Summer Wine

by Barbara Winkes

  “Don’t you hate me?” Andy asked incredulously.

  No, but I feel sorry for you. Rebecca folded her hands in her lap, an unconscious gesture that made her aware they were ice cold a moment later. She was shivering. It had to be the air-conditioning, she reasoned.

  “I’ve realized that hate is too much of a waste of energy. No, I don’t hate you. I don’t really know you enough, but I do wish you luck. I hope you’ll be happy.” For a moment, she worried it could come out ironic. As it was, she sounded tired. Rebecca didn’t know if her words were enough, and she knew that uncertainty would come back to haunt her.

  “Rebecca. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

  “Oh no, you didn’t.” Rebecca jumped to her feet.

  “What?” Reynolds had come back in behind Beverly Wilkins, Autumn Leaves’ sheriff. “You wanted to call the police earlier.”

  “It’s okay,” Bev said. “I’ve called an ambulance. No one’s going to get arrested.”

  “Really?” Reynolds’ voice rose. “Someone came into my house with a gun, don’t you think there should be consequences?”

  “There will be,” Bev said as the paramedics came in behind her. Rebecca got to her feet quickly, all of a sudden in desperate need of fresh air.

  “Rebecca.”

  She almost walked on. Rebecca didn’t think she owed anyone, anything, at this point, surely not Andy, but she turned around anyway.

  “Thank you,” Andy whispered.

  Rebecca didn’t know what to say to that, so she said nothing. Ignoring the activities around her, she walked out of the room. One step after the other, back along the hallway and through the office, outside, and into Callie’s arms.

  * * * *

  Seeing the vehicles in front of Reynolds’ house left her winded, breathless with fear. Callie felt like she was staggering, when in fact, she stood frozen, unable to move.

  “Callie.” Sean touched her arm, making her jump. “Let’s find out what’s going on here.”

  She couldn’t move. It was too much even to imagine what might prompt the need for police and medical personnel.

  When Rebecca stepped out of the front door, the world tilted on its axis and then righted itself again. She looked tired, but unharmed, and managed a smile for Callie.

  “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

  Callie wrapped her arms around her, tightly enough to make Rebecca wince in reaction. “Sorry,” she whispered, but couldn’t bring herself to loosen her hold. “Oh God.” Even if she didn’t know all the details, the set up of the scene and the talk around them, in hushed tones, told her enough. They’d been lucky.

  * * * *

  “I hope you didn’t make a reservation…” Rebecca said when both she and Callie could make themselves step back for a moment. “I guess I’ll have to give a statement. I don’t know.” Rebecca wasn’t sure if anything she said at this point made sense, but she hoped the message she wanted to convey came through. I’m okay. No one got hurt. All right, the first part might have been an exaggeration. She’d been better, but the feel of Callie’s embrace drastically improved her state of mind. Bev had come out as well, lingering in the doorway as if not to interrupt the private moment.

  “I was so scared for you,” Callie said, the emotion in her voice staggering to Rebecca. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine. I promise. My hope is that if we can wrap this up soon enough, we don’t even have to tell anyone.” Maggie and Dina in the first place. “I’m grateful it ended the way it did, and I’m sure Andy will be too, at some point.”

  “Why did he call you?” Callie asked angrily. “This is not your job. You’re not even friends! What if that gun had been loaded? We don’t know that she didn’t mean to harm anyone. Instead of the police he called you? What the hell is wrong with these people? Can’t you sue him for that?” Her voice rose steadily with each word.

  Rebecca didn’t feel like facing those questions, now, or at all. She knew that because of what happened with her former classmate, Callie’s approach to the subject wasn’t entirely rational, regardless of the fact that she had a point. Father Reynolds had let her walk into the situation without warning.

  “I just really want to go home,” she said. “Let’s wait for the girls, and go have that dinner. I’m hungry too.”

  “You can come by tomorrow,” Bev told her.

  “Thank you.”

  Rebecca tightened her arms around Callie before she stepped back and took her hand. “Let’s go.” She would have preferred to pretend that part of the day never happened. Too high hopes maybe, but she would do her best to just move on. With a shudder she thought of her now imprisoned, former brother-in-law who had fired a gun in the room with Maggie. It hadn’t been his intention to hurt anyone either, but the result remained the same, the damage done by actions fueled by ignorant minds. No, she didn’t want Maggie to know.

  * * * *

  “Okay. This is not what I expected to happen in a dreamy town like this.”

  Sean had little knowledge of the things that could and had happened in a town like Autumn Leaves. Callie didn’t want to enlighten him.

  Knowing a thing or two about trauma and how it crept up on you when you least expected it, she’d been watching Rebecca carefully all evening. It was a good thing that Sean, Maggie and Dina did most of the talking. Apparently, Andy’s story hadn’t yet made breaking news in the Autumn Leaves grapevine. By Saturday brunch, it would probably be hard to hide from it.

  Callie felt her anger surge once more when she thought of Father Reynolds who had knowingly put Rebecca’s life in danger, for fear, for a lack of ability to handle a difficult situation. Rebecca wasn’t supposed to be there, at all.

  “Yeah, it’s never boring,” she said, glancing over to the dessert counter where Dina and Maggie were choosing theirs. Rebecca had excused herself and asked them to order a coffee for her. Callie was monitoring her bathroom time warily, intent on checking on her if she didn’t return within the next two minutes.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come live in New York?” Sean asked. “At least people leave you alone.”

  “It’s our home. We won’t let anyone chase us away. Besides, I don’t want you and Asha to keep tabs on me any more than you do now.”

  Sean laughed, but his gaze was serious a moment later. “You could do it, you know. Maybe not right now, but Dina will be off to college at some point, Maggie in junior high--you two can work from anywhere.”

  “Stop it. People like Andy are everywhere, more or less.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah, it does, but that’s the way it is. We’ll get on with our lives.”

  He smiled ruefully. “You know you can always call. I know you probably won’t, but I just want to put that out there.”

  “I know. Thank you.”

  The memory of the moment she’d arrived at the church and saw Bev Wilkins’ police cruiser, and the ambulance, still made her heart constrict painfully. The one break they’d gotten in this year, an almost unreal time in Italy, had been too damn short. She touched her finger with the ring on it, a symbol for the certainty that they wouldn’t stay trapped in the bad times. At this point, she desperately needed the reminder.

  “Did you order yet? No? Good. I think I changed my mind. I’ll get something sweet with the coffee.”

  You had to listen very carefully to know that Rebecca’s cheery tone was a bit off.

  “Me too,” Sean said. “Let’s see how they compare to the cupcake paradise.”

  * * * *

  “I can’t believe how much time I used to spend getting it dry,” Rebecca said, referring to her still relatively new haircut. She hadn’t mentioned Andy with one word, not even after they’d said goodbye to Sean, and later, the girls had retreated to their respective rooms. Their eyes met in the mirror, and Rebecca shook her head. “Don’t worry. This was a day I really don’t want to repeat, but I won’t have a meltdown anytime soon
. I prefer to focus on everything we’ve got going for us.” Gripping the sink with both hands, she leaned forward with a sigh. “That’s the plan, anyway. So Reynolds apologized, Andy thanked me…I’m still not sure if they believe any of it—and that’s just two people. I can’t imagine life without the girls, but what a world to bring children into.”

  “We do the best we can.”

  “What if that’s not enough?”

  Callie stepped behind her, holding her close. “They are smart and resourceful kids. They’ll make it. I know today was horrible, but it won’t always feel this way. You can trust me.”

  “I trust you,” Rebecca said, her voice breaking. “That’s not the point.”

  “I know. Believe me, I know. If you want to cry, it’s okay…”

  “No.” Taking a deep breath, Rebecca turned to her. “I don’t want to give them that much power. This is our home. They don’t have a place here.”

  Callie didn’t want to point out at the moment that unwelcome memories didn’t respect walls and closed doors—Rebecca knew that herself.

  “What do you need?”

  Rebecca gave her a long look.

  “I don’t know if it’s the right moment to—”

  “Please,” Rebecca whispered.

  Sometimes, closeness was the only way to reassure oneself that the barriers in other people’s minds were insignificant when it came to their own lives, choices, love.

  Callie nodded, reaching out to take Rebecca’s hand. “Okay.”

  They lay in each other’s arms for a long time, the touch a comfort reaching further than any words could. In a way, it was a comfort too, that Andy would finally get the help she needed. Their own lives would go on, and they had a lot to look forward to. They had each other. No one could take that from them. After today’s events, they had even more reason to be grateful this was still true.

  Chapter Twelve

  The mood at Saturday brunch was subdued, even though the fundraising event for the women’s shelter had come together, and Callie and Rebecca had wonderful news to share. Andy’s desperate act and what it could have led to weighed on all of them. Callie was torn between resenting her for spoiling the best moment of her life, and feeling guilty because she knew Andy’s problems were severe. She felt even guiltier when she remembered it had been Rebecca in the room with her, trying her best to talk her down, when she shouldn’t have been anywhere near that scene.

  Until somebody crashed the party like only one person Callie knew could. When the doorbell rang, Dina rushed to answer, since she was expecting Sara. Instead, she came in a moment later. “Mom, Callie, for you.”

  “Ms. Romano!” Maggie had appeared, nearly squealing at the sight of her former teacher.

  “Hey, Maggie. It’s so nice to see you.” She seemed a bit self-conscious about the scene her arrival caused. Asha, however, enjoyed the grand entrance as usual.

  “Wow, Callie. You’re not in your PJs. Good. We have a busy time ahead. The thing is, we came in hope of breakfast.”

  “Asha.” Gracie Romano blushed.

  “There’s lots of food,” Maggie said. “Mom and Callie got engaged.” In the resulting joyous congratulations, Callie managed to forget for the first time that Rebecca had been trapped in a room with a desperate woman holding a gun.

  * * * *

  While Rebecca was still in the dining room with the majority of their guests, Callie had taken a moment to retreat to the kitchen, not surprised when Asha followed her. She sank into the chair, resigned to the questions she knew would come.

  “I assume you want to talk.”

  “You look terrible,” Asha said, as usual frank and not wasting time regarding the matters at hand. “You shouldn’t. You’ve had an awesome trip, got Rebecca to give you a ring--”

  “I didn’t get her to do it. She wanted to.” Callie could understand where Asha’s concern came from. She sounded beyond tired.

  “Same difference. I didn’t get to talk to Sean yet, so I suppose you’ll have to tell me. What’s the newest drama?”

  Callie tried. “You wouldn’t believe. Andy.” Her voice cracked.

  “Didn’t you say the lunatics were moving away?” Asha asked softly.

  “Not yet. She…she—”

  “Bitch for spoiling your awesome surprise.” She walked around the table and put her arms around Callie, holding on tight.

  “I know she was having issues, that I’m supposed to empathize, but where does it stop? She’s no different from Nicole, really. It’s always someone else’s fault. They apologize, but they never mean it. She pulled the freaking trigger!”

  “What?” Asha took a step back, the shock showing on her face. “I’m beginning to think New York is nothing compared to the crazy you’re dealing with here. At least no one ever pulled a gun on me there.”

  “The short version….She went to tell Father Reynolds he owed her, and she made him call me. He neglected to mention her, or the gun. We talked, she pulled the trigger on herself, but it wasn’t loaded. No one got hurt.”

  Asha looked from Callie to Rebecca who stood in the doorway. Her calm delivery of the facts made Callie even worse. She hadn’t been the one in the room with Andy. She shouldn’t be falling apart. As usual, Rebecca was keeping it together for everyone.

  “Well, that’s an optimistic interpretation,” Asha said wryly.

  “I’m sorry. I’m okay.” Callie was well aware her current state did nothing to convince either woman at the moment.

  “We are. Could you give us a moment anyway?”

  “Sure. No problem. I’ll go see if there’s any more of the champagne.” Asha got up, briefly squeezed Callie’s shoulder as she passed her by. Rebecca sat in her chair, waiting.

  “I’m sorry I’m such a mess. I should be grateful…and happy.” At this rate, she’d be spending all day in this room.

  “I know you are all these things,” Rebecca said. “I am too. I am also terrified, because I keep thinking about what could have happened. That will pass. Well, at least it will get better. You know that.”

  “It’s not fair. She had no right.”

  “No. Let’s just hope she finally gets the help she needs. Whatever happens—we’ll go to New York for Gracie and Asha’s wedding—and after that, it will be our own.”

  Callie leaned into her, comforted by the imagery Rebecca’s words evoked, yet exhausted. “So much has happened. We got a little break and now…it’s like it’s starting all over again.”

  “It won’t be,” Rebecca whispered. “I promise.”

  * * * *

  “I feel bad,” she said when the phone was answered on the other end of the line. “Well, actually, I don’t feel as bad as I probably should. Maybe I can forgive and forget once we all have a little peace here in Autumn Leaves. I just don’t want anyone to do something crazy on my wedding day.”

  “Rebecca.” Father Landon’s voice sounded carefully neutral, which was probably the best reaction to the rant she’d just unleashed on him. “First of all, I didn’t know there was going to be a wedding soon, so, congratulations. Regarding the latest incidents in Autumn Leaves, I heard. I’m so sorry.”

  “Well, you shouldn’t be the one who’s sorry. You’re not the one who conveniently mistook me for 911.” She took a deep breath, aware of how much anger she still had left. At Andy, at Father Reynolds. She should be looking at centerpieces and flower arrangements right now. Well, maybe it was a little early for that. A reception venue, then. “It looks bad when I’m always the one complaining, right?”

  “There’s complaining, and there are justified concerns,” he said. “You’re not the only one who’s worried about the situation in Autumn Leaves. It’s a little early, so I’d like you to keep quiet about it for now, but Father Reynolds has made arrangements to leave. I think we all need time to take a careful look at what happened here, including him.”

  Rebecca sank into the closest chair, unsure what to do with this news she’d been hoping for. A
t this moment, it felt kind of anti-climactic.

  “That’s good news for us, but I’m feeling sorry for the next congregation he gets his hands on. I don’t see him taking responsibility anytime soon, for any of this…Yes, I remember what you told me not so long ago, Father. Talking about responsibility—not everything is mine. I get it.”

  “You have a wedding to prepare for. In my experience, people usually have their hands full with that.”

  Rebecca had to laugh at that. “Thank you, I needed that. We haven’t even started yet, but I’m sure it will help separating the important matters from those that are not. I feel sorry for her. I hope she’ll be okay someday.”

  “If she really listened to what you told her, there’s a good chance.”

  “I’ve made some mistakes.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes. That’s where the responsibility comes in. Take your time to deal with what happened.”

  “We will, thank you—and I apologize for calling this early in the morning.”

  She looked up to see Callie stand in the doorway, amused at her words. Outside, the day was just barely dawning.

  “That’s okay. I hope I could tell you something useful.”

  “You always do. Have a good day.”

  “You too, Rebecca.”

  * * * *

  After the reading, Betty invited the Saturday brunch group, including Asha and Gracie, to dinner. Even with Callie and Rebecca keeping the news regarding Father Reynolds between them, it had already made the rounds.

  “Well, let’s hope we won’t get another mean one,” Betty said as she poured wine for all of them. Her gaze met Callie’s with a hint of self-consciousness in her expression. “I know. I hope I was never that bad.”

  Callie shrugged. “You yelled at me once and slapped me, but we were pretty much okay after that.”