“I, uh … yes, Grammy, this is Allen Crane.”
“It's nice to meet you, ma'am,” Allen said.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, Allen. Mya says you're an author.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Call me Teddy.”
“Okay, Teddy.”
“Short for Matilda,” Mya explained.
“I checked our library here,” said Teddy. “Seems we don't have any of your books. Mya says you wrote four.”
“Yes.”
“I had our librarian order them for me. They should be in by the end of the week.”
“I hope you enjoy them.”
“Mya tells me the first one was very good.”
“Oh, did she?”
Mya closed her eyes and shook her head. “Grammy, you don't have to tell Allen everything I've told you.”
Teddy waved her off. “Oh, he doesn't mind,” she said. “You should have seen the way he was staring at your butt when you bent over to hug me.”
Allen felt his face redden.
Mya grinned big. “Grammy doesn't have much of a filter.”
“I see that.”
“Never did,” said Teddy. “Always say what you're thinking when you're thinking it. Ya might never get another chance.”
“I'll keep that in mind,” said Allen.
“You ready to head down to the dining room?” asked Mya.
“Let me just grab a sweater, sweetie.”
Allen spotted a tan sweater thrown across the bed. “Is this the one you want?” he asked.
“Yes, it is.”
Allen picked it up and walked toward the couch. Teddy stood, and Allen held up the sweater.
“Such a gentleman,” said Teddy, as she turned around and slid her arms into the sleeves.
Allen lifted the sweater onto her narrow shoulders. “There ya go, Teddy.” Allen gave Mya an over-exaggerated grin, as though he was now the favorite.
Mya rolled her eyes.
When Teddy turned around, she hooked her arm around Allen's. “Lead the way, Mya,” she said.
“Yes, Mya,” said Allen. “Lead the way.”
The trio walked into the hallway and made a left toward the dining room. Several other residents were making their way toward the dining room as well. Most of them walked, but a few were in wheelchairs. Most of the ones who walked, walked with another resident. Some walked with the aid of aluminum walkers. Almost all of the residents walked with a hunch of some degree. Most were dressed, but a few wore pajamas or robes.
A few of the residents noticed the new face in the crowd. When Allen made eye contact, they smiled. He wondered if Mya had told some of them about him.
Mya walked through two open double doors into a large dining room. Allen and Teddy entered right behind her. In his mind, Allen had pictured a bright, more sterile cafeteria-type room. He was surprised by the warmth of the room. One entire wall was floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at the woods. The opposite wall was walnut-stained V-notched tongue and grove pine with a built-in gas fireplace. The other two walls were painted hunter green. The baseboards and casings matched the V-notched pine.
Mya excused herself to fetch the ice cream. Allen walked Teddy to one of the four-top tables. “Thank you, Allen,” she said, letting go of his arm a mite reluctantly, Allen thought.
“I didn't know we could bring a date,” one of the other women said to Teddy. She cackled after she said it.
“He's with Mya,” Teddy replied.
The feisty blue-haired woman looked Allen up and down. “Lucky girl,” she said with a wink. “If things don't work out, fella, swing by my room.”
“Oh, behave, Martha,” said Teddy.
Allen walked over to the banquet table that had been set up in front of the windows. Mya returned to the dining room toting several round cardboard ice cream containers. Allen turned toward the windows and put his hands in his pockets. The setting sun behind a thin scattering of clouds created a tie-dyed wonder of pinks, purples, and reds. The leaves were just starting to change. Allen could only guess at the riot of autumn colors in store for leaf-lookers toward the end of October. Might be worth a return trip, he mused. A guy could settle down here and be pretty hap—
“Grab three more of these out of the freezer in there,” Mya said. “One strawberry and two vanilla.”
Allen snapped out of his nature-induced trance. “Roger that,” he said. On his way past Mya he leaned in and whispered, “I think that lady sitting with Grammy just sexually harassed me.”
“Lucky you,” said Mya.
Allen left the room and walked to a stand-up, three-door freezer and yanked on the large chrome handle. Wow, that's a lot of ice cream, he thought.
When he returned to the room, he placed the containers on the table next to the ones Mya had brought in. “Okay, how we doing this?” he asked.
Mya pointed to a stack of small bowls to Allen's left. “The ones that can will walk up and form a line there, grab a bowl, and walk through.”
“How do we know which flavor of ice cream they want?”
“They'll stomp once for vanilla, and twice for chocolate,” Mya deadpanned.
“Ask a stupid question …”
“They'll tell you what they want. It's not that difficult.”
“What about the ones who don't come up?”
“We'll serve them at their tables.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Allen picked up an ice cream scoop and readied himself. “How do they know to start coming up?”
“Ring that bell.”
Allen searched the table for a bell. “I don't see one.”
“Because there isn't one.” Mya looked out over the seated residents. “We're ready when you are!” she yelled.
Allen glared at her. “One more wise-ass remark, and I'm telling Grammy.”
*****
After the ice cream had been served, and most of the tables had been cleared, Teddy got up from her table.
“I'm going back to my room, Mya,” said Teddy.
“Okay, Grammy, I'll stop in before I leave,” Mya replied.
“I'll walk you down,” Allen said.
“Kiss ass,” Mya whispered just loud enough for Allen to hear.
Allen shot her that same megawatt smile he'd flashed earlier. He walked over to Teddy and gave her his arm. She took it with obvious pleasure.
As the two walked back down the hallway toward Teddy's room, Allen asked, “What do you know about Betty Strong?”
“Betty Strong?” Teddy inquired. “Oh, I don't know. She's lived in York for ten or twelve years, I guess. Moved up here with her sons from what I understand.”
“Have you ever met either one of her sons?”
“No, but according to Jim, they're a couple of real-hell raisers.”
“Jim?”
“Jim Tucker.”
“The cop?”
“Yes.”
“Does he have a relative here at the facility?”
“No, but he used to come here with Mya.”
“Why?”
“They dated for quite a while.”
“Oh, I didn't know that.”
“Oh, yes. They dated for a while in high school, and then reconnected a few years back when he returned from Boston.”
“What was he doing in Boston?”
“That's where he went to the police academy.”
“So, he was a cop in Boston?”
“For a few years, and then he moved back here to his hometown.”
“I see.”
“Why did you want to know about Betty?”
“It's just an idea for a book I'm working on.”
“I hope there's a chapter about dishing out ice cream with a beautiful young woman to a roomful of doddering old fossils.”
“I would never put you in that category, Teddy. And if I do work this evening into my book, I'll make you bell of the ball.”
“You're sweet to say that to an old lady with one foot in the grave.”<
br />
“Teddy,” Allen said, patting her hand, “I wish I had half your get-up-and-go.”
Teddy smiled up at him. “You know, you ain't half bad looking. I wish I were thirty years younger—I'd give Mya a run for her money. Well, maybe forty. Hell, make it sixty.” Allen laughed appreciatively.
When they arrived at Teddy's door, she said, “Here we are. Thanks for the company.”
“The pleasure was all mine, Teddy. I'll stop back in with Mya before we leave.”
“Mya's a good girl, Allen.”
“That's the feeling I get.”
“Treat her well.”
“I will.” Allen turned around, paused, and turned back. “Why did Mya and Jim Tucker break up?”
“He didn't treat her well.”
“Did he hurt her?”
“Not physically. You run along.”
Allen nodded and walked back into the hall. When he got back to the dining room, Mya was coming out.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey.”
“Dining room's all cleaned up.”
“I was hoping.”
“I want to tell Grammy goodnight, then we can go.”
“Sounds good,” Allen said, and spun around.
“What took you so long?” Mya asked.
“I was questioning Grammy.”
“About what?”
“That's between me and Grammy.”
They entered Teddy's room. She was sitting on the couch with a blanket across her lap. Jeopardy was on the television.
“What is onomatopoeia?” said Teddy confidently.
“What is palindrome?” said the contestant.
“Dumb-ass,” Teddy grumbled.
“We're taking off, Grammy,” said Mya.
“Oh, I didn't hear you come in. You kids take care and have fun on your date tomorrow night.”
Mya side-eyed Allen. “Uh … we will,” she said.
As the couple walked past the receptionist's desk, Allen asked, “Told Grammy about our date?”
“I guess I did.”
“Goodnight, Mya,” said the receptionist.
“Goodnight,” Mya said. “See ya Sunday.”
“And you told Grammy all about me,” said Allen.
“Okay, that's enough.”
Chapter Twelve
Mya pulled her Volt into a parking space at Allen's motel and put it in park. She left the engine running. Allen took it as a sign that she didn't want to come up. This made him wonder whether or not he should lean in for a kiss.
“So,” Allen said, “If the writing fizzles out, I guess I can always work at an ice cream shop.” He put his hand on the door lever.
“There's always that,” Mya replied. “Thanks for coming with me and helping out.”
“So … I'll, uh, see you tomorrow night. Six o'clock, right?” Allen scanned the parking lot and the front of the motel.
“Yup. Six o'clock.”
Allen pulled the lever and cracked the door, and the dome light came on. Mya squinted.
“Wow, that's bright,” Allen said.
“Sure is,” Mya replied. “If you were to lean over and kiss me, everyone would see us.”
Allen pulled the door shut far enough for the light to go out. “Did you want me to lean over and kiss you?”
“Well, I figured if we kissed now, then tomorrow night on our date, it wouldn't be such a big deal.”
“That's really good thinking.”
Allen leaned over and pressed his lips against Mya's. She put her hand on the side of his face. The kiss lasted about four seconds. When Allen pulled away and opened his eyes, Mya's were still closed. Her eyelashes fluttered as she slowly opened them. She was a beautiful woman, but even more so with the moonlight shining through the sunroof.
“That was nice,” Mya whispered.
Allen smiled. “You want me to do it again?”
“Yes … but not tonight.”
“Okay.” Allen pushed the door open and climbed out of the car. He bent down to look back inside. “See you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight.”
“Close the door, Allen.”
“You got it.” He pushed the door closed and turned toward the building.
As he walked toward the office door, he heard Mya shift the car into reverse. He wondered if he should look back over his shoulder one last time. He wanted to, and if the roles were reversed, he would want Mya to look back. He decided against it.
Always leave them wanting more, he thought.
“Evenin', Blue Eyes,” he heard from the shadows.
Donnie Peppitone was seated in a chair in front of his picture window. As usual he had a wine glass in his hand.
“Oh, hey, Donnie. Didn't see you there.”
“Was that a woman dropping you off?”
Donnie's voice sounded a little different. He didn't seem as upbeat as usual. A few of his words sounded slurred, but not like the slur of someone intoxicated.
“Yes,” Allen replied. He squinted through the darkness trying to detect something about Donnie's mouth that would cause his to speak differently.
“Did you go on a date tonight?”
“Not exactly,” Allen said. “I volunteered at a nursing home.”
“Very funny.”
“No, I'm serious. The woman who dropped me off, she serves ice cream to old people on Wednesday nights. She asked if I would help her tonight because the woman who usually helps her is out of town.”
“Well, that's very nice of you, Blue Eyes.”
“I have a date with her tomorrow night.”
Donnie chuckled, and when he readjusted his seat, he leaned forward into the light from the wall lantern. There was a small cut over his eye, and his lip was swollen.
“Do you have a fat lip, Donnie?” Allen asked.
Donnie put his fingertips to his lip. “Oh, it's nothing—just had a little mishap.”
“I wondered why you were talking funny. Did someone do that to you, Donnie?”
“It was nothing I couldn't handle.”
“Were you in a fight?”
“A little scuffle.”
“What's the other guy look like?”
“The other guys. There were two of them—redneck assholes.”
“Two guys jumped you?”
“Yes, and to answer your question, they look a lot worse right now than I do. You see, Blue Eyes, when you grow up as the only gay kid in a small town, you learn to fight really well.” Donnie set his wine glass down on the plastic table and rubbed his right fist. “I doubt those boy's knuckles hurt as bad as mine do though.”
Allen chuckled. “Whipped 'em pretty good, did ya?”
“Yeah, but the satisfaction isn't really in the beating, it was in the look on the one kid's face when I hit the other one in the face three times before he even got his hands up.”
“Kids?”
“Late twenties, so, yeah, kids to me. They'll think twice about messing with the next homo, as they called me.”
“I bet they will.”
Donnie picked his glass back up. “Glass of wine?”
“Yeah, sure, why not? Let me run upstairs first. I'll be right back down.”
“I'll be here.”
Allen jogged toward the office door. As he opened it, he looked back. “I'm going to grab myself a cigar,” he said. “You want one?”
“Normally, I would say yes, but with this lip, I better not.”
“Okay.” Allen walked through the door and let it close behind him.
Allen bent down, lifted the doormat, and grabbed his room key. When he opened the door, Frankie jumped to his feet.
“What's up, pal?” Allen asked, on his way to the bathroom.
Frankie barked.
Allen walked back out of the bathroom a minute later and took a five-inch Montecristo out of the humidor.
“I'm going downstairs for a drink, Frankie. You want to go with me?”
Alle
n grabbed his lighter and cutter.
Frankie jumped off the bed and ran to the door.
“I guess so.”
When Donnie saw Frankie, he said, “I've only got two glasses, fella.”
“That's okay,” Allen replied, noticing the glass of wine Donnie had poured for him. “Frankie only drinks tequila.”
Frankie ran to Donnie.
“How ya doin', fella?” Donnie asked, scratching Frankie between the ears. He looked up at Allen and pointed. “The boy down the way was out here a little while ago throwing a ball around.”
Allen sat down in the other chair. “Yeah, he's watched Frankie a few times for me. He's a good kid—Jacob.”
“And the other boy, what's his name?”
“That's Oliver.”
“They're brothers?”
“No. Oliver lives over here behind the motel somewhere. I haven't really met him yet.” Allen clipped the end of his cigar and lit it. He inhaled and blew smoke into the air.
“I see Jacob's father working over on the seawall. The family lives right here in the motel?”
Allen nodded. “Jacob, Tess—that's Jacob's mom—and the baby are just here for few weeks. The dad, Jay, has been here all summer for work. The family is going home in September. Jay's here until November.”
“Long time to be away from your family,” Donnie commented.
“I guess.” He took a drag on his cigar, and then sipped his wine. “Say, I thought you said word around here spreads quickly. How is it you don't already know everything about the Palmers?”
“Yeah, what I meant by that was, word spreads quickly when I bother to ask Crystal.”
“I see.”
“So, tell me, how is it you ended up with a date after being in town for only three days? I'd like to know your secret. I can't meet anyone in this town to save my life.”
“Maybe you're just not trying hard enough, Donnie.”
“Oh, I'm trying, Blue Eyes. How do you think I got this fat lip?”
Allen burst out laughing. “He didn't appreciate your advances, I take it?”
“He pretended not to. That little redneck—Timmy, I think the other guy called him—is gayer than a baton twirler in a pride parade.”
Allen was sipping his wine and did a spit take. “Gotta say, I never heard that one before.”
“Believe me, I've collected an encyclopedia of he's gayer than lines.”
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