Page 47 of Dreams of Falling
Although she had been keeping busy, a growing worry had lodged itself in the pit of Ceecee’s stomach. She’d even called Boyd twice to make sure he remembered to call her if he heard anything from Reggie. She avoided looking at Bitty, afraid to see her worry mirrored in her friend’s eyes. Margaret could be full of brash bravado, but she would never gamble with her reputation. That was one thing Ceecee and Bitty could agree on.
It was nearly one o’clock in the morning before she and Bitty finally decided to turn in for the night. They left the front room lights on, as well as the hall bath light, and both left their doors open so they’d hear Margaret when she came in. The only peace of mind they had was an earlier phone call from Boyd to let them know that Reggie hadn’t made it home, either, leaving their friends to assume they were at least together wherever they were. Before turning off her light, Ceecee said a prayer that Margaret wouldn’t be doing anything she might regret, that last word lingering in her head long after the room was plunged into darkness.
The slamming of a car door around seven o’clock the following morning awakened Ceecee. By the time she’d slid on her robe and made it to the front room, Margaret was leaning against the closed door, a serene smile on her lips. A smile that Ceecee’s mother would have said looked like that of a cat that had drunk all the cream.
“Where have you been all night?” Ceecee asked as she led Margaret to the sofa. Bitty joined them, perching herself on Margaret’s other side.
“Everywhere,” Margaret said, her smile never fading. “We walked forever, it seems, and we talked. It was our last night together, and we had so much we wanted to say to each other.”
“That’s all you did? Walk and talk?” Bitty raised a cynical eyebrow.
Margaret’s smile became secretive. “Maybe.”
“Maybe?” Bitty nudged her with her elbow. “You’ve got to do better than that. What else did you do?”
Margaret’s cheeks flushed a flattering shade of pink, and Ceecee noticed how unkempt her hair was, how her mascara and blush had been all but wiped off, and her skirt and blouse looked as if they’d been slept in.
“We went to a hotel.” She lost her smile as she sent a surreptitious glance at each of her friends.
Ceecee’s hand went to her own throat. “Oh, Margaret. Ahotel?”
Margaret nodded. “It was a cheap, awful place, in a terrible part of town where Reggie was sure they wouldn’t ask any questions. But I didn’t care—I didn’t. I just wanted to be with him. Mother would have been horrified that I’d ever set foot in such a place.”
Bitty’s lips quirked up in a lopsided smile. “There’re a lot more things about this whole scenario that would upset your mother, I think.” She elbowed Margaret again. “And then what did you do?”
Ceecee wanted to shout at Bitty that it was none of her business, that she was sure Margaret had acted like a lady. But she could tell by the look on Margaret’s face that whatever had happened in that hotel room, acting like a lady had not been part of it.
Bitty placed both of her hands on Margaret’s shoulders and turned her so that they were face-to-face. “Did you...?”
Margaret kept her gaze focused on her hands, folded neatly in her lap, and nodded.
Ceecee leaped from the sofa and squatted in front of her friend. “Did he ask you to marry him at least?”
“Of course he did. He asked me twice while we were walking and once after...” Margaret looked up, her blue eyes blazing. “He wanted to elope last night.”
“And you didn’t?” Ceecee asked, horrified. “He was ready and willing to make an honest woman of you, and you said no?”
Bitty looked up at the ceiling in exasperation. “Really, Ceecee? That’s all you can think about? Why can’t it be about Margaret makinghiman honest man?”
Ignoring Bitty, Ceecee grabbed Margaret’s hands and shook them. “Why did you say no?”
Margaret’s entire face and body crumpled like a used handkerchief.“Because I can’t stand the thought of him going off to fight, of him being in danger, and of me waiting every day for news. I thought I could make him change his mind if I gave him the choice. Either me or the army. I can’t...” She burst into tears, burying her face in Bitty’s shoulder. “I just can’t bear it.”
“And what did Reggie say?” Ceecee persisted.
Margaret spoke between sobs. “He said he loved me, but that he also loved his country, that he had big plans for our future—together. And that he thought he could do right by both of us. He said he needed some time to think, to consider his options. When he dropped me off a little while ago, I was so confident that he’d do the right thing by me, but the more I think about it, the more I think I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
Ceecee was inclined to agree, but now wasn’t the time or place to mention that to Margaret. Right now, Margaret needed their support, regardless of how they felt. Sitting back down on the couch, Ceecee picked up her friend’s hand, the skin clammy and cold. “When did Reggie say he’d let you know?”
Margaret took a moment to steady her voice before answering. “He said he would go home to Charleston to see his family as planned. I do know his father’s not keen on him joining the army right now, either. He’d much rather have him take his place in the family law practice. And then he’d come up to Georgetown with Boyd to see me and meet my parents. I’m hoping we can make it an engagement party.”
“What about college?” Bitty said. “You’ve been accepted at Wellesley. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
Margaret’s eyes became cloudy, not with tears but with what Ceecee thought were dreams. “Not anymore. I’m in love, Bitty. Maybe one day you’ll know what it’s like and will understand how you’ll do anything to be with the person you love.”
“Gosh, I sure hope not,” Bitty said, snatching up her package of cigarettes from a side table and thumping one out into her hand.
Ceecee sent a harsh glance at Bitty before focusing again on Margaret. “It would be nice to have Reggie and Boyd in Georgetowntogether. That will make the celebration even more special—to have us all together just like we’ve been the last two weeks.”
