See You in September : The Refuge Series Book One

by Debbie Zello

  “My interest is to get the best film I can out of you. Your interest is to help me make that happen. If I get your best effort everyday, this will be a great film. If not, then we will have wasted both my time and yours. I hate my time being wasted, so see to it that it doesn’t happen.

  “If you have a problem, see me. If you have a question, see me. If you want a friend, find one. If you need a mother, call her. Watch the drinking and forget the drugs. We’re in Gods River in the middle of His country with not much to do but work and sleep. If I can have six to eight weeks of your best effort, I’ll get you back home as quickly as I can,” he said, looking over the roomful of people.

  Most, if not all, of the crew had worked with him before. Two of the actors were also veterans of Gareth. The rest were new but here because they had heard of how professional he was and knew what kind of work he turned out. Everyone considered it a coup d’état to land a part with him directing.

  As Gareth sat talking with the cast and crew, getting to know the new people, he could already feel the energy of the film developing. This was going to be good. He hadn’t been wrong, yet.

  Chapter Twelve

  Cheri pumped full of Advil and sporting a pair of sunglasses, wobbled in the front door of her office, hoping to go unnoticed by Piper. No such luck!

  “Whoa, what happened to you? Someone kill your cat or something?” Piper asked, looking at Cheri as if she was sure she’d catch something from her.

  “I don’t have a cat. I had a bad day yesterday and I threw a pity-party last night. Today, I’m doing my best impersonation of death-warmed-over. How am I doing?”

  “I’m thinking Academy Award and a Golden Globe,” Piper said giving no help.

  “It’s funny you should say that. I know someone who has a few of them. God I miss him,” Cheri said rubbing her temple. “I need my coffee in an intravenous bag today, please.”

  “Coming right up.” Cheri didn’t take her sunglasses off for another few hours. She didn’t turn on the lights in her office either. When Piper went for lunch, Cheri just got a wheat bagel, figuring the bread would soak up what was left of the wine. She didn’t know if that was exactly what happened but she was going with it.

  While Piper was out, in walked the same process server who had brought her the first summons. “You’re becoming a regular customer, Miss Winslow. How come such a pretty woman is in so much trouble?” he asked, handing her the papers.

  “That’s a damned good question. I don’t have a clue about the answer. I’ll probably see more of you, so have a good day!”

  “Thanks and you try to have a better one,” he joked on his way out. A better one, Cheri thought. Probably not possible.

  The papers were what she thought. David was trying to bring her down with him. She was joined with him by the plaintiffs for a million in actual damages and naturally compensatory damages in the amount of another million. If she was found guilty, she would lose everything.

  A lien had been filed on her house and her office. The only thing they wouldn’t be able to touch were her retirement fund and life insurance. “Just like I thought, I’m better off dead,” she said aloud with her forehead resting on her desk.

  “Now I’m really worried,” Piper said walking back in the office just in time to hear her. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or do I have to wait until I read it in the paper?”

  “Because it might affect you, I’ll tell you,” she said resigning herself to the inevitable. Cheri explained everything that happened in court yesterday, along with the conversation she’d had with David at her house. As she went over everything, she began to put two-and-two together.

  He had told her he needed her to testify to a time frame for a lawsuit with the boyfriend. That rat-bastard didn’t need that at all. He paid the guy off with client money. That’s what really happened. Now she needed the copies of those checks they showed her. They were the time frame she needed to see.

  The shoot was going very well. Every night he would watch the dailies with some of the crew, and what he saw pleased him. He was on schedule and maybe even slightly ahead. Gareth was very proud of the fact that he had a tight grasp on the reins of his set. Say what you want, but the studios liked a director to come in at, or under, budget. If you were consistently doing that, at some point, you could come to them with a project that was out-there and they would back you, because of your reputation.

  The nights were tough on everyone. They played cards and watched some TV. He was aware of some hanky-panky going on but everyone on set was an adult, and he wasn’t their priest or parent.

  As the shoot neared its end, the weather turned downright nasty with heavy snow and powerful winds. Everyone was glad that Gareth had the forethought to shoot all of the outdoor scenes first, saving the inside for last. The house they had rented was only a few streets away from the lodge and easy to get to, even in bad weather.

  When they wrapped on the last day, Gareth thought back to his last party at the cape. He had so much fun with everyone after the long hours put in on the shoot. He wished he could go back for this party but frolicking in the December sand is not as much fun as the September sand. They’d have their party in Cabo, where it was nice and warm.

  It took weeks for Cheri to secure an attorney that had no dealings with her ex-husband. His family was well established in the Cape Cod community so she had to go to Boston to meet with Anthony Grison who agreed to represent her. “I know your ex-husband by reputation only, Miss Winslow.”

  “I can live with that, Attorney Grison.”

  “Good. I’ve gone over the papers you faxed to me and I believe if you are indeed sure that you didn’t sign any checks, we’re going to need a handwriting expert. A good one isn’t cheap, but I believe necessary in this instance. The “Yes, you did. No, I didn’t” defense won’t work here.”

  “Agreed. If I can prove I didn’t sign those checks, I will be able to keep my office? As that was purchased after the divorce. What about my house? I don’t know where that money came from,” Cheri said afraid of the answer.

  “That’s going to depend on when it was purchased in relationship to the missing money and then your divorce stipulations. Everything was separated at the time of the divorce, so if the timing is right, we can save it. Let’s keep our fingers crossed once we get everything from discovery,” he said trying to comfort her.

  “Thank you for your time and we’ll be in touch. I can’t tell you how stupid I feel. I’m an attorney and I was taken just as easily as a general worker was. I should have known better,” she said sadly.

  “Love is blind. Divorce is the revelation. I need the closing papers on your house. I don’t care about his. Also your divorce and anything else you feel is germane.”

  Cheri drove home thinking it was one week until Christmas and she had no spirit at all. She hadn’t sent out any cards. If it wasn’t for Piper, the office cards wouldn’t have gone out.

  The only present she had purchased was Piper’s and that was only because she had ordered it in August. She had been drooling over a cashmere sweater one day when she and Cheri had lunch.

  Cheri went for a walk on the beach. The wind had died down and it was a balmy forty-five degrees. It was a lonely walk as the only other living creatures she encountered were the ever-present seagulls. She stopped in front of the mammoth empty house that was so unloved it had never had a guest in it that she knew of. “I’m sorry you’re so sad,” she said almost crying. “I’m sad too, maybe we could be friends.”

  Cheri tracked down the Weisman’s son and arranged to visit over the Christmas holiday week. She wasn’t sure if it was a good idea but she took a photo of their little blue cottage. She removed the photo of the man that encouraged her to get so drunk and put the cottage picture in the frame. She had cleaned the frame and decorated it with tiny seashells and baby starfishes that she had collected on one of her many beach-walks.

  She carefully wrapped the frame along with some
things she shared with the two friends, coffee, and packages of macaroons, rugelach, and kichelech, their three favorite cookies. She made a big heart from a paper lace doily and placed that over her gifts to let them know she loved them.

  Then she made out her one and only Christmas card. Inside she wrote.

  I need you.

  If September was more than just a vacation hook-up to you,

  Please call me.

  If it was more to me, than it is to you.

  Please don’t come back.

  Gareth enjoyed the beaches at Cabo San Lucas. They were warm and welcoming. The drinks were cold and delicious. He danced with his cast and crew and they ate gourmet dinners together. It would have been perfect if Cheri had been with him. No matter how short the nights were, they were long and lonely for him, in his bed dreaming of being in hers.

  He got back to Santa Barbara just in time to pack for his next trip…home for the holidays. His family lived in Arizona and he was expected to be there to help put up the tree, tomorrow. Thank God, his mom was used to disappointments. He boarded the plane in the late afternoon and would arrive shortly after dinner.

  Gareth planned to spend two weeks with his family and then he had his first shoot of the year starting the second week of January. This one, at least, was in San Antonio, Texas. A much warmer location than Canada.

  These two shoots were very close together, something he didn’t like to do. But, sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do. After that, he would be home for an extended time doing two premiers and editing these two films. Then he would have September.

  Gareth’s father picked him up at the airport. “Hey, dad. You look great!” he threw an arm around his dad.

  “You too. Looks like you got some sun in Cabo. How were the Senoritas?” he asked with a laugh.

  “Still there in their bikinis. Not much changes.” Father and son caught up on the local news. Gareth went into detail about Canada. “You need to take Uncle Jack there for the fishing, but not until July or August. It’s too damn cold there now.”

  “I don’t do cold. That’s why I live here.”

  “Noted. Did mom make Christmas cookies?”

  “Did it snow in Canada?”

  “Thank God. I love her cookies. It’s good to be home,” he said with a sigh.

  “It’s good to have you home,” his dad said with a grin.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Piper invited Cheri to her house for Christmas dinner. Cheri accepted when she couldn’t come up with a legitimate reason not to. It wasn’t that she didn’t love Piper. It was because she had everything that Cheri wanted yet didn’t possess. A husband that worshiped her and a little girl that loved her.

  Cheri knocked on the door. It opened to a warm scene of a lovely Christmas tree and opened presents under it. Piper’s husband Ben said, “Come in; its cold out there!”

  “Thanks, Ben. Merry Christmas,” Cheri said handing him a bottle of wine and the apple pie she had made for dessert. “Can I help with anything?”

  “I don’t think so. Piper runs a tight ship in her kitchen. I think she has everything under control. I’ll ask, but she’ll probably throw something at me for breaking her concentration,” he joked.

  “Never mind then. I don’t want to be responsible for bloodshed.” Cheri did enjoy the dinner. No one should be alone on holidays. It goes against nature’s plan that we are creatures who crave companionship.

  The whole day she was within reach of her phone. Cheri hoped Gareth would call today. She felt he must have received her card by now. She fell asleep that night with the phone on her chest.

  “Gareth, can you slice the ham for me please? I left a serving plate and the knife set next to it on the counter,” his mother asked.

  “Glad to, Mom. Do you need anything else?” he said offering.

  “A grandchild would be nice. I guess it’s too late for this Christmas but you could get started for the next.”

  “Funny you should say that. I’ve met a very special woman. I can’t get her out of my head,” he said smiling at his mom.

  “Good, let her stay there. It’s a long life to be alone, Gareth. There is nothing more important to this existence than a good marriage and children, should God see fit to send them to you. It sees you through the bad times and celebrates with you in the good.”

  “Cheri lives in Massachusetts. The commute will kill me. I can do some from there but you know most of it I can’t. She’s an attorney with an established practice. I don’t know if I can ask her to leave all of that for me,” he said sadly.

  “If you’re saying you don’t think you’re worth it, stop. You’re a fine man and I’m not saying that because you’re my son. You even send money to that girl who tried to ruin your life. What other person would have helped her? Not me.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes. She was having a baby and scared. I made myself an easy mark.” His mother walked to him and kissed his cheek.

  “Talk to her. Ask her to move to California, if that’s what you want. Then it’s up to her. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

  Gareth’s two weeks with his family were over quickly. He visited cousins and old friends, even spending New Year’s Eve with an old girlfriend. After that night, he realized why he didn’t marry her. All she talked about was herself.

  He flew back and went right to Tucker’s studio to work. He had a little less than two weeks to begin the edit on the Canada shoot. Then he was off to Texas. He had 235 long days to go until September.

  When he got home late that night, he climbed the stairs to his bedroom. He put his suitcase in the closet for Naomi to unpack, then stripped off his clothes and, this time, got under the sheets. He didn’t want a repeat performance from his assistant.

  “I’m filing a complaint with the labor board against you. These working conditions suck,” Naomi said feigning anger. It seems Gareth had thrown off the blanket in his sleep and was now on his back

  “You love it and you know it,” he said, yawning.

  “Right. I’m telling my mother that I blame you for me being gay,” she said.

  “I thought you were gay when I hired you?” he questioned.

  “I was…am…yes, I always was. But she didn’t know it yet.”

  “I see,” he said yawning again.

  “I left the crap mail on the dining room table. It’s mostly Christmas cards and stuff like that. The invitations for the premiers came and I already sent the RSVP’s back and put the dates on your calendar.”

  “Thank you.”

  “So, what kind of necklace did you give your mom, the bill came.”

  “Big.”

  “And your dad got fishing equipment?”

  “Yup.”

  “And that was some night out on New Year’s Eve.”

  “It was and I didn’t sleep with her if that’s your next question.”

  “I would never ask something so personal,” she said, smiling. He opened an eye to look at her and then just shook his head.

  “Come on, get up. Tucker has already called twice. He told me to come up here and throw cold water on you.”

  “What time is it?”

  “Six-thirty.”

  “For the love of all that’s holy, I was there until one this morning and drove thirty minutes’ home. All he has to do is roll in and out of bed. I need new friends. But not you, you I need to marry.”

  “Fuck that, big guy. You don’t have the equipment I like,” she smirked.

  “Some might argue that. Besides I have a hamster,” he said laughing.

  “Here we go again. Some things I just don’t want to know about. Now get up or I’m getting the water,” she said leaving his room.

  Cheri drove to where the Weisman’s were staying, two days after Christmas. She was warmly greeted by their son and shown into the living room. Seated there were her two neighbors looking well and rested. After giving them each a kiss on the cheek Cheri said, “You both look so well.”


  “Thank you, my dear. You’re a sight for our sore eyes,” Mrs. Weisman said.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Old and useless. All we do is watch the TV and talk about the old days when we could get around,” Mr. Weisman said.

  “When will you be coming home? I miss seeing your lights everyday. The cottage looks so forlorn,” Cheri said.

  “I doubt we’ll be coming back. We need to be closer to our doctors and our family. The days of living on the sea are over for us. We have to leave it to the young like you.”

  Cheri spent over two hours talking with them. They had tea and ate their cookies she had brought for them. They loved the frame and laughed at the story of how she’d talked to it. She didn’t tell them about her troubles and how she might lose her own cottage.

  When it was time for her to go, she kissed them affectionately and promised to visit again. She got home and cried for all of the losses in her world.

  Cheri’s sister was three years younger than she was. Constance was the baby in the family. Connie had been a sickly child always catching every cold that came around. She had ear-infections, tonsillitis, and bronchitis several times a year.

  Shortly after Connie turned fourteen, Cheri began to notice several large black-and-blue marks on her sister’s legs that didn’t seem to go away. Cheri finally spoke with her sister about them. That’s when Connie showed her the bruises all over her body. A quick trip to the doctor’s office confirmed Cheri’s worst suspicion. Connie had Leukemia.

  It was ten months of debilitating treatments. The entire family was tested for a bone-marrow match with no success. She was listed in the registry but again, no matches were found. With time running out, she was in the hospital too weak to even feed herself.

  Cheri’s parents, especially her mother, refused to leave her side right up to the very end. The last thing Connie said to Cheri was that she expected Cheri to do the living for the both of them. Cheri promised her that she would.

  Connie’s death threw her mother into the pit of despair. Even with medication and counseling, she couldn’t function. Within weeks, she started drinking. A few months later, Cheri’s dad thought a confrontation with him might pull her from her nightmare.