by Diana Ryan
“Thanks, Ted. That’s awfully sweet of you.” Somehow I had trouble believing him, however. We updated each other on our families, and he politely told me what he knew about what Aaron had been up to lately.
When I could feel the evening was about to end, I knew I had to confide in Ted. “Listen, could I ask a favor of you? Could you not mention to Aaron that I’m seeing Nolan? I don’t really know what he was thinking the other day, and I just don’t want to see another fight between the two of them.”
Ted was a good friend, and I knew he would keep my secret. “Fine. But you have to promise me something.”
“Sure, anything.”
“Just keep me filled in on what’s happening with Nolan. I just don’t know about him, okay?” He looked up at me with pleading eyes. It was actually a bit startling.
What was he seeing that I wasn’t?
“Don’t you worry about me, Ted.” I patted his shoulder.
“Just promise.”
“Fine. I promise.” I needed to change the subject quickly. “Hey, you wanna hit the go-kart track? You know, for old time’s sake?” Ted and I frequented the go-kart track growing up, and I thought it might be a nice nostalgic plan for the rest of the night.
Ted gave me a big smile. “Absolutely.”
We finished our cones and then headed back toward the parking lot. By the time we walked by the booth again, it had closed up. I wondered what Nolan was doing at that exact moment.
Chapter Nine
Nolan worked at Lower Two the next day. I visited him a few times between trips but was sure to leave a little space for him to wonder about me. I also decided to spend a few breaks up at Lower One talking to Suzanne and Brian. The conversation turned serious early in the day when they started talking about Nolan.
“Well, I think he’s a really nice guy,” Brian was commenting. “He just oozes charm and really seems to have a good head on his shoulders.”
“Oh, come on, Brian! Are you seriously getting sucked into his tractor beam? I can see right through that guy. He is as fake as fake can be.” Suzanne was sitting in the ticket window, doodling on a pad of paper.
Brian challenged Suzanne. “The kid is like twenty years old! What do you think he’s hiding?” Brian was leaning one elbow on the counter and looked very relaxed.
“Listen, I like the guy. He’s a blast to work with here in the booth, but I’ll be damned if there isn’t something he’s hiding from us.” She tapped her pen on the glass counter and stared off into space, thinking. “He sure does have a fancy car and phone for a guy who works off of commission.”
“Maybe his family has money. Have you ever asked him about his family?” Brian was pointing a finger in Suzanne’s face.
Suzanne playfully slapped his finger down and said, “I don’t know why you are getting so defensive! I said I like the kid. I’m just saying there is something about him that doesn’t rub me the right way.” Then she stared off into space again and said, “Let’s see...armed robbery?... Oh! Drug lord?... Wait! I know, I know! Gang fighting...” That one made Brian laugh, although Suzanne was serious.
“There is no way that Nolan is into gang fighting! Give it up, Suzanne, maybe he’s just a good guy.”
They seemed to have forgotten I was sitting in the corner of the booth. I’m sure they wouldn’t have had such a conversation if they remembered I was right there. I decided to give them a reminder and cleared my throat.
Brian turned toward me, and his face lit up like a Vegas hotel sign. “Oh, shoot! I forgot! Nolan is going to kill me!”
What?
Suzanne threw the pen at the ceiling, and it bounced off, landing on my lap. “Oh, see? I knew it. He’s into murder!”
Brian shot Suzanne an angry look before turning back to me. “Go out to your car right now.”
Suzanne was yelling now, “Don’t do it! He manufactures homemade bombs!”
Although my heart rate sped up, I sat still and stared at them. Was Brian out of his mind?
“Come on! I promise you’ll be happy. Just go out to your car and take a look.” But I couldn’t move. He walked a few steps closer to me and looked me dead in the eyes. “Seriously. Have I ever led you wrong before?”
No. Hadn’t I known Brian as a good judge of character and a level-headed guy? So I slowly and anxiously slid off the stool and walked out of the ticket booth. I kept my eyes on Brian and Suzanne, not quite sure what to expect.
A Dells Boat tour bus filled with passengers from the Upper Dells crossed my path. I surveyed the parking lot but didn’t see anything to be alarmed about. After all, I didn’t quite know what I was looking for, and my imagination was definitely taking the better of me.
As I approached my Olds, I noticed something on my windshield. It looked like an envelope and some type of bundle wrapped in plastic. As I cautiously walked closer, I found a dozen red roses placed carefully under the left windshield wiper. They must have been beautiful many hours ago, but now they were dead and wilted from the summer sun. I laughed a little—they had dried and stuck to the windshield, and as I tried to pry them free, several of the petals fell to the ground and the stems broke.
The envelope was addressed to “My singing tour guide.” A smile slowly crept onto my lips. Inside was a blank card with writing on the back.
Dear Ava,
Thank you for the amazing date the other day. I couldn’t have imagined a better time. Your sweet smile is stuck in my mind, and I just have to get another fix. I would be honored if you would accept another date with me. Meet me at the Island at 8pm tonight.
Nolan
The huge smile on my face could not be hidden. I looked back at Lower One and saw Suzanne leaning far out of the booth window watching me. I chuckled to myself—how could I have let her scare me? I didn’t care what anyone said; I was intrigued and had to make my own decision. I was going to accept the ugly, wilted roses and go on that date. I only had to make it through the day, first.
I looked out toward the dam. From the spot where my car was parked I could see the dock where Jack was loading up the passengers for our next tour. “Crap!” I yelled and sprinted past Lower One.
I could faintly hear Suzanne yelling, “What’s the matter, kid? A swarm of bees fly up your shorts?” followed by that familiar boisterous cackle. I just kept on running, all the way down to the boat.
Jack was already at the wheel, engines on, ready to pull away from the dock. I untied the bowline and mouthed “sorry” to him. He flashed a somewhat fake smile at me, and I quickly walked to the back of the boat, untied the stern, and gave us a push as we left. I walked through the crowd on the lower deck and approached Jack at the wheel.
He smiled more genuinely this time. “Glad you could make it, kid.”
Jack picked up the microphone and turned on his tour guide voice. “Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome aboard the General Bailey. My name is Captain Jack, and I will be skillfully driving you down the Wisconsin River today. We have just embarked on a one-hour tour of the Lower Dells. Be ready to see some gorgeous rocky scenery, learn about the history and geology of the Dells, and hear Native American legends. Here to dazzle you with her verbal dexterity is your very punctual and talented tour guide, Ava!”
It was nearing the end of June and our full boat was an indication that tourism was finally starting to pick up. Another clear sign was that our trips were going well that day. We had sold considerably more guidebooks so far than the amount we had sold on any other given day that summer. I felt right at peace, doing what I was good at and making some money doing it.
Late in the tour, I was up on the top deck giving my spiel on the loggers that used to come down the river riding on rafts made from 100-foot-tall tree trunks tied together. It was another bright, sunny afternoon in Dells country, and Jack and I were both in a great mood.
We were coming up on a green army Duck and I knew instantly from the name on its side that it was Aaron’s. I started explaining the next rock for
mation, Pulpit Rock, when we caught up to him. I waved politely and he put his thumb and pinkie up to his ear and mouth, giving the “call me” sign. I shook my head no and he mouthed “please” as I finished my spiel.
Jack hit the throttle and left the little Duck bobbing in our wake.
Just then I noticed Jack had propped open the windows above the dash so he could catch some breeze while he drove the boat. I looked down and the window seemed to have some sort of paper stuck to the underside of it. It even seemed to have writing on it. Could Jack be trying to send me a message? Sometimes he would tug on the microphone cord to indicate I had missed a cue or was repeating something I’d already said, but I’d never seen him use this technique before. I moved to the edge of the boat and leaned against the guide wires so that I could get a closer look at the writing. It said, Whatever you do, do NOT come down!
Do not come down? Why not? Was there an evil man in a ski mask holding him hostage at gunpoint? Was there a hole in the boat and we were slowly sinking? Just when I was about to panic and go down anyway, he pulled that piece of paper off and posted another. I read it through the glass: I farted and it really stinks.
I burst out laughing and heard Jack reciprocate downstairs. I realized he was throwing the boat in reverse to try to fight the current and stay positioned next to a sign on the wall posted by the US Geological Survey. It was time for me to continue my tour. Bursts of laughter were still sneaking up my throat, but I tried my best to force them back down. I would not let Jack get the best of me. I pushed my laughter deep into my belly and put on a very serious face. I lifted the microphone to my mouth and began talking, but every time I thought about Captain Jack sitting in his own stink, it made me giggle a little bit.
Chapter Ten
Jack and I unloaded our last boat and watched the passengers walk down the dock and out of sight. It was 6:15 and we were both beat. We walked down into the bottom part of the boat and Jack began to sweep the deck.
I totaled the day’s sales after our six tours and cut Jack half of the profits. “Well, partner, we were one hundred twenty-five for six today! Here’s ninety-seven bucks for you!” He took it with a smile, did a little bow, and said, “Thank you, ma’am. Now that’s more like it.”
We locked the Bailey to the dock and then headed out to the parking lot together. Jack seemed awkward, like he had something to tell me but didn’t know how to say it.
He was looking down at his feet when he said, “I know you’ve noticed my unexplainable good mood lately. Well...I met someone.” I looked up at his face and saw a wide smile stretched across it. “She’s perfect for me.” He stopped at the back bumper of his truck, turned, and looked right into my eyes. “I’ve just never felt quite this way before.”
“Jack...that’s great! Really, I’m just so happy for you.” I hoped this lady was perfect for him and that Jack could find the peace in his heart that he deserved. I put my right arm across his upper back and gave his shoulders a squeeze. He smiled at me, said, “See you tomorrow,” and got in his truck.
I turned and opened my car door and saw a shadow on my car. Someone was behind me.
“I hear you’re dating someone,” a familiar voice said.
I took a deep breath and turned around slowly. “It’s over between us, Aaron,” I said firmly. “I’ve told you that already.”
He took a step closer to me and I flinched, thinking about the last time we were this close. Where was Nolan? Would he pop out of the bushes and come to my rescue?
“Ava, I need you.”
I tried, but couldn’t keep fear from my face.
There was the popping sound of a car door opening and Jack get out of his truck. “Is there a problem, here?”
Aaron’s tone changed. “Oh, hey Jack. No, no problem here. I was just saying hello.”
“Ava, go on and head home,” Jack told me.
“Thanks, Jack.” I felt brave with Jack standing there, so before I left, I looked deep into Aaron’s eyes and said gently, “I’m letting you go, Aaron. She’s out there somewhere, waiting for you. But it’s not me.”
Aaron looked annoyed. “Yeah, whatever.”
I got in my car and pulled away. Jack was talking with Aaron as I left the Lower Dells parking lot. I hoped he could smooth things over with Aaron and talk him into leaving me alone. As I passed Lower One I thought about Nolan. I was supposed to meet him at Animal Island in an hour and a half!
A sudden nervousness swept over me. What was I going to wear? Where would he take me? My brain was swimming with questions, and the next thing I knew I was at my front door, and I barely remembered driving home.
My mom and dad were talking on the front porch. They were each holding a small glass of red wine and discussing something quietly. They looked very serious and even concerned, but unlike the squabble from the other night, they seemed to be on the same side this time. Dad reached over and patted Mom’s knee right as they noticed me standing before them.
“Everything okay, honey?” Mom asked. “You have a strange look on your face.”
“Absolutely. Everything okay with you two?”
“You bet. Just enjoying the evening sunset.”
“Okay. I’m gonna go take a shower.”
I supposed I could be making something out of nothing, so I smiled and went inside. Laura was sitting at the kitchen table, and since I hadn’t seen her for a long time, I stopped to chat before I got ready for my date.
“Hello there, stranger!” she said. “Tell me, how is it that our schedules have been exactly opposite all summer long? We live in the same house, but I never ever see you!”
“I know, sis. It’s crazy.” I took a chip from the bag lying on the table. “So how are things on the Upper?”
“You know, same as things on the Lower, I’d assume. I’ve been driving a bit on trips, but they won’t let me dock yet.” Then something popped in her head quickly. Laura had a short attention span and was easily distracted. “Oh my God! I totally forgot to tell you! The other day, I was carrying a brand-spanking new box of a hundred fifty guidebooks down from the office, and my sunglasses slipped off my head, so I bent over to pick them up, and my foot was right on the middle of where the two docks met and my ankle twisted and...BOOM!” She jumped off her chair for effect and I was so startled I bit my tongue. She was acting the whole thing out now. “I dropped the whole damn box into the river!”
“Oh my God! That’s like two hundred bucks down the drain!” I tasted blood in my mouth.
“Yeah, I know!” She was bouncing, all excited from her story. “And right when the box went out of sight, I hear some guys sitting over at the dispatch stand laughing their butts off! They totally saw it all! I had to go back up to the office to beg for another box! I don’t think I’ll ever live that one down.”
My sister was always good for a laugh. I told her briefly about my upcoming date and then headed upstairs to shower and change. As I climbed the stairs my phone rang out—a new email. I swiped the screen and swallowed hard. It was from the Dean of Education at UW–Stevens Point.
My stomach dropped out, and my pulse quickened as I stopped, frozen in the middle of the staircase.
“No, no, no,” I whined, terrified.
I jogged up the last few steps, my hands shaking and tears forming in my eyes. I entered my room and shut the door quickly, collapsing to my knees. I took a shaky breath and then read the email.
It was just as I dreaded. I would not be considered for the School of Education my sophomore year and, in addition, my bad grades had landed me on academic probation. I closed my eyes and dropped my head in my hands, defeated and angry.
It was all so real now. I screwed up. Fat tears began to fill my eyes, and my shoulders shook as I allowed myself to cry. How could I have done this? What would my parents think of me? A whole year of college tuition, wasted.
The tears flowed for several minutes as I felt sorry for myself. But then I heard the front door shut as my parents entered the h
ouse. I didn’t want them to know about the email, at least not for now. I sucked in a deep, cleansing breath in an effort to clear my head.
I had a date to go on tonight. A date with someone who made me feel really happy. I showered and dressed, vowing to myself that I would deal with college later.
At 7:58, I said goodnight to my family, and headed out the front door. I glanced over at Animal Island and saw Nolan chatting with some Upper guides near the bonfire. The walk around the block was short, but by the time I arrived at the bonfire site, the guides had left, and Nolan was sipping from a water bottle, staring into the orange flames absent-mindedly.
As I approached, Nolan rose from his seat on the grass. He looked very stylish wearing a plain white polo and blue plaid golf shorts.
“You look amazing,” he said quickly, but then added, “What’s wrong?”
Uh-oh, it was written all over my face.
“Nothing, I’m fine.” I pasted a smiled onto my lips.
Nolan held his hand out to me. “Come here.”
I sat down next to him and stared into the fire. I would have to come clean.
He took the hand he was holding and lifted it to his lips, administering a gentle kiss. “Please, Ava. What’s bothering you?”
I took a deep breath through my nose as I pulled out my cell phone, handing it to Nolan. I waited while he read.
“Oh. Jeez. I’m really sorry, Ava.”
I felt the sting again and fought back a tear. No, not now.
“I’ve never wanted to be anything but a teacher,” I sniffled. “I just don’t know what to do.”
Nolan slid his arms around my back and sweetly kissed the side of my face near my eye. Then he spoke quietly in my ear, only for me to hear. “Here’s what you do. You chase your dream. You get back up and try harder. Look, you haven’t been kicked out, you’ve only been warned. You’ve been given a second chance and you’re gonna take it.”