The Beach House

by Vicky Jones

  “You bought the garage? For me?” she said, her eyes welling up with stunned tears.

  Chloe jumped out behind her wanting nothing more than to wrap Shona’s trembling body in her arms, but she had to be mindful of anyone watching them. She rested a limp hand on Shona’s forearm. “Yes. Well, I bought the lease for now, but I know you’ll make it work. And one day we can buy it outright. I wanted you to be in charge for once. You can do things your way now, hire the people you want to. And no one will ever say you can’t ‘work in a place like this’ ever again.” She squeezed Shona’s arm gently.

  “But how? How did you afford it? After buying the house, where did…?” As soon as she’d asked the question, and looked back at their new truck, the answer became clear to Shona.

  “You think I’d accept any less for that Chevy than what it was worth? I drive a hard bargain, you know. Probably the only thing working for my father actually taught me. I used the money I had left from my savings and put it together with what I got for the car, then went over and put an offer to the vendor. I might have used my charm on the vendor of this place to get him to take it off the market a week before the auction. And damn, he even threw in the pickup for free.” Chloe giggled.

  Shona’s face erupted into the most beautiful smile Chloe had ever seen. “I got my own garage? Like for real?”

  Chloe leaned into whisper into Shona’s ear. “For real, baby. I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” Shona whispered back, then walked over to the garage and ran her hand over each surface she came into contact with.

  “What are you gonna call it?” Chloe called after her.

  “Clark’s Autos,” Shona replied, not even pausing to think about it. “Had it on my mind since I worked at Wreckers. Swore to myself if I was ever lucky enough to get my own place I’d call it that. Plus it makes more sense than ever now, with our new surname.”

  “Perfect,” Chloe replied, her heart bursting to see Shona grin back at her as she disappeared around the back of the garage to explore further.

  Chapter 7

  Over on the freeway outside of Sunnybrook the next morning, a car was being flagged down by a patrol car. Sheriff Everett flashed his lights three times until the Buick he was following rolled to a stop. Everett climbed out of the car, fixed his hat and strode over to the Buick, his baton strapped to his utility belt hanging loosely by his side. He tapped gently on the Buick’s driver’s side window. The young man inside lowered the glass and smiled up at the sheriff.

  “Gee Sheriff, I’m real sorry. Was I going much over the limit?” The young man was dressed in army-issue fatigues, his duffel bag slung in the back and a small jewelry box perched on the passenger seat.

  “You do know it’s fifty back there, son?” the middle-aged sheriff scolded, his right eyebrow raised. He took another look around the contents of the young soldier’s car.

  “What was I doing?” he asked, both hands still clamped to the top of the steering wheel.

  “Eighty-five. You escaping the old lady or something?” The sheriff went to take out his notebook.

  “Man, really? Sheriff, I am so sorry. You see, I just got out on leave and I ain’t seen my girl in nearly six months.” His face reddened. “I was gon’ propose to her this afternoon. I guess I just got a little too excited. But fair’s fair, I did the wrong thing and I’m truly sorry, sir.” The young soldier’s eyes fell to his lap in shame.

  Sheriff Everett paused and put his notebook back away. “Well, I guess no harm’s been done here. But you just mind yourself, boy. I don’t wanna have to have your body towed out of that ravine further up there, then have to tell your sweetheart the bad news.”

  The soldier looked up at the sheriff, his face beaming with relief. “You mean it? I can go?”

  “Yeah, go on now, get.”

  “Thank you so much, sir. I won’t forget this.” The soldier saluted the sheriff.

  “Just you be safe out there, you hear? And good luck with that,” Everett replied, nodding over to the ring box he’d just noticed. The soldier blushed, then started up his engine. Everett banged his palm on the roof of the Buick as the soldier pulled away slowly.

  Chapter 8

  “So then one faggot says to the other, ‘well, ain’t that just a pain in the ass’ and the first one says, ‘you’d be used to that by now, won’t ya’.”

  Deputy Lawrence’s guttural laugh reverberated around the police station as he told his tired, worn out joke for the millionth time to the younger officers congregating around the coffee pot stand. Sheriff Everett walked back into the station just in time to hear the punchline.

  “Lawrence. How many more times have I got to tell you about that kinda language? My office. Now.”

  Lawrence smirked at the other guys around him as soon as Everett’s back was turned. Pretending to ham it up like a scolded toddler, he ran his hand through his thinning blond hair and followed his boss into his office, the door slamming behind him.

  “What the hell was all that about out there? I’ve told you before about speaking your views on the homosexual community out loud. What they do in private is none of our business, y’hear?”

  “But sir, what they do is illegal. Not to mention immoral. That not matter to you?” Lawrence hung his hands on his hips.

  “If it’s done in public then yes, that’s our duty as officers of the law to keep these streets safe. But I am not about to waste my valuable time policing what they do behind closed doors. Do you understand me, boy?” Everett’s pale blue eyes were sharp.

  “Sorry, sir, won’t happen again,” Lawrence replied, a hint of sarcasm in his thin, reedy voice.

  “Look, son, when you first came here I promised your mother I’d train you up to be a good, honest lawman. Hell, you’re almost thirty years old, Jake. You’re not a teenage boy, so quit making stupid jokes which are only gonna get people’s backs up around here. And while I’m on the subject of your conduct, can you tell me why I’m getting reports lately of you being a son of a bitch to people around town, huh?”

  Lawrence didn’t answer.

  “You work for these people, not to make their lives more difficult than some of them already have it,” Everett continued. “You wear that badge to protect and serve, not to strike fear into them, and you would do well to remember that. This is your last warning, Jake. I want you to quit it, OK? No more throwing your weight around this town. Do I make myself clear?” Everett’s voice was calm and measured, but the annoyance at having to repeat his stance on these matters yet again to Lawrence was tangible.

  “Crystal, sir. May I go now?” Lawrence replied, his previous swagger diminished slightly at the mention of his mother.

  Everett answered with a simple cock of his head towards the door.

  Shona had been in the small tool shed just behind the beach house for well over two hours when Chloe, curiosity getting the better of her finally, decided to take her an ice cold tea and to see what she was up to. As she reached the door she paused, listening in to hear the hammering of nails into what sounded like heavy boards of wood.

  “What are you making?” Chloe asked, sneaking up behind Shona who almost squashed her thumb with the hammer as it slipped away from a nail.

  “Where did you come from? You gave me a fright,” Shona scolded, her hand pressed against her chest.

  “I heard you making a racket out here so I came to see…” she paused and bit the corner of her lip when she saw Shona raise an eyebrow. “OK, you got me. I missed you, is all. That so bad?” She handed Shona the glass of tea.

  “No, course not. Come see what I made for the garage. I had this idea, y’see. I thought it might be a nice gesture, what do you think?” Shona clasped hold of Chloe’s hand and pulled her into her.

  Looking down at the sign Shona had made, Chloe read the words she’d painted on it and smiled. “It’s perfect. What a lovely thought, honey. It might even make the townsfolk a little bit more forgiving when they find out it was me
who got the auction called off.”

  “Yeah, if there are any two people who understand how small towns can hold a grudge it’s us. We got a new start here, Chloe. We should do everything we can to make it as friendly a home as we can. Keep our heads down. It’s important to me to get it right this time, you know?”

  “I know. How about we go over there tomorrow, face the music? We could put the sign up and start to get ready for our grand opening,” Chloe said, clasping her hands together with excitement.

  “Sure, the paint will be dry by then. You know what?”

  “What?”

  Shona stood staring at Chloe, her hands on her hips as she gazed at her, her eyes glowing. “I just cannot believe I have my own business to run, just how I wanna run it. And this place. This beautiful beach house.” Shona stopped to wipe a tear from her eye with the back of a paint-smeared hand. “And you. The girl of my dreams, standing right there in front of me. I got everything I ever wanted. I don’t want anything ever to change how I feel right here, right now. This is perfect.”

  “I know,” Chloe said. “But after all we’ve been through, I think we deserve a little happiness.” She laughed, then added, “and a little smooth sailing would be nice too. A quiet life for once, huh?”

  Chapter 9

  Chloe pulled the blue pickup into the garage parking lot, then, after getting out, she and Shona began discussing which task to tackle first.

  “I think I’ll hammer in my sign out front over there, try and get the locals on my side from the start, huh?” Shona said.

  “Good idea.” Chloe pulled out the keys to the garage from her purse. “But first, don’t you wanna take a look inside?” She dangled the keys out to Shona.

  Shona stopped and reached out to take the keys. Holding them for a minute, she fought back tears once again. She pulled Chloe into an impromptu embrace, holding her close for just that little bit too long before realizing. “Come on then, what are we waiting for?”

  Shona almost dragged Chloe by the hand over to the huge garage doors and slipped the key into the padlock, then lifted the heavy chain through the handles. Pulling open the solid wooden door, she gasped as she took her first look inside.

  “Looks great,” Chloe commented. “Listen, I’ll let you look around. Will you be OK here for a little while? I just gotta pop back over to the doctor’s office. They said they’d have my results back by now.”

  “Oh yeah, OK. Hope they don’t find nothing. But you seemed better this last week or so. Maybe it wasn’t that flu after all,” Shona replied.

  “Yeah, better safe than sorry though. I’ll pick up some dinner on the way back if you like?”

  “Sounds good. I think I’ll go over to the next town to get some parts to get that contraption working again.” Shona cocked her head back to the car lift inside the garage which looked as if it was missing a few vital chains and rubber grips.

  “OK, well don’t be late, I’m in the mood for celebrating tonight,” Chloe replied with a wink.

  Shona’s face reddened. “Shhh…folks might hear you,” she said, looking around her. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

  “No, it’s alright. I’ll walk back, don’t worry. You go run your errands and get home to me as quick as you can,” Chloe said, then turned on her heel to head through the green space at the center of the town square. As Chloe disappeared out of Shona’s sight, an old man wearing beige slacks and a green shirt shuffled up behind and tapped Shona on the shoulder.

  “G’mornin’ sir, how can I help you?” Shona asked looking down at him.

  The white-haired old man squinted up at her. “Am I readin’ your sign right there, young lady? The new owner o’ this place offerin’ to fix war veterans’ and police cars for free?” His face was open and friendly, his inquisitive gray eyes sharp.

  “Yes sir, that’s right. All services and repairs done at no cost for all military and lawmen,” Shona replied.

  “Oh, well, you be sure to tell the owner that that’s one of the kindest gestures ever made in this town. The last guy never did nothin’ for free. The new guy’s most definitely welcome around here. What’s his name, miss?”

  “Shona Clark, proprietor of Clark’s Autos at your service, sir,” Shona replied, holding out her hand for the old man to shake.

  “You’re the new owner?” The old man looked taken aback with surprise as Shona nodded, but his wrinkly eyes still twinkled. “It’s a pleasure to meet ya, young lady. I hope you have a lotta success with this place.” He shook Shona’s hand, his grip as tight as he could manage, then shuffled away after tipping his cap to her.

  “One down, just the rest of the town to go,” Shona muttered to herself.

  “Well, hello there, Mrs. Clark, and how are you today?” Doctor Thomas greeted, holding out his broad, tanned hand for Chloe to shake.

  “Good morning, Doctor. I was just wondering if you had my blood test results back.” Chloe asked, seating herself opposite the doctor, who in turn sat at his desk.

  “We do, yes.” He took out a brown file from his desk drawer, laid it down in front of him, then placed his elbows on the desk.

  After a lengthy pause, Chloe’s brow began to prickle with sweat. She wiped it away. “Well, come on now, don’t leave a girl in suspense.” She laughed nervously, then waited a few seconds more for the doctor to open his file. He did so, watching her.

  “Well, when we took the sample we weren’t looking for anything in particular, just a routine check for new patients, that sort of thing.” He paused.

  “And?” Chloe’s tone this time was a little more pinched. “Did you…?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Clark, we did. We found something.”

  When Shona returned home that evening, the sun was almost setting. The sky was all different shades of pinks and purples and, as she exited the truck, she picked the bunch of red roses off the back seat and stared into the horizon for a moment. The view from the beach house was truly one of the finest she had ever seen. Even the one in Gulfport back on her vacation with Dorothy hadn’t had the same effect on her. Everything was perfect, Shona thought, slamming the truck door behind her and hopping up the steps to her front door.

  Inside, the lights were off. Strange, Shona thought. The room wasn’t in total darkness just yet but it was surprising to see not even a desk lamp on. Heading off in the direction of the bedroom, she placed a rose stem between her teeth. As she reached the bedroom door on the left of her, a flicker of movement up ahead at the end of the hallway caught her eye. Leaving the bedroom door unopened, Shona carried on walking into the living room. Chloe was seated in the corner on the window seat staring out onto the ocean.

  “Hey,” Shona whispered, after taking the rose stem out of her teeth and placing the bunch of flowers on the coffee table. Chloe remained silent. “You alright?” Shona walked over to the window and kneeled down in front of Chloe. Chloe turned to look at Shona, her face streaked with drying tears. Apart from her smudged makeup, her expression was blank. “OK, you’re scaring me now. What did the doctor say?”

  Chloe wiped her nose with the back of her hand and looked away again. “The blood tests came back. They found something…” she began, her voice cracking as she forced out each word.

  “What? Baby, are you sick?” Shona asked.

  Chloe took in a huge breath then looked deep into Shona’s questioning eyes.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “Does Bertie know yet?” Lula asked, as she leaned forward in the booth opposite Dee and Edie.

  “Yeah. She was watching out the window this morning as that blonde girl was hammering in signs and setting up business. How in the hell did those two even have the dough to buy that place, let alone convince ol’ man Perkins to call off the auction?” Edie replied, shaking her head. “They must have a rich uncle who’s croaked it, maybe? Or they robbed a bank and they’re on the run,” she chuckled, her eyes wide with mischief. “Poor Bert, though, she had her heart set on that place. I w
ouldn’t wanna be blondie when she catches up with her.”

  “Did you see who the blonde girl was with?” Dee asked. “The dolly with the brown hair and figure to die for? I wonder if she’s single?”

  “You just keep your peepers off the blonde one, she’s mine. I reckon from the looks of her, I got a chance with her,” Lula grinned. “Where is Bert tonight anyway?”

  “Over at Sheriff Everett’s place asking about legalities over the auction being cancelled. She ain’t happy,” said Edie.

  “Neither is Nurse Marion. She had big plans for that old garage too. Hope blondie knows what trouble’s coming her way,” Dee warned.

  “Pregnant?”

  Chloe leaned back against the window frame. “Doctor Thomas reckons about six weeks gone,” she replied, chewing on a fingernail.

  Shona stood up straight and took a step back. “Six weeks?” she repeated, her head spinning, the bottom falling out of her newly pieced together world. “Kyle. That night.”

  Chloe pressed her eyes together, squeezing a tear out of each one. They rolled down her trembling cheeks as she nodded.

  Backing away from Chloe until she felt the living room doorframe press into her back, Shona turned and slowly, almost ghost-like, disappeared from Chloe’s sight.

  “Shona, please. Don’t go out. Stay. We need to talk about this. Shona?” But Chloe’s pleas went unheeded. All she heard next was the click of the door as it closed behind Shona, then the rumble of the truck’s engine as it pulled away.

  “Janice, get me another beer, will ya? This one is as flat as a pancake,” Lula shouted across the bar. Behind her the door swung open and there stood the young blonde girl she’d been talking about only half an hour earlier.