William chuckled. “And I missed every sign that you weren’t either. That’s of no matter,” he said and then grew serious. “What matters is that you ran on the wrong side of the law for a while. From what I hear, you ran on the wrong side in two different countries. Now, I’m not saying that you wanted to or that you’re a bad person. You’re not or I wouldn’t ask you to consider it. I’m just saying that you learned things in that world. How things work, how to survive, how to get ahead and in your recent case with Marvin, how to get out. That knowledge and experience would be valuable on the right side of the badge.”
After a moment to gather his thoughts, Aryl smiled. “I appreciate the offer, but my job is running these boats with Jon.”
“Are you sure?” William asked, squinting up against the setting sun. “I could really use you.”
Aryl glanced back at Jonathan. “Thank you, but I’m happy here.”
Jonathan let out a relieved breath and the three got back to work, gathering their catch to take to the buyer.
Episode Four
“Out on a Limb”
Caleb caught David at the end of his drive. He left his truck running and half hanging in the road as he jumped out.
“Hey, wait!” he called. “Where are you going?”
“Home,” David said, turning. “I appreciate your looking after me last night. I was going to stop by another day to thank you, but I wanted to get home before dark.”
“Home? Why are you going home? I thought you had to get to Georgia to be with your wife?”
“Can’t now. Nothing to do but go back to work and save a few weeks pay so they can get home.”
“Well, just hold on. I have to talk to you about something. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it yesterday.”
The wind picked up with an angry howl, stinging their cheeks and numbing their fingers. Caleb curled his hands into fists and hunched up his shoulders. “Let’s go inside.”
David seemed hesitant, looking up at the gray clouds of an approaching storm and then down the road toward his home.
Caleb turned and held his hand out. “Just hear what I have to say and if you don’t like it, I’ll give you a ride home.”
Inside, Arianna turned, greeted Caleb and looked a bit surprised to see David. “Did you forget to include something in your telegram?” she asked, offering him back the paper.
“What telegram?” Caleb asked.
“The one your wife agreed to send for me, telling my family I couldn’t make it and that I’d send fare for my family as soon as I could,” David said. “And no, I didn’t forget anything.”
“Arianna!” Ethel’s desperate plea echoed from the living room. Arianna closed her eyes and blew out her breath.
“Yes, Mother Ethel?” she called with dwindling patience.
“Can you come here?”
Arianna bit her lip, opened her blazing eyes and Caleb stepped back.
“She’s been like this all day,” Arianna hissed. “Calling on me for every little thing. We shouldn’t have told her that she isn’t well. Now she’s acting like a complete invalid!” She spun around and stomped out.
Caleb couldn’t resist a smile. “Sit down, David.”
He did and leaned his elbows on the table, waiting expectantly.
“I’ve thought this over on the way home and I think I have an idea that will help everyone. You need money for your family, fast. Jon needs hands desperately. Why don’t you stay here a while and work for Jon. It’s not a lot of pay, but it’s daily pay. As soon as you have enough to get to Georgia, go and bring your family home.”
David rubbed his chin contemplating heavily. “I did tell Dr. Blair I’d be gone a few weeks…” Caleb nodded. “And he’s most likely covered all my shifts by now…” Caleb nodded deeper. “I wouldn’t have more than enough time to visit for a day or two, but…”
“But the point is to bring your family home, right?”
“It is. And you think Jon would hire me on a temporary basis?” he asked, somewhat skeptical. “That helps me now, but how does it help him later?”
“It’ll help Jon now and all that matters to Jon is right now. We can go over to his house tonight to talk to him. I can all but promise you he’ll love the idea.”
“I’d like that. To speak to him, I mean. Only…I’m not sure how I’ll manage to get in every day.”
“In?” Caleb asked.
“From my place. It’s ten miles from here and you’re five miles from the marina.”
“Well, you’d stay here,” Caleb said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the whole world.
“We talked about this, Caleb. It could bring trouble for you. Granted, things are better here than in other places, but I’d hold a lot of guilt if folks wanted to make something out of this.”
Arianna walked back into the kitchen, one hand on her hip, the other holding her forehead.
“That woman,” she whispered. “She tosses my babies in the barn and as a reward, I play nursemaid to her every whim.”
“What did she need?” Caleb asked.
“She asked if that nice…” Her eyes flashed to David. “Man was back. I told her he was.” She dropped her hand from her hip. “David, Ethel would like to know if you would please read to her again. She likes the sound of your voice.”
David smiled.
“Well, I guess it’s settled,” Caleb said, slapping his hand on the table. “You may have to work days for Jon and spend the evenings reading to an old woman, but if you don’t mind…” Caleb trailed off, eyebrows up, waiting for an answer.
“If you’re sure,” he said hesitantly, still deeply worried about the social ramifications. “Then I’d be most obliged to accept your offer.”
***
At ten months old, Jac had become impossible to keep contained. He’d gone from sitting to crawling in what seemed like a day and since that day, he did nothing slowly or gently. Claire’s only quiet moments were when he spontaneously passed out in random places, having run himself to exhaustion. As he lay on the living room floor, limbs splayed and mouth open wide in a deep sleep, Claire sat across the table from Aryl. With her chin in her hand she watched him eat his dinner and smiled.
His eyes floated up and her grin was contagious. “What’s got you so happy?” he asked.
“I got a letter today,” she said, clasping her hands together. “And it’s just what we need right now.”
“Is it? Who’s the letter from?”
“Ruth. Remember when Jon told me that she was interested in having me come to New York to paint her son’s nursery?”
Aryl stopped eating, set down his fork and sat back slowly.
“Well, she’s asked me to come as soon as I can. It’s a paying job, Aryl. Twenty dollars!”
He looked hesitant and she dipped her head, trying to catch his eyes. “We could use the money, especially right at the start of winter.”
“There’s no doubt about that. I just don’t know how I can take that time off. Jon needs me now more than ever and we’d have to pay the fare there before you got paid. Where’s that money going to come from?”
Claire knit her brow. “You wouldn’t need to take any time off. I’d go alone—well, I’d take Jac, of course.”
“How will you get anything done if you take Jac?”
“Ruth wrote that her nanny would be happy to take care of him while I worked.” She dug the letter out of her pocket and pushed it across the table. “She’s invited me to stay with her, so I won’t have any expenses while I’m there.”
“You want to go alone?” he asked, clearly uncomfortable with the idea.
“It’s not that I want to, I have to. You need to work and besides, what would you do there with me? Stand there and hold my pallet?” She smiled and this time, it wasn’t contagious.
“What about the winter market? Arianna is counting on you to be there next week.”
“I can go to the next one,” Claire said. “I’m sure Arianna would unde
rstand and even be willing to take a few paintings for me.”
He shook his head. “I don’t like the idea of you and Jac going to the city alone.”
“There’s nothing to worry about, Aryl. I won’t be alone. Her driver will pick us up from the train station and I’ll be at her house the entire time.” Her head bobbled again and failed to catch his attention. “I thought you’d be happy. We could put this money away for an emergency.”
He seemed to pull into himself, thinking, frowning and picking at his food. He knew it about himself that he had grown increasingly uncomfortable when things changed. Why he had a harder time with it more recently, he didn’t know. He also didn’t know why he was suddenly sick with worry and paranoia when he knew deep down that she and Jac would be fine and they needed the money. It was something that he’d wanted to talk to her about for some time, but couldn’t work up the nerve. First Caleb leaving, now this.
“I thought I might leave at the end of the week,” Claire said, watching him carefully.
He knew the only thing to do, for her and for their finances, was relent and nod his agreement. He’d worry about dealing with it later.
***
Arianna stood at the bathroom mirror, staring at her reflection. She’d been forced to become a minimalist when it came to make up, needing to conserve as much as possible. Who knew when she’d be able to buy more. But today, it was unavoidable. Not only must she use her makeup, she must use a lot of it. Her task today required a dramatic look. She began to dust her face with powder until it was smooth, translucent and so pale she looked lifeless. Then she painted her lips with the most brazen red color she owned. Normally she put a bit of her lip color to her cheeks, but not today. She used her finger to wipe harsh blacks and browns on her eyelids, blending and feathering out the color to fade at her thin highly arched brow. And finally, she darkened her lashes and painted black lines on both upper and lower lids, startlingly thick.
She stepped back and turned her head, just a bit to each side. Then she moved closer, gazing into her own crystal blue eyes. They were eerily clear, almost unearthly.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered, and pursed her lips in a silent kiss.
She pulled her hat low over her ears and the look was complete.
Having Caleb home had its advantages. He was helping Ethel feed the children as Arianna pecked him on the cheek carefully as to not muss up her lips and held her hand out for the key to the farm truck.
“I’m not sure I want to know where you’re going or what you’re going to do when you get there,” he said cautiously as he slowly placed the key in her hand.
“You probably don’t. If I’m not arrested I’ll tell you all about it when I get home,” she chirped and slipped out the door.
When she opened the door to the elementary school office, she heard it. The loud rolling Irish brogue she knew all too well.
Glancing around, she found the office empty, the principal’s door, from behind which the verbal thrashing was taking place, closed.
She folded her arms, glaring at the door. “Damn if Maura didn’t beat me to it.” She moved closer to the door and couldn’t help but smile as she heard Maura take a breath, only so she could continue.
“That boy is kind, sweet and good. He’s never caused a bit of trouble in this school. He makes good grades and he’s a friend to everyone. And fer you, grown adults to take delight in gossiping about him and his circumstances is beyond reproach. Principal Tracy, do ye approve of yer staff gossiping about children plain and open?”
“Ah, no. No, ma’am, I—”
“This isn’t about you. What I expect is fer these women to be reprimanded!”
“I assure you—”
“Do ye have any idea the hardship ye caused that boy? How terrible ye made him feel? Bad enough to risk his life to run away! How would ye feel if somethin’ happened to him!”
Arianna writhed, longing to see the looks on their faces and wondered if they had even dared to look up.
“I will see to it that—”
“I want a full apology. To Jean and to his father. To their face, mind ye. I expect ye to march yerselves right up to his door this very evening and explain yerselves and apologize.”
“But, Mrs.—”
“No buts, young lady. You’ll do it or I’ll walk right into the middle of yer Sunday service and tell everyone the trouble ye caused. I’ll tell them that ye like to call the student’s mother’s whores—while on the payroll, mind—and spread hateful rumors without any care that children might hear. Jean had never heard that word before he heard it uttered from yer lips. Did ye know that? Thanks to you, now he has and what would yer pastor think of ye teachin’ children that language, I wonder? And I’ve seen what church ye go to, so don’t think I won’t do it!”
“That won’t be necessary, Mrs.—”
“I should hope not. I’m going to call on Mr. Jonathan tomorrow evening and I expect him to tell me that the three of ye were on his doorstep, falling all over yerselves wi’ regret. And I’m never to hear that you, the people who should be caring for and guiding these children, were heard spreading malicious rumors again. If I do hear of it, I’ll know right where to look and I won’t be near as pleasant next time. Am I understood?”
There were a few mumbles before the door flew open and Maura stepped out. She looked briefly shocked as Arianna tossed out her hand. “Did you leave me anything?” she asked.
Maura cracked a smile. “I think if ye just poke yer head in and glare at them fer a moment, our mission will be complete.”
Arianna pursed her lips and tilted her head. “It’s better than nothing,” she said and took a few long strides to the door. She leaned in quickly, landing her eyes on each of them before pulling her head back.
Maura pulled on her gloves as Arianna pushed the main door open, grumbling about wasted make up as they stepped out to the sidewalk.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know ye planned on coming,” Maura said.
“Of course I would come. I love Jean. I’m not going to let anyone mistreat him. I had no idea you were coming,” Arianna said.
“Oh, I haven’t had a good rant in a while. Not only was I happy to do it fer Jean, but wi’ all I have going on, it was due. I feel much better now.”
“What we should have done, is combine efforts and gone in there together.”
Maura laughed. “Ye look demonically possessed. The idea was to shame them, not scare them to death.”
“Well, since we’re already out, I’d hate to waste the make up. Why don’t we get a cup of coffee?” Arianna asked.
“Yer a wild one, Miss Arianna,” Maura said with a wink.
***
“Three cancellations,” Muzzy mumbled and tossed the slips on her desk. She glanced at the calendar, wondering if there’d be too much month and not enough money. Most likely, there would. If she had any more cancellations or if the number of paid ads dropped this week, she might have to do something she dreaded. Go into debt for her supplies. That was a slippery slope and she tapped her fingers on her coffee mug, brainstorming a way around it. She could take another job, if she could find one. But even if she could, the paper took up so much of her day it would be difficult to get stories and interviews. There weren’t enough hours in the day as it was.
Regardless, faced with the choice of debt or a part time job, she’d choose the job first. She gathered her coat, stuffing her miniature purse in her pocket and swiped her goggles off her desk.
With her head down and her face in a determined scowl, she nearly ran smack into Claire as she burst out the front door.
“Oh! Claire! I’m so sorry. I was…thinking. Are you alright? Is Jac alright?”
“We’re fine,” Claire said, balancing a squirming Jac more comfortably on her hip. “You know, maybe when you’re thinking, you shouldn’t do anything else.” She flashed a smile. “Just a suggestion.”
Muzzy was never not thinking. And it was true, there were ma
ny casualties from spilled ink to dropped coffee mugs to near accidents on her motor bike when she was really deep into something.
“Were you bringing the satire?” Muzzy asked, shaking her head to clear her mind.
“Yes, I brought this week’s and next. I’m going out of town for a few days and I didn’t want to get behind.”
“Oh? Where are you going?”
“To New York.” She twisted her torso with a smile. “To do a painting job…for pay.”
“That’s fabulous! Oh, if I give you the money, can you bring back a paper?”
“Sure, what for?”
“I need ideas. Inspiration. A new direction…honestly, I need a miracle,” she said, her shoulders deflating with her expression.
“What’s happened, Muzzy?”
“Well, you know I lost the Lucky Strike deal. I haven’t had any new subscriptions and now I’ve had three cancellations. I’m worried that somehow it might have leaked out that I’m the real owner of the Rockport Review. I need something big…something sensational to put the focus back on the paper. And, I need a job to make ends meet until things pick up. I was headed over to the diner. I remember seeing a sign in the window. Want to come with me?”
The bell rang as Muzzy pushed the glass door to the family diner open. It was slow, even for the lunch hour and only a few quiet conversations rose up and mingled with the occasional scraping of forks and knives. With her head on a swivel Muzzy sought out the owner and it was Claire who noticed Maura and Arianna, just as they were sitting down at a table. She threw up her hand and they excitedly waved her over. Claire yanked on Muzzy’s sleeve with her free hand to get her attention.
“Look who’s here,” she said, pointing. “Let’s go sit with them.”
In her single minded focus it took a few seconds for her to recognize them.
“You go ahead. I’ll be there in a moment. I need to talk to the owner about a job.” Muzzy walked to the counter and leaned over. There was only one waitress who was busy making fresh coffee as slowly as possible. Muzzy tapped on the counter to get her attention as Claire joined Maura and Arianna.
Purling Road - The Complete First Season: Episodes 1-10 Page 9