Exodus to Edisto

Shirley and Em reclined in low-slung beach chairs in the shade of the umbrella while Sally, Steve, and the rest of the kids played on the beach and rode the waves on the red and navy canvas raft. Billy and JP surf cast a ways up the beach.

Shirley finished her beer and set off down the low-tide beach to hunt sharks’ teeth. Her phone rang as soon as she was out of earshot. Em picked it up, saw it was Aunt Betty, and answered.

“Good afternoon, Aunt Betty. Shirley just took off down the beach. Should I get her for you?”

“Hello, Emily. There’s no need for that. How are you enjoying the beach?”

“It’s a tonic for the soul, Aunt Betty. Did you want us to bring you back some fresh shrimp or oysters? Or fish? I believe red snapper’s in season, and Billy and JP think they’re going to catch some grouper.” Em sat up and waited for the anvil to fall. Aunt Betty didn’t believe in calling people on vacation.

“No need, we’re coming for the weekend, and I was hoping you’d run by the Lybrands and ask them to open the other house for me. There’s an anniversary party for the Boardmans Saturday night at the Brittinghams’, so prepare yourself for a full Azalea invasion. I imagine everyone from the Boardmans to Masie Adams to be on-island this weekend. You might want to run to the Pig by Thursday to beat the crowds.”

* *. *. *. *. *

Masie pulled into the arrivals lane of the Charleston airport.

“For Chrissakes, Lila, get back in the car.”

Lila had her head out the window scanning for Sam.

“Jesus, how long has it been? You saw him when he came back from Iraq, before he moved to Boston.”

Lila pulled her head back into the car and turned on Masie. “No, I did not see him. I was supposed to, but my car was in the shop, and my friend who was supposed to give me ride never showed up. This morning was the first time I’ve heard from her since then.”

The color rose in Masie’s face. “Damn, Lila. I didn’t know, and I was so torn up about Josh that I had to haul ass.”

Lila turned the radio down. “Where did you go? You literally vanished into thin air until this morning.”

“I went to the beach house first, until Josh and Mary Fucking Elizabeth showed up at Betty’s for their engagement party honeymoon or whatever they call it.” Masie paused and fished a Marlboro out of her purse. “Then I drove to Charleston and booked the first flight taking off. Baltimore.”

“What did you do with your car?” Lila grabbed Masie’s cigarette and took a long drag.

“I called Strom, Jr. and had him sell it and deposit the cash. He’s in charge of my trust.”

“Good lord, Masie. Do you also have the Hope diamond stashed in a box in the bank?”

* *. *. *. *

The back gate of Joshua’s Suburban was up, and Mary Elizabeth hauled a cooler, suitcases, beach toys, books, magazines, a cosmetics case, and half the fall line from Lilly into the back while Blair and Susan played with Knox and Lizzie. When she asked if they wanted to come to the beach to help with the twins, they practically pulled up in her driveway before she hung up the phone.

It was only Wednesday, but Mary Elizabeth enlisted her father’s and Josh’s father’s help in talking him into taking half the week off. He finally relented when she consented to fly Sam down from Boston. Anything was better than staying in Azalea and running into Masie.

She texted Josh to see how much longer he would be. No response. Hopefully, he was on his way with some takeout from Wife Saver to eat on the patio before getting in the car. He’d have to load his clubs if he wanted to take them—Mary Elizabeth couldn’t lift them.

“Blair, are you bringing your car or leaving it here?”

Susan and Blair blew bubbles in the back yard while Knox and Lizzie popped them.

“I’d rather leave it here. We always walk everywhere at the beach.”

“Pull it into the garage after Josh gets home.” Mary Elizabeth scooped up Katie, her Yorkie, and gave her a kiss. “Who gets to be the prettiest girl at the beach? Mama packed your pearl collar for the party.”

“Mommy, Mommy, can Daisy Jill and Audrey Hepburn come to the beach with us? Then Katie will have friends to play with, too! Please?” Lizzie gave her mom the look that always made her dad cave, and was taken aback when it didn’t work.

“I don’t think so, Sugar. That’s a lot of dogs for one house.”

“I’ll ask Daddy when he gets home,” Lizzie retorted and ran to the swingset with tears in her eyes.

Knox followed her. “Why you crying, Lizzie?”

“Mommy said Daisy Jill and Audrey Hepburn can’t come to the beach!” Lizzie sniffled.

“So what? I just heard Blair say that Sally’s there!”

Lizzie climbed the ladder to the top of the slide and stood there. “Sally?”

Knox nodded so vigorously it shook his whole body.

“You promise?” Lizzie wiped her eyes and sat on the slide.

“Uh-huh! Shirley and Em and Uncle Jim and everybody from the creek. It’s going to be fun! We’ll have enough kids to do whatever we want, especially with Sally and Steve there!”

“Okay.” Lizzie whooshed down, seersucker dress flying up in her face.

Sally held the raft in front of her and waited until she felt the undertow behind her knees, then sprung forward on top of the raft, red side up, and rode the wave all the way into the shelf on the beach, scraping her knees on shell fragments when she ran aground.

“Sally, Sally, it’s my turn! Billy came running down the beach.

“Okay, come on.” Sally grabbed the raft by the rope and pulled it behind her. “Come on up thisaway so you don’t get slammed into the sand. And don’t get close to Daddy and Uncle Jim. They’ve got a jar with ‘em and might clean you and cook you if you get caught in their lines. A big ol’ Billyfish fish fry on the deck, with Blanchards and Maguires and Brittinghams eating your guts!” She took off down the beach, splashing along the waterline, skipping and leaping over beached jellyfish and horseshoe crabs.

Shirley called to Carrie and Steve to gather up the beach toys and bring them under the house. Ginny and JJ sat straight-legged in the surf, laughing as the waves washed the sand out from under them, then rolling around in the wet sand when they capsized. The sun sank toward the horizon, reflecting off the clouds in dayglow orange shot with pink and gold. A pelican dove into the water and came up with a fish in its beak.

🐟 🐟

Masie put the top down as she pulled out of the airport so she wouldn’t have to listen to Sam and Lila. He was sideways in the back seat to accommodate his 6’4” frame, and his hands were on Lila’s shoulders, playing with her hair. When Masie took the left onto SC 174, Sam spoke up.

“Where are we staying? I don’t expect Mary Elizabeth will welcome the two of you.”

Masie snorted, “As if! I texted Strom, and he said the Lybrands will have my house open for us.”

“House? You mean all those times we camped on the beach getting eaten alive by no-see’ums, we could have been sleeping in beds?” Lila shook her head at Masie. “You are unfuckingbelievable.”

“Whatever. At least I had the good sense not to be auctioned off at a debutante party and join the Azalea Junior League with the fucking Phinizys and Flannagins and Morrises.”

“Down, girl. I don’t see any debutantes here. Where’s your house?”

Masie pretended not to hear her until Sam called her out.

“Fess up, Masie. It’s not like she won’t see it and know where it is when we get there.

“Fine. Palmetto Boulevard.”

“I cannot believe you. You’ve got an oceanfront house and made me camp on the beach? Masie, what the fuck?”

“I have to rent it during the season; otherwise my trust wouldn’t keep up with the property taxes, even after I sold the boat. Don’t fucking start, Lila.”

“Y’all stop. The last thing we need is the two of you bowed up against each other in front of Mary Elizabeth and her crowd. A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Masie pulled her car under the house and put the top up.

“Alright, y’all. It’s been ten years since I’ve been in this house. Why don’t you two lovebirds take the master suite, and I’ll take my old room. Maybe I’ll see if my old slam books and treasure boxes are still under the loose board in my closet.”

"Holy shit, Masie. I thought this was the Brittinghams’ house." Lila slung her bag over her shoulder as she took in the putting green under the house, the in-ground swimming pool between the house and the beach, the two decks facing the ocean, and the second house closer to the road.

"Strom said the same family has been leasing it for the season. Good thing it's after Labor Day, or you'd be smoothing up to John, Jimmy, or Blaine if you wanted to stay here." Masie grabbed her bag and said, "Come on." She punched a code into a panel under the deck and started up the steps to the deck on the main floor.