Chapter 4: An Unexpected Reunion

Samantha Taylor's family owned one of the largest homes in Cherin Cove, and from what Abby could remember, three generations of Taylors lived there under the same roof. The property included a small orchard and a sizable yard with a winding path that led up to the front porch. It must have been a wonderful place to sit during the more temperate months of the year, but now it was vacant, save for a pair of cats curled up together in a basket by the steps. One of them was pure white and looked like she belonged to the family, while the other was a patchy brown and black who was clearly a visitor, and they gave Abby a curious glance, which she returned. Seeing a faded quilt next to their basket, she bent down and tucked it around them, then scooted the basket further under the overhang, out of the wind.

"Word on the street is that it's going to storm soon," she told them. "You should try to stay as warm as possible."

The two felines made a content-looking picture all snuggled up under their blanket, and Abby smiled a little as she stepped up to the door to knock.

Samantha answered the summons promptly.

"You're here!" she exclaimed, opening the door wide. "I'm so glad to see you, Abby. It's been far too long!"

"Six years, I think," Abby confirmed as she stepped inside. "Ever since you moved back to Long Island."

"Time flies, doesn't it?" Samantha shut the door. "Come on, we'll go down the hall to the sitting room. I've got lunch coming soon, and a fire's already going."

They headed down the hallway, and Abby could hear the distinct chatter of voices from all parts of the house as she passed by several doors.

"I hope you don't mind, but I invited Mabel and Sally to join us," Samantha disclosed. "I ran into them yesterday while I was shopping at Lady's Mile."

Abby squelched the urge to say what she really felt in response. It wasn't that she minded extra company, per se (and Samantha was the kind of person who was friends with everyone, so it wasn't surprising that she'd decided to add to their party on a whim), but Abby was not fond of one of the additions in particular, and unless the woman in question had matured considerably since the last time they'd spoken, it was sure to be a mildly unpleasant luncheon at best.

Before she could come up with something sufficiently polite to say, they arrived at the sitting room.

"There she is!" rang out a familiar voice. "Abigail Becker, darling of the New-York Tribune."

"Those glasses! And that hair! You've become a lady of style since we last saw you!"

"Doesn't she look well, girls?" Samantha said, taking her seat at the table with the other women and motioning for Abby to do the same. "It's wonderful that we ladies have more options now for how we do our hair. My cousin has a bob just like Abby's, and she says it's the best thing, especially during the summer."

"Here, have some macaroons," Mabel offered, passing Abby a plate heaped high with cookies. "This is a new recipe I'm trying out, and we've been nibbling on them while we wait for lunch to come out."

Abby accepted the proffered treat with a smile, feeling more at ease thanks to the familiar gesture. Mabel had always been the girl in their class with the best sweets at lunchtime, and there was something comforting about knowing that that hadn't changed despite the passing of time.

"Sammie was just telling us about your job at The Tribune, Abby." Sally leaned forward, tapping her fingers on the table. "Is it really true that you're the lead editor for the entertainment pages?"

"Interim lead editor," Abby clarified, "but yes, it's true. Does that surprise you?"

"Oh, not at all! You were always so serious and scholarly. I still remember you sitting on your lunch pail during recess with your nose in a book!"

"That hasn't changed much, I'm afraid," Abby said dryly. "I'd still prefer the company of a book to most people."

Samantha must have sensed the mild tension, for she set a teacup and saucer in front of Abby and said brightly, "Speaking of books, I forgot to ask: have you visited The Book Nook yet?"

Abby nodded, thankful for the change in subject. "It's just as beautiful as you described. I've spent most of my time there already, and plan to go back again soon. I don't think I've ever seen so many colorful and unique novels."

"I'm glad you've found it satisfactory." Samantha carefully filled the cup with tea. "For being such a small town, Cherin Cove has quite a few hidden gems, and The Book Nook is one of the best. There's also a restaurant close by that serves fresh seafood and the most delectable carrot cake."

"The Rudder and Relish?"

Samantha smiled. "I take it you've already been there?"

Abby nodded. "I met one of the men who works at the dock yard, and he invited me to lunch."

Silence greeted her disclosure.

"You've only been in town for a few days and have spent most of your time reading, yet you've already gone on a date?" Samantha finally spoke, the smile growing on her face.

"It was just a casual meeting." Abby took a bite of her cookie. "It's nothing to be surprised about."

"Well, now that you've brought it up, you have to tell me who he is! I know everyone in Cherin Cove, and I can give you the scoop on this dock hand of yours and tell you if he's worth your time or not."

"His name is Sherwin," Abby said, knowing that there was no point in prevaricating (and half curious as to what her friend would divulge).

"Oh, Skip!" Samantha exclaimed. "Of course, I should have known that it was him! He's a dear; my boys love following him around at the dock yard, and he's always so patient with them. He's teaching Tobias how to carve leather and make his own tool belt."

"Is he handsome?" Sally butted in, leaning forward with an eager look in her eyes.

Samantha gave Abby a nudge. "I'll let our friend answer that."

Impudence rose up in Abby, and she found herself saying dryly, "Oh, he's very handsome, Sally. Broad shoulders, dark hair, perfectly straight teeth - the whole kit and caboodle."

She knew that the sarcasm was petty, (and saw Samantha giving her a quizzical look out of the corner of her eye) but she couldn't help it. Sally had always been the class heartbreaker and insufferably obsessed with her many "conquests," and Abby wasn't above needling her just a bit.

Mabel, seemingly oblivious to the byplay, cheerfully set another macaroon on everyone's plate. "Did you know Skip growing up, Sammie?" she asked. "Before you moved to Manhattan, I mean?"

Samantha shook her head. "He's only been here for about a year, but he's already become the heart of Cherin Cove. He knows everyone by name, lends a hand wherever he's needed, and is always the first one to welcome visitors. I'm actually not surprised that he found Abby - it's his habit to invite newcomers to lunch whenever he has the means."

"You approve of him, then?" Abby couldn't help asking.

Samantha considered the question for a moment. "Skip is wonderful in a lot of ways, and from the perspective of a friend and a neighbor, I have nothing bad to say about him…but I think there's a reason why he's still romantically unattached."

"And what would that reason be?" Sally asked (in a voice far too eager for Abby's liking). "Come, don't skimp on the details!"

"Well…" Samantha paused, gathering her thoughts. "I guess the plainest way of putting it is this: Skip, for all of his amiability, has a melancholy side to him. He'll sometimes take a few days leave at the docks and sail off alone without telling anyone where he is going. He always comes back at the appointed time and resumes his work…but he never speaks about what's happened in the interim. It's almost like he becomes unmoored for a time and needs to drift alone for a while in order to find his anchor point again. I don't know that he's ever had a sweetheart, at least not here in town, maybe because the need to distance himself strikes him so regularly."

"Is that all?" Sally looked disappointed. "I was hoping for a deep, dark secret." She clapped her hands together. "I've got it: maybe he's secretly smuggling contraband to sea pirates, and that's why he goes off by himself!"

"If that was the case, he'd be able to afford a better place to live than his little shack down by the docks," Samantha said soberly, "and even if he was part of a smuggling operation, it'd be almost impossible for him to keep a secret like that in a town this small. We'd be able to tell right away that he hadn't acquired the money through honest means."

Turning to Abby, she smiled gently. "I'm sorry if this disappoints you - I'm sure Skip enjoyed your company, and I know that he is perfectly sincere in his desire to make visitors to Cherin Cove feel welcome…but I just don't want you to think that he has serious designs the way other young men do when they invite a woman to lunch…or that he's always as cheerful as he seems."

"I am surprised," Abby admitted frankly, "but I'm not disappointed."

It was more or less the truth; while Sherwin had been charming and cordial and she wouldn't have minded getting to know him better, he'd never said anything that had directly indicated a romantic interest, and while a one-on-one meeting generally carried certain implications, within the more relaxed social norms of a small town, those implications probably weren't all that binding. There was no reason to fault a man for having invited her to lunch when he'd given her a perfectly pleasant time and a good meal and had treated her impeccably. Questions remained, of course, regarding his sadness and the reasons behind it, but Abby knew that trying to ask Samantha more about it would be unwise with Sally listening in, so she shelved her curiosity for the time being.

Ready to move on from the subject, she finished the rest of her macaroon, then said to Samantha, "Speaking of Sherwin, I've been meaning to ask you about the Confetti Countdown. He mentioned it briefly to me, but I didn't get many details."

"Oh, you'll be coming, won't you?" Samantha exclaimed. "I didn't think about it coinciding with your visit, but it's perfect timing!"

"What exactly does this celebration entail?"

"A little bit of everything! There's live music and dancing, a handmade crafts exhibition, a baked goods competition, a dramatic retelling of Cherin Cove's history, and a poetry recitation. Everyone dresses up, and the different restaurants in town provide refreshments. At midnight, we all have a moment of silence to reflect on the previous year, and then we count down to the coming year together - with confetti, of course."

"That sounds…interesting," Abby said cautiously, thinking that half of the aforementioned activities sounded at least mildly intriguing.

"It's the best way to spend New Year's Eve. Oh! And if it sweetens the pot, I think Thad is planning to bring a cart of novels down from The Book Nook to raffle them off."

The Confetti Countdown was suddenly sounding a lot more appealing.

"How dressed up is 'dressed up'?" Abby hedged. From what she'd observed of the locals' raiment, sturdy and practical garments seemed to be more the norm, but she could also tell that the people of Cherin Cove appreciated aesthetics, so there was no telling what sort of celebratory attire would be expected, and whether or not anything in her luggage would fit the bill.

"Think anything that's colorful and bright," Samantha said. "Looking festive is definitely more important than looking fashionable when it comes to the Confetti Countdown."

"Why only choose one when you can do both?" Sally interjected with a laugh. "I've got at least half a dozen pretty gowns, and if Abby's going to this shindig, maybe we should all go. It could be a fun girls' outing!"

"You're certainly welcome to come," Samantha offered.

Quirking an eyebrow at the remaining member of their party, Sally asked, "Mabel?"

Mabel grinned. "Oh, why not? I'd like to enter some cookies in the baking competition, and I'm sure I can find something to wear!"

"If you didn't happen to bring anything, Abby, I can let you borrow a dress," Samantha suggested. "Or if you'd prefer to go shopping, there's a lady in town who makes beautiful gowns and can alter them, too. I know you could probably spend less if you just went back to Manhattan to buy a dress and let your sister do your alterations, but if staying local is your goal, she could use the business."

"I'll pay her a visit," Abby decided. "Where is her shop located?"

"Just two blocks east of the Rudder and Relish. It's a little place called Ada's Atelier's."

"You just love alliterative titles in this town, don't you?"

Samantha laughed. "Guilty as charged! But you can't deny that they have a certain ring to them."

"Well, it's settled then." Sally folded her hands, looking as smug as a cat as she pronounced, "We'll all go to the Confetti Countdown together, and it'll be just like old times: eating and drinking 'till we get our fill, and flirting with all of the good-looking young men!"

"Just remember it's a small town," Samantha reminded her, a slightly-indulgent look on her face. "The pool's not as big here as it is in Manhattan."

"And you were really the only one who had any success with the boys, Sally," Mabel pointed out. "The rest of us never stood a chance with you around."

Sally preened at the praise. "I did have a pretty good track record back then, didn't I?" Turning to Abby, she asked, "Speaking of which, how is my old flame, Les Jacobs? Is he still just as cheeky and charming as he was before?"

"Les is doing fine," Abby answered vaguely. The young man in question was far from her favorite person in the world, but she wasn't about to air any of his personal business just because his ex-girlfriend asked.

Said ex-girlfriend, however, refused to take the hint.

"'Doing fine'?" she echoed scornfully. "You must know more of him than that."

Abby took another sip of tea. "What makes you think that I would?"

"He's your family. You ought to at least be able to tell me what he's up to and if he's seeing anyone right now."

"I don't see why that's any of your business, Sally. If I remember correctly, you broke off the relationship on no uncertain terms and told Les that you never wanted to see him again."

"I still think of him fondly," Sally clarified, her voice taking on a wistful tone. "He was one of the best beaus I've ever had…but I couldn't very well marry a poor man after both of my sisters married up."

"The Jacobses aren't poor."

Sally shrugged. "I suppose that's true from a certain point of view. Your brother-in-law has done reasonably well for himself as of late. But who knows if Les will follow suit? Last I heard, he was working as a shop clerk, and that's hardly a lucrative profession."

"If you consider it unsatisfactory, then you won't have much use for Sherwin," Abby couldn't help saying. "His profession isn't any more lucrative than a clerk's is."

"Oh, I have no interest in keeping your dock hand for the long term," Sally waved her hand dismissively. "I'd never want to move to a tiny little town like this - no offense, Sammie. But I wouldn't mind having a handsome fellow on my arm while I'm here, especially at the Confetti Countdown."

"It's perfectly acceptable to go without a date," Samantha advised. "It's more of a community event than a romantic one."

"But you said there will be dancing! And I don't intend to sit that out for lack of a partner."

Samantha shrugged. "Suit yourself, Sally. We all know there's no stopping you once you've made up your mind." Smiling at Abby and Mabel, she added, "I'm glad you'll be coming to the Countdown, girls, and I hope that you'll enjoy yourselves. There's something for everyone, and it will be wonderful to ring in the new year together!"

The spirited conversation continued as lunch arrived from the kitchen, and Abby was left to muse (not for the first time) at how quickly her situation had taken an unexpected turn. Less than an hour ago, she'd been thinking only about catching up with Samantha, but instead she'd ended up reuniting with two of her old classmates, finding out more about Sherwin than she'd ever expected, and being subtly but surely suckered into attending the town's celebration, which would require yet another visit to an alliteratively-named local business.

All of it was so arbitrarily surreal that it felt as though she was nothing more than a character being tossed about in a poorly-written plot, a plot that had been penned in fits and starts by an author armed only with a warped sense of storytelling and a surfeit of caffeinated beverages.

But, that was life sometimes. You could hope for the calmest, most straightforward outcome and plan and prepare as you pleased, but at the end of the day, you had to simply accept whatever came your way and try to make the best of it. All signs were pointing to several clear (if unlooked-for) conclusions: First, that the date with Sherwin would likely lead to nothing in the long run, second, that Sally was just as intrusive and insufferable as ever before, and third, that Abby was going to be attending Cherin Cove's Confetti Countdown, whether she liked it or not.

A/N: Just like that, the obligatory characters from our heroine's hometown have arrived to wreak (extremely mild) havoc. ;) I'd love to hear what you thought of this chapter if you have a moment to share your reactions! :)

Chapter notes for Something Worth Winning readers:

Mabel has been mentioned briefly and Sally has appeared previously in SWW (with her own feature in "Catch as Catch Can" (Interstices)), but this is the first time either of them have appeared in their adult iterations.

(As a side note, my apologies to anyone who headcanons Sally as much nicer than the version of her that I've written; she's nothing more than a briefly-mentioned name in Newsies, so we fic writers have free reign, but a more generous interpretation certainly would not be amiss in another writer's universe :)).