by Stacey Ritz
She’d asked her mom and her mom told her she didn’t know anything about it. She’d told her she hadn’t touched anything in her room, but offered to help her look for them. Might they be in the attic? She’d asked Rainie. But Rainie knew she’d only ever kept them beneath her bed. She’d questioned Ronnie next and Ronnie hadn’t realized Rainie had a coin collection. It was then she began asking her dad. Maybe he’d moved the coins to a safer place? Maybe he’d pulled the box out to look at them and forgotten to put them back.
“Do you know where my coin collection is, Dad? I can’t find it anywhere.”
Dan would always tell her that he’d look around “tomorrow.” It was the same answer every time, for a year.
After a year, when Rainie came home from college to spend some time with Ronnie, she asked her dad again. This time, when she asked, she insisted on an answer.
“I’ll check tomorrow.” He tried telling her again.
“No. Dad, where is it? I know that you know.”
Dan took the cigarette out of his mouth and pressed it down in the ash tray sitting on his lap. As usual, the curtains were closed and the lights were off, her dad’s face illuminated by the blue light of the television. “It’s gone.” He looked at her for a moment without expression and then turned back to the television, lighting a new cigarette.
“Gone?” Raine asked, incredulously. “Where?”
Dan waited until the commercials began running. “Rainie,” he sighed as if she were asking him to pull out one of his own teeth. “Don’t do this.”
“Don’t do what? I want my coin collection. Where is it, seriously?” Rainie clenched her fists at her sides.
“I pawned it.” He paused. “We needed the money…to take care of Ronnie.” He turned his attention back to the television once again.
“You pawned it?” Rainie furrowed her brow, feeling her forehead crinkle.
“Don’t make a bigger deal out of this than it is. There wasn’t much there anyway.” He blew a cloud of smoke.
“You have a job. You don’t need to pawn our things!” Rainie stood stomping her foot. “I can’t believe you! I can’t believe you did this!” She raised her voice. “That was my coin collection. You had no right…”
Dan refused to look at his daughter. There wasn’t an ounce of remorse surrounding Dan Amburger.
Rainie stormed out of the room, knowing there was nothing she could do. He’d sold her coin collection, no doubt for money to support his habits. Money her mom hadn’t seen. Money that certainly hadn’t gone to take care of Ronnie. But the coin collection was about more than money. It wasn’t the money that bothered Rainie. It was what the collection represented to her. It was something that made her proud. It was something she’d worked hard for. It was something that was hers.
Sarah-Jayne caught Rainie in the hall as she stormed up the stairs. “I didn’t know, Rainie. I’m so sorry. I had no idea, I promise.” She placed her hands on Rainie’s shoulders, watching her daughters tears fall heavily down her cheeks. “I’ll buy you a new book to start a new collection.” She added.
Rainie shook her head. “Thanks, but I don’t want a new collection. I wanted my collection, but Dad pawned it.” Rainie stormed into Ronnie’s room, slammed the door and plopped down on the bed beside her sister. Ronnie was writing in her journal, oblivious to Rainie’s troubles.
Later that night, Rainie confronted her dad again. “I want to withdraw my investments from the post office. We’ll go together, tomorrow.”
Her dad had simply grunted. And when the next day came and Rainie hopped in the passenger seat, her dad began to drive. It wasn’t until they reached the parking lot of the local post office and he turned off the engine of the car that he spoke.
Dan lifted his hands from the steering wheel, palms facing forward. His dark eyes stared straight ahead. “It’s not here.”
Rainie sat in silence, clenching her fists at her sides. Suddenly, the seat belt felt suffocating. She reached to unbuckle it and turned her body to face his. “Dad…where is my money? Where are the thousands of dollars I invested in your company every summer?” Her voice was even and calm, although inside she felt the opposite. She gulped, not wanting to hear the answer she knew he was about to deliver.
Dan sat silently, placing his hands back on the steering wheel.
After a few moments, he spoke. “You were a kid. You weren’t really going to save the money.” He rolled his eyes and said the words as if he were trying to convince his daughter that he’d done her a favor.
“What difference does it matter what age I was…or am? It was my money. I earned it. I worked for it. Now, tell me where it is…” She continued keeping her voice quiet and controlled, although she didn’t know how. She wanted to march into the post office and demand her money on the spot, but in her gut, she knew they’d shake their heads. She knew her money wasn’t there. How had she been so stupid? Why had she trusted him?
“I needed the money. We didn’t have enough…”
“Cut it out, Dad. Be honest for once in your life. Tell me the truth. Why is that so hard for you?”
“Okay, okay.” He nodded, feigning empathy. “It’s gone. Your money’s gone.”
“Did you ever invest it?”
He shook his head.
“You…you took it? You said you were investing it every summer and you took it and used it for yourself. You treated it as an end of the summer bonus?”
Dan remained silent. No tears dropped from his eyes. He didn’t turn to face his daughter. Instead, he continued staring straight ahead, unaffected by the news he was delivering.
“Let me get this straight. None of my money is invested? None of my money is here?” She pointed to the post office. “All of my money is…gone?” Her voice began to quiver. “And you pawned my coin collection?”
Dan nodded, keeping a straight face.
“Everything I’ve worked for…you took?”
No reply.
“That’s not how a father is supposed to treat his daughter.” Rainie stated through clenched teeth.
Still, no reply.
“That was everything I had. Everything I’d worked for. How could you? How could you do this?” Rainie couldn’t fight back the tears that had pooled in her eyes. She didn’t bother to wipe them as they fell. Sniffling, she turned to reach for the door handle. “You’re unbelievable. Who does this? Who does this to their daughter? I trusted you, Dad.” Rainie sniffled as she opened the car door and stepped outside.
The moment she closed the door, Dan roared the car’s engine to life and pulled away without looking back. Rainie stood alone in the parking lot, staring at a building that was nothing more than a stone structure. It wasn’t keeping her money safe as she’d been told. She stood alone, clenching her fists, watching a man she’d called Dad drive away without an ounce of remorse.
〜
“Remind him his attitude matters. He won’t want to hear it. Don’t let him walk all over you…he’ll try. You have to stand your ground.” Rainie told Rebecca as she paced barefoot on the light beige living room carpet. “Any other issues with volunteers or employees?” Rainie waited a moment before continuing. “Good. Be sure to change out the pigs bedding today. If Stephanie does it, be sure she uses straw, not hay. Last time she got the two confused and we don’t want mold.” Straw dried out best, allowing it to supply proper cushioning, which many of the sanctuary animals enjoyed for bedding, while hay was used as a feed supplement. If used for bedding, hay held more moisture and molded easily. “Be sure that the turkeys bedding is dry. Is it being turned every other day? Go ahead and add some extra bedding for them today, too.” Rainie’s forehead crinkled as she rattled off a long list of to-do’s. “I appreciate everything, Rebecca. You’re doing a great job.” The two women finished their conversation and Rainie tossed her phone onto the navy blue couch.
Sarah-Jayne sat in the rocking chair in the corner of the room, book in hand, facing the ocean. A golden tan highlight
ed her skin, while her cheeks were pink from a day of sun. Rainie looked at her arms, her skin glowed of a light tan, too. As Rainie reached for her own book, Ronnie burst forward from the bathroom door. She was holding something.
“Look.” She stated flatly. “Mama, Rainie…look!” Her eyes grew wider as she shook the object in the air.
Rainie turned to look at her sister. Sarah-Jayne closed her book and stood from her chair. “Ronnie…” She gasped. “Are you…?”
“Pregnant.” Ronnie walked toward them, showing them the positive pregnancy test. “I’ve taken six tests. All positive. Not to mention…I’ve been feeling different lately.” Her eyes were wide and bright, but her mouth told a different story. Ronnie’s mouth sat in a straight line, lips pressed together. Her forehead sporting a single worry line.
“Oh, Ronnie…you’re going to be a mother.” Sarah-Jayne cried and opened her arms, inviting her daughter in for a hug.
Rainie smiled at her little sister and instead of opening her arms for a hug and waiting, she jumped forward and wrapped Ronnie tightly in her arms, swinging her back and forth. Sarah-Jayne decided to jump in, too.
“And you’re going to be a grandma, Mama.” Ronnie said quietly, her face pressed into Rainie’s soft shoulder. The three women huddled together, laughing and crying all at once.
“I’ll be an aunt!” Rainie added, rubbing her little sisters back. “My niece or nephew can come to the sanctuary and meet the animals…I’ll teach them everything I know. We’ll have so much fun.” She rattled.
Sarah-Jayne listened to Rainie’s excitement, although she herself wondered how much of a role, if any, she’d be given in her grandchild’s life. Kissing the top of Ronnie’s forehead, she felt a tear drop to her cheek and smiled, “You’re going to be a great mom.”
That’s when Ronnie pulled away from the group hug. She gulped before speaking. Looking first at Sarah-Jayne and then at Rainie, her voice quivered, “I think Andrew’s cheating on me.” She sighed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Andrew hadn’t called or texted since she’d been hung up on by a woman she didn’t know.
When the three women hugged again, Ronnie thought how funny it was that two such contrasting statements elicited the same reaction. After some time, they made their way to the deck. Rainie and Ronnie sat on the porch swing while Sarah-Jayne pulled up a chair next to her daughters. They sat in silence, comforted by the constant presence of the ocean.
“Lemonade?” Sarah-Jayne stood, rubbing her hands along her shorts. “I’ll get us each a glass.” She hurried off before Rainie or Ronnie could answer.
Ronnie tilted her head, resting it against Rainie’s shoulder as they swung gently back and forth on the swing. “I wish my life could be easy like yours.” She whispered.
Rainie cleared her throat. “Easy?” She asked defensively.
“You know, you don’t have to deal with a cheating husband. You’re not pregnant. You get to wake up to a farm full of friendly animals.” Her words weren’t meant to sting, but they did.
Waiting a minute before replying, Rainie brushed a stray hair from her sister’s forehead. She wanted to tell her that her life was anything but easy. She didn’t know what was going on with Cooper. He’d told her he loved her over text. She’d just seen Milo, her high school sweetheart and the best friend she’d ever had, for the first time in fourteen years and she wasn’t sure what to do with the multitude of emotions that seeing him elicited. She ran a non-profit farm sanctuary that required her attention and work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The animals needed her. They depended on her. She was responsible for their well-being. She didn’t get holidays or regular vacations. She was overwhelmed with emotions being at the beach; reuniting with Ronnie and Sarah-Jayne again; looking at her dad’s urn. Her life wasn’t easy. It was different than Ronnie’s, but not easy.
“You’re going to be okay, Ronnie.” Rainie gently told her, wrapping her arm around her little sisters back. “I promise.” They’d reverted back to their childhood roles; Rainie taking care of Ronnie. Rainie reassuring Ronnie that everything was okay when the truth was, she wasn’t sure. Rainie, hiding her own struggles to make sure her little sister was safe.
“Lemonade!” Sarah-Jayne reemerged onto the deck carrying three glasses of freshly squeezed lemonade that she’d made earlier in the day. She offered a glass to each of them and sat back into her chair.
Enjoying their drinks, the three women stared at the endless hue of blue before them, listening to the seagulls caw in the distance. Each woman, wondering what their future held.
6
CHAPTER SIX
BUTTONS / CAT
Buttons was rescued after he’d suffered unthinkable abuse. He’d been set on fire by a group of teenagers. His whiskers, ears, paw pads and fur were gone. He couldn’t stand on his own, nor eat or drink. Despite the insurmountable odds, he was slowly nursed back to health. His fur returned, as did his whiskers and paw pads . Scarred from the past, Buttons could only allow himself to trust the human who rescued him and nursed him back to health, and his new animal friends at the sanctuary. Yet, his understandable skepticism of people hasn’t stopped Buttons from living a wonderful life.
FACTS: A cat’s brain is ninety -percent similar to a human’s (more similar than a dog’s). Cats and humans have nearly identical sections of the brain that control emotion .
Raggedy Ann and Andy. The football player and cheerleader. A dog and a cat. Dorothy and the Lion from Wizard of Oz. Superman and Superwoman. Rainie and Milo had gone trick-or-treating together every Halloween since they were five. Her favorite costume was when she’d dressed up as a bee hive and Milo had dressed up as a honey bee. They always coordinated their costumes and they always went back to his house with Ronnie in tow, to sort their overflowing bags of candy. Rainie always traded Milo her Smarties for his Milky Way. Milo always traded his Starburst for her Lifesavers. And Ronnie was simply content to be with them. She didn’t care what candy she had, she relished having a full bag of sugar for her own consumption.
Rainie rode her pink banana seat bike to Milo’s every chance she could find. She loved spending time in his well-lit, fabric softener scented home. She brought Ronnie with her often, not just on Halloween. When Ronnie came, Rainie steered her pink bike with her left hand while Ronnie sat in the old red wagon that Rainie pulled behind her using her right hand. Milo never asked why Ronnie had to come along, it was enough Rainie was there. Rainie sometimes told Milo, “My parents fight a lot.” In the next breath, she’d shrug it off and they’d run to the back yard or living room to play. It had been easy to forget the pain with Milo by her side. Everything had been easier with Milo next to her.
Her pale blue raft drifted, gently carrying Rainie from one side of the pool to the other. She rested her book on her stomach, closing her eyes and soaking in the sun. Her mind was dizzy with memories of Milo. The last fourteen years, she’d spent so much time and energy trying to bury her past, she’d forgotten many of the good memories.
“Someone’s here for you!” Ronnie waved to her sister from the deck.
Rainie pushed her sunglasses down her nose, inquisitively looking up at Ronnie.
A moment later, Milo appeared on the deck. His hands rested easily in his pockets and his warm smile instantly felt like home. Surprised, Rainie waved. “Milo.” She smiled, using her arms to paddle herself to the pool’s edge.
Milo disappeared into the beach house, reemerging at the pool’s edge a few seconds later. He handed Rainie her towel as she stepped onto the cement. “I saw you called last night…I thought I’d stop by.”
Smiling, Rainie wrapped the towel around her waist and motioned toward the lounge chairs. She hadn’t owned a bathing suit when she’d first arrived in Corolla. Luckily, Ronnie had bought one for her as a gift yesterday before they’d gone to the beach. The sleek black bathing suit was a two-piece, and fit nicely to Rainie’s slender form. “I’m glad you did.” Rainie leaned back in the chair and
Milo did the same.
They sat quietly for a while before speaking simultaneously.
“Go ahead…” Rainie laughed.
“No, you go…”
“I was remembering our Halloween’s.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, our costumes…bringing Ronnie along.”
“I remember.” Milo nodded, pulling his sunglasses down from his head and covering his eyes. “Ronnie’s all grown up now.” He shook his head. “But in my mind, we’re still seventeen.”
“I know!” Rainie turned on her side, facing Milo. “Can you keep a secret?” Instinctively, Rainie reached her arm out and squeezed Milo’s.
Milo smiled and Rainie thought she saw his face grow pink. “Of course.”
“Ronnie’s pregnant!” She dropped her hand from his skin, instead, placing it on her stomach.
“Wow.” He shook his head. “She really is all grown up. Will this be her first child?”
Rainie nodded. “She found out this week. Her husband doesn’t know yet…” Her voice trailed.
Milo sat back against his chair before speaking again. His words were hesitant, “You’ll be an aunt. Congratulations!” He cleared his throat. “Does Ronnie’s child-to-be have any cousins anxiously awaiting their arrival?” He pressed his lips together, still hiding his eyes behind his dark sunglasses.