Chapter
Two
Tracy and
Jack
Tracy hopped in her car. She could almost see her house
from The Merryweather property but with the winding roads and bridges
to cross it was a two mile ride. Today she was in no hurry to get
home. She pulled off the main road where she could park the car and
walk to the edge of a hill. From there she could see the lake on one
side and the town on the other. She enjoyed this view of her town.
Even as a young girl she had a special affinity with Camden Corners.
Tracy's grandparents were James and Ella Robinson.
Neither one of them had been born in Camden Corners but found
happiness and each other in the small town. Grandpa James was the
son of Helene Robinson. His father was Neville Merryweather.
Neville was unaware of James' existence until 20 years after his
birth. Chester Robinson married Helene shortly after she discovered
she was in the family way and raised James as his own. On his
deathbed, Chester confessed to James his birth father's name thinking
it was important James knew his true identity. Much to Helene's
dismay, James sought out his father and was accepted into the family
without reservation, with the exception of Neville's alcoholic wife,
Prudence, the mother of his two daughters.
Ella Pritchard arrived in Camden Corners looking for her
baby brother who was abandoned at an orphanage in Pennsylvania twelve
years before. Ella found her brother, Billy, and became a beloved
member of the Duesenberry family. Billy, along with his friend,
Butch, had been adopted by Vicar Will and Kate Duesenberry.
James and Ella never left Camden Corners. They married
and had three natural children and adopted three more. Their
oldest son, Jim is Tracy's father. James' natural parents, Helene
and Neville married six months after the untimely death of Neville's
wife. The older couple built a home on the lake where they lived
with James, Neville's daughters and their two adopted daughters.
The house changed hands several times through the years.
It became available once again in 1979 and was purchased by Tracy
and Jack Crowley where they raised their three children.
Tracy loved that old house with the creaky floors and
troublesome plumbing. Jack complained about the old place but the
truth be known, he loved it too. More importantly, he loved Tracy
and he knew living in the house made her happy. Jack was a Crowley
and the Crowleys had been in Camden Corners for as long as anyone
could remember. Jack's great great grandfather was Oscar Crowley.
The Crowley Law Firm had been in the family since Oscar opened the
doors almost 100 years ago. Oscar's sons, Robert and Richard took
over the firm and passed it down to each generation after that. Jack
had earned a reputation in his field and had received several offers
to join larger and more prestigious law firms throughout the state.
He always said he came from a long line of country lawyers and why
would he want to break that pattern now. He was proud the day his
son joined the firm and two years later, his daughter.
Tracy was lost in thought as she stared at the lake. It
seemed like only yesterday when Holly and Steve were married under a
canopy on the grounds of The Merryweather. It had been a lovely day
for an outside wedding in the middle of September. The leaves were
just beginning to turn in the hills and it made a lovely backdrop to
the ceremony taking place. Holly was truly a beautiful bride and
Steve was handsome in his cutaway. Jack Crowley was Steve's best man
and Tracy was Holly's maid of honor. Jack had arrived in town very
late the previous day. He had driven from Massachusetts after his
last class of the day. His ancient car had given out about halfway
to Camden Corners. He was able to rent a car for the remainder of
the trip but it had delayed him for several hours.
Tracy was just a few years younger than Jack Crowley.
She remembered him as being arrogant. He was the captain of the
football team, class president and voted the most attractive senior
of the class of 1965. She wouldn't admit this to anyone, but she had
a big crush on him when she was a lowly freshman. Tracy was friends
with two of Jack's sisters but he was home so seldom in the years
following high school graduation, she hadn't seen him in a number of
years.
“It's just too bad Steve chose Jack Crowley as his
best man. He has some nerve skipping the rehearsal for the most
important day of his friend's life.” spouted Tracy.
“The guy had car trouble, Tracy. It's not like he
planned to miss the rehearsal and he did rent a car. He will be here
for the wedding and that's the important thing. Why are you so
irritated with Jack? Do you still have that silly crush on him?”
Holly asked with a grin on her face.
“A crush on him? Holly, are we still in high school?
I haven't seen Jack Crowley in years but I imagine he is still the
same self-important jerk he was back then.
“Tracy, what has gotten into you? Jack always struck
me as being very down to earth. From what Steve says, he is
planning to come back to Camden Corners to join his family's law firm
after he passes the bar. He has had offers to join other firms but
he wants to live in Camden Corners. If he were as self-important as
you seem to think he is, I can't imagine why he would come back here
to this little town.”
“I guess I am over-reacting Holly. Maybe you are
right. Maybe I never did get over my ninth grade crush. Maybe it's
because he never noticed me. He always had a cheerleader or two
hanging all over him.”
“You were a cheerleader too. Not in ninth grade but
for the next three years. That whole freshman year was torture. Do
you remember we were the only two girls in the class who still
stuffed our bras with Kleenex? Maybe that's why we are such good
friends. We shared our misery back then.”
They both laughed but the memories of that awkward time
still made them cringe.
The next morning, Tracy and the rest of her bridesmaids
stood back and admired the bride. Holly was the calmest one of the
group. She had known she and Steve were meant to be together. They
weren't the first of the generations of Burkes and Mackenzies to be
joined in marriage.
The wedding march began as one by one, Holly's good
friends walked down the aisle. Tracy was smiling as she glanced from
side to side. She knew everyone sitting in the chairs that had been
set up on the lawn earlier. As she neared the gazebo, she notice the
tall handsome young man standing next to Steve. She recognized him
as Jack Crowley. If possible, he was even more good looking than he
had been in high school. Tracy couldn't believe he was staring
directly at her. Oh what she wouldn't have given if he had even
glanced her way when she was a skinny little thing back in ninth
grade.
The wedding went off without a hitch and Mr. and Mrs.
Steven Burke were introduced to the beaming guests. They walked hand
in hand down the aisle and into the ballroom of The Merryweather
where waiters and waitresses were carrying trays laden with champagne
followed by those carrying hors d'oeuvers.
The guests were mingling and chatting with their friends
and neighbors until the bridal party began lining up before a
beautiful buffet spread. The bride and bridesmaids were on one side
of the serving table while the groom and groomsmen were on the other.
Jack looked up and smiled at Tracy. She smiled back and her knees
went weak.
“Jack has improved with age, don't you think, Tracy?”
Holly whispered to her friend.
“Holly, I'm not sure I ever got over that crush from
years ago. Jack is gorgeous. I'm finding myself looking forward to
being in those strong arms during the bridal dance. I hope I can
control myself. I'll just have to remember there are children
watching.”
“He keeps looking at you too. Are the two of you
going to just stare at each other all evening?”
“Are you two talking about my brother?” Heather
Crowley asked as the buffet line moved forward. “I think he likes
you, Tracy. He hasn't taken his eyes off you since you walked down
the aisle earlier.”
Tracy could feel the color rising in her cheeks as she
asked Heather. “Does Jack have a girlfriend?”
“There was someone he was interested in a while back.
I don't think they are still together. Mother keeps trying to get
information about his love life out of him but he doesn't talk much.
I can see her over there smiling as she is looking this way. I think
she is seeing the sparks fly between you two and I know she would be
very happy about that.”
Tracy sat down with the rest of the bridal party.
Reverend Blake offered a prayer and Jack made a humorous toast to the
newlyweds. Tracy knew the food was good but didn't taste a morsel of
it as she cleaned her plate. Her partner for the bridal dance was
all she could think of. The plates were being cleared and the time
was almost here. The bandleader finally announced the bridal dance.
Holly and Steve danced to their special song. The parents of the
bride and groom were asked to join their children on the dance floor.
At long last, the bridal party was invited to join in.
Jack smiled at her and said. “It's been a long time,
Tracy. It's nice to see you again. You and Holly have done wonders
with this old house. After we fulfill our wedding duties, I'd like
to see what you've done with the rest of the place.”
“I'd be delighted to show you the second floor bedroom
suites,” Tracy said and realizing how that sounded her face turned
scarlet.
“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Jack laughed.
“Maybe we'd better start on the lower level. How
would you like to tour the kitchen?”
They both laughed and continued dancing through the next
song and the one after that.
Jack stayed in Camden Corners for as long as he could
before returning to school and his classes. Tracy and Jack spent
every moment possible together. Since Holly and Steve were on a
short honeymoon, Tracy was in charge of the operation of The
Merryweather. Jack worked right along beside her. He helped with
reservations, checking in and even inspecting rooms after they were
cleaned and readied for the next guest.
At the end of the day the couple would sit on the
veranda overlooking the lake and relax with a glass of wine or walk
on the beach in the moonlight. Tracy had never been happier. She
couldn't imagine why she ever thought Jack was stuck on himself. He
was warm and funny and completely down to earth.
“Tracy, I don't want to go back to school and leave
you. Do you think it's possible to fall in love with someone in less
than a week? Come to think of it, I don't care if it's possible or
not. I have fallen in love with you and I want to spend the rest of
my life with you. Will you marry me?”
“Jack, you don't know how tempted I am to say yes.
Maybe we had better think this through. You have school to finish
and I have The Merryweather to run. We are just getting established
with the place. It has been a wonderful week but we both have to get
back to reality.”
“I'm through with law school in December. I'll be
returning to Camden Corners and clerking at the family firm until I
pass the bar. Will three months be long enough to get to know each
other better?”
“I've thought how nice it would be to have a Christmas
wedding at The Merryweather. I had no idea it would be my own. Yes,
Jack, I will marry you.”
Both Jack and Tracy were busy the next three months
which helped the time go by quickly for both of them. They saw each
other whenever they could break away from Jack's studies or Tracy's
duties at the resort.
Eileen Robinson and Barbara Crowley were delighted their
children were planning to be married. Tracy didn't want a big fancy
wedding but her mother and Jack's had different ideas.
“Mom, I don't want any fuss. I just want to marry
Jack and start our lives together. If we do anything formal it will
take months of planning and I am not waiting a minute longer than I
have to.”
“Tracy, I don't understand what the rush is all about.
Oh dear, you aren't in the family way, are you?”
“Of course not. Mother, it's 1973, we take
precautions these days.”
“Don't tell me about it, Tracy, I don't want to know.”
Tracy laughed at her mother's old fashioned ideas as she
gave her a hug.
“Mom, you and Mrs. Crowley can plan the whole wedding.
Just make sure I'm wearing a simple dress. I don't want to look
like Cinderella at the ball.”
That was all Eileen needed to know. She picked up the
phone to call her friend Barbara and the two of them were in their
glory.
It was a simple wedding and a beautiful one. Tracy had
final approval of her wedding dress. It was just exactly what she
would have picked for herself. She had the feeling her new
mother-in-law influenced the selection. After two sons, Eileen
dressed her only daughter in all sorts of frilly outfits until Tracy
was old enough to voice her opinion on what she was willing to wear.
Tracy couldn't help but smile as she thought back
through the years. She never doubted Jack was the one for her. They
both had busy careers but always found time to be together at the end
of the day. They both had a fondness for Camden Corners and were
never sorry they built a life in the small town for themselves and
their children.
Lost in her reverie, Tracy was oblivious to the sound
of a car engine as Jack parked next to her. He walked to the spot
she was standing and placed his hand gently on her shoulder
startling her. She looked into the still handsome face of her
husband.
“Tracy, are you alright? I saw your car parked here.
You never come to this spot unless you have some thinking to do.”
“I'm fine, Jack. I still have a lot of thinking to do
but I'll do it later. I think I'd much rather sip a cold martini
with my husband.”
“Sounds good to me, I'll go mix a couple for us.
Olive or a twist?”
“Olives sound good. I'll meet you at home in a couple
of minutes.”
He kissed her on the forehead. Jack was concerned.
Something serious was on Tracy's mind. He knew his wife well and he
didn't like the worry he saw in her eyes.
As promised, Jack greeted Tracy with an extra dry
martini with a large pimento stuffed olive. “Straight up?” she
said. “I must look like I need a stiff drink.”
Tracy handed Jack a copy of the contract Scott Douglas
presented to Holly and her that afternoon. Jack read it over and his
eyes opened with a look of surprise when he came to the amount that
was being offered.
“Now I understand why you were looking so serious.
What does Holly think about this?”
“We decided to sleep on it. It never entered our
minds to give up The Mayflower. Holly and I thought Jenna and Katie
would take our places some day. Taking this offer would mean The
Mayflower will be demolished and much of the history of Camden
Corners with it.”
“I'll look at this later. At first glance, it seems
to be a viable contract. Let's go sit on the porch, looking at the
water always has a calming effect on you.”
“You have a calming effect on me too, my love,”
Tracy said as took a sip of her drink.
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