“I just don’t know how you let this happen.”
Donna decided it was time to step in.“Mother, Evelyn didn’tletthis happen. She’s been a wonderful wife to Darren. He’s just…a self-centered jerk, and now he wants some young girl on his arm. Good riddance.”
“Donna, don’t talk like that. Darren is a good man. So successful. Maybe he’ll come to his senses. We can only hope.”
Ah, Darren made good money, the one yardstick her mother used to judge all people and all things.
Evelyn’s eyes flashed with determination.“Mother, I don’t hope that. I wouldn’t take him back if he asked—which he’s not going to. I don’t trust him, and I’ll never put myself in a position where a man can hurt me like that again.”
“All men have their little side affairs. It’s what they do. You need to just wait him out. Don’t sign any papers. He can’t get a divorce without you signing off on it, now can he? Just stall until he gets over this little thing he’s going through.”Patricia Beale was never one to let someone dissuade her when she was certain she was correct.
“Mother, let’s change the subject, shall we?”Donna interrupted.“How are things at the retirement village?”
“The idiots who run it are not keeping it up to the standards that were promised when your father and I moved there.”The corners of her mouth turned down in a disapproving frown.“I’m not certain what I’ll do. Some of my friends there are moving to a new retirement community.”She sighed.“But I hate to think of the work involved with moving.”
Like her mother had lifted a single finger when she and their father moved from Moonbeam to the retirement place in Naples?
“I’m sure you’ll find a new place if you’re not happy where you are,”Donna said.
“I resent the fact that I even have to look around again. It was draining when your father and I looked the first time.”
If Donna remembered correctly, her father carefully combed through all the retirement areas in Southwest Florida and specifically picked this one for its reputation and the number ofimportantpeople he knew of that had moved there. Her mother had been presented with a done deal. Not that it mattered. Her mom always went along with whatever her father commanded.
“They are just finishing up that new retirement community in Moonbeam. I heard it’s really nice,”Evelyn said.
What? Was her sister crazy? Did she really want their mother to move back to town and bring all this negativity and disapproval for their every decision back here on a daily basis? She shot Evelyn an incredulous look.
“Though, I doubt that it would be nice enough. And it would be difficult to move back to such a small town after living in Naples. Naples has such great amenities. And culture. And…well…Moonbeam has none of that.”Her mother shook her head.“It doesn’t even have any nice places to have a meal.”
Okay, then. The cafe was just going to serve crummy food. Good to know.“You’re probably right, Mother. You’d be happier in Naples.”Donna nodded in agreement to her mother’s love of Naples.
“Yes, definitely.”Her mother glanced around the cafe.“I still think this was a foolish move on your part, Donna. Mark my words. But I must run. I need to get back home for an afternoon tea with some of the ladies. We’re going to discuss options and whether we’re all going to move out or try and get the retirement village administration to step up and do their jobs correctly.”
“Well, good luck.”Donna walked her mother out of the kitchen and to the front door.“Drive safely.”
“Oh, I had a driver bring me today. I’m not driving much these days.”And with that surprising comment, her mother walked out the door. When had that started? Her mother had driven over after she returned from her world cruise. Wasn’t that just a few weeks ago? She shrugged. Maybe she liked being driven around. Her father used to do most of the driving.
Donna headed back to the kitchen and found her sister sitting in a chair.“Hey, Evie, don’t listen to her. She just…spouts her opinions.”
“I know. It’s just…wow. She reminded me of how I never lived up to Darren’s expectations, either. He was always telling me I’d done this or that wrong.”
“Good, then it helps to make you remember how great it is to get him out of your life.”She cocked her head to one side.“But what were you thinking telling mother about the new retirement community here in town? Are you crazy? Can you imagine having Mom and her opinions here all the time?”
Evelyn gave her a weak smile.“No, I guess I can’t. It just seems wrong to want your own mother to be over an hour away, though.”
“No, I think it’ssaneto want that.”She grinned.“Very sane.”
Chapter 11
Austin sat at a large table in the library room of The Cabot Hotel. Emily sat beside him, eagerly peering at the computer. She’d been a quick study on all he’d taught her the last week or so. She’d watched everything he’d done. While he updated the website and opened social media accounts, she asked a continual stream of questions. He didn’t mind though. She was an eager student. He was certain she’d be able to handle posting to the social media accounts for the hotel.
“I can’t believe all you taught me,”Emily said.“I thought I knew a lot of this stuff. I’ve taken every techie class my high school offers. That and history. I love both. But I’ve learned so much from you.”
“You’re a quick learner.”
“Thanks.”
“Say, how would you like to learn how to install some software programs on websites? Like maybe an online ordering system?”
