Hardwired

by C. P. Rowlands

  “Teaching’s my drug of choice, but I’m only consulting with Piper, not teaching.” She smiled at him. “I’m glad to be home.”

  “What’d you do to your knees?” He pointed at her torn jeans.

  “I fell in a parking lot this morning and had to cut them to clean them.”

  Andy shook his head. “Ever have a problem with your broken arm?”

  “No. It healed perfectly.” She turned to look at him. “Tell me about Velma.”

  “It’s dementia, but it’s also cancer.” His eyes narrowed at the lake.

  “I didn’t know.” Clary’s heart plummeted, and she looked at the water too.

  “There’s nothing we can do about it so I just don’t talk about it.”

  “You’ve told Maureen and Joe?”

  Andy nodded. “And my lawyer. There are no guarantees in this life. If we’d ever had kids, I’d have taught them to take the moments when they come and not hold back.” Andy continued to stare at the lake. “I always thought I was the one who convinced you to go to England.”

  “You did.” Clary grinned. “My parents were determined it would be my decision, and I’ve never regretted it. Well, maybe. I wish I’d been here for Sharon. It’s always bothered me that I was gone when she needed help. Or I think she needed help. Why else would she have left?”

  “Don’t look backward, Clary. It’s of no value. I’m not sure anyone could help that girl. She was hard to handle from the beginning.” He pulled his hat down further. “The day you broke your arm, I was home because Velma was in the hospital. We’d just lost another child.”

  Clary looked up at him. “No one told me.”

  “That isn’t something you’d discuss with a seven-year-old. You work with kids. I’m certain they know very little about your life.”

  “True.” Clary thought about that for a minute. She’d never said a word to any of her students about her struggles, and Leefe had done the same thing at the day care today, but she’d seen Leefe’s wet eyes.

  “Where’s that little girl and her mother, the ones you brought home when your parents sold the house?” Andy said. Clary’s lifestyle had never been a secret between them.

  “The woman got married and they live in Oklahoma.”

  “That’s why you’ve lost weight?”

  “Lost that…and some other things.”

  Andy only nodded. “I think life is just chance, Clary. That day I took you to the hospital, a doctor had a child that was available for adoption. Velma and I were thirty-three that year, and we should have taken the baby.” He looked away. “Now here I am, no kids, and no one at my house. I used to count times like that, but I’ve stopped. It’s pointless, and—whoa.”

  Andy stood quickly, reeling in the fish. “Look at this.” He held up the big yellow and black striped jumbo perch. “It’s a beginning.”

  At that moment, Clary felt a tug and tightened her line. “Oh yes, here they come,” she said, and reeled a fish in. “Another perch. Two down, lots to go.” Clary put another minnow on her line and cast out again.

  “You have to filet them,” Clary teased him, watching her line.

  “Not fair. That’s my pole you’re using.”

  “I bought the minnows.”

  “Fine, but you have to cook them,” he said with a lazy grin.

  Clary had an idea. “Let’s do this. A friend’s coming for dinner tonight. If we catch at least three more, I’ll fry these guys up and you come for dinner.”

  “What time?” Andy said.

  “Around seven, maybe later. Do you still drink a beer now and then?”

  They grinned at each other and went back to serious fishing, now that a meal was involved.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Thanks for the ride,” Leefe said, but Jesse drove off without a word. “Terrorist,” she muttered at the car. “Should have turned her down and walked.”

  She knocked on the side door to Maureen’s house, called out Clary’s name, and started up the steps through a rich aroma of food. Soft reggae music played in the background.

  Clary turned from the stove with one of those beautiful smiles, and Leefe tripped on the last stair before entering the kitchen. Brown-gold curls framed Clary’s face. Barefoot, she wore the white, collarless shirt she’d had on the day they met, and faded, form-fitting jeans. Leefe’s heart did a funny twist. The table was set with bright, saffron-yellow plates, tall matching glasses, and a crystal bowl of cut fruit. It was set for three and she wondered if she’d misunderstood Clary earlier.

  “Good day fishing?” Leefe leaned over a deep fryer bubbling quietly on the stove beside a skillet of simmering browned potatoes crowned with golden onion slices.

  “You’d better believe it. Andy’s on his way with coleslaw, and I hope you like rye bread. I made him clean the fish.” Clary grinned mischievously. “Hear anything about Devi?”

  “No, but I know I’ll hear soon,” Leefe said, feeling as if she’d stumbled into another world. No one had fixed a dinner like this for her since…she couldn’t remember.

  “Want something to drink?” Clary said, opening the refrigerator.

  Leefe sat on a stool in front of the open deck doors. “Water please. Who’s Andy?”

  “My neighbor. I’ve fished with him since I was a kid. His wife’s in a nursing home, and he’s all alone.” Clary told her of the broken arm and how good he had been to her that day.

  A slight breeze pushed through the curtains, carrying the scent of grass and summertime. Leefe felt a little dazzled and looked up. Clary was looking at her.

  “Did I miss a question?” Leefe said.

  “Where are you?”

  “Sorry. It’s been a crazy day. Guess I’m just really hungry and the table’s so pretty.”

  “You’re allowed to be distracted.” Clary stood close, and Leefe smelled that cool soap scent again.

  She smells so good. Leefe leaned in, her body shimmering to the tips of her fingers.

  “What I said was that Andy is a retired electrician and he and Velma never had children. He’s lonesome for kids.”

  “Did you ask him about helping at the day care?” Leefe said, realizing what Clary was driving at.

  “Nope.” Clary moved back to the stove. “Not until I talked with you.”

  “That wasn’t necessary, but thanks. I’ll ask.” Leefe took a shaky drink of water, feeling fascinated and close like she had in the restaurant this morning. “I got a ride part of the way with the ghost of Osama bin Laden. She said four words to me. ‘Where are you headed,’ and didn’t even say good-bye. I could tell she wasn’t happy that I was having dinner with you.”

  Clary gave a short laugh. “Jesse’s moody, but I’m sure you know that.” She took a spatula to the potatoes. “I’ll bet she’s still smarting over that argument we had in the hospital—”

  Someone knocked on the door. “Probably Andy,” Clary said and went for the door. Leefe heard a deep male voice and Clary’s laughter.

  Andy wore a checkered, button-down shirt and pressed khaki pants. He was slender and his sandy hair was combed neatly. “Ah,” Andy said, tilting his head slightly at Clary. “You look so much like your mother. Sometimes I feel as if I’m talking to her when she was younger than you are now.” He knocked his fist lightly on his head with a goofy smile. Clary handed him a beer and did the introductions.

  Leefe was immediately drawn to his kind voice and easy smile as he told stories about Clary, Sharon, and Jesse when they were kids. The sun on her shoulders felt good as they talked and laughed over the meal.

  “I’ve never eaten fish like this,” Leefe said.

  “It’s my mother’s recipe, and I have not a clue where she got it.” Clary speared another filet. “The batter’s pretty simple. It’s only eggs, cracker crumbs, butter, salt, a pinch of dill, and some parmesan. Andy’s the best fish cleaner I know.”

  “Hardly, but the most willing,” Andy said with a laugh. “This recipe is all of ours, the neighborhood. W
e’d fish, drink, and start the fish fry, drink some more, making it up as we stumbled around. That”—he pointed at the platter—“is the result of a hell of a lot of beer and fun.”

  Beer had always started fights at the Ellis house, Leefe remembered, and their neighbors avoided them. It would have been nice to have had neighbors like Andy.

  “I’ve never fished,” she admitted. Clary and Andy groaned.

  “I checked on Uncle Joe’s boat today when I picked up the minnows,” Clary said. “It’ll be ready tomorrow. Want to go with me for a run on the lake?”

  “When?” Leefe took a deep breath as she looked into Clary’s happy eyes.

  “Tomorrow afternoon. We can go as late as you like.”

  “The city nurses will be by in the morning and, hopefully, Devi will show up. I could probably get away after dinner. Jacob’s sick again and it’s Albie’s turn to stay nights.”

  “We’ll putter around in the harbor and make sure everything on the boat is working. Andy, could I borrow a fishing rod? We could drop a line over the side, in front of the jetties.”

  “Anytime. You know where I keep the key.” Andy pushed his plate away and turned to Leefe. “I think we’ve met. Didn’t you work with Sharon when Linda opened her bar, The Docks? My company did the electrical work for her.”

  “You might have,” Leefe said. She didn’t remember him.

  “You knew Sharon?” Clary swiveled in her chair.

  Leefe nodded. “Sharon and I helped Linda get that place started. We both did volunteer cooking and bartending, but I also helped at Sharon’s store. I worked second shift at the hospital so I’d be going by just as she was closing. One night she stopped me and asked for help with some boxes, and after that, I’d stop in.”

  “How long did you know her?”

  “A year or so,” Leefe said, trying to remember. “Maureen knows. We’ve talked about it.”

  “Jesse said she thought you knew Sharon.”

  “I did, and liked her. She was always going to teach me to swim.”

  “You can’t swim?”

  “No, just something else I forgot to learn, along with driving or fishing.”

  “Want to give any of it a try? We’ve got all summer.”

  Leefe stared at Clary. Sharon was the only person that had ever offered to teach her to swim. “Would you really?” Leefe said. Both Andy and Clary were smiling at her. “I can dance,” she blurted out. The blood rushed to her face, and she looked down, embarrassed.

  “We could give that a try too,” Clary said and squeezed Leefe’s shoulder lightly as she got up to clear the table.

  Everyone pitched in until Clary turned on the dishwasher, and they took coffee outside to the deck. Clary lit candles while Leefe talked to Andy.

  “You’re a retired electrician? I need someone to help me at the day care. Could you give me an estimate, and some idea where to start? Clary volunteered to help, but—”

  “Oh, now I’m not good enough?” Clary laughed, tossing the matches on the table, and rested against Leefe’s shoulder. Leefe swallowed hard but didn’t move away as she normally did when she brushed against someone else’s skin. Touching Clary’s knees this morning had felt good too.

  “I’d be happy to take a look. Give me your number, and I’ll call you.” Andy set his cup on the table. “Ladies, I have to go. I’m too old to be out this late.”

  Clary moved immediately. “I’ll walk you out.”

  When they’d left, Leefe leaned against the railing, scanning the cobweb of stars above her. Andy’s deep voice sounded from the driveway. Clary’s laugh followed, a carefree, happy sound, floating through the dark air. Leefe gripped the wooden railing. She’d never been attracted to anyone but Linda and that had mostly confused her. At that moment, another thread of arousal ran through her body, and she wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans. This was new and stronger than anything she’d felt before.

  *

  The dishwasher hummed in the kitchen as Clary walked through the house, turning on a few lights. All the way through the kitchen, she could see Leefe braced against the deck railing. Candlelight reflected in her light eyes, but there was something else. She rested her arms on Leefe’s shoulders, searched her face, and then carefully held her, feeling the pounding heart that matched her own.

  “What is it?” was all she said. Truly, had anything ever felt as right as Leefe in her arms?

  “Don’t move,” Leefe whispered.

  Clary tightened her grip. This time her mind took charge of her body, said go, don’t stop, and she grazed Leefe’s cheek with her mouth and kissed the warm lips lightly. She stepped back, startled at what she’d just done. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—”

  Leefe said nothing but pulled Clary back for a much deeper kiss.

  Clary held her, barely able to breathe, as they tumbled down onto the lounge, Leefe above her, straddling her.

  Leefe kissed her again, hard and intense, arms tight around her.

  “I think I’m fainting.” Clary heard her own voice, far off in the distance, and drifted in the light lavender scent. She could taste coffee on Leefe’s mouth.

  “I knocked, but—” Jesse said, suddenly on the deck in front of them, and then skidded to a stop. “What the hell.”

  Clary heard Jesse through the haze and tried to straighten, but Leefe pushed her back into the lounge. “Jesse,” Clary said inanely, but she anchored her arms around Leefe’s waist.

  “We have Devi and her brother at the station. The mother’s just barely alive in the hospital. The father almost beat her to death.”

  Clary felt Leefe flinch, and all three of them stared at each other.

  “Get up,” Jesse said to Leefe.

  “When Clary’s ready. Is Devi okay?”

  Clary held on for dear life.

  Jesse scowled at them. “Yes, but upset as you would expect. Ride with me, and we’ll take Devi to the day care. Her brother’s going to Howie’s.”

  “We’ll take my car and follow you,” Clary said and struggled upright. Her legs shook, but she kept her arm possessively around Leefe.

  Jesse gave Clary a hard look. “All right, meet you at the station.” She disappeared into the kitchen, the back door slammed, and tires squealed.

  They moved fast, blowing out the candles, bumping into each other, and clattered down the steps to the back door. Leefe suddenly stopped, shoved Clary against the wall, and kissed her again. “You’re amazing,” Leefe said, and was out the door before Clary could open her eyes.

  They were almost to the police station before either of them said a word.

  “Clary—”

  “I want to do that again. A lot.” Somehow on the edge of crying, Clary parked next to Jesse’s black Jeep. Leefe held her face, and Clary closed her eyes as soft lips touched her ear, her cheek, and then her mouth with a really good kiss. She was on fire.

  Jesse pounded on Clary’s window. Both of them jumped.

  “Damn it, will you NOT do this in the police station parking lot.”

  “Go to hell, Lowden,” Clary said as she opened her door and stood before Jesse. They both breathed hard, but Clary didn’t move.

  “I don’t like this one bit.” Jesse had on her command voice.

  “Oh, but I do.” Clary smiled, reaching for Leefe’s hand. They followed Jesse inside.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Light-headed, Clary held Leefe’s hand walking inside of the police station.

  Jesse stopped at a door. “Wait inside.” She looked pointedly at their hands, glaring at Clary.

  “Think she’s angry?” Clary said, opened the door, and then froze as she connected with the saddest eyes she’d ever seen. Howie held Devi beside a slender young boy.

  “Ms. Ellis.” Devi wiggled out of Howie’s arms and ran to Leefe. She still wore the clothes that Clary had bought for her, but there was blood on them. The children had obviously been crying, their faces streaked with dirt and tears.

  Leefe held Devi, hugg
ing her. “Tough day, huh?”

  Devi snuggled into Leefe as Jesse came in with papers in her hand.

  “Howie, Leefe, sign these release forms. I talked to Beverly and set up an appointment.” Jesse checked the papers. “Two o’clock, this Thursday. Be sure and take a copy for yourself.”

  “Ready to go?” Howie said to the boy.

  “Devi, be good. You know where I am,” the boy said, his voice high and scared. Devi nodded and buried her head against Leefe’s neck.

  “Could we have a ride?” Leefe turned to Clary with a smile.

  “Of course. Do you have some clean clothes for her?”

  “We’ll find them at the day care,” Leefe said, handing the papers to Jesse.

  Devi pulled away and began to cry. “The box at Papa’s. I forgot.” The tears ran across her black eye, emphasizing the color in the room’s lights.

  “We’ll get it,” Clary said, turning to Jesse to see if there was more.

  “You’re welcome,” Jesse said sarcastically and settled on the corner of the long table.

  Clary handed her car keys to Leefe. “The car’s open. Why don’t you and Devi wait for me there?”

  The room cleared. Jesse and Clary stared at each other, and both started to talk at the same time. Jesse went quiet, mouth set in an angry, straight line.

  “Thank you,” Clary said deliberately. “What’s wrong with you?”

  “Stay away from this part of South Port, Clary.”

  “I know this town’s changed. So have I.” Clary crossed her arms and leaned against the wall. “What does that have to do with—”

  “Leefe’s not like us. You thanked me, but she didn’t.” Jesse’s face flushed. “Don’t get involved, Clary. You’re only here for the summer and I know you. You don’t do casual. Look at Leefe. All that homeless baggage and she can barely carry on a conversation.”

  “What? I like the way she talks, and I’ve never had anyone listen as closely as she does. As a matter of fact, she’s one of the most interesting women I’ve ever met.” Clary pushed away from the wall. “She’s not like us? Who are you referring to?”