Laughter in the Wind

by SL Harris

  Rebecca hoped she had herself under control as they walked into the kitchen where her mother sat at her favorite spot, this time reading the Sunday edition of the St. Louis paper.

  “How was your picnic?” she asked. “It looks like that cold air chapped your faces a little, your cheeks are certainly red,” she noted, looking around the paper at the two girls.

  “We’re fine,” Rebecca said, a little abruptly. “I’m going to walk Olivia out to her car. She’s got to get back and study some this evening,” she added, trying to distract her mother’s attention from their appearance. If her expression looked anything like Olivia’s, she realized, her mother must really be wondering what they’d been up to. Olivia’s dreamy expression, the starry eyes and disheveled cap and coat made a curious picture. Rebecca led her to the hall closet and they quickly removed their vests, caps and overalls and Olivia put on her own coat.

  “Good-bye, Mom,” Olivia said, stepping around the table to give her a hug. “Thank you for letting me stay.”

  “Olivia, you are always welcome,” she replied sincerely.

  At the door, Rebecca turned. “Oh, yeah, Mom. Olivia and I talked about meeting next Saturday between here and the city for dinner and maybe a show.” When her mother raised an eyebrow, she continued quickly, “To go over any clues we might discover this week. The Buick has been running good, my studies are caught up and I wouldn’t be driving all the way in to the city. You know I’ll be careful.”

  “We have to let you stretch your wings sometime,” her mother admitted. “Let me talk to your father, he worries about you getting too far from home. I don’t know how he’s going to survive when you go away to finish college.”

  “Thanks, Mom.” Rebecca knew her mother would get her father to agree. She also knew her mother was just as upset at the prospect of her moving away as her father was, although she tried not to let on.

  She ushered Olivia out of the house quickly, wanting to escape any further scrutiny from her mother.

  The quick hug good-bye at the car was mutual, each cautious not to push through the other’s thin veneer of self-control.

  “Call me,” Rebecca said, holding her phone up to Olivia. Olivia smiled and nodded, then drove away.

  Rebecca was left standing by the road, feeling alone in a way she had never felt before, not here, not surrounded by a community full of relatives and friends. She watched Olivia’s car weaving its way around the potholes in the road until it disappeared over a small rise.

  Chapter Nine

  For the remainder of the day, Rebecca found things to keep herself busy, out of the sight of her mother for the most part. She studied in her room, trying to get ahead on any subject possible to reduce her study load for the following weekend. Olivia had sent her a quick text three hours after she left, letting her know she had made it back to St. Louis safely. That reminded Rebecca that she had promised Olivia she would try to find the census records. She retrieved the phone book from the living room and found the number of the Genealogical Society president. A quick call was all it took to set up a time to look at their records. Thursday at 6:30 p.m., she would meet him at the old courthouse. She texted the information to Olivia, who responded with, Great work, Sherlock! This only reminded her of Olivia’s flirting at the cemetery and she blushed slightly as she remembered how it had made her feel.

  Knowing she could spend hours talking to Olivia on the phone, Rebecca made herself wait until 9:00 p.m. each evening that week before calling. They had decided she should be the one to call so her parents wouldn’t question Olivia calling so much. They spoke of their day at school, their favorite classes, their least favorite professors, Olivia’s cat, Pooh, and more. Each wanted to know everything about the other and even the mundane things sounded exciting.

  Thursday evening, after going to the old courthouse, Rebecca didn’t think the clock would ever get to nine so she could call Olivia with her news. The clock in the kitchen was still chiming the hour as she hit speed dial.

  “Dunlop,” she blurted out as soon as Olivia answered. “Ralph Dunlop.”

  “Oooh!” Olivia squealed into the phone. “You found another piece of the puzzle!”

  “I found more than that,” Rebecca added excitedly. “Mr. Johnson, the president of the Genealogical Society, heard me say the name when I found it. He said he used to know a Ralph Dunlop. He lived about fifty miles north of Springtown and was kind of a hermit. You know, he lived by himself in an old shack out in the country. He worked as a farmhand most of his life, according to Mr. Johnson.”

  “Wow, you are a great detective!” Olivia sounded gratifyingly surprised at how much Rebecca had learned. “Did he know where Ralph lives now?”

  “No, he’s not even sure he’s alive,” Rebecca said. “He said the old shack burned down about ten years ago and the few acres it sat on are all grown over with brush now.”

  Olivia didn’t respond immediately, so Rebecca continued. “He lived in the next county north of us, so we can go to the courthouse there and look through their records.” With disappointment she added, “But that would probably have to wait until the semester ends. I can’t afford to miss any more classes.”

  “I know what you mean,” agreed Olivia. “I’m struggling to keep my mind on classes now. Let’s not worry about going there yet, maybe I’ll get more information when I talk to Uncle Steve next week. He’ll be at Grandmama’s for Thanksgiving dinner.”

  They spent the next half hour sharing stories of previous Thanksgivings with their families. Rebecca’s memories were of a small house overflowing with aunts, uncles and cousins, with people sitting on the beds and the furniture and the floors throughout the house while they ate, until there wasn’t a place left in anybody to put another bite. Olivia’s memories contrasted sharply with hers: a large house, a large dining room table and the largest gathering she could ever remember numbering fifteen. Rebecca remembered noise, laughing, talking and joking, and everyone bringing food and preparing even more food when they arrived. Olivia remembered polite conversations around a meal prepared by others, followed by the men gathering in the den, the women in the formal living room and the children expected to play quietly in the nursery or read in the library.

  Finally, they said their good nights, each knowing she had to hang up to finish studying for the following day.

  * * *

  Saturday morning after breakfast, Rebecca’s father left to help his brother work on some equipment. Rebecca washed the breakfast dishes for her mother.

  “I haven’t seen much of you this week,” her mother commented from behind her paper.

  “School’s kept me pretty busy,” Rebecca said, concerned over which way the conversation might be headed.

  “How’s Olivia?” her mother asked, peering around the edge of her paper.

  “Oh, uh, good, I guess,” Rebecca stammered, staring out the window in front of her.

  “That’s good,” her mother said. “Are you still meeting her this evening?”

  “Yeah, we’ve got it all set up. I’m leaving at four but I probably won’t be home until late,” Rebecca said, returning to scrubbing the skillet. Maybe she’s going to let me off the hook.

  “Just be careful, especially driving home that late,” she cautioned.

  Rebecca had just started to relax when her mother continued. “I know you’ve been going through some changes lately, growing up, I guess. I also can see how much this friendship with Olivia means to you. Just know I’m here for you, regardless. I mean that, regardless.” She emphasized the last word.

  After a few seconds of silence, Rebecca answered quietly, still not looking at her mother, “You’re right, Mom. I am going through some stuff but I think it’s all for the good. I’m starting to understand myself a little more, you know, what makes me tick.”

  She paused a few seconds but her mother didn’t respond, so she continued. “I know I usually talk to you when I have a problem but this isn’t really a problem. It’s more lik
e I’m figuring out me. As soon as I know for sure what I’ve learned, I promise I’ll talk to you about it.”

  Her mother had set her paper down on the table to listen to this explanation. Now she seemed to choose her words carefully as if cautious not to push her daughter beyond what she was willing to share and eager to keep their lines of communication open. “Rebecca, turn around for a minute, please.”

  Rebecca did as she was told and tried to keep eye contact as her mother continued. “After raising two other daughters, I thought you wouldn’t offer any new challenges. However, I think I’ve had the least to offer you in some ways, to help you get through your teenage years. These past few months, you’ve been struggling to find your own way. That makes you more independent and stronger than your sisters. That also leaves me feeling helpless when I see you struggle. Just know, even though I may not know how to help you, I’ll always love you and always be here for you. I believe you’re going to find the path you were meant to follow.”

  Rebecca felt her eyes beginning to tear up and she hated crying. “Thanks, Mom. I love you, too. You give me just enough,” she said. “Just enough advice, just enough support and just enough freedom for me to be me. I hope I never disappoint you with the choices I make,” she added, thinking of Olivia.

  Her mother held her gaze firmly with her own as she responded, “You have made no choices lately that have disappointed me.” Then, she lifted her paper again and added in a teasing voice from behind it, ensuring Rebecca would know what she meant. “Oh, by the way, enjoy your date tonight with Olivia.”

  Rebecca knew she had intentionally used the word date from the way she emphasized it. She stared at her mother’s paper. How did she know? Sometimes, she thought her mother was a mind reader. What about Dad, what had she told him? Rebecca didn’t want to think about that yet.

  She turned wordlessly and finished cleaning out the sink then wiped the counters and stove. Before she walked from the room, she reached around from behind and hugged her mother. She just got her bedroom door closed when the tears came, tears of confusion, tears of love for her mother and tears of relief that her mother knew how she felt about Olivia and wasn’t disappointed in her.

  “Suck it up, Bec,” she whispered. After a few minutes, she pulled herself together then grabbed a textbook she needed to study. She started to sit on her bed to read like she had done all week, but changed her mind. She opened the door and walked back to the kitchen, choosing to sit at the table with her mother as they both read.

  * * *

  By two o’clock, Rebecca was starting to get ready. She remembered how she used to torment her sisters when they were getting ready for their dates. She had never understood what the big deal was. Did it really matter which way their hair was fixed, or whether they wore a pink blouse with frills or the white silk blouse? Now she felt a little foolish as she stood before her mirror trying to get her cowlick to cooperate. She wanted everything to be perfect.

  Finally satisfied that at least her hair wasn’t sticking up wildly, she looked closely at her reflection. Hair—passable, better than usual and no hat ring. Complexion—she didn’t want to think about it. The new zit on her chin made her question whether she wanted to ask for her mother’s help in making it disappear. June and Kate had tried for years to teach her the ins and outs of makeup but she had never wanted to learn. Now maybe she should reconsider.

  Outfit—okay. She was pleased with the yellow shirt she wore unbuttoned over a black tank, the sleeves cuffed at mid-forearm. Her black jeans and a black pair of loafers completed the package, leaving her still comfortable yet looking classier than she did in her normal attire—jeans, sneakers and T-shirt or flannel shirt, depending on the weather. She fastened a leather cord necklace with a turquoise pendant around her neck and checked her image again.

  “Damn zit!” she complained loudly. After looking at her chin for the hundredth time, she finally decided it wasn’t going to disappear, nor was it going to become any less noticeable on its own.

  “I wish your sisters were here to harass you,” her mother teased as she applied concealer over the small blemish on Rebecca’s chin. “You know you deserve it, right?” She finally pronounced her repair work complete and handed Rebecca a small mirror so she could see the finished product. “As long as you don’t rub your chin on your shirt tail before you get there, you’ll look fine,” her mother teased.

  As Rebecca headed out to the Buick, she passed her father on the front porch.

  “You look great!” he said, sounding a little surprised as he scanned her from head to toe. “My little tomboy grew up when I wasn’t looking,” he teased a little wistfully.

  “Thanks, Dad,” she said sincerely. She gave him a quick hug. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Oh, that’s right. You’re going to meet Olivia. Have a good time and be careful,” he stressed.

  “You know I will,” she said as she opened the car door to the Buick.

  Rebecca gave her thoughts their freedom on the seventy- minute drive. It no longer seemed like a war being waged between her ears. Instead, it was a kaleidoscope of daydreams with Olivia in all of them. She was surprised at how quickly the time passed. Before she knew it, she was pulling into the parking lot of the steakhouse where they had agreed to meet.

  Olivia’s car sat at the side of the building and Rebecca parked in an empty spot beside it. She turned off the old Buick and pulled the key from the ignition, reached into the passenger seat to retrieve her wallet. About to open her door, she looked out her window. Her breath caught as she saw Olivia standing between the cars, waiting for her. Damn, she looks good! Her dark brown hair curled softly around her face and her sensuous red lips curved in a warm smile as her eyes met Rebecca’s. Olivia made her pulse jump with just a look and Rebecca realized suddenly how relieved she was that it hadn’t all been a dream. This was a real date—with one beautiful and sexy Olivia Harmon.

  “Hi,” Rebecca greeted Olivia as she stepped out of the car. “I got here early and you still beat me. Have you been waiting long?”

  “I’ve just been here a minute,” Olivia said. “I hope this isn’t turning into a contest,” she teased. “If so, I may have to set my watch ahead so I can keep an advantage over you.”

  They entered the restaurant laughing and joking. Rebecca could never remember afterward what she ordered or how it tasted. She knew she would always have good memories of the place, though. The meal flew by. Before they knew it, it was half an hour before the movie was due to start. They agreed to split the bill then headed out to the cars together.

  “So, have you decided what show you’re taking me to see?” Olivia had insisted if she chose the restaurant, then Rebecca must choose the movie.

  “I had a couple of ideas but I wanted your input,” she said. Olivia put a hand on her hip and began to protest, but Rebecca quickly interrupted. “Let me explain. There is a good movie showing, but there’s also a state park about five miles out of town. The gates stay open until nine. I thought we could drive out and talk for a while. But if you’d rather see the movie, that’s okay with me.”

  Olivia looked intrigued. “That sounds great to me,” she said. “Can we take your car and leave mine here?” she asked.

  Rebecca unlocked the Buick. A mile outside of town, Olivia unbuckled her seat belt and slid to the center of the bench seat, fastening the waist belt then snuggling in closer to Rebecca as she drove the dark highway. A few minutes later, Rebecca turned into the gate of the park. Her headlights illuminated the sign warning that the gate would close at nine. “Help me watch the time,” she told Olivia.

  “I’ll set the alarm on my phone for eight-fifty,” she said, quickly digging in her coat pocket for her phone.

  “I knew you were a genius when I met you,” Rebecca teased lightly.

  “I knew you were hot when I met you,” Olivia countered. In the dim light coming from the dashboard, she saw Rebecca blush deeply and she chuckled.

  Reb
ecca drove the car to the end of the drive, stopping in the middle of the road at one point to allow deer to pass in front of the car. Olivia counted fourteen deer before they finished passing by and the herd walked slowly to the center of the deserted campground before bedding down. Rebecca slowly eased the car on past them, careful to not disturb them. A single light illuminated the parking lot at the end of the drive and Rebecca parked the car in a shadowy corner overlooking the river, which stretched out dark and forbidding before them.

  Rebecca removed her seat belt so she could turn in the driver’s seat to look at Olivia. She shook her head, still slightly amazed. “I have to keep reminding myself that this is real, that I’m really on a date with you,” she explained. “I’m afraid I’ll wake up and it’ll all be a dream.”

  “Why?” Olivia sounded puzzled. “Why wouldn’t it be real?”

  “Because…because you’re you and I’m me.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Of course you’re you and I’m me. Who else would we be?”

  “I mean…” Rebecca was trying hard to explain but wasn’t exactly sure what she was trying to say. “You’re so beautiful, and I’m sure there are several women you know who would love to go out with you, yet here you are with me.”

  “I’m not sure about all of that,” Olivia said modestly. “Besides, why wouldn’t I want to be out with you? Have you looked in the mirror lately? If you were any hotter, Bec…your strong arms, that sexy hair that fights to do its own thing, just everything about you. You’re real, not like so many people I know. You’re not pretending to be something you’re not. Do you know how rare that is?”