The Plantation Club

”It would suit me just fine if you would quit grinning,” Mary Elizabeth crossed her arms over her chest after she buckled her seat belt.

The Yukon felt immense with just Josh and Mary Elizabeth in it. She turned the radio to the beach music station as Josh backed out of the driveway onto Palmetto Boulevard.

“Oh, come on, honey. It’ll be fun. I’ll rent a cart for the weekend, and you can take the car and go play on your side of the island, take a dip in Mandy’s pool.” Josh lowered the windows, and Mary Elizabeth immediately raised them. “And you can use the pool at the resort.”

They passed golf carts and bicycles on the way to the condo overlooking the golf course.

“I suppose,” Mary Elizabeth leaned her seat back. “And it will be nice to sleep in with our hangovers tomorrow morning. See if Sam will make us some Bloody Mary mix. I can’t believe you booked a tee time for today.”

“Just the front nine. I promise we won’t be late for the party.”

“We better not. It’s the reason we’re here.”

Mary Elizabeth rode with Josh to the golf course, then drove herself to the pool, holding Josh to his word to rent a cart. She set an alarm on her phone for an hour, giving herself time for a long shower and short nap before the party.

A breeze rustled through the palmetto fronds and crape myrtles, blowing tiny blossoms into the air.

“Mary Elizabeth!” Mandy stood and waved until Mary Elizabeth made eye contact and walked towards her, keeping her face smooth behind her sunglasses.

“I’m so glad I’m not the only one stuck on this side of the island! Do you want a margarita? I brought a pitcher down from our villa.” Mandy poured one for her without waiting for an answer. She handed the drink to Mary Elizabeth and raised her glass. “What are you wearing tonight?”

Mary Elizabeth took a deep breath and a long sip while she processed Mandy’s presence at Ocean Ridge. “Is your house full of other family, too? Aunt Betty put us here since our house is overflowing.”

Mandy rubbed a squirt of Hawaiian Tropic suntan oil on her thighs and rubbed it in. “What? Oh, that’s not really our house, we just rent it for the summer. When I called to let Lybrand’s know we were coming this weekend, they said the owner was in residence and booked us a place here.”

Three teenagers in bikinis plopped down on the sunloungers adjacent to Mandy and Mary Elizabeth, fingers flying over their screens with occasional exclamations of, “Omg! You have to see this.”

Mandy rolled her eyes and said, “Come on, let’s get in so we can talk.”

Mary Elizabeth removed her gauzy coverup and stashed it in her tote, an aging Vera Bradley bag that was too faded for other use.

They strolled to the steps, gently easing themselves into the sun-warmed water sparkling around them in sun-dancing patterns of turquoise and white with shadows moving through the shallows.

“So who’s the owner? Is it someone from Azalea? And where are Michael and the kids?”

Mandy studied Mary Elizabeth’s face for a moment and realized she didn’t know, so she skipped to the last question, adjusting the strap across her back with her thumb to prevent getting a tan line.

“Michael took the kids to your house to play with the other kids—are Knox and Lizzie there? Then he met Kevin at the marina to ride over to the harbor with him and Sam to pick up Jimmy Dufresne and Billy Adams. And something about oysters from Bowens Island.”

“Will you hold this for a second?” Mary Elizabeth thrust her half-empty margarita into Mandy’s empty hand, took off her hat and sunglasses, and held them aloft before sinking down to lean her head back and under, replacing them when she surfaced and stood. “Josh said he was playing golf with Sam and Bart today. He was worrying about finding a fourth.”

Mandy handed both drinks to Mary Elizabeth and took a turn dunking her own head.

“Maybe they couldn’t find a fourth and it’s just Josh and Bart instead of a full foursome. They’ll play faster instead of stressing you out about being late to the Boardmans’ party.”

“Maybe.” Mary Elizabeth didn’t sound convinced. “And did you say Billy Adams? That sounds like trouble waiting to happen. Remember what happened with him and Katie Boardman after the Trinity prom? I swear, that whole family went downhill into the sewer when Miss Eileen passed. And Sam’s supposed to be on the course with Josh”

“Oh, come on. We were all kids back then. I hear Billy’s been living in Charleston for several years, that he’s become a sought-after landscaper.” Mandy took her drink and drifted to the far side of the pool. They had managed to end up directly in front of the dramatic teenagers, who looked familiar enough to repeat everything the women said to ears that didn’t need to hear any of it.

“I’m sorry, Mandy, but mowing lawns on the peninsula isn’t my definition of success.” Mary Elizabeth finished her drink and placed her cup on the brick border surrounding the pool.

“Oh, Billy doesn’t mow lawns. His employees do that. Billy’s a landscape and hardscape designer. He’s actually quite talented.”

“I suppose Masie’s a ‘mixologist’ instead of a bartender now. I hear she’s on the island this weekend, too.”

“She’s with Lila Daniels.”

“I guess that answers where she’s staying. A tent on the beach is my first guess.”

“Okay, Mary Elizabeth, I need to tell you something for your own good, but you have to promise to never repeat it. And don’t tell anyone that Michael and I rent for the summer. He’d be mortified that I told you.” Mandy put her drink down next to Mary Elizabeth’s empty cup.

⛳️ ⛳️ ⛳️

Josh hopped out of the SUV and hoisted his clubs out of the back before kissing Mary Elizabeth goodbye, promising to only play nine before striding into the pro shop. The new egret logo was plastered on everything. He selected an ice blue jacket for Mary Elizabeth and rented a cart for the weekend before asking about his tee time and whether any of his party had arrived.

“Yes, sir. Your party is waiting for you on 19.”

“Are they on the fairway or the green?” Josh asked with a wink.

“Just teed off, sir. I believe they have a Bloody Mary waiting on the bar for you.” The attendant laughed with him before adding, “I wouldn’t mind landing in a trap with your party. Some guys have all the luck.”

“Oh. Well, I suppose I can see that, but Sam likes the ladies, but I have a few friends who probably wouldn’t mind being in a trap with you. I’ll keep that in mind next foursome I put together. Maybe make it a threesome if the boss lets you fill the gap.”

“Oh? Well, maybe I know someone to introduce to Sam,” Christopher adjusted his magnetized name tag and appeared intrigued. “Maybe before the weekend is over. Mr. Williams called to regret, and it’s just the two of you today, but I have a few open tee times tomorrow.”

Josh smiled and said, “I don’t know that Sam’s interested in anyone but Lila, but why don’t you pencil us in, just in case. Since it’s just Sam and me, I guess we’ll play the whole course. But if my wife calls, we’re only playing the front nine. Two can play 18 faster than four can play nine. What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.”

Christopher smiled and decided Josh must be Sam’s brother. He clearly thought of Sam as one of the guys. Lesbian or not, only a brother could think of her that way. He offered to walk Josh over so he could get another look at Sam, entertaining thoughts of her with the blonde who dropped her off. He thought he heard Sam call her Lila.

Masie watched Rory miss a putt as she sipped her Bloody Mary. She glanced up at the men saying they could have made that putt. They were the old guys who spent more time on 19 than the course “I always double bogey it, trying to make par just once.” Par ranged from three to five, depending on who else was occupying a leather barstool at the polished mahogany bar or occupying a club chair or loveseat that day.

The door to the bar opened. The cute pro shop guy with the shoulders and forearms said, “There she is, sir. Enjoy the course.”

Masie turned around in time to see Josh’s eyes get as big as Titleists and his jaw drop like Jack’s last putt in Augusta in ‘86.