Page 54 of Robin and Marian
“No, I sent him for supplies as soon as I saw you. I timed this perfectly. Give me a little credit.”
Breaking into a giggle and biting her lip when she noticed how free it sounded, she took the blanket from Midge and spread it under the tree, having no idea how they were going to pull off a picnic at night. She caught sight of the basket of food and dragged it to her. “A midnight snack?”
“Cook had some leftovers!” Midge said. “It’s Scarlett’s favorite. Roast beef sandwiches and crackers and cheese! Chocolate cake!”
Marian noticed the drinks. “And cans of orange soda?”
“Mrs. Koch didn’t even notice I took it!” the boy said proudly.
“Uncle Midge!” Robin lectured. At least he pretended to care, but he arranged it all on the blanket with no more objections, leaving the orange soda and elegant wine glasses in the basket. It had kid written all over it, so maybe they could pull this off, just for the mere sweetness of it. “Scarlett’s always looking for Midge,” Robin said, “so I’m going to tell her that I saw him here at the tree, and you tell Alan that Scarlett is waiting for him here.”
She loved the idea, but insisted on taking Midge with her… and her purse. “It’s dark!” she exclaimed. And bumping into Guy in the shadows held no appeal. Robin accepted her excuses, and they split into the night like sprites sent out on a mission of love by Oberon, the king of the fairies, to lend more confusion to this May madness.
Alan fell for it hook, line, and sinker. She found him in the courtyard next to the bands. The musician soaked up the music, making polite conversation with a beautiful blonde who was not happy to be interrupted. Too bad, girl! His wife was calling. “Scarlett wants to meet you at the Blooming Tree,” Marian explained. Midge shifted next to her, not meeting Alan’s eyes.
“The Blooming Tree?” The blonde sneered. She was in a red dress and matching heels. She’d smeared red lipstick onto lips that looked older than her face, probably due to the constant unpleasant twisting that she was doing now. “What is that?”
Marian tried to remember what Robin had said. “It’s a…”
“No, I know.” Alan said. It came out a whisper. “You’ll have to excuse me,” he told the hostile blonde and hurried away. The Blooming Tree was calling. Itdidhold a certain magic.
When Marian met back up with Robin near a bench under a vine-laced pergola in the garden, he was grinning broadly. He sent a complaining Midge back to the house, and then put a finger to his lips once his uncle was safely gone. “They’re over there.”
Marian could see their silhouettes through the branches of the tree. She’d leave if things got too personal, but she wanted something to report to Midge. So far, so good. Scarlett picked up the basket and held it up to Alan with a laugh. “Is this you?”
“With orange soda?” he asked. “I don’t think so.”
She set it down. “It must’ve been Midge then.” She sounded a little disappointed. “You realize what we’re standing under? The Blooming Tree? Remember the first time we kissed under it?”
“It was high school,” he said, his voice sounding far away as if caught in the memory. “I remember another time we were under here, don’t you?”
Their voices faded into silence and Marian grew impatient when she saw how far away they stood from each other. Why wasn’t Alan taking this as an opportunity to kiss his wife and make up? He’d have been all over this back in the day when he’d been following Scarlett around and serenading her. He still hadn’t made a move when Scarlett turned from him. “I feel like you’re punishing me.”
“It has nothing to do with you,” Alan said. “I’m just… stressed.”
“You were stressedbeforeRobin came.”
He was quiet for a moment, and Marian’s hand shot to Robin’s. Maybe it was time for them to go—nothing good ever came from overhearing discussions about themselves.
Alan’s voice rose angrily. “I just don’t understand how you can forgive him? After everything he’s done?”
“It’s because… he didn’t do it,” Scarlett whispered. Robin rooted to the spot, and Marian quit tugging as Scarlett blurted out their secret.
Her husband didn’t react right away. He seemed frozen with shock. “What do you mean?”
“He turned himself in to save me.”
“Was it really… you? Did you do it?”
“What?” Finally, Scarlett closed the gap between herself and Alan. “How could you ask that of me? I would never. Do you believe that?”
Alan didn’t answer.
Scarlett let out a gasp. “You know what I was hoping for tonight? I was hoping that you made this little picnic for us under the Blooming Tree… and that you’d be the kind of man that I could confide in, but…” She burst into tears—the same tears Midge had tried to prevent. “We really are broken. I can’t do this!” She left Alan under the tree, picking up her skirts to rush away into the house.
Alan stared after her and then, instead of going after her to reassure her, he turned and went the other direction like a broken man, leaving Robin and Marian alone in the shadows. Midge let out a loud cry and dropped from the tree.
“Midge!” Marian whispered hoarsely and hurried to him. “How did you? You were supposed to be at the house.” Poor little Midge was so overcome with grief that he didn’t fight back, only hid his face in his hands. Seeing that, Marian gave out a gasp and pulled the little man to her. “I’m so sorry!”
