

In the Shadow of Ely Marsh

Published by Stefan Kulakowski at Smashwords

Copyright © 2012 by Stefan Kulakowski

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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CHAPTER ONE

By the time I was sixteen my hands were scarred by the sharp edges of blue crab shells. Momma was my caretaker, and Daddy spent most days haulin' crab traps. Daddy was so exhausted when he came home that he would barely have enough energy to throw a quick smile my way and tell me how beautiful I was. Ely Marsh was our home.

My past 60 years have been spent here growing up in the shadow of this place. Ely Marsh was named after a wealthy cotton merchant whose family had resided here for 200 years and built the stately mansion that keeps watch over the other families like mine, whose circumstances were not quite as fortunate as the Ely's.

Unlike my life here in the marsh there is another existence. In the distance, the tourists come to Savannah to ride the trolley and spend their easy earned money on "Ghost Tours" and drinking in bars on River Street. They tour the garden squares and the Owen-Thomas House, among others, and observe the old Southern culture that hangs in the air like the moss draping from the oaks. Undoubtedly, they believe the average Savannahian has a life full of garden parties and society balls. I see it very differently having grown up here. We weren't in the "social scene". Daddy didn't much believe in that. Daddy believed in hard work. He raised us close, and we spent our days working hard in the marsh and Ossabaw Sound to earn a living and taking in the things that were important to us. Church brought us together as a spiritual unit and tied my family together with others in the area as it has for so many generations. I strayed from those beliefs and turned rebellious. At the time I did what was needed to escape a life I hated. I didn't know any better. I think my family forgave me in the end, but it was hard to tell.

The winters were sometimes long however when the seasons changed, the sunsets and summer breezes brought relief from a hard day of work. We lived for the small things. I often tire easily now, recounting my life and looking forward to the sunsets I have yet to encounter and trying make up for the ones I've missed.

My name is Elizabeth Blackwell, and this is my story of a summer of change. Come with me on this journey and experience a summer in Ely Marsh as I have.

To know me is to love me, my Daddy used to say. I'm not sure what love is or what it stands for. I know the marsh has brought heart ache and bitterness to a world they say is full of love and happiness. To really know me, one would have to look deep into my soul, to my heart, my fears, my sacrifices, my desires, the marsh, but most of all, my family. This is where my journey begins.

Nothing much about my life is really unusual, I guess. I was born to parents who were together for 37 years, for better or worse. My brother Wright is two years older than I; he turned his back on the marsh as soon as he was old enough to leave. Wright held a great deal of bitterness towards people like the Ely's; he felt the Ely's would never let us Blackwell's gain a thing in this world. He saw their money and power as a form of corruption. Perhaps it was.

Wright got his revenge through brains and hard work. He left for Atlanta, to go to Emory University on a full scholarship. He often joked about his "worthy poor boy" scholarship, but as long as he got out of Ely Marsh, he would take whatever others would give him.

Wright is a lawyer now, a partner with a large firm in Atlanta, married to a sorority girl named Katie, who was born into a life of privilege much like the Ely's. I often felt during Wright's too short visits home, usually a couple of hours while en route to Katie's family's summer home in Hilton Head, that he believed he would never be able to prove himself worthy of a girl like Katie, with her perfect teeth, expensive yet understated clothes, and an air of quiet self-assurance that only those born into such a life could know. His feeling always persisted, despite Katie's admonishments that she never cared about where he came from, only where he was headed in life. Her parents, too, always seemed to accept Wright on his own terms, admiring of his desire to better himself and make his own way in the world. But none of this mattered to Wright.

The summer that changed my life started like any other in the marsh. The weather turned humid, hot, salty and muggy. Daddy's consistent hard work on his crab boat kept us with minimum food and few new clothes. The sights, sounds, and harmony of Ely Marsh kept pace with life. I would like to say life was a steady stream of experiences that lead one to feel a sense of wisdom and accomplishment as you age, but that's someone else's life my mind often drifts back to that summer.

"Lizbeth, I need to talk to you before your Daddy gets back to the dock." Momma said in her soft but raspy voice.

Momma was getting old and frail in her years, but she was always a fisherman's wife and could still hold her own.

"I need to send you to Doc Fleming's office to fill Daddy's prescription." She stated.

"Yes, Ma'am!" I replied.

I never questioned Momma. I would never think to ask what the prescription was for, although I always knew. We've survived here as a family because we were the sort of family who always looked out for the other and had a keen understanding of the family pecking order. Daddy was head of the household. Momma let Daddy have the final say, but she always was vocal about what she wanted.

Momma would joke, "Daddy may be the head of the household, but I'm the neck, and I turn the head."

I always understood that Momma and Daddy were in charge, and I was to honor their wishes and obey their authority. However, the exception to the pecking order may be Wright. He was off on his own and really never looked back too often. There were times when, like Wright did, I would dream of running away to a new and exciting life. I often ask myself what I could do to escape from this place in the same way, but I seem to always come back to reality. Wright was a boy, and in the South that made all the difference. Wright could ruffle feathers by leaving home and exerting his independence, but I was expected to be the dutiful daughter, and stay close to home and endure the harsh fishing life, maybe marry a local boy, but always be there for Momma and Daddy. I remembered a time when I was 15 or so that I was gazing at a copy of National Geographic, speculating how I could get to the glamour of Manhattan shown in those glossy pages. I was a talented artist, and I could imagine myself working for a Madison Avenue advertising agency drawing pictures, or even working as art gallery manager.

My mother was quick to snort in a derisive way and informed me, "My god, Beth, New York is a horrid place, full of horrid people. Why on earth would you want to go there? Besides, you've got no sense of how to act in a big city. You're from Ely Marsh and don't need to get above your raising."

It may sound harsh, but I know Momma said it as much out of fear for my safety, as her own concern of being left alone. I felt trapped a lot, and was downright jealous of Wright at times, but then I did get scared at the idea of leaving the only home I'd ever known, and of meeting people I hadn't known my whole life who would likely make fun of my accent and public school education. I blame my Daddy for most of my stunted upbringing.

Momma took care of Daddy like a mother hen to her chicks. Every morning in a consistent manner Daddy would walk along the dock overlooking the marsh and hop aboard his boat. Momma would check and make sure he had his coat and tool box. It was a routine that never seemed to fade. Momma waved as he set out on his route through Rockfish Creek and on past Raccoon Key. Daddy would set, check, and empty traps. At age 68 he could still throw a cast net for mullet and haul in a load. It was nothing for me to help Daddy cut up the mullet and tie the heads into the traps for the afternoon run; I suppose it was just part of the routine.

I washed my hardened hands, threw on a sun dress and gave Momma a kiss on the cheek.

"I'll be back soon from Doc Fleming's office, Momma. Is there anything else we need?"I asked.

She simply shook her head no and walked in the kitchen. I grabbed my hair brush and keys and set off to Dr. Fleming's.

The sand driveway winds around a few palms and through a short stretch of marsh grass that offers a view of highway 204 and the bridge into old Savannah. The driveway meets hardened pavement about a half mile down and then a short drive into town. It was towards the end of the day when looking west it was as if the sky was on fire from an orangey glow that comes from the setting sun. The burn of the sun wears off and cooler air moves across the coastline with the scent of salty air. On hot days in the summer we often hoped for rain just to cool the ground. It was a nice time to drive into town.

Dr. Fleming's office was on Whitaker Street, across from Forsyth Park. Not a bad place to have a business. It was an old historical building standing under stately oaks blending into the scenery. The family lived on the second floor above his practice. Dr. Fleming was a graduate of The University of Alabama School of Medicine and knew Daddy from way back when he would buy his seafood from the market where Daddy worked. Daddy slipped on some ice one winter and broke his shoulder. Daddy bartered Dr. Fleming to heal his shoulder and gain some pain pills in exchange for some fresh seafood. Dr. Fleming didn't mind. Daddy had been seeing Dr. Fleming ever since, through shoulder pain, knee and back problems to heart ailments. Dr. Fleming was about Daddy's age and spends most days in retirement. He had a no nonsense way about him that Daddy liked. In any event, I was here to get a new prescription and I slowly opened the large old door. I heard a southern lady's voice coming from the parlor.

"Honey, can I help you? Oh my child it's you, Elizabeth, how are you my Dear?" She asked.

I recognized the sweet lady as Lois Fleming, the sister of the Doc.

"Very well Ma'am, thank you."I replied.

We quickly became reacquainted as I had not seen her in over a year. She walked to the back and retrieved the prescription and handed it to me.

"You tell your Father to take good care of himself now you hear?" She said.

"Yes, Ma'am, I sure will." I replied.

"How's his pain?" She asked.

"Daddy always acts tough, so it's hard to tell sometimes." I replied.

Lois Fleming turned to walk away and she quickly turned back.

"Oh, by the way dear, my nephew is moving to town from Birmingham. It would be my intention to have him get acquainted with the town as soon as possible with someone his own age. Would you be available?"She asked.

One hundred thoughts quickly raced through my mind as I did not know what to say. I felt my brain stumbling as my mouth wanted to say something but my brain could not quite catch up yet.

"I'd be happy to Ma'am." I replied with a grin.

"Oh God! What did I just agree too?" I asked myself.

"Wonderful!" Mrs. Fleming said, as I stood there with a smile, but wished to run.

"He's a fine young man, and I am sure you both can find a lot in common." She stated.

A thought ran through my head.

"Oh yea, a lady from a fishing family surely has all kinds of things in common with a man from a doctor's family! What was this all about?"

I grinned and turned to make my way out as Mrs. Fleming stated she would be in touch with me.

I'm not one for making many male acquaintances. My experience with men has been a series of good intentions followed by what the man would describe as a good time. I would describe it as another night at Dock's Sports Bar with slow conversation permeated by beer breath and overzealous male hormones. I'm pretty much over that. I did fall in love once, but he's gone for the most part it's all water under the bridge for me. Love is elusive; it will find me some day.

The rain started to fall as I made my way into the house. I dropped Daddy's prescription on the kitchen counter and made my way to the back door and opened up the screen door that leads to a porch deck. The old door squeaked as it has done since I was a toddler. The sounds of home were lovely. The fresh scent of the rain was a welcome relief and cut the stale, hot, salty air with a hint of coolness. I fell into a deck chair, enjoyed the final glimpses of the sun, and let my mind begin to wander. The night fell upon the marsh and I made my way to bed after saying goodnight to Momma and Daddy.

In the eerie still of the darkness, came a scream so loud and piercing it could be heard throughout Ely Marsh and even into Ossabaw Sound i raised my head out of a sleep and opened my eyes. I heard Daddy's footsteps as he stomped along the wooden floor.

"Daddy?" I asked quietly.

"Daddy?" I asked out of sleepy puzzlement.

"What the hell was that?" Daddy frightfully asked.

"Daddy, I don't know but let's not get too excited", I said as not to aggravate Daddy's heart condition.

The screaming stopped. I put my hand on Daddy's arm. I felt my heart race. Momma was now investigating the commotion.

"What's all the racket out here? "It's two thirty in the morning?" Momma asked in puzzlement.

We stood in the silence. Then with no warning, another scream came out of the darkness. I shuddered and grabbed onto Daddy. We looked out, the scream seemed closer; then silence. We huddled on the back porch deck overlooking the marsh but could only see darkness and an occasional light from a fire fly. No stars, no moon, no sounds, only the eerie smell of a salty marsh in the late night and the darkness.

"I'm going down to the dock." Daddy said.

"Meryl, you have no business out there on that dock at this time of night!" Momma said.

"I'm getting my shoes on and setting out there! "Somebody may be hurt!" Daddy replied.

"You ain't gonna see 'em from the dock!" Momma said back.

Daddy made his way to his bedroom and slid on some shrimp boots and ignored Momma. As Daddy opened the door the familiar squeak broke the quiet of the night. Momma and I watched him slowly make his way down to the dock sliding into the night illuminated only by the porch light and a small flashlight.

"That man's a fool sometimes." Momma mumbled under her breath.

"Momma, Daddy's just checking it out." I replied as I put my arm around Momma.

The nights at Ely Marsh were generally peaceful and quiet with only the sounds of the marsh bugs, frogs, and crickets chirping through the night. An occasional sound of a shrimp boat is heard in the distance as it makes its way through the channel for an early morning start, but nothing like this was eerie.

I didn't know it at the time, but the events that were unfolding were the beginning of my life changing. I watched Daddy disappear down to the dock, when the only thing visible was a small flicker from his flashlight in the distance. There were no sounds. How strange this was. Momma and I stood there looking out the old screen door. I'm not sure why Daddy went down to the dock; the screaming didn't even come from that direction. I didn't ask. Momma made a fuss but Daddy ignored her. I suppose I kept quiet because I knew the pecking order and knew my place, besides, the man was my Daddy and he must have known what he was doing. His time investigating seemed endless.

Suddenly with no sounds, no warning, in the blink of an eye, the flicker from Daddy's light was gone. I turned out the porch light hoping to see better through the dark. I rubbed my tired eyes and squinted through the deep night. There was nothing. My heart sank.

"Momma, I don't see anything. I can't see where Daddy went or his light." I said.

Momma was searching the refrigerator for a cold glass of lemonade.

"That man looks for trouble sometimes when there ain't none." She said as she poured herself some lemonade.

"Momma, I'm serious, I see no signs of Daddy." I said.

I walked out to the porch.

"Daddy?" I yelled for him.

"Daddy?"
CHAPTER TWO

There are moments in my past that I was not proud of myself. I can thank my Momma and Daddy for rescuing me from immature thoughts of rebelliousness and stupidity, at least for awhile. Daddy was a proud man and I admired him, although, I did have my issues and problems with the man. Unfortunately some of them could not be healed. As Wright and I grew up on the marsh our youthful thinking would have us believe we could have anything; after all, the stately mansion of the Ely's lay straight across the Marsh like a temple to Ossabaw Sound. Why shouldn't I have a home like that when I grow up? I would often think as a young girl. Daddy often said that hard work reaps great rewards. It didn't take long to realize, as I aged, that rewards come at a high cost.

I made it to the Ely's annual Spring Garden Party one year by smiling my way into the graces of Gregory Ely, the prodigal son of Henry Ely II, the stately mansion owner, and the grandson of the namesake of Ely Marsh. I was in my sophomore year of high school and used my smile and newly budding chest to charm my way into his social circle. It didn't hurt that my best girlfriend at the time was Ashleigh Stonewall. Ashleigh had the looks that made the boys melt at her feet. She came from what we in the South describe as a "fine old family". The Stonewalls were good stock, though not as high up the social ladder as the Ely family. Behind their backs, other folks would describe the Stonewalls as "Ely Wanna Be's". The Stonewalls were the type of family that tried to keep up with the Jones's, but they never could quite keep up with the extremely old money and social finesse that the Ely family had enjoyed for generations here.

At any rate, the Ely's were generally expected to invite the Stonewalls as Mrs. Stonewall was the second cousin of Greg Ely's mother, Mary Jane. I guess my flirting with Greg Ely finally paid off, as Ashleigh had told me that Greg had not officially invited me to the party, but he told Ashleigh I could tag along with her. We were told at school that we would need to enter through a side gate along the east wall of the estate. Gregory would arrange to leave it unlocked for his invitees. As Ashleigh and I approached the gate and walked along the ivy covered privacy wall, the sounds of adult laughter and conversation could be heard as intoxicated power plays and social posturing were the order of the day. Of course, the Ely's were used to these social interactions and thrived on the nuances of a simple word or look and the huge meaning it could carry. Those in the know of this behavior understood, for example, if Mary Jane Ely informed you that your dress was "sweet" it was the kiss of death. Sweet meant simple, uncomplicated, and well, unsophisticated. In other words, you were not at all chic. "Nice" was not much better. People who cared what Mary Jane thought, and there were plenty of them, would aim for "lovely" or the best of all "gorgeous". At any rate, I was an interloper and was trying to be as unnoticed as possible while observing all the rich and powerful people in their element. I silently stood on the huge portico which rounded the back porch and leaned against a huge white column and tossed my hair back as if I owned the place. What fun it is fantasize with the wealthy. As I gazed out, I noticed that the marsh looked so different from this view. I couldn't even make out the small cove across the expanse where my home lay. The life of a fisherman seemed so far away from the 24 room Antebellum mansion of the Ely family and their numerous servants.

Gregory Ely, Ashleigh, and Trey Monroe rounded the side yard coming up to the portico. They were laughing and carrying on like they had just committed a prank joke. I noticed Gregory carrying a glass bottle of amber liquor. They waved my way to come over, trying to hide from the crowd, still snickering.

"Liz, come on!" Greg called.

"Come on Liz!" Trey called.

I quickly stepped down off the portico and followed them around the side yard and along a path to a garden shed. This is not your typical garden shed mind you. This "shed" more closely resembled the home I lived in, only with fresh paint. The snickering continued and I followed as if I have missed the joke, but it soon became clear that the only thing I had missed was a few swallows of that amber liquor out of that bottle. Gregory lifted the bottle to his mouth and swallowed a throat full. The liquor ran down his sixteen- year- old chin as he wiped it off with a sweep of his arm.

"Oh damn!" Greg said.

"That burns good!" he grimaced as he gasped for air.

He leaned toward me and held out the bottle. It was not a graceful offer as liquor spilled from the bottle as I grabbed it.

"Come on Liz!" Greg demanded.

"Take few sips!" Greg begged.

The rest of the group continued to snicker as they watched me intently. I felt like I was about to commit a cardinal sin. Ashleigh knew, whether Trey and Greg did or not, that my Momma was a strict teetotaler who considered alcohol to be sinful and it was completely prohibited in our home. That didn't mean that Daddy didn't share a few beers with friends, but he knew better than to bring it home, or to come around Momma with it on his breath. I looked at the bottle and continued to hear the sound of laughter from the party. I struggled mightily with my conscience, picturing Momma horrified at me even being near this drink or contemplating drinking it. Part of me so desperately wanted to be part of this sophisticated atmosphere of mint juleps sipped by the Southern Belles on the porch, and powerful men who held conversations about multi-million dollar business deals in the Ely library over tumblers filled with bourbon on the rocks. Ultimately, it was an easier decision than I ever imagined. I lifted the bottle to my lips and as the burn hit my mouth, the strong odor hit my sinuses, and I winced as the liquid fire went down. My gag reflex went into overdrive. I put all I had into making sure the liquor went down and did not spray the entire group. I bent down as I felt the liquor run down my chin. I held the bottle and almost threw it at Greg Ely as if the bottle itself were on fire. He caught it in the nick of time before it would have tumbled to the plank floors. I stood and tried to regroup as the others laughed at my reaction. My first drink had felt much longer than the few seconds it actually lasted. The thought of the cardinal sin had disappeared quickly, however, as I felt a warm buzz cursing through my body. Wanting to appear sophisticated, I asked Greg to hand me the bottle again and took another chug. It didn't burn so bad this time and I shoved the pictures of a disapproving momma out of my mind.

The party took on a magical feel. I found myself strangely attracted to Gregory, knowing full well the whiskey was working its wonder. As a group, we began to circle the crowd like sharks. I walked among the Savannah elite and went unnoticed. It seemed surreal. Gregory stumbled as he grabbed my hand. My intoxicated heart beat and my stomach sank.

"Come on girl!" Greg said.

He held my hand as we ran back to the shed.

"Is this the way it always is around the Ely home?" I asked.

Gregory's head fell down as he shook it. His thick shiny hair covered his eyes and moved in rhythm. He had a cute smile.

"Hell, this ain't nothing but a garden party the good parties happen around the holidays. My parents are assholes though most of the time. Hell, they don't even know I'm here! They think I'm in my room studying or some shit!" Greg elaborated.

I was puzzled.

"What? What are you talking about? They don't know you're here?" I asked as I tried to look into his eyes.

He wouldn't look back, but he spoke.

"Don't worry about it; let's just have a good time." He stated as if I crossed some line.

He started to walk back to the party. It's as if he had just forgotten why he brought me over to the shed.

"Gregory, are we going back?" I asked, still puzzled.

"Come on!" He demanded.

This time he didn't grab my hand, he just walked away. Whatever he brought me over for was lost in his apparent intoxicated moment in time. I followed Gregory back to the yard and watched him as he hurriedly made his way up the portico and into the large door of the house. I made my way over to Ashleigh and Trey who were still giggling in whiskey heaven. I smiled at them and grabbed the bottle from Trey's hand. The whiskey sure is easier to take after that first exposure. Damn, I was suddenly drunk.

"What the hell is wrong with Gregory?" I asked.

My two partners were unaware of what I was talking about.

I found my way home after that enchanted evening of my first intoxication ripe with wonder and the humbling experience of being among the elite. I found my quiet room, and comfortable bed, and suddenly felt safe. I drifted out of consciousness.

The sun came up, my room seemed brighter than I remember, hotter than I'm used to, and my mouth dry and stale. The intoxication from the night before turned into the hell of the morning after. I heard the murmur of Daddy and Momma discussing the weather and tides. I opened my eyes but it burned to keep them open. I rested my head upon my pillow and drifted to unconsciousness once again.
CHAPTER THREE

I was gazing at the marsh, thinking of Daddy as I sat on the porch to sketch his face on paper. As I brushed the charcoal pencil over the pad, scant memory's brought a tear to my eye. I was drawing as if I was trying to recreate a memory and a moment that I just could not pin down. The marsh looked so peaceful.

The police had nothing to go on. The dock was quiet, the water calm and seemingly not giving up any secrets. Momma was on the phone talking to the police again trying in vain to give them some hint or clue as to what had happened the questions were all the same from the police. Where did the scream come from? Who was it? Did you recognize the voice? Did we see anything? Did Daddy have any enemies?

I'm became very tired and put down the charcoal pencil. I felt hopeless at this point and searched my heart for something that was not there i heard Momma starting to cry two days slipped by barely noticed.

The strangest things seem to happen when you don't expect them. I've heard people talk about having premonitions or feelings of expectations about certain events at different times in their lives but up until this point I really never thought much about it i suddenly heard the familiar sound of the screen door squeaking. I turned and when I saw Wright standing at the door I had that strange feeling.

"Wright?" I asked in a surprised tone as his silhouette took up the door way.

"Wright, what are doing here?" I asked.

"How did you find out about Daddy?" I asked.

"Daddy? What about Daddy?" Wright asked in a surprise tone, not knowing a thing about the past 48 hours of events.

His smile confirmed his ignorance to the situation.

Momma suddenly saw her Wright. She ran and grabbed him and started to cry.

"What's going on here? Momma, you ok? I thought I'd just come home and surprise everybody with a quick visit. Where's Daddy?" He asked in a confused state.

Suddenly there was a shallow knock at the door. The knock was barely heard as we were consumed with having Wright home unexpectedly two police officers stood at the screen door. Momma let go of Wright and walked to greet the officers.

"Good morning ma'am, I'm Officer Taylor and this is Officer Grant. We simply would like to ask you if you have heard anything from your husband or have any other information that you could share."

Momma looked at the officers and shook her head.

"No, no, I know nothing about what is happening here. I really thought you all would know something."

Officer Taylor shifted from side to side, "No ma'am, we just thought we would come over and check up on you."

Momma looked disappointed hoping for any news about Daddy.

"You gentlemen need to be getting on your way and start looking for my husband!" Momma growled.

"Yes Ma'am, we will do our best. Please let us know if you hear of anything."

The two officers were slow to leave but made their way out the screen door and began looking about the yard and toward the water and dock they were soon gone.

"Wright what are you doing here?" I asked.

Wright just stood with a puzzled look on his face hoping for more of a greeting.

"What's up with Dad?" he asked.

"Wright, we heard something the other night down by the water and daddy went down to check it out and just disappeared! We don't know what's going on!"

"What? Dad's missing? How? What are you talking about?"

I grabbed Wright by the arm and drug him outside and down to the dock.

"Now go look for yourself Wright! We don't know what happened!"

Wright walked down to the dock and looked around as if he expected to solve the mystery. He turned once and then again. He looked back at Momma and me.

"Dad is missing? What happened? We have to find him! We have to find him, oh my God!" Wright shouted to us.

Wrights urgency led us in the house for a family discussion. He explained that he had just dropped Katie off at her parents in Hilton Head and he thought he would just swing through for a quick surprise. A surprise it was however it was good to see Wright. His presence brought a sense of comfort for me. His groomed good looks and expensive clothing just didn't seem to fit with household attire. His strength and confidence were warming.

"What is being done?"Wright asked.

"Well the police are supposed to be investigating. They stop by every now and then to see if we've heard anything. People are concerned but I'm not real sure what is actually being done." I responded.

"I will call Katie. I will not leave this family until something is resolved and we find Daddy." He stated.

The sun was about to set on another day. I felt good about Wright being home. Momma was crying again. I pulled some left over fixin's from the fridge and we slowly nourished ourselves with day old chicken and more worry momma had enough of the day and said she would go lay down wright gave me hug and we continued to talk and catch up with a few things that now seem minor. The conversation faded away as I stared out into the dark night. The crickets began their nightly ritual of chirping in the night. A ring of haze appeared around the porch light. It's just another night on Ely's Marsh.

Wright was always Daddy's favorite; I always knew that, everybody did. Despite Daddy's wish to have Wright take over the family seafood business, Wright would have nothing of it. Wright was smart in school and had the ability, talent, and desire to escape Ely Marsh and get a college education. He met Katie his first year at Emory University. Although Katie came from a well-to-do family, I think she fell in love with Wright's ambition and drive. He has a way of making you feel important and somehow when you are around him the world just seems like a brighter place. He never really dated in his younger years. It's as if when he found Katie it was just meant to be and they coupled together like they had known each other all of their lives. Wright graduated from University and shortly thereafter he and Katie married. Katie with her deep pockets kept life revolving for Wright as he went on to law school at Duke University and achieved his law degree in business law. It seemed appropriate to me. Momma and Daddy were so proud. Things just seem to always come easy for Wright. He worked for the State of Georgia for the Attorney General until his ambitions guided him into a private law firm in Atlanta. He now practices business law and golf's with his partners on the weekends. He lived quite a distant life from Ely Marsh my ambitions were not as strong or bright. After all someone had to stay and help Daddy and Momma with the business and household. Someone had to watch after Daddy.

I awoke to the sound of airboats coming up Rockfish Creek. I lifted myself out of bed and found three police cars making their way toward the dock. The airboats were loud and obnoxious as they broke the silence of the quiet morning and I quickly got dressed. Wright and Momma were coming from their rooms at the same time. Wright took control as he always had and made is way outside to the commotion.

"Excuse me sir, I'm Wright Blackwell, what's going this morning?"

The officer gave a stare into Wright's eyes and slowly looked around.

"Are you related to the missing person Sir?"

"Yes Sir, Mr. Meryl Blackwell is my father."

"Well, Sir we will be bringing a few boats in here today and try to find your father."

"I assume that means you may think he's under the water. I hope you are wrong officer."

I couldn't contain myself as I made my way outside.

"What's going on Wright?"

"They're looking for Dad."

The morning was hot and sticky already. It looked as if rain clouds were building to the South moving this way. The dark ominous clouds gave way to an unusual morning.

"Lizbeth, you got a phone call!!" Momma cried out to me as she made her way out to the spectacle.

My head was spinning as I was still trying to wake.

"Hello?" I said.

"Hi Liz?" A voice on the other side stated.

"Yes." I acknowledged.

"Liz, this is Ashleigh."

"Ashleigh?" I asked.

I haven't heard from Ashleigh in quite some time.

"Oh my God Liz, I heard about your Daddy and I just had to call you to see how you are doing." Ashleigh stated.

News travels fast in Savannah.

"Ashleigh, it's really good to hear from you. It's crazy here. We are so worried, and the cops are everywhere right now. I think they think he may have drowned in the marsh cause they have boats out here this morning." I stated.

"Do you know anything Liz?" Ashleigh asked.

"What? No, I know nothing. Ashleigh, guess who just showed up last night? Wright! Wright is here!He is making Momma and I feel better." I said.

"Liz are you ok?"Ashleigh asked.

"I don't know Ash."I replied.

Lightening suddenly crackled and the phone went dead. My legs felt weak. I looked around, found a seat and smiled.

I loved Ashleigh. She and I go all the way back to grade school she came from a better family social circle than I but we became best friends in school. We would share lunches together, climb together, run and innocently hold each other's hands, laugh, and cry as we made our way through adolescence and adulthood. I was jealous of her beauty. She was like my sister; however, unlike my hands that have been crafted by the sharp edges of crab shells, hers were soft and beautiful. Her ring finger now adorned with a large diamond from a local businessman that swept her off her feet shortly after high school. I often lost track of Ashleigh after she married. Her husband took her away to a fine area of Savannah to have a different life than me. When I did speak to her it was as if I was a secret; someone in her past that she loved but could not share. The loud snap of thunder brought me out of my daydream. I looked toward the dock and watched as the police officers scrambled for cover as the blackness enveloped the sky and rain came down. The discovery of Daddy would have to wait. The Marsh gave way to the dark summer rainstorm and the scent of rain and muddy waters.
CHAPTER FOUR

Greg Ely apologized to me a few days later after the party. We ran into each other at the local market. He said he never meant to get me drunk. I was surprised he was even speaking to me. It was an awkward moment; I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be apologizing back or walking away. I just grinned and apologized as well.

"We had fun." I said in an awkward way.

Greg indicated that it was a pleasure to see me again but I was not sure if I was being set up for something or if he was being truly genuine. It was funny. I was in the market to pick up some fishing supplies and he was there apparently for other reasons. By the looks of the expensive wine and crackers in his buggy he was preparing for another party. It seemed to be the Ely's way of living or perhaps a pacifier for his alcoholic mother. In any event, I smiled and attempted to make my way past him.

"Wait Liz." Greg stated as I tried to walk past.

"Can we get together sometime?" He asked.

I looked at Greg and attempted to figure out his angle.

"Greg, what's up?" I asked.

"Look Liz, I know we don't know each other very well but I'd like to change that." He said.

"Really Greg, well we have nothing in common. I enjoyed your party, it was a great time, but I don't really think I fit into your scene." I replied.

Greg looked at me like I just shot his favorite puppy. Oh my God, maybe he was being sincere. He just smiled at me, shrugged his shoulders, and started to walk away.

"Wow, what just happened?" I thought to myself.

"Is this guy for real?" I asked myself.

"Wait..... Greg! I'm sorry. It's just that I'm a little nervous talking to you. You seem like a nice guy." I said to him.

"Stop Liz...... i know what you're thinking look, I can't help where I come from. You think I'm lucky to come from this well to do family and have all that I have, but I'm telling you, it's not all that it seems and I'm just looking for a new friend here." He stated in an apologetic manner.

"Ok Greg, thank you. That is very kind. We can talk sometime." I replied.

I left Greg Ely with a smile that day. We never talked again, nor did we ever become friends. I really meant to. I did get a different sense of who he may be, not only from the party but also the quick passing in the market. I regret never getting to know him better. Perhaps he had ulterior motives. Perhaps I just can't read what he was after that day, or perhaps, just perhaps he was really looking for a friend. I suppose I will never know.

Daddy and I were on a crab trap run one morning and as daddy always would; he asked me how life was going. It was like scheduled clockwork it was during one of these moments on that crab run that I told him about the party, about Greg Ely, about my feelings of inadequacy and that I felt I didn't measure up to Wright and all of his smarts and accomplishments thus far. Daddy paused for a moment then continued with gathering some rope at the bottom of the boat. A bead of sweat rolled down his forehead even in the morning breeze. He then looked at me with his piercing blue eyes and shook his head and smiled.

"You know Liz; it's not about measuring up." My daddy said.

He paused again and continued to work the rope.

"It's about being thankful for what you have and being proud of where you come from no matter what." He stated.

"Daddy", I attempted to interrupt.

"Let me finish Liz." He continued.

For an old fisherman he seemed so wise. I put my head down and listened as he continued.

"You need to find your own place. It's not about what others have done or accomplished. It's about you and your inner peace. I'm proud of Wright and I'm proud of you." He stated proudly.

With that said he grabbed a crab trap and tossed it into the water. I turned and humbly began setting traps for the next throw.

I heard that Gregory Ely graduated in the top of his class from Georgia Tech several years later. He married and lived in Charlotte in a big house with a big boat living out an Ely dream when death suddenly grabbed him by the heart and took him down. It is sad to think of him now. I suppose the stress of that Ely life style was more than his heart could take. The Ely's held a large funeral gathering for Greg. I didn't attend. I assumed the needy from this side of the marsh were excluded from such prestigious events even in death, besides I like to say my goodbyes in my own way. I hope you're in that big mansion in the heavens Greg. Sorry we never got to talk again.
CHAPTER FIVE

The thunder became more distant as the rain became lighter and brought coolness to the morning. The dampness hung in the air and as a break in the clouds allowed a beam of sunshine through, the air began to warm. My daily routine was altered by the commotion of the police looking for Daddy. I opened a small drawer and grabbed a bottle of pills from my night stand.

"Something to get me through this day." I thought to myself as I popped a small blue pill.

The heat and dampness was suddenly eased by a slight breeze coming through the window. I walked outside.

Investigator Dawson introduced himself to me and asked if I would mind talking to him. He was a striking man. He must have been 6' 2" with a clean handsome look even in the summer rain. He wasn't wearing a uniform but a clean shirt and tie which made him stand out among his peers. He was soft spoken but had a strong demeanor about him and smiled as if everything would be alright. He made me feel comfortable.

"Hi Liz, I'm Investigator Ryan Dawson. I'd like you to tell me about your Father."

"Sure", I said as we walked across the grass toward the dock.

I proceeded to talk to Investigator Dawson about my Daddy as if I was a proud little school girl. I told him what a hard worker he was. I told him that despite our differences he was always a good Daddy and a good husband to Momma i told him about how he taught Wright and me the business of fishing and crabbing, a hard life but a proud life. Daddy was a proud fisherman. He didn't care that he didn't make much money. He didn't care what other people thought of him.

I stopped for a moment and looked at the investigator. He was writing incessantly on a small pad as I continued with stories of Daddy. Every now and then he would look up and smile.

"What a comforting man." I thought to myself.

"Elizabeth I appreciate your cooperation. I'm going to go and see how the search team is progressing. We will find him, and we will talk again soon."He said with confidence.

I looked up at the investigator and smiled and walked him to the door. Wright was pacing on the porch. As I made my way to the door I was grabbed by Wright.

"I think we need to get away from here for a bit." Wright stated as he looked at me.

"That sounds good. Should I get Momma?" I asked in haste.

Something seemed to be eating away at Wright.

"No, not this time." Wright replied.

I told Momma that we would not be long.

The sound of airboats could be heard screaming through the marsh as I climbed into Wright's car. Wright got in with a stern look about his face.

"What's wrong Wright?" I asked.

He started the car and briefly looked at me as he backed the car out.

"I'm ok." He said as he put the car in drive and we headed for Tybee Island.

"Liz are you ok?" Wright asked me.

I'm not sure what he meant by that. Of course I wasn't ok.

"I'm fine." I sheepishly replied.

We drove toward Tybee Island and I watched the clouds in the sky form giant cotton balls. The dark clouds of the morning were mostly gone and the heat of the day reached its peak. I'm not sure what was wrong with Wright but he seemed to have something on his mind.

"Let's get a beer at Dock's!" I stated.

Wright looked at me as if I just suggested a sin.

He shook his head.

"Oh, come on Wright! It's been forever since we've been over there." I encouraged him.

Wright looked at me and smiled.

"You never change do you Liz?" He asked.

I looked at him and smiled back.

"Wright, everything is going to be ok." I said.

He looked back and the smile disappeared.

We pulled into Dock's as the sun was high, the heat was brutal, and the sand seemed wet and sticky beneath my feet as I climbed from Wright's car it seemed good to be with Wright. It seemed good to be going out for a beer despite the circumstances. Inside the darkness of the bar it was cool and the smell of stale beer and cigarettes permeated the air.

"Nice as I remember." Wright mumbled sarcastically as we walked to find a seat.

"Let's sit at the bar Wright." I ordered as I marched toward a bar stool.

There's something about sitting at the bar that's always been an attraction. Wright followed in line.

Suddenly my peripheral vision caught a gentleman sitting in the corner by a pool table. I put my head down as we took our seats at the bar.

"What'a ya have folks?" The bartender asked.

We ordered a couple of beers.

"My name is Sandra." The good lady behind the bar explained.

"If you need anything else just holler." She said.

"Thank you Sandra!" I said as I could tell she recognized me from previous visits. I took a good swallow of beer and enjoyed the moment.

I looked at Wright and he looked away. I took another swallow. I then gazed around the bar. I looked again at the man in the corner. He stared at me i turned away; I knew who he was. I knew the moment was awkward, but I didn't want to draw attention to myself in this situation. I started to feel sick.

"I'll be right back." I explained to Wright as I walked to the restroom.

The eerie gaze of the man followed me. I didn't feel right. I looked at myself in the mirror. My legs were weak.

"Are you alright Liz?" Wright yelled through the door.

"I'll be out in just a minute!" I reached for the sink.

I splashed water on my face and closed my eyes for a moment. I tried to composed myself.

"I can do this." I said to myself as I slowly pushed the door open.

Wright was at the door.

"You ok?" He asked as he took my hand.

"Yes, I'm fine. I think the beer just went to my head a little fast, whew." I said.

I walked slowly and turned my head. I looked to the corner to where the man was sitting. The man was gone. Thank God! I thought to myself. I felt relief. I took my seat next to Wright as he stared at me. I smiled at him and offered a toast.

"To Daddy." I said.

"To Daddy."

An hour went by and the drinks kept coming. I was now in my element and the stress of reality was fading with every drink.

"Damn, I love this place!" I yelled as I gulped down another beer feeling totally in the moment.

Wright grabbed my arm and asked me to sit down again as he did two previous times.

"Liz, sit down!" He repeated.

"Wright, do you remember the time you and Daddy came home drunk after that night on the town?" I asked, slurring my words.

"Liz, Dad and I were celebrating my graduation, but yes I do remember, sort of." Wright replied with a smile.

"That was an appropriate time and place. This is not." Wright stated.

I looked at Wright with disappointment and jealously.

"Celebrating! You were always celebrating something! Of course you were celebrating! Daddy was celebrating the great Wright Blackwell!" I yelled.

"Liz!" Wright yelled.

"Wright I'm scared!" I said to him.

I began to cry.

"Hey, Liz, what is going on? No more drinking tonight, you've had enough." Wright demanded.

"Bull crap!" I stated, trying to snap from my emotions.

"I want another! Sandra!" I yelled.

"Liz, that's enough! We need to get home!" Wright yelled back.

"Sandra!" I yelled as I stood up trying to get the bartenders attention.

Wright walked out of Dock's and I was left to defend my drunken self for what is was worth. I sat at the bar with my mood changing every second sandra the bartender kept an eye on me as my consumption slowed down considerably and my mind raced with thoughts of Daddy. I enjoyed the drunken solitude for the moment. I stared at the neon signs and smiled at a passerby the bar was empty on this late afternoon except for a couple playing pool and a lone local at the other end of the bar nursing his beer. I spun my bar stool around to catch a glimpse of the room.

Oh God; there he was again walking toward me. His boots clunked loud on the wood floor. His hair was stringy and long. His arms bore tattoos along the length of his forearm. A cigarette hung from his lips as he squint his eyes and stared me down as he walked i braced myself and took a swallow of beer.

"Hello Liz." The man said as I clinched my beer.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Passing time." He responded.

I gave myself courage to continue this awkward conversation.

"What did you do with my Daddy?" I stated as I looked him in his beady little eyes.

He gave a light chuckle and responded. "I did what needed to be done! Now I want a payday!"

I looked around the bar and shuddered at his words. We shouldn't be here. I was growing angry and anxious. This idiot of a man killed my Daddy and now here he is hanging out in this bar with me like we are long lost friends. His name is Wade Turner. He's known around these parts as a loser and drifter.

"Wade, you need to get out of here!" I tried to persuade him.

"I just want to be left alone! You are an idiot to be here like this! There are cops everywhere!"I said angrily.

"Chill girlfriend!" He stated with his beady eyes staring down at me.

"I'm not your girlfriend! You need to get out of here!" I responded.

He leaned into my face. I could smell the bourbon and cigarette smoke from his mouth.

"Your precious Daddy is shark food bitch, and I want my five hundred dollars back!" He said in an evil tone that scared me.

I clenched my teeth and tears welled up in my eyes with anger.

"Get out of here!" I yelled.

My body shivered even in the musty heat of the room. I started to tremble and felt a little dizzy. For the first time I knew it was true. My Daddy was dead and I was involved. I slammed my fist to the table.
CHAPTER SIX

Summers in the marsh were brutal with sticky, salty air, mosquitoes and no see ums. The rain storms could be a blessing as it cooled the air or a fright when it turned ugly and the wind blew.

Ashleigh and I were 17 and only a year after the Ely Garden Party when she slept with Wright. It was like any other hot summer on the marsh. I helped Daddy everyday hauling traps; when not doing that I would help Momma around the house. Wright was off to college and would occasionally come home i didn't know it at the time, but I thought it was to check on Daddy, Momma, and me, but I found out differently. Ashleigh and I were often inseparable at that age. We were very different and came from different backgrounds but it did not preclude us from bonding as children and becoming as close as sisters. She would often grimace at the thought of me hauling crab traps with my Daddy and picking and making a living from the sea. She got used to it and tried to ignore the fact that I lived in comparative squalor compared to her surroundings at home. But despite that fact, we all grew up together, living through the innocence of a child's eyes. From the time Ashleigh and I were in grade school Wright would find a way to get near us and play alongside us like the shy youngster he was. I can remember chasing fiddler crabs along the low tide marsh flats. Wright would impress Ashleigh by finding the biggest crab and holding it between his fingers, chasing me with that big pincher and scaring the life out of me.

It hurt when I found out they slept together. It didn't take much, and was probably inevitable as cute as she was. It was a night at Dock's listening to our favorite band. Wright was liquored up enough to cover up his shyness and grabbed Ashleigh by the arm after a dance and scooted her away to the beach. It was a dark still night and I could only watch as my best friend and brother ran off together into the night. I pacified myself watching the sky as I sat on a bench outside of Dock's still within ear shot of the music playing. The heat lightening danced in the sky. My heartfelt heavy and broken as I had been left behind.

I didn't see Ashleigh again for two weeks. Wright had returned to school. He never brought it up before he left. I suppose I was more jealous of being the third party out than anything else.

I watched Ashleigh approach the porch on a hot cloudy afternoon as if to reconcile with a pout on her face. I smiled at her and I didn't bring up the subject. Momma made us lemonade as we sat and watched the rain begin to fall. Ashleigh appeared awkward in the silence. I smiled. We talked and danced around the subject until she stopped mid conversation.

"Liz." she said.

I looked at her in anticipation.

"Have you spoken to Wright?" She asked.

"About?" I asked.

"We've gotten pretty close Liz." She said.

"Yea, no kidding Ash!" I said in a sarcastic manner.

"I don't want you to be upset with me." She said as I interrupted her.

"What's your point Ash?" I asked.

"Well, I care a lot about Wright and just don't want anything to come between us, meaning me and you!" she said.

"I just don't want either of you to get hurt and I really don't know what your intentions are!" I replied and looked to the ground.

The rain splashed in the puddles.

"I don't have any intentions Liz, and neither does Wright i think we are just two people...."

"In lust!!" I interrupted.

She gazed toward the rain fall.

"Maybe, I don't know. It is what it is." She said.

Well, it was what it was. The affair between them ended. Wright met Katie the following year and Ashleigh and I moved on to deal with other men. She eventually met the big man in town and fell in love for real and settled down. I, in the mean time, continued my life in Ely Marsh watching the tides ebb. Counting on the seasons to bring in tourists and keeping in touch with the flow of the sea to keep us in business for another day. Damn that Ashleigh!

"Daddy!I have to run to Dr. Flemings to get your prescription filled, do you need anything else from town?" I asked.

Daddy was fixin' a net in the yard and concentrating to the point of ignoring me.

"Daddy!" I yelled.

I turned back inside the house and wandered toward the bathroom. I looked at myself intently in the mirror. I liked the mirror at times. This time my eyes didn't look right. I stared at myself.

"What do I see?" Nothing good, I thought.

I kept looking.

I looked different today. Aging I suspect.

"What is this hair style?" I asked myself.

"Ahhh, the crab picker special." I thought.

I found myself asking and answering questions of myself.

"Could I ever live a different existence?" I asked of myself.

Suddenly there was a bang at the door.

"Liz? Liz, you need to go to Doc Flemings." Momma ordered.

"Yes Ma'am." I yelled back and didn't flinch from the mirror, still gazing at myself.

It was the usual at Dr. Fleming's. His sister Lois would always greet me with a smile. What a charming southern lady she was.

"Hi Sweetie, how is your family?" She would ask as I stood in the parlor of the stately old home.

"Fine Ma'am, thank you." I replied.

She gave me the prescription for Daddy and I proceeded across the street to the park.

I enjoyed this part. Taking a nice strong pain pill and sitting on the park bench was a picnic to me. Just watching the fountain waters seem to cool the day away. After a while the world's pain would blend away with the breeze. Daddy never missed the few pills I would enjoy. It's not like he would count them or suspect me of taking any. I got home and threw the bag containing the bottle of pills on the table for Daddy.

"Momma, I'm back." I called out.

Momma would be in her usual place either doing laundry or cooking something in the kitchen. It's just another easy day on the marsh.
CHAPTER SEVEN

I got back from Dock's drunk later in the evening and was greeted by Wright at the door. I don't even remember how I got there.

"Liz go lie down and sleep it off!" Wright ordered as I stumbled my way in.

"Hell, no problem." I thought without even a response.

I climbed in my bed and proceeded to find peace from the day.

When consciousness came back to me the following day I could still smell the scent of Dock's musty smoke odor on my body and the taste of sticky old beer upon my tongue. I attempted to roll to one side. My head was heavy and painful. Thirst was very evident. I raised my head slowly, as I sat up. I put my head in my hands and rubbed my eyes. I wanted to cry but my tears were dried up i felt as if death would better suite me at this time than any other time in my life. Suddenly the sound of airboats ripped through my head. Reality had come back. I had to put a check on life and figure this one out my head pounded. The airboats wouldn't stop. I stumbled to the bathroom only to catch a fuzzy glimpse of Momma at the table. She was crying. Her eyes were red like I've never seen them before.

I found my way to the sink and splashed cold water on my face. I could feel the heat of the day was already upon Ely Marsh. I looked in the mirror at myself. Who is that? I touched my face. I rubbed my eyes. I cried.

A bang at the door awoke me from my pity.

"Liz!" Wright yelled.

"Liz come out here!"

I splashed my face again trying to wash away the pain with the coolness of the water. I patted dry my face. I turned and slowly opened the door.

"Come out Liz." Wright stated as I followed the floor boards out of the bathroom.

I looked up at Momma. Momma was still crying. I continued to wipe the tears out of my own eyes. I walked over and sat down by Momma at the table trying not to show her my pain and sorrow. She looked up at me.

"They found your Daddy!" She exclaimed in a frail shaky voice.

My heart sank and I ran to the toilet to throw up. Never in my mind would I ever think I would start laughing at such a time as this. It was happening. I hunched over the toilet and threw up my goods. I started to laugh out of nervousness. I spit and wiped my mouth. My feeling was light and dizzy. I continued to smile. I suddenly gathered myself up and washed my face once more. I looked in the mirror. I pulled my hair back and wiped my eyes. I leaned into the sink with cupped hands and gathered some water. I slowly sipped out of my hands and felt the cool water run across my tongue and down my throat.

"Oh my, they found daddy, Oh my God!" I thought.

I slowly walked over to a chair and sat down. Momma just looked at me.

"Did you hear me Liz? I said they found Daddy!" Momma repeated.

"I heard you Momma!" I replied.

Wright turned and looked at me with his hands on his waist.

"Liz you need to get yourself together and we need to figure out what happened." Wright stated in an authoritarian tone.

"The police will be here to question us in a few minutes." He said.

The place was crawling with police. The news crews were out taking pictures and filming for the evening news. It was going to be a hot day on Ely's Marsh. I sat in the house with Momma. She was silent just staring outside. Wright had gone down to the dock where the police seemed to be looking at every leaf, blade of grass, and barnacle they could find. I closed my eyes. I saw Daddy and me in his boat as it travels smoothly across the bay. The water sparkles and shines as it reflects the bright sunshine. He smiles at me. I smile back. It all seems so long ago.

"Hello Liz?" I'm awakened by a deep voice.

It was Investigator Dawson. I rub my eyes and try to sit up tall. I look into his eyes. Damn this man is handsome.

"Mind if I talk to you bit?" he asked so politely.

"No, of course not." I replied.

"First, I'd like to say I'm sorry for your loss." He stated.

"Thank you." I replied.

"We are doing everything we can to find out what happened." He said.

"Thank you sir." I said.

I suddenly realized he doesn't have a clue as to what happened. He has no idea that I am involved. If I just stay cool and go along with everything, it will be fine.

"Where did you find him?" I asked.

The investigator just looked at me with his dreamy eyes.

"Why was he hesitating?" I thought.

Then he turned and spoke.

"He was found by a passerby along an access road near Rockfish Creek." He replied.

He turned and looked at me again. I couldn't help but smile at him.

"Oh hell, what's wrong with me?" I thought as I quickly put my head down.

"We need to find out what happened Officer." I stated trying to cover my admiration.

He then smiled back at me and shook his head in a positive manner.

"Do you have any idea who would want to hurt your father Liz?" Officer Dawson asked.

I started to think.

"No sir! I can't imagine anybody wanting to hurt him." I replied.

Suddenly we were interrupted by another officer opening the screen door.

"Sir, we need you outside!" The officer demanded.

Investigator Dawson quickly excused himself and followed the officer. I watched intently as a group of several officers gathered in a huddle near a vehicle in the driveway and discussed the situation.

"What were they talking about?" I asked myself.

Then suddenly several officers including Investigator Dawson walked to their vehicles and got in. Dawson waved at me as he drove away. Wright started to walk toward me. Momma was watching out the kitchen window beside me. It seemed as if calm had come over the house once again. A few officers remained behind. Nothing was said as Momma, Wright, and I gathered in the house.

I looked outside and watched as the summer breeze blew the moss gently in the stately oaks. The Ely mansion in the distance looked like a beautiful mural. The water looked calm and peaceful as the tide was coming in.

Ashleigh soon called to see if any changes had taken place and I broke the news to her that they had found Daddy. She cried incessantly on the phone until I broke down and starting crying with her. She loved Daddy it was all I could do not to tell her what had happened. I explained that we were being questioned but that it was all a part of the process. It was strange talking about Daddy being dead. It was strange not to have him around. Ashleigh explained to me that she would stay for as long as I needed her. Funeral arrangements couldn't be made until after the investigation. Daddy is literally on ice until the police gave permission to release his body. I finished my conversation with Ashleigh and hung up the phone. I wiped my eyes and tried to clear my head. Everything is going to be ok.
CHAPTER EIGHT

Wade Turner found me a few years back as I was sippin' on whiskey on a cold winter's day at Dock's. I had just finished helping Daddy with trap repairs and felt comfort and solitude with a drink in my hand. A strange man approached me at Dock's and told me I was pretty. I smiled at him and that was all it took for him to proceed to buy me drinks for the rest of the afternoon and into the night. I am not sure what the appeal was. He seemed dirty and down on his luck. Perhaps that was the appeal. He was looking for work and out of the kindness of my heart I referred him over to the Bradley Creek Seafood Distributers, a seafood plant to whom daddy sold his crabs and fish.

He seemed like a nice enough guy at the time but I suppose a guy that buys you whiskey in a bar ain't exactly Mr. Rogers. I needed the company and so our acquaintance was consummated.

Wade was a drifter and looked like one. He originated in Colorado but no longer had a family. He attempted drug dealing but couldn't get that right either as he spent 4 years in a prison in Arizona for his efforts. I'm not sure what attracted him to the Georgia coast but in any event he was here. He told me he wanted to try his hand at shrimpin' and I told him that the local boys have a pretty tight group and don't like strangers very well. He never listened to me.

The first time Wade tried to hit me I slammed his hand in the door. He did have a temper, especially when he drank, but I tried chilling it by being sweet. I kept him away from Momma and Daddy. It didn't work. He showed up one evening after we had a fight and proceeded to try to get me out of the house. Daddy wanted to take him on. Wade had no scruples. He also had no respect for Momma and Daddy. I don't know what made me love him but I did at the time. Ely Marsh can be a harsh place and one thing that Wade taught me was that if you are going to face life in Ely Marsh you had to make sacrifices and be tough. I was eager to be a follower and I came to terms with my life and what I had around me. For the first time Wade gave me a feeling of having someone that I could count on. It was an unfamiliar feeling. It was like being a member of a team and for the first time somebody was not telling me I'm not good enough. We were good enough just the way we were and he always seemed to have approachable ideas. Wade fascinated me.

The morning that Investigator Dawson showed back up I was helping Momma pack up some of Daddy's things. It was another scorching day on the marsh and the ceiling fan had a tick in it that just wouldn't stop. I stared at the fan and felt the moist air stirring. The scent of clean laundry filled the air. The Investigator knocked at the door. I greeted the handsome man with a smile and he smiled back as I showed him the way in. I am not sure why but I felt like I had something over on this man. He looked especially sharp this day. I followed him to the small living room where Momma and Wright and I gathered. He was very pleasant.

"Thank you for having me in." He stated very politely.

"I just wanted to stop by and see if there is anything I could do for any of you. I know you all have had a rough and sorrowful time lately and I just want to again express my sympathies to all of you." Investigator Dawson stated.

I watched Momma put her head down and began to speak but then hesitated. Wright simply looked at the investigator very intently. I smiled at Investigator Dawson and waited for him to say something else. He just paused. He then put his hand in his pocket and slowly pulled out a small silver chain with a cross on it. It was daddy's silver cross that I remember him wearing every day of his life. The investigator looked around the room. He then looked up at Momma and presented her the cross.

"Mrs. Blackwell, this was your husbands and I figured it would be something that you would like to have."

Momma clasped her mouth with her hand and with the other she slowly took the cross from Investigator Dawson.

"Oh thank you." She whispered with a tear falling down her cheek.

I watched Momma intently as she looked at the cross and held it tightly. Tears filled my eyes. I looked at Investigator Dawson.

He caught me looking at him and asked, "Liz everything ok with you?"

I just smiled and replied, "Yes, sir."

I got up from the couch and looked at Momma.

"Momma I'm going to make some lemonade for you and then I am going to pick up the last of the traps from the sound."

Wright followed my moves.

"There are still traps out there?" Wright asked.

"Yes, Wright!" I replied.

I made my way into the kitchen and continued my duties. Investigator Dawson stayed a little longer and then made his way out. His tall body making his way across the room, he turned and smiled at me again. I smiled back as he was leaving.

"Be careful out there Liz!" he stated as he made his out.

I thought about wade. I didn't love him anymore. Loving him was in the past. I had this weird passion for love and hate. I'm not sure if I learned it or if it was in me all along. In any event I knew the difference between right and wrong. I just liked the fact that I could choose and sometimes being in the wrong felt good to me. I understand this is an evil way to think, in fact downright odd. A lack of self confidence brings about a lack of control; something that I had to try to live with.

Daddy was on my mind. I know what happened to him was not fair, but he taught me that not everything in life is fair. I was becoming very angry.

I walked outside and looked at the big puffy clouds in the sky. I strolled down to the dock and watched the tiny minnows as they skirted from my shadow on this hot day. It's so funny how something can be scared of a shadow. I suppose my large shadow looks very intimidating to those tiny minnows. I looked out over the marsh to the Ely mansion. The marsh looked so peaceful. I sat on the edge of the dock and closed my eyes. Here I was; in the shadow of Ely Marsh.

I heard the sound of a car in the distance. I turned and saw a dark colored vehicle coming down the lane. As it came into view I recognized it as Katie, Wright's wife. It slowly came to a stop in the grass in front of the home. I silently watched as Wright quickly flew open the screen door and greeted his lovely wife as she climbed from the nice vehicle. They embraced each other and kissed. Momma followed behind and hugged Katie. I climbed to my feet on the dock and slowly made my way up to the house. My eyes caught Katie's and I slowly walked towards her and gave her an embrace. She said hello and smiled at me. I quickly backed away and made myself scarce as I walked down to Daddy's boat at the dock. I sat along the boat rail as the sun became hot. I looked up at the house and heard the talkative laughter. I suddenly felt very lonely. I turned my head toward the water and gazed over the marsh towards the Ely mansion. I watched as a seagull flew off in the distance, sounding its laugh as if to join the conversation in the house. I suddenly heard the sound of the phone ringing in the house. The conversation stopped. I got up and began walking to the house. As I approached I started to hear Momma's voice talking on the phone. I heard my name mentioned. As I walked in Momma was hanging up the phone.

"Momma, who was that?" I asked.

Momma looked up at me with a scowl on her face.

"That man named Wade Turner!" She said.

"Why is that man calling this house asking for you?" She asked in a harsh tone.

"I don't know Momma!" I was at a loss for words and felt goose bumps on my skin.

"That man is weird Momma, but I'll find out." I stated.

Momma just looked at me as I tried to walk away; she had no idea of my history with Wade.

I was becoming scared. I knew Wade had no business calling this house, especially now. He was crossing the line and I felt like he may be getting ready to cross me. I had to think. Suddenly Wright grabs me by the arm and takes me aside. He looks angry.

"Why is Wade Turner calling you?" he asked in a hushed but angry tone.

"Wright what are doing?" I asked as he squeezed my arm.

"That man is no good Liz! You need to stay away from him!" Wright ordered.

Wright stared at my eyes.

"Liz, I need to know what is going on with you!"

"Wright! Leave me alone!" I yelled.

"I don't know why he is calling and I want nothing to do with that man!"

Katie came over to Wright and put her hand on his shoulder.

"Wright what's wrong?" she asked.

Wright suddenly let go of my arm and settled down at Katie's insistence. I ran from the house. I felt scared, angry, and alone. The rain was beginning to fall and I slipped in some mud as I made my way to my truck. I opened the door, quickly climbed inside and took off. I was in a panic.

Wright walked into the room with Momma.

"She's gone Momma!" Wright stated in an angry tone.

"What?" Momma asked in a confused tone.

Wright just shook his head and gave Momma a hug.

Momma was insistent. She pulled back and looked at Wright.

"What's going on son?" She asked.

"I wish I knew Momma." Wright replied.

I found myself heading South on I-95 to Brunswick. By this time I think I was more scared than angry. Why would Wade be so stupid to call my house?

I wiped the dried mud off my leg. I left in such a panic that had nothing on me but ten dollars and some change. I looked down and luckily found my purse beside me. I turned on some music to calm me.

I realized I needed to make amends with Wright and Momma and try to explain. I pulled off at an exit and found a phone at a gas station. I called and explained to Momma that I had gotten so upset due to the loss of Daddy. My lies were like knives stabbing me in the back every time I spoke a word. It was the panic, I told myself. I told her that I was heading to some friends near Hilton Head and that I would return in a few days. I hung up the phone and didn't have the courage to talk to Wright. I walked back to the truck and sat. I watched as a stream of people entered the small store and wondered if my lie would work.

As I approached Brunswick I was on a mission. I was angry and desperate. I knew what my mission had to be. I had to summon all the courage I could. I was going to confront my Daddy's killer.

Wade rented a small room in an old house on Carpenter Street in Brunswick Georgia. This was an older section of Brunswick that was being remodeled by the rich and pushing all of the regular poor folk out. Wade managed to move himself into an older run down house needing a tenant. It was approaching twilight and I knew that if he had held his job at Spanky's he may have already left for work. I turned onto Carpenter Street and admired the old rehabilitated homes that lined the streets tucked behind moss covered stately oaks. It was such a romantic place and seemed to contradict the hate I was feeling. I slowly pulled into Wade Turners driveway. There was an old yellow car with missing hub caps sitting in the driveway next door i turned the truck off and cracked the door to get out. Suddenly an older man with wiry gray hair, no teeth, and dressed in a wife beater t shirt came out of the house directly next door. His bare feet didn't seem to mind the harsh ground. He approached me as I stood next to my vehicle.

"Can I help you Missy?" He mumbled and I couldn't help but be a little frightened.

"I'm a friend of Wade Turner. I'm just coming for a visit." I said as I tried to appease the stranger into minding his own business.

"Wade's at work!" He said in a demeaning tone.

"I keep an eye on his place and he keeps an eye on mine!" He piped up.

"Thank you very much; I'll try to catch him another time." I replied as I made my way back into the truck.

The old man smiled and revealed his gums in a creepy way. I couldn't help but think he was some sort of a watch dog for Wade. I'll have to wait him out. I drove across town and made my way to St. Simons Island. I pulled the truck off near a bridge and sat on the hood of my truck and watched the sun go down. The colors of the sunset were brilliant that day. Several tourist stood fishing in the distance. A young boy stood at the water's edge and attempted to haul in a small crab with a chicken neck tied to a string. His small friend or perhaps his brother came running with a net.

"How wonderful!" I thought.

A tear came to my eye and ran down my cheek. I hadn't even noticed until I felt the warm air hit the moist tear. I wiped it away. I had waited nearly four hours and knew that Wade would be home now. I climbed back in my truck and drove back to Carpenter Street. As I slowly made my way to his rented shack, I again took notice of the stately homes that surrounded the area in the dark night. How haunting and mystical it all looked in the night. I slowly approached his drive and pulled over. The house looked dark. I saw no sign of the toothless man and I was hoping he was now asleep. I gathered my courage and the anger from the day and walked up to the door. I knocked a hardy knock on the old screen door. It shimmered as if almost ready to fall off, giving a very false sense of security. There was not a sound as I paused in the still night. Then suddenly the light from next door came on brightly. Oh God, I thought, the toothless man is awake! Then he appeared on his brightly lit front porch. He was now shirtless with his overextended hairy belly showing to the world. His hair disheveled with only a baggy pair of boxer shorts to cover himself. He first waved his arm at me as if to acknowledge my presence once again. He stood there watching me. I looked back as he stared at me.

"He's not there!" He yelled in a raspy voice as I felt embarrassed for the creepy old man.

"He's probably at that juke joint around the corner!" He yelled again.

"Casey's! Up around the corner! You'll find 'em there!" He yelled out.

"Oh ok, thank you! Sorry for bothering you again!" I said.

I hurried back inside the safety of my truck and drove around the corner to Casey's. I was somewhat familiar with this place due to a previous encounter. It's a man's rustic bar with no charm what's so ever. It's a standalone bar with smoke billowing out of the door and the one lone window toward the back. Several cars and bikes were parked out front. A biker leaned against the outside wall as if to hold it up smoking a cigarette as moths circled the small dim light above him. He blew smoke toward the light as he watched me approach never taking his eyes off of me.

As I walked into the joint I drew looks from several patrons as I passed thru a smoky crowd. A juke box was loudly playing in the back and cigarette smoke filled the air as pool balls cracked beside me. I looked around. My eyes met Wades. He tossed back a shot of liquor as he saw me. He winced as he swallowed and walked toward me slamming the shot glass down on the side of a pool table.

"Well, well, look who we have here!" He stated with a growl.

He grabbed me by the arm and led me to dark corner of the bar. I pulled hard to get away but he was strong and just winced at me once again as he pulled harder.

"You must have got the message I called!" He said.

"Wade, what the hell were you thinking calling me at my house!?" I replied.

"Bitch you owe me $500 and I need it now!" He demanded.

I suddenly realized this man was stoned on meth. I stared into his evil little eyes pondering what to say next. He suddenly shoved me against the wall. Several patrons looked over seemingly not to care or get in somebody else's business. Just another night at Casey's it appeared. He got in my face and took a long draw from his cigarette and blew it in my face. I struggled against him to get away. I knew this was not going to end well but I had to do something.

"Wade please let me go!"

"Where's my money?" He replied.

"Wade please! I don't know what you're talking about! This has gotten out of control!"

"Oh God what did I get myself into?" I thought to myself.

This man just killed my Daddy and now I felt he may be ready to kill me. I panicked. He suddenly grabbed my throat and began to squeeze. Thoughts raced through my head. I wanted this man dead. I couldn't talk or breathe. The man was out of control and sapping my life away as I stood inside a bar filled with drunks watching in amusement. I grabbed a large knife inside my purse and pulled it out quickly. I thrust it into his body as hard as my soul could let me. I twisted it until I could feel the warmth of the blood on my wrist and fingers. His eyes were wide and staring at me. His grip on my neck eased slowly. He began to get weak in the knees and slowly fell to the ground as I pulled the knife away and ran out of the bar. The music was still loud and I could still hear pool balls cracking against each other as if nothing had happened. I grabbed a rag from the back of my truck and wiped my warm red hand. Blood was still dripping from the knife blade. I choked and attempted to catch my breath as my trembling bloody hand started the truck. The wheels spun in the gravel parking lot as I made my escape.

I wish I could say that I have always made the right choices in life. That summer seemed like a culmination of bad choices upon bad choices. The series of events in my life that got me to this point I suppose can be called life experiences. They say that being able to choose ones fortune and ones path is God given. I also suppose there are those that believe that God chooses your path. I don't believe that. I don't think that God had anything to do with the bad choices that I have made although I suppose I could place blame if I choose to. Daddy taught me that God was everything and everywhere. I have a hard time believing that God watches over us like a bunch of sheep. This is one sheep that seemed to stray from the herd.

According to Daddy, God will bless you if you put your full faith in him and live your life as he allows. Daddy was murdered, so according to that philosophy, apparently Daddy was not blessed. Daddy chose to live his life believing in God and being faithful to the church. There was a time when I followed Daddy's every word and believed in the same thing. When Daddy forced me to follow him into the family business he disregarded everything that I thought God stood for. Choice, it seemed, was thrown out the window. So here I am. My so called life experiences that were not all by my choice have brought me to a place where my mind can now choose anything it wants. It seems to want those things that bring an end to an upbringing of gazing over Ely Marsh and into a world I cannot have. Perhaps God did not choose a good life for me. If God has not chosen my life then I will choose the life I want therefore, Daddy was wrong.

As I approached the bridge heading out of Brunswick I slowed down and pulled off the side of the road and made my way to a small dirt path leading to the underside of the bridge. It was late and I thought this would be a good place to catch my breath and rest until morning. I scanned the area around me. I climbed from the truck and it seemed the darkness enveloped me. I ran toward the water and threw the bloody knife as far as I could into the black water. I heard a small splash and then quiet. The only sounds came from the crickets chirping in the night and the summer breeze as it blew through an old abandoned ship yard in the distance. The darkness and stillness seemed to contradict my mind as it raced with thoughts. I hurried back to the safety of my truck. I lay back in my seat and closed my eyes.

I awoke with a small shade of light illuminating from the east bringing with it a peaceful feeling. I rubbed my eyes and slowly opened the truck door to take in some fresh air. I climbed from my truck and began a slow walk towards the sea wall to gaze at the water. The sounds of the morning commute above me on the bridge broke the silence. The clickety clack of cars going over head roused me to begin a new day. I was frightened and knew I had to get home. I climbed in my truck and started the engine. As I put my hands on the steering wheel I noticed the slight tint of a red stain from the night before covering my right hand. I looked straight ahead and made my way to the highway. I was nervously homeward bound.

I was groggy as I pulled on to the sand road that led to the house. The hour and a half drive was hard and the sun was just rising. Dark clouds appeared to the south. All I wanted to do was lay my head down and sleep. I thought to myself that I was going to have to answer for my swift exit. I was not in the mood for debating nor talking. I was wishing for a quiet day of rain on the roof and several hours of sleep and peace. I pulled in next to Katie's car.

As I approached the front of the house I saw Katie and Wright down on Daddy's boat sipping coffee. They continued with their chore as they looked at me and I made my way into the house. Momma was in the kitchen and slowly turned to catch me coming through the door. I walked into the kitchen.

"Hi Momma." I said as I embraced her small body. I started to cry.

"Are you ok, Beth?" Momma asked.

I couldn't speak. I just lifted my head and shook my head yes as I wept.

"I have to take a shower Momma."

I sobbed as I made my way to my bedroom. I grabbed a few things to change and quickly scooted into the bathroom for a well deserved cleansing.

As the cool water ran over my body I couldn't help but ponder the events that had unfolded the night before. I began to realize that what had happened is not going to stay a secret. It wouldn't take long before Investigator Dawson figured out that Wade had called here for me and now he was dead a few hours later. It was a sobering thought. My life was unraveling and I felt like I had no control. These choices I have made are beginning to haunt me without any passion. I cried as I began drying myself and slipped into some clean clothes. I quickly made my way to my bedroom with no one seeing me and slipped under the covers to hide from the world. I lay exhausted, my mind raced with thoughts of God and my Dad.

God has a sense of humor it seems. I remember my Daddy lying in pain one winter day when I was about 12 years old. His back had given out on a crab run the day before and he had decided the pain was too much to bear so he laid on the couch for several days in recovery. Daddy never missed church. I was tortured as a child every Sunday to succumb to the rituals of a sermon and prayer to keep my ticket to heaven safe. God was apparently testing Daddy's faith. In a twist of irony Daddy felt that his back injury was God's will and God's way of telling him to slow down. The funny thing is, I remember Daddy praying to get better so he could get to church to pray to the same God that did this to him! It just didn't always make sense to me.

Through my daddy's injuries I was his loyal servant. I first started sneaking some of Daddy's pain medications when I was 18. I soon learned they were more effective if washed down with a few cold beers or some liquor and it took the edge off of dreary existence in Ely Marsh. The smell of crabs, fish, and shrimp all decaying in the summer heat often became unbearable. Finding an alternative existence became preferable. Getting high and believing in God worked for a little while, but when I started to skip church, Momma and Daddy started creeping in on me in a way I didn't like. I wanted out. I was tired of living in this marsh.

I was suddenly and rudely awakened by Wrights voice.

"Wake up Liz! Liz! You need to get up! Investigator Dawson is here."

My groggy head was spinning. I looked out of one eye at Wright. I pushed the hair out of my eyes and had a funny dry taste in my mouth.

"Liz, get yourself together. Investigator Dawson is here and he wants to talk to you."

I slowly sat up.

"Can't you tell him I'll come see him when I'm awake?" I responded still feeling dizzy.

"Liz? Are you drunk or high?" Wright asked in a condescending tone.

"No!" I sharply replied.

"I wish I was!"

I realized I didn't have time to collect my thoughts. Time was out. I felt everything slipping away. I just wanted to go back in time.

"I can't talk to him right now Wright!" I said in desperation.

"Liz what in the hell is wrong with you?" This wasn't good.

"Wright I had a bad night last night. Wade attacked me!" I explained, grasping at anything at this point.

Think! Think!

"Wade?" Wright asked in a puzzled look.

"I thought you went to Hilton Head to see a friend?"

I was caught! I had to come up with an excuse.

"Wright, I stopped in Brunswick to see Wade to find out why he was calling here yesterday." I quickly stated.

"He attacked you?"

"Yes! I didn't sleep last night. I'll explain more later. Let me try to wake up." I said, still trying to sway my way out this questioning.

Suddenly Wright just shook his head and walked out. I felt relieved the questioning was over.

I acknowledged Investigator Dawson as I walked out and asked permission to use the bathroom. I splashed my face and looked at myself in the mirror.

"I'm too young to look this way." I thought.

I splashed my face again, grabbed a towel and patted myself dry. For a brief moment I contemplated running.

"Not enough time." I said to myself.

I walked out and sat down with the cute investigator.

"Where were you last night?" Investigator Dawson said as he had a no non sense look about him.

I looked over at Wright.

"Excuse me sir, but may we talk about this outside?"

Dawson stood up and motioned for me to take a walk outside.

"Excuse us folks." Dawson said as we began walking out of the house.

As I approached the door my eyes fell upon a small coffee table by the door. On the table lay my truck keys. Dawson led the way and as I followed my hand swiftly cupped the keys from the table. My heart pounded as if it were about to beat out of my chest.

"Do you feel more comfortable out here?" Dawson asked as he turned and looked my way.

"Yes Sir, thank you." I replied

"You weren't supposed to leave town Liz." Dawson stated.

I had no immediate response; I just stood there contemplating his words.

My mind raced as a bead of sweat rolled down my forehead and into my eye. I wiped the sweat from my eye with my finger.

"I'm really over whelmed right now, Mr. Dawson."

I just stared at him.

"Liz we are in the middle of a murder investigation. Until further notice you need to be accessible at all times."

"Yes Sir."

It just dawned on me that they did not know about Wade.

"Tell me about Wade Turner." Dawson suddenly piped up.

Even the sound of his name frightened me.

"Wade?"

"Yes, Wade Turner." Dawson stated as if getting annoyed.

"I know he was kind of a drifter in the area and I got to know him a few years back. He was lookin' for a job here."

Dawson kept on.

"Tell me about your relationship." Dawson stated.

My eyes scanned the horizon. I wasn't sure how much he knew or if he knew we even had a relationship.

"What relationship?" I asked.

Dawson just looked at me. I felt as if he could see right through me. I was desperate more than ever.

"Mr. Dawson, can I get a cigarette out of my truck?"

With a quick wave of his hand he gave me permission. It couldn't be that easy I thought. I slowly walked over to my truck and opened the door. I climbed in, started it, and pushed the gas pedal to the floor. As I looked back I saw Investigator Dawson just standing there. He didn't run after me or run for his car. He just watched me drive away.

"Mmm, maybe God does have a sense of humor." I thought.

My life was beginning to be one bad mistake after another. Like the poor decisions I've made in the past, I was now running from the law and everything I knew. This was my new reality; I did not want to go to prison. It wouldn't take long for Investigator Dawson to put the pieces together and figure it out. My days of crabbing and fishing with my Daddy were over. My days of helping Momma make lemonade and doing laundry are over. I had always wanted to leave Ely Marsh and now was my chance. This was not exactly the way I had envisioned it, but here I was.

I quickly stopped and gathered the little cash I had left from an ATM, and the road lay before me. My next decision was crucial. Momma was not there to ask, Daddy was not there to guide me. I was alone. I felt very alone. I felt very desperate.

I had a friend a few years back that worked in downtown Savannah at a local restaurant and bar. Her name was Dixie Doolittle. I remember thinking that you couldn't get any more southern of a name than Dixie Doolittle and I often would tease her. I don't know if that was her real name or not. She spoke of moving to a small fishing town on the coast of the panhandle of Florida called Apalachicola. It seemed appealing to me at the time but I didn't follow her. At the time, I was stuck under the thumb of Daddy and was expected to help run the business. It hurt at the time as my yearning to sketch and become an artist was beckoning me and I thought I saw an opening. It was not to be. I remained behind and watched Dixie drive away chasing her dreams.

I thought I would look up Dixie and see if she had found her dream. I headed south on I-95 toward Jacksonville, hung a right on I-10 toward Tallahassee and eventually wound up on highway 98 along the north Florida coastline. They call this the Forgotten Coast. I was hoping and praying that I would be forgotten.

The water glistened as I made my way along the scenic road toward Apalachicola. I was in unfamiliar territory, yet I finally felt relaxed. I passed a small sign which indicated a town called Carrabelle was 10 miles ahead. Not much else here, I thought to myself. The road made its way over some windblown sand and into the town. It was a cute scrappy little town, known for having the world's smallest police station. I figured that had to play into my favor, after all how many police could there be in a police station the size of a phone booth? I stopped at the local IGA grocer being the biggest store in town. As I climbed out of my truck I smiled. The summer air was thick. I could smell and feel the salt in the air. Shrimp boats and fishing boats of all kinds filled the marina across the street. I didn't feel so lonely anymore.

I grabbed some necessary items, a pair of shorts and a couple of t-shirts, and walked up to the quaint checkout counter. A young girl with a strong southern accent greeted me with a shy hello.

"How are you?" I replied back and smiled.

"Fine." She replied

"How far is Apalachicola from here?" I asked.

She looked up at me as she scanned the goods.

"Oh it's not far. Just up the road about 15 minutes or so." She stated.

I thank her and gathered my goods and left the small store. A bit of relief came over me as I took in some nourishment from a small sandwich and soda and I suddenly felt more at ease.

Apalachicola came into view as I crossed a long bridge over the bay. The sky was dark to the South over the Gulf of Mexico with quick strikes of lightening in the distance. Another high sweeping bridge landed me directly into the small downtown area. In front of me was an old historic Inn called The Gibson. I made a u turn in the middle of the street as no traffic was present and pulled my truck along the sidewalk in front of the Inn. The old bar sign peaked my interest and I made my way in.

The Inn had been restored to its peak of grace. The dark mahogany walls and wood work made for a warm welcoming. A large wood bar with a stylish older lady beaming a large smile greeted me as I walked in. Behind her was a haunting painting of a sailing ship caught in a dark storm.

"Can I get you something, dear?" She asked in a strong southern drawl.

I slid into a old wooden bar stool and accepted her offer.

"I would love a bourbon and seven." I stated.

I was still exhausted from my journey and knew I needed some rest. This Inn was a little more than I could afford on my budget. I would sip my drink, take in the scenery and calm myself from the past events.

"This is a beautiful Inn." I stated to the nice bartender.

"Thank you! I love working here. We get all kinds through here and I meet all kinds of people. Where are you from my Dear?" The southern lady asked.

I hesitated but quickly responded.

"I'm from up north near Atlanta." I lied.

I took a small sip.

"I'm here visiting a friend and just got into town." I said.

"Well, I hope you have a nice visit." She replied as she walked to the back.

"Thank you, Ma'am." I said.

I finished my drink and gazed around the room once again. The bar was quiet and peaceful on this day. In the corner sat a large piano evidently for livelier times. Outside through the large old glass door sat a pair of rocking chairs facing the town road.

I gathered myself and made my way outside. I noticed a pay phone near the front office of the Inn. I grabbed the phone and dialed Dixie's number that I had kept all this time.

"Hello?" A voice said on the other end of the phone.

"Hi, is this Dixie?" I asked.

"Yes." She answered.

"Hey Dixie! This is Liz Blackwell from Savannah. How are you? Is this a bad time?" I asked.

"Oh my Gosh! Liz! How are you?" She excitedly asked.

"Well, I'm ok; I'm just in town and thought I would look you up!" I stated.

"Well, that's wonderful! I am so glad you did!" She said.

With that said, we exchanged greetings for a few minutes more and she gave me her address. She offered her place for me to stay and as I hung up I felt excited to be moving in a forward direction. I hopped back in my truck and made my way down a small palm lined street with antebellum homes and quaint shops to a small boarding house on a corner. As I pulled up Dixie came out to greet me.

"Welcome to Apalachicola!" She yelled as she ran toward me.

She wrapped her arms around me which made me feel happy and secure as I have not felt in a long time.

"I am so glad you are here! We have a lot of catching up to do! Come on in!" She said as we made our way inside the boarding house with smiles on our faces.

I couldn't fight my exhaustion any longer. I explained to Dixie that I needed to sit down immediately and talk to her. She welcomed me in her home and we took a seat on a small worn couch. I could hear thunder in the distance as I looked upon Dixie's cute figure.

"You look great Dixie." I said to her.

"Thank you Liz, now what's going on with you?" She asked.

I knew I couldn't just come out with all that has happened in the past few days and at the same time I felt a little guilty about lying my way through this, but felt I had no choice. Perhaps I can justify things a bit.

"Well, where do I begin?" I asked.

Dixie took my hands as we sat and she gazed upon me with her pretty brown eyes.

"My Daddy has passed away Dixie, just recently. It was very hard on all of us." I said.

Dixie frowned as she gave out a heavy sigh but let me continue. I heard rain beginning to hit the metal roof.

"Daddy always wanted me to take over the business, but I feel crabbing aint' for me Dixie. I had to get away for awhile. So here I am. I remember you always talking about this place so I just had to come and visit. I am so sorry that I did not call before." I said with sorrow.

"Liz I'm so grateful you came and I am so sorry to hear about your Daddy. We can catch up and you are welcome to stay here as long as you like." She said.

I felt so good. Exhaustion had set in.

"Dixie I am so tired! Is there someplace I can lay down and take a nap? I apologize but I have been through a lot lately and had quite a long drive. I stated.

"No apologizes necessary Liz! You come with me." She stated in a very welcoming way.

She gave me another hug and smiled at me, then led me to an extra bed in the small room she was renting. I smiled at her and thank her graciously for her hospitality. I laid down and quickly closed my eyes and was off to sleep in no time.

I must have been asleep for hours when a sudden bright flash and a loud clap of thunder jarred me awake in the evening. The rain came down hard on the metal roof of the boarding house. I lay in the soft bed and stared at the ceiling fan as it rotated slowly above me in the twilight. The scent of a summer rain filled the house. My mind went blank as I closed my eyes again. It wasn't long before I found myself in another deep sleep, then awakened by another clap of thunder. I slowly sat up on the edge of the bed and looked out the window. A small black man slowly walked along the sidewalk outside in the rain as if not a care in the world. Interesting, I thought to myself, and how beautiful.

My first full day in Apalachicola started off with the sounds of The Beach Boys coming from a small stereo system that Dixie had wired up in her kitchen. Good Vibrations seemed like a wonderful start to a new day and a new life, I thought.

"Good morning Sunshine!" Dixie said as she greeted me in the kitchen.

It was a bright beautiful morning.

"Have some juice Liz." She stated as she poured me a small glass of orange juice.

"Liz I just want to tell again you how sorry I am to hear about your Daddy again. I'm glad you came to visit me, I hope you are feeling better this morning." Dixie stated without hesitation.

"Thank you Dixie. It's so nice to be here! I want us to have a fun day today! Do you have any plans?" I asked, not knowing anything about her new life.

"Well, not really. I work over at a small bar called the Oasis. I can see if I can get the night off." Dixie said.

I smiled at her and looked into her beautiful brown eyes, how attractive she is.

We grabbed a small bite to eat and made plans to walk around the town and visit a friend of hers. I felt the need to keep busy to keep my mind from wandering to the dark side of my life that I knew was out there. I missed Momma already. I knew Wright would be looking for me and by now probably the police. My stomach would turn when I thought of Daddy. I had to keep busy with Dixie. I had to keep busy and keep happy thoughts.

"A beautiful little town Dixie." I said as I look out the window and down the small quaint street.

"I would love to get to know it." I said.

"Oh, not only can you get to know it, but it gets to know you!" She said as she laughed.

"Small town ya know!" She said with a grin.

"You can't hide nothin' here!" She said still grinning.

I looked at her and smiled back. I'm not sure that's what I wanted to hear.

Dixie had an almost perfect complexion. Her tall thin body and long legs made her the envy of other women and a trophy for every man. She had long black hair and a smile that charmed everyone. She usually wore flowing dresses that served as comfort as well as beauty. She was in the prime of her life and held life by the balls. I admired her. She had courage and integrity. Dixie had the drive and personality that I used to strive for. I now knew this may be a fallen dream. I felt a darker side to me being here. She was perfect to hide behind, a smart, beautiful, young, attractive lady with a future in front of her. Perhaps her shadow would cover me in some way.

I felt welcome in Apalachicola, a small quaint familiar town with a side of saltiness sin, yet on the verge of discovering and reinventing itself from a sleeping fishing village to a tourists retreat for quiet and fun. I felt a kinship here, after all; I was the one having to reinvent myself, find myself, and come to terms with the past, much as this old pirate town has. Welcome home I thought to myself.

"I've got nothing to hide Dixie!" I said as I continued my lies.

"Oh Liz, everybody has something to hide!" Dixie replied with a smile and a wink.

"Let's celebrate you being here and getting back together as friends! I got the night off!" Liz exclaimed with a beautiful smile on her face.

"Oh that sounds great!" I replied as we both smiled and toasted a glass of orange juice.

"We'll be having something a little stronger than orange juice tonight baby!" Dixie stated as we laughed.

Dixie slammed down her glass on the counter.

"It's a beautiful day!" She said.

She hurriedly made her way out of the kitchen toward her bed room.

"Liz, let's go over to St. George!" Dixie stated and hesitated.

"We'll hit some sand with a little tanning time and have lunch at the Blue Parrot. I need to catch you up on my love life!" She said as her smile went from ear to ear.

"I don't have a bathing suit!" I yelled to her room.

"We'll get you one Sweetie!" She stated.

I walked outside to the lovely front porch of the old boarding house while waiting for Liz. It was sticky hot but sunny. The scent of honeysuckle filled the air. I looked up the quaint street and saw the old black man again. He was walking toward the center of town with a cane in his hand and looked at the ground as he slowly made his way. A small stray cat followed a few yards behind him darting in and out of the local plant life that edged the sidewalk. The kitten was apparently chasing the small lizards that inhabit the area. Very interesting, I thought.

I love the sound of the water as it laps at the sands edge on a white beach. St. George Island appeared squeaky clean. My toes sank into the warm sand as Dixie and I approached a spot near the boardwalk of the Blue Parrot Café.

"Dixie, this is the spot!" I said as I put down a large bag with all of the necessary beach paraphernalia in it.

"I think so." Dixie replied, staking her spot beside me.

"The suit looks good on you Liz." Dixie complimented.

I'm usually not one for playing the cute tourist girl on the beach but had to admit it was feeling pretty good doing so. My anxiety over my recent events had taken a back seat for a change and I was living in the moment.

"Thanks" I replied out of kindness.

I gazed up and down the broad beach. Similar to home I thought, but a little prettier. No marshes in this area, only a broad bay separating the Island from the mainland. A long bridge spans from Apalachicola to East Point and then you cross another to the Island. Beach houses dot the coastline and not much else, one lone grocery store, a few restaurants and several bars along the water.

East Point is home to many oyster fishermen that ply their trade like my Daddy did. They are brave people that eke out an existence in a daily routine of hard labor and low wages, dependent on the cooperation of the weather and sea conditions to barely survive.

The island survives on a separate economy. The tourists keep the real estate market alive with locals coming out for the weekends to party and spend some time along the water's edge. The men drink beer and play volleyball while the cute ladies in their big hats drink pina coladas.

I kicked my sandals off.

"I'm gonna need a drink Dixie. Let's walk up to the bar." I said as I Iooked around.

"That sounds good Liz" Dixie replied.

We drudged through the hot sand in our bare feet and bikinis keeping an eye on the open air tiki bar a short distance away. Bare chested men sat under the palm thatched roof of the bar. The shade of the palm roof was welcome relief from the glaring heat of the bright sun.

We ordered a couple of drinks and sat trying to ignore the gawking glances of the boys barely old enough to drink trying to vie for our attention jimmy Buffet played in the background.

"Liz, I think I'm in love." Dixie suddenly said after a few gulps of beer.

"What?" I asked, not knowing who she was talking about.

I scanned the bar and wasn't sure.

"I'm falling for this guy named Johnny." She said with a smile.

Ok, now I know she's not talking about a stranger at the bar.

"Really Liz? Tell me about it." I said, not really sure how to react.

I gulped down my beer and slammed the cup down.

"Ready for another!" I shouted to the bartender.

The boys at the bar smiled at me.

"Johnny works on the shrimp boat the Becky Ann out of Apalach." She said with a smile and a gulp of beer.

"Oh God Dixie, a fisherman!" I exclaimed back.

"Liz, he's a good man! Hard worker, smart, and good looking!" She said still smiling.

Perhaps a little of me felt jealous. I haven't met any good men, I thought. I took a sip of my new cold beer.

"Well, you'll never be rich!" I stated in haste.

"Perhaps not." She replied

"Money is not everything Liz." Dixie said.

I smiled and took another swig.

"Bullshit!" I said.

My mouth was now catching the attention of some of the other patrons at the bar.

"Liz, where did being rich ever get Greg Ely?" Dixie suddenly asked.

"Ha! You remember Greg?" I said with a chuckle.

"Hell yea I remember that prick!" She replied.

"Those people were nothing but prick money mongers! He's dead now anyway and he couldn't take his money with him!" Dixie stated.

"You apparently had issues with the Ely's?" I asked.

"They were mean and dishonest people Liz. Not the kind of people I want to be around. Money only brought them pain." Dixie said.

"Well, here's to being poor!" I toasted sarcastically.

Dixie as well as the smiling boys across the bar all raised their cups of beer.

"To being poor! YeHaww!" One of the bare chested boys yelled out.

"What's your name?" I yelled back to him, the beer obviously starting to take effect.

"Stan" He yelled back.

He now he feels has permission to wander over to Dixie and me.

"Hi girls!" He stated as he joined us uninvited.

"Hey Stan, looks like your enjoying a nice beach day." Dixie said.

"Well, it is a mighty fine beach day!" he stated with a smile and another sip of his beer.

Stan was about 5' 9" with a bronzed hairless chest and the looks of an all American beach boy. He had thick wavy blonde hair and green eyes.

"So where are you from Stan?" I asked with curiosity.

"Tallahassee! Go Noles!" He exclaimed.

"I'm renting a beach house down the way with some buddies, got here yesterday, just having some fun in the sun!" He said doing his best to flirt.

I smiled and we acknowledged Stan's presence for a short while longer until his goofy surfer ways overwhelmed us. I think it was when we told him we were quite enjoying our lesbian honeymoon that he finally got the point and left us alone. We enjoyed a good laugh together with that one. The look on that boys face was priceless.

We sat at the Parrot enjoying several beers watching the men and catching up.

I looked down at a black dog laying quietly on the deck and looking up at me as if he could read my mind i smiled at him.

"That dog looks thirsty." I said.

Dixie swung around to look at the panting dog.

"Hey Pete do have a cup of water I can give this dog?" Dixie asked the bartender.

The bartender Pete grabbed a small plastic bowel from under the counter and filled it with water and slid it to Dixie.

"Here you go boy!" Dixie said as she bent down to give the dog the water the owner sitting at a nearby table graciously waved to us.

"Time for a swim!" Dixie said as she stood up, gazing at the surf.

My head felt clouded in a wonderful buzz from the cold beer on a beautiful beach day we began walking down the boardwalk toward the sand and water.

"Wow Dixie, this is really nice!" I said with a smile and my troubles seemly so far away.

Dixie turned and smiled at me. She looked so beautiful.

"Liz, days like this will be forever known as Blue Parrot Days!" She said with that smile.

I smiled back and began to run toward the water.

"Ahhh, a beautiful Blue Parrot Day!" I said.

Time went fast that day; as we enjoyed each other's company I drifted away from my worries and all seemed so good. I wanted to share my secrets with Dixie and it took everything I had not to confess. Underneath my façade of fun and free style living I ached with pain and confusion.

We made it back to Dixie's apartment by late afternoon after a stop at the old Gibson Inn for a last beer before the evening. The day had turned into a tour of drinking establishments in this old pirate town, but it was time for a quick break. We were ready to shower from the day at the beach, put our dancin' clothes on, and head over to the Oasis.

"A fun place." Dixie said with a half drunk grin.

"I work at the Oasis but it's also my hangout with some friends johnny is out shrimping but I can introduce you to some others i can't wait till you meet Johnny" Dixie said with a smile.

"I have no clothes!" I yelled to Dixie as I sipped a margarita.

"I do! Let me fix you up!" Dixie replied as she helped me out once again.

I was feeling good about the groove I was in it was a nice feeling to be free from the marsh. My mind felt at peace with an old friend enjoying the solitude of change and escape.

I awoke after a nap to the sound of Bob Seger belting out "Night Moves", and had to quickly orient myself to my new surroundings. I laid and stared at the ceiling fan and could feel the late afternoon breeze drift by with a scent of honey suckle in the air. It was peaceful, but I couldn't stop thinking about Daddy and Wade Turner. I knew by now that Investigator Dawson must know I was on the run it was a strange and lonely feeling it was beginning to weigh on me. I hated myself at this point my life had become a series of contradictions.

The alcohol and the day in the sun had made my head pound. The groove I was in earlier in the day was gone. I felt alone as all of the elated feelings from earlier at the beach were gone. I needed a drink i jumped to my feet and splashed my face with some cold water. In the mirror I saw Dixie in the living room dancing and singing along with Bob Seger and she held a drink in her hand. A smile came across my face.

"You got a drink for me, my friend?" I asked as I joined Dixie.

"Of course!" She yelled back still moving to the sounds of the music.

"There's a whole bar in the kitchen baby, help yourself!" Dixie stated.

I made myself a tequila and orange juice just to be different and preceded it with a shot of tequila on the side. The burn went down nicely and I watched Dixie continue her moves to the sounds of another Bob Seger song. It didn't take long before I started swaying to the music myself and gazing out the window to see the old black man with the cane walking down the street again this town is like clockwork.

"Let's head over to the Oasis." Dixie said with a smile.

I complied with another swig of tequila and slammed the shot glass on the counter. My headache was gone. I pulled up my tight jeans to make them feel right and swaggered over to Dixie.

"Let's go girlfriend!" I said with a smile.

The Oasis is literally a corner bar that has seen its share of action and history. Everything in Apalachicola is within walking distance so it didn't take long to walk the concrete sidewalks along the oak and cedar lined streets with antebellum homes to reach the small downtown area just past the Gibson Inn we hung a left and walked to Avenue D. There, on the corner of Avenue D and Commerce Street sat the Oasis Bar. An unassuming place with a rich history of drunken fisherman and lost tourists looking for a place to drown their sorrows, quench their thirst, and tell tall tales.

It was a romantic scene as the sun had just set behind us and Avenue D reached toward the dark Apalachicola River. Only the shaded outlines of shrimp boats could be seen at the end of the street as we headed into the bar inside, patrons were huddled at the bar as Willy and Waylon sang out an oldie on the juke box. Dixie walked in liked she owned the place and greeted everybody by name. I followed behind her like a trained dog. She introduced me to her work partners; we grabbed drinks and took a seat at a small table near an old brick wall.

"Here's to being off work and being able to party with you!" Dixie stated to me with a nice smile.

I toasted and smiled back and looked around the old haunt.

"I'm glad I'm here, Dixie!" I said back.

We both were feeling good and Dixie proceeded to tell me about the love in her life.

"Liz, I have to tell you about Johnny." She said.

"Oh God Dixie, you fell for a shrimper!" I said back in a condescending tone.

I was happy for her and perhaps a little jealous as I listened.

"Yes, he's a shrimper but a good hearted guy Liz." Dixie responded.

"I have no room to talk Dixie; I come from a family of fisherman; except for Wright, of course." I responded.

"How's Wright doin?" Dixie asked.

"Fine" I responded.

"He was a good lookin' man if I remember right! No pun intended." She said with a chuckle.

I smiled back and finished my drink.

"Damn, these are goin down fast Dixie!" I said as I turned to the bar for another.

"Hurry I want to tell you about Johnny." Dixie said.

I got back to the table with two fresh drinks. An older gentleman was standing next to Dixie and seemed to scurry off as I sat down.

"A friend of yours?" I asked.

"Just a customer, people aren't used to seeing me in here drinking. It's a little different for them, but they're nice people." Dixie replied.

"You know Dixie this is a nice area." I stated.

"It is Liz, and I just wandered to town, found this job and fell in love. I feel very lucky baby!" Dixie replied as she raised her glass to a toast.

A few customers smiled at us and toasted back.

Dixie scooted her chair close to me.

"So any way, Johnny is originally from a small town in south Florida called Wauchula. His Dad worked as a ranch hand down there and apparently they had a falling out. He moved away to St. Louis for a while and made his way here just looking for work. What made him pick Apalachicola is beyond me. He got a job as a crewmate on the Becky Ann. The Captain is a crazy old guy named Billy Larson, but I think he likes it so far." Dixie paused long enough to take a swig of her drink.

"I wish you could meet him Liz. How long can you stay?" She asked.

I had a smile on my face and wasn't sure how to answer that.

"Not sure Liz, just looking around to see what else is out here, ya know?" I replied.

"You're welcome to stay with me Liz." She stated.

I looked at Liz and saw a very content and honest person. I thought to myself in a bit of an intoxicated state how naïve she is. She obviously sees me as a different person than I see myself i looked at her and smiled.

"Thanks Dixie, I think I may just do that!" I said with a very large grin.

The drinks were taking quite an effect as I looked about the room. I excused myself to use the ladies room. As I walk through the small crowd I took inventory of my surroundings. There were quite a few characters that looked like the Wade Turner type. One gentleman in particular sitting in a quiet confident way at the bar stared me down until I had to look away. His expression never changed. I glanced back as he slowly removed a toothpick from his mouth. I turned my head straight away and made my way into the ladies room. A creepy feeling came over me. I splashed water on my face and looked in the mirror. I straightened myself up and tossed my hair back.

"Liz, what in the hell have you gotten yourself into?" I asked myself in the mirror.

I walked out of the restroom quickly and made my way back to Dixie.

The rest of the evening was a blur. We closed the place down and walked the town. It was an enjoyable walk. The silent streets only made way for crickets chirping in the night as I peered into the night sky. The stars were very plentiful and bright as we made our way home.

As I laid my head down it was closer to dawn than evening. My intoxicated mind shut down quickly. My relaxed body fell into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER NINE

I was 19 years old when Daddy introduced me to Aurilla Cherish. I was a barefoot girl on a fishing boat most of those days. Being 19, I was in between the mindset of a playful child and the all knowing stubbornness of a young lady. I was at the age when being with my friends and wanting to become an artist outweighed the duties and responsibilities on the fishing boat that Daddy claimed I had still, I enjoyed the sea spray as it hit my face in the morning and the anticipation of a full crab trap. Daddy was my hero. That was until a cold morning run took us on an abnormal route after dropping some traps in Wassaw Sound.

Daddy explained we were going on a little different adventure this cold morning. I was to consider this a nice get away from the usual routine and would get to meet a few of his friends. He smiled at me and looked relaxed as we headed up the river to an area known as the Isle of Hope. I liked that name. It was the first I'd heard of this area but it had a nice ring to it; the Isle of Hope.

I smiled as I watched a seagull glide along with the speed of the boat, my pony tail blowing behind me in the wind; going to the Isle of Hope. I smiled. It was a welcome change and Daddy looked so relaxed on this day.

It took about an hour to reach our destination. I was bundled from the chilling wind on the ride over. As we approached a small dock, Daddy asked me to watch the bow and tie it off while he slowly maneuvered the stern inward and tied off.

I watched Daddy shut down the boat and stood awaiting my next order. Daddy smiled at me and put his hand on my shoulder. He pointed me toward the dock. I looked around and saw a small hill as I jumped to the dock and made my way to dry land. The sunshine was warming.

Over the hill came a lady waving her hand and smiling incessantly. It was the first time I heard her name.

"Liz, this is Ms. Aurilla Cherish." My Daddy spoke.

She shook my cold hand and gave a warm smile.

"Nice to meet you Liz, I've heard so much about you." She said.

"Thank you." I said.

My curiosity was peaking.

She leaned over to my Daddy with a slight touch and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"It's good to see you again Meryl." She said to my Daddy with a smile.

I saw no one else and was beginning to feel a little awkward. The lady was dressed very nicely in a skirt and blouse. Not something, I thought, you would wear to a meet a fisherman at a dock. Her hair was done nicely and she wore quaint jewelry, not the kind I had been used to seeing on Momma, if at all. I glanced around the property as we began to walk up a small path toward a small older house.

"Liz, I have some hot chocolate ready in the kitchen for you if you would like some." The lady stated.

I wasn't quite understanding this yet as I looked at my Daddy. The man looked ruggedly handsome this day with a smile like I had not seen in a while. He seemed to be having a good time, I thought. As I walked behind I watched as Aurilla gently touched my Daddies hand, perhaps by accident. Daddy turned to look at me as if to see my reaction. He just smiled and turned away.

Odd, I thought, this meeting. I sat with my hot chocolate enjoying the view from a large bay window overlooking the river. Daddy and Aurilla were apparently enjoying themselves, laughing and discussing such non important things like the size of oak leaves or favorite restaurants. I would occasionally be checked on and asked if I needed anything.

"I'd like to take a walk along the river if that's ok Daddy?" I asked.

I was becoming bored at this odd meeting and needed some of my own stimulation.

"Liz, if you walk up that way a few hundred yards you'll come upon a beautiful bluff." Aurilla stated, pointing me out of the house.

"Ok" I replied.

My mind ran wildly.

"Surely my Daddy was not in the midst of some sordid affair with this nicely dressed lady." I thought to myself.

She was pretty.

I walked toward the river enjoying the nice breeze and hoped to see a ship coming into port. I stopped by the boat briefly and grabbed a pencil for sketching and a pad.

It turned into a beautiful Fall Savannah day. I made my way to a bluff overlooking the river and watched a freighter as it was making its way to port. A crewman saw me and waved. I smiled and gave a big wave back. How amazing it was to see a ship from some other part of the world and imagine its adventures.

"Maybe that could be me someday." I thought to myself.

I picked up a large stick and threw it as far as I could. It didn't quite make the water below. I relaxed as I sketched out a small drawing.

The freighter passed by as I lay down in the soft grass and watched the clouds quickly float above me. The sounds of laughing gulls could be heard in the distance. I grew hungry and my stomach began to growl.

"I wonder if that lady has anything more than hot chocolate." I thought to myself.

I picked myself up and walked slowly along the bluff watching the skimmers dive on the water below. The house came into view and I was still curious as to daddy's relationship with this lady. There were no other cars or people lingering about at the house. I made my way around the back of the house still being curious. I heard some sounds coming from a window near the kitchen area. The kitchen window was above my head and I could not see in but I heard laughter. I grabbed an old bucket and turned it upside down to stand on. I made my way up to the window and could barely peek through the curtain. There they were. My heart sank and my throat became tight. My daddy was in a romantic embrace with Aurilla Cherish. At first, I thought it could just be a friendly hug. Then, they gently spoke to each other and while still in each other's arms my daddy kissed her.

"What? No!" I yelled under my breath.

I felt sick. I quickly jumped off the bucket and ran dropping my sketch pad. I wasn't sure where I was running but I suddenly felt weak and fell to the ground. I pulled myself to a large oak tree to rest my knee was bleeding. My heart was broken. My mind was spinning and ached. I began to cry.
CHAPTER TEN

I awoke after that wild night in Apalachicola with beads of sweat rolling down my cheek. My head ached from the night before and my mouth was dry. I tried to focus.

"Dixie! I need a Bloody Mary!" I yelled out.

I threw some clothes on that I had previously bought at the local Dollar Store, and made my way to the living room. Dixie was already awake and reading the local newspaper at the kitchen table. She smiled while munching on a piece of toast.

"Good morning Sunshine!" She said with a smile.

"So what's new with the world?" I asked.

"It says here two wild women brought down the town last night and made wives and girlfriends jealous everywhere!" She replied in a joking manner.

"Nice to see you have a sense of humor this morning Dixie." I stated.

"Glad to see you got the lampshade off your head last night dear, you seemed to have had a good time." Dixie smiled and said.

"I did." I grumbled back.

"Hey, I need to run some errands today so I want you to make yourself at home and get some rest. You should be tired from travelling and last night's honky tonkin'." Dixie said.

"Sounds perfect." I replied.

I plopped myself in a chair with a glass of water and looked out the window the old black man was walking the sidewalk again with the small stray cat following behind.

The next week that followed was the same. I enjoyed Dixie's company; we had a few good beach days and few more honky tonkin' nights she talked endlessly about Johnny and I had sleepless nights over Daddy and Wade Turner. I wasn't sure about my situation at home and began to agonize over what I should do i thought of going home. I thought of trying to find a job here in Apalach. I thought about what to tell Dixie. I missed Ashleigh and thought about her as well. I was living life day to day and wondered how much longer I could sustain.

The summer was peaking. The days were long and hot yet I noticed the evening coming sooner and sooner every day. My heart was aching for Momma i couldn't bare it anymore. As I often took long walks around the small town I noticed a public pay phone outside of the Old Gibson Inn. I wrangled up the courage after a long walk one day and decided to call Momma. My hands shook as I pushed the old buttons of the pay phone.

"Hello?" I heard her gentle voice ask.

"Momma, it's me, Elizabeth." I acknowledged and braced myself.

There was silence on the phone and it seemed like an eternity.

"Lizabeth?" She asked.

"Yes Momma, it's me!" I cried.

"Where are you dear?" She asked

"I'm visiting a friend in Apalachicola Momma. I'm ok." I explained.

"Oh my Lord Dear we've been looking everywhere for you." She stated.

"I know Momma." I said and paused.

"I've got some things to work out but want to come home i miss you very much." I said as tears started coming to my eyes.

Suddenly I heard the phone change hands.

"Elizabeth, where in the hell are you!!?" Wright yelled.

"Wright, I know! I can't explain right now, just let me talk to Momma." I responded.

"You're in trouble Liz, and we want to help you! Where are you?" He asked again.

I didn't want to hear it. I suddenly slammed the phone down and hung my head. My heart was pounding.

As I walked back to Dixie's, I wiped the tears from my face.

"Well, at least they know I'm alive." I thought to myself.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad.

Without warning I heard my name called out from across the street.

"Liz!" Dixie yelled as she waved with a gentle smile.

"Wait!" She yelled as she ran toward me.

I stood at the sidewalk and enjoyed her smile as she ran toward me.

"Looks like good news." I thought.

"Hey you! I got an offer for you!" She said with a smile.

"We need some extra help at the Oasis tonight and I thought you needed the money so I volunteered you! Is that ok? Would you like to work with me?" Dixie asked in such a pleasant manner.

"Wow! Of course Dixie! Thank you!" I exclaimed in a grateful manner.

I tried to shrug off the phone call and absorb the fact that I can earn a little money and help Dixie at the same time.

"Oh Dixie, that is wonderful!" I said to her.

I wiped my face and took a deep breath.

"Are you ok Liz?" Dixie asked in a caring manner.

"Yea, Yea, I just called home and it was a little emotional. I'll be ok." I said.

Dixie put her arms around me and gave me a smile. It felt good and I smiled back at her. Dixie turned and ran back to the Oasis. I continued my walk home to get ready for my work night. I found myself excited and suddenly felt I had a purpose.

When I arrived at the Oasis I was greeted warmly and my smile gave away my anticipation. I was introduced to Ruth the owner. Ruth was an import from England and came to the United States with her family back in the sixties. She found her way from Connecticut as a young lady when her father and moved the family to rural Florida to niche out a construction business she's been here ever since. She was a nice lady, but seemed tired of the bar business and the small town antics that accompanies running a bar and being a single lady. She was a no nonsense gal and soon gave me the lecture regarding pouring techniques, no free anything for anybody, and how to be friendly enough to keep the patrons drinking. I was feeling at home.

It took about an hour and I was hitting my stride, taking drink orders and smiling at the customers. The regulars enjoyed teasing me.

"I always drink free here!" A regular yelled to me with a smile.

"Not on my shift Cliff!" Ruth yelled back as she overheard.

A few tourists watched as the Old Salts knocked back their drinks and told their tales.

No one knew me here. It was not Ely Marsh.

I let out a sigh as a grabbed a few more rounds for the boys at table three.

"Thank you, Liz!"A young gentleman stated with a wink as I sat down the drinks.

"You're very welcome!" I said back with a smile.

"I feel the tips coming in tonight." I said to myself heading back to the bar.

It was a productive night i pulled in some money and made a few friends. Dixie had my back when it got really busy and when the cleanup was over at the end of the evening I bought her a round the front door was locked and the bar was quiet. The scent of spilled liquor and beer gave way to the scent of table cleaner and bleach.

Suddenly there was a loud knock on the front door through the window stood a tall rather handsome man with a smile on his face. Dixie threw down her cleaning rag and ran to the door. She then realized she had forgotten the keys as she turned around to Ruth. Ruth threw her the keys. As the door swung open I watched Dixie and this man embrace each other with smiles and laughter followed by a long kiss.

"I'm sorry I'm so late, we just got in." The man said to Dixie.

"Oh baby, come here." Dixie said.

She grabbed the man by the arm and brought him over to me.

"Liz, this is Johnny, Johnny Hale." Dixie said with a happy smile.

"Hi, nice to meet you Johnny, I've heard a lot about you." I said.

Johnny took my hand and gently kissed it with a smile.

"It's nice to meet you Liz." He said to me.

"You seem to be the gentleman that Dixie has described." I replied with a smile.

You kids go on home; I'll take care of the rest." Ruth stated from the other side of the bar.

"Thank you Ruth!" Dixie yelled back with a smile.

We walked back to Dixie's home and I watched as the couple embraced each other arm in arm along the quiet streets of Apalachicola. A calm summer breeze gently blew the palms and the stars were making a cap to a successful and romantic evening.

It was very late and I crawled in bed and collapsed to the sounds of the summer crickets chirping in the night. The ceiling fan gently rocking above me quickly put me to a sound sleep.

I awoke in the morning to the sounds of Frank Sinatra singing "Summer Breeze" i wiped my eyes and sat up with a smile.

"What the hell! It seems like such a damn happy place!" I said to myself.

I kept to my routine of finding my way to the bathroom and washing my face when I entered the living room, I was witness to Dixie and Johnny dancing to Frank Sinatra and holding each other close.

"Oh my God, are you kidding?" I yelled out with a smile.

"There is too much love in the room!" I jokingly said.

"Good morning Liz!" Johnny spoke out.

"Good morning you guys." I replied back, still sleepy eyed.

I watched the love birds dance and listened to Frank continue the ballad as I glanced out the window and saw the familiar old black man walking down the sidewalk with his cane i had to smile to myself.

"Looks like a wonderful day ahead!" I stated.

I looked at Johnny as his bronzed arms held Dixie. What a lovely couple they made.

Dixie turned and looked at me.

"Liz, would you mind running to the store and picking up some eggs and I'll make us some breakfast?" She asked.

I grabbed my purse and made my way to my truck the elderly black man waved and smiled at me as I climbed in. I waved and smiled back. A small cat jump from the bushes and ran across the man's feet. I focused my thoughts on the day ahead and thought about Momma. The truck started and an unfamiliar sound of clicking came from the engine. I ignored the sound as I drove past the beautiful stately homes of Apalachicola. I thought about Dixie and Johnny as I pulled into the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly grocery store. They made me smile. Suddenly and without warning, three police vehicles surrounded me as I step from my truck. No lights, no siren, no need. I was caught. My smile and happy thoughts suddenly turned to fear and anticipation. A police officer ran up on me and grabbed me by my arm and pushed me against my truck i felt the presence of guns drawn on me by several other officers.

"Elizabeth Blackwell? Are you Elizabeth Blackwell?" an Officer asked in an authoritative tone.

"Yes sir." I replied.

"Elizabeth Blackwell, you are under arrest from charges stemming in Brunswick Georgia. We have a warrant for your arrest Ma'am." The Officer said.

My head began to spin as I realized the situation that was unfolding around me. I stood in the officer's presence helpless and in their total control. Their strong arms forced me with their will and guided me where they wanted. I was searched and taken over to a patrol car. As the officer looked in my eyes he put his hand on my head and guided me slowly into the vehicle handcuffed. The door shut and I sat alone in the back of the patrol car in silence. A slight crackle from the radio was the only sound. I watched as the officers congratulated each other for a job well done. My head fell in shame. It suddenly dawned on me that the opportunity I once thought I had was really not an opportunity at all. I had been running. This was inevitable. It occurred to me that you cannot run from the truth. I cannot continue running and hiding from myself. I looked up at the officers and noticed that all but one of the officers was smiling. The one officer that was not smiling was gazing at me with a look of pity. It was as if he could see right through me. I turned my head away.
CHAPTER ELEVEN

The name Aurilla Cherish became synonymous with heartache in my family. My daddy found me that fateful day crying under an oak tree. When I saw him walking toward me the heartache and anger raged within me. I could barely look at him and think of what I had just witnessed.

"Why had he put me in this awkward situation?" I asked myself.

"Why had he brought me to this place?"

"Why weren't we fishing this day as we had all of our lives?"

The only thing that came from my mouth to my daddy that day was, "Why?"

I never forgave my daddy for that day or for his feelings for Aurilla Cherish and the betrayal to Momma. He never spoke of it and I never asked. It was a hidden secret that I kept from Momma and Wright and I was even ashamed enough, that I never shared it with Ashleigh. I stopped fishing with daddy after that day. His persistence for me to take over the family business went away. I missed the trust and integrity I had in him. I missed the innocence between us. I went from being a young lady that day, to being a woman. I felt he had taken my trust and along with my innocence and childhood.

I suppose that incident played into my hands more than any other when I began the path leading to daddy's death. As I aged, I worked harder, catered more to momma and drifted from the church more and more. Drugs and alcohol began to fuel my desire and hide heartache. I rationalized my destructive behavior with the fact that I was living in the shadow of Ely Marsh. Life became more about what I wanted, what I needed, and what I desired, than thoughts of any cohesive family life or settling down to take on the role of a wife to a man; especially a wife to a fisherman. Wright had the corner of the market on being a success, so I couldn't follow in his footsteps. I became more and more embattled with myself and destruction seemed to follow me.

It was spring in the marsh before the summer of Daddy's death. The cool breezes blew from the Atlantic and small green leaves protruded and began their life cycle once again as the days began to warm.

I was quenching my thirst and rationalizing my life away at the Thirsty Duck Pub on Rockfish Creek. Daddy sat on bar stool nearby enjoying a rare day off. By chance, Dr. Fleming and some real estate mogul were chatting it up over a few vodka and tonics in a smoky corner of the bar. The discussion appeared serious enough for me to play the eaves dropping woman and listen in.

It seemed the Ely's wanted to expand their wealth quite a bit by engineering an economic development project for the City of Savannah and buying up some land i'm not a rocket scientist nor do I prescribe to the world of political economic development notions, but big money deals intrigue me, so I couldn't help but watch the interaction and conversation of the men.

The real estate guy caught my eye and threw a quick smile my way. I played along and gave him my sweetest smile, took a sip of my drink and tossed my hair. He took the bait and I began the game. He slowly shuffled over to me. His suit was over sized and he appeared disheveled with his loosened tie hanging around his neck like an old noose. His swagger and sly smile gave away his intentions.

"I couldn't help but notice the prettiest girl at the bar." He said.

"Why thank you. You're sweet." I countered back.

I knew where this game was going. I played it a thousand times.

"Are you from here?" I asked with a smile.

"I'm from Atlanta, here on some business. My name is Billy." The man said as he took a sip of his drink.

"Hi Billy, I'm Liz. So what kind of business are you in?" I said back.

"Oh, just dabble in a little this and that. You're just much to pretty to be sittin' here talkin' bout business." The man grumbled.

"I'm sorry Billy; I just couldn't help over hearing your conversation with the Doc regarding you buying up some land." I said to him trying to keep him focused.

"Oh yea, well that's just man talk to try to keep some change in my pocket, ya know. So, you know a little about real estate?" He asked.

"No Sir, just curious, that's all." I replied with a smile and a toss of my hair.

"Sir!?" He exclaimed.

"Honey, I'm not your Daddy, please call me Billy." He demanded.

"Ok Billy." I smiled back.

"So what do you have going on tonight that brings out to the Thirsty Duck?" Billy asked.

"Oh I'm just throwing back a few drinks. What about you?" I asked trying to turn the conversation around.

"Well, since you apparently heard my conversation with Dr. Fleming you should know I'm here to expedite an economic development project with the city. The county's involved somewhat as well" Billy stated.

I tried to remain sober throughout the conversation with a cute smile but it wasn't until he mentioned buying some land on the east end of Ely Marsh that perked my interest.

"Where?" I asked making sure I understood.

"There's a piece of property at the end of Marsh Landing Road that we would like to acquire to build a resort and maybe even turn it into a casino one day if we can get the laws changed." Billy stated.

"All the damn conservatives want to run off all the fun!" He stated with a chuckle.

At that point I just shook my head as if I understood but could not focus on the rest of the conversation. I believe the piece of property he was talking about was my home. I tried to shake off the effects of the alcohol and stared at the man talking.

"In any event we have a long road ahead to get that land and try to make the Ely Marsh area a little nicer for tourists. More tourists mean more money!" He said with enthusiasm.

I couldn't help myself any longer.

"Wait a minute." I said.

"I want to make sure I understand this right. Your gunna take the land from people who live in that area to build a resort?" I asked.

"Oh no Sweetie, we don't just take land away from people, we have to offer a fair price for the land." He said, finally realizing I was a local.

It suddenly dawned on him that he may have said a bit too much as he took another sip of his drink. He looked around the room as if needing an escape route. I wasn't going to make it that easy for him.

"Who owns the land?" I asked point blank trying to get a quick answer.

"You'll have to talk to the City about that Pretty Lady." The man said as he nervously took another sip of his drink.

He suddenly excused himself to join Dr. Fleming once again and he realized his mistake. My eyes followed him across the room and then I walked over to the bar i hesitantly sat down next to Daddy as he stared into his beer seemingly hypnotized by the music in the background.

"Daddy, do you know anything about somebody trying to buy up our property?" I asked.

Daddy slowly turned his head toward me as if I interrupted his concentration.

"I got some notice in the mail from the City; I didn't pay it much attention. I ain't selling nothin'." Daddy said with conviction.

I was still watching the man as he continued his conversation with Dr. Fleming; his eyes occasionally glancing back at me through the cigarette smoke of the bar.

"Daddy that man over there said they're trying to buy up all the property on the east end for a resort. That's our home! I can't believe I haven't heard anything about this." I said.

"How much money do they want to give us?" I asked, curiously.

"It don't matter, I ain't sellin'!" Daddy exclaimed, with deeper conviction.

Daddy took a sip of his beer and put the glass down wiping his chin.

"That's our home and nobody is going to take our life long business and home." Daddy stated.

I turned myself around on the barstool facing the bar tender and ordered another drink. Daddy's conviction was strong and it comforted me knowing that. Despite his weaknesses as a man he still had our family and home in his heart. I turned and looked at Billy and Dr. Fleming discussing their business in the corner. Billy suddenly met my eyes and raised his glass of whiskey to me. I quickly turned away. I looked at daddy for a moment and made my way through the growing crowd in the bar to retrieve some fresh spring air outside. The sun had just set across the marsh to the west and I gazed across the darkness. The sounds of the crickets were becoming louder with the warmer weather and a hawk's scream could be heard as it flew into the darkening sky.

I suddenly felt very vulnerable to outside forces that I knew I had no control over. I thought of Daddy and his convictions and what he stood for. I realized Billy from Atlanta had no respect nor cared for anything my Daddy thought. Billy was right. More tourists meant more money and more money is more control. After all, this is Ely Marsh. It was named after a wealthy slave owner and still after all these years the ghostly arms of the wealthy are outreached to take control and power from the weak once again.

In the early hours of the next morning I awoke to the sounds of Daddy preparing for a day of crabbing. The haunting from his affair with Aurilla Cherish still hung over the two of us even though it was never spoken of again. I'm not sure what ever happened to Aurilla but Daddy always seemed to be at peace and have our family in his heart. It was something I had to find peace with myself someday, and although he comforted me last night, today is just not the day. I was concerned over what I discovered last night and I am not sure Daddy is fully aware of the consequences.

I called Wright to verify my concerns about the development. I knew he would set me straight if I were over reacting. As I predicted, Wright felt I needed to look into this further to see if this was all talk from a swanky drunk developer or if my concerns had substance. Our nearest neighbors on Ely Marsh were Barry and Ema Langston. They lived a few acres away around the bend. I can remember as a little girl, old man Langston helping my Daddy repair nets as Mr. Langston was a master net repairman. Today he and his wife Ema are elderly and spend their quiet days watching the ebbing tides from their porch as they ease into heaven. I took a stroll to their property and waved to them as they saw me approaching up their drive.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Langston!" I said as I waved to them.

They gingerly waved back as Mrs. Langston went inside to pour me a glass of iced tea, her small frail body barely making it inside the squeaky screen door and over the threshold.

"Mr. Langston, has anybody approached you about selling your property?" I asked.

Mr. Langston tipped his old straw hat back and looked down at the dirty wooden porch. He then looked up at me and shrugged his shoulders.

"They told me I had to move!" He said in a grumpy manner.

Mrs. Langston then appeared at the screen door carrying a glass of iced tea. I took the glass of tea and thanked her as she sat back down.

"They told me we had to move!" Mr. Langston repeated angrily.

Mrs. Langston gently touched her husband's arm to calm him.

"Oh Dear, is this about them people telling us to move?" She asked.

"Yes, Ma'am, I am trying to find out if you have been asked to sell your property to a developer so they can build a resort here. I've come across some information that makes me believe they want to buy all this property including my daddy's to build a resort on it."

"Oh I suppose that's it." Mrs. Langston stated.

"Yes Ma'am." I replied back.

"We have Jason coming down next week to complete some paperwork and we'll be moving to Brunswick soon." She said sadly.

I looked at the old couple as they sat overlooking the marsh on their porch. We talked a bit about how they had no choice but to leave their home.

"The government", they said, "is taking away everything!"

How sad, I thought. These people have been here all their lives, surviving good times and bad. Now it seems they may not even get to die in the place they call home. I had to find out more, and more importantly I had to find out how this was going to affect my home. I popped one of daddy's pain pills and felt it was time for a drink. I made my way to Dock's Bar.

"If that ain't the prettiest crab picker I've ever seen!" I heard from across the bar.

Scoot McGillicuddy was a hunk in high school. I had a crush on him since the 6th grade. Now he works part time as a cook in a downtown café trying to make ends meet and pay his child support. He was still a hunk, but a hunk with a beer belly.

"Hey Scooty!" I replied back with a smile.

"I don't get to see you much anymore since you're working down town." I said.

"That's just a crime! Let me buy you a drink." Scoot replied back.

"Well thank you dear!" I said.

"What have been up to Liz?" Scoot asked as the bartender handed us fresh drinks.

"Scoot have you heard anything about a resort being built on Ely Marsh?" I asked as I took a gulp of my drink and looked into his eyes.

The man had the prettiest eyes.

"A resort on Ely Marsh? Really? No I haven't heard nothing about that. Isn't that where you live?" He asked.

"Yea" I said back softly.

"What's up with that?" He asked.

"I don't know, just trying to get some information." I said.

Suddenly Janie the bartender spoke up while wiping out a glass standing behind the bar.

"Whatcha want a know?" She asked with a strong southern drawl.

I should have known the person to ask questions to would be the local bartender. Hell they know everything.

"Janie!" I said with a smile and a chuckle.

"Of course you would know! You're the bartender!" I exclaimed and laughed.

"Jamie, I was in the Thirsty Duck the other night and over heard Dr. Fleming and some developer guy named Billy, I don't know his last name, they were talking about buying up parts of Ely Marsh and building a resort! What do you know?" I asked.

"That's right! It's true!" She stated matter of factly.

"Pack your bags baby because the big developers are coming in!" She said and continued talking.

"The company is called Southeast Atlantic Development Company and they are out of Miami. They hired a big time consultant named William Howard out of Atlanta to make the deal. You know him as Billy. This company is buying the land from the homeowners, that would be your daddy, and reselling it back to Greg Ely. The company will then develop it for the Ely's and get a large percentage from the profit that is made from a resort lease; or something like that." She said as she mixed a drink for a customer.

I was perplexed and took a gulp of my drink. I'm not sure what all of that meant, but I think it meant we were losing our home.

"But what if my daddy doesn't want to sell?" I asked, still perplexed.

"Not sure about that." She responded, and walked away.

"You know somebody who won't sell?" said a man sitting on stool.

He was rugged looking and I found him attractive in a strange way.

"Hi" I said.

He just looked at me in a bad boy kind of way.

I wasn't sure how I should respond.

"I'm not sure." I said hesitantly.

"I don't particularly like those Ely Son's a Bitches, but they got money. Anybody with money and can pay me for a job is a friend of mine." He said in a gruff way.

"So I'll ask again. Do you know anybody that won't move?" He asked in a very intimidating way.

I wasn't sure about this guy and was not sure of his point and intention. He took a sip of his beer and glared at me.

"I guess this is a pretty important project for somebody, huh?" I asked trying to be nice.

He just chuckled under his beer breath and took another sip.

"Apparently" He said.

I turned and gave the bartender the signal for another drink.

"I'll tell you what." He said.

"If you can tell me anybody that won't cooperate with this project and won't sell out for whatever reason, I'll give you a cut of my take." The man said matter of fact like.

Suddenly Scoot caught my eye from across the bar and waved me over. I excused myself from this strange and awkward conversation and made my way to him. Scoot McGillicuddy was playing pool by himself in the corner of the bar. Damn he's cute, I thought to myself as I walked toward him.

"What's that guy talking to you about Liz?"Scoot asked.

I turned and looked at him and he was still watching me like a hawk with those beady eyes as I responded to Scoot.

"He was talking to me about the property buyout for the resort." I said hesitantly, not sure what I was getting myself into scoot looked directly at me.

"That man's name is Mo Pearson. He's a friend of your buddy, Wade Turner. He's known for trouble Liz, and you should stay away from him." Scoot said with concern.

By now I was feeling pretty brave with a few drinks and pill or two kickin in.

"Aww hell Scooty, what's his problem? He's just a scumbag lookin to make some money off the Ely's!" I said as I turned back to look at the man.

"Mo will do anything for a buck Liz." Scoot said.

I downed the second half of my drink and looked into Scooty's eyes.

"You're cute, Scooty." I said with a smile and felt the warm intoxicated feeling of my buzz.

Scooty just looked at me with a grin. He raised his beer slowly and took a sip.

"Maybe you're lookin for trouble yourself Liz!" Scoot said.

"I'm not always a good girl Scooty." I replied in a flirtatious tone.

He turned putting his beer down and picked up his pool stick he slowly rounded the pool table and took a shot at the cue ball.

"Not a bad shot." I said with a smile as he dropped the three ball in the side pocket.

"So do you think that man's up to Scooty?" I asked as I watched him lean over the pool table for a shot.

He stood up and looked at me and just shrugged.

"No good, I'm sure Liz." He said with a straight face.

"Thanks Scooty, I'll talk to you later." I said as I made my way back to the bar.

There was something about that Mo Pearson. He had evil persona and a bad boy attitude that for some stupid reason I became more attracted to as I drank and watched him. Unfortunately for me, he watched me as well, and studied me like a hawk watching its prey. He knew when to zoom in for the kill. All it took were a few pills, a bottle of tequila, and some nice words coming from a bad boy attitude i fell for it and regretted it the next morning.

My head felt as if it had been slammed against a church bell as I awoke. What the hell was I thinking? I slowly sat up in my bed trying to recall some details from the night before but only reeled from the pain of alcohol and pills. I began to panic in my pain as I recalled the facts. I laid my head back down to the pillow. I couldn't think at this point.
CHAPTER TWELVE

I sat in a very small room in the Apalachicola jail, still handcuffed, andin shock. Also known as the Franklin County jail, this place was a joke. This was a mid century small cinder block building behind the courthouse that was ready to be condemned. It contained four holding cells all of which were full but one. The prisoners sat about the place like in a dorm room watching a small black and white TV which sat on a table outside the cells the cell doors remained wide open. They all have apparently been here awhile and have nowhere else to go. Two small fans blew the stale air around the small office where Deputy Barney Fife completed his paper work i was sitting patiently but not sure what for. My mind was racing in anticipation of something to happen however it seems as if things are moving in slow motion. I could see out the side door of the small jail building toward the town marina. A man and a young boy were putting in a small fishing boat. Rows of larger boats alongside tall masted sailing vessels shimmered in the sunshine. It was a beautiful day for boating. A prisoner dressed in blue striped prison pajamas walked in carrying a rake disrupting my thoughts and bringing me back to reality. As he walked by me he smiled i looked at the floor.

"Elizabeth Blackwell!" Barney Fife said.

He sat at his desk peering at me over the top of his reading glasses.

"Come in here please." He demanded.

As I stood up I thought back on how the morning started. What a difference a day makes, I thought to myself.

I made my way with cuffed hands and chained ankles into his small, dark, mildew stinking office.

"Have a seat." He demanded once again.

I sat down in the old wooden chair and looked at the man who held my life in his hands.

"I am Deputy Doug Cavanah. Your days of running from the law have come to an end Ms. Blackwell." He stated.

I'm glad he clarified his name. I was about to call him Barney Fife.

"Let me tell you how this is going to work." He stated in a no nonsense tone.

"You have been arrested for attempted murder." He stated.

I quickly looked at him.

"Attempted murder?" I thought to myself.

"Attempted?" I thought.

"That scum bag Wade Turner lived?" I kept asking myself.

I remained quiet and now listened intently, but puzzled.

"You will remain here in the custody of the Franklin County Sheriff Office until transportation can be arranged for your return to Brunswick Georgia where you will face the charges of the attempted murder of Mr. Wade Turner. It may be several days. Do you understand Ms. Blackwell?" Deputy Cavanah asked.

"Yes sir." I responded.

"Well hell, I didn't kill him?" I kept thinking to myself.

"But his blood ran over my hand!" I said to myself.

There was a big difference in being charged with attempted murder verses murder. Then again, I really wanted that bastard dead.

The Deputy led me to the small empty cell and walked me in. He then uncuffed me and slammed the large metal door shut. The clanging sound was unnerving as all the other male inmates stared at me.

"Ms. Blackwell, would you like us to notify an attorney or anybody on your behalf?" The Deputy asked in a rather nice tone.

"Um, I don't know any attorneys, but I would like to talk to my Momma; and also Dixie, the girl I'm staying with." I stated.

He acknowledged me and walked away.

I sat on a small bench in the small cell and could only wonder what happened to Wade.

"If he wasn't dead, where was he?"I asked myself.

"Could he be looking for me? Does it matter?"

I gazed back out the side door which remained wide open. I suppose they left it open to let the fresh air in. The old building had such a musty smell.

It was a beautiful day out in Apalachicola. Boats were sailing on the bay. I could hear the cries of seagulls as they searched for scraps on the old docks and aging shrimp boats. I thought about Ely Marsh. I wish I was on Ossabaw Sound right now scootin' across the bay with daddy.

My thoughts were disrupted once again as I was awoken from a nap. Dixie stood outside my cell gazing upon me like she was looking at a lost puppy. I sat up and smiled at her. She didn't say anything. Deputy Cavanah stood beside her briefly then made his way into his small office.

"Dixie, I'm in a bit of trouble." I said to her.

She grabbed a small chair from the wall and pulled it close to my cell. My cell was the only cell that remained closed. Apparently the other inmates were trustees. A few of them stared at us, while others made their way outside and wandered around in the bright sunshine.

"What's going on Liz?" Dixie finally asked.

"I wasn't totally honest with you Dixie. I've had some trouble at home." I said. "I know who killed daddy. It was partly my fault but I can't go into it now."

"Dixie they say the charge is attempted murder!" She stated.

"Yes, but I don't want to talk about it Dixie." I responded.

I need a lawyer, and I want to talk to my Momma." I said.

"Liz, I've talked to your Momma. She's so upset." Dixie said.

"I've also talked to your brother Wright, Liz. He's on his way" She said.

I looked at Dixie and felt numb. The reality of everything is coming clear.

"Your Momma is so upset Liz and she can't talk to you right now. But Wright is a lawyer and maybe he can help." Dixie said.

"He's not a criminal lawyer Dixie." I responded.

"He will only be ashamed of me. He always has been." I said.

"He wants to help Liz! We all want to help!" She responded.

Suddenly Deputy Cavanah stood up from his desk and walked over.

"Ms. Blackwell, looks like you'll be leaving us in the morning." He stated.

"I just got off the phone with Investigator Dawson of the Chatham County Sheriff's office. They are sending transport for you from Brunswick to be formally arraigned on your charge and continue the investigation." The Deputy said.

Dixie and I looked at each other.

"I'll call Wright and tell him to meet you in Brunswick." Dixie stated.

I acknowledged her by shaking my head yes in agreement.

"I'm hungry, I never had breakfast." I said.

Dixie looked at Deputy Cavanah.

"May I go get her something to eat?" She asked.

"Of course." He said.

"I'll be right back Liz." Dixie stated as she hurriedly made her way out the small building.

My time on the run and my time in Apalachicola had come to an end. By the time the transport officer arrived the next day I was feeling more sober than I had in a longtime. I was sober, however not exactly by choice. Deputy Cavanah's charm will be missed. He was actually a very nice man with a good heart. He escorted me out to the patrol car without chains and over to the custody of a young man with the Chatham County Sheriff's Office in Georgia. The young man guided me into the back seat of the car. I watched Apalachicola fade from the rear view mirror as we crossed the bridge over the wide bay. I was going home.

Summer clouds hung high over the water like giant cotton balls. I never got to say goodbye to Dixie, I just received a note from her stating she will take care of my truck until I could retrieve it. She never showed up again at the jail. I didn't blame her.

The scent of the salty air made me home sick. The young deputy drove the car as we made our way back to Brunswick where I would face my charges. I was also very eager to learn the fate of Wade Turner.

I arrived in Brunswick to no fanfare. The accommodations at the Chatham County jail were mildly better than in Apalachicola. They guided me through the processing phase of an inmate, which would rival the best bureaucratic agencies. I finally ended up in a room by myself waiting questioning. It seemed like an eternity until the door knob turned and someone entered. It was the handsome Investigator Ryan Dawson accompanied by a female officer from the County Sheriff's office. I couldn't help but smile at Dawson.

"Hello Liz." He said as he walked in.

"Hello Officer Dawson." I greeted.

"Liz, this is Investigator Pickney of the Chatham County Sheriff's Office. She is leading the investigation regarding your case." He stated.

Dawson slowly took a seat at the small table I was sitting at in the middle of the room. Investigator Pickney remained standing. Neither of them dressed as cops. Dawson was in a handsome suit and Pickney wore a gray skirt and white blouse that fit her impeccably.

"Liz I don't have much time and I'd like to get to the bottom of this so we can help you." Dawson said.

I couldn't help but notice Dawson gaze over at Pickney from time to time and wondered if there was more to it.

Dawson had a gentle voice and an easy way to ask questions. I was tempted to start talking. I wanted to tell that handsome man my life story, but I felt cold in this little room and felt very alone.

"How were you involved in your Daddy's death?" He asked point blank.

Pickney just stood there with a blank look on her face and stared at me. I felt her ominous presence and looked to Investigator Dawson for comfort. I felt frozen in time and nervous. I tried to talk but had a hard time forming the words. I didn't want to speak but the words fell out.

"It was a deal." I softly said.

"A deal?" Dawson asked.

"What deal, Liz?" He asked again.

"A deal gone bad." I replied.

I felt weak. The words just couldn't come out. I glanced up at Investigator Pickney as she continued to stand silent in her freshly pressed skirt and blouse with her hand on her hip glaring at me.

We were suddenly jolted by the sound of a loud ring of a wall phone amplified by the small room. Investigator Pickney answered the phone still looking at me. She listened intently. Her only words were, "very well" and hung up. She walked towards me as I looked up at her, her high heels tapping the hard floor.

"Ms. Blackwell, we will cease this questioning for now as your attorney has arrived. We would appreciate your full cooperation and will continue the investigation once you have a chance to speak with your attorney." Pickney stated.

I looked at Investigator Dawson. He shook his head and they both walked out the door without another word. Once again, I was alone in the little room awaiting my fate. I sat still and quiet in the cold room anticipating what was to come next. It seemed like an eternity when the door slowly opened. In walked Wright looking at me like a father about to scold his child. Then a slight smile crossed his face as he sat next to me and I felt more at ease than I have since arriving.

He gave a slight nod toward the glass mirror to confirm the people behind the glass were watching our every move.

"I can't be your attorney Liz, but I wanted to see you and let Momma know your ok." Wright stated.

"I'm doing ok." I said in a soft voice.

"For the time being I will act as your attorney to make sure that you know your rights and you don't say or do anything foolish. You know I'm not a criminal attorney." Wright said.

I looked at Wright and had very conflicting feelings. I hated to see my big brother having to take on this role, yet, at the same time, I was desperate for help.

"How is Momma, Wright?" I asked.

"She's worried about you and wants to know what's going on Liz." He stated.

He looked me directly in the eyes.

"Did you have anything to do with Daddy being killed Liz?" He asked.

"Wait a minute Wright!" I stated.

I suddenly started feeling very uneasy and a little paranoid, I looked toward the glass.

"Whose side are you on, Wright? That's exactly what they just asked me!" I stated.

"And?" Wright asked.

"What do mean, and?" I asked.

"Wright you're making me very uneasy it wasn't supposed to happen that way."I said.

"Listen to me Liz; I need to know the truth! Daddy is dead, you've been arrested for attempted murder, and Momma's on the verge of a breakdown! You need to come clean and tell me what the hell is going on! You're not going to run this time, you're not going to hide, and you're not going to be able to take drugs or drink your way out of this! You're in jail Liz! In jail!" Wright angrily stated.

I didn't blame Wright for being upset. I didn't blame him for being disappointed. I was becoming ever angrier with myself and now found myself in a corner with no way out.

"Your right." I responded.

"You're exactly right." I repeated.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"I can't believe I almost slept with that man last night." I said to myself as I shuffled my way out to the dock to talk to Daddy.

"Moe Pearson, what a low life." I mumbled under my breath.

Daddy stood on the bow of his boat looking proud in the sunshine. His tanned arms and hands clinching a rope and a cigarette dangling from his mouth. A worn out ball cap topped his head that provided shade for his blue eyes. He watched me as I walked across the yard toward him. I approached daddy as he was coiling rope and tending to his boat. He looked up at me from under his cap and then turned and continued his work.

"Daddy, I need to find out more about the county wanting to take our home." I said.

He said nothing in return and continued his chores on his boat.

"Daddy I think the Ely's are up to no good." I said.

Daddy just chuckled and turned and looked at me.

"Lizbeth, the Ely's have, and always will be, up to no good." He said.

"I know daddy but this time I think it is really going to affect us." I replied.

"Well, I'm not going anywhere little girl. You can bet your last dollar on that." Daddy said.

Daddy stood firm. He paid no attention to the fact that the Ely's had a grasp on us. I stood and watched daddy for a few minutes as he continued his routine.

"You go and see if your mother needs some help in the house. I have some traps to repair and then I want to check on a few things." He said to me.

"Yes sir." I softly replied back.

I walked toward the house gazing across the marsh toward the Ely mansion. I couldn't help but think how proud my daddy was to have his little niche in the world here on Ely Marsh.

I decided to do something that day that perhaps I would regret for the rest of my life. I was going to go to the big house across the marsh and talk with the Ely's. I wanted find out once and for all what was going on. My mind was in a fog as I dressed myself in a cute dress and attempted to make myself look presentable. Momma was stirring a pot of beef barley soup in the kitchen and the scent of it drifting through the house was wonderful.

"Momma I have an errand to run." I said, as I made my way through the small house.

Momma looked up at me while still stirring the soup.

"Where are you going all dressed up?" She asked.

I didn't feel the need to lie.

"Momma, I need to find out more about the government trying to take our house." I said.

Momma just looked at me with a puzzled face.

"Oh that's nonsense!" She said.

I smiled at her.

"I'll be back soon Momma." I said, as I made my way out.

It's been years since I have been to the Ely's estate. I wasn't even sure if they would remember me or if I would get past the gated entrance. I think I've only been one time since the party when I was a school girl, and that was to deliver several baskets of live blue crabs to the kitchen help. That is not what one would call a southern social visit.

The long winding entrance road had been newly paved, hinting that nothing stops progress for the Ely's even in a recession. I drove slowly toward the gate rolling my window down to catch a scent of the fresh air. "Even the air smells better in this area." I thought.

When I arrived at the large gate, I pulled up next to the security speaker. A small camera perched high on a pole on the inside of the gate spied on me as I studied the speaker. Suddenly a voice came on.

"Can I help you?" The voice asked.

I nervously squirmed in my truck as I attempted to smile for the camera.

"Uh, yes, my name is Elizabeth Blackwell. I live across the marsh. I'd like to speak to Mr. or Mrs. Ely please." I said.

There was no response for several seconds.

"I'm sorry; do you have an appointment here?" The voice said.

"Yes sir." I said, not thinking.

"An appointment?" I asked myself.

"What kind of house do you have to have an appointment to get in?" I asked myself again.

There was no response once again.

"Look, I really just want to speak to Mr. Ely!" I stated as I was getting impatient.

"I'm a neighbor!" I yelled.

"Are you the contractor?" The voice asked.

I looked up at the camera with a smile and a little confused.

"That's right! I'm the contractor!" I lied.

Another few tense moments passed, then the gate snapped and begun to swing open.

I stepped on the gas pedal and sped through the gate before it was fully open narrowly missing the tall structure. I wanted no chance for them to change their mind.

Once again, I found myself on a winding road through what appeared to be virgin marsh grass on each side me. As the house came into view the intimidating structure looked so massive compared to the way I usually view it from the other side of the bay. The road made a sweeping entrance in a round drive to the front steps and the door. Just before I reached the round drive I was quickly guided by a gentleman in a suit with dark sunglasses down a side road to a back entry way. I pulled my car to a stop in a small lot as the man walked up upon me.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" The man asked.

I smiled at him as I climbed from my truck.

"Here we go again." I thought to myself.

"Is Mr. Ely home?" I asked with a smile.

I thought about inserting some humor such as, "Can Gregory come out and play?", but it wouldn't be right for the circumstances.

I gazed about the estate and recognized the green lawn where I once partied with the princes and princesses of Ely Marsh so long ago.

"What is your business, Ma'am?" The man asked.

I had to think, and rather than continue a lie, I decided to tell the truth. By this time, the man knew I was not the contractor.

"I am an old friend of Greg Ely. I live only a few miles away across the marsh and I thought I would just check in with the Ely's and say hello." I stated, almost true.

"Your name, Madam?" He asked.

"Elizabeth Blackwell" I stated.

The man obviously had no sense of humor, but with that information he walked toward the large green lawn. He pulled a walky talkie out of his jacket pocket and began to speak. I tried to listen but could not make out the words. He then turned toward me and stood there as if to guard the house with his hands crossed behind his back. I turned away and looked out over the marsh across the bay towards home. I could see nothing recognizable from the view. I suppose daddy was somewhere on the water beyond the marsh.

"Ms. Blackwell!" The man called.

I looked his way as he motioned for me towards him. I walked toward the big green lawn and the stoutly over dressed man.

"I partied here once!" I told the man.

His silent stare consumed me as I followed the man to a large portico at the back of the house. The sun was shining on a beautiful spring day and it made the house appear magical as if in a painting. I began to smile as I looked around the elegant premises. The breeze suddenly blew and scent of honeysuckle caught my attention.

I saw a door open as I made my way up some steps to reach the top of the portico. The man stopped and gently waved me on without saying a word.

"Thank you, sir." I stated.

It was the first time I saw the man grin at me as he made his way.

"Elizabeth, is that you?" The lady in the distance asked.

As she appeared closer I recognized her as Lois Fleming, Dr. Fleming's sister. I'm familiar with Ms. Fleming from the numerous times I've had to get daddy's prescriptions.

"Elizabeth Dear! How are you?" Lois Fleming asked in her sweet southern drawl.

"I'm just fine Ma'am, how are you?" I asked back to be courteous.

"I'm just fine Dear, I find myself having a nice visit with the Ely's since I had to bring some medicine to Mr. Ely who's feeling a little under the weather. What brings you over this way?" She asked in a slightly condescending tone.

I smiled and then saw Mrs. Ely sitting at a small table in the parlor area as we made our way into a small parlor area the house.

"I was hoping to talk to Mr. or Mrs. Ely today and have a short visit with them myself." I replied back.

She walked me over to Mary Jane Ely who remained sitting. She was dressed in an elegant light blue dress, accentuated by a large pearl necklace with white gloves on her hands. She wore black shoes with a slight heel. A large white spring hat with a pink bow adored her head. Dark sunglasses covered her eyes. She gazed my way as I approached her, but I couldn't see her eyes for the dark large sunglasses.

"Hello Dear" She stated.

"Hi Mrs. Ely, how are you?" I asked in a pleasant tone.

Lois Fleming suddenly spoke out of turn as she stood nearby.

"I'll have Cedric make another iced tea." She stated.

"No need Lois. She won't be here that long." Mrs. Ely suddenly said in a condescending tone.

I stood frozen and became more nervous, but smiled.

I began to speak, but as I began, so did Mrs. Ely at the very same time.

"What can I do for you dear?" Mrs. Ely asked.

"Well I..." I started to speak but was interrupted.

"I don't mean to cut you short, but Mr. Ely is not feeling well and I have a lot on my mind." She followed.

She then took a cigarette from a small white case and with two fingers lifted it to her lips. Cedric appeared out of nowhere and with a small lighter lit the end of the cigarette as she inhaled. Cedric then disappeared with no words exchanged. A large plume of smoke was exhaled from Mrs. Ely's mouth and it obnoxiously hung in the air.

"I would like to discuss the rumors of a resort being built on our property." I nervously stated.

The parlor began to take on the atmosphere of a fisherman's bar as the smoke became heavier. I awaited her reply.

"You would like to discuss the resort would you?" She asked, looking out over the green expanse of her lawn as she blew more smoke.

"Yes, Ma'am. There are quite a few concerned people like my family and the folks down the way, the Langston's." I said

"How is your family, Dear?" Mrs. Ely asked.

"Fine Ma'am." I replied.

"Really?" She asked as she looked at her cigarette and inhaled once more.

"They're fixin' to be a lot better off!" She stated.

"Now Elizabeth, there are proper ways to air your concerns regarding the resort you coming here to my home and getting into our business is not the proper way. You should contact the city and let them know of any concerns you have." She followed up.

I continued to stand at the table with the two ladies and watched them smile at each other. Smoke filled the air from Mrs. Ely's cigarette. I suddenly felt very frustrated and began to realize my efforts may be in vain.

"Perhaps I should wait until Mr. Ely is feeling better and have this conversation with him." I boldly said.

I began to walk towards the exit as I saw the brawny suited man coming my way.

"Just a minute Elizabeth!" Mrs. Ely suddenly stated.

She stood up from her chair and waved the man over. As if on cue, the man suddenly looked toward a small shed on the green and lifted his hand to signal someone over. He then continued to walk towards us. I recognized the man coming out if the shed. It was Moe Pearson from the night before. My day had suddenly gone from bad to worse.

"You know Moe Pearson?" I couldn't help but ask.

Mrs. Ely just grinned as she watched the two men walk toward us and up the portico steps.

"Moe works for us on occasion." She stated.

"You know Moe Pearson?" She asked me.

I was becoming very uncomfortable.

"Slightly" I replied.

Mrs. Ely looked out over the large back lawn. It looked so green with the spring sun shining on it.

"Do you know that when Gregory was alive he used to play all day on that green?" She asked out of nowhere.

"He was a good boy." She stated.

"Yes, Ma'am, I knew him from school and a party I was invited to here once." I replied.

"I'm sorry for your loss." I stated.

She suddenly turned and made her way to a small bar set up in the Parlor. Cedric was nearby.

"I don't need you Cedric; I'm fine and will make my own drink." She stated as she waved him off it was 11:00 a m. in the morning.

"Can I get you a drink Dear?" Mrs. Ely asked.

I turned and looked at Mrs. Fleming as she made her way into the main house through two large French doors. I then saw the man standing on the portico next to Moe Pearson as if awaiting their next orders.

"Yes, Ma'am, I'll have a drink." I said nervously.

She just turned and looked at me as she poured herself an early brandy she put the cap back on the bottle and walked away from the bar.

"Help yourself dear." She stated.

It was all I could do to pass on a drink. I followed Mrs. Ely to the portico.

"My Dear, I would like to make a deal with you." She said as she took a sip of her brandy.

"It's time for out with the old and in with the new. Elizabeth, the world is an ever changing and evolving place. If you don't keep up, you get left behind." She paused and took another sip of brandy.

"Look around you Elizabeth. This magnificent estate was built by Henry's grandfather. In those days, it was cotton and shipping that made wealth. Today, it's much different." She said.

I watched her as she went through the motions all the same time keeping a sharp eye on the two men standing on the portico.

"This should have been Gregory's you know." She stated.

Mrs. Ely suddenly looked to the floor and wiped her eyes. Suddenly without invitation Cedric showed up with a fresh and full glass of brandy. He swapped the empty glass for a full one without notice or a word. Mrs. Ely smiled and took another sip of her brandy.

"Mr. Ely will not be discussing this with you Elizabeth." She stated as she looked at me.

"We are going to build a world class resort my dear for all of those that would enjoy such things and neither you nor anyone else will stop this project." She stated.

At that moment I knew I was over my head and in the wrong place. Mrs. Ely continued to walk toward me slowly as her heels tapped the floor in a very intimidating fashion.

"You can either be on board with this project or be on the wrong team. Elizabeth, you don't want to be on the wrong team." She stated with a grin.

I felt as if I was about to be sacrificed.

"Exactly what kind of deal do you have in mind for me, Mrs. Ely?" I asked curiously.

She turned and walked slowly to over look the green once again. I felt her tenacity and intimidation. This was a lady with a mission.

"Elizabeth can I trust you?" She asked me.

"Yes, Ma'am" I stated.

"Elizabeth, Mr. Ely is dying." She said, continuing to gaze over the large green lawn.

She then puts down her brandy on the large cement portico wall and pulls out her small white cigarette case. Again, with two gloved fingers she gently brings the cigarette to her mouth as Cedric suddenly appears and lights it for her. She inhales and exhales a plume of smoke.

"I intend to carry on this project which means very much to him." She says.

"I am very sorry to hear about Mr. Ely, Ma'am, but that means many people will lose their homes." I said to her.

"They will be compensated Elizabeth, and so will you, if you agree to come on board with me." She stated.

"You will be compensated very well." She followed as she took another drag from her cigarette.

"What are you asking me, Mrs. Ely?" I asked.

"Elizabeth, if I gave you $20,000 right now, what would you do with it?" She asked me.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Ely, I don't understand." I stated.

"Come here, dear", Mrs. Ely stated as I followed her over to the parlor bar.

Suddenly she grabbed a glass and filled it with ice.

"What is your poison, dear?" She asked.

"I suppose its bourbon." I said with a smile.

"I want you to know something about me Elizabeth." Mrs. Ely stated in her southern drawl.

"I've always had money dear, so money is not a concern to me." She said.

"Life!" She stated.

"A good comfortable life is what is important. That unfortunately is usually accompanied by money."She explained.

"I need to be able to trust you Elizabeth." She stated.

"Yes, Ma'am" I said as I took a swallow of good bourbon.

I followed Mrs. Ely over to the small table where she and Ms. Fleming had been sitting a few minutes earlier. We both took a seat and I looked over at the two men still standing on the portico awaiting their orders. The bourbon was starting to clear my head and I couldn't help but wonder the nature of Moe Pearson's involvement with the Ely's. The sun was shining brightly and a calm spring breeze blew the moss on a distant grand oak tree.

"Picture perfect." I thought to myself.

"Picture perfect."
CHAPTER FOURTEEN

I awoke in my second day in the Chatham County jail to the sounds of a yelling inmate. My head and cognition felt clear but I was tired from the stress of where my indiscriminate life had taken me. Wright is coming back today to try to get the judge to set bail. I sat on the edge of the small bed in the small cell and looked around. The scent of bad body order seemed to be everywhere. My senses seemed better as the fog from the alcohol and pills had worked their way out of my system and I was able to start to grasp my situation. I was bored. I couldn't help but think what it would be like spend several years in a place like this.

"Ms. Blackwell, you have a visitor!" A voice called out as I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I raised and approached the cell bars to look out.

A tall thin guard approached my cell.

"Ms. Blackwell I am here to take you to the visitor area." He stated.

I gazed among the myriad of cells in the jail block and peered at the guard as he approached. "Turn around and put your hands out of the cell Ma'am." He directed me.

I turned around with my back facing the gentleman and stuck my hands outside the cell. He grabbed my wrists hard as he put the handcuffs on. The cell door opened and he asked me to step out. The guard then proceeded to chain my ankles together. The metal door shut behind me with a loud clank. I shuffled my way to the visitor area with the guard closely beside me.

I thought a lot about what to tell Wright. It was time to come clean. My thinking has not been clear for a long time. I was ready to get my past behind me and there is something about jail that will do that.

I arrived in the visitor's area which was divided by a large wall and phone booths separated by glass partitions. Something I've only seen in the movies up until now. The guard sat me down at a designated booth.

"You have 20 minutes." He instructed.

I waited for Wright to show up. I wondered why he was not meeting me in the attorney room like previously.

Suddenly she approached and sat down across from me and picked up the phone. I was absolutely dumb struck. I had no idea what this lady was doing sitting across from me.

It was Aurilla Cherish.

"What the hell!" I thought to myself.

I found myself frozen in time and could not pick up the phone. She motioned for me to pick it up.

I looked at the phone and slowly raised it to my ear.

"Hello Liz." She greeted.

I looked in total surprise. I hadn't seen this lady since I was 19 years old, over 12 years ago. I barely recognized her but I knew it was her.

"Liz, do you know who I am?" She asked.

"I think I remember you." I softly said into the phone.

She smiled.

"My name is Aurilla Cherrish. I was a friend of your fathers." She said.

I wasn't sure how to react or what to say. I remained still with the phone to my ear and waited for the next move.

"Forgive me, but I needed to see you." She stated.

"How can I help you Ma'am?" I asked in puzzlement.

"Liz, I know that you know about the relationship your father and I had." She said.

"What?" I asked, wondering why this lady was here.

"What is it you need to say to me?" I asked.

"Liz, I promised your father that if anything ever happened to him I would be the one to help you and tell you something." She said.

I was becoming eager for her to get to the point.

"Look, Lady, err Ms. Cherish, or however you are. I don't need your help and I'm not sure what you're talking about. If you've got something to say about my father then say it!" I said to her anxiously.

"Your father and I have known each other a lot longer than you know, Liz." She said.

She looked down to fiddle with something in purse and pulled out a tissue.

"I have followed you growing up all your life." She said.

She became fidgety and would not stay focused on me. I remained fixed on her composure. She appeared very nervous. I waited for her next words.

"Have you spoken to your mother Liz?" She asked.

"No, well, only briefly by phone, why? What's wrong with my mother?" I asked in anticipation.

I was more eager than ever.

"I know she was not doing well. I spoke to Wright and..." She said as I interrupted her.

"What?!" I asked.

"You know my brother Wright?" I asked in surprise.

"How do you know my brother Wright?" I asked, in ever more anticipation and confusion.

"Liz, this is why I'm here. In order to help you I have to tell you something." She stated.

I looked her as I held the phone closely to my ear. I then looked at the clock. Only 10 minutes left.

"What is going on?" I asked her as I was getting angry with her secrets.

"Liz, I know your brother, and I also know your mother." She said.

I continued to stare at her holding the phone.

"Liz, I am your birth mother." She stated.

I began to nervously chuckle.

"Lady I don't know what you're up to or what your angle is, but that's a good one!" I said in a sarcastic way.

"Liz listen to me! I gave you to your parents for the sake of your family. Your father never loved me like he did your mother! Your father told your mother about us years ago, when I agreed to give you up to them. Your mother forgave your father and they both raised you as their own. This is the truth Liz! I am so sorry." She stated.

I gave the lady a blank stare as my heart sank. I shook my head at her and hung up the phone. I turned toward the guard and waved him over. I glanced back and saw Aurilla Cherish looking at me with a tear rolling down her cheek. She slowly hung up the phone. I turned and the guard escorted me closely back to my cell. He repeated the process of taking the chains and handcuffs off. The cell door slammed behind me as I took a seat on the small bed.

I began to process the information that Aurilla Cherish had given me. It was very difficult to believe that Momma was not my Momma. It was even more difficult to believe that this lady was my birth mother and seemingly everybody knew it but me. I wondered about the timing.

"Why now?" I thought.

"Why would this lady come forward now and tell me this?" I asked myself.

Why would she want to help me?" I asked.

My mind raced as I lay down and stared at the wall.

There is such a stark difference between the comfort and peace of the sea and the gray walls of this jail. My mind ached for the solitude of watching the sunset over the marsh and watching the tides ebb and flow through Rockfish Creek. As I began to daydream, the stench from body odor gave way to the memories of a fresh rain on a summer day combining with the salty air and marsh grasses; hints of a far away summer day. As my mind drifted off, I fell asleep exhausted from my own confusion.

"Ms. Blackwell you have another visitor!" The guard yelled coming down the walkway.

I sat up and wiped my eyes trying to make sense of my situation.

"Please stand, turn with your back facing me and extend your hands outside the bars." He commanded.

I followed his orders as he led me to the attorney meeting room.

Wright was sitting with a folder of papers laid out in front of him. The guard removed the shackles and cuffs and left me in the room with my brother as he closed the door behind him.

"Hello Liz." Wright greeted.

"Well! I think we have something to talk about!" I stated, in a bit of an angry tone.

"I know Aurilla Parrish came to see you." Wright stated.

"Wright, this is bullshit!" I yelled.

"Is it true?!" I asked.

"Is it true that woman is really my mother?" I asked.

Wright looked up at me without saying a word. He then obnoxiously clicked a pen he held in his right hand.

"Wright, this is wrong!" I yelled.

"No Elizabeth! What is wrong is you living the life of a drug addict and being involved with people that would kill Daddy! Our Daddy is dead, our mother is having a breakdown, my marriage is stressed, you are in jail on attempted murder charges, and I'm actually trying to figure out how to help you! That's what wrong!" He yelled.

I stared at Wright as he put the situation in perspective. A tear began to stream down my cheek.

"Liz, Momma has always loved you as her own. Ms. Parrish just wants to help you now that daddy is gone. I agree you should have been told a long time ago but Daddy couldn't face it." Wright said calming down.

"Wright I just can't believe all of this! I never wanted daddy hurt!" I exclaimed."

My emotions got the best of me as I burst into tears. I buried my head in my hands. My tears fell to the hard cement floor.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Mrs. Ely took a strong drag from her cigarette as she crossed her legs and sat back in the elegant black wrought iron chair on the portico. I sat my empty glass on the small tea table. The shot of good bourbon cleared my head from the night before as I smiled at Mrs. Ely.

"Cedric, bring Elizabeth another drink if she would like one." Mrs. Ely instructed the help.

Before I could respond, the empty glass was replaced with another. The bourbon was a select. Not the cheap bar brand I was used too.

"Elizabeth, on behalf of the Ely family I am going to request your help." Mrs. Ely stated.

I looked at her and listened intently.

"There will be money in it for you." She stated.

She picked up her brandy and took a sip and slowly sat it back on the table.

"You came here today seeking an answer as to the future of Ely Marsh, did you not?" She asked me.

"Yes Ma'am." I responded.

"If you help me achieve my husband's dream before he passes, I will make sure you are well rewarded Elizabeth."

"What are you asking me to do, Ma'am?" I asked.

"I'm simply asking you to make sure you convince your father or anybody else on the east side to sell their property." She stated.

I looked at Mrs. Ely and watched her as she exhaled the smoke from another strong drag on her cigarette. She stood up and began to walk away.

"Liz, come over here and come with me please." Moe Pearson quickly stated as he intercepted me.

I watched as Mrs. Ely slipped into the large house and disappeared. Moe met me at the top of the portico steps to lead me away. I quickly realized this was the end of our meeting and I was being whisked away by her bully's.

"Ms. Blackwell!"

I quickly turned to see Cedric running toward me with a bottle of bourbon in his hand.

"Ms. Blackwell, Mrs. Ely wishes for you to have this." Cedric stated as he handed me the very good bottle of bourbon.

"Thank you." I stated.

"Well isn't that nice." Moe Pearson stated as he grabbed my arm.

"Let's say we go and have us a little of nip!" He continued as he led me from the house back to my truck.

"I had enough with you last night Moe, now let go of my arm." I said as I pulled away from him.

"How do you know the Ely's?" I asked him.

"I do a little of their dirty work for them on occasion; and on occasion recruit your buddy Wade Turner." He said.

I reached my car and began to reach for the truck door.

"Liz, listen to me. The Ely's are gunna get what they want, they always have." He said.

"It's a matter of swimmin' with the big fish to see if you can get what falls off on the side, know what I mean?" Moe asked with a sly smile.

I paused as I stood with my hand on the handle of my truck.

"Got any pills?" I asked.

"Not here!" He stated.

Moe turned and looked back at the house.

"There's plenty of dirty work to go around Liz." He stated.

I opened my truck door.

"She likes you for some reason. You knew her prep son, the kid that died, you have an in. Take advantage of it and get something from these people." Moe stated with look of concern.

Unusual for him.

What's your rush?" He asked.

I got into my truck.

I'm fixin' to head out of here and grab a bite. I can get the pills you want. Follow me." He stated.

I hesitantly agreed as I started my vehicle.

I followed Moe to Dock's where we were quickly joined by Wade Tuner. The patronage was small as we made our way to a table near the back. I was hungry, tired, and now thirsty as the good bourbon had worn off.

"Break out your bottle baby!" Moe stated as he stared me down.

"I can't stay long. I gotta discuss with Momma and Daddy." I said.

The two jerks started laughing as if in a high school cafeteria.

"You gotta discuss what with Momma and Daddy, baby?" Moe stated with laughter to make fun of me.

"Stop it Moe!" I stated.

"They need to know they are forced to move!" I said.

"I gotta get out of this place!" I exclaimed.

The two men reveled in their immaturity as they slapped down empty shot glasses on the table emptying them of good bourbon.

"I'm getting sick of this town, and sick of my life." I said quietly under my breath.

"Yea, their gunna be made to move alright!" Wade stated with a snicker as he drank more of my bourbon.

"What' a you mean by that?" I quickly turned and asked Wade.

"I'm just sayin'" He responded sheepishly.

"Your sayin' what asshole?" I asked him again angrily.

"I'm gunna do what I need to do, and Moe's gunna do what he needs to do, and your gunna do what you need to do, to make enough money to get out of this place!" He drunkenly rambled.

I stood up to leave and took a shot of bourbon.

"Give me my pills, I'm getting out of here." I stated.

"Your pills!? Your pills, bitch!?" Wade asked sarcastically and in a drunken angry tone.

"Never mind assholes!" I stated angrily as I walked away and got out of Dock's.

Daddy was still fishing when I got home. Momma was standing in the kitchen stirring a pot as she seemingly always does. I said a quiet hello and headed to my bedroom with a head ache. I reached under my mattress and grabbed a baggie of pills. I had a collection of pain pills, mostly oxycodone, some codeine, and an old stash of mommas Prozac. It didn't matter much. I popped what I could get most days. I threw back a pill into my throat and washed it down with a small cup of water.

"Momma what times Daddy comin' home?" I asked.

Momma placed a large wooden spoon on the counter and slowly wiped her hands with a dish towel as she turned to me.

"Well, I suspect his usual time. He's taking some crabs to the fish house for sale." She stated.

"What's cookin' momma? It smells good." I stated with a smile.

"I'm making some barley soup." She replied back with a smile.

"You know your Daddy loves my barley soup." She followed.

"Momma, the Ely's are buying up all this property around here. They're gunna build that resort. We are going to have to move off this land." I stated to her.

Momma just stood and looked at me like I was from Pluto. She walked to the back screen door and gazed at the marsh.

"Liz, your Daddy and I plan on staying here for the rest of our lives. There is no one that is going to make us leave this property." She said.

"Momma, you don't understand. There are people, bad people that will make you move off this land." I replied.

"Oh the Ely's have their faults Dear, but I don't think they are bad people." Momma replied.

I suddenly heard a vehicle pull into the front drive of our small home. The ground was beginning to get moist from a light rain in the air. It gave away the sound of tires on a wet ground. I looked to see Wade climbing from his truck and walking toward the screen door. I quickly scrambled to meet him out of ear shot of Momma.

"Wade what are doing here?" I asked.

"Just comin' to see you pretty girl." He stated.

"Wade you're drunk." I replied.

"I ain't drunk girl! Not yet!" He stated.

I pulled Wade toward his truck so Momma wouldn't notice the commotion. His clothes were soiled and he smelled like bourbon; good bourbon.

"Wade sit down in your truck." I said.

"I felt bad you left so angry." He stated.

I looked toward the house as momma looked out the screen door to check on me.

"Everything's ok Momma, it's just Wade coming for a quick visit." I yelled to her.

She quickly waved and vanished back into the house.

"Wade, how about you and I go on down to the Flying Fish and gettin' us some steamed shrimp and a beer?" I asked.

I was desperate to get Wade Turner away from the house. He was no character to have around my momma and daddy in this condition.

"Ok darlin' that's sound good! I'll drive!" He replied.

I quickly ran back into the house and told momma I had to run an errand with Wade.

"Momma, I'll be back when daddy gets home! We need to continue this conversation." I stated.

I grabbed my purse and was out the door. Wade was already behind the driver's wheel. I climb in and rolled my eyes.

"Don't kill me, bourbon breath." I said

"Oh Yea! Steamed shrimp sounds good baby! Spend a little of the Ely's money!" Wade yelled as we pulled away on the wet dirt.

"Get us there alive Wade!" I yelled at him.

"Of course baby! Of course!" Wade replied.

He slowed down as he put his hand on my thigh.

"Wade this is not the time! Put two hands on the wheel baby!" I yelled out.

He looked my way and just smiled. I have to admit; there was something about his wild ways and his smile that kept me coming back.

I lit a cigarette and rolled down the window. The scent of the rain on the pavement was refreshing. Dark clouds began rolling in from the sea to the marsh. Wade looked down the road with a grin on his face, his driving was exceptionally good considering.

"Bad boy." I mumbled under my breath with a smile.

Wade and I sat at a small table at the Flying Fish Bar and Grill and ordered two dozen steamed shrimp covered in Ole Bay Seasoning. The shrimp were large and cooked to perfection with enough spice to get your attention. The rain had stopped and the air had a soft, moist and salty feel to it as we sat by the water's edge on a small deck. A few beers and time had cut Wade's drunk enough to converse within sane reason.

"I love these shrimp, but nobody can do em' like my daddy" I said.

Wade took a sip of beer and smiled at me. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out some cash.

"Five hundred dollars!" He stated as he slapped it on the table.

"What's this?" I asked surprised.

"I'm passing it on from Moe. He said it's a gift from Mrs. Ely. Oh; and here's some pills." He stated.

I grabbed the loot and the pills quickly off the table.

"What the hell is wrong with you?What's this about?" I asked.

"Something about taking care of your daddy." He stated.

"My Momma and Daddy are not going to move Wade." I stated.

Wade looked at me as he sipped his beer without saying anything.

"Ok", He said as he slowly put his glass down.

"Wade, my daddy is stubborn. They love Ely Marsh, and he loves fishing. They don't know anything different." I said.

"Damn good shrimp." Wade replied with a grin.

I slipped the cash and pills into my purse without thinking.

"I want out of this place Wade." I said.

"It's not so bad. I've been in worse places." Wade said.

I looked out over Ossabaw Sound as the sun was beginning its decent for the evening. I took a sip of beer and felt the breeze blow through my hair.

"Not so bad." I thought to myself.

I suppose there are worse places.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The musty stench from body odor to hang in the air as I wiped my tears and looked at Wright.

"It was Wade Turner." I said.

Wright looked at me and a slight smile came across his face.

"Thank you Liz, you're telling me Wade Turner killed daddy?" He replied.

"Yes." I said.

Wright touched my hand and in an instant I felt the calmness and strength I needed.

"What happened Liz?" He asked.

"Wade is crazy. He's under the influence of Moe Pearson and the Ely's." I began.

"Mrs. Ely would do anything to get our land and get it quick, including hiring Moe and Wade to do Mr. Ely's dirty work." I said.

"Liz there is something you should know." Wright stated.

He hesitated and looked at me.

"Mr. Ely passed away last week." Wright said.

"Really? Have you heard anything about Mrs. Ely?" I asked.

"Only rumors that she is not taking it well." Wright replied.

"Wright, I meant to kill Wade Turner." I admitted to him.

"He's dangerous." I said.

"Wright, I think Wade thought I wanted him to kill Daddy because I took five hundred dollars and some pills." I admitted.

"I told him daddy wouldn't sell." I said.

Tears began to fill my eyes.

"I never meant to have hurt come to daddy!" I cried.

"I know Liz." Wright said.

"How's Momma?" I asked.

"She's not doing too well, Liz" He said.

"Your right you know. I've caused a mess." I said with tears coming down.

"I want to talk to Momma. I need to talk to Momma. Things need to be set straight Wright." I said.

"I'm going get to the bottom of this Liz and I need you out of here and sober to do it." Wright said.

I looked up at my big brother and felt comforted.

"Where is Wade Turner, Wright?" I asked.

"I'm not sure." He responded.

"You need to be careful Wright." I said.

"I'm going to talk to the DA. We need to get you a bond hearing so we can get you out of here." Wright said.

I smiled at him as the guard motioned for me to stand up. Wright touched my hand to comfort me once more.

The guard led me out the door.

"I'll see you soon Liz!" Wright shouted.

I turned as the guard quickly led me back to my small cell.

A jail cell is a very lonely place. Other inmates don't offer comfort, only fear. The officers and guards only act as cogs in the engine to keep the place running. Every inmate has an agenda; if it's not to get out then it's to manipulate the system for self survival. I felt lucky up to this point to be alone in my cell. Each cell was meant for two. I knew it wouldn't be long before I had a cell mate. My anxiety grew. I decided that soon after watching the other inmates pace back in forth in their cells like caged tigers I needed a creative distraction. I didn't want to rot away hours of my life like a captured animal. I asked for assistance in obtaining pencil and paper and began to draw. My first drawing was a sketch of the shrimp boats sitting in harbor in Apalachicola; my next was daddy's boat as I remember it heading out of Rockfish Creek with the morning light behind it. I crudely taped them beside my bunk to gaze upon them as I imagined myself to sleep.

"Ms. Blackwell, you now have a cell mate!" a voice called out waking me.

The cell door opened and the guard went through the routine of removing the restraints from my new roomy. The door slammed shut as the woman stood looking at me.

"I'm Liz Blackwell." I introduced myself.

The lady wore a red bandana as a hair scarf and looked as if she had been crying or coming off a bad night. Part of her red hair was sticking out from under the bandana. She was dressed in Jail blues.

"I'm on the bottom bunk, yours would be the top." I stated to her as she looked around.

"My name is Heather Bronkowski." She said.

I smiled at her.

"Call me Bee." She followed.

"Nice to meet you Bee; sorry it's under these circumstances." I replied.

We exchanged pleasantries and we soon both realized we shared the same fears. Out of our own self stupidity we also shared a small jail cell awaiting bond hearings. Her arrival soon became acceptable to me as we discussed my drawings and life's intricacies.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

"Wake up Liz, you're going home! Wake up!" Bee said as she shook me awake.

I looked around the small cell and tried to focus and orient myself. A guard was standing at the door and motion for me to gather my things for departure.

I said my good bye to Bee and was escorted to the exit room still handcuffed. It was a relief knowing I was leaving this place. The female guard led me to a small changing area where I was allowed to change out of my jail blues to my street clothes. It was finally a feeling of freedom and hope.

To my surprise I was greeted by Wright and Aurilla Cherish.

"What's going on?" I asked as Wright pulled me aside.

My heart was pounding and I had mixed feelings about seeing Aurilla Cherish again.

"Liz, the Judge would not agree to a bond reduction but Ms. Cherish was generous enough to pay your bond for your release until a hearing and trial can be set." Wright said.

I looked at Aurilla Cherish.

"Thank you, you didn't have to do that." I said to her.

She smiled as they led me outside and to an awaiting car.

"I need a drink!" I said.

"That's not going to happen Liz. You're going to have to stay straight and sober." Wright said.

I smiled and winked at Wright he shook his head to acknowledge my kidding and happy sense of humor. It was good to be out and sober. It was good to see my brother again and besides her sheepish appearance, it was even good to see Ms. Cherish.

"Ms. Cherish, I want to talk to you in length when we have a chance." I said.

"I would like that." She said with a smile.

We made our way to Savannah from Brunswick. The smell of the salt marshes brought back thoughts of daddy. It was a hot but clear summer day. As we drove I spoke to my brother and apologized for the situation that has come upon the family. I asked questions of Aurilla Cherish and she graciously answered them all. It was as if she was feeling the same sense of freedom in each answer only for very different reasons than I. I sensed we were both being released from burdens and guilt's that we have held onto in the time that has passed. It was obvious that she had loved my daddy. The shock and dismay from a past that I previously had no knowledge of was releasing its grip. In my soberness I was coming to terms with the reality that now surrounded me. I was free; if only briefly and I had to make amends with Momma, Wright, Ms. Cherish, but mostly myself.

Aurilla Cherish spoke of daddy with a smile as Savannah came into view. Wright pulled down the long drive that I only remember as a young child running from a heartbreaking reality. I spotted the old oak tree where I had stopped to cry and was comforted by daddy years earlier.

We dropped Aurilla Cherish at her front door. I thanked her again for my freedom and her generosity.

Wright smiled at me in a way I had not seen in a long time. The anticipation of seeing Momma was mixed with emotions of fear, guilt, and excitement. It was nice not to be running from something. It was nice not to be running from myself.

The marsh loomed as the heat of the day brought a salty stickiness to the air the clouds grew big and white in the distance.

I slowly opened the squeaky screen door to my home. Momma lay on the small worn couch and gazed at me as I walked in the ceiling fan spun above my head turning the salty air throughout the house. I stood before her. She was meek and small; not moving and laying on the old couch.

"Hello Momma." I quietly stated as she slowly began to smile.

"Come over here young lady." She said as she motioned me with her small hands.

I leaned over to her and we hugged as tears filled my eyes.

"Momma, I'm so sorry!" I stated to her as I continued to hug her.

She did not reply as she just held me.

I let go and stood in front of her with tears streaming down my face. She looked so frail and weak as she slumped in the old couch, a slim reminder of the strong woman that held the family together for so many years.

It may have been the first time I remember walking in when I had not seen her working in the kitchen or completing a chore of some kind.

She glanced at Wright across the room as he made his way to hug Katie. Katie looked at me and smiled. I returned the smile.

"I have not been fair to any of you during the past few months and I intend to be honest with you and try to make it up to each of you." I said wiping away my tears.

"I'm going to stay away from the drugs and alcohol, and besides, they'll be testing me." I said stupidly.

I looked into Mommas eyes.

"Momma, I want you to know that I miss daddy and loved him very much. I didn't realize you knew about Ms. Aurilla Cherish and all that. I know what happened and it is what it is. Momma you will always be my Momma." I said.

She smiled at me and shook her small head looking ever so weak.

I hugged her and sat beside her. My heart grew that day as if a large weight had lifted off of my shoulders.

"Can I make anybody some lemonade?" I asked.

Suddenly you could hear a pin drop when laughter filled the room.

I smiled; it was family once again.

There are noble lessons in life that are learned the hard way. We are graded on those lessons only by ourselves and the ability to achieve wisdom through those hard lessons and not fall on doubt or self sacrifice.

My story doesn't end here.

Six months later I pled not guilty to aggravated battery on Wade Turner. The judge thought the evidence was too weak for attempted murder and felt there may have been self defense on my part. I received two years probation and conducted community service at the Savannah Women's Garden Club working in the many gardens of the stately historical homes of Savannah. Ms. Lois Fleming was President, of course.

I never heard from nor saw Wade Turner again. He was convicted for the death of my Daddy and living out his days in captivity hopefully recounting and learning his own lessons. It came out in his trial how he created a diversion by screaming into the silent night to bring my daddy out of the house. He then knocked him out cold and threw him into a small boat and paddled away not making a sound my brave daddy never had a chance.

The Ely development fell through after Mr. Ely passed away. The development company and Billy Howard pulled out after other financing from Mrs. Ely could not materialize. The home across the marsh is still there, however Mrs. Ely is long gone. It wouldn't be the last time the Ely family attempted a land buyout.

Our neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Langston won a settlement brought about by Wright who sued the development company and the City for illegal acquisition and relocation costs. Wright assured his reputation as a high profile attorney after the settlement. The Langston's lived out their lives watching many more sunsets in a new beautiful home on Rockfish Creek.

Wright and Katie are retired in Atlanta and he has secured his place in my heart as my loving big brother. We see each other often, although these days having conversation and consuming iced tea rather than shots of tequila at Dock's.

Ashleigh writes to me every now and then. She is still mindful of our youth and her memories still make me smile. She has aged gracefully and has always remained a kind heart.

I also still keep in touch with Dixie. I apologized profusely for using her as my attempted escape from my problems. She and Johnny are living life to the fullest on Apalachicola Bay. Johnny has achieved his dream of becoming a shrimp boat captain.

Scoot McGillicuddy finally got the courage to ask me out for a real date without the influence of alcohol. I moved in with him several years ago when Momma died.

Momma and Daddy are together again lying in Bonaventure Cemetery together forever. Momma never recovered from that summer of daddy's death i learned to forgive daddy and admire him for the true hard working character and father he really was.

Aurilla Cherish died a few years ago she never got over my daddy nor the guilt of giving me up as her only child. I have forgiven Aurilla Cherish, and put those thoughts and empty feelings behind me. I am heartbroken to think she died a lonely woman.

My time growing and experiencing the sights, smells, and wonders of the grass and waters that flow in Ely Marsh have made me who I am. The people surrounding me as I travelled this path have molded me into a lady of wisdom and courage. As we all do, we must live life by trial. There will be failures and there will be triumphs. All we can hope for is to live through and learn from our failures and celebrate in our triumphs.

The old house is still there, now a ramshackle of the home it used to be. The dock I used to play and work on has now fallen into the water and been swallowed by the marsh grass. All that has survived are my charcoal drawings from the memories in my mind of the old home and the life I lived there.

That summer was a turning point in my life. The trials and tribulations that we survive are what we have in common. That summer was mine; and I will forever live in the shadow of a place called Ely Marsh.
About the Author

Stefan Kulakowski was born August 14, 1960 in the small beach community of Venice Florida. He grew up in Ft. Myers Florida enjoying the salty Gulf of Mexico and the area beaches. He now resides in Tallahassee after attending the Florida State University and getting a Bachelor of Science in Criminology in 1985. He's always had a passion for enjoying good conversation and learning from the people he's met, places he's been, and life's experiences to create unique characters to write about. Stefan still enjoys travel to small coastal communities, the beach, fishing, camping, and time with his grown children Chris and Nicole.

