Ally said, “I’ll have hot fudge with chocolate chip ice cream.”
Mrs. O’Connor added, “I’ll have chocolate chip with lots of whipped cream.”
Nick ordered a hot fudge sundae, and soon everyone was eating in bliss. The ice cream was thick, heavy, and full of flavor. Ally hadn’t known about this place, but she decided she wouldn’t mind coming down here once a week with Miss Kruck for the rest of her life.
While they ate, Miss Kruck regaled them with stories about Jeff from the time he was two. She soon had everyone laughing.
“You know, sometimes it’s hard to make a little boy understand what going in the toilet is all about. I tried pouring water out of a jar into the toilet, all kinds of things. One day I thought he had it. He went in the toilet like a big boy. I gave him a standing ovation. But the next day, he said he had to go, so I told him to go. And he just went there right on the floor!”
“You really have some great memories, Babs,” Mrs. O’Connor said, laughing.
“It’s been fun, since I never had children of my own. Jeff was two when I started taking care of him. And then his dad got out of prison and wanted him back. So Jeff was with him for several years. He came back to me at the beginning of this summer. And even though Jeff can be difficult, it’s good to have him back.”
They finished the sundaes and walked back out to the car. Ally thought it was the most fun she’d had in months. But she kept thinking that they should tell Miss Kruck about the tree fort. She worried, though, about how Miss Kruck would take it. She seemed very protective of Jeff.
Ally was still worrying about telling Miss Kruck about the tree fort when she saw a man up ahead hitchhiking. She recognized Coombsie immediately.
“It’s Coombsie!” she cried.
“You know him?” Miss Kruck asked, slowing down.
“It’s Jeff’s friend, Mr. Coombs.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Miss Kruck said. “I’ve heard so much about him.” She stopped right in front of Coombsie, and he ran to the window to look in. He was carrying his violin case.
Fourteen
Clicking
Miss Kruck leaned over the front seat and said, “So you’re the famous Mr. Coombs. Would you like a ride?”
“Be much obliged, Ma’am.”
When Coombsie opened the back door, he laughed. “Ally! Nick! What’s this?”
“We’re with Jeff’s aunt,” Ally said as Coombsie sat in the rear seat of the car. “And this is my mom.”
Mrs. O’Connor swiveled around and extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Coombs. Call me Liz.”
Miss Kruck held out her hand, and when Coombsie took it, he said, “Jeff didn’t tell me you were such a lovely looking lady.”
“Oh, he would never say that about me,” she answered, blushing.
“Well, he should’ve.”
Ally glanced from Miss Kruck to Coombsie, then gave her mother a look.
“So where should I let you off?” Miss Kruck asked.
“Up by the old Gibbs place, if you please.”
Thinking about doing a little matchmaking, Ally said, “Oh, you should come over to Miss Kruck’s house sometime, Coombsie. You could play your violin for her. I bet she’d love it.”
“You play the violin?” Miss Kruck asked.
Coombsie held up the case. “Sort of.”
“He’s a pro,” Nick said, grinning at Ally.
“Well, I would love to hear you play. I play violin too. Maybe we can—”
“Do a duet!” Ally cried.
“Sure, I guess so,” Coombsie said.
“Well, then it’s settled,” Miss Kruck said. “You’re coming over for dinner, and Liz, you and Ally and Nick are all invited too. I stuck a roast in the oven before I came over to your house, thinking I’d eat it over the next month. Now I won’t have to worry about that.”
“Great,” Ally said and sat back, watching Coombsie’s eyes. He hadn’t taken them off Miss Kruck since he’d gotten into the car. And even though he was looking mostly at the back of her head, Ally could see something was changing in Coombsie. Could Miss Kruck be the answer to my prayer for Coombsie’s mental health?
Miss Kruck told them to be at her house at 5:30 sharp. When they all arrived at her house, Coombsie was polishing his violin in the living room while Jeff sat there looking miserable. A second violin lay on a chair.
Everyone sat down in the living room, and Miss Kruck served some hors d’oeuvres of bacon-wrapped scallops, a cheese ball and crackers, eggnog and punch. She was dressed in a mauve-colored skirt with a cream-white blouse. She looked stunning. Next to her, Coombsie’s face was radiant in a way that Ally had never imagined it could be. He seemed charged with electricity, making his way around the house, helping Miss Kruck with this and that like he’d been there for a century.
Miss Kruck, after giving everyone time to consume most of the delicious treats, invited them all to the dining room. She then served a fine dinner of roast beef, baked potatoes, creamed spinach, candied carrots, and scrumptious rolls and butter.
The dinner conversation was fun, with everyone joining in and laughing. Everyone, that is, except Jeff. He seemed angry that Coombsie was acting so “in love” with his aunt. Twice he whispered to Ally, “He has no idea what she’s really like.” But Ally considered the possibility of a relationship between the two a gift of God and told Jeff so.
When dinner was completed, Miss Kruck invited everyone to sit down for a concert. “Coombsie and I have prepared a list of things you might enjoy. I think you’ll find that we are a natural dynamic duo.”
This comment brought a heavy sigh from Jeff, but everyone else thought it funny.
Then the duet started. Ally had never heard anything like it. They went through contemporary numbers, like songs by the Beatles and Elvis Presley, then went on to various musical tunes from The Sound of Music, The Music Man, and several others, and finally ended up with a few classical numbers. The sound was marvelous. Mrs. O’Connor suggested several times that they go on the road and “make a million dollars.”
When they were done, they both sat down, panting. Coombsie said to Miss Kruck, “Jeff never told me you could play.”
Miss Kruck laughed. “I don’t think Jeff likes to talk about me that much.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this, fella?” Coombsie asked Jeff.
Jeff simply shrugged. “I didn’t think you’d be interested.”
“Interested in Babs? Why wouldn’t I be? She’s a great lady.”
Miss Kruck blushed.
Coombsie then told more of his stories, both fiction and nonfiction, and kept everyone laughing and crying for more till 10:00. Only Jeff remained unmoved. Ally figured it was probably difficult for him to accept that his aunt, whom he wanted to get away from, was becoming so chummy with his best friend.
Ally knew too that this wasn’t the time to bring up the tree fort. The discussion had to be when Jeff was in a better mood.
After a fine dessert of chocolate mousse, the O’Connors and Nick left for home. Miss Kruck offered to give Coombsie a ride, but he said he could find his way. She kept telling him, “Please come by again. We’ll do a dueling violins reunion.”
Coombsie promised more than once, “I will, I will.”
On the way up the street—the O’Connors had walked from their house earlier in the evening—Ally said to Coombsie, “I think she likes you, Coombsie.”
“You think so? I might have to shave off my beard.”
“She likes that too,” Nick added.
“I don’t know,” Coombsie said. “These things never work out for me.”
“Ask her out for tomorrow night,” Ally blurted.
“Ally,” her mother chided, “Coombsie can work out his own romantic life.”
Coombsie shook his head. “Well, I don’t know about that.” He smiled at the group. “Well, here’s where I turn off.”
“Really, Coombsie, ask her out,” Ally said again.
Coombsie paused by the trees on the side of the road. “Maybe,” he said, and dashed into the trees and disappeared.
Ally, Nick, and her parents continued on. “They are so fun,” Mrs. O’Connor said, looking up into the moonlight.
“Jeff was kind of quiet, though,” Nick said.
“He’s probably not used to Coombsie showing an interest in women, and his Aunt Babs showing an interest in Coombsie,” Mr. O’Connor said. “Reminds me of my younger days.” He gave Mrs. O’Connor a kiss on the lips.
They walked in silence for awhile, then suddenly Ally said, “But I’m bummed that I didn’t get a chance to talk to Jeff about the robberies.”
“Darling,” Mrs. O’Connor said, “I think Jeff is fine. I don’t think you have to worry about anything. Let’s just pray that God will take care of this situation.”
“Then what about the tree fort?”
“I don’t know, honey. Maybe you can talk to Jeff tomorrow. And then you can let the police do their job; they’ll catch who’s doing this.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Fifteen
In the Jaws of the Trap
The next morning, Jeff, Ally, and Nick practiced the carnival routine again in the circle, but then Ally didn’t see Jeff the rest of the day or the next day. By the next night, she was worried. She finally called Miss Kruck at 7:00 in the evening, and Miss Kruck said Jeff had gone out after dinner to tend to the horses.
As usual, Nick was sitting in the living room talking to Mr. O’Connor about sports. Ally stepped in and said, “Nick, want to go for a walk?”
Mrs. O’Connor immediately interrupted. “Oh, we were going to take you into town for dessert, honey. We thought we might hit that ice cream parlor again.”
Ally frowned at Nick, trying to communicate that they had more important things to do. “I don’t really feel like going tonight,” she said. “I’m kind of ice creamed out.”
“Me too,” Nick piped up.
“What?” Mrs. O’Connor answered. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing! You two love ice cream. You especially, Nick.”
Nick touched his forehead. “You know, I have a terrible headache. Ice cream wouldn’t do it any good.”
“Take some aspirin. What is with you guys?”
“Okay,” Ally huffed, “we’ll go already!”
So everyone stepped out of the house and into the O’Connors’ car. It was still light out, and as they drove, Ally spotted a figure on the road.
“It’s Jeff,” Ally said. “Let’s invite him too.”
Mr. O’Connor slowed to a stop, and Mrs. O’Connor rolled down her window. “Jeff, would you like to come with us to get some ice cream?”
“Hey! No,” Jeff said, looking in and smiling at Ally and Nick. “I’ve got to finish what I’m doing. Working on a project.”
“What project?” Ally asked.
“A surprise for Coombsie and my aunt. Do you know he’s been down there all day, every day, since the other night?”
“Sounds like those two might be an item,” Mrs. O’Connor said.
“Yeah, right,” Jeff snorted.
“Why not?” Ally said. “They make a good couple.”
“Whatever.”
“Well, you’d be surprised,” Mrs. O’Connor said. “Give it a chance.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Good. We’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, see you later, Jeff,” Ally called.
Mr. O’Connor pulled away from him, and soon they were zooming down the road toward town.
The family spent the evening at a local bookstore and then went to the ice cream shop. They returned home at 9:15. As Mr. O’Connor turned onto their road, they all noticed the police cars, their emergency lights twirling.
“What’s going on?” Mr. O’Connor asked as they drove closer to several police cars stopped in front of a house. Ally’s heart pounded, and she prayed that whatever it was didn’t involve Jeff.
When they reached the cars, Ally spotted Mr. Bell. Mr. O’Connor rolled down the window, and Mr. Bell stepped over to it.
“Something going on?” Mr. O’Connor asked.
“Yeah, I’ll tell you later,” Mr. Bell said. “But they think they have the guy.”
Ally looked around the area, but saw no sign of Jeff or anyone else she knew. Mr. O’Connor drove on to Nick’s house, and Ally got out and walked Nick to his front door.
“Do you think they got Jeff?” Nick said as he opened the door.
Ally felt close to tears. “This is horrible, just horrible. Pray, okay. Just promise me you’ll pray.”
“I will. I am right now.”
Ally returned to the car, and Mr. O’Connor drove home. Once there, Ally sat on the front porch, praying, while her parents went inside. She felt guilty for not having warned Jeff, and guilty for not making him tell the truth, and guilty for everything else. Why didn’t I have more courage?
Minutes later, she heard footsteps. A figure came into the light of the porch. It was Coombsie. He looked nervous and worried.
“Ally, do you know where Jeff is? Babs is worried.”
“The police haven’t called her?” Ally asked.
“The police? No, no one had called when I left fifteen minutes ago.”
Ally jumped up. “The tree fort!”
“Let’s go.”
Ally ran in to tell her parents she had to go out for a little while. Mrs. O’Connor protested, but when she saw Coombsie, she said, “Is something wrong?”
“Jeff has disappeared,” Coombsie said.
“Should we call the police?”
“No, I think I know where he is,” Ally said. “Can I call Nick and get him to come with us?”
“I guess. It’s kind of late, though.”
“Coombsie’ll be with us.”
“Okay. I guess so. But don’t be too long.”
Ally called Nick, and soon all three of them were headed for the tree fort, their flashlights lit up.
They found the tree fort and saw a light on in it. Ally sighed with relief. At least Jeff hadn’t been nabbed by the police.
As they approached the fort, Jeff looked out the window. “I knew it!” he cried. “You followed me!”
“Jeff, what’s going on?” Ally said.
Coombsie added, “Your auntie is worried sick, Jeff.”
“No,” Jeff said, standing in the window. “You followed me! I saw your tracks in the dirt, and you came up here, didn’t you? You were in my private place without asking.”
Ally tried to reason with him. “Jeff, we just—”
“I can’t trust anyone, anywhere. Everyone is a snitch! Get away! Get away from me! You’re all traitors.”
“Jeff, what’s going on?” Coombsie said. “Is this about your father?”
“I can’t believe you did this to me, Coombsie. I thought we were friends.”
“Did you get the electronic equipment at the dump?” Ally asked.
“Where else? You still think I’m the one trashing the houses, don’t you? All of you? Don’t you?”
Ally said, “Jeff, maybe if we all go back to the house, we can talk this out.”
“No, I’m through with it. I’m getting out of here. The only thing I’m doing with you is the carnival tomorrow, and then I’m done with you all.”
Jeff climbed down the rope ladder and stormed down the trail. Ally started after him, but Coombsie grabbed her shoulder. “He’ll cool down. Give him a night. I’ll talk to him in the morning.”
When Jeff’s flashlight beam had disappeared among the trees, Coombsie turned to Nick and Ally. “He has this cockeyed idea of saving his father and getting him out of prison. I’ve tried to talk him out of it hundreds of times. But he thought if he got someone to fix the electronic equipment, he could get enough money to hire a lawyer. It was crazy, plumb crazy.”
“It’s all right. It’s my fault,” Ally said. “I’m the one who’s been spying on him and thinking he was wrecking the
houses and stealing the equipment.”
“Why didn’t you ask me? I was sure he was getting it from the dump.”
“I was afraid.”
“Of what?”
Ally glanced uneasily at Nick. “That he…I don’t know…that everyone would think me stupid and that Jeff would do exactly what he’s done—think I betrayed him.”
“Ally, you can’t save people with wrong information,” Coombsie said. “And only Jesus can save people to begin with.”
“You’re a Christian, Coombsie?”
“Until I met Babs, a pretty bitter one. But God’s done a lot of work in the last few days.”
“Coombsie, is Jeff a Christian?” Ally asked.
“Oh, I’ve been talking to him about it. But no, I don’t think so. That’s one of the things he doesn’t like about Babs. She’s always telling him he needs Jesus!”
Ally suddenly burst into tears. “I’ve blown it. I’ve blown everything.”
Coombsie wrapped his huge arms around her for a second. “Don’t worry, little one. God works things for good in our lives, right? He’ll work this for good too.”
“But Jeff thinks I’m a traitor.”
“You only wanted to help him, Ally,” Coombsie said. “He’ll see that tomorrow.”
“I hope so.”
“Come on, let’s go home.”
Sixteen
A Little Fun
The next morning, Ally connected with Nick, and they both headed down to Jeff’s house. Ally’s parents and Nick’s family were planning to arrive at the carnival later, when the talent show started. But Jeff had wanted to get there early so Ally and Nick could see the arena where they’d be performing.
Ally had worried all night about whether or not Jeff would still be angry. She hoped Coombsie had talked to him.
When they arrived at Miss Kruck’s house, they were greeted by Jeff saying, “You’re late.”
“Sorry. We had a late night,” Ally said, biting her tongue. She tried to get Jeff to look her in the eye, but he stood with his shoulders hunched, looking at the ground.
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