Hardwired

by C. P. Rowlands

  Chapter Thirty

  That night, Clary stepped back and looked at the bed in the corner of Leefe’s book room. It was long, but a little narrow.

  “Leefe, come in here. Look at this.” Clary tightened the corner on the top sheet and took a worn-out breath, thankful that Devi was already asleep in the hammock.

  “That’s great,” Leefe said, walking in from the shower, braless in a white T-shirt with a peek of skimpy underwear. Clary’s heart thumped at the sight of her tousled hair and delicate body. She wanted to spend a lifetime looking at this woman. They worked together, spreading a light blanket over the sheets. Clary could smell her shampoo and moved closer.

  “Did you see Devi check out the house?” Leefe sank down on the bed. “The hammock fascinates her.”

  “She wouldn’t wear anything but your T-shirt. It makes her look like a little ghost.” Clary grinned and then whispered, “The hammock fascinates me too.”

  Leefe turned the lamp to low. “Sit with me.” She patted the bed and Clary stretched out behind her. “What a crazy day.” Leefe rolled to her stomach and tugged one of Clary’s curls lightly.

  “Mrs. Ellis is disgusting.” Clary closed her eyes, remembering the woman’s mean voice. “I’ve never been inside that jail, and I grew up here. I’ve found a brand new town this summer. And look at you. You’re a mother, and you have a family.”

  “Family,” Leefe said softly, staring into space. “It even feels strange to say the word.”

  “I like your lawyer. When she gives you the green light, do you want to drive up there?”

  “I don’t know. I need to let this settle. She said she’d do the contacting. Then there’s Devi…and you.”

  “And you…” Clary placed a finger on Leefe’s forehead and crossed her arms under her head. “Last night, you answered the question about Robin that I’ve been searching for. I was so caught up with Hannah and teaching that I forgot to pay attention to her. A lot of people must have told me that, but I didn’t understand it until you talked to me.” She turned to her side, looking into Leefe’s eyes. “I really listen to you.”

  “I’m sorry. Last night was rude and dumb of me. I felt you meant us as just a summer thing.”

  “I’m not put together for that kind of thing.” Clary sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. “I’ll go. We’re both exhausted. You need sleep.”

  “Wait. Don’t leave. I’m only asking for time to let everything calm down. We can figure this out together.” She pulled Clary back to the bed and stretched against her, fingers slipping into Clary’s bra. “You said not to quit.”

  Leefe’s hot touch made Clary’s body ache. As tired as she was, she was ready. “Oh God, that feels good,” she whispered against Leefe’s skin. “You’re magic.” Helpless tears pushed against her eyes when Leefe’s soft mouth touched her own. Soon, all of their clothes were on the floor.

  Later, they curled into each other, almost asleep. Suddenly, Clary sat up.

  “Leefe. We’d better put clothes on. What if Devi gets up in the night?” They began to fumble through clothing on the floor with sleepy laughter.

  *

  The next night, a rainbow of fireworks covered the sky above them, followed by the traditional bombs ending the Fourth of July show. The jetties were crowded with people in lawn chairs and on blankets, some dangling their feet in the water. It had been one of the prettiest summer days Clary could remember. The air was as clean as any she’d ever breathed with a clear blue sky and generous sun.

  Devi jumped in front of them, waving her arms. “Did you hear that? Those booms scared me.” Howie’s wife reached for Devi and put one of her kids’ sweatshirts over her, saying something that made Jesse and Piper laugh. Devi ran down the jetty, the sweatshirt flapping around her knees.

  Clary was genuinely impressed with Howie’s wife. She was talkative, quick to smile, and easy with all of the children.

  Leefe’s new look-at-me bikini at the beach had made Clary lower her eyes and want to touch her every time she’d looked at her. It was almost criminal. She wanted to touch her right now, and leaned against Leefe’s shoulder.

  That morning, while Leefe and Devi were at the day care, Clary had mowed Aunt Maureen’s yard and checked the flowers and garden. She’d washed sheets, cleaned the upstairs bathroom just in case the family showed up, and then packed a bag to stay at Leefe’s. Finally, she’d dressed in her own swimsuit, a moss-green bikini with faded gold accents. The first thing she’d noticed was that she’d put on some much-welcome weight. The angles were fading. She added shorts and a tank top over her suit for the barbeque.

  Now, in the deep-blue darkness of the night, Clary looked around the jetties, remembering her family here, watching the fireworks together. Sharing this again was a joy. She looked at Andy beside them, Jacob in his lap, looking as happy as she felt. The blowback from the fireworks drifted past. Jacob had his fingers in his ears, laughing, and Devi wiggled into the space between them.

  “Leefe, the lights are on at Aunt Mo’s.”

  Leefe stretched to see through the crowd. “Look at my deck. There’s Maureen and Joe. Are those your parents?”

  Clary stood on shaky legs, pulling Leefe and Devi along behind her. She hugged her mother and father first, and then Maureen and Joe.

  “You’re here,” Clary said, close to happy tears, and hugged them again.

  Her mother tried to smile with teary eyes, but failed, holding her hard.

  Andy was beside them, talking to Joe and holding Jacob.

  “My grandson,” he said and smiled at Jacob.

  “And my daughter,” Leefe added, holding Devi.

  Maureen’s mouth was slightly open and Uncle Joe laughed. “Every time I leave town, something crazy happens.”

  Clary put her arms around her parents, her throat still too thick to talk.

  Howard and his wife brought ice cream and scooped out cones for the kids. The adults sat on the deck, eating from bowls and talking with people as they left the jetties.

  Leefe touched Clary’s shoulder. “Devi finished the ice cream cone, but look at her. She’s sound asleep, curled against the wall. I’ll put her to bed in the hammock.”

  “We have rooms at the Lake Inn. It came with the vacation package,” Clary’s mother said, holding the door for Leefe and Devi.

  “I’m staying with Leefe.” Clary waited to see how her mother took that news, but she only nodded.

  “Okay, your call, but we have a whole suite. Plenty of room. We’ll be here a week.”

  “Let’s do breakfast at the inn,” Clary suggested and then eased down on the steps beside her father. “How’s the ankle?”

  “It’s fine, just a sprain. I left the crutches at the resort.” They both watched Jesse fumble with the crutches in the sand as she and Piper left. “Those are hell to handle in sand,” he said and patted her hand. “Congratulations again. That was a heck of an award last year. Wish we could have been there, but that spring snowstorm cancelled all the flights. I read your speech. You had a great idea.”

  “You know how subjective those things are. The right idea at the right time, I guess. Teaching saved me. My students deserved that award.”

  “How’s next year shaping up? Still looking forward to it?”

  Clary shook her head. “Not exactly. Some teachers have left, and they’re not only arguing over testing, but someone’s trying to initiate a charter school. It’s a mess, and it looks as if I’m not going to get my special class that I fought for, but that’s not the problem. I’m not sure I want to do it anymore. Did that ever happen to you?”

  “Nothing like what these schools are fighting now,” he said. “So, it’s decision time?”

  “I guess so,” Clary said. “You always told me to do what I wanted to do and, when I felt like I’d done it all, go to the next thing.”

  “That’s exactly what I said, but your mother feels the same.”

  “I’ve had it. I’m too tired to stand one more mi
nute,” Aunt Mo said, suddenly beside them. “The house looks wonderful, Clary. It smelled so clean when we walked inside. We threw everything into the living room and came over here.”

  “A little housecleaning is the least I could do, and besides, you know I love your place.”

  Her father stood. “Our bags are still in the car.”

  “Do you want to use my car?” Clary said. “Wait, that won’t work. We only have one car. Leefe doesn’t drive.”

  Her father looked across the deck at Leefe, talking with Joe and Andy. Jacob was asleep in Andy’s lap. “Look at Andy. That’s something I wish Velma could see. Their lifelong dream.”

  “So true,” Maureen said with a sad smile. “You take our car. We’ll drive mine to the Inn in the morning. It’ll give Joe a chance to try to talk me into a new car, and you all know that’s never going to happen.”

  After everyone left, Clary checked Devi, and when she came out, Leefe was at the kitchen table reading the papers the lawyer had dropped off at the day care this morning. She’d confirmed most of the Ellis woman’s information, but there were a few gaps. Leefe had looked dazed but happy when Clary had picked them up to go to Howie’s.

  “I can’t get over this,” Leefe said. “My mother’s name was Erin, and my father was Jack Kelly. They have names.”

  “Are you going to change your last name?”

  “You can change your name?”

  “Absolutely. Want some water or tea?” Clary went to the fridge. “I’d bet Rebecca’s going to suggest that you take your parents’ name. She can do that.”

  “Water, please.”

  “What about your first name? I mean, what if your name is something like Sue or Mary or Jane or—” She stopped when she saw the alarmed look on Leefe’s face. “See? It just says ‘Baby girl Kelly.’ People change names all the time. You’d stick with Leefe?”

  “I guess. It’s different. My favorite color’s green, and my name’s always felt green so…”

  “I’m just messing with you.” Clary grinned. “You can legally change whatever you want.”

  They came up with several choice names until Leefe rubbed her eyes. “Albie’s covering breakfast tomorrow so I can have the meal with your family, and then I work the rest of the day.”

  “Want some help?”

  “Sure, but don’t you want to talk to your parents?”

  “Of course, and I will. Would you mind if I brought them to the day care? I’d like to show that place off and what you’ve done. I’m proud of you.” They turned off the outside and kitchen lights, locked up, and finally turned off the low light beside the bed.

  “You look like your mother and Maureen, but you have your father’s eyes,” Leefe said, leaning over Clary.

  “Told you so.” Clary yawned.

  Leefe wrapped her arms around Clary and then kissed her. “This feels so good. I think I wanted to do this the first day we met in the hospital, but who knows. My mind was so weird.”

  “Your mind’s not weird. It’s wonderful, and it’s going to fascinate me forever.” Clary pushed against Leefe’s soft skin and closed her eyes. “I love waking up with you and realizing it’s not a dream.”

  Chapter Thirty-one

  The “Teddy Bear’s Picnic” alarm on the laptop woke Clary and Leefe the next morning, quickly followed by the crash of Devi falling out of the hammock. Leefe found her, hiding behind the desk, her ears covered with her hands. Clary took the laptop to the floor by the desk, playing with different alarms on the laptop until Devi inched out and sat in Leefe’s lap.

  Clary and Hannah had set that up years ago. Leefe and Devi hummed the song as they straightened the hammock until Clary begged them to stop. They only hummed it louder until Clary threw pillows at them, and they ended up in a monster pillow fight, all of them laughing.

  Dressed in a white embroidered T-shirt, red shorts, and sandals, Devi stood in front of the big mirror in the bathroom and stared at herself, quiet.

  “Look at you. You’re so pretty,” Clary said with a big hug. “Leefe, who does your hair? I’m due for a cut and so is Devi.”

  “A girl I grew up with from the county home,” Leefe said, stepping into the bathroom, checking her hair too. “You’re right. Let’s do it now.” She dialed her friend, setting up an appointment for tomorrow. She touched Clary’s long-sleeved peasant blouse. “I like that.”

  “There’s a story about this blouse and you. When things quiet down, I’ll tell you,” Clary put an arm around both of them. “We’d better go.”

  Clary secured Devi’s seat belt in the backseat. “I keep forgetting. We need a car seat,” she said. “Ready for a driving lesson?” She tossed the keys to Leefe.

  Leefe lobbed the keys back. “I don’t think so. Not with Devi in the car, and not before my first meal with your parents.”

  “They’re easy,” Clary said as she dialed her mother. When they arrived, Clary’s father took Leefe and Devi for a walk along the pier at the south harbor, showing off the boats. Clary and her mother went to their suite and stood on the balcony, looking at the lake.

  “I’ve missed you, and this lake.” Her mother put her hands on Clary’s shoulders, giving her a thorough once-over. “You’re still too thin, honey.”

  “I’m putting on weight, sleeping again, and I haven’t killed any of Aunt Mo’s plants.”

  “Have you had any anxiety or panic attacks?”

  “Only one since early spring. Last week, and it was a hard one.” Her mother pushed Clary’s hair off her forehead, a gesture so familiar that Clary swallowed hard. “I see you’ve been in the sun, but you need a haircut, kiddo.”

  “We’re taking care of the hair tomorrow. Leefe has a friend.”

  “Do you want to talk about Leefe?”

  “I’m trying to keep it slow, but there’s Iowa.” Clary took a deep breath.

  “Mo told us about Leefe and the day care. She really cares about her. Do you know that Mo and I Skype all the time?”

  “I didn’t.” Clary laughed. “Maureen has a photo of Leefe on the family wall in her kitchen?”

  “Personally, I’m all for it. After Sharon, it’s a godsend.” Her mother deftly changed the subject. “I hear Leefe may have found some family. Maureen talked to Beverly.” Her mother paused, quiet. “Your father and I are amazed at what’s happened to this town. Are you sure you don’t want to stay here and work? It’d be risky but what a challenge.”

  “I’m honestly conflicted right now. Did Dad tell you that I feel as if I’m done in Iowa?”

  “Yes he did and let’s talk more about this, later,” her mother said as they heard Joe’s and Maureen’s voices in the suite.

  Over breakfast, they got a detailed story about the trip through the islands. Her family’s laughter wrapped Clary like a hug. Her father, in his usual blunt fashion, asked Leefe a ton of questions about South Port and the day care. Leefe looked surprised but smiled as she answered him. Clary realized her father had pleased her. Also that he liked her. He only asked questions when he was genuinely interested. Clary and her mother smiled at each other.

  “Don’t forget your fruit,” Clary said to Devi, pointing at the red melon and grapes. Devi had been eating steadily but was focused on the people in the room, the waiters, and the food that surrounded them.

  Maureen turned to Leefe. “Dr. Bergs saw both you and Devi?”

  Leefe nodded. “She’s been great.”

  “How are you feeling?” Maureen said.

  “I’m fine. Devi’s on the mend too.” Leefe paused with a little frown. “Would you look at the vegetables we planted at the day care? I need some advice.”

  “Love to,” Maureen said. “We’re going to have a barbeque, a kind of special event. I spoke with Piper. She and Jesse will be there, and Howie and his family.” She turned and patted Clary’s hand. “You’ve had some active weeks.”

  Clary nodded. “It was the last thing I expected.”

  “Did you ever think of staying and t
eaching here?” Joe suddenly said.

  Clary stared at her uncle. He rarely said anything about her job. A little tingle traveled down her spine, and she looked at her family. Something was up.

  *

  They were making appetizers and side dishes for the barbeque tonight. Clary had been assigned the salad, and her mother and Maureen were doing appetizers. The kitchen smelled like fresh vegetables, and Clary was thoroughly enjoying herself.

  “I’ve never heard Leefe talk as much as she did, the morning we all had breakfast at the lake. Normally, she’s the quietest person I’ve ever been around.” Clary shredded lettuce. “I have an idea about the kids who are running loose on the beach by Mojo’s. I’ve seen Jesse’s list. Remember how you kept all of us busy every summer?”

  Her mother began to laugh. “We had to keep you off the streets somehow. Jesse and Kaye’s parents were in on that too. Actually, it was your father’s idea, but the whole neighborhood made it work.”

  “No, we did the work, but it was good for us and kept the beach clean. Why don’t you hire these homeless kids to rake and pick up debris, the same thing you had us do. You could pay them with food from Mojo’s. Put Jesse and Howie in charge. It beats having them break into houses for food.”

  “That’s an idea,” Maureen said, bending over some olives. “The group that runs Harv’s old place would help us with that too. Talk to your uncle Joe tonight.”

  “By the way, what is tonight all about?” Clary said. She’d seen the guest list. They were neighbors she’d grown up with, local business owners, teachers, and others. She knew their names but didn’t know them personally. There was a catering group setting up tables in the backyard right now.

  “We wanted to throw a kind of thank you meal for all the people that have been a part of our life here,” Maureen said.

  “We won’t have the chance to do this again,” Clary’s mother added. “Life is fast.”

  “Just ask me about that,” Maureen said. “I’m the expert.” Clary’s mother laid her knife down and put her arm around Maureen.