by The Hero
Joe lived in a nice bedroom community between Thunder Point and Coquille in a house just right for a couple. It wasn’t fancy, but it was perfect with a master bedroom large enough to keep them from tripping over each other. It was a little on the masculine side with leather furniture, dark wood and bold colors like rusty red, dark blue and army-green. He offered her a free hand with decorating, but she liked that it looked perfect for him. Lou took over the second bathroom down the hall—she pointed out that she was too “mature” to be sharing bathroom space. Plus, they were on slightly different schedules—four days a week Joe would go to work at 2:00 p.m. and get home at midnight, sometimes later. And Lou worked five days a week in the Thunder Point middle school from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Joe was usually sleeping in while she was getting ready for work.
But the best part? He loved to cook. When they had their three evenings a week together, he was in the kitchen. Lou was capable of getting something on the table, but she’d just spent a decade working full-time, chasing kids, feeding her hulking nephew and his family. It had been the same dozen or so dinners for as long as she could remember, and she took every shortcut she could get away with, from spaghetti sauce in the jar to frozen pizzas.
She continued to spend a great deal of time in Thunder Point, helping Mac and Gina with the kids’ activities. She wouldn’t miss a high school football game for anything. And there were also her girlfriends, who she was enjoying even more lately because they envied her.
She met Carrie and Ray Anne for a glass of wine before meeting Mac, Gina and the kids at the game. They sat at the bar in Cliffhanger’s and Carrie asked her, “What’s the best part about marriage so far?”
“That none of the things I worried about are happening.”
“Like?” she pushed.
“I thought there might be big adjustments. I’m edging toward sixty-two and have never been married—I’ve never even lived with a man. I might’ve shared a house with Mac and the kids, but I had my own space and no one dared invade it. I thought Joe might get under my skin, being around a lot. I thought I might annoy him....”
“I can see that,” Ray Anne said a little spitefully.
Lou flashed her a small smile. They’d spent many years as rivals and now were dueling friends. “He adores me,” Lou said.
Ray Anne leaned an elbow on the bar and put her head in her hand. “Why can’t I have some stud sneak into my bed around midnight?”
Lou put her hand over Ray Anne’s and frankly, she didn’t understand it herself. Ray Anne was perpetually sexy with her boobs, tight skirts, jeans and heels. But she said, “Because you have sinned and you must repent.” Then she grinned at Ray Anne. “Now who’s going to the game with me?”
“I’ll go till halftime,” Carrie said. Mornings in the deli came early for Carrie—she rarely stayed out late.
“I can stay for the game,” Ray Anne said. “And for your information, I’m not sure I’ve sinned enough. Are we ready?”
As usual, most of Thunder Point turned out for the game and while the marching band played on the field, the women found their usual spot, reserved by Mac and Gina, Cooper and Sarah, Austin and Devon and Mercy. The stands were teeming with fans and their girls, Eve and Ashley, were down on the field with the other cheerleaders, warming up the crowd.
“I think it’s time for us to have a sky box,” Lou said.
“Put it on your Christmas wish list,” Mac advised.
But what Lou was thinking was that she had everything she’d ever imagined wanting. She pulled Dee Dee, Mac’s youngest, close, hugging her and asked her if she was warm enough. Then she joined her group in cheering as the team ran onto the field and the game began. No one enjoyed high school football more than this town. Two hours later, celebrating a nice big win, Lou was saying good-night to friends and family and driving toward Coquille to a little house on Bayberry Road.
She walked into the kitchen through the garage. He’d left the light under the microwave on for her and she would leave it on for him. She took a deep breath and felt that amazing sense of being where she was supposed to be. After all the years either on her own or with Mac’s family, she was really home.
Lou had certain rituals. She put on her pajamas, texted Joe to say she was home, sat on the bed with the TV on and a book in her lap. When she was at Mac’s she hid in her room in the evenings to get a break from kids. After teaching all day and dealing with nieces and a nephew after school till almost bedtime, she needed a little time to herself. Now she shared the space with Joe.
Her light was off by eleven-thirty and she dozed, but at twelve-thirty she heard him come into the bedroom. He was quiet while getting out of his trooper uniform, but she stole a peek. Lou really thought he was too handsome for her, but he was persistent and convincing and here they were. He got down to nothing—forget pajamas or boxers. He liked sleeping nude.
He curled around her and she wiggled against him. He chuckled deeply.
“So, you are awake,” he said. “Good.” He gave her shoulder a tug and she was on her back.
“Lotta bad guys tonight?” she asked.
“Two idiots and a few dipshits. Uneventful.” Then he kissed her. “Mmm. Perfect.” He pushed against her. She could feel his grin against her lips. “Let’s get you naked.”
“I might need to sleep,” she said.
“All right. Then sleep naked.”
She touched his shoulder. “I’m kind of surprised by this,” she said. “I was a little afraid we wouldn’t work. I’ve never shared space with a lover. Never. I wondered if I’d get claustrophobic or maybe drive you crazy.”
“You do drive me crazy. Who won tonight?”
“We did,” she said, sliding off her pajamas. “We have tomorrow off.”
“Do you have Aunt Lou duties?”
She shook her head. “Of course, it’s always possible someone could call, looking for help with something.”
“As long as they don’t call before six,” he said. He never complained about her familial obligations. With two grown children, he had his own to think about.
“As far as I can recall, you’re the only person in my life who’s been able to tolerate me before six.”
He gave a shrug. “Because I love all of you. And I’m a damn lucky man.”
* * *
Eric Gentry had a date with his new daughter, seventeen-year-old Ashley James. He hadn’t known she existed until last spring when her mother sought him out in search of medical history from his side of the family. Oh, he’d been more than aware that Gina told him she was pregnant almost eighteen years ago, but his life had taken a bad turn at about that same time and being the young fool he had been, he’d never confirmed that she really had been pregnant or that she’d chosen to have the baby. He rationalized that if he’d been Gina, pregnant with such a loser’s baby, he probably wouldn’t have taken the chance.
But...Gina had brought their child to life and raised her, and had done an amazing job with just the help of her mother. And he’d missed his daughter’s entire childhood, but he could see very clearly that she’d probably turned out so well because he hadn’t been involved. Seems it had taken him a lot longer to grow up than it had taken Gina.
He was due to pick up Ashley at noon at her new residence, the McCain household. Gina and Mac had married and combined families and Ashley seemed to be very happy. He’d offered to take her to lunch and a little shopping in Bandon. School had just started and he wanted to contribute a little something. Like school clothes. Gina was okay with that idea, except... “Don’t throw a lot of money around, please,” she had asked. “We’ve always lived on a tight budget and it works for us. I’d rather you be generous with your time than your big bucks.”
First, he’d never had big bucks, so that wasn’t going to be a problem. But he also hadn’t had that much time, owning his own business. Then everything in his life started to change, and it felt like a chain reaction had begun. His relationship had fallen apart an
d he was on his own again. His auto body and restoration shop had grown successful and someone wanted to buy it—for an offer impossible to ignore. There was a small service station with potential that had been for sale for months in Thunder Point and he had come to look it over. For the second time.
But that family he had run from so many years ago lived here. He liked the idea that he could see more of Ashley; maybe watch her cheer a game or two, maybe be in the crowd when she graduated. But he wasn’t sure Ashley, or Gina for that matter, had any interest in seeing more of him. Even though everyone had settled into their lives, having the biological father show up could really bring attention to the fact that Ashley had been born out of wedlock. And her father was an ex-con.
Eric went to the service station and had his Jeep SUV gassed up. He pulled over to the side of the station and went into the garage to have a chat with Norm Sileski who had owned and worked this station for about forty-five years. He had a couple of grown sons who didn’t want it. It was far beneath Eric’s standards—it was run-down, dirty, greasy, broken down and weathered. But it was the only game in town, had room on the lot to expand and Norm did most of the car repair in town. Eric suspected people got their gas other places when they could; he was a little high-priced. He’d looked over the P&L reports—Norm made a decent living.
And no one knew better than Eric how to turn a run-down dump like this into a first-rate business. He’d already done it once in Eugene. He’d expected to be there for the rest of his life. But then some rich guy who wanted a chain of body shops came along and...
“You need new pumps there, Norm,” Eric said.
“Need new everything, Mr. Gentry,” he said. “But I’m not putting another dime in this place to pretty it up. I’m headed for seventy years old. Fast.” And then he grinned. “You buy this place, I’ll turn a wrench for you part-time as long as I’m upright.”
“You don’t want to enjoy your retirement?”
“Yes, sir, I do. If Mrs. Sileski has her way, I’ll be going on cruises and traveling to countries where I don’t speak the language. Just gimme a wrench.”
Eric laughed at him. He asked a few more questions—who were his employees, mechanics, cleanup crew; had he ever kept a tow truck at the station; who was his distributor? They chatted about the weather for a little while. Eric asked Norm if he’d lived in Thunder Point his whole life and how he liked it. “Like it fine if you can take having everybody and their brother in your business all the time.”
Hmm, Eric thought. That might be a downside, especially for someone like Ashley. And her mother.
He was a little early when he got to the McCain home to pick up Ashley. The place was alive with activity. Mac was rushing off with his son, Ryan. Eve McCain and her boyfriend were taking the youngest, Dee Dee, to her dance class, Gina was still at work. Everyone said hello, shook his hand and carried on. And Ashley was ready. “This is a typical Saturday,” she said. “I usually have cheer practice, but we won last night’s game and that bought us a day off.”
“Hungry?” he asked.
“I’m starving, but I never shop after food. Can you make it another couple of hours? Two at the latest?”
He thought he might faint by then. Of course if he had his hands in an engine or was in the paint bay or hammering out a classic car bumper, he could forget to eat. But, trying to play the good father, he was going shopping.
“No problem,” he said. “Just lead the way.”
Eric hated shopping. He usually went about twice a year—once for a bunch of clothes, underwear and socks and the second time to buy Christmas presents. But there was something about shopping with the daughter he hadn’t known he had that was a whole new experience, and it was energizing. She tried on everything; she was very particular. And as if she was spending her own money, she was painfully frugal. She turned away many items even after he said he could well afford them. Her choices were mostly sale items. In the end she had a very full shopping bag for a grand total of $247.68. Most girls her age would have taken advantage of an opportunity like this. After all, he owed her.
“Shoes?” he asked.
“I’m good.”
“Lunch?”
She laughed. “Starving. There’s a Red Robin around the corner.”
They got a booth and wasted no time in ordering. And while they waited for food, Eric asked about school and about Frank, two things he asked about whenever he talked to her. When he’d first learned of Ashley and first met her she’d been going through a painful teenage broken heart—her serious boyfriend had gone off to college and found himself a new girl, throwing Ashley into a very vulnerable depression. That was, in fact, the reason Gina came looking for him. She’d been so worried about Ashley she thought it made sense to find out if things like depression ran in Eric’s family.
And then in one of those fateful episodes no one can plan or even guess, one of the people to help her pull out of it was Crawford Downy’s younger brother, Frank.
“Frank is good,” she said. “He already has scholarship offers. He calls himself a nerd, but he’s not really. Well, yes, I guess he is. But he’s so interesting and so cute I forget about that. Besides, he’s the nicest person in the world. And to think I wouldn’t even really know him if Downy hadn’t dumped me.”
“What’s that like? Dating an ex’s brother?” he asked.
“Sometimes awkward. Thank God Downy went back to State. We see him around town when he’s home for a visit and Frank swears Downy doesn’t give him a hard time. I bet Frank would swear that even if it weren’t true—he’s so protective. I think Frank is going to go to MIT. I’ve lived in Thunder Point my whole life and not too many people I know scored that kind of education just based on brains. We’ve turned out some decent athletes, but nothing like what Frank’s doing.”
“And what about you?” Eric asked.
“Same,” she said with a shrug. “I’m going to go to community college in Coquille for at least a year, maybe two. I’m just not quite ready to move away. Almost, though. I haven’t decided where I want to go to school after that, but I can’t wait to visit Frank on the East Coast. Something there might get my interest.”
“Do you think you’ll come back to Thunder Point after college?” he asked.
“I have no idea,” she said with a laugh. “I have no idea what to study! I took one of those tests to show you what you’re most interested in and have the best aptitude for and guess what it came up with? Coroner!”
He whistled. “Talk about job security. Always a need for coroners, unfortunately.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so. Although I do like to watch TV shows like Rizzoli & Isles.”
“Maybe you’re just interested in science. Maybe you’ll be a doctor.”
“I think I could,” she said. “But every time I think about twelve years or so of college and residency, I think—gimme a break.”
He just laughed and right then their burgers arrived. “I didn’t even finish high school.”
“Yes, you did,” she said. And then she did what so many females did—she rearranged her sandwich, moving the lettuce, tomatoes around, making it all neat and then cutting it in half. “And you have a little college.”
He’d gotten his GED in prison. He’d taken a few more courses, mainly to pass the time, never having any idea he’d one day own his own business. “And Frank?”
She took a dainty bite of her burger, wiped her mouth, swallowed. “I think Frank might run the world someday. He’ll be like the head of NASA or something. If he had the slightest interest in politics, he’d be the president. You just have no idea....”
He smiled at her. He’d met Frank. Nice kid, very cordial and respectful. But Eric hadn’t been as dazzled by his big brain as Ashley apparently was. Then again, Frank hadn’t really been showcasing his brain. He’d been paddleboarding. And Eric had been studying his physique and the way he looked at Ashley. Frank really cared about his daughter. It was a very odd feeling.
> “And what’s going on in the car business?” she asked.
“Day to day,” he said. “There has been an interesting development. Some guy wants to buy my business. He’s been in contact several times over the past year. I’ve been ignoring him.”
“No kidding? That’s very cool.”
“Yeah, I guess it is. My lack of interest just makes him want it more. I’m kind of proud of that—that some guy with money is impressed with the shop. With the help of some friends, I built it from nothing.”
“But you’d never sell it.”
He gave a shrug. “Part of me thinks that would be crazy, starting over now after all the work I put in. Another part says, take the money and run. I could do it again. In fact I’ve been looking around to see if there’s anything out there.”
She got a panicked look on her face. She swallowed. “Would you be farther away?”
“Well, funny you should ask,” he said. He hadn’t meant to bring the subject up like this, but he told himself he’d learn a lot just from Ashley’s expression. “There’s a possibility in Thunder Point.”
Her eyes sparkled, it was unmistakable. “Seriously?”
“Nothing I can confirm—I haven’t even decided it makes sense to sell the shop. But Thunder Point...the question is, is that little town big enough for both of us?”
“What do you mean?”
“Ashley, it’s one thing for me to spend a couple of hours there every so often. It would be another matter to have me there all the time. It would probably raise questions about our history. About your birth. It could be uncomfortable for you.”
She smiled at him. “Eric, everyone in town knows my mom wasn’t married when I was born. I’ve introduced you as my biological father even though I think you’ll always be Eric to me.”