Bridge to Haven (39 page)

“Actually, I’d say things worked out very well.” Joshua nodded toward Sally and Brady, now embracing for a waltz and looking blissful. Joshua pulled a second chair back. “Would you like to join me?” He smiled at Dave’s wife. “I’m Joshua Freeman, by the way.”

“Kathy.” The willowy blonde introduced herself and held out her hand. Her smile reached her blue eyes. “David seems to have forgotten his manners.” She had a firm handshake.

Joshua liked her already. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kathy.”

“David’s talked a lot about you over the years.” Dave gave her a look, but she didn’t notice. When he put his hand to her elbow, Joshua knew he wanted to be anywhere but here. Kathy tugged free and sat in the chair Joshua had offered.

Dave didn’t hide his anger. “I thought you wanted to dance.”

She looked up at him. “You said you’d rather not.”

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“Then go. You have lots of friends here. Dance with one of them. I want to get to know Joshua.” She faced Joshua again. “David said you were in Boy Scouts together.”

Livid, Dave gave a short, cold laugh, scraped a chair back, and sat. “Joshua was a fanatic about it. He had to earn every badge. Didn’t you? He made it to Eagle Scout before he graduated from high school. Built a ramp for the library so crippled veterans could check out books.” His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t go to college, did you?”

“Couldn’t afford it.”

“Too bad. You can’t go far without a degree these days.” Dave paid no attention to Kathy’s obvious embarrassment. She stared at him, but Dave kept on. “You’ve never even been out of Haven, have you?”

“I spent three years in the Army.”

“Oh, I forgot. You joined up, didn’t you?”

“I was drafted.”

“I thought maybe you’d join up to make up for your father.”

Joshua felt the heat rise, but pushed it down.

“David!” Kathy put her hand on his knee. “What’s wrong with you?”

Dave clamped his hand over hers, but glared at Joshua. “A carpenter. Isn’t that what you are?”

“Yes. I am.”

Dave gave a derisive laugh. “Joshua was voted most likely to succeed. And now he builds those ticky-tacky bungalows that are spreading like blight everywhere. Do you still live with your father? I’ll bet you can’t even afford to buy a place of your own.”

Kathy pulled her hand from beneath his and stared at him as though she didn’t know him, let alone like him. A fleeting apology crossed Dave’s face. “Come on.” He put his empty beer glass on the table and grabbed Kathy’s hand. “Let’s dance.”

She yanked free. “I’d rather talk to Joshua.”

“Suit yourself.” He got up and walked off.

Kathy watched him go. “I don’t know what’s bothering him.” She faced Joshua again. “I’m sorry David was so rude. He’s not usually like that.”

“No need for you to apologize.” Joshua noticed Dave had joined a couple of football buddies at the bar. He hoped things wouldn’t go from bad to worse.

Kathy noticed, too. “We’ve only come up to Haven a couple of times to visit his parents.” She smiled at Joshua. “I’ve met Paul Davenport and Henry Grimm. They talk about you. Paul said the four of you were best friends when you were in grade school. He said there was a fight, but he wouldn’t tell me what it was all about. Will you?”

“Better if you ask Dave.”

“I did. He says he doesn’t remember.” She frowned. “Obviously, he does. What did he mean about making up for your father?”

“My father spoke out against putting Japanese Americans into internment camps. Dave’s uncle was on the USS
Arizona
.” Joshua could see Kathy jumping to conclusions.

Kathy still seemed troubled, but she didn’t press. She asked questions about Haven, instead, and Riverfront Park. She wanted to hear about bike-riding escapades. It was half an hour before Dave joined them. Kathy smiled and took his hand. Dave sat beside her. He looked a little mellower. “Joshua was just telling me about the good old days when you and he and Paul and Henry used to ride up in the hills together. He said you had a bull after you one time.”

Dave looked like he wanted to say something. Kathy gave him openings, but he stayed silent.

Joshua tried to make it easy for him. “Your father gave Dad your address. That’s how I knew where to send the invitation.”

“They know each other?”

“They’re friends, have been for some time. They both like to fish.”

Dad had come across Dave’s father on the banks of the Russian River shortly after Dave left for college. Michael Upton knew about Dave beating up Joshua. It hadn’t been his idea. He talked about his brother who’d died on the USS
Arizona
. Dad told him about the
hardworking Nishimura and Tanaka families and how Bin Tanaka had served honorably in Europe. While they were in an internment camp, their property had been repossessed and sold off to Cole Thurman. The two men ended up talking a long time that day, and then got together to fish a few weeks later. Dad and Michael Upton had become good friends.

Joshua gave Dave a few seconds to absorb that before adding his own feelings. “I hoped you’d come tonight, Dave. It’s been a long time, buddy.” When Dave said nothing to that, Joshua stood. “It was good to see you.” He gave Kathy a nod. “It’s been a pleasure, Kathy.”

CHAPTER 12

Why should I not, had I the heart to do it,

Like to the Egyptian thief at point of death,

Kill what I love? a savage jealousy

That sometimes savours nobly.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

J
OSHUA
FELL
ASLEEP
as soon as his head touched the pillow. He awakened in darkness. The telephone was ringing, but that wasn’t unusual. Midnight calls were part of Dad’s job as a pastor. Rolling over, Joshua put a pillow over his head. He had just fallen back to sleep when Dad put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s for you, Son.”

“Who is it?”

“He didn’t say.”

Groggy, Joshua sat up and rubbed his face. He pulled on a T-shirt and went into the living room. “Hello?”

“It’s me.”

Dave. “Are you okay?”

“I’m drunk, but I wanna talk to you.” His tone wasn’t belligerent.

Joshua had tried to talk to him over the years. Dave had never been willing. Now he wanted to talk, drunk and in the middle of the night? “Where are you?”

“In a phone booth down by the railway station. How about tomorrow?” He said a four-letter word. “It’s already tomorrow, isn’t
it? How about today? Kathy and I are leaving this morning. I have to be back in LA Monday morning.” He slurred. “What time is it, anyway? I can’t see my watch.” Joshua told him. He spit out another foul word. “Any place open this early?”

“Bessie’s café.” She would have the coffee on. “Does Kathy know where you are?”

“Yep. Told me she doesn’t want to talk to me until I talk to you.”

Great.
Joshua would have liked it better if this chat had been Dave’s idea. “I’ll meet you at Bessie’s in half an hour.” That would give Dave time enough to walk from the station. The cool night air might clear his head.

The bell jangled when Joshua walked into the café. He spotted Dave sitting in a booth, shoulders hunched, hands wrapped around a mug of steaming coffee as if it held the elixir of life. He was still in his Brooks Brothers suit, but his Italian tie was missing and his top two shirt buttons were undone. Joshua slid into the booth. Susan set a mug on the table and filled it with steaming, fresh hot coffee. She refilled Dave’s without asking. Dave muttered a bleak thank-you but didn’t raise his head until Susan was behind the counter, not close enough to hear. “What happened to us, Josh?”

“You tell me, Dave.”

Dave shook his head, eyes red and bleary. “You were my best friend in the world.”

“I’m still your friend.”

“No, you’re not.” He didn’t look happy about it.

“What makes you think that?” He watched Dave’s eyes fix on the scar he’d put on his left cheekbone. It had faded with the years.

“I called your father a traitor. I beat you up. In front of everybody. You wouldn’t fight. I wanted to grind you into the dust, but after the first couple blows, you just ducked and parried. I called you a coward. You wouldn’t hit back.
Why?
”

Dave looked angry and frustrated, but Joshua knew it was shame
that bothered him most. It hadn’t been a fair fight. Everyone watching had known it, and he’d paid a price. “I knew Dad wasn’t a traitor. And I didn’t want to fight my best friend, especially when I knew you were still dealing with your uncle’s death.”

Dave didn’t like that answer. “You were always faster than me. You could’ve ended the whole thing with one well-timed punch.”

“Would a punch have changed your mind?”

Dave rubbed the back of his neck. “No. Maybe.” He swore under his breath. “I don’t know.” He looked away.

“It was a long time ago.”

Dave shoved his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You know.” Joshua sipped his coffee. “You just don’t have the guts to say it.” When Dave’s head came up, Joshua grinned. “Just spit it out and get it over with.” Pride had always gotten in Dave’s way. “It won’t kill you.”

Dave called him a name, but it lacked sting. “Okay. I’m sorry.” He looked and sounded sincere.

“Apology accepted.” Joshua set his mug aside, put his elbow on the table, hand up and open. They’d arm-wrestled as boys. “You used to win. Remember? I think I can take you now.”

“You think so?” Dave took the challenge.

The match ended quickly and Dave laughed. “I guess carpentry builds muscle.”

“You’ve been sitting at a desk, getting soft.”

They reminisced, laughing about good-natured pranks they’d pulled on one another, the places they’d ridden with Paul and Henry. They drank coffee until Dave was sober and hungry, then ordered the lumberjack breakfast.

Dave worked on his steak. “You ever think of leaving Haven, Joshua?”

“A time or two.” In the months after Abra ran off with Dylan. He wanted to go hunting.

Dave cut off a chunk of meat. “My father-in-law is in the movie business. Bigwig. Knows everybody. The studios hire carpenters to build sets. If you’re ever interested in living in Hollywood, just let me know.” He dipped the piece of steak in A.1. sauce. “I could get you a job.”

Joshua felt something shift inside him. Was God opening a door? “I’ll think about it.”

“Sorry about what I said about those bungalows you build. Anything you ever built was first-rate. Even that ramp.” He dipped another piece of meat. “I can’t drive a nail in straight. Just ask Kathy.”

“You knew how to throw a football.” It had earned Dave a full scholarship.

He frowned slightly. “You could’ve gone to college after serving in Korea. Why didn’t you?”

“I guess this is where God wants me.”

“Are you sure about that? I mean, you’re not exactly making a fortune.”

Joshua laughed. “I’m richer than Midas, Dave.” He could see his friend didn’t understand.

That evening, Joshua told Dad about the morning spent with Dave before he went home to collect his family. Kathy would be driving most of the way until Dave slept enough to take over.

Dad took off his reading glasses. “Did you two work things out?”

“Took long enough.”

“Something else on your mind?”

Joshua didn’t tell Dad about Dave’s offer to find him a job in Hollywood. He needed to pray about it. It might not be a good idea to start looking for Abra. Then again, would he ever have any peace if he didn’t?