Authors: Robyn Carr

A New Hope (23 page)

“He might make his mother come back for it. I’m going to run over to Spencer’s. He’s hooking up the automatic garage door and I said I’d help,” Troy said.

“And you think you’re the man for that job?”

“Try not to damage my manhood. I do many manly things. I have my own tool belt.”

She laughed, but then she kissed him. “All right, then. I’m going to run this over to Lin Su’s. She said she lives about fifteen minutes away. I’ll get the address from Winnie and take the Jeep. By the time you’re done with Spencer I’ll be back.”

Grace put the address in her phone before leaving the garage and watched as the directions were calculated. It was calculated as farther than a fifteen-minute drive, but she dismissed that. She’d beat the GPS at its own game in the past with some clever shortcuts. In fact, she enjoyed that challenge. She wouldn’t try it tonight, however. She’d play it safe.

She drove through the south part of Bandon and then east toward Coquille. She passed a barbed-wire-encircled industrial lot where construction equipment seemed to be stored. Guard dogs patrolled inside the fence, an eerie sight. Nearby, there were storage lockers of the large, commercial capacity. A convenience store and bar were on the corner across the street from a run-down apartment complex. Customers were spilling out onto the street with their drinks in front of the bar. A bunch of teenagers were hanging out in the parking lot and a police car was parked nearby, an officer in the front seat. On the other side of the convenience store was a motel. The vacancy sign was flashing, missing the
V
. She passed through a sparse neighborhood comprised of old houses, crossed some railroad tracks, made a few turns and assumed she was leaving the populated area for the more rural area. Then the nice GPS lady informed her that her destination was on the right and she noticed the entrance to a trailer park. There was an outdoor lavatory attached to a small Laundromat. There were exactly two security lights shining down on maybe twenty trailers of various models. Among the mobile homes was an old Airstream, a few fifth wheels, a couple of abandoned trailers. The ground was dirt and a couple of trailers seemed to be well lit with outdoor lights for the purposes of beer-drinking gatherings or home auto and motorcycle mechanics. There was a police car at the far end of the one-street park. Two officers were cuffing a couple of men who wore jeans and leather jackets and looked dangerous to Grace.

She spotted Lin Su’s car sitting next to a very small fifth wheel with one dim light shining inside. It was more of a little camper. The car was parked very close to the single door. And in the yard between Lin Su’s trailer and a mobile home a man and woman who appeared to be drunk were having a very loud, very angry argument. The man—who, Grace noted the irony—wore a wife-beater T-shirt and was gesturing at the woman with his beer bottle. The woman wore a bathrobe. And the only vehicle at that residence was an old truck up on blocks.

The squad car was now moving toward Grace. There were two officers in the front and two passengers in the back. The driver pulled up next to her and rolled down his window. “You looking for someone, ma’am?”

“I guess I’m lost,” she said with a nervous giggle. “I’m going to turn around and reset my GPS.”

“Well, if you’re coming to buy something, the drug store is closed.”

Grace’s eyes grew round. She swallowed.

She drove to the next wide space in the road and maneuvered the Jeep into a U-turn. She drove out of the park, slowly. An elderly man was taking a bag of trash out to a silver garbage can that was chained to a post. She noticed that his mobile home had a screened porch and some patio stones forming a walkway to an ancient Oldsmobile.

The place wasn’t a complete ghetto and drug haven. But it was poor. Very poor. And there was no place for a boy to play; no beach or park. She had no idea where the school was but if Charlie had to walk there, he would be crossing railroad tracks, industrial parks, storage lockers and passing the convenience store, bar and seedy motel.

She stopped at the entrance of the trailer park, made sure her doors were locked and turned on the dome light to program her GPS to take her home, though she was certain she could remember the way. Then she got out of there.

She was sure it looked a lot better by the light of day. After all, not having a lot of money was no crime. She even thought about taking a drive out this way the next day to see if her worst instincts were confirmed or if she was just scared of the dark. There was one reality she was certain of—Thunder Point didn’t look like that after dark. And if there were drug dealers in town, they were very well hidden. And domestic disputes? Seth hated them, but he took action—no one was waving beer bottles around, yelling at each other in their yards.

When she got home, she dropped Charlie’s backpack on one of the dining room chairs.

“Grace?” her mother called.

She went to her mother’s bedroom.

“Lin Su phoned,” Winnie said. “She wanted me to know Charlie left his backpack behind and that they’d catch up with it in the morning. I told her you were taking it to him.”

“I got lost,” Grace said. “Rather than hunting in the dark, I just gave up. Would you like me to call her and tell her not to watch for me?”

“I can do it,” Winnie said.

“Good. His backpack is on the dining room chair. Tell her I’m sorry she was waiting for me. I made a couple of wrong turns and got frustrated, not knowing where I was going, so I just came home. I figured by the time I got straightened out Charlie would be in bed anyway.” She faked a yawn. “Which is where I’m going. Is Mikhail going to watch television with you tonight?”

“I imagine so. He’s gone upstairs to get into his comfortable pants and slippers.”

“I’m going to lock up and go to bed.”

“I thought we never locked anything,” Winnie said.

“Tonight I’m locking up. Because...uh, because I usually forget but tonight I remembered. Good night, Mama.”

Downstairs in the quarters she shared with her husband she told him about her little adventure. “It’s probably not nearly as bad as it looked, but my first thought was—they’re very vulnerable living in a seedy neighborhood in a trailer that can barely keep the wind out. I don’t know how to handle that. I can’t stand to think they might be at risk. Either of them. Lin Su’s a single woman and Charlie is a small boy.”

“Why don’t you give me that address. I’ll drive over that way and look around, see where the schools are, what the neighborhoods look like in the light of day, just kind of see if I’d live there. My apartment wasn’t exactly high-rent.”

“We live in a million-dollar house,” she reminded him. “We might not be the most objective.”

“Well, Winnie lives in a house that cost a million plus and we live with Winnie. I grew up the son of a teacher and a city maintenance worker. Our neighborhood was safe and clean but it wasn’t exactly chi-chi.” Then he laughed.

* * *

The next day at about noon Troy wandered into the flower shop. He said hello to Ginger then invited Grace to walk down to the deli with him to check out the day’s specials. “Then I’ll know if I have to make a store run before dinner.”

Once they were outside he fessed up. “I went to look around Lin Su’s neighborhood. It was pretty well balanced between little old people on fixed incomes without a lot to spare, some unemployed, some down on their luck and some real badasses. I don’t know how it looked in the dark but it was pretty tame in the light of day. I’d live there, but I’d have a baseball bat under my bed.”

“Oh, Troy.”

“I even talked to a couple of folks. They were elderly. I said I was looking for something for my sister to rent and asked if a single woman would feel safe there. One old guy said there was a single nurse in the park and he looked out for her. He’d be just as willing to look out for my sister. That was nice. Not that he could, however. Look after anyone. This old guy was no Rawley, if you get my drift.”

“They sell drugs in that trailer park!” Grace said in a heated whisper. “And what is this business about her eating cereal at night? She’s always had a perfectly good appetite around here. I think she’s saving real food for Charlie.”

“Maybe she has debt,” Troy said with a shrug. “I’m no stranger to debt. Listen, I think this can be remedied,” he said. “I think it would be best if you’d be chairman of this project. Winnie would just offend Lin Su by not approving of her residence and try to give her something. Hell, I’m sure Lin Su doesn’t approve of her own residence, but she has to live tight and she has pride. I think there’s probably a solution in Thunder Point. Let’s start by getting her committed to letting Charlie go to school here. Then we can look around for something affordable. It won’t be fancy but I don’t think she’s looking for fancy. One step at a time, okay? Can you try to be patient?”

“I can try,” Grace said. “I didn’t sleep well last night. Could you maybe loan her a baseball bat or something?”

“She’s a survivor, Grace. She knows it’s a bad neighborhood. She’s raised a sick kid on a nurse’s salary without any family support. She’s had to be a survivor and she can take care of herself. Don’t offend her. Let’s just see if we can throw some better options her way. But you have to go slowly.”

“Right. Slow. Not my favorite speed.”

“I know, honey.”

* * *

Charlie waited on the stairs near the beach, backpack beside him. Frank finally came into sight. He hadn’t seen Frank in three days. When he got close, Charlie stood. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and Frank mimicked the gesture with a grin. Frank wore his glasses instead of his contacts on the beach because of the wind and sand. Except that when Frank did it, he didn’t look like a little nerd. He looked more like Clark Kent.

“Where’ve you been, man?” Charlie asked.

“Mostly hanging out with Ashley, bud. Gals before pals, pardner. What’s up?”

“I’ve been waiting to tell you. I’m going to Thunder Point High this year. At least while my mom works for Winnie, which I hope will be a long time, but it’s not supposed to be.”

“Fantastic. I think. Did your mom make that happen?”

“Nah. My mom would never ask for anything. Winnie suggested it, since I come over with her every day. And Troy said it wouldn’t be a problem because of her job. I’ve been dying to tell you. I didn’t want to freak out my mom but I’m really glad to get out of that other school.”

“Charlie, you’ve got my number. If you want to hang out just call me. Or text me. Don’t sit around waiting.”

“I figured you were busy,” he said shyly.

“I was. But not too busy for a call or a text. Let’s establish something, Charlie. You have any questions or run into any trouble at school, get in touch with me right away.”

“What good will that do? You’ll be at college!”

“I still know people,” he said confidently. “I still have a brother at Thunder Point. He’s a good guy. When it comes to problems at school, especially if you’re picked on, you gotta let someone know.”

“I know people, too,” Charlie said.

“Good. Troy and Spencer are both good to know. And there are tricks, like making yourself indispensable as a tutor. But whatever you do, don’t try to outrun it or fix it alone. I speak from experience.”

Charlie gulped. “Was it bad?”

“When I was about your age and the smallest kid in the class, it wasn’t great. I had to depend on my big brother, the football star. I always resented him, except when I was getting backed into a corner. But then the strangest thing happened...I grew. I used to paddleboard a lot in the summer and I grew shoulders. I woke up one morning and I didn’t have to look around to see where my brother was to keep from getting knocked around.” He grinned. “I’ll loan you my younger brother, Lee, yet another athlete. Before I head back east, I’ll make sure he knows to introduce himself.”

“As my bodyguard?”

“If you need one, let me know,” Frank said. “I have a few markers to call in.”

Nineteen

I
t was only seven in the evening when Matt tapped lightly on Ginger’s back door. She filled his arms at once.

“This is what I like,” he said. “I love to feel you against me.” He looked over her shoulder and saw a take-out bag on her little table. “Oh, honey, you cooked,” he joked.

“You made very good time,” she said with a laugh. “We could have gone out but I get so little of you these days. I didn’t want to share you.” She gave his shirt a sniff. “You’re clean,” she said.

“I had time for a quick shower before I left the farm. But if you feel like a shower, I can get cleaner.”

“You like that shower business, don’t you? Would you like to eat?”

He nodded. “In the bedroom.” She grabbed the sack. He grabbed her wrist. “We won’t need that.”

“I thought you were hungry,” she said.

“Oh, I am.” He led her to the bed and got her out of her clothes quickly. He discarded his own and pulled her down on the bed. He began kissing and before long he was making a feast of her entire body, from her lips to her knees. There wasn’t a spot he missed—the inside of her elbows, her earlobes, her thighs, her belly and breasts. He finally opened her legs, burying himself in her until she was begging for him to stop. But by that time, he’d become famished for more and he fumbled for the condom so he could get inside her. Once there, he remained still and luxuriated in the feel of her. His eyes were closed and there was a smile on his lips.

“Matt?” she whispered. “Are you going to fall asleep on me like this?”

“I might,” he said. “I could stay here forever. This is like home for me.”

She moved her hips a little. “Forever would be too long. It would make walking difficult. Take care of business.”

He opened his eyes. “You do have a bossy side.”

“And a needy side,” she said.

“My aim is to please you, my lovely girl.”

As he began to move in a way that had become familiar to them, he thought about the great comfort it was to have this kind of love—dependable, trusting, fulfilling, holding such promise for a lifetime of the same. He tasted her on his tongue, filled his head with that special scent of her, a combination of flowers and a musk that intoxicated him and belonged only to this woman, this soft, consuming, perfect woman. He moved rhythmically, deeply, searching for that crazy erotic place deep inside her that awaited him. When he felt that she was getting close, reaching, pushing back, gasping a little in anticipation, he smiled to himself. He knew her body as well as she did, as well as she knew his. And she came, the spasms so hot and tight his vision briefly clouded. And then, giving in to the ache of need, he let go and throbbed with the greatest pleasure he’d ever known.

When he could unclench his jaw, he covered her mouth in a deep and passionate kiss, licking her lips, sucking on her earlobe, kissing her neck and then her breast.

He was made for this, secure in the love of one woman, a woman who knew him and would let him know her completely. He had a strong libido so there had been women, but they’d been so briefly satisfying. What he had with Ginger was different. He was not just in love with her, he was eager to commit his life to her. It felt like the perfect union, like it was meant to be. He’d never had anything like this even when he’d been married.

Love, he was learning, was deeper and more complex than chemistry, than friendship. It was about the melding of souls. Of trusting someone with your dreams and learning you were safe to do so.

They would talk about this again someday—he and Ginger. This was stuff Ginger already knew and had been trying to explain to him. Ginger had learned this in the same tough, painful way he had. She had learned that she knew everything about Mick, knew and understood his dreams, his strengths and weaknesses. But Mick had known nothing about her.

“I did something,” he whispered to her. “I got out of that apartment.”

“In one day?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“A little more than that but not much. I made a lot of phone calls, went over there and stuffed my clothes in two big duffels, had everything that wasn’t nailed down put in a storage locker. I thought that was logical, in case we want that stuff in our house. But it didn’t take me long to change my mind about that. I don’t want any of it. When there’s time maybe we’ll run an ad and sell it. More likely, though, my brothers or sisters will hear I’m not using that sectional or bedroom furniture and borrow it. From that point on we can visit it at one of their houses because I’ll never get it back. So it goes in a big family.”

She laughed. “How does it feel?”

“It feels good. It feels really good. I didn’t think it would matter so I’m a little surprised—the second that truck unloaded into the storage locker and drove off, I felt so much better. I only did it because you wanted me to. I wasn’t convinced it had anything to do with anything. I’m appreciative of the things women do to make their houses comfortable, but I don’t care about that shit. I think I could live in a cave.”

“But not that cave,” she said, playing with his hair.

“Not that cave,” he said. “But why not?” he asked her. “Memories?”

“I’m sure there were some,” she said. “But mostly you didn’t really live there. It was even less personal to you than a motel room. You just needed a place to bring the flavor of the week that wasn’t under your mother’s roof.”

“Huh,” he said. “By the way, you do know there hasn’t been a single flavor since you coldcocked me at my sister’s wedding.”

“Shoved,” she corrected. “I assumed there hadn’t been anyone but thanks for telling me that. So, I guess that means we’re either staying with my parents when I come up to the farm or we’re bedding down in the back of your truck.”

“I rented us a little something. It’s not much. I’m not going to tell you anything about it. I want your first reaction to be honest. It’s adequate—better than being in your old bedroom or the truck bed. It’s convenient. And private.”

“Is it nice?” she asked eagerly.

“Well, I think so, but you’ve already seen how wrong I can be about that...”

“It wasn’t that apartment that was wrong, Matt. It was you while you were in it that didn’t seem right. If you’d liked it there, it would’ve shown somehow. I’m not sure how, but somehow. I can’t wait to see what you came up with for us.”

“There is an us, right? Because you’re all I think about.”

She gave him a kiss. “There’s an us, sweetheart. We’re just tying up loose ends so our future isn’t cluttered with our pasts.”

Matt had done something about that, too. He just wasn’t sure whether it had worked. He had called Dr. Weymouth, the head of the biology department where he occasionally taught. He told him that he’d commit to three plant biology labs after the harvest if they needed him. And he also said, “Don’t wait too long to get your teaching schedule together because I’m getting married. Before Christmas, I hope.”

Matt hoped that news might filter through the biology department. If he knew Natalie at all, it would send up her radar. If that didn’t happen, Matt would get in touch with her when he had the time.

He left Ginger at four in the morning to drive back to Uncle Sal’s vineyard for one more weekend with the grapes. He was planning to come back to her Saturday night. When all the uncles and cousins were celebrating and drinking too much wine, dancing and toasting a successful grape harvest, Matt would drive to Ginger. He’d spend Saturday night and most of Sunday before heading back to the farm to get started on the pears. They were ready.

* * *

Matt had five seasonal hands who worked for him during the pear and potato harvest. First they would bring in the pears, which finished ripening in their shipping crates and gift boxes. They handled them carefully, delivering pristine, smooth and clean fruit to the retailers, from grocers to Harry & David.

Then came the potatoes, which were less labor intensive; they were tougher and didn’t require gentle handling. Plus, the harvester could dig them and the farm hands would help to separate and bag them.

There were two Dysart semi trailers parked on the property behind the barn and house. Richard Dysart had driven them over himself, one at a time. Matt, Paco and Richard took cups of coffee on the porch. Richard asked after Ginger. “I spent Sunday with her in Thunder Point, a good day. The weather was excellent and she’s in happy spirits,” Matt said. “She’s planning to come up on Saturday. The rest of the family will be here tomorrow sometime and she’s anxious to witness this harvest business that will take every second of my time for weeks. And she’s more than a little anxious to experience the food the women will put together.” What he didn’t share with Richard was that it had been three nights without Ginger beside him and it felt like an eternity.

“You make a good argument for the Dysart clan to show up to pick pears,” Richard said.

“You are always welcome,” Paco said. “I warn you, you might never be the same.”

“Nah,” Matt said. “The pears won’t take too much of a toll on you, but if you really want an experience, come up in the spring for the sheep shearing and lambing. It’s exhausting. And not just a little dirty.”

Also parked on the property, on the north side of the house, was an RV. From that spot Matt could see the mountains to the north, the orchard to the east and the plot he’d chosen for his house. After the harvest was complete, he’d work with the architect to finalize the plans. At the first blush of spring, they could pour a slab, grade a road for construction access that would be followed by a better road for his personal access to his new home. His and Ginger’s home, he prayed.

He’d gone to an RV lot in Portland to look at a couple of rentals, picked the best one and had it driven here. The owners made it available through Thanksgiving. If this worked out, he thought it might be time to buy one of his own. Half the Lacoumette clan had some form of trailer—fifth wheel, camper shell, RV or toy hauler. They moved around to each other’s properties for family events, from weddings to funerals, planting or harvesting, reunions, whatever the call. Paco, not one to spend a dime that hadn’t been pried out of his tight fingers, had a fifth wheel that could sleep six, on top of each other at that. It was not comfortable, showering and cooking very limited, but it got them to the vineyard, other family farms or the coast where cousins’ fishing boats docked. Corinne was not fond of it, to say the least.

Before noon tomorrow the trucks, RVs and other vehicles would begin to arrive.

He was at the far north end of the orchard, checking trees and fruit for the hundredth time when his phone, turned to walkie-talkie mode, sounded off. He heard his mother’s voice. “Matt. Natalie is here to see you.”

Ah! So she’s heard
. He had begun to think he was going to have to seek her out. “On my way,” he said. He jumped in the Rhino and headed for the house.

His mother had left Natalie alone in the yard to wait for him. She had not been happy about the way things had gone with his ex-wife.

Natalie had a new car and new hair.
A BMW?
It was a few years old, but still. Things must be going well in the secretarial trade. Or maybe some modeling had kicked in for her. He found himself hoping it had. The new hair was no surprise—it was her signature diversity—always different. Dark auburn this time—that had been one of his favorites. Very sexy, very classy look on her. But what was very new for her, she wore jeans, rolled up at the ankle, and tennis shoes. Usually when she wore jeans they were very tight with boots or heels. She also wore a light windbreaker. This was Natalie at her most practical and casual. He couldn’t help but be intrigued. She’d never bothered to dress for the farm before.

He approached her and it was instantly apparent that her eyes were glassy.

“Can we talk?” she asked softly.

“Yes,” he said. And he noted her surprise. He hadn’t been mean or sarcastic or threatened to call security. “Come with me.”

He reached out and took her hand and led her around the house to the RV. He pulled a couple of canvas lawn chairs from where they were stored beneath the RV and opened them. “Have a seat.”

“What’s this?” she asked.

“This is where I live now,” he said.

“You weren’t at the apartment,” she said.

“How did you know to find me here?” he asked.

“Are you kidding me? It’s the harvest! Tomorrow the rest of the family will be here.”

“You were smart to come today,” he said, chuckling. “What did you want to talk about?”

“I heard you’re getting married.”

“Yes,” he said.

“When?” she asked.

“No date yet, but I’m hoping we can do it before Christmas.”

“A nice Basque girl?” she asked.

He grinned and it was wholly genuine. “No, a pale, freckly, green-eyed girl. I suspect some Irish lingering back there.”