Imogene met her glass and they clinked a third time.
While Marietta refilled their glasses, Imogene looked at the cards spread out on the table. “Playing solitaire, I see?”
Marietta handed Imogene the glass filled to the brim. “Yes. It’s my state of affairs lately.”
“Girard doesn’t play cards?”
“No, not really. Poker with the boys from time to time. That’s not my game.” Marietta looked slyly at Imogene and reached for the cards. “Do you play cards?”
“I adore cards.”
Marietta’s heart beat faster. She began to shuffle. “What’s your game?”
“Cribbage. Do you know it?”
“No, sorry.”
“How about gin rummy? That’s a popular American game, I believe.”
Marietta grinned from ear to ear, and her opinion of Imogene reached new heights. “I do indeed. Care for a game?”
Imogene moved her chair closer to the table. “Deal.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Carson stood at the end of the boat ramp that slanted down into the Cove. For the past several days Sea Breeze had been a beehive of activity. Everyone was busy, buzzing around in individual circles as the summer was coming to an end. Carson had spent her days preparing for Delphine’s release. Dora was driving back and forth from Summerville, packing up boxes for her move to the cottage. Harper and Granny James were spending mornings together walking the beach and talking, and afternoons in consultation with lawyers and financial advisers both in the United States and abroad. In the evenings, however, Granny James and Mamaw sat together on the back porch, heads together in conversation as they played cards.
Not until the end of the week did one event bring all of them together. To no one’s surprise the agent of their gathering was Delphine.
NOAA had decided to release Delphine today at this boat landing on Sullivan’s Island. Carson looked up at the sky. It was a good day for a release, the sky being overcast with a brisk breeze, but no sign of rain.
Looking out across the expanse of water she loved, Carson could detect early signs of summer’s end. The thick patches of sea grass were tipped in gold, and she felt deep in her bones the subtle shift in the air that signaled change.
Closer in, the wind was blowing the flags on the pole: the stars and stripes of the American flag and the blue crescent moon and palmetto of the South Carolina flag. She’d always thought it was the prettiest of the state flags. Despite her having spent a large chunk of her life in California, seeing it meant home. Farther down the boat ramp she spied the metal signs alerting visitors and fishermen: warning do not feed wild dolphins! Signs that Blake and his team at NOAA had put up. There were also a few fishing-line disposal bins.
One thing was for sure, she thought, looking out over the Cove where dozens of dolphins roamed. She’d never feed a wild dolphin or any wild animal again.
The water rippled in the wind and lifted wisps of her hair. Lifting her chin, she felt hope. Soon Delphine would again be swimming free in the Cove. Today was a celebration. It was also Carson’s greatest test. She’d promised to stay away from Delphine. To never again call her to the dock with thumping the wood or a whistle. Or to feed her or swim with her or in any way engage her.
Carson pinched her lips in worry. Could she look in Delphine’s warm eyes and not respond? Carson didn’t know if she was that strong.
Which was one more reason why she’d taken the job in Los Angeles from Mr. Kowalski.
She hadn’t yet told Blake. The right moment hadn’t come up. In the past few weeks they’d reached more or less a platonic relationship while they’d worked together on the release. Yet every time they were together, they both knew that they were holding back a tidal wave of emotions. She just had to get past the release, she’d decided. Then she’d tell him.
She felt a light touch on her elbow. Turning, she saw Nate standing beside her, his eyes wide with wonder beneath his shock of blond hair. Her heart went out to her nephew. She knew that he was every bit as much affected by Delphine’s accident as she was. And every bit as happy at her return.
“Nate”—she bent to his level—“are you excited?”
“When is she going to be here?”
“Soon. I just heard from Blake. Delphine arrived at the airport safely and they’re on their way.”
Nate rose up on his tiptoes and shook his hands, a sign of his excitement. “Aunt Carson,” Nate said in a high voice, “my mama and I, and Devlin, too, we went kayaking”—he took a breath—“and saw so many dolphins. There were mamas and babies. It looked to me like they were training their babies how to fish.”
“No doubt they were.” Carson was delighted with his story and that he was so animated telling it. “Did they come near you?”
Nate nodded, eyes wide. “The little babies did. I think they were curious about us. But the mamas wouldn’t let them near our kayaks. They just steered them clear away.”
“Yep. That sounds right.”
“I didn’t touch them,” Nate added with great import. “But they looked in my eyes and I looked right back at them. They saw me, Aunt Carson. I know it.”
“I know they did, too. And I’m proud of you.” She meant it. Her heart bloomed with love for the boy. Whether or not she ever had her own child, this boy would always be close to her heart. “Let’s go tell the others that Delphine is on her way.”
She and Nate walked to join the others, standing in a cluster near the dock entrance. Dora was telling her own version of the kayak trip to Granny James and Mamaw.”
“Those little baby dolphins were the sweetest things, weren’t they, Dev?”
“Yep. We picked up some shrimp from the dock later on and steamed ’em up and ate them straight from the shells.” Devlin turned to Granny James. “Now that’s what I call a perfect lowcountry summer day. I’ll have to cook up a batch for you before you leave. With my special hot sauce.” A mischievous twinkle was in his eyes.
“Dear man, you are a rhinestone in the rough,” Granny James quipped, and he guffawed.
Carson stepped forward. “I just got word from Blake.” She held up her phone.
Immediately all talking ceased and eyes were on her.
Nate heard the name Blake and came trotting over. “What? Are they here?” His hands shook wildly.