Addy couldn’t listen anymore and said, “I have to go now, Greg. Thank you for being so kind.”
Greg took her in his arms and protested, “No, Addy. It’s you who have been kind to me. I have to help you. I want to figure out a way to help you.”
Greg walked Addy back to her house. Embracing her, he gave her one last kiss. She couldn’t speak. She did not want to cry; she wanted to be brave and happy so that Greg would see her as a strong woman. Lost in thought, Greg walked slowly back to his house. How could he rescue this sweet woman from the clutches of a beast?
Just as Addy sat down on the sofa, Caroline arrived at the door. The kids looked happy and spoiled. “How was your day?” Addy feigned innocence.
“Great! Fantastic!” they all chimed in.
“After the zoo, Caroline took us to watch the lobster boats bringing in their pots,” said Pete excitedly. Apparently, her kids had gotten along well with Caroline’s.
“How was your day, Mom?” Pete asked innocently.
Calmly, Addy replied, “Restful.”
Caroline caught her eye and grinned with the secret neither she nor her brother would ever reveal.
If Addy had died that night in her sleep, she would have been content. Of course, that wouldn’t be fair to the kids. She didn’t really mean it, but she was so fulfilled. Never in her life on this earth had she felt so complete.
The days of the second week of their vacation flew by. Caroline and her kids, who stayed on to spend the whole week at Greg’s, planned such fun activities every day … barbeques in the yard, badminton, hunting for fireflies at night. Addy had never seen her children so happy. Allison seemed to thrive as well.
Shadows gathered as the days and hours approached six o’clock on Saturday, August 21. That was when this fairytale would end, and Addy’s real life would begin once again. Until then, she and the children soaked up every drop of joy and normalcy. It was foolish, but she felt, yes, someday Greg would rescue her.
Like the grim reaper, Friday inevitably arrived. Lionel would be here tomorrow. After this heavenly vacation, how could Addy return to Connecticut with Lionel? Wouldn’t it be better to be dead? Yes, her sense of hopelessness and despair frequently spawned urges of suicide, but her responsibility to the children saved her. She lived for them alone.
Addy got out of bed, pulled on her robe, stepped into her slippers, and shuffled to the kitchen to make coffee. The kids were still sleeping because they had gone to an outdoor movie in the town square last night. The house was as silent as a chapel. She looked around the O’Malley’s residence, thinking, “Why can’t this be my real life?”
Immediately, her Catholic conscience jumped in, scolding, you should be grateful you even had this vacation. Stop wishing for what you don’t have. That’s coveting. The smell of coffee percolating on the stove drew her back into the moment. Someone was knocking on the door.
Oh, God, thought Addy, panicking. Don’t tell me Lionel has decided to pick us up early.
She went to the door, and there was Greg, holding Nolan’s Doughnut Shop waxed bags in both hands. Everyone who vacationed in Southern Maine knew about Nolan’s. What had started as a small insignificant bakeshop had risen, literally, as an empire of “dough.”
Addy immediately felt self-conscious about being in her bathrobe but laughed to herself, he’s already seen you naked, you fool.
Looking around, Greg saw the kids were nowhere in sight and kissed her on the lips. Addy immediately felt aroused and wished she could lead him into her bedroom this time. He said, “Caroline and the kids are still sleeping so I hoped I could sneak a cup of coffee with you. Mmm … I smell it already. Did you read my mind?”
Although Addy and he had made such passionate love, Addy still blushed when he looked at her. “We’re leaving tomorrow, Greg. I’m so glad you stopped by this morning. Tomorrow I’ll have to start cleaning early, and we wouldn’t have time for coffee together in the morning.”
Greg’s beautiful smile faded as he, too, suddenly realized the halcyon days were ending. He would return to his lonely existence, maybe never to see Addy and her children again. Addy took out two sets of placemats, napkins, cups and saucers, plates, and a large platter for the doughnuts. Simply setting the table for Greg lifted her spirits. Oh, if he were her husband, how she would spoil him. As Greg spread the doughnuts on the platter, he said, “I hope the kids like my selection.”
The doughnuts were still warm, and their sweet smell transported Addy to Sunday mornings after Mass at Sound View Beach. The Italian men woke up very early on those special days, hurrying down to the doughnut shop. It wasn’t a bakery with glass cases but simply a building with a Dutch door. Once all the doughnuts were gone, the door was shut until the next Sunday morning. The Sound View doughnut spot was as successful as Nolan’s, paying for all the Panetti children to go to college.
“They’re perfect,” Addy replied. “I love glazed, Pete loves plain, Jimmy loves jelly, and Mary loves any kind. Thank you so much, Greg. How thoughtful of you.”
Greg got up to pour his own coffee, but Addy insisted, “You sit right there. I’ll get it for you. That’s the least I can do.”
When she picked up his cup to take over to the counter, her hip brushed against his arm. She could finally understand what it means to want to just grab someone and make love to him right on the kitchen floor. Simply brushing by Greg set Addy on fire. How would she ever lie next to Lionel again, awakening to his cruelly pinching her bottom to signal that he wanted sex? She knew Lionel was a brute, but she had never had any other sexual experience for comparison … not until Greg.
She brought Greg’s coffee to him, this time trying not to brush against his arm. Why torture herself? The kids would be awake any minute. Greg had no sooner placed a glazed doughnut on his plate, than Jimmy came out of his room, rubbing his eyes.
“Doughnuts!” he shouted.
Greg and Addy glanced at each other across the table. They knew they had enjoyed their last quiet moment together. Shortly, Pete and Mary were awake, pouring orange juice and picking over the doughnuts. For the first time in the lives of her children, Addy resented them. Why had they stirred and spoiled her last precious seconds with Greg?
Greg said, “Well, I had better be getting back to my place.”
“Take the rest of the doughnuts with you,” Addy insisted.
“Are you kidding? I have two more bags for our brood in the car. You guys enjoy them.”
Addy reminded the kids to thank Greg. She knew all three of her children had become very fond of this special man and his daughter. Greg was easygoing, patient, funny, kind, nurturing … all the things their father was not.
In a melancholy tone, Mary asked, “Will I see you again before we leave tomorrow?
“Of course,” Greg answered cheerily. “Why don’t you come over today and play with Allison?”
Mary beamed. The weather was cloudy, and it looked like rain. Allison loved Mary; they got along so well.
“May I, Mom?”
“Certainly,” Addy replied. “Your things are so organized; you can just get them together tonight. “Will you help me scrub the cottage before your father comes tomorrow?”
“I love to clean,” Mary answered.
Not to be outdone, the boys said, “We’ll help, too.”
Addy smiled at Greg, proud that he knew what good kids she had. Greg smiled back. He pounced toward Jimmy, tickling him, snarling in a pretend sinister voice, “You kids better help or I’ll put you in a lobster trap for bait.”
Jimmy squealed