Carridelle – Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven: Parties and Truths

Carridelle put a call into Raymond the next morning. The night had passed uneventful; she must have found all of the things that the ghost needed her too. It was up to her to solve the next piece of the puzzle. She now knew how it came that William had a nephew. His sister was adopted.  She was thinking about all of that when Raymond picked up the phone.

“Carrie, my goddess of words, how are you darling?” was heard as Raymond’s familiar voice was propelled across the telephone wires.

“I’m fine Ray and it is nice to hear you too.”

“I hope you are not working too hard darling? That new book of yours can wait but I want you back in one piece, physically and emotionally.”

“Actually, Ray, I have to admit I haven’t worked on it at all. Sorry. I am just been too preoccupied but I do have an idea for my latest book.”

“Oh do tell what is it?”

“I’ll never tell Ray, it’s for me to know and you to wonder about!”

“You tease, you are a beast.”

“Speaking of teases, how is Tomas?”

“Oh he is the same bitch he always is.” Ray said and laughed so that Carrie knew everything was all right. “And speaking of the men in our lives how is Jon? Have we heard from him?”

“No, I tried to call him but he’s not accepting my phone calls till I have my answer. I don’t have that yet. I have no idea what I am going to do.”

“Well as Leo says,  My Heart Will Go On.”

“I don’t think he actually used that line in the movie Ray, “ Carrie said with a roll of her eyes. He just had this thing for that actor. His chances of ever meeting him were slim to nil and even if he had he had about as much chance of getting a date as an ice sculpture did at a party in hell.  The actor was straight as a pin.

“Anyway, Ray, I called to thank you for the invite to that party. I already told them I was going.”

“Oh good darling, that’s terrific. You are gonna love them, they are a lot of fun even for a straight couple.”

“Do you know what the dress code is by any chance? No one mentioned it.”

“Oh I am thinking dressy but casual. We’re going to try and make it down there but I don’t know that we will. You know I never know Tomas’ schedule from one day to the next.”

“Alright, well give him my love. I hope to see you there.”

“Bye doll and thanks for checking in.”

Carrie prepared for the evening cautiously. It had been so long since she had been out it seemed. Her books did so well she didn’t even need release parties anymore. She and Jon had not thrown a party in forever and a day.  She wasn’t sure she even knew how to act in public anymore.

After browsing through her wardrobe, she selected a white cotton summer dress. It had a tight bodice and a flare bottom. She put on strappy sandals that had a slight heel and brushed her strawberry blond hair till it shone, pulled it back in a twist and drew down some tendrils till it framed her sun kissed face. When she studied her effect in the mirror she could swear she heard an appreciative tone of a male from behind. Carrie turned quickly around but all she was staring at was thin air.

Carridelle arrived at the Reynolds house at precisely 8:00 pm. And she was delighted to find that not only were the Reynolds as outrageous as she would have hoped they would be but there were also six other equally fun people to mingle with. Ray and Tomas were not there as of yet but she made herself quite at home speaking with burgeoning writers and people from all walks of life. Ray and Tomas came around 8:30 and shortly there after, Mrs. Reynolds was heard screaming happily in the hallway. Her high-pitched falsetto voice reverberated through the house with greetings and giggles. Carrie turned to see where all the commotion was coming from. Although temporarily blinded again by the site of Mrs. Reynolds, a rather large woman in a huge yellow sundress with bright green flowers on it, Carrie was surprised to see the gentleman from the beach, Charlie, the drifter, following her.

“Oh Charlie we are soo glad you could make it, after all what is a party without Charlie, I always say. Don’t I dear?” Mrs. Reynolds directed the question to her husband and one was almost forced to laugh at the contrast between the two.

Mr. Reynolds was a short, thin, balding, anxious little man with an annoying habit of twisting his eyebrows. He spoke in what could only be described as a nervous twitter. “Yes, yes dear, you were saying that just today. What is a party without Charlie?”

Carrie being observant of all people, tried to maintain her composure as the brash and bold Mrs. Reynolds, drowned him out with her whirlwind of chatter. She almost lost it and laughed aloud when Charlie made direct eye contact with her. Instead of laughing she turned a nice bright red all the way to the roots of her hair. The color was becoming on her and did not go unnoticed by Charlie or Ray. Charlie’s eyes sparkled in amusement.

After everyone had greeted one another, the party got back to full swing and then settled down at dinnertime. Carrie was deliberately avoiding Charlie. He had a strange affect on her; an affect that she would rather not take the time to figure out. Alas, they were seated next to each other at the dinner table, a circumstance that Carrie assumed should be credited to the brazen matchmaking prowess of Bertha Reynolds, their kind hostess. It was awkward to say the least. Charlie seemed to be mocking her with every glance. It was as if he was daring her to get to know him; but Carrie refused to be baited.

After about fifteen minutes of conversation with Raymond and Tomas, CJ Reynolds turned his attention to the woman on his left hand side.

“Carrie, how are you enjoying Martha’s Vineyard?”

“Oh fine thank you CJ. I have not been to any of the wineries yet though I must make it a point to get to them soon. The town is lovely, the beach quiet and serene. I could not have picked a better vacation spot.”

“And how are you enjoying our Mr. Murray’s house?”

“Oh it is beautiful, so full of antiques and treasures. I wonder that he does not live in it himself.”

“Well, why don’t you ask him that yourself?” CJ asked with another twist of his eyebrow.

Carrie was in a tight spot. She could not tell CJ that she never met the man, but yet she claimed to Charlie that she knew him intimately. What could she say?

“Oh I uh…” she stumbled for the right words, “I umm…have not seen him as of late.”

Next to her Charlie sat twirling his pasta around and around his fork.

CJ chuckled and looked at her as though she had nine heads. “But he’s sitting right next to you dear, you’ve been talking to him all night.”

Carrie again blushed, a pretty color pink. She repressed the urge to turn around and face the man next to her. She also fought the desire to slap off the smirk that she was sure was on his face.

CJ sensed the tension he had created. “Oh perhaps you have not been properly introduced, Charlie Murray, Carridelle Stenson, famous authoress.”

Now she was forced to look at him, but to her surprise he did not laugh. He took the hand she extended in friendship and brought it to his lips. “It is my pleasure to finally make your acquaintance Ms. Stenson.”

“Thank you, but please call me Carrie.” She stared at him, her eyes full of wonder but she was clearly not yet ready to forgive him his crime of omission. Luckily the conversation turned to other things, and their awkwardness was forgotten until after dinner.

The party wondered on until the wee hours of the morning. Everyone was having a great time. Somewhere in the middle of it, Carrie stepped out into their backyard to catch a breath of fresh air. Charlie saw the opportunity to have a word with her.

“Carrie…” he said ever so softly, his voice husky from a night of talking and sipping whiskey.

“Oh it’s you.”

“Will you accept my apologies?”

“For what making me feel like a fool? Letting me stand there and tell you that I knew Mr. Murray…er…you…. intimately when you were clearly aware that I did not. You think that I could forget that so easily? You lied to me.”

“No, I did not lie to you. In fact, you lied to me to get me off of the beach if I remember correctly. You were threatening me with imprisonment.”

“You could have told me who you were and I would have never said those things.”

“Of course you wouldn’t have and I could have told you but I did not want to embarrass you. By the time we got around to introductions you had already ordered me off the property.”

Carrie just stared at him not knowing what to say next. His eyes drew her in again, this time not mocking her, but they displayed a genuine interest. She wanted the same; to get to know this mystery man better. But damn those butterflies that danced in her stomach when she looked at him.

Feeling the lull in the conversation, Charlie filled it easily. “Can we start over Carrie? I have to go, but how about I buy you lunch?”

Carrie didn’t know what to answer. Did he mean a date? But she was practically engaged to Jon. She faltered, “I have a boyfriend…” God, she thought to herself, you sound like a dumb schoolgirl. What is the matter with you?

“I asked for a date not a courtship.” Charlie said the smirk back in his eyes again.

Taken aback, Carrie laughed, a genuine heartfelt laugh like she had not in ages. The sound was melodious like the tinkling of silver bells.

“Alright then beach comber, if you’re sure you can afford it.”

It was Charlie’s turn to laugh. “Shall I call you?”

“Sure do you have the number?” She asked and then blushed at her obvious gaffe.

“I think I can rustle it up mi’lady.” He said and bowed to her, a theatrical bow. He tipped his imaginary hat and turned and walked away with Carrie laughing behind him.

As soon as he was out the door Raymond made his way over to her.

“Who’s the delicious new dish?”

“He’s Charlie Murray, hey wait I though he was a friend of yours.”

“Well, I fibbed. I never actually met him. He was a friend of a friend but you needed a place to go so… Forgive me for a little white lie. He’s delish.”

“He is Ray and hetero I think. Besides you have Tomas over there whatever would he think?”

“What would Jon think?” He countered.

“I don’t know.” Carrie answered him honestly. “And you know what Ray? After his phone message the other night I don’t think I care.”

Ray just stared at her in disbelief.