks, which she rejected, and some heart confetti, which would be perfect to scatter lightly about. But she needed something more. Climbing up on a kitchen chair, she looked deep into the baking cabinet and spotted the amber bottle with the silver dragées. The little silver balls would be perfect, she thought.

She placed them around the perimeter of the cake, spaced every inch or so. Then, with enough left, she spelled out HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZEE in the middle. When she was finished, she covered her creation in plastic wrap, using toothpicks to hold the wrap away from the frosting.

She cleared everything off the lazy Susan and placed the cake in the middle, spinning it just enough so that the birthday message would be clear to Zee the minute she walked into the kitchen.

ZEE LOOKED AT HER WATCH while Melville signed the check.

“Thank you for dinner,” she said.

“Are you going to be okay at that wedding all by yourself?” he asked. “I could go with you if you have time for me to run back and change into a suit.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said. “But thanks.”

They stopped by the bar on the way out to say hello to Ann and Mickey.

The bar was packed with diners waiting for tables and a preppy-looking group of sailing types. Some guys turned to check out Zee as she passed.

“So what are you two up to?” Zee asked Ann and Mickey.

“Don’t ask,” Ann said.

Mickey smiled widely and stood to offer Zee his seat.

“We’re just heading out,” Melville said.

“Mattei and Rhonda are getting married tonight,” Zee said.

“Oh, I forgot about that,” Ann said. “Should be fun.”

“My boss,” Zee said to Mickey by way of explanation. Then, knowing Mickey’s feelings on the subject, she added. “And her girlfriend.”

Everyone waited for Mickey’s reaction. “Hey, if that’s what the good citizens of Massachusetts want, who am I to protest? I’m a progressive guy.”

Ann rolled her eyes. “Sure you are,” she said.

Two seats at the bar opened up, and a young man who had been eyeing Zee found the courage to walk over.

“Hey, we’ve got seats,” the guy said. “If you and your father want to join us for a drink.”

Zee smiled and declined.

“You and your father,” Mickey said to Melville. “That idiot. How did he know you weren’t her date?”

He was being genuine, but it didn’t come off that way. “Older man, younger woman, it happens all the time.” He smiled at Ann.

It was funny, Ann thought, regarding Zee and Melville, how much alike they looked. Ann was surprised she had never noticed it before. They could easily have been mistaken for father and daughter. In many ways Zee looked just like her mother. But if you examined the cheekbones, the eyes…

“I’ll bring the car around,” Melville said, leaving them.

“I thought you seemed a little too dressed up for this place,” Mickey said. “Happy birthday,” he added, kissing her cheek.

“Happy birthday, Hepzibah,” Ann said.

“Don’t stay out too late,” Mickey said.

Zee laughed. She kissed them both and walked to the curb.

“What?” Mickey said, noticing Ann looking at the car as Melville pulled up.

“Nothing,” Ann said.

A big plate of Stoli oysters that Mickey ordered arrived. Ann started to laugh. “Oysters?” she said. “What part of vegan don’t you understand?”

“Hey, you’re the one who picked Finz.”

“And I’m planning to order their vegan dinner,” she said. “To say nothing of that ridiculous cliché. Oysters? Are you kidding me?”

“I took a shot.”

ANN WATCHED THROUGH THE WINDOW as Melville pulled the car up to the curb. She watched as he got out and walked around to the passenger’s side to open the door for Zee. Ann was lost in thought as the car drove off. It took her a moment to realize that Mickey had been trying to tell her something. “I’m sorry. What?”

Mickey gestured toward the frustrated hostess who was waiting to take them from the bar to the restaurant. “I said, our table is ready.”