For Love of a Dog

by Janice Carter

  “Is that us?” Luca asked.

  “That’s us.”

  Margaret returned just as the red and yellow alert pulsed from the television. “Think I’ll round up some candles, just in case,” she said, and headed for the kitchen.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  Harry looked at Luca. “Garage and shed doors closed?”

  “I can check. What about the chickens?”

  “If they have any sense they’ll be inside their coop.”

  Kai stood. “I’ll go with you, Luca. And we’ll need raincoats.”

  A gust of dirt and gravel from the drive burst into the room when they pushed open the kitchen door. The air was filled with bits of debris, and the yard was so dark Luca could hardly see. His mind shot back to a sandstorm when he’d flown over the Arabian Desert on his way for some R&R in Dubai a few years ago, and the thick, impenetrable red sand that had blanketed the land below. Now it was rain pelting them. He turned to look for Kai, his pulse quickening when he couldn’t see her. But then he felt her hand slip into his and they struggled, heads bent against the wind, across the yard to the shed and garage.

  The house was all lit up, guiding them back after they shut and locked the doors. It might as well be midnight, Luca thought, as they ran onto the side porch and blew into the kitchen. The others, including Isabel and Thomas, were huddled around the television in the family room.

  It was a cozy scene...until the lights went out.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  KAI HAD ALWAYS loved candles. The flickering and casting of strange shadows had fascinated her as a child and evoked romance as an adult. But the house-rattling wind erased any hint of romance despite the dozen candles placed around the family room.

  Margaret and Isabel were making sandwiches by candlelight in the kitchen while Luca was playing a board game with Thomas. The boy wasn’t an attentive player though, raising his head to the blackness beyond the windows at every gust. Harry had sent Kai in search of his crank radio, a relic so old Luca doubted it would pick up any signal at all. They tuned in at hourly intervals, hoping to hear further tornado reports, but only received a faint warning siren through the heavy static.

  “Should’ve gone to the bungalow,” Harry grumbled. “It’s got a good basement, not like the one here.”

  Luca couldn’t argue with that, but it was too late now. The yard with its flying debris wasn’t safe for any of them, least of all a man with a cane. He and Kai had had a hurried, whispered discussion about getting everyone down into the farmhouse basement, but they both knew the narrow and steep stairs would be difficult for Harry. In the end, they’d decided that hunkering down in the family room might be the best option, unless the winds increased.

  They brought down linens, pillows and the mattresses from the single beds upstairs. Margaret and Isabel carried plates of sandwiches, fruit and leftover pie into the room and they all ate in silence, now and then casting anxious glances at the windows. One by one they lay down on makeshift beds—except for Luca, who sat in an armchair to wait out the storm.

  * * *

  KAI TOSSED AND TURNED so much she figured she might as well have joined Luca in the other armchair. But Thomas was curled up against her on the floor and she didn’t want to disturb him. Amigo, who’d decided company was preferable to cowering under a bed, was tucked into Thomas’s other side. They’d kept one candle lit in a deep holder that would prevent any accidental fire should all of them fall asleep. The possibility seemed far-fetched to Kai. How could anyone sleep with all that racket outside?

  Eventually, a sliver of sunlight wriggled its way under her eyelids and Kai rolled onto her back, wondering for a second where she was. She turned her head left and right, noting tossed sheets and pillows but no sleeping forms. The aroma of coffee drifted in from the kitchen, and she sat up. There was no sound except for the rise and fall of muted voices. The storm was over.

  They were all at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and waiting for what smelled like pancakes. Margaret was standing at the stove. “Help yourself to coffee, honey.”

  “Is there power?”

  “Luca got the generator up and running at daybreak,” Harry said.

  “With help from Thomas...and Amigo, of course,” Luca added.

  That got a giggle from Thomas. The scene seemed so ordinary except for the pouches under everyone’s eyes and the slight dishevelment of clothes and hair. Isabel wasn’t quite as polished as a day earlier, and Kai knew at once that her father hadn’t slept well. Only Thomas and Amigo appeared to have weathered the storm without much physical aftermath.

  “Have you heard anything on the radio or TV then, about the storm? Did a tornado set down anywhere?”

  “Some conflict of opinion about that,” Luca said, carrying plates of pancakes to the table. “But the road into Lima is closed. Trees and hydro lines down.” He squeezed her shoulder as he walked around the table.

  So no one would be going anywhere for a while. Kai glanced sideways at Isabel, who was delicately cutting her pancake into bite-size pieces. A long day ahead.

  After breakfast, Isabel offered to clean up the kitchen. “You’ll have to wash the dishes by hand, Mother,” Luca warned her. “The generator works on demand, and we need to limit its use. And I recommend cold water—save using the water heater.”

  Isabel frowned. “Cold water?”

  Luca caught Kai’s eye and winked. “You’ll be using the generator to pump water up from the well. That’s enough power right there.”

  “I don’t understand how these things work, Luca. No need to get cranky.”

  He sighed. “I’m just explaining. The generator is gas powered, and we only have a certain amount of fuel to run it. So we have to decide on our priorities.”

  “Maybe paper plates for the next meal?”

  Isabel looked hopefully to Margaret, who shrugged. “I’ll look around, but...”

  At that, Harry said, “While you’re all discussing these important matters, I need to catch up on the sleep I missed out on last night in a real bed. Margaret?”

  Her mom looked grateful for the excuse as she helped Harry out of his chair. “I’ll come with you,” Kai suddenly offered. “There are a lot of branches lying around out there. It might take two of us to get Dad safely to the bungalow.”

  Once outside, Kai realized her impulsive gesture had been a good one. She moved ahead, clearing a path for her parents. Margaret assisted Harry as he slowly made his way up the ramp on the bungalow porch to the landing. At the top, he had to pause to catch his breath.

  Kai looked anxiously to her mother. “He’s tired, dear. Aren’t you, Harry? When he’s rested, he’ll manage better. Maybe even on his own.” But Kai saw the doubt in her mother’s face.

  She wandered around the house while Margaret helped Harry into his pajamas and wondered what the family would do with all the possessions that now occupied two houses, instead of one. A move to Lima would certainly mean downsizing, and Kai had little storage space in her own apartment in Brooklyn.

  Her mother came into the living room as Kai was setting a glass bowl back onto the end table next to the sofa. It had been a wedding gift for David and Annie. “What will you do with all these things, Mom, when you move?”

  “I haven’t the faintest idea. I don’t suppose you’ll want much?”

  “My apartment is too small for my own stuff.”

  “An estate sale, I guess. We’ll have to decide for Thomas what will be important for him, when he’s an adult.”

  “That’s going to be a tough call.”

  “And one I’d like to put off as long as possible, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to. I’m hoping you’ll give us a hand with everything, Kai.”

  “Of course I’ll help, but it’s difficult when I’m living in another cit
y. I just don’t see why you and Dad rushed into selling.”

  “You saw him just now, Kai.”

  “But you said he was exhausted from last night.”

  “Yes, but these spells of fatigue are happening more frequently since his stroke. Besides, winter is coming. He won’t be shoveling out the drive and—”

  “You can hire people to do that.”

  “It’s not just the shoveling. Moving around from here to the farmhouse. Helping out with simple things like grocery shopping. At least in Lima it’ll be easier to manage.” Her voice rose.

  Kai wrapped her arms around her mother and held her close. “I get that. We’ll work things out. Don’t worry.” She pulled back, smiling. “Shall we go back to see how Isabel’s handling the dishes?”

  “I’m beginning to think she’s tougher than she looks.”

  “How so?”

  “Not a peep from her during the most frightening parts of last night’s storm, and no complaints this morning about sleeping on the floor.”

  “She had a mattress,” Kai pointed out.

  “Still.” Margaret paused and then asked, “Do you know when she’ll be leaving?”

  “Mom, the road’s closed.”

  “I mean afterward. It’s a highway. They can’t close it for too long.”

  “Well, then, I assume as soon as it’s opened.”

  “And will Luca go home with her, too?”

  “I don’t know yet. Does it matter?” She winced at the snap in her tone.

  Her mother’s eyes held hers. “Not really. As I told you before, we like him and we hope everything works out between the two of you. But we were wondering about Amigo. Will he go with Luca?”

  Kai hadn’t been thinking about Amigo and Luca’s decision to leave him with Thomas. “It would be a shame for Thomas to lose Amigo.”

  “But we don’t know what kind of place we’ll be buying or maybe even renting in Lima. It may not be dog friendly and besides, I’m not sure how your father will take to having that dog around permanently.”

  Before Kai could respond there was a low grumble from the master bedroom. She and Margaret looked at one another and smiled. Harry called out again.

  “We’re being summoned,” Kai quipped.

  Harry was half sitting up in bed. “Who can sleep with all that yapping! The dog isn’t a big deal. I’m getting used to him, and he’ll be Thomas’s responsibility. I think he can manage.”

  So that settled that. Kai looked at her mother and shrugged. They both knew there was no arguing with Harry when his mind was made up.

  * * *

  LUCA WATCHED HIS mother walking with Thomas toward the chicken coop. Her expensive loafers weren’t so shiny anymore, and he wondered why she hadn’t taken Margaret up on the offer of rain boots. He could tell from her hand gestures that she was talking up a storm to Thomas.

  He grudgingly appreciated her acceptance of Thomas, as well as the fact that she hadn’t once asked Luca why the boy didn’t speak. Perhaps he’d mentioned the elective mutism when he’d told her all about the family during his brief visit home.

  He continued picking up the branches in the yard, dumping them into a pile beyond the garage, but stopped when he spotted Kai coming from the bungalow. Unlike his mother, she was wearing rain boots, tramping through puddles and aiming a big smile his way. Her hair was loose, swinging across the top of her shoulders, and Luca was filled with a contentment he hadn’t felt in years.

  When she reached him, she stretched up and kissed him quickly on the lips. Before he could embrace her, she stooped to retrieve a handful of twigs at her feet. They worked together for a few minutes until she paused to say, “My parents and I were discussing Amigo.”

  That stopped him. “Oh?”

  “They were asking me if you planned to take him when you go.” His hesitation prompted her to add, “Just that they’re both amenable to keeping him. For Thomas. Even Dad said it wouldn’t be a problem. They’ll keep Amigo in mind when they’re house-hunting in Lima, and just to let you know...my place in Brooklyn is a two-bedroom.” When he didn’t respond, she asked, “What? Am I jumping to conclusions?”

  His mind was racing. She’d really taken that “us” they’d been discussing and run with the idea. Not that he minded, but he still wanted to explore all the options. “No, it’s not that. I want to be with you. I can take courses anyplace where there’s a college or university. Even in Lima.” He gave a small laugh, implying that would be a remote possibility, but saw at once that the idea alarmed her.

  The sound of his mother’s voice carried across the yard, and Luca was relieved at the interruption. “Let’s continue this later,” he said as Isabel, Thomas and Amigo sauntered their way.

  “Sure. I promised Mom I’d put together something for lunch anyway.”

  Kai turned away and called out, “Thomas, come and help me with lunch.”

  Isabel joined him as Kai, Thomas and Amigo headed for the kitchen door. “We had a great walk,” his mother said, “though I’ve ruined my shoes. I know Margaret offered her boots to me, but then what would she have worn? Besides, they’re only shoes.”

  Luca stared down at them, his mind on the brief chat with Kai, wondering if they were destined to always misread each other.

  “I told Thomas lots of stories about you when you were his age. He couldn’t get enough of them.”

  Luca tried to picture Thomas conveying that to Isabel. He also had difficulty imagining what those stories might be, considering his brief vacation times at home from boarding school. “I’m surprised you had any stories at all. It felt like I was barely home as a kid.”

  Her smile wobbled a bit. “Yes, that’s true. But there were the letters you wrote from camp, begging to come home. And your father and I made lots of trips to all those schools when you were suspended or in some kind of trouble.” She placed a hand on his arm and looked up at him. “I know we weren’t the best parents, Luca. We could have done better. Kept you at home more. But the company took all your father’s time, and I simply couldn’t cope on my own. You were a headstrong boy. And very, very active.”

  Luca patted her hand. “I know, Mother.”

  “And I can see why you love this place,” she gushed. “It’s lovely here. Calm. Peaceful. It’s a shame the Westfields are selling.”

  “They have to. You can see that life on a farm is going to be a challenge for both of them now, with Harry’s limitations. But yes, it is a shame.” He stared past her at the distant fields, wondering if he’d ever have the chance to see his crop in full canopy. His crop. He should say their crop. Taking a deep breath, he said, “I think lunch might be ready soon. Shall we go?”

  * * *

  MARGARET JUMPED WHEN the phone rang. She glanced at the kitchen clock. The power was back and so were the phone lines. She dashed from the sink to the landline, not wanting the ringing to wake anyone. The effects of the restless night had sent them off for naps. Isabel was in the master bedroom, and Thomas and Kai had retreated to their respective rooms. She wasn’t certain where Luca had gone, but Amigo was missing so perhaps they were out walking. The day was so beautiful it was difficult to believe last night’s storm had even happened. Except for some bare or missing branches in the trees around the house, they’d fared well.

  “Margaret? It’s Susan Bennett. I hope you got through the big storm without any problem, or damage?”

  Their Realtor. “Hello, Susan, and yes, we managed to survive intact.”

  “Great. Listen, I meant to call you yesterday afternoon, but then the storm came up so quickly and with the power outage and all I had to wait till today. But I’ve had an inquiry about your place.”

  “Already? I thought you said it might take some time.”

  “I know. Go figure, eh? Anyway, the call came from a Realtor
out of town. He basically just asked for more information than was in the ad, but I wanted to give you a heads-up. He sounded very interested.”

  “Thanks, Susan. Let me know if you hear any more.” Margaret hung up and leaned against the wall. She couldn’t decide if the news was good or bad. Either way, life wasn’t going to slow down just because she had hard decisions to make.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  LUCA STRETCHED HIS legs over the end of the sofa. He was wishing he’d taken up Margaret’s offer of a bed in the bungalow, but he’d thought the couple might appreciate some time to themselves. Although power and telephone lines had been restored, apparently there were sections of the highway into Lima that still needed clearing. Luca was grateful for the extra time to get Kai aside and finish their talk from yesterday.

  She’d been subdued at dinner and had insisted on tidying afterward by herself, in spite of his offer of help. He suspected she’d misunderstood his comment about options. He’d meant that there were things to figure out, and since they were still in the early stages of their relationship, they needed to take time to do that. Planning had been a big part of his job in the army, and he saw no reason to discard that practice now that he was a civilian.

  Someone was moving around in the kitchen, and thinking he might have a chance to be alone with Kai, he rolled off the sofa, eased the kinks out of his back and put on his jeans. Except it wasn’t Kai making coffee, but his mother.

  “Good morning, dear,” she said, her voice lilting as she measured coffee into the filter basket. “Lovely day!”

  Luca rubbed his face. Perhaps he was still on the couch, having a strange dream.

  “Maybe you could see if there are any eggs in the fridge. If not, Thomas said the hens lay every day, so you could check the chicken coop.”

  “Thomas told you that?”

  “Well, not in so many words.” She turned around from the coffee maker. “I mean, I asked him and he nodded.”