The Beach House

by Vicky Jones

  “You OK?” Shona asked.

  “Not really. I’ve only been back home from college a day, then I get a call from the hospital saying my brother’s in bad shape. I’ve been there all night, then this damn heap of junk lets me down on the way back.” The young woman kicked the tire in frustration. Shona nodded, completely able to empathize with her on that. “I’m Alison, by the way.” She held her hand out to Shona who shook it.

  “Shona. Now, let’s have a look under the hood.”

  “I really appreciate this, Shona. My dad usually takes care of all this stuff but he’s out of town.”

  Shona buried her head in the engine bay looking for the fault. Less than an hour later, the car was all fixed up and Alison was back behind the wheel. She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her wallet. “How much do I owe you, Shona?”

  Shona shook her head. “No charge. It was just a bit of grit in the fan belt and some wires to tighten. But my garage is just in the town back there, so if you ever need anything else, you know where to find me.”

  “Thank you, Shona, I’ll remember that,” Alison replied, then set off again on her journey.

  Chapter 27

  “I know it don’t mean anything to you, but I genuinely am sorry the way things turned out with the kid. I didn’t think they’d actually take him away from you,” Bertie began after strolling into the garage and leaning against the car Shona was fixing that Wednesday morning.

  Shona stuck her head out from underneath the car and looked up at her in disbelief. “What the hell did you think they would do? It’s all but sent Chloe over the edge again. You know no one will accept two women to bring up a kid together, like as a couple.”

  “I know. But that’s gonna change one day, you’ll see. The wheels are in motion, and that’s why us standing up to the police is the right thing to do,” Bertie replied.

  “One day maybe, but not in our lifetime. You can protest and stomp your feet all you want, but the law is the law. They’re kicking people out of the armed forces for being like us, no matter how good their service record is. They don’t want queers in their society, Bertie, full stop. I can’t believe you let me think that violence was the way to make them listen. All we can do is live a quiet life.” Shona slid back underneath the car and clanged her wrench loudly against the bracket she was trying to loosen.

  “Well, you say that. But I heard on the grapevine that because you were seen helping Everett’s son and those other police guys, then we might be able to broker at least a truce for now. Give us time to plan our next skirmish without being raided every night.” Bertie grinned as Shona slid out again, more forcefully this time.

  “For God’s sake, Bertie, you get a truce and all you wanna do is keep fighting? You and your girls not get beat up enough last time?” Shona pointed her wrench at the still healing cut on Bertie’s bottom lip.

  “What choice do people like us have, huh? It’ll always be them winning. A truce just means they want us to keep quiet, stay obedient. Well, fuck that.”

  “I can’t help you,” Shona replied. “I won’t help you. We ain’t friends. Just leave me the fuck alone.”

  “Good morning, Shona, how have you been?”

  Bill Everett was standing at the garage doors looking ten years older than the last time Shona had seen him. His sandy hair was a little thinner at the sides, the lines on his face more pronounced.

  “Sheriff Everett!” Shona exclaimed, her face beaming. They had only known each other for a few weeks before his tragic family news, but they had already forged a bond, and, since Lawrence had been in charge, she’d missed Everett’s strong calm leadership. “How have you been? Are you back in town now?”

  “Not quite. We got the news about Eric being in the hospital, so we came straight down. I’m leaving Shirley here to look after him while I go back up to Portland. Dad’s still not…” He tailed off, then smiled back at Shona. “I see your place is doing well.”

  “Yeah, I’m making a living,” Shona replied, wiping her oily hands on a towel before offering Everett a coffee.

  “No thanks, I can’t be long. Shirley’s just across the street picking up some groceries. I just wanted to come over here and see how you were doing. And to thank you for what you did the other day.”

  Shona blushed. “Oh, don’t worry, it was nothing. Anyone would have done the same. Your son needed help and I…”

  Everett held up his hands to protest. “No, no, I don’t mean what you did for Eric. I’m truly grateful for that too but what I meant was what you did for my daughter. Alison?” Everett waited for Shona to remember. “She told me about ‘a woman called Shona who saved her bacon at the side of the road’ on Saturday morning. I’m truly thankful you came along. Some of those tow truck guys might have taken advantage…” He tailed off, then refocused his eyes.

  “She’s your daughter? I didn’t know. She never gave me her last name,” Shona replied. “But you’re welcome.”

  “She said you wouldn’t take any payment either?”

  “No, sir.”

  Everett stared at Shona and smiled. “Well now, if that’s the case then I’m just going to have to do something else to repay you. How about I recommend this place to all my friends and family so they can bring some more business your way. They’ll pay, of course. I just want them to have the best mechanic I know on their vehicles.”

  Shona nodded and shook Everett’s hand. “Thank you, sir, that would be swell. But I won’t charge the police officers. No matter what Lawrence thinks of me, that ain’t changed around here since day one.”

  “So be it, then. You’re a one-off, Shona, a real asset to this town.” He turned to walk away. When he was at the edge of the sidewalk, Shona called after him. “Yeah?”

  “Come back to work soon,” Shona said, her eyes imploring him.

  “We’ll see,” he replied.

  Chapter 28

  For the first time in nearly a week, Chloe dared to go out in public. It had been six hellish days since David had been taken away. Six long days of desperate phone calls to every Children’s Bureau officer she could get the number for, but no one would give her any more details than “your son is safe, he’s being cared for.” Walking the half mile into town, she’d decided that she couldn’t stay cooped up indoors for much longer. The townsfolk would already be churning over the different stories they’d been told, each one putting their own opinion in for good measure no doubt. She had barely eaten or slept that week, and not felt like cooking at all even though she knew Shona needed to keep her strength up for work. With that in mind, the bakery was her first port of call.

  “Good morning. I’d like one of your chicken pies, please,” Chloe asked, her voice barely audible.

  “Hi Chloe,” Alice chirped, giving her an inquisitive look. “How’s Shona today?”

  “And four of those fresh baked biscuits if you please,” Chloe said, ignoring Alice’s question.

  “Sure thing.” Alice bagged up the biscuits and boxed up the pie. She took Chloe’s money, smiling as she spoke. “Shona’s real nice, isn’t she? Always comes in here for her afternoon snack.”

  Chloe didn’t respond, but noticed Alice’s fresh face, sparkling eyes and bright green summer dress. The ribbon in her light brown hair reminded her of how she used to look and hearing her talk about Shona sparked a pang inside of her.

  After sitting in the park area in the center of town for the last half an hour thinking about what Alice had said, and the way she’d said it, Chloe stood up and headed over to the garage but as she reached the sidewalk she saw Shona in a heated exchange with two police officers, one with his handcuffs at the ready.

  “Oh no, what now?” she exclaimed, then raced over, the brown bag containing her box of pie and biscuits flapping in the breeze as she ran.

  “Shona, what’s going on?” Chloe said.

  “Nothing, it’s fine. These gentlemen were just checking up on their cars, right, guys?” Shona raised her eyebrows at th
e police officers.

  “Um… Yeah, so I want it ready by this afternoon, OK?” one officer replied. He put his handcuffs back on his belt, then smiled at Chloe as he led Shona a few feet away from her and his partner. “Shona, look, you know I hate to do this, but the boss wants me to pull you in for what happened the other night. I know you helped some of us and I appreciate that, but what do I tell Lawrence if I don’t?” The young police officer took his hat off and wiped his sweaty brow.

  “Just tell him you didn’t see me do anything other than just stand there,” Shona whispered back. “I didn’t get involved, so he can’t touch me for any felony. He knows that, he’s just sore about it, Donny.”

  “OK. But I can’t promise he won’t send Barnes over here. He’s his little pet now. Bring back Bill Everett, that’s what I say.” Donny walked back over to his partner, gave him the signal to leave, then tipped his cap to both women.

  “What was all that about?” Chloe asked again, her stare more pointed this time.

  “Lawrence,” Shona replied. “What smells so good?” She looked down at the bag Chloe was holding.

  Minnie’s car pulled up. She gave them both a beaming smile and almost leapt out of her seat. “Shona.”

  “Hi Minnie, you OK?” Shona asked as Minnie trotted up to them.

  “I’m fine, dear. How are you both today?”

  “We’re doing good. How’s William?” Shona asked.

  “Oh, he’s OK. One of his better days, actually. We got to chatting about the old days when he was in his prime, ruling on all the important cases here in town. Oh, the memory that man has,” she paused and bit her lip, “well, when he’s not confused. But anyway, we got on the subject of that nasty piece of work Lawrence and what he’s done to you and your family and he was furious. Especially after everything you’ve done for me. Then we talked some more and, well, we might just have come up with an idea.” Minnie’s eyes sparkled.

  Minnie had followed Shona and Chloe back to the beach house after Shona had quickly locked up the garage. Now sitting on the couch in the living room, Chloe and Shona waited for Minnie to begin speaking.

  “The way William and I see it,” she said, leaning forward in her armchair, “the only reason they had to take your boy away was because they assumed you two were living as a couple, right?”

  Chloe and Shona looked at each other. “Well, yeah. But we can’t deny that now, can we?” Shona replied, sweeping her hand through her hair.

  “But you haven’t confirmed it to anyone other than me, right?” Minnie’s eyes were keen.

  “Only Doctor Thomas, but he’s bound by oath,” Chloe replied. “Shona?”

  “Only the girls at the bar, but they won’t say anything. Many of them are in the same boat,” Shona replied. “They pride themselves on their loyalty. Well, apart from Bertie, but her call to the police was anonymous so they won’t be able to chase that one up. And I made sure she knew how much damage she’s done. I actually believe she’s sorry for what she did,” Shona added. Both their hopes grew higher as Minnie began telling them her idea.

  “But that’s so simple,” Chloe gasped when Minnie had finished speaking. “Why didn’t we think of that?”

  “Doesn’t matter now,” Minnie replied with a sense of glee. “We’ll put the plan of action in place first thing tomorrow morning.”

  Chloe couldn’t hold back any longer. She wrapped Minnie up in a tight hug and held her while she composed herself. “I don’t know how to thank you for this, I really don’t.”

  “It’s the least I can do after all the good deeds Shona’s done for me these last few years. I just hope it works.”

  Chapter 29

  Sheriff Lawrence pulled up outside the beach house still mystified by the call he’d received an hour ago from the Children’s Bureau. “Meet me at the Clark residence at 3 p.m. There’s been a development,” the voice had said. Stepping out of his truck, he could see that she was already there.

  “Well, good afternoon, Barbara. What are we doin’ here?” Lawrence said as he made his way over to the suited woman from last week.

  “We’ve had new information passed to us by a trusted source, not some random anonymous tip-off,” Barbara said with disdain. “I’m here to assess the suitability of the residence where the child is to live.”

  “I thought we’d already decided what was in the best interests of the child.”

  “Sheriff, did you or anyone else who reported this case to me actually check the living arrangements in that house before calling me?” She gestured towards him with her clipboard.

  “They’re all built the same way, these beach houses.” His confident grin turned to a snarl.

  The front door opened and Chloe appeared, Shona standing behind her.

  “Good morning, Mrs. Haskins. Won’t you come in?” Chloe said, not bothering to acknowledge Lawrence’s presence.

  “Thank you, I will,” Barbara replied, following Shona and Chloe into the house. Shona slammed the door as Lawrence made a move to follow. He stood outside, impatiently waiting. Not even five minutes had the chance to pass before Barbara reemerged. She stormed down the porch steps towards her car, her face red with embarrassment.

  “On behalf of the Children’s Bureau, ma’am, all I can do is apologize,” she called back over her shoulder. As she fumbled with her car door handle, she shot a look of pure annoyance at Lawrence. “Sheriff Lawrence here gave us false information, but I really should have checked myself. I’ll be in touch as soon as I get back to the office.” She roared away up the driveway.

  “What the… Get out of my way.” Lawrence pushed past Chloe and Shona and stormed into the house. Shona grinned at Chloe.

  Lawrence stalked along the hallway hunting for the master bedroom. When he found it, he swung the door wide open. The room was beautifully furnished, with crisp white linen on the bed and a blanket with little red flowers sewn on it. The drapes matched perfectly and all around were soft cushions. The handmade pine dressing table was painted white and an assortment of hairbrushes and makeup was lined up neatly. It was unmistakably a woman’s bedroom and, as he walked up to the double bed, Lawrence let a sly grin drape across his face.

  “Just as I thought.”

  “So, now you’ve invaded my privacy, Acting Sheriff Lawrence. Are you satisfied?” Chloe said, appearing behind him with her arms folded.

  “Oh yeah, I’m satisfied. Satisfied that we had that kid taken away from you pair of…” He paused, looking for the most offensive word he could think of. “It’s disgusting, and illegal, what you were doin’ in here.”

  “What are you insinuating?”

  “Insinuatin’?” Lawrence replied with a snort. “Look, if that’s the kid’s room through there,” he pointed to the room directly across the hallway, “then where the hell does she sleep?” He jabbed a finger towards Shona.

  Shona stepped forward, her face expressionless. “In there.” She pointed at the much plainer-looking door about three feet further along the wall to the door to David’s room.

  “What?” Lawrence said, the grin melting from his face. “But that’s not possible.”

  Shona went over to open the door. Lawrence was out of Chloe’s room and into the snug single bedroom in two bounds. Sure enough, inside was a neat and tidy, perfectly laid out bedroom, complete with single bed, desk, chair and wardrobe in the corner. Muttering several curse words, Lawrence flung open the wardrobe door to see all of Shona’s work shirts ironed and hanging up. Her spare pair of work boots sat nestled in the bottom. On the back of the desk chair hung her jacket and on the desk was her comb and a few coins. He turned around to see both Chloe and Shona watching him, their faces set.

  “Will that be all, Acting Sheriff?” Chloe purred.

  Lawrence, with a sharp intake of breath and without another word, stomped out of Shona’s room and out of the house.

  He hadn’t noticed the smell of wood shavings and fresh paint.

  Part 3: September 1964

/>   Chapter 30

  Stuck in the same routine as before, and with David getting more boisterous by the day, Chloe had found it harder and harder to cope with the exhaustion. Her visits to Doctor Thomas were weekly now, an hour each time, where he could talk her through her raging emotions. When September came around, she was almost relieved that David was ready to start preschool. He’d turned five that April and, with his black hair and dark eyes, was looking like Kyle more and more each day, a fact that especially bothered Shona who was now spending most of her time at the garage.

  “Sorry I’m late. I stopped off for a Coke at the bar,” Shona said as she walked into the kitchen to find Chloe cleaning up the dishes from her and David’s dinner.

  “We already had dinner. I left you some on top of the stove,” Chloe replied without turning around. She busied herself at the sink washing the dishes and placing them on the drainer.

  “Have we got everything ready for tomorrow?” Shona asked sorting through the pile of neatly folded laundry and finding David’s best pair of blue shorts and white tee-shirt.

  “I’ve already picked out his outfit. It’s hanging up in his room.”

  Shona looked hurt. “I thought we were going to choose what he was gonna wear on his first day together?”

  “You weren’t here,” Chloe replied, turning to face her as she dried the bubbles from her wet hands with a dish towel.

  Shona leaned against the counter. “OK. Well, I’ll eat, then go read him his story.”

  “He’s already had it. It’s half past eight, Shona,” Chloe shot back. The frustration in her voice was obvious. “You should be here for those things, not drinking in some bar that you said you weren’t going to go to anymore. I thought you wanted to stay away from those girls?”