Me and the Helpful Hurricane (Good Grief, Idaho)

by Gussman, Jessie

  I’d completely forgotten about our hired boyfriend and girlfriend, but now I’m thinking that if Melissa backs out, Kimber would be perfect for Doug.

  Maybe that’s what Agnes is thinking.

  It kind of makes me get quiet, and the conversation flows on around me as my mom, never shy, finds out for sure that Kimber is divorced, twice, and currently unattached.

  I guess I just found out everything I need to know, and while I want to not like Kimber, it’s impossible. She’s nice, knowledgeable, and not arrogant or proud at all. Just a great person to be around, and although I’m not sure she’s exactly an outdoorsy person, neither am I, and I think it’ll be a lot of fun to go on a trip with her.

  I guess, if it weren’t for a nagging thought in the back of my head about Doug, I would be happy.

  Chapter 14

  Doug

  Early Tuesday morning, there is a crowd of people standing underneath the porch roof outside Cherry Tree.

  I only have eyes for one, although I have to do my job, so I’m counting heads and checking things off.

  Everyone has the things that Bain told us we would need. A change of clothes, a raincoat, and a few other things. As requested, everyone has all their things stuffed into one bag.

  Everything that we need is going to go down the river with us, so we can’t take a whole lot of extra, but we all have to have the necessities.

  I’m actually looking forward to it. I’m not really the whitewater rafting kind of guy, but the idea of floating down a river that is calm enough for an eighty-year-old has gotten me kind of excited.

  Right. I’ll be honest, I’m looking forward to taking the trip with Leah.

  Did I mention how good she looks this early in the morning?

  She has her hair in a ponytail, and while maybe her eyes still look a little sleepy, she’s smiling and talking and even laughing occasionally with Miss Agnes and her granddaughter, whatever her name was. I can’t remember.

  I could look down at my clipboard and find it, but I just want to take a few moments and enjoy looking at Leah.

  Staring is rude, and I’m going to look away, but I think about our hours in the jail together and the way she was willing to put whatever bad feelings or contention we had behind us and work together to try to save our facility.

  I remember she told me about Miss Agnes’s granddaughter and the vlog she has. I spoke to her briefly, a few days ago, about finding a spot for her and taking videos during the trip, and apparently Leah has heard more about it since then. Leah seemed pretty impressed with one million subscribers, but I guess I’m just not convinced that there’s really anything that can be done to save Cherry Tree at this point no matter how many subs she has.

  We only have three weeks, and now for one of those, we are going to be gone.

  If this vlog is going to work, it needs to work fast.

  Old me would already have had applications sent out looking for a new job. New me is wondering if there’s some work I can get online so I stay in Good Grief.

  Or thinking about talking to Leah about what her plans are.

  I bring my mind back to the task at hand.

  Chubb and Patrick are both ready to go. Along with Miss Harriet, Miss Gertrude, Miss Agnes, and her granddaughter. Of course, Bain is our guide and also Leah’s hired boyfriend, although I’m doing my best to try not to remember that.

  My hired girlfriend hasn’t shown up.

  She’s the last one.

  I take a few steps away and dial the number she gave me.

  It’s early, and I cringe a little when she doesn’t pick up after the first four rings.

  Either she’s on her way here and she’s not going to answer while she’s driving, or she’s sleeping.

  Finally, the second is confirmed when a groggy voice says, “Hello?”

  “This is Doug Ripley.” How do I introduce myself? Her fake boyfriend? “You were going on a whitewater rafting trip with me today. Did I miss your cancellation?” I add that last bit, not trying to be rude but just trying to get to the point.

  “I changed my mind. It’s supposed to rain all week, and I don’t want to get wet.”

  I had seen the forecast, that it called for rain although the percentages were low. I assume that’s what the raincoats are for, and being that it is June, while it’s not hot, it is warm. I do have some concern about the older ladies and gentlemen.

  Maybe this is a bad idea. I don’t typically second-guess myself this much, but I don’t want anything to happen to anyone.

  And not just because it’s going to keep more residents from wanting to move in, but because I don’t want anything to happen to the five people who are going with us.

  “I’m sorry to wake you up. That’s all I needed to know.”

  She hangs up without saying anything. I guess I can’t blame her. We’ll probably never talk again. Still, it’s kind of nice to be polite to people whether you’re going to see them again or not.

  I hang up, feeling now like I’ve dodged a bullet, because I hadn’t been the slightest bit interested in Melissa, and I’m definitely feeling relieved that I won’t have to spend the week being paired up with her.

  I put my phone away, then turn back to the group, sweeping my eyes over them again and lingering a little on Leah.

  Would it make any difference to the ladies that Melissa wouldn’t be there? Will they still be trying to play matchmaker between Leah and Bain?

  If I were truly desperate, it would be a simple matter of walking over to Miss Agnes right now, dropping a whisper in her ear, letting her know that maybe I’m interested in Leah, and seeing if she might be interested in setting us up or doing whatever it is that ladies do whenever they do the matchmaking thing between people.

  Of course, all of the ladies and the gentleman left their hearing aids at the facility, so it probably wouldn’t be a simple matter of whispering in her ear.

  I’d probably have to say it loud enough that everyone can hear, and I don’t want to have to do that. Because, while I’m interested in Leah, I’m not interested to the point where I don’t care if she knows it.

  That’s my cautious personality coming out, and I’m not sure that is what I want to be.

  Tucking that idea away to think about later, I call everyone to attention.

  “I just got off the phone with Melissa, and she’s not coming.”

  Maybe the ladies look a little disappointed, but to my surprise as my eyes sweep over the small group, Leah is the one who looks the most disappointed.

  Disappointment wasn’t exactly the emotion I am going for. She should be happy that my fake girlfriend isn’t coming.

  I don’t have time to sit and wonder about it though.

  I continue, “Everyone else is here, and all your things are already loaded on the back of the bus, so if everyone will climb on, we’ll meet Bain in about six hours.”

  Leah’s parents have agreed to drive the bus down to where we will be getting off the Snake River, but it doesn’t suit them to do it this morning, so they are going to do it sometime during the week.

  I love the sense of community here. I can’t believe I lived without it all my life. I thought living in California was pretty great, but that was before I moved to Idaho. I can’t imagine my mom being willing to spend an entire day driving a vehicle around so that it would be available for me to take a crowd of seniors home.

  Her mom didn’t turn a hair. Nor her dad, although I don’t know him as well. I don’t have pets. Since he’s a vet, I guess I just don’t have any opportunity to see him.

  Miss Agnes smiles sweetly at me as she climbs on the bus, followed by her granddaughter. I’m standing beside the door, with my clipboard, although I’ve already checked everyone off, and I don’t really need it.

  Her granddaughter touches me on the shoulder, which surprises me. I’d been already looking past her, at Leah, who is talking to Chubb.

  “It’s so nice of you to do this for these people. I know
that whitewater rafting isn’t something that you normally think of with a senior care facility, but my grandmother is so excited about going on this trip, and it wouldn’t be possible without you.”

  I guess I’m flattered. Although, I really can’t take credit for it.

  “The idea wasn’t mine. The activities director, Leah, who is behind you, is the one who really put it all together.”

  “Well, I’m sure that you, as the director of the facility, had to approve it. I just think it is so amazing that you had the foresight to look past the prejudice of old age and know that even people who are considered maybe over the hill to some of society still love to do fun things, and I can tell that you’re going to make sure that they are safe and nothing happens to them.”

  Her voice is cultured and smooth and a little bit sultry, I guess, whatever sultry is. But it really doesn’t do anything for me, although I admit I appreciate her compliments.

  I just wish that it was Leah saying them instead of her.

  I put on my business smile. “Well, hopefully we’ll have a safe trip, and everybody will come back happy and healthy with great memories.”

  Sounds professional and like I know what I’m talking about and like I’m a halfway intelligent person. And not like I’m more aware of the woman standing behind her talking to Chubb than I am of her.

  She squeezes my shoulder, which makes me want to shiver and not in a good way, but I contain that and my relieved sigh when she drops her hand and steps on the bus.

  I don’t really like touchy-feely types.

  Okay, that’s not true. I don’t like touchy-feely types, except I wish Leah was a touchy-feely type. I remember the way her hand brushed against mine when we were handcuffed together, and I wish now I would have taken the opportunity to turn my hand and thread my fingers with hers.

  Would she have allowed it?

  I kinda hope so, but of course that opportunity is gone, never to return. And I will never know.

  That’s kind of the way opportunities are, isn’t it? They come, we don’t take them, and they’re gone forever.

  “Good morning, Mr. Ripley,” Leah says as Chubb nods at me, then climbs on the bus.

  “I thought we decided you were calling me Doug?”

  “I thought that was just when we were in jail together?”

  I know that shouldn’t be funny, but my eyes crinkle, and my lips turn up. “It’s for when we’re in jail together and every other time.”

  “Okay, Doug. Are you planning on being in jail with me again?” she asks. “Because it kinda sounds like it.”

  “I guess it wasn’t such a bad experience,” I say, and that’s the honest truth.

  “Maybe that’s because we knew that we could get out whenever we wanted to.”

  “I guess I wouldn’t mind if we were stuck there together.”

  Her eyes get kinda big, and I kick myself. That was a stupid thing to say. I want to say all the sweet words to her, which is weird because I don’t even know any sweet words, not many.

  I’m pretty sure sweet words don’t contain the word “jail.”

  “Hop on the bus, Leah.” And it’s the first time I’ve used her name. I think she likes it. I definitely do. Although I wish I could have thought of something to say other than that, because she obeys, and our conversation is over as she gets on the bus.

  I have four days to try to think of all the sweet words—ones that don’t contain the word “jail.”

  Surely I can come up with something.

  Chapter 15

  Leah

  Bain guides our raft to the sandbar where his helper is cooking food over an open fire.

  It smells delicious.

  The first day of rafting was not as hard as I had anticipated, and I think everyone had a lot of fun.

  We did a lot of laughing, saw a lot of gorgeous scenery, and the river was pretty much calm the entire way.

  Thankfully, the forecast rain never materialized, and the temperatures were perfect.

  I could not have planned a better day, and I am so happy for the seniors who came with us. They all seem to be having such a great time.

  I do think being outside all day in the fresh air has worked up big appetites in all of us.

  We stopped for lunch, but it was basically a sandwich and water.

  My stomach growls embarrassingly loud as the raft hits the sandbar, and Bain jumps out with a rope.

  I thought maybe Agnes would do more matchmaking between Bain and I than what she has, but I actually ended up being seated across from Doug.

  We didn’t have a private conversation, but we cheered and smiled and listened to stories and exchanged a lot of glances on the way down.

  I hadn’t been sure I was even going to like this, but if every day is like today, four days will go by way too fast.

  Bain is busy securing the raft, so Doug stands beside it and helps the ladies off.

  Kimber has taken a lot of videos, and while she didn’t fit in at first, by the time we disembark, she is definitely part of our group. I really like her, and I suppose if she ends up with Doug, he would be getting a good woman.

  She sat in the far back though, while Doug and I sat right behind Bain, so as far as I can tell, they haven’t really talked all day.

  I allow the ladies to get out first, and Kimber goes ahead, but Patrick and Chubb wouldn’t think of allowing me to get off after them, so I stand and follow Kimber off the raft.

  It is higher than I expect and more than a slight step to the ground.

  I am grateful for Doug’s help.

  He doesn’t seem to pay any extra special attention to Kimber, although she says something too low and soft to him for me to hear. He just nods, helps her down, and turns his head to me, holding his hand out.

  As my hand slips into his, I remember our night in jail together, and the handcuffs, and the personal questions he asked. Maybe that was his way of making conversation, and he hadn’t really been curious.

  I guess I don’t know. Maybe I’m out of practice at figuring these things out.

  Or maybe I shouldn’t care.

  “It was a really nice day for a ride down the river, wasn’t it?” Doug says to me as I prepare to step off.

  I’m not very good at multitasking at the best of times, but I need to try to pay attention to what he said and form a coherent response while trying not to fall out of the raft and also trying not to pay attention to the odd feeling shooting up my arm.

  Maybe not odd. Maybe just right. It feels right to have my hand in his. If he feels the same way, I can’t tell from his face.

  “It was. Thank you so much for being willing to let us do this,” I say, happy my voice sounds normal.

  I’m kind of surprised I don’t fall out of the raft, but I’m sure Doug wouldn’t have allowed me to anyway.

  “I guess I should be thanking you for taking Miss Agnes’s list seriously and making this a viable suggestion.”

  I think he actually means it, and I admit I kinda pause, just looking at him. It’s still daylight; we have all evening to hang out on the sandbar, eating and sitting and watching the river while the stars come out.

  They even have chairs set up around a campfire.

  “Bain told me that he was setting up cots in two of the tents for our seniors. I told him the rest of us would be fine sleeping on the ground. I hope that’s okay,” Doug says, and I shrug.

  “Thank you for suggesting cots, and I’m fine on the ground. The sand feels soft anyway.”

  “Apparently, not every place we stop is going to be sandy. I thought the cots would be easier on the old folk.”

  “Hey, watch who you’re calling old,” Patrick says from behind me.

  Doug and I share a smile before my hand slips from his, reluctantly I admit, and I move away.

  Everyone’s bags are in their tents, and sure enough, Agnes, Harriet and Gertrude are in one of the tents with three cots set up. I poke my head in.

  “Is everything o
kay, ladies?”

  All three of them are glowing and look years younger than they had even yesterday.

  “We had the best day. But you go ahead and get set up in your tent and don’t worry about us. We’ll be out in a few minutes, and we can sit around the campfire and let someone feed us.”

  “Holler if you need anything. Looks like Bain has us babied, though.”

  “He’s so dreamy,” Harriet says while Gertrude and Agnes smile and nod.

  I want to say something about Doug being so much more dreamy than Bain, although it’s really not true I guess if you’re just looking at them and comparing them to typical accepted handsomeness standards.

  Hollywood handsomeness standards.

  Bain has all of his hair, and I think he probably works out, but maybe he just has developed those muscles from steering rafts down the river.

  He has a nice square jaw and a handsome smile.

  I suppose he’s nice.

  But I’ll be honest, while I think he would probably be a nice person to talk to, I have no desire to sit beside him and have a conversation.

  Meanwhile, in the back of my head, I’m trying to figure out how I can finagle my chair to end up beside Doug’s. The heart is a funny thing.

  Regardless, I’m curious to no end about Doug. I want to talk to him, touch him, and just hang out with him.

  Which probably means I should figure out where he is sitting and put my chair at the other end of the sandbar. Because he’s not having any kind of internal war trying to figure out how to sit beside me.

  “Leah?” Gertrude says softly. “Have you really fallen for him?”

  They’ve taken my silence, and probably the dreamy look on my face, as my feelings about Bain.

  There’s one thing I definitely don’t need to have happen, and that is for the ladies to find out that it’s not Bain I’m thinking about.

  “I’ll see you ladies in a bit,” I say, wiggling my fingers and giving them a smile which makes them all narrow their eyes at me.

  Agnes even has her hands on her hips.

  I drop the flap and walk toward the other tent.

  Opening it up and ducking in, I see Kimber has already taken the right sleeping bag. She has opened her pack which was placed in the corner and is rummaging through it for something.