Tiny House on the Road

by Celia Bonaduce

“Um,” Priscilla falters.

  The tears won’t stop.

  “Tell me where you are,” Stan says. “I can be there before sundown.”

  She gives him an intersection.

  “You still got that other dime?” Stan asks.

  “Yes,” Priscilla says. “And I’ll use it. I promise.”

  Chapter 32

  The only sound in the room was the ticking of Melanie’s grandfather clock. Vivien looked out the window. The sun had set. The vineyard was like a cocoon.

  “One of the biggest regrets of my life was not keeping up with Stan,” Priscilla said. “It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized he might have saved my life.” Priscilla and the Colonel were holding hands so tightly Priscilla’s knuckles were white. It was as if they were afraid to let go of each other.

  Marco reached out and took Vivien’s hand. She looked at him. Vivien had to bite her lip to keep from crying. The Colonel and Priscilla had a tragic love story of half a century.

  Is there a happily ever after here? Is that even possible?

  “There you have it,” the Colonel said. “We must have missed each other time and time again in San Francisco, searching for each other. Then there was nothing to do but…”

  “Go home,” Priscilla said. “Not give up…but go home. I never gave up.”

  “Where did you go?” Priscilla asked the Colonel.

  “I went home too,” the Colonel said. “But my story was a little different. I was…well, I was very…underage when I left home.”

  “How old were you?” Priscilla asked, horrified.

  “I was fifteen,” he said.

  “I was five years older than you?” Priscilla gasped.

  “You still are,” the Colonel teased.

  “Does that make me a cougar?” Priscilla asked.

  “I wouldn’t answer that if I were you,” Marco said.

  “Once you saw me on television,” the Colonel said to Priscilla. “Why didn’t you come see me?”

  “I wasn’t sure you’d want to see me,” Priscilla said. “You were a big star and I was…older.”

  “You are as beautiful as ever,” the Colonel said, then looking at Hilda. “And you’re as hideous as ever.”

  “He’s saying that with love,” Priscilla said to the doll’s good eye.

  “Wait!” Marco’s voice brought Vivien back to the present. “Did you say that Hilda was broken?”

  “That’s why I tapped the poor thing’s head on the table during the show,” the Colonel said. He turned to Priscilla. “And I am very sorry about that, my dear, but I wasn’t in my right mind. I thought I was looking at Hilda. Let’s face it, she is hard to forget. But after fifty years, one has to make sure the mind isn’t playing tricks.”

  “I understand,” Priscilla said.

  “But we…” Marco began, but sat back in his seat.

  Vivien looked at him. She knew what he was thinking. Maybe they could skirt the issue that they’d broken Hilda too. Priscilla also knew what he was thinking.

  “I kept waiting for you two to confess that you broke Hilda,” Priscilla said, “so I could let you know it was all right. But you never mentioned it—and I wasn’t sure how to broach the subject anyway, so I just left it alone.”

  “So what you’re saying is,” Vivien said. “When Clay knocked her over with his tail, it was just a—”

  “Clay?” Priscilla said in surprise.

  Clay looked up when he heard his name. He thumped his tail loudly on the floor.

  “Well, he’s not entirely to blame,” Vivien said, blushing.

  “I told you that house was too small,” Priscilla said.

  “Actually,” Vivien said. “No, you didn’t.”

  “Well, I’m telling you now,” Priscilla said. “Whatever was going on, you probably could have used just a little more room.”

  “We were fighting!” Vivien said, embarrassed by the innuendo.

  “Is that what you kids call it these days?” Priscilla said, but she had a twinkle in her eye.

  “Anyway, I’m relieved to hear we didn’t break Hilda,” Vivien said, changing the subject. “Well, at least we weren’t the first to break her.”

  Vivien looked at Marco. If things worked out between them, she would never have a story like Priscilla’s. She could never say “it was love at first sight” for either of them. “We couldn’t stand each other” didn’t have quite the same ring.

  It occurred to Vivien that in this story Priscilla the hippie girl was just a few years younger than herself. Vivien couldn’t imagine doing anything as wild as hitchhiking over a thousand miles. But maybe driving a tiny house across the country would strike some people as just as strange.

  Maybe she and Priscilla had more in common that she ever imagined.

  “Well, what happens now?” Melanie asked.

  Priscilla looked at Vivien.

  “Would you mind terribly heading back to Sandstone without me?” Priscilla said. “The Colonel and I want to—”

  “No problem,” Marco and Vivien said in unison.

  Neither wanted to hear what she and the Colonel wanted to do.

  Marco looked at his phone.

  “Social media is still blowing up,” Marco said. “You won’t get far.”

  “You can stay here,” Melanie said. “I’ve got loads of room. And nobody will find you.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” the Colonel said. “We shouldn’t have to stay long. The public’s attention span is very short. One of those young Jenner girls will knock me out of the news momentarily, I suspect.”

  Vivien and Marco left the adults in the house. They headed hand in hand to Shrimpfork.

  “I can’t think how I’d feel if I lost you in a crowd,” Marco said huskily.

  Vivien put her head on Marco’s shoulder. Priscilla’s story seemed like it must have taken place in the dark ages. In these days of cell phones and instant communication, it would be difficult to not be able to find someone in a crowd, but Vivien supposed it could happen.

  Or you could go your separate ways and just lose track of each other—not as dramatic, but an opportunity squandered just the same. She wondered how many couples that had happened to?

  “I guess true love will find a way,’ Vivien said. “Even if it takes fifty years.”

  “I don’t want to wait fifty years for my love story,” Marco said.

  The moonlight played across the vineyard’s bounty. Marco drew Vivien to him. She could feel their hearts beating as they kissed.

  Having to put the ladder down to get to the loft could have ruined their romantic moment, but they persevered. They continued kissing and undressing while the ladder settled itself on the floor. Marco headed up to the loft in only his jeans, pulling Vivien behind him. He smacked his head on the ceiling.

  “Ouch,” he said.

  “You get used to it,” Vivien said.

  She was struggling clumsily with her blouse, but threw it over the loft’s edge in what she thought was a pretty hot gesture.

  The next morning, Vivien and Marco readied Shrimpfork for the trip back to New Mexico. The Colonel and Priscilla came out of the house with Clay to see them off, Clay bouncing at Priscilla’s side.

  “I feel weird about this,” Vivien said.

  “Leaving me unchaperoned?” Priscilla asked.

  “No, I think you’ve got this,’ Vivien said. “I mean, I’m going back to your house. And I found Hilda, who was the reason for all this, right?”

  “Well…” Priscilla said. “Yes. But I can still use the attic organized. You really are very skillful.”

  “So, I should keep working?” Vivien asked.

  “Unless you’re ready to go,” Priscilla said. “I wouldn’t want to hold you back.”

  Vivien tried not to ask he
rself that very same question:

  Will staying in Sandstone hold me back?

  The Colonel joined Priscilla and Vivien.

  “I’ve told your young man over there to take the scenic route back to New Mexico,” the Colonel said.

  “Is there a scenic route?” Vivien asked.

  “God only knows,” the Colonel said. “But I want you two to enjoy yourselves. On me.”

  The Colonel took Vivien’s hand. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and walked with Priscilla and Clay back to the house. Vivien looked in her hand. He had given her five hundred dollars.

  “He tried to bribe me,” Marco said.

  “He did bribe me,” Vivien said, showing Marco the money.

  “We can’t take it,” Marco said.

  “Because?” Vivien asked.

  “Because we didn’t earn it,” Marco said.

  “Dude, are you kidding me?’ Vivien said. “We so earned it.”

  “I really don’t think—” Marco said.

  “Marco…” Vivien interrupted him.

  “What?”

  “You sound like your dad.”

  “So,” he said, pulling out his phone and swiping to Google maps. “The scenic route.”

  Chapter 33

  “I can’t believe we’ve been gone almost a week,” Marco said as they passed the Welcome to Sandstone sign.

  Vivien sighed. If she was hoping a week with Marco would help her clarify a plan for the future, it did not. She knew she was in love with Marco—and felt strongly that the feelings were reciprocated. But Marco always skirted the issue of any sort of future for the two of them.

  She was grateful to have Shrimpfork. She could stay—or go—as she pleased. She just wondered which she was going to do. She had organized at least two-thirds of Priscilla’s attic before they’d left for San Diego. She couldn’t stall forever.

  Every night, staring up through the skylight, she thought about her options. If she and Marco wanted to be together, they could make a life for themselves in Sandstone. But what would her life be? A storekeeper’s wife? The store part sounded fine—lots to organize every week! But…

  Wife?

  The first time the “W” word drifted through her mind, she felt as if she’d shocked herself by mistake. She was only twenty-two! On the other hand, look at the years Priscilla and the Colonel had lost.

  What if Marco came with her? Did that make any sense? Even though he didn’t want to be the recipient of Marquez and Sons, she couldn’t see Marco turning his back on his family. He wasn’t that kind of man. It was one of the traits she loved about him.

  That left her with only one option—finish working at Priscilla’s and driving away to another town and another job. Even if that job was back working for Bale. After all she’d been through with Priscilla and Marco, it seemed a lonely road. That thought brought her full circle—it she hadn’t set out to make herself the Organization Oracle, she’d never have met Priscilla and Marco in the first place. Even if things didn’t work out with Marco, Vivien would never forget this crazy adventure.

  She looked at Marco as he turned into the long gravel driveway leading to Casa de Promesas. She wondered if Marco was having as many conflicting emotions as she was. He suddenly furrowed his brow—and leaned forward to peer out the windshield as they approached the hacienda.

  “Is that Clay?” Marco asked.

  “It is!” Vivien said, squinting at the leaping dog in the distance. “I thought they said they’d be out at least ten days. How did they beat us here?”

  “Maybe something went wrong between them?” Marco asked.

  Vivien’s stomach turned over at the thought.

  “Nope,” Vivien said, tapping on the windshield. “That’s the Colonel right over there with Priscilla.”

  “What the…?” Marco said.

  As they drew closer, they could see two other figures coming into focus.

  “Isn’t that…?” Vivien asked, but was cut short by Marco.

  “My dad and my sister,” Marco said.

  The Colonel, Priscilla, and Rosa joined Clay in greeting the travelers with smiles and waves as Marco and Vivien pulled to a stop. Jose stood with his hands in his pockets, staring out from a wide-brimmed straw hat. Marco and Vivien exchanged a look. This was going to be one weird homecoming. Priscilla was the first one at the truck.

  “Did you have a wonderful trip?” Priscilla asked.

  “We did,” Vivien said as she leaned down to accept a kiss on the cheek.

  Priscilla was tan and relaxed. Whatever else was going on, the Colonel was good for her.

  “We didn’t expect to see you so soon,” Marco said.

  “Oh, we cut our little reunion short,” Priscilla said. “We have so many plans.”

  “We’re eager to get started,” the Colonel added.

  “How did you get here?” Vivien asked, remembering Priscilla’s germ phobia and suspicion of everything unknown.

  “We flew,” Priscilla said, with pride. She leaned in and whispered to Vivien. “I disinfected that bathroom for all it was worth. The stewardess banged on the door because I was in there so long.”

  “They’re called flight attendants now,” Vivien said.

  Getting Priscilla up to speed was going to take some time.

  “And did you know they have little bottles of sanitizer you can stash in your purse?”

  “Yes.” Vivien laughed. “I did know that.”

  “Well, it’s genius,” Priscilla said. “Because, you know, those plastic gloves get hot!”

  “She’s been a real trooper,” the Colonel said. He turned to Marco and Vivien. “You showed up at a good time. Shall we proceed?”

  Vivien saw Marco shoot a questioning glance at his sister. Rosa looked away. Marco had no choice but to address his father.

  “I’m surprised to see you here,” Marco said.

  “Hello to you too,” Jose said.

  “Let’s try to be nice, shall we?” Priscilla chirped.

  “Priscilla was just walking the land with me,” Jose said.

  “Why was she doing that?” Marco asked.

  “Because she’s selling it to me,” Jose said.

  Vivien remembered that the Colonel had mentioned he lived in Manhattan.

  “Are you moving to New York City?” Vivien asked, her voice trembling.

  Vivien wasn’t sure why the thought of Priscilla moving to New York should bother her. But she couldn’t picture Priscilla among the noise and frenetic energy of Manhattan. Just the thought of Priscilla in that far-off town made Vivien’s stomach tighten. Was it selfish of her to want Priscilla to just bloom where she’d been planted? Vivien smiled ruefully. Hadn’t Priscilla’s parents wanted just that for their daughter? Didn’t her own? Vivien smiled ruefully. If she expected her parents to honor her wishes about making her own way in the world, she supposed she’d have to respect Priscilla’s decision—no matter how misguided.

  “No, dear,” Priscilla said. “I may be taking a few baby steps into the world, but I’m not ready for New York City.”

  Vivien was happy to hear they were on the same page.

  “Then why are you selling your land?” Marco almost barked.

  “Now, let’s not jump the gun,” Priscilla said. She turned to Marco and Vivien. “I’m glad you kids showed up. Let’s all go inside and have a nice chat, shall we?”

  Vivien could feel the tension crackling between Jose and Marco as everyone filed into the dining room. Vivien found herself waving to Hilda, who was perched on the sideboard, homely as ever. Priscilla was happy to see the two parts of Hilda’s poor little head were glued together. Vivien also noticed a framed picture on the sideboard. It was the tin-type from the attic of the Civil War couple. She ran over to the picture and studied it. Then she studied Priscilla and the Colone
l. Priscilla’s turned up nose and the Colonel’s square jaw. This must be the picture they took in San Francisco in 1967! No wonder the Colonel looked so familiar the first time she saw him on TV.

  One more puzzle piece sliding into place.

  “Is everything all right, dear?” Priscilla asked Vivien.

  “Yes,” Vivien said, putting the picture down and sitting next to Marco. “Everything is just fine.”

  Vivien’s head was spinning from the possibilities of what this meeting could mean. Priscilla had a pitcher of iced tea on the table and retrieved two more glasses—for Vivien and Marco. Priscilla signaled for everyone to sit as she poured the tea.

  “All right, everyone,” Priscilla said with great authority. “There is a lot to discuss.”

  Vivien watched Priscilla scanning the faces at the table. Vivien could see Priscilla’s bravado seeping away. Priscilla turned to the Colonel.

  “Why don’t you tell them?” she said, and sat down.

  The Colonel stood.

  “First, let me say, Rome wasn’t built in a day,” the Colonel said. “Priscilla and I have a vague idea of what we want to achieve, but there are a lot of moving parts.”

  “Let’s hear about the moving part that involves the land,” Marco said. “I don’t know why you’re selling—”

  The Colonel put up his hand.

  “We were just discussing that with your father,” the Colonel said, and then nodded courteously to Rosa, “and your lovely sister, when you drove up.”

  “Let’s get back to it, then,” Marco said.

  “My understanding is Priscilla has ten acres,” the Colonel said.

  Vivien smiled as all the locals nodded in agreement.

  “Jose, Priscilla would like to give you five acres,” the Colonel said.

  “Give me five acres?” Jose said.

  “Give him five acres?” Rosa and Marco said.

  Vivien’s throat went dry. She took a sip of iced tea.

  “Priscilla, dear,” the Colonel said. “I think you need to explain.”

  “I want you to have the five acres that run along the riverbed,” Priscilla said. “I want to keep the house and the adjoining five acres.”

  “Why would you give me five acres?” Jose said. “There must be a catch.”