Sutherland

by Karen Trailor Thomas

  “Now Gerald, they’re not that bad,” Jane said.

  “They burned down a building!”

  “Right, okay, yes, they did that, but we have insurance so don’t get all worked up.”

  “Did it every occur to you the insurance may not pay because the fire was arson?”

  “Arson?”

  “That boy set it, that Sutherland boy. He confessed.”

  Jane grew pensive. “I hadn’t thought of that, but why not wait until we talk with the insurance people, get a claims man out here? We don’t have to tell them it was set, at least not right off.”

  Gerald moaned, and when he settled at the desk in the lobby, he was still thinking in terms of net losses for the weekend.

  Jennalee, meanwhile, rolled her pink sleeping bag, after which she and Harley walked toward the main building. Knowing their time together was winding down, she became determined to glean all she could from him, so she asked if he was excited about his upcoming competition.

  “Looking forward to getting back to preparations,” he said.

  “What are you playing?”

  “Brahms violin concerto.”

  “I love that. I can’t ever decide which I like more, the Brahms or the Beethoven.”

  “I thought Chopin was your guy.”

  “Oh, he is,” said Jennalee. “I love him, He’s my soul mate, but the B’s, they’re really something. I wish I could have known them all.

  “Chopin and Brahms, yes, but Beethoven might have put you off.”

  “Oh, I know he was crude and all, but still, just to see him, be there in some way. When I play Chopin, I feel like he’s beside me or at least looking over my shoulder.”

  Passing Building Three, Jennalee asked, “Who’s your favorite performer?”

  “Nigel Kennedy.”

  “Mr. Mendel loves him, has all the CD’s, and we watched a tape, yes, a tape if you can believe it, of Kennedy’s Four Seasons. He’s amazing. A lot like you.”

  “No, I’m like him, only not. He inspired me to dress the way I want.”

  “How old is he now? He was young on that tape.”

  “No idea. In his fifties, I guess, but he’s brilliant. I’d love to see him perform in person.”

  “That would really be something.” Jennalee pictured herself at a concert with Harley. “I wish you didn’t live so far away,” she added, growing wistful.

  “Such is life.”

  Stopping at the living quarters, they found quite a gathering. “Hey,” Harley said to his folks, who were having coffee with Jane and Marian at the kitchen table. Jennalee hurried to her room, threw the sleeping bag inside, and rushed back out.

  “Is Phyllis still at the hospital?” she asked her mother.

  “She’s back there now. Marian took her to the police station to collect Daniel. They released him into her custody, but he has to be back for court next month.”

  “How’s Noel?”

  “Better, but he’ll be in the hospital a few days.”

  “So Daniel is there with him?”

  “Whoa,” said Harley.

  “It’s an awful situation,” injected Marian. “Phyllis is a wreck. Daniel is holding up better than she is.”

  “Hey, Mom,” said Harley, “I pulled some clothes out of our room. They aren’t burned, just wet and smoky. That can come out with cleaning, right?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Well, we can try, can’t we? It’s my good stuff.”

  “We’ll try, absolutely. And now, Jane, I think it’s time for us to check out. Thank you so much for your hospitality. I wish things had gone more smoothly.”

  “Mom,” said Harley. “It’s the Sutherlands. Things never go smoothly.”

  “Alright, Harley, enough,” said his mother.

  Earl Laidlaw, who hadn’t said a word, shook Jane’s hand, nodded, and the Laidlaws left, followed by Harley and then Jennalee, after a glance at her mother. When Jane nodded, her daughter beamed because it was nice not to be asked a bunch of questions.

  Earl and Lizann went to get their motorcycles and pack the clothing into the little trailer while Harley and Jennalee headed out front. “This is where I watched you guys arrive,” said Jennalee at the little fountain. She took a seat on its edge and Harley sat next to her.

  The Sutherland exodus was just beginning. First to come out was Vaughn, pushing Haskel in his wheelchair, Anita following. She pulled their big wheeled bag, moving along way too serene, at least in Jennalee’s eyes. “Look at them,” she said, nudging Harley. “Like nothing happened, like it’s all the same.”

  “Because it is,” he replied.

  “But it’s not! He fucked Lorene all over the place! Anita went nuts over it!”

  “And now it’s over. The reunion is over and everyone goes back to their appointed places.”

  Jennalee had to consider this for a whole minute. If she were the wife, she wouldn’t let Vaughn get away with it. She’d torment him no end and she’d call up Lorene and tell her off, tell her to stop fucking Vaughn and if she ever even thought about it, it would be the end of her. Then Jennalee looked more closely at Anita, smartly dressed in white capris and fitted white jacket, gold sandals. Her hair and makeup were perfect and she had a little smile on her face, like she’d won in some way. And maybe in her own way she had, because she got Vaughn the rest of the time, back where he belonged.

  “I couldn’t do it,” she told Harley.

  “Do what?”

  “Go back to regular life when my husband had been fucking around.”

  “Well, that’s you, not Anita. She’s had practice at this. The life she leads appears to mean more than his fidelity.”

  “Oh, God, I’ll never understand adults.”

  Harley chuckled. He was straining to look toward the nearby paved lot where all the Sutherlands parked. “I don’t see Parker’s Kia.”

  “Maybe they left early,” offered Jennalee.

  “Driven out by Sutherland insanity over a girl child.”

  “You think?”

  “Oh, yeah,” said Harley. “It’s a really big deal. That little girl will probably grow up and marry a biker.”

  Jennalee burst out laughing at this. “Another Lizann! They should name her that.”

  “Maybe they will.”

  Chapter 21

  Jennalee’s morning collapsed when she heard the roar of a motorcycle. Since Earl and Lizann were over near their silent machines, it meant only one thing. Garth.

  Embarrassment flooded her and she dipped her hand into the fountain’s water, more for something to do than to cool herself. Suddenly she noticed how hot the day had become, heat radiating off the courtyard’s pavement. Closer and closer the motorcycle came as it ate up the long drive. It seemed louder than before, louder than when she’d been on the back riding away to do awful things. She wanted to run and hide, would have if Harley hadn’t been sitting next to her. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze as Garth roared into view.

  He drove right up to them, Sutherland heads turning as he gunned the engine a couple times before shutting it off. He then took off his helmet, grinning like he had an audience, which Jennalee supposed he had.

  “Hey, guys,” he said, remaining astride the bike.

  “Hey,” Harley replied without enthusiasm.

  Jennalee managed to squeak, “Garth.”

  “Man, I am beat,” he declared, running a hand through his dark hair. Jennalee noted his stubble of beard, how it didn’t suit him. Harley pulled off that look, but on his brother, it seemed sinister. “I just took Andrea home,” Garth went on. “That chick is wild. You’d never know it, right? But she’s an animal in the sack. On the way to her house, she had me stop in this alley and she sucked me off. Shit, man, I am so beat.”

  Now Jennalee wanted to die. If Garth was talking to them like this about Andrea, had he talked to Andrea this way about her? Had he talked to other people, too? It didn’t used to matter what kids said. She was the San Francisco
Slut and proud of it, but that seemed ages ago. She felt things tipping over, the planet going off kilter, and she gripped the fountain’s brick edge to steady herself. It didn’t matter that Sutherlands were walking around fine. She was going to fall off the world.

  When Garth got no comment on his revelation, he started up the motorcycle and rode off toward the back of the resort, ignoring his parents, who seemed accustomed to such treatment. Just then Kendall Sutherland emerged from the lobby with his folks, coming along like some knight to rescue Jennalee. “Kendall,” she called, jumping up as he came over, pulling his gray wheeled suitcase.

  “Hurry up,” his father commanded.

  “Hi, Lee,” the boy said when he reached her.

  She threw her arms around him. “You were so great with Daniel,” she said, kissing his cheek. “I was totally impressed and I know it meant the world to him, poor kid. How was he at the police station?”

  “Polite. He said Noel had crossed the line, but he wouldn’t give them anything more so they backed off. He’s a tough kid.”

  Harley stood, offered his hand which Kendall shook. “I’m proud of you, cuz. See you next year.”

  Kendall nodded, gave Jennalee a long look, and said, “Next year.” Then he joined his family, who loaded the car and drove away.

  “Is he a close cousin?” Jennalee asked Harley.

  “Yes. His father Dean is my mom’s brother so he’s a first cousin, the real thing.”

  “That makes it all the better,” said Jennalee.

  As they spoke, a motorcycle approached and soon Garth drove up to them. “What the hell, man?” he said.

  “You missed all the excitement last night,” Harley told him. “There was a fire.”

  “So my stuff is ruined?”

  “I got our clothes out. They’re wet and smoky, over in the trailer.”

  “Shit,” said Garth.

  “Hey, at least they’re not ash,” countered Harley.

  “How’d it start?” asked Garth.

  “Noel’s kid set the room on fire. He was trying to kill his father.”

  “Wow, did Noel make it?”

  “He’s in the hospital. Smoke inhalation. He was lucky.”

  Garth blew out a sigh. “Which kid was it?”

  “Daniel, the ten-year old. He confessed to the cops, but he’s released for now.”

  “Man, I don’t believe it.”

  Garth may have spoken to Harley, but he kept his eyes on Jennalee. Harley made a point to gradually move between them, knowing what his brother could wreak on girls. Jennalee was grateful for the intrusion because Garth had been looking at her that way, reminding her she’d given herself. What made it worse was she couldn’t recall why she’d done such a stupid thing.

  “Hey, Dad,” Garth suddenly called. Earl Laidlaw, who already had his eyes on his son, didn’t move a muscle. “I think I need to blow out a fuel line,” Garth continued. “She’s running a little rough.” He then wheeled his bike over to his father, who opened the trailer and took out a tool box. Jennalee wondered what all they had in that little trailer. It seemed bottomless.

  With Garth occupied, she felt her embarrassment drain away. She sat back down on the fountain’s brick edge, this time scooping up a handful of water to splash on her face. A second splash, and then Harley was beside her. “He’s an asshole,” he said.

  Sutherlands were now spilling out of the lobby. “Look,” Jennalee noted. “It’s Lorene. Is that her husband?”

  Lorene wore magenta capris and a white tank top, while the man with her kept to the traditional look, a green polo over khakis. He looked worn; she looked like an actress stepping onstage. “Vaughn’s already left,” Jennalee said to Harley. “Why’s she acting like that?”

  “Like what?”

  “You know, like she’s the belle of the ball, like it’s some grand entrance.”

  “Except it’s an exit,” Harley noted.

  “Okay, grand exit. Look at her, parading around.”

  Lorene was saying goodbye to various people while her husband, who appeared to have once been nice-looking, took their bags to a dark blue Mercedes. Harley and Jennalee were watching them when Troy Southerland came over with Carl.

  “Harley,” he said, extending a hand which Harley stood to take. “Good to see you and I hope you do well at your competition. You’re the one with the talent in this family, you know. The rest are just moneymakers, which in the long run is nothing.”

  “We’re proud of you,” Carl added, offering his hand.

  “Thanks, guys,” said Harley. “That means a lot. I plan to blow ‘em away at the competition.”

  “Let us know, okay?” said Troy. “Post it on Facebook. Tell the world. Brag. You never do that and you should.”

  “You’re right. I’ll make a point.”

  “Lee,” Troy said, turning to Jennalee, who got up. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you and you’re also one talented lady. You guys are the perfect pair.”

  Jennalee couldn’t help but beam at somebody seeing what she saw, especially a gay guy. “Thanks,” she managed, overcome by such heartfelt words. Surprising from a Sutherland, but no, he was a Southerland. Maybe there was a difference. She’d have to think on that.

  Troy and Carl loaded up their Corvette and drove off. “I really like them,” Jennalee told Harley.

  “Me, too.”

  Garth and his father now had tools and bits of motorcycle spread on the ground, drawing frowns from departing Sutherlands. Lizann had deserted them to move among the throngs, saying goodbye, offering hugs. “Your mom is like the go-between, isn’t she?” Jennalee said to Harley.

  “I think of her as the ambassador to reality. She can schmooze when she wants to, tell them to kiss off if they annoy her too much.”

  Jennalee thought on this as they watched Kyle Sutherland talk to Lizann. Harley was the same way, able to cross lines if he chose, retreat if he preferred. He was an ambassador, too, she decided. Was that what he’d brought her? Reality?

  It was a slow exodus since there were so many Sutherlands, so many Jennalee hadn’t gotten to know, didn’t even have names for. There went an old lady whose hair was colored a shocking yellow. She wore a navy pantsuit and white nurse’s shoes while the man with her, equally old, bald, withered, but nevertheless smiling, guided her along as she too said her goodbyes. There was so much milling around and Jennalee found herself wishing she had a big family, that her parents hadn’t cheated her out of it by being only children. It occurred to her then that she would, as an only child, perpetuate this injustice on any children she might have. No cousins, no aunts and uncles. Just Gram and Gramps. She had those back in San Francisco, well, at least a Gramps. Gram, Dad’s mother, had died years earlier and Gramps was now in a retirement village in Novato, playing golf.

  “I remember them,” Jennalee said when Everett and Aldora Sutherland emerged from the inn. Gerald was between them, chattering to Everett, who seemed enthralled. Jennalee had never seen anyone enthralled with her father. Aldora, who wore her age with grace, walked proudly, even as her body stooped slightly.

  Jane finally came out, bringing up the rear, it seemed, because there were no more Sutherlands after her. She also milled about, offering good wishes. Jennalee heard her say repeatedly, “See you next year.” It has to be better next year, Jennalee thought. They couldn’t burn down a building twice in a row. But what else would they do?

  Wesley helped with luggage, especially for those who seemed to have brought their entire wardrobes. One nameless woman’s giant wheeled suitcase got away from her and toppled over and Wesley jumped to her aid. Jennalee thought back to the Mozart Rondo. She’d have to talk to him more, maybe play something for him now and then.

  From nowhere it hit her that the weekend was ending. Never mind knowing it would all along, it had been some distant fact that now became reality. Soon the place would be just her and her folks. She couldn’t imagine that anymore. It would be returning to exile in the sticks,
except she’d now lost even more. “I don’t want you to leave,” she said, taking Harley’s arm.

  “Me, either,” he replied. “It’s been a blast, but life calls.”

  “Maybe you could come up for a visit,” she said. “Catch a plane? It’s not a long flight from Southern California, maybe an hour.”

  “And fly into where? You’re not in San Francisco anymore. I doubt there’s an airport around here and besides, I can’t afford it.”

  “Okay, take the train.”

  “Didn’t see any train station in Malvern.”

  “Bus?”

  “Same deal.”

  He was making fun of her and this was serious. “I’m going to cry,” she said, on the verge.

  “No, you’re not. Get a grip, girl. You knew it was just four days when I got here.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t know you then. It’s not just four days. It’s, I don’t know, it’s…it’s…life-changing, and I know that doesn’t make sense, but that’s what it is. You changed my life, you made me see. I did get a grip, only now it feels like I’m slipping.”

  “You’re not, Lee.” He took her chin, turned her to him, and smiled. “You’ve added to my life, too, you know. This has been an amazing experience and I wouldn’t trade meeting you for anything. We’re good friends now, forever friends. That’s what counts. It doesn’t matter the weekend is ending. Look at all we’ve got ahead. And I’ll be back next year.”

  “That’s so far away. A whole year.”

  He said nothing more, just kissed her cheek and turned to view the thinning crowd. Jennalee was clinging in his words when a motorcycle not only started up, it began to roar. She looked over to see Garth twisting the throttle as his father squatted beside the bike, still tinkering. Only one thing I won’t miss, she thought. Harley took her hand at that moment, as if he could read her thoughts, and she wanted to cry all over again.

  “Play for me,” he said.

  “What?”

  “I want to go over to the Oak Room and hear you play that Chopin Scherzo you said was wild. That’s what I want to take with me, okay?”

  The motorcycle kept on, Gerald now standing with hands on hips, looking too much like Noel while Jane stood patiently nearby. “Okay,” Jennalee said. She and Harley all but sprinted away.