by Mona Ingram
“Take all the time you want.” Her gaze slid past him and rested on a small figure in the doorway behind him. “Luc had a snack after school.”
Jesse turned. “Hi, Bud.” Luc was only partly visible in the doorway. He had a habit of shielding his body behind whatever object was closest and once again Jesse wondered about the child’s past. As tempting as it was to question the boy, he knew he had to gain his trust before he started probing. The boy had been with him for almost six months now, ever since his mother – Jesse’s sister – had overdosed, ending her life. The child had woken, found his mother and calmly walked to the apartment next door.
Thinking about that scene, Jesse’s heart ached. He’d known his sister was troubled, but she’d refused his assistance every time he offered to help. Knowing that didn’t lessen his guilt every time he looked at the boy; he should have tried harder.
“I was going to have a beer and sit outside. Would you like to grab a soft drink and join me?”
One large blue eye regarded him cautiously and Jesse was rewarded with a hint of a smile. “Okay.” Luc walked to the refrigerator, opened the door and perused the selection before looking back at Jesse.
“Take whatever you want.” How many times did he have to tell the child that he could have whatever he wanted? A few more, evidently.
Drinks in hand, they wandered through the great room and onto the veranda. The previous home that occupied the lot offered very little in the way of outdoor space, one of the reasons Jesse had instructed his builder to do whatever it took to obtain permission to tear it down and re-build. Located on a rocky outcropping facing Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, Jesse’s home was constructed of heavy cedar planking. The plan was that it would weather over the years to a soft grey, complementing the shoreline. Outside space was the one element Jesse could not live without; the veranda was spacious and welcoming. He’d chosen the outdoor furniture himself, insisting on pieces that would not only be comfortable, but would stand up to the weather.
He settled into his favourite chair and waited until Luc did the same before speaking. “Did you have a good day today?”
The boy nodded. Jesse considered asking him about school, but he already knew the answer. That question was invariably met with the same answer: “Okay.” He decided to change things up. “So, what did you do after school? Anything interesting?”
“I played Minecraft.”
“Minecraft. Do you like that one?” Jesse knew all the games on Luc’s computer. In his absence, he’d given Maggie the authority to buy any age-appropriate computer games the child wanted, as long as she kept him informed. It wasn’t nearly enough... he’d rather be the one to help Luc choose, but he’d spent a lot of time at home when the child first arrived, and his business had suffered. He’d finally admitted that there was only so much he could do, and had returned to his regular work schedule.
“Yeah, I like it a lot. You get to build stuff.” For the first time since Luc arrived, Jesse saw a flash of excitement in the boy’s eyes. It came and went in a matter of seconds, almost as though he regretted revealing too much.
Jesse tipped up the bottle and pretended he hadn’t noticed. “I like to build stuff.” He held up the bottle and looked at the setting sun through the pale liquid. “When I was a kid, we used to go camping. I’d build little forts in the woods and pretend I was shipwrecked.” He turned to Luc. “Have you ever read Robinson Crusoe?”
Luc opened his mouth to speak, then changed his mind.
“What?” said Jesse. “What were you going to say?”
“I went to the library a couple of times on Saturday when they had story time. They were reading Robinson Crusoe. I thought it was stupid.”
Jesse didn’t try to hide a grin. “Why?”
Luc rolled his eyes. “The guy was such a loser. Always whining about something.”
Jesse let out a bark of laughter. “That’s what I thought, too. I never could figure out why it was supposed to be such a great book.” He held up his hand for a high five and was rewarded with a return salute. Something inside him wanted to grab the boy’s hand and draw him into an embrace, but the child had already pulled back. Jesse chanced a quick look and saw a lingering smile on Luc’s face. That would be his reward for now.
“I had a pretty good day,” he said idly. “Flew a customer and some freight to Vancouver.” He finished his beer and set the bottle on the floor. “Got caught up in some traffic getting out of Vancouver harbour on the way back. They closed it for a while due to a boating accident. That’s why I was late.”
“Oh, I forgot.” Luc climbed out of the big chair and stood tentatively beside Jesse. “Your friend came over.”
“My friend?”
“That lady with the blonde hair.” He lowered his eyes. “The one who doesn’t like me.”
“She likes you, Luc.” The moment the words were out, Jesse regretted them. Sylvia didn’t like the child around. It had become a bone of contention between them, and had caused Jesse to view her in a new light. She enjoyed being seen with him, enjoyed everything that went along with his money, but she balked at including Luc in their plans.
Luc raised his head and regarded Jesse, but remained silent. The eyes that looked at him had seen more than any child should have to endure, and Jesse realized that even eight-year-olds can build up a low tolerance for bullshit.
“You’re right, Luc. She doesn’t like children.” Jesse sighed and raked his fingers through his hair. “What did she have to say?”
Luc acknowledged Jesse’s comment with a brief nod. “She left a note for you and I forgot to give it to Maggie. Shall I go get it?”
“Yes, please.”
“Here you are.” Luc handed him an envelope and returned to his chair.
Jesse turned over the envelope, aware as he did that he was delaying. Something told him the missive didn’t contain good news. Call him old-fashioned, but at times like this, he preferred personal contact. None of this voicemail nonsense... or texts... or in this case, a note. If someone couldn’t face him, he had to ask himself what they were hiding.
He grinned at Luc, hoping to convince the kid that he wasn’t mad at him. “Okay, let’s see what she has to say.” He ripped the envelope open and held a piece of business-sized paper in his hand. The note was typed on a computer and he didn’t know if he should be insulted, or relieved. Not very personal, but at least he could read it. Sylvia had atrocious writing for someone who had been educated in an exclusive girl’s school. Probably one of the reasons she’d been asked to leave before the end of her last term. The story had amused him before, but not anymore.
“Dear Jesse
I’m sorry to do this in a letter, but I’m afraid if I see you in person, you’ll talk me out of it.”
She must be living in one of those romance books she read constantly. He was about to make a pithy comment, but Luc was observing him.
“We discussed this before, and I’m just not interested in raising someone else’s child.”
Jesse clenched his teeth.
“I enjoy being with you, Jesse. A lot. If you change your mind about the boy, please call me, but for the next week or so I’ll be out of town. You still have a few things at my place, and I’ll bring them to you when I get back.
Love, Sylvia”
Jesse read it once more before folding it and returning it to the envelope. A sense of relief washed over him and he put his head back and closed his eyes.
What struck him the most was that he wasn’t surprised. He pictured Sylvia, and the pleasure it must have given her to write and deliver this message. That she actually thought he would get rid of Luc surprised him, but if he were being honest with himself, he’d admit to that being his fault, not hers. There was no denying that she was beautiful, and they’d had some good times together. But that had all changed when Luc came into his life and her true colours emerged. He was better off without her; he knew that, but it would take some getting used to. Maybe he
should swear off women for a while and spend the summer with Luc, earning his trust.
Something pressed up against his arm and he opened his eyes. Luc was standing beside the arm of his chair, leaning against him and looking out over the water. His small, warm body was comforting and Jesse had trouble swallowing around the lump in his throat. It was the closest the boy had come to him in six months – at least voluntarily.
“Hey Bud,” he said, resting his hand lightly on top of the boy’s head, “let’s go have some supper.”
Luc smiled. It was his sister’s smile and Jesse had to hold himself in check. He wanted to teach the child everything he knew about the dangers of drugs and hanging around with the wrong people. But he’d have the rest of his life to do that. Heart in his mouth, he held out his hand. Luc looked at it for a moment, looked up at him with a shy smile, and then slipped his small hand into Jesse’s large one. Nothing Sylvia could offer could come close to what he was feeling at this moment.
LEXIE WOKE IN A PANIC. Sunlight flooded her bedroom and she swung her feet out of bed. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d forgotten to set her alarm.
And then she remembered. She was no longer employed. Falling back onto the bed, she stared at the ceiling. Wasn’t this the point in the story where she regretted quitting? Evidently not. As she lay there thinking of everything she’d put up with over the past few years, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t quit sooner. When had she become such a pushover? Being a professional chef was a tough job, one at which she excelled. The Bistro manager had never questioned her professional abilities, and why would he when the restaurant regularly received rave reviews in local publications as well as online. She’d watched an interview on a local television show where he’d taken credit for several of her ideas – including the popular wine and cheese pairings. She should have called him on that, but she’d let it slide.
Looking back now, she’d been a perfect candidate for manipulation. She hated conflict of any kind, and being dumped by Gabe had shattered her self-esteem. Add to the mix a new city and a new job that took all her energies... she might as well have had ‘patsy’ tattooed across her forehead.
Understanding how the whole mess had come about didn’t make it any more palatable.
She pulled the duvet up to her neck and thought back to her last few weeks of training in Lucerne. By then, she and Gabriel Dufresne had been a couple for six months. They’d enjoyed an easy, casual relationship and he spoke glowingly about Victoria. Before their last module, Gabe went home to Victoria for Christmas and came back excited about the career opportunities waiting there. It hadn’t taken much to convince her to go back with him, and she’d found the job at Bistro Provencal within days of her arrival.
With the excitement of getting settled into her new job and new apartment, she didn’t notice his absence at first. It wasn’t until he arrived at her door a few weeks later than she realized something was wrong. That had been almost five years ago, and it still hurt when she thought about it.
He’d tried to take her in his arms, but she took a step back, trying to get a read on him. He refused to look her in the eye.
“What is it, Gabe? What’s wrong?” Surely she would have heard if something had happened to one of his parents.
“I’m sorry, Lexie.”
“Gabe, you’re scaring me. What is it?”
He finally raised his head. “I have a girlfriend here in Victoria.”
What was he talking about? “But you were with me. I thought we were going to work here for a while and think about opening a restaurant together.” How could he have forgotten their plans?
“She’s pregnant, Lexie.”
She shook her head, uncomprehending. “How can that be?”
“The usual way.”
She should have slapped his face, but she was in shock. “You know what I mean.” And then... “Oh, I get it. You came here for Christmas.”
Up until a few moments ago, she’d thought she might spend the rest of her life with this man. And now he was a stranger, standing in her doorway. She hadn’t known it was possible to feel this foolish.
She looked past him to his car at the curb. A woman looked out through the passenger window and for a moment Lexie felt sorry for her. “Goodbye, Gabe. Thank you for coming.” She’d closed the door and stumbled back into her apartment.
Thinking of that surreal moment, she let out a strangled laugh. She laughed every time she thought about it – she’d actually thanked Gabe for breaking her heart!
That had been five years ago, and she hadn’t dated since. She’d made a few friends among the staff at the restaurant. They’d invited her to go out with them, and she tried a couple of times, but the clubs were full of young people, talking too loud and drinking too much. These days, Jodi was her closest friend, and she didn’t even know her all that well.
“So,” she said aloud, getting out of bed for the second time and planting her feet firmly on the ground. “We’re at another crossroads.” She padded into the kitchen, popped a pod into her coffee maker, and looked outside. “At least it’s a sunny day.”
Chapter Three
“HI, JODI.”
“Hi yourself. You look great.”
Lexie raised an eyebrow. “And this surprises you because...”
The fitness guru pursed her lips. “Don’t start with me, Alexis Swinton. You know what I mean.”
“I do, and thanks for caring.” She glanced quickly into the studio. Someone was using ‘her’ treadmill. Just as well... she was tempted to check out the scenery below, but she didn’t really have time. “I came by to get my old running shoes. I’m going up island, and I might want to run on the beach.”
Jodi groaned. “Qualicum?”
“Possibly. Or Parksville.”
“I love running on those beaches. Miles and miles of hard-packed sand. I envy you.” Jodi leaned on the counter. “Where are you staying?”
Lexie grinned. “I have no idea. Isn’t that great? I’m just going to point the car north and see where it takes me.”
Jodi frowned. “All right. Who are you and what have you done with my friend?” She reached out for Lexie’s hand. “It’s good to see you like this, Lex. You’re actually smiling. Can it be that quitting your job is the best thing you’ve ever done?”
“I have no idea, but it feels good.” The display of affection, while welcome, unsettled Lexie and she drew her hand back.
“Glad to hear it. Let me know where you are, okay?”
Jodi’s casual comment didn’t fool Lexie. The woman worried about all of her friends. “Okay, Mom. Will do.”
Jodi was busy with a customer when Lexie left. She looked up, waved, and muttered under her breath. “Good luck, kiddo.”
“Sorry, what was that?” The woman looked up from the form she was completing.
“Nothing.” Jodi watched as Lexie disappeared into the elevator. “Just wishing my friend good luck. She’s twenty-eight years old, and I have a feeling her life is just starting.”
LEXIE SLOWED AS SHE drove into Goldstream Park. Towering cedars lined the highway, shutting out most of the sunlight. What light filtered though was tinted green; it was like driving underwater. A few seagulls whirled over the river that ran alongside the road, bright white against the massive tree trunks and lush growth. Later in the year, the birds would assemble in the thousands to take advantage of spawning salmon. Perhaps these seagulls were merely staking out their territory. A whimsical idea, it made her smile.
The farther she got from the city, the more she relaxed. The highway climbed precipitously, and now and then she caught glimpses of the glittering ocean far below. Breathtaking in its beauty, the landscape invited further exploration.
Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten a thing today.
“Why not?” she said aloud, studying the signs along the highway. “There has to be something in this little town coming up... Arbutus Cove? That sounds promising.” She turned
off, and a few metres down the road, she saw a small sign tacked to a tree: Arbutus Cove Diner. Success!
A secondary road led down to the water via a series of twists and turns. Here and there, driveways led up to what she assumed were homes, but she was too busy navigating the narrow road to catch more than a glimpse.
After several minutes, the road leveled out. A few homes perched on the water side of the road, facing the Gulf Islands, Georgia Strait and the Coast Mountains in the distance. She rounded one more corner and the road came to an abrupt end. A large paved area fronted an old building. A faded sign painted on the wall facing the parking lot announced that this was the diner. At first glance, the building looked like it had originally been a home, with sections added on over the years as evidenced by various types of siding. Somewhere around ten vehicles were parked haphazardly on the property, most of them pick-up trucks. Lexie got out, stretched and headed toward the building.
“Heads up!” A burly workman shouldered through, carrying several two by fours. He offered a brief nod and a smile, and disappeared around the far side of the building. Moments later, the high-pitched whine of a saw broke the silence, then was answered by the call of a Steller’s Jay. She didn’t blame the bird for complaining about the noise. Perhaps the restaurant wasn’t open for business, but she was here now... she might as well explore.
The interior was dark and cool. An L-shaped counter with stationary metal stools could have been the setting for a Norman Rockwell illustration. The counter was empty except for a man with a tool belt slung around his hips. He turned and acknowledged her presence with a brief nod, and then went back to his coffee. A row of booths hugged the far wall, and in the middle, Lexie counted eight empty four-tops. She noted in passing that the salt and peppers were clean and filled, and that the chrome on the sugar dispensers shone brightly.
“Oh, hello.” A young woman appeared from what Lexie assumed was the kitchen. Wild hair covering almost half of her head was the colour of Christmas poinsettias, splashed with patches of brilliant blue for good measure. The balance of the girl’s head was shaved, the better to show off multiple piercings in her ear and lower lip. The effect was startlingly attractive.