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#Post#: 845--------------------------------------------------
Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: May 23, 2012, 7:40 am
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I've started writing bits and pieces for this and things are
rolling pretty smoothly. I've got another character banner I'll
get posted in a bit but this current one if just to set the
mood, haha. The title's inspired from a Fleetwood Mac song
"Sleeping Angel" It seems quite fitting for the story. Please
enjoy! :D
HTML http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p555/rmbarrettchase/light-house-gloucester.jpg
Author's Note : *Disclaimer* - Please know that this is a work
of pure fiction. I'm but a humble writer and I don't make a cent
from these works, I just write them for my own and the enjoyment
of others. I do not mean in anyway to infringe upon the famous
individuals/characters that are mentioned within the work. I
only own the original characters unless otherwise stated. If you
would like to post my work please contact me and I will gladly
grant permission as long as my name is mentioned and the
disclaimer (above) is posted along with the piece. I don't bite,
I promise. :-)
#Post#: 846--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: May 23, 2012, 7:54 am
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I do apologize for this being so short but I thought I'd post it
for you. I'm still working on my second banner however but never
fear! It will be up today and I'll be working on a second part
to this. I do hope you enjoy it. :)
May, Newton Massachusetts
"I'd like to thank my wonderful wife Claire and my daughter Mary
Elizabeth for their love and support. Without them I don't think
I'd be standing here today..."
Yeah, it's a wonder you even recognize us these days, Dad.
I thought to myself as I sighed and tried to keep my mind of the
agonizing heat that had built up in the main dining room of
Regency Hotel. My father had been elected as Judge a week
earlier and there was a dinner in his honor, and all of
Massachusetts' oldest and most powerful families were out to
congratulate him. It was the same old thing at every one of
these dinners, rich small over priced food is brought out and
wine is flowing like water until the wee hours of the morning.
Old wind bags get up and toast the grand huha and every one puts
on airs and social graces. Society women talk about each other
and their flings with the pool boys and their husbands talk
about their affairs their secretaries. The dirt is dished on who
may or may not be divorcing and who's had work done. I rolled my
eyes at his mentioning of my name. I had just graduated with a
double Masters in Fine Art as well as Business Finance from
Brown, a set of degrees and a school my father scoffed at and
told me I'd never use if he could help it, earlier that day and
had wanted to go out to celebrate with some of my friends but my
parents put the kibosh on it.
"We've got to support your father, you can go out any time you
wish, Mary Elizabeth. Besides, it'd be good for you to meet some
people of good social standing."
My mother had all but sighed to me as I was marched up the main
staircase and into my room to get changed for the dinner that
was seeming to drag on for all eterinity. In our house I'd been
called nothing but my full name since I could remember, I'd
always wished for someone to give me some sort of nick name. I
had been sent to the best private schools my family's money
could buy, sent on luxirous vacations that I couldn't stand,
taught three different langauges and yet I still felt that I
didn't belong in the upper classes. Being around the East
Coast's creme del la creme made my skin feel tight and made me
generally uneasy. My parents were never the type of show any
type of affection toward each other or me for that matter and I
had to look to hired help for it. I'd become quite attatched to
the various maids and cooks we'd had in our hire over the years
and found myself loving their tales of blue collar life by the
sea. From the time I was eight I had a dream of owning a house
by the water as well as a fishing boat. I had a love affair with
the sea for some reason and my parents couldn't stand it. I'd
recently come into some money left to me by my paternal
grandfather as well as a trust set up by my parents and I'd
decided to go after my dream. My parents were less then
impressed when I told them of my plan and were down right livid
when I'd purchased two boats and a house in the town of
Gloucester.
"Why would you want to live there of all places, darling? It's
so...so...so working class. You my dear are not of working class
stock."
My father sniffed when he'd seen the photos I'd been sent by the
realitor and my father didn't say much of anything except the
odd mumble from behind his news paper.
"If she wants to do it Claire then let her. Perhaps she's on to
something. Let her do what she wants for God's sake."
My grandmother had remarked with a wink aimed in my direction
one night last week when she was over for dinner.
By the time the dinner was over and we'd gotten home I'd busied
myself with packing my clothes and toiletries that I'd hardly
noticed the time had gone past three. I'd slept soundly that
night and late into the next morning awaking energized and ready
to move on with my own life. I was going to seize the day and
pave my own way into the future come hell or high water.
Standdish name and upper class upbringing be damned.
#Post#: 852--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: May 23, 2012, 4:09 pm
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I love this so far :] it must be difficult for her, struggling
to cope with her families expectations every single day like
that. I couldn't imagine being happy living in such a way; I'd
break free even if my choices upset my parents. I can't wait for
the next part! :D
#Post#: 855--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: May 24, 2012, 5:20 am
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Aww I'm so glad you enjoyed the first installment. :) I should
be working on the second half tonight so don't worry, haha. My
second banner didn't turn out so well but at least it's
something to give you an idea of what the characters look like
:D
HTML http://i1155.photobucket.com/albums/p555/rmbarrettchase/Gloucester-Sea-Smoke.jpg
#Post#: 864--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: May 25, 2012, 7:57 am
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I like this banner very much actually! :D it's beautiful. Plus,
I don't know if I mentioned your choice of title in my first
comment, but it's great! Fleetwood Mac are a great band :]
Everywhere is a favourite of mine by them.
#Post#: 879--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: May 26, 2012, 5:44 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Aww thank you so much! I'm so glad you like it! I do agree,
Fleetwood Mac are a fab band, and I love the song Everywhere :D
I'm also a fan of the song Storms as well as Seven Wonders. I do
hope you enjoy the next part, I'm afraid there not an "adult
scene" as of yet but there will be in the future never fear :D I
apologize if this is a little slow but it'll pick up soon I
promise :)
Early the Next Morning
I honestly can't say I slept late into the morning because I'd
set my alarm for eight anded ended up hitting the snooze button
until eight-thirty. The final alarm bleet went off and I dragged
myself out of the bed and into the bathroom to take a shower and
get changed into something that wasn't trimmed with lace and had
to be dry cleaned. I'd settled on an old tshirt and a pair of
shorts before trying to dig out my sneakers from under the bed.
I'd ended up tying my hair up into a pony tail due to the
humidity and grabbing the last of the my bags before heading
downstairs to say my final goodbyes to the staff.
Evelyn Hemmings, the maid was already dabbing at her face with
her hanky as she pulled me into a hug.
"We're going to miss you, Mary. You gave us something to look
forward to everytime you came home."
I hugged poor Evelyn back and tried to sooth her the best I
could.
"I'm going to miss you too, Evelyn. Hey, when you're in
Gloucester stop by my house any time. That goes for all of you,
my door is always open."
Frannie Wilcox the cook sighed as she wiped her eyes and thrust
an over flowing box of recipes into my hands.
"These are a little house warming present for you from all of
us. We know you can cook but it's so you never go hungry in a
new house. I'll be by later this week to give you a hand to
unpack."
I felt a lump starting to form in my throat as I pulled Frannie
into a hug and whispered my thanks to her.
Gus Riley, my father's driver had worked for us for as long as I
could remember came over and pulled me into a hug and sobbed
into my shoulder before letting me go.
"If you're lookin' for someone to man those boats for you my
sister's son Charlie is lookin' for work. He's a good guy,
strong work ethic, don't drink much, knows the waters and a boat
like the back of his hand. If you do hire him, tell him I send
my hellos."
I wiped my eyes with a stray tissue and nodded before trying to
answer.
"Consider him hired, Gus. If Dad gives you any trouble you call
me and I'll be on them like white on rice, ok, Gus?"
Gus barked out his usual booming laugh and nodded.
"Uyuh, Mary. I'll keep that in mind."
As I tried to hurry out the front hall I heard footsteps coming
down the staircase.
"Mary Elizabeth, Wait!"
I turned to see my mother standing there in one of her silk
dressing gowns holding her purse and a small box.
"I know you're leaving and that we've never been close but I've
got something here that I want you to have."
She handed me the wrapped box complete with satin pink bow and
then pulled me into a hug before kissing my cheek and handing me
an envelope with money and a small satin bag.
"You can't buy the first few pizzas out of your own pocket, it's
unethical. The bag's got something for you to keep the faith
with when you ever fall on hard times."
For the second time in my life I saw the human side of my mother
and I grinned as I hugged her.
"Call me if Dad gets in one of his moods. I'll be here to get
you out, just pack a bag and stash it in the hallway closet, he
doesn't ever look in there for anything."
My mother nodded and gave me one last hug before brushing away
stray tears that had fallen down her cheeks.
I made those last few steps through the front door and down the
worn stone steps of Standdish House and out of my car. I looked
back to see my father looking down at me through the window in
his study. I waved and much to my surprise he waved back and
then went about his work again.
"Some things never change, do they?"
I remarked to myself as I got behind the wheel of the hand me
down Honda that I'd paid my father two hundred in cash for and
started the next phase of a new life away from high society.
I found myself entering the town of Gloucester one hour later
due to a back up of traffic, all thanks to the summer stragglers
that wanted to visit some place close enough to home yet far
enough away to deemed a vacation.
As I slowly made my way down the road I glanced down at the slip
of paper with my new address.
"Six St. Louis Ave...where the hell are you?"
I found myself muttering to myself as I looked around the
deserted street until I spotted the house and the old worn porch
swing.
Home sweet home. I thought to myself as I pulled into the
driveway and ventured up the squeaky front steps to unlock the
door to what was now my home. Two hours went by as I brought in
bags and boxes from my car and awaited the moving truck that
held my newly purchased furniture. Well, it was hand me downs
from my parents but my father made me pay for them none the
less. Three hundred dollars for the worn dresser, coffee table,
couches, over stuffed chairs, tv stand, and kitchen table with
four chairs. The sellers of the house were nice enough to throw
in a bed, complete with new matress, china cabinet, and various
china and cookeware for free. As I busied myself I glanced out
the kitchen windows to see some of the locals come out onto
their lawns and take a look at me. I felt like I was some sort
of caged animal from the Boston zoo on display. A few of them
waved and others just gawked I waved back to the pleasant ones
and kept myself busy unpacking and dusting until about three
that afternoon when I made my way into the central part of town
to pick some groceries.
There's got to be a parking spot somewhere. I thought to myself
as I drove around the local Shaw's Food and Beverage for the
sixth time. I finally found one and made my approach but was cut
off by a beat up pick up filled with long line netting and a few
worn out approach buoys used by long line boats. I found a
parking spot next to the pick up and finally parked my car. Just
as I did my motor stalled and made a sputtering noise before
giving one final wheeze before it starting to billow out thick
black acrid smoke.
"Damn it!" I sighed as I slapped the steering wheel and ended up
honking the horn instead.
The occupent of the truck craned his neck around to see who had
honked at him and ended up getting out of his truck to get a
better look. Here this poor guy had probably worked all week
from sun up to sun down and ended up having to go shopping and I
just honked at him. I felt myself shrink down in the driver's
seat as he walked closer. He sauntered over in a worn pair of
jeans covered in some sort of oil, smudged with what looked like
fish guts, a tshirt that was emblazoned with the local watering
hole's logo which was named The Crow's Nest, deck boots that had
seen better days, and greasy hair which was pulled back into a
pony tail that was in dire need of a good wash. I noted that his
rugged good looks were topped off with just a smattering of a
five o'clock shadow just starting to show. He leaned in and
tapped on the window of my car and motioned for me to roll down
the window, which I did, as he leaned in.
"Sorry I cut ya off there, M'am. I didn't even notice your car
making an approach. Looks like you're in quite a wicked pickle
here. Wanna pop the hood so I can take a gander at it for you?"
I barely made out a word of what this made had just said to me,
I was too taken with his deep blue sparkleing eyes and just
ended up nodded before obediently popping the hood to the car.
I yanked open the driver's side door and got out almost losing
my footing as I went to the front of the car as the smoke
cleared. The un-named presumed fisherman was busy tinkering away
and muttering to himself.
"Well, it looks like you over heated, give it thirty minutes and
you should be good to go. Do your shopping and go to the regular
check out line and you'll be home in time to see your husband to
the door."
I cleared my throat and brushed back my bangs as I adjusted my
bag on my shoulder.
"I'm not married...uh I don't think I caught your name...Thank
you by the way."
The fisherman grinned as he wiped his hands on his jeans and
closed the hood.
"Oh, I'm Charlie Sullivan, and I'm sorry. I just assumed that
you were. Haven't seen you around here and I thought you were a
tourist or something here for the summer."
"Oh, are you Gus Riley's nephew, Charlie? I'm Mary Elizabeth
Standdish." I held out my hand to shake his.
"Uyuh, I'm the same Charlie. Uncle Gus is a real pip ain't he?
It's nice to finally meet a person from the family that actually
gave him work after he gave up fishing. I hear you bought that
house over on St. Louis Ave and two boats from the Cape Anne
Marina."
I nodded and shielded my eyes from the rays of the afternoon sun
for a second so I could make eye contact.
"Yeah, I'm actually looked for fishing crews, a little birdy
told me that you're the guy to hire. My offer stands if you're
interested. The boats are being redone so they'll be ready for
the start of next Long Line Tuna season. Nothing major just some
mechanical stuff and some replacement of worn parts. I was told
to get them renamed, I'm not so sure if I agree with that.
Uh...could we possibly get out of the sun? I'm only getting a
tan on one side of my face."
Charlie who looked a little sun fried himself nodded vigoursly.
"Oh...uh sure. Sorry, Well, you don't have to rename them unless
you want to. I myself think it's bad luck but that's just me.
Well, I've got work welding work and small charter trips to do
to finish out the summer season but give me a call around
October if you need a couple of guys for your crews. I know a
few that'd be happy to have the work and I thank you for the
standing offer."
I nodded as I grabbed a cart and Charlie turned toward me and
rubbed the back of his neck for a second.
"Hey, uh if ya need help around that huge place of yours, y'know
drywall, painting, anything like that feel free to gimme a call.
I'm over at the Crow's Nest, just tell Ethel you're looking for
me. She's real good about relaying messages. Or uh...just stop
in."
I nodded and smiled before agreeing and leaving him to go about
his shopping and made my way to the dairy case.
Sure enough after I gathered my groceries and went through the
check outline my engine had cooled and I was thankfully able to
make it home in one piece. Later that night I opened my mother's
gifts and found that she had given me a gold crucifix on a gold
chain, a note was included saying it had belonged to my maternal
grandmother and had kept her safe during many a trying time in
her long life. My mother's other gift was a wall sampler with
the words Home Sweet Home stitched into it lovingly in elegant
script. It was given a place of homage on the wall above the
couch and flanked by photos of it's maker and her husband, a man
who worked the sea until his dying day.
Two weeks went by before I heard anything from the lovely Mr.
Sullivan again. I was out on the back deck scrapeing paint off
of the window sills in order to prep them for a fresh coat when
I heard someone pull up in the side yard.
Oh Christ, figures. I'm out here half sun burned, in cuts offs
and a tank top, barefoot with my hair a mess and someone decides
to show up for a visit.
I thought to myself before wiping my hands on my cutoffs and
wiping sweat from my brow.
"Hey there, Miss Standdish. I've got some fresh swordfish here.
My cousin and I ended up buying a fish and splitting it. I've
got my fill but I thought you'd enjoy some."
I grinned as I set down my scraper and walked over to a freshly
scrubbed Charlie that still smelled of the sea.
"Oh, why thank you, Charlie. You know you can call me Mary
Elizabeth, or something shorter if you can think of it. Please,
have a seat. You want a glass of iced tea or a beer or
something?"
Charlie took a seat on one of the deck chairs and brushed the
hair out of his eyes.
"I'll take some iced tea if you have it. Billy and I had quite
the night last night so I'm still recovering. Ain't anybody ever
given you a nick name? Called you Mary Beth or something?"
I went into the kitchen and got two glasses of iced tea and came
back out and sat down across from him.
"Uh, no actually. In the Standdish household there was no room
for nick names or pet daliences."
I put on a mock stuffy New England tone and made a face elicting
a chuckle from Charlie.
"Man, you sure aren't like the rest of them blue bloods up on
Chestnut Hill, are you? You've got a good sense of humor and
don't have your nose up in the air."
I chuckled as I took a sip of iced tea and grinned before
settling back into my seat.
"Why thank you. I pride myself on being a non society person.
The money's nice but it isn't everything. I look for substence
rather then pride and long blood lines. My father flipped when
he found out I wasn't going to Harvard to study law, but oh
well. Que sera sera. So, Gus told me a while back that you went
to Emerson to studying English Lit. How did that go?"
Charlie sipped at his tea and sighed.
"Alright, I was actually two credits away from finishing before
my Ma got sick. I had to come home and give Dad a hand taking
care of her. When I'm not fishing I'm home helping around the
house and all that fun stuff. With her medications and her round
the clock care I'm still paying off students loans that aren't
being used."
I raised my eyebrows and thought for a second.
"Would you go back if you could? I mean if that's not too
personal to ask..."
Charlie rubbed the back of his neck and nodded.
"Yeah, I would but I know that ain't gonna happen any time
soon."
My wheels were already turning as to how I could help Gus's
nephew and I was bound and determined to do it.
Charlie changed the subject quite swiftly and looked at me with
merry blue eyes as he sat back and looked out at the backyard.
"What are you doing tomorrow?"
I was caught off gaurd and blushed beneath my already sunburned
face.
"Oh..I uh, was just going to do some work around here and
probably some laundry. Why?"
Charlie grinned and he looked out at the view of the open water
and far out light house.
"Oh I was just wondering. I was going to invite you over to my
cousin's place. His baby girl was just christened today and he's
throwing a big cookout.
Told me I could invite anyone I liked, I've heard you're a
sucker for cute kids. You don't even have to bring a gift."
I tried to keep a smile back as it played at my lips.
"And who, pray tell told you that little tidbit of information?"
"Uncle Gus, but don't tell him I told you. So are we on?"
I grinned and nodded before brushing my bangs away from my eyes.
"Sure, what time do you want me there?"
Charlie grinned and set down his iced tea glass.
"I'll meet you here around two. Don't worry, I'll pick you up."
I smiled and looked down for a split second before meeting his
eyes with a slight blush on my burnt cheeks.
"It's a date."
Charlie grinned and we shared a moment or two of uninterupted
staring before he checked his watch and got up from his chair.
"Oh wow...it's getting a little late. I've got to get home to
give Ma her nightly meds. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Enjoy the
fish."
"Oh...uh ok. Tell your parents I said hi...and I will thanks.
See you tomorrow."
I saw him off to his truck before I turned to go back into the
house.
As soon as he pulled away I let out a whoop of glee and
commenced a some sort of dance around the house.
Get ahold of yourself! It's just a barbeque for God's sake! It's
nothing big. I thought to myself as I got dinner ready and
turned on the local weather.
My heart was still fluttering and that grin was still on my face
by the time I turned in for bed that night.
You've only known this guy for two weeks and you don't know him
from adam. How could you still be falling for him? the rational
side of me questioned. The romantic all things are possible side
sighed and couldn't think of a witty answer but retorted with a
Well the heart wants what it wants. I was finally able to calm
both sides and allow the sound of late night summer waves
lapping at the beach and the lone sound of a ship's horn lull me
into a deep sleep. One of the deepest sleeps I'd been in since I
left home.
#Post#: 880--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: May 27, 2012, 3:09 am
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I absolutely adore this so far and I was a little unhappy when
there was no more to read! haha. I am sure the next chapter will
be just as delightful to read and I can't wait for it. You write
so well and this made me smile a lot. I was thinking all about
what it might be like when me and my fiance move to a new home
together whilst reading your description of her house and such,
something I want to thank you for. I smiled a lot whilst reading
it :] haven't smiled once in a while and didn't think I could
anymore haha. I am loving Charlie too! he seems to be quite a
lovely chap and her little victory dancing was brilliant xD
can't wait for more to see what they get upto!
#Post#: 912--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: May 27, 2012, 12:28 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Aww thank you! You made me blush :D I'm so glad I could bring a
smile your face! I dare say I'm taking a shine to Charlie myself
and it stinks that he's just a character, haha. I tried to keep
Maybeth's move as truthful as possible, knowing her she's still
got a few more boxes to unpack but she'll get to them
eventually. I do hope you enjoy the next bit. :D
Later the Next Day
Theday seemed to fly by as I finished the work around the house
that needed to be done and stopped by the laundromat to do some
much needed laundry. I'd ended up making two stops on the way
back home. First was by one of the small local children's shop
to pick something small, it was nothing but a little stuffed
rabbit, for Charlie'scousin's little girl. The second was to the
local beverage outlet to pick up a case of beer for the adults
to enjoy. There was an old tradition in New England that when a
baby was christened you show up with a gift for the baby and a
gift for the parents, something that was proferably alcoholic in
type. The blue bloods did it with wine or scotch of the oldest
quality from private stocks, the working class did it with beer
which is something I was quite fond of myself. The selection
was pretty much picked over thanks to the summer people but I
finally settled on a favorite brew from Rhode Island and called
it a day. Then a thought struck me. What if they weren't
drinkers?! I'd decided to whip up a blueberry pie just in case.
By the time I wrapped the baby's gift, shoved the case in the
fridge, and put the finishing touches on that crumble I noticed
I'd have two hours to get ready. What a trying two hours that
would prove to be for me. I hopped in the shower due to the heat
I was sweating like a pig most of the day and being outside for
much of it didn't help my predicament much at all. As I grabbed
my robe I heard someone knock at the front door.
"Ugh! Damn it! Hang on!"
I called as I made a wild sprint with a towl wrapped around my
head still sopping wet to the front door.
Another solid knock sounded as I made my way through the living
room and into the front hall and into the archway. I peeked
through the filmy lace curtains I'd put up and saw Jim Wilmer
standing there in his usual grease stained jump suit with an old
oil rag trying to get wipe his hands before I opened the door.
"Hey there Mr. Wilmer. What brings you by today?"
Jim grinned his usual Cheshire Cat smile that was accented and
made possible by his one size fits all dentures.
"Hey there Miss Standdish. Just wanted to stop by and let ya
know that your boats are coming along just fine. They'll be
ready for the next season, are you still thinkin' about renaming
them? 'Cause if you are I know a buddy of mine that'll give you
a real good discount on detailing."
I smiled at his doggedness got me to rename those boats and
politely declined the offer just the same.
"Thanks, Mr. Wilmer but I think I'll keep them just as they are.
I'll let my guys know just the same. Thanks so much for stopping
by. I'll bring the check over to you on Monday, ok?"
Mr.Wilmer grinned that Cheshire grin and nodded before turning
to go down the steps.
"Ayuh, but there's no need to yet Miss Standdish but if you want
to I can't stop you. I just wish half of my customers were as
good as you were."
I saw him off with a wave and then turned and closed the door
and booked it down the hall and up the stairs to my bedroom to
finish getting ready.
After an hour of rummaging through the closet and dresser
drawers I decided to just play it safe with cream cotton tank
top with little blue flowers sprinkled about it and a pair of
kakhi shorts and flip flops. I towled the rest of my hair and
pulled it up into a clip. I rummaged through my jewlery box and
found the crucifix my mother had given me and slipped it on.
When I was finally happy with how my reflection looked I
ventured downstairs to the air conditioned part of the house to
grab a glass of ice water and flip through one of the magazines
that were spread out on the worn old coffee table.
Just as I cracked open the second tell all magazine I heard
Charlie's truck pull up and I found myself smiling as I went to
the door to let him in.
Charlie was in his usual tshirt minus the greasey jeans and his
deckboots had been replaced by sneakers his hair was scrubbed
clean and he smelled quite nicely of wood smoke, sea air, and
Old Spice.
"Well, you clean up, don't ya?"
He remarked as he removed his Red Sox baseball cap and grinned
that crooked half shadowed smile of his. I felt myself blush as
I examined my feet and then regained my composure.
"Uhm I've got some stuff to bring along if you don't mind. It's
nothing huge, I just didn't want to show up empty handed."
Charlie chuckled as he followed me into the kitchen and eyed the
blueberry pie.
"I wasn't sure if your cousin and his wife drank or not so I
covered my bases. There's a case in the fridge and the pie's
still a little warm..."
Charlie had grabbed the case and I set the pie on top of it to
balance it and hopefully cool it down a bit.
"You know they're never gonna let you leave after you show up
with this. They're going to fall for you."
I felt myself blush for the second time as I followed him out to
his truck and was pleasantly surprised when I saw a huge furry
black and white head pop up of the passenger side and start
woofing at me.
"Oakum! Oakey! Oak! Knock it off! She's a friend, let her in!"
Charlie yelled over the excited woofs and howls of the massive
mut that was taking up part of the seat. He finally resorted to
pulling at the dog's collar to get him back enough so I could
get in and get settled. I was met with excited licks and yaps as
the dog settled in as I scratched his head and laid his head on
my lap.
"Sorry about that, Ethel made me take him with me today. He was
harrassing customers and begging for scrapes. He's never done
that to anyone except me before. I do believe my dog likes you."
I chuckled and looked down at the great drooling mass of fur
that was now looking up at me with huge friendly eyes.
"Well, I like him too. I never got the chance to have a pet. I
was always off at school or being dragged to some other part of
the world. I like his name,
seems fitting for a dog of his size. I've never met an animal
that was named after uncoiled boat ropes."
Charlie sighed and scratched the dog's back as we turned down
the road and went down a side street.
"I'm starting to like you more and more, Miss Standdish. I
really am."
I laughed and thanked him as we pulled up to a nice little
cottage not far from the marina. Two round charcoal grills were
smoking away as a tall lanky sandy haired man with the same
piercing blue eyes waved smoke away and tried to put burgers
down.
Charlie honked the horn as we parked and got out to grab the
case and pie. Oakum had taken off like a shot to go investigate
the back yard.
"What the hell are you doin' ya mook?! You better not burn those
burgers, Sully!"
Sully rolled his eyes and he flipped a few burgers and called to
a small red headed little girl who must have just learned to
toddle to keep away from the coolers in fear that the child
would topple in while trying to play with the melting ice.
"Eh, shut it, Charlie. You couldn't do much better then me.
Sarah Lynn Shackleford Sullivan will you get away from those
coolers, please? Come over to Daddy."
Little Sarah grinned a wickled little grin that proudly showed
the four teeth that had come in and toddled over to me and
looked at me curiously.
Sully looked at me and tilted his head to one side in thought.
"You must be Mary Elizabeth Standdish, it's nice to finally put
a name to the face. I'm Charlie's older much better looking
cousin, Billy, but you can call me Sully if you like."
He reached out one exceptionally clean yet work hardened hand
and shook my hand with a solid strength. A good sign he had a
hard work ethic and a good set of morals.
"Hey uh...where do you want this, Sul? It's getting kinda
heavy..."
Charlie groaned as he shifted the case as I took the pie.
"Aww jeesh you didn't have to bring anything, guys. Uh, just put
it in the cooler. Ooh is that a blueberry pie I spy? Really you
didn't have to bring anything, Miss Standdish."
I waved it off as I set down the pie on the already overflowing
picnic table and smiled down as little Sarah toddled after me.
"Please, call me Mary Elizabeth. Miss Standdish makes me sound
like a school marm or something."
My little shadow giggled up at me and showed her four teeth and
wrapped one chubby little arm around my leg.
"Maybef! Maybef!"
"I think you just found your nickname, Maybeth."
Charlie said as he settled in next to Sully in a lawn chair.
I grinned and felt myself blush. I'd finally gotten my wish for
a nickname all thanks to a child that seemed taken with me from
the get go.
"Sully, did you get the rest of those folding chairs like I
asked you?"
A soft voice called from the porch as a worn but content looking
petite redheaded woman came down the cottage steps holding a
sleeping baby.
Sully sighed as he took a sip of his beer and got up to go over
to a small metal shed by the side of the house.
"I'm gettin'em, hon!" he bellowed before vanishing from view.
She smiled as she walked across the lush green well kept lawn.
"You must be Charlie's friend Miss Standdish. I'm Emmaline. It's
nice to finally meet you."
Charlie grinned as he sat back and grabbed a beer from the
another cooler and wiped his brow.
"She's Maybeth now, Em. She's been dubbed so by Sarah here,
right Sarah?"
Sarah toddled over to Charlie and settled in on his lap before
answering with a resound
"Yup."
The rest of the day went by in a lazy haze as more and more of
the Sullivan clan filtered in to take a look at the newest
addition who had been named Marnie Grace and seemed quite
content being passed around and cuddled. I had been introduced
to so many Sullivans my head was spinning trying to keep all the
names straight. Sarah on the other hand had other ideas, her
redheaded Sullivan temper got the better of her and she was put
in a time out before the gifts were opened. I felt a little
sorry for my poor little shadow and decided to go sit next to
her, with her parents blessing of course. As
I settled in next to the dejected little redhead she looked up
at me with big watery blue eyes.
"I came to keep you company, it that ok, Sarah?"
Sarah nodded and plopped her worn little self down on my lap and
started to play with my necklace.
A few minutes passed before a game that Frannie the cook taught
me in a quiet moment in the kitchen.
"Ok, watch my fingers, Sarah...ok?"
I laced my fingers together and put my index fingers at a point
and crossed my thumbs over one another.
"This is something my friend Frannie taught me...Here is the
church and here's the steeple..."
I opened the my thumbs to a wide eyed Sarah.
"Open the doors and...."
I turned out my interlaced fingers and wiggled them.
"And see all the people."
Sarah let out squeal of glee scampered off over to Emmaline who
was just passing the baby over to Charlie who was making goofy
faces at the already smiling infant.
I couldn't help but grin at the display of goofy faces and belly
raspberries. I felt a twinge in my heart. Maybe I was missing
out on something? I wasn't getting any younger and I had always
wanted a large family. The trouble was finding someone to start
that family with.
As the gifts were opened the other guests filtered out, Sarah
who had been up all day had been put to bed but not before
hugging me within an inch of my life and covering Charlie in
kisses and refusing to let go of him. The baby was put down and
Em and Sully settled in for a quiet night as we helped them
clean up from the party.
"So Charlie here tells me you're looking for a crews for your
boats. I've got a couple of welding jobs up overin Annisquam but
I'm not sure how long it's going to last."
I grinned as I threw the last of the paper plates away and
looked at Sully.
"Consider yourself hired, Sully. You and Charlie can choose your
crews and you'll be out by October first."
Em and Sully let out yelps of joy and pulled Charlie and I into
a hug.
As the hug seperated Em asked me to give her a hand in the
kitchen.
I followed Em into the house and was welcomed into a cheery
little home that was neatly kept and well organized. Toys were
neatly put away in hand made toychests except for a lone hand
made ragdoll that was perched on the worn overstuffed couch. It
was a home that warm and inviting and where I knew a loving
family lived. So unlike mine when I was growing.
"I can't thank you enough for hiring, Sully. I really can't,
we're still paying off medical bills from the baby...It's just
been so hard. I've been working shifts down at the Franklin Cafe
and at the processors during the day while Sully stays home with
the girls and then when I get home he goes down to the ship yard
and spends most of the night welding broken anchors and other
parts...and...thank you so much..."
Em's eyes welled up in tears her voice breaking as she pulled me
into a hug and thanked me again. I ended up getting that lump
in my throat again as I hugged her back and welcomed her.
A few hours later Charlie and I were seen off to Charlie's truck
laden down with plate upon plate of left overs and what was left
over of the beer and wine coolers. She flipped her long red hair
over her opposite shoulder so she could see what she was doing.
"We can't drink that much anymore, maybe before the kids but not
now."
Em mused as she bagged up a few more wine coolers and handed
them to me with a smile.
Sully grabbed her wasit and kissed her neck eliciting a grin
from her and a playful protest.
"Well, there was that one night when we went down to the Crow's
Nest...and the next thing ya know we were welcoming Marnie into
the world down at Gloucester General.."
Sully chuckled as he handed Charlie a six pack and another bag.
I chuckled and then had her promise me that she'd stop by with
the girls whenever she wished or whenever she and Sully needed a
sitter for a night out.
Sully hugged me before I stepped up into Charlie truck and
caught me offgaurd by whispering in my ear.
"I think my cousin's over the moon about, Maybeth. Take care of
him."
Oakum climbed into the back of the truck and passed out before
we even pulled out of the driveway leaving more room Charlie and
myself which was quite nice after such a busy day.
"So, what did you think of the crazy Sullivan clan? Hope we
didn't scare you off too much."
I chuckled as the truck beared to the right and the sweet scent
of bright blue Wisteria that gre rampant in the summer wafted
past and filled the cab.
"I loved them, every last one of them. You come from a wonderful
family, Charlie. I just wished I had that kind of family growing
up."
Charlie chuckled and sighed.
"Well, we didn't have much, we still don't but we've got each
other so I guess that counts for something."
We pulled into the front drive and the truck sputtered to a
stop.
"Thank you so much for the lovely day and the chance to meet
your family..."
My words were cut off by Charlie's lips gently pressing on mine.
My head started to swim as I ran my fingers through his hair and
then let my hands roam over his chest and try to lift his tshirt
eliciting a growl of surprise from Charlie.
"Maybe we should go into the house first..."
I panted as he trailed kisses down my neck and over my collar
bones.
"Mhm...yeah...we could..."
He reached for the door handle which clicked and swung open
sending up both tumbling out of the truck into a hot and heavy
heap as we continued to claw at each others clothes. I had
landed flat on my back and ended up having the wind knocked out
of me but I could have cared less as he continued to bite and
nip at my neck and chest. My tank top was torn off and thrown
over his shoulder as I wildly scrambled to unlatch his belt and
groaned in sheer frustration at the lack of light. My shorts on
the other hand were already off somewhere and through on the
porch swing. Thankfully everyone of my five neighbors were
tucked into bed well before we pulled up because I think the
shock of seeing their new neighbor trying to unlock her front
door in her underwear would have given them each fatal heart
attacks.
We finally made it into the house as I unlocked the door and
slammed the door shut.
We tumbled into the living room in a heap of kisses, nips, and
pants crash landing on the floor. I was finally able to get his
pants off and was shocked to find dear Charlie wasn't wearing
any underwear.
"Well, that's one less thing I've got to struggle with..."
Charlie grinned a wolfish grin as he pulled his hair down.
"It was laundry day..."
"I could get used to having you over on laundry days then..."
I whispered in his ear as I nibbled at his ear lobe and wrapped
my legs around his waist. A frantic rhythm was established and
somehow I ended up on the bottom and ended up smacked my head
soundly off the coffee table in the process.
"Oh my god! Are you ok?! Maybeth...can you hear me?!"
I groaned and was surprised he hadn't lost his pace and groaned
out.
"Fine! Totally fine, keep....ahh..oh god...keep going."
Soon enough I was seeing fireworks along with the stars and
bells from the hit to the head I'd taken.
After a quick shower each and a quick but buck naked run to his
truck for clean clothes we ended up curled up on the back porch
watching the sun rise over the water of Gloucester's coast line.
#Post#: 915--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Wolfy
Date: May 29, 2012, 2:46 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I love this part of the story! especially the fact that Charlie
wasn't wearing any underwear :D haha, naught boy. I really loved
the little girl taking such a shine to Maybeth and that's such
an adorable nickname. My younger brother, when he was only
little, couldn't pronounce my name properly so he said it quite
like 'lisaree' and it was so cute haha. I might start using that
as a second nickname now, just in case I can't use Wolfy for
whatever reason. Back to the story! the naughty moment between
the two of them had me laughing a lot, even when Maybeth knocked
her head :/ that sounded painful with all the stars spinning
around her head and stuff, but the fact that he hadn't stopped
was hilarious xD I can't wait for the next part!
#Post#: 921--------------------------------------------------
Re: Flower and the Vine
DIR By: Maggie Flannery
Date: May 29, 2012, 6:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Why thank you! :D I tried to add in a dose of humor even in a
bit of cheeky moment, no pun intended, haha. Lisaree is
adorable! I'm so glad I could give you a good laugh or two, I've
got a feeling that even though Charlie and Maybeth love one
another they're bound to have a few clutsy moments together. I'm
working on the next part as we speak and I do hope you enjoy!
I'm also working on a bit of a cross over with a second couple.
That should be up within the next few days. :)
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