Arrive by Dusk

Arrive by Dusk

By Gabrielle F. Culmer

Chapter One- Evening Tide

The sun set warmly upon the seemingly tepid water of the European Mediterranean sea, Mindy watched aboard the yacht upon which she had been living during the festival. Excitement echoed from the cabins as celebrities, producers and artisans conversed huddled amongst chaise lounges and small round cocktail tables.
“Always thinking,” she thought to herself as she stared deeply into the water.
The lines along her mouth moved in deep concentration, her hair a short black mid length bob, cut around the ears still emphasized her moving and sympathetic grey eyes. Widowed at thirty four and yet full of company and happiness from those around her. Where would she be without them? But there was something missing. The art show was due to commence at the hotel in St. Tropez, her work, full of landscapes and water colours of every sight she had visited with her late husband over the years, and how her career had progressed with his help, from the little art shows in New York, Paris and Milan, and now here, her own show in France, amongst many other artists, where she featured those who started like her. This time, she would do it alone, her cousin Kathy managed to make the trip and of course, uncle Gerard, her back bone and mentor, but there was Iris, and Baldwyn with Raymond and Margaret still in Crystal Shores. There was a deep yearning not even Kathy knew, whose life had been so sheltered from uncertainty and now the wife of the wealthiest up and coming Wall Street financier whom she married straight out of college in Massachusetts.
“Mindy Croixe, we are waiting to cut the celebratory cake,” an upper class New England accent declared.
Mindy turned, “Sorry, just got caught up in the lovely scenery, just look at it, Lamont would have been so proud of me.” It was now her vessel the “Nightingale Tavern,” However, most of his estate reverted to his family’s assets, leaving her with the vessel, the house on Rhode Island and the chateau in Nice. “I was with you when I met him, that little café at the bottom of the Rue Faubourg St. Honore, do you remember that night?”
“Yes, I think that it was our first night here, how lucky life has been!”
“I know, you were already married, and I had just finished art school.”
“Gareth tried ringing me that night and I was stuck chaperoning, or what it seemed like hosting you and Lamont, the Viscount at the café,” declared Kathy.
“It is a long way from Crystal Shores,” Mindy admitted.
“For us both,” Kathy said laughing, “Dad is so proud of you, you have really made the family proud. Even Elise calls you, how do you do it?”
“I just do,” Mindy replied, knowing full well that it must be that old island luck or some sort of fantasy. In reality, it was her late husband who died suddenly at forty four over a year ago. It was a magical night meeting him as she was only seeing the center of Paris for the first time. Her first trip with him to the Musee d’Orsay was remarkable, and how she related to the movement on exhibit there. Being back just brought the memories gushing, especially of the hospitality he showed during her first trip and the trips to the chateau in the country side where she first realized that she had a future with him. Even the small colloquial wedding at the little Provence in France where his ancestors had lived at the small medieval church where villagers waited with streaming ribbons and flowers, and coloured confetti to spray in the quaint and romantic setting.
“Gosh, we are being rude, let us go back inside.” Kathy suggested, always in her proper hostess mode. “Come on, Dad wants to make a toast to you.” Mindy complied willingly to Kathy’s suggestion.
The ladies entered the cabin where Uncle Gerard and Gareth sat chatting about the economic downturn and the euro’s reaction whilst, others listened in being educated by one of the best known young economists in the era. Gerard Stevens, now, in his sixties and grey was enjoying every moment of his young niece’s success and could not wait to report to his brother Baldwyn upon his return to the island. Upon seeing the ladies enter the room, he turned and stood, “Ah, you are back, I want to propose a toast to a successful, highly respected and popular artist, to Mindy Croixe!”
“To Mindy Croixe” the others cheered as they raised their glasses to the hostess and the person who would make their careers.
“Thank you Uncle and all of you, now, I just want to thank all of you for coming and for sharing this day with me tomorrow, remember we are all winners here, this has been a group effort, and so, I would like to make a toast to the team in response, to the team.”
“Here, here,” could be heard and the party applauded and glasses were raised.
Mindy had a flash back, the oak in the cabin reminded her of the old oak table they would all sit around when everything was about to happen, a strong sense of homesickness came over here, not for Rhode Island or New York but for Crystal Shores. The cabin swayed slowly in the tide as if she was on some old vessel heading for the Atlantic or the ancient routes, now she was here in this historic setting once again embarking on an important episode in her life.
Crystal Shores had changed in the past decade; the development had made it into a bustling cosmopolitan island almost in comparison with the European territories near by. She had heard that the O’Neills had built a strong infrastructure along with the development producing opportunity for many who passed through the shores. Raymond and Margaret benefited greatly as did little Richard. Baldwyn was able to purchase land from his investments and supported her through her education, he never said a word the checks were sent on time from a little town to her, they were always helpful along with her scholarship. It was the basis upon which she was able to start her company, M.S. Croixe Art, a studio in Soho and in Paris and upon which she had come far. Mindy stayed up with family and friends well after midnight, the moon shone brightly in May upon the glistening waters surface.
“What do you think tomorrow will be like?” she asked Kathy.
“It will be fabulous, you will see, it is a prime hotel, and I mean the guest list is exceptional, you sure do know how to draw a crowd,” Kathy replied pleased.
Kathy knew that she was covering up the obvious, and did not know how Mindy would react when she would find out that the O’Neills were in town. Blaine was hosting a party at his hotel next door; she overlooked that fact in her assistance with the planning. She thought that it has been years since she had seen him, maybe they would just say the pleasantries, and move on, or maybe something else. You really can not blame her, it was a coincidence and besides, she had been a matchmaker before, however, this would not take much effort, not if Blaine would have anything to do with it.
II