Possibilities: A Contemporary Retelling of Persuasion Read online

  Ever since then, Allie and Frederick had been in each other’s company off and on—especially evenings like last night at the restaurant or tonight when Martha Grove invited everyone to dinner at her place. Usually neither she nor Frederick spoke to the other. At times Allie even dreamed up some believable excuse to get out of having to watch Louise monopolize him. Other times, like last night, she accepted the inevitable and attended whatever outing had been arranged.

  “You and Frederick once had it bad for each other. I can’t believe it’s not still there.” Sarah’s unassuming voice cut through Allie’s distraction, and she received the impression that perhaps Sarah had said a few other things she’d missed.

  Allie glanced at her friend, whose sharp stare made her squirm.

  If the truth were known, Allie had been enormously tempted to go to that Mary Kay party today, but she didn’t want anyone—including Frederick—to think she was fixing herself up to snare his interest. The new hairdo was enough for now.

  “You know, I think he’s turned into a womanizer,” Allie admitted and swirled the liquid in her cup.

  “I’d have to disagree,” Sarah said. “He doesn’t strike me that way. Seems more like the strong Christian type to me.”

  Allie recalled the music they’d listened to on the way to pick up the twins from school. The combination of Christian music and chasing women didn’t logically coexist, but then, who said the pursuit of sin had to be logical?

  “And I’m not convinced he’s even a little bit interested in Louise,” Sarah continued as if she were the sage of the century.

  Allie glanced at her friend. As suspected, Sarah’s head was tilted at that certain angle that usually meant the woman was right. Nevertheless, Allie clung to her assumptions. After all, she’d seen the lip print on the note.

  “But even if he were a womanizer,” Sarah continued, “if he repented and changed, why couldn’t you forgive him? God would.”

  The question left Allie squirming to the point that she was ready for a major subject change. “Why don’t you just stick to terrifying helpless children with IV needles and stop trying to play matchmaker,” she responded with a wicked grin.

  “Now who’s throwing the low blows?” Sarah teased.

  The rev of a sports car neared her house, and Allie sat up straight. She’d learned to recognize that sound early in her stay at the guesthouse. She’d also learned to be on the alert, especially when in the front yard. Louise or Helena was out in one of the Corvettes, and Allie wouldn’t put it past either of them to crash through her front yard. When the vehicle roared closer and stopped, Allie knew they were about to have a visit from one of the perky sisters.

  “My guess is that’s either Louise or Helena,” Allie mumbled. “Wonder what they want?”

  “It’s probably the Mary Kay draft,” Sarah said and wiggled her brows again.

  Allie stood and entered her back door. She didn’t understand Sarah’s remark until she was halfway through her kitchen. By the time she opened the front door, Louise was climbing the porch steps and Allie figured Sarah must be right.

  “Where are you?” Louise chimed. “We’ve been waiting on you.”

  “On me?” Allie asked.

  “Yes, for the Mary Kay party, silly. Remember?” Louise tilted her head to one side and her cloud of loose ringlets attractively shifted with her move. “I invited you and your friend last night.”

  “But we never said we’d—”

  “We’ll be right there.” Sarah’s strong voice boomed from behind Allie and left no room for argument.

  “Great!” Louise exclaimed and clapped. “That will make a perfect dozen—which will get me my free prize.” Louise flounced back down the stairs in her high heels and miniskirt before Allie had time to conjure a rejection.

  Allie wondered why Louise cared about some free gift. Her father had enough money to wallpaper her bedroom in hundred-dollar bills. She could buy anything she wanted.

  She turned to Sarah, who now looked like the Queen of Sheba having a victory gloat. “Okay, I’ll go,” she agreed. “But if you’re pulling me into this, Diana Ross, then you’re getting fully painted, too.”

  “Of course.” Sarah’s grin couldn’t have been broader. “That’s the whole point. We’re going to have a big girlfriend party. And don’t tell me you don’t really want to do this, Allie Elton,” Sarah challenged. “I’ve known you too long not to see through your act. You’re more interested in Frederick Wently than you want anyone to know.”

  The next evening Allie stood in front of her dresser and examined the woman before her. Whoever she was, she certainly was an improvement over the old Allie, all thanks to Mary Kay and Sarah Hamilton. The truth be known, Allie had wanted a full makeover ever since Frederick visited Elton Mansion with his sister and brother-in-law. But she’d been reluctant because she didn’t want anyone to suspect that Frederick was the motivating factor. Presently, she was nearly too ashamed to admit it to herself.

  Despite what Sarah said, Frederick was clearly on the scene for Louise. Allie was beginning to think watching him fall in love with a woman fifteen years younger must be God’s way of repaying her for breaking his heart ten years ago. That, coupled with the fact that he’d become a lying womanizer, was too painful for words. Of course, Sarah didn’t agree with this verdict, but Allie wasn’t ready to toss aside evidence in preference for Sarah’s conclusions . . . or the fact that he still chose Christian music.

  Still, something deep inside drove Allie to at least give Frederick a glimpse of the woman he’d nearly married. Allie never considered herself drop-dead gorgeous; however, when she took some time with her appearance, she looked ten times better than the “pale-faced old maid” she was becoming.

  The Mary Kay party couldn’t have gone better. From the start, Louise, Macy, Helena, Martha, and Sarah encouraged Allie to buy the whole setup and use it. When Allie agreed, Sarah insisted on paying for the spread. Sarah was the only person Allie had told of the Eltons’ financial hardship. Even though Allie still could have afforded the indulgence, Sarah flipped out her credit card and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  Now all the ladies except Sarah thought Allie’s new look was their idea. No one suspected that Allie’s motivation stemmed from Frederick’s presence. No one except Sarah, that is. Finally Allie grudgingly admitted the truth before Sarah left for home this morning.

  Allie pulled at her bangs and coaxed them into final position before pumping a light mist of hairspray on them. The melon smell tickled her nose and left a stiff residue on her forehead. Allie set the bottle aside, stepped back, and stared at her reflection. Yesterday’s haircut had added some volume to her hair, while the raspberry-red lipstick lent color to her face and proved a nice balance for the brown eyeshadow and pink blusher.

  “I look good,” Allie said with a surge of self-assurance she hadn’t felt in many, many years—not since the last time Frederick was in her life. “This is so weird,” she admitted.

  Slipping out of her house robe, Allie began to really look forward to tonight’s barbeque and games. The last Allie heard, Louise was hyped on teaching Frederick how to play spoons, and Helena was vowing to be as big a part of teaching him as Louise.

  “Poor Craig,” Allie mumbled as she slipped on the new sundress that perfectly matched her lipstick. Helena had continued to go out with Craig, and Allie doubted he’d be pleased with the blazing flirtation happening behind his back.

  This all sounds like something from Maury Povich. Allie imagined herself sitting across from Maury, and the famous talk show host saying, “So, as I understand this, you broke up with Frederick Wently ten years ago because your Aunt Landon wanted you to marry someone with more money.”

  “Yes, Maury, that’s right.”

  “And now this Frederick is back in your life. The two of you are barely speaking and haven’t even brought up the past at all?”

  “No. Not at all.”

  “Instead, he’s now interest
ed in your sister’s sister-in-law, who’s fifteen years younger.”

  “That’s right.”

  “And the other sister-in-law is trying to steal Frederick from her sister—despite the fact that she has a steady boyfriend.”

  Allie smoothed out her dress and reached for the wide belt lying atop the bed’s brocade comforter. “You’ve got it right, Maury,” she said out loud.

  “That’s weird.” Maury’s voice bounced around Allie’s mind.

  She chuckled. “Yes, very weird,” Allie replied and pivoted to examine her appearance as she looped the low-slung belt just above her hips. “Not bad for thirty-five,” she asserted and decided Aunt Landon didn’t need to know the motivation for her makeover.

  The grapevine was swift. Allie’s father and sister learned—probably from Macy—that Frederick was around these days. Aunt Landon had been next. Her email warning Allie of the pitfalls of reuniting with Frederick arrived ten days ago. She’d also made vague references to her will that Allie understood all too well. No one but Allie knew that she was Landon’s sole heir. Her aunt’s hints about disinheritance underscored the seriousness of her conviction regarding a match between Allie and Frederick. Even though the email rankled, Allie assured Landon that Frederick and Louise were together; then she chatted about the wonderful way the roses were responding to their new fertilizer.

  Allie finished buckling the belt, checked her watch, and prided herself in running a few minutes behind. She didn’t want to give Frederick the idea that any of this dressing up was for him or that she was eager to see him again. He was probably already at the Groveses’, flipping burgers by now.

  The very thought of him sent a shiver through Allie. She gripped the side of the oak dresser as the matching bed seemed to tilt. I’m still so in love with him, she admitted and tried to remind herself that Frederick was a playboy who was after a woman nearly young enough to be his daughter. But Sarah’s right. I’d forgive him, she pined and voiced the pivotal point she’d arrived at this morning. She’d realized that God’s love and forgiveness were available for Frederick, and that the least she could do was offer the same. All he had to do was ask.

  Allie frowned and huffed. “Stop it!” she demanded and slipped on the spike pumps she’d bought to complete her outfit. And if you don’t, Oprah’s going to be camping on the front porch. She headed down the narrow hallway and into the kitchen, her heels tapping along the Italian tile. Allie paused at the breakfast bar long enough to pick up her keys and purse.

  But before she walked to the door, a gold tube lying on the kitchen counter caught her attention. She picked up the tube of Hot Lips Red and stared at it. Allie hadn’t felt right about throwing it away, but she didn’t want the ever-present reminder of Frederick’s girlfriend’s lips around, either. On impulse, Allie dropped the lipstick into her purse and decided to figure out why later.

  She decided to take her car to the Groveses’ rather than walk the quarter of a mile in the killer heels. When she pulled the Mercedes into the Groveses driveway, Allie was glad she was the last one to join the party. She saw that Charlie, Macy, and the twins had already driven over. They’d called twenty minutes before Allie left to ask if she wanted to ride with them. That just left Frederick. His extended-cab truck confirmed his presence. After several shuttle flights in and out of Atlanta and Macon, Frederick had driven his pickup down for an extended visit with his Atlanta friend, Jim.

  Allie didn’t even want to think about the family upheaval it would cause if Frederick and she did get back together. Aunt Landon would probably start popping nitroglycerine pills to stop a heart attack, and no telling what Allie’s father would do. She imagined the eruption and didn’t cringe half as much as she might have five years ago. As far as Aunt Landon’s nitroglycerine, Allie shrugged and put the car in park. Maybe popping nitro pills would give Aunt Landon something to do for a change.

  The facts were that Allie was thirty-five, still single, and had no prospects in sight. Her love for Frederick hadn’t waned. If anything, it had increased to the point of unbearable proportions and doubled daily—despite Annie and her “Hot Lips Red.” And she decided that if by some miracle Frederick was willing to put his womanizing ways behind him and even hinted that he wanted a reconciliation, then Allie wouldn’t discourage him.

  And the family . . . well, the family could just deal with it. This was her life, not theirs. Even if it meant Aunt Landon’s ultimate disinheritance, Allie decided the loss was worth being happy for the rest of her life. Even though she still received an allowance every month, Allie’s family was nearly broke now. She was surviving just fine. If it came to it, she and Frederick could survive without a fortune together.

  “Why am I even thinking this way?” Allie groaned and turned off the ignition. He’s after Louise. End of discussion.

  She grabbed her handbag and got out. As Allie walked through the April evening, fragrant with freshly bloomed irises and azaleas, she eyed the pillared mansion. The six o’clock sun highlighted the white paint against brick the color of cinnamon, and Allie pondered the similarities of this newer home with Elton Mansion. While the Grove house was a replica of an old plantation home, Elton Mansion was the real deal.

  She sighed for the home that had been her haven since birth, but talked herself out of a melancholic droop. Allie decided to do the best she could to enjoy the evening given the present set of circumstances. She’d focus on Barry and Bart, pretend Frederick wasn’t present, and pray no one noticed that his every glance sent her into a quivering fit. But if he noticed and made a move, Allie decided once and for all she would not discourage him.

  While Louise was way more beautiful and twenty-year-old fresh, Allie embraced the fact that she possessed a composure and wisdom that came with age. Even though the old Frederick had enjoyed it when Allie looked pretty, he had valued character and solid morals over external appeal. Despite the fact that Frederick had given no indication that he wanted to resurrect their former relationship, an inexplicable hope insisted that his old value system was still alive . . . or at least available for resurrection.

  She trotted up the mansion’s steps, paused in front of the massive door, rang the doorbell, and waited. Allie fully expected to be greeted by one of the mansion’s employees, but when the door swung inward, Frederick stood on the other side. He was dressed as he’d often dressed years ago—in a pair of worn blue jeans, a black T-shirt, and cowboy boots. And the effect was much the same tonight as it had been all those years ago. Allie’s fingers tightened around her purse strap, and she hung on for dear life as the rush and flow of adrenaline roared through her.

  Fifteen

  Frederick had only just arrived at the Groveses’ mansion when the doorbell rang. He’d spotted Allie’s vehicle winding toward the home seconds before he stepped inside, so when she rang the bell, he had eagerly offered to open the door and fully expected her on the other side. But what he hadn’t expected was the transformed beauty who stood before him like an angel beamed down on the shaft of sunlight she stood in.

  Wow! he thought, then heard himself say it before adding, “You look great!”

  “Thanks,” she demurely replied. “We had a Mary Kay party.”

  “All hail Mary Kay!” A surge of bravado encouraged Frederick to up the warmth of his broad grin.

  When Allie’s pink cheeks grew pinker and she studied his feet, Frederick received more encouragement than he’d gleaned in three weeks. The only thing that kept him coming back all these weeks was the subtle clues and discreet glances that indicated Allie might not be immune to him. Her otherwise disinterested persona usually left Frederick in a tailspin of doubt. He never knew if she really was allowing a few clues to slip out or if he was a desperate man reading something into nothing.

  But now no one could deny that Allie truly appreciated his appreciation. Frederick’s hopes soared to an all-time high. Add to that the fact that merely being in her presence had awakened his love to a frenzied fit. The flood of
love had swept aside any resentment over the past in a deluge that left Frederick breathless. In his case, love really had covered a multitude of sins. He’d come to realize that Allie had been young and impressionable all those years ago. But the woman before him now seemed to better know her own mind. If only her mind were focused upon him.

  Now nothing stood in the way of reawakening their former relationship. At least, nothing on his side. Whether or not Allie still allowed Landon Russ’s blueblood prejudices to affect her remained unseen. Furthermore, Frederick still suspected she hadn’t believed him three weeks ago when he told her that note with lipstick on it had been from Sophia to Darren. Her eyes had screamed doubt, and Frederick couldn’t even imagine what she must be thinking about him.

  “I guess I should come in,” Allie hedged with a shy grin that left Frederick’s knees weak.

  “Oh! Yes! Of course!” Frederick burst and felt like the fool of the century. Thankfully the Groves had been too focused on making the acquaintance of Frederick’s guests to notice his and Allie’s front door interaction.

  As Allie stepped inside the foyer and he closed the door, the Groves and his guests paused in their greetings to look toward the latest arrival. “Allie, I know you’ve already met my sister and brother-in-law,” Frederick said, and motioned toward the Cosbys. “They surprised Jim and me with a visit this afternoon, and Mrs. Grove said it was fine for them to crash the party.”

  “Of course! Of course!” Martha enthused. “The more the merrier!” Her face beaming, she wore a flowy red dress that heightened her color.

  “That’s what she kept saying when we were having children,” Charlie Sr. drawled and stroked his handlebar mustache.

  The group burst into laughter.

  Frederick had long since decided that all Mr. Grove needed was to replace his casual slacks and shirt with a uniform from World War I and he could have posed as a soldier from the past.

  Allie exchanged brief handshakes with Sophia and Darren and smiled toward Jim, whom she’d met last night. He stood on the edge of the group near Louise and Helena and had exchanged his perpetual sad-eyed expression for one of near panic. Frederick was nearly overcome with more laughter.