Мэри Эндрюс: The Newcomer

“Letty, Letty,” she cried, spinning around in a circle and fluffing the multiple layers of tulle skirts. “Miss Ruth and Miss Billie made me a present because I am going away on an airplane. Look! I’m Elsa.”

Letty was speechless.

“Billie designed it and sewed it herself,” Ruth Feldman said proudly. “I found the crown at a costume store and bedazzled it.”

“She insisted on putting it on right away,” Billie said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“It’s fantastic,” Letty said. “Billie, Ruth, what a wonderful gift. We can’t thank you enough.”

“Hey, let’s give Letty our present now too,” Oscar Jensen said loudly.

“Let’s cut the cake and have punch first,” Merwin said. “I’m taking Trudi to get fitted for her new walker in half an hour.” He tapped Letty’s arm. “And don’t worry. I’m not gonna ask you to pay for it.”

“Only because I read him the riot act,” Trudi said, leaning heavily on the back of a folding chair.

Ava DeCurtis emerged from the rec room kitchen with a stack of paper plates and cups. “Okay, come on everybody. We’ll present Letty with your gift, and then cut the cake and let her get on her way to the airport.”

Isabelle brought out a large flat package wrapped in silver paper with a silver bow. “This is for you and Maya, Letty. Everybody here chipped in. Even some of the regulars who already went home.”

“We all want you to have something so you don’t forget about us. And the Murmuring Surf,” Oscar said.

“Let me open!” Maya clamored, already tearing at the paper and letting it drop to the floor.

It was a large, period framed photograph with delicate pastel tinting. Letty recognized the building, and the retro neon sign at once. “Oh my gosh!” she exclaimed.

“That’s one of the original postcards of the Murmuring Surf, from way back in 1937,” Ava said proudly. “The old owners left ’em behind when we bought the place. I found a couple of ’em you missed when you were cleaning out the storeroom. I had one enlarged, and a lady I know hand-colored it. I hope you like it.”

Letty clutched the frame to her chest. “I love it. It’s the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever been given.”

“Look on the back,” Trudi urged.

Letty turned the frame around. Instead of a cardboard backing, the reverse of the postcard was also framed in glass. Her name, and Maya’s, were written in the address side of the postcard. And on the opposite side, someone, probably Ava, she guessed, had written a greeting in bold black pen. WEATHER IS BEAUTIFUL. WISH YOU WERE HERE.

It had been signed by Ava, Isabelle, and Joe DeCurtis, plus all of the motel regulars.

“I don’t know what to say,” Letty whispered, choking up with emotion. “You people—every single one of you—have become so dear to me and Maya. We showed up here out of nowhere and you took us in and accepted us.…”

“Eventually,” Ava put in, to good-natured laughter from the gathering.

“You saved our lives,” Letty said. “Literally. I don’t know what would have happened to us if it hadn’t been for Ava and all of you here. After I lost my sister Tanya, I started telling people that Maya’s the only family I have now, but that’s not really true. All of you are like family to me. And we will never forget you. Or the Murmuring Surf.”

“We don’t intend to let you,” Ava said loudly. “Go on, Oscar. Cut the damn cake and serve up that punch before we all get to crying and carrying on.”

The regulars closed in on the cake and punch, and Ava slowly maneuvered Letty and Maya out the door and into the parking lot.

“Ava,” Letty started.

“Never mind that.” The older woman hugged her. “I already know what you’re going to say, so save us both the heartache. You know you’re like a daughter to me, right?”

Letty nodded.

Ava released her and pushed her in the direction of the white pickup truck idling in the loading zone. “Your ride’s here,” she whispered.

62

JOE GOT OUT OF THE truck and opened the passenger-side door. He took the framed postcard from her and stowed it in an empty duffel bag on the floor of the front seat, then pushed the front seat forward and strapped Maya into her car seat.

“Mr. Joe, I got a new princess dress,” Maya informed him, filling the awkward silence in the truck as they were crossing Tampa Bay on the Howard Frankland Bridge.

“It’s the most beautiful princess dress I’ve ever seen and you are the prettiest princess I’ve ever seen,” Joe told her. “I wish I had a crown like yours.”

“Boys don’t wear crowns,” Maya informed him.

“What about the guy on the Burger King sign?” Joe shot back. “He gets to wear a crown.”

“But he’s a real king,” Maya said. “Maybe you could be a pretend prince.”

Letty smiled at the image of Joe DeCurtis in a crown. She glanced over at him. He kept his eyes straight ahead.

“I thought Isabelle was taking us to the airport,” she said quietly.

“Didn’t think you’d mind a last-minute substitute.” He drummed his fingers restlessly on the steering wheel. “I’ve been kind of a dick to you, huh?”

“That’s one way to put it.”

“That’s how my mother put it.”

“She guilt-tripped you into showing up today, didn’t she?”

“No! She, uh, cornered me as I was leaving work yesterday and, uh, enlightened me. It was my idea to show up today. I had to let Isabelle in on the plan.”

“Okay. Do you mind if I ask what the plan is?”

He took a deep breath. “The thing is … I want you. I just want to be with you, whether that means we get married, or we don’t, or whatever works for you. And Maya. And I get why you have to go back to New York. You can’t just erase all the stuff that happened back there. I realize now that you’ve got to deal with it, and you can’t pretend like none of it happened. I wish I could go with you and help you handle all this crap but … I know you don’t need to be rescued.”

She watched his face as he grappled with the right words, and noticed that they’d taken the exit ramp for the airport. Time was growing short.

“Maybe I’m the one who needed rescuing,” Joe said. “I’ve been single for a long time, and I got so used to thinking about what I need and what I want, and I’m a cop, you know? I’m trained to help people and do good and stuff. And I’m not used to having people question my authority. Or my motives.”

Letty nodded. “I get that. And for the record, I never questioned your motives.” She turned around to check on her niece, who had fallen asleep in her car seat. “Unlike Maya, I think maybe you really are a real prince. Just not, you know, the kind who wears a crown.”

He exhaled slowly. “So. We’re good? You and me?”

“Yeah. We’re good. And here’s a question. Can you wait for me? I promise you, New York is not forever for us. Give me some time and some space, so I can figure out what’s best for Maya and me and our future?”

“Am I included in that future?”

She scooted as far over in the seat as the seat belt would allow and kissed his cheek. “I don’t think I could handle going back there if I didn’t think you’ll be waiting when I’m ready.”

“I will be,” Joe said. “Pick up the phone and call. Night or day. And I’ll be there like a shot. Is that a deal?”

He slowed the truck as they approached the departures lane at the airport, waiting for a space at the curb. Letty began gathering her belongings, and as soon as he saw an opening, he eased over to the curb and flipped on his emergency blinkers.

Joe jumped out and pushed the seat forward as Maya blinked awake. He straightened her crown and lifted her out of the car seat, then reached in to retrieve their luggage. Letty took the two rolling suitcases, and he slipped the strap of the duffel bag over his shoulder, holding Maya in his arms.