She opened her eyes again.
“I know you think your tough love failed to do what it was supposed to, since I kept on drinking and we ended up divorced. But it didn’t fail. If you hadn’t stuck to your guns, if I hadn’t been forced out on my own, I don’t think I would have made it to this year.”
“Tony,” she said softly.
“So thanks. That’s all. Just thanks.”
She felt dangerously close to tears.
“Hey, Mom.”
Allison straightened and looked toward the top of the stairs where Meredith stood, wrapped in a bathrobe, a towel on her head. “What, honey?”
“My blow dryer stopped working. Got one I can borrow?”
“Sure.” Allison rose from the sofa, glad for a reason to leave the room so she could get her emotions in check. “I’ll bring it right up.”
“Thanks.”
Allison hurried from the living room, through her bedroom, and into the master bathroom. She paused and leaned the heels of her hands on the counter while staring at her reflection. Her cheeks were flushed. From a day spent in the sun at the rodeo grounds or from something else? She didn’t know. She felt off balance. Tony’s words of thanks shouldn’t have affected her so profoundly, but they did. She didn’t care to look closer to discover the reason why.
Allison
September in Idaho was a glorious time of year, and no place was more so, in Allison’s opinion, than the Stanley Basin.
They set up two tents—one for Allison, Meredith, and Gizmo; one for Tony—in a small campground overlooking Redfish Lake at the base of the Sawtooth Mountain Range. At sixty-five hundred feet above sea level, the nights were cold so they’d brought plenty of warm clothes. But it was pleasant enough in the daytime to need nothing more than a light sweater or a flannel shirt.
As soon as their camp was ready, they got on their bikes, Gizmo riding in the basket behind Allison’s seat, and set off on a gently rolling trail that, the ranger told them, was six miles long, round trip, and had no more than a few hundred feet of change in elevation. It sounded like the perfect kind of ride for their first afternoon. And it was. They all had cameras, and no one seemed to mind when one of them wanted to stop to snap a photograph of a uniquely shaped tree or the sunshine shimmering on the surface of the lake or the rugged mountain peaks rising above them or a chipmunk scolding from a tree branch or a deer crossing the path ahead of them. But all those stops meant it took them better than an hour to complete the six-mile trail.
Once back at their campsite, Tony built a fire in the pit and Allison and Meredith got a start on dinner—grilled hamburgers on buns with all the fixings and homemade potato salad.
The threesome sat in low chairs around the campfire while they ate. Gizmo tucked himself under Allison’s chair and slept. No one talked much, except to say how good the food was. What was it about camping that made everything taste better than at home?
After swallowing her last bite of potato salad, Meredith said, “I’ve missed this.”
“Me too,” her dad answered.
Allison looked at Tony. Firelight flickered on his face as dusk settled around them. His voice echoed in her mind: “I know you think your tough love failed to do what it was supposed to, since I kept on drinking and we ended up divorced. But it didn’t fail.” A year ago she’d been angry at God for not saving her marriage. She’d been angry at Tony for not pulling himself up by his bootstraps and putting things right, angry because her dreams hadn’t all come true. But it appeared God had been focused on saving Tony’s life first. Saving it and then changing it.
Thank You, God. I’m glad Tony didn’t die. I’m glad You saved him, both body and soul, even if it took ending our marriage to do it. I have a new life too, but I’m thankful he and I can be friends. You did that, Lord. You made it possible. Thank You for drawing Meredith and her dad close again. I’m glad she can be with and love her father. He’s different now, yet he’s still Tony. That’s got to be Your doing, Lord.
The man of her prayers turned his head to look in her direction. “It’s cooling off fast. Want your coat?”
Allison nodded.
“Me too, Dad.”
He stood. “Be right back.”
Meredith yawned. “I’ll be turning in early. This alpine air is making me sleepy.”
“How about s’mores before you go to bed?”
“You bet.” Meredith sat up straight, looking alert again. “I’m always up for s’mores.”
Allison laughed, pleasant memories washing over her of camping trips when their daughter was little. Of course, some of those trips had been spoiled by Tony’s drinking, but the unpleasantness of those memories seemed to have faded.
“Here you go.” Tony stood between Allison and Meredith, holding a coat in each hand.
Allison took hers and slipped her arms into the sleeves, thankful for the added layer as the evening temperature dipped. Then she pushed up from her chair. “We’re going to make s’mores.”
From the wooden box where they kept the food that didn’t need a cooler—a sturdy container even small forest creatures couldn’t gnaw through—she withdrew a box of graham crackers, a package of marshmallows, and a Giant Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar. Three wire hangers had been straightened into roasting utensils. She grabbed them too, along with paper plates.
Soon each of them was warming a marshmallow over the fire. Per tradition, everyone’s goal was to get their marshmallow a golden brown on all sides. Conversation ceased as they concentrated on creating a perfect roasted marshmallow.
“Look out, Dad. Yours is about to drop.”
Tony didn’t heed the warning in time. As he tried to bring the wire upright, his marshmallow fell into the fire.
Meredith held her right hand to her forehead, making an L with her thumb and index finger, and her dad gave her arm a good-natured push. Then he took another marshmallow from the bag and started the roasting all over again.
Allison smiled to herself, treasuring the moment in her heart.
Emma
1932
The cat and her four kittens were in a blanket-lined crate in the back of the general store.
“What do you think, Miss Carter?” the proprietor asked. “Can we talk you into taking one of them home?”
Emma picked up the orange-colored tabby and brought it close to her cheek. “Aren’t you precious?”
“Make a good mouser. Always good to have a cat to keep down the rodent population around a place. ’Specially the barn.”
Emma glanced over her shoulder at Mr. Johnson. “Are they old enough to leave their mother?”
“Yep. They’re eatin’ and drinkin’ on their own.”
Emma reached down and grabbed the gray tabby with her other hand. “Then I’ll take these two.”
“Two of ’em, eh?” The store owner grinned. “The missus will be right pleased when I tell her they’ve gone to stay with you, Miss Carter.”
It hadn’t been difficult for him to convince her. After three months in her new home, Emma was ready for company, to hear some sounds she didn’t make herself. She wasn’t lonely. Not really. She had found her solitary existence to be good for her relationship with the Lord. She talked aloud to Him often. She wrote prayers in her journal. She’d learned to be still and know that He was God. But a couple of kittens would enliven her household and that appealed to her.
Mr. Johnson put the two kittens in an empty hatbox for the ride home. “Don’t want ’em falling out of the buggy. Now, do we?”
Emma smiled at him as she took hold of the precious cargo.
With her grocery purchases in the back of the vehicle and the hatbox on the seat beside her, the kittens meowing noisily, Emma turned Copper toward home. October had painted the forest with rich golds and fiery reds, mixed in among the different shades of green. It wouldn’t be long, she was certain, before the first snows fell. Her trips to town would be limited once winter set in. It could be six months or more before she
was able to attend church services again. She would miss that more than anything.
She glanced down at the hatbox, then held the reins in her left hand and lifted the lid with the other. The two kittens looked at her with their round kitten eyes, still voicing their complaints.
“What shall I name you?”
“Meow. Meow.”
“I know.” She touched the head of the gray tabby. “You’re Isaiah.” She touched the gold-colored kitten. “And you’re Jeremiah.” She laughed as her gaze swept the surrounding forest and mountains. “Voices, crying in the wilderness.” She slapped the reins against the horse’s backside. “Giddy up there, Copper. Time we were home.”
Copper’s stride lengthened into a ground-eating trot and the buggy flew along the dirt road, leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. The kittens continued to yowl as Emma made a list in her head of things she needed to accomplish before nightfall. So intent were her thoughts she almost failed to slow the horse in time to turn into her driveway. And when she did, she was surprised to see her brother-in-law’s automobile parked close to the house. She hadn’t expected callers today.
Liza rose from a bench on the deck.
“Hello,” Emma called to her, waving.
Liza waved back, bracing Harry, already six months old, on her left hip. “I was afraid I would have to leave before you returned.”
Emma reined in. When the buggy stopped, she got down and tied the horse to a post, then grabbed the hatbox and hurried up the stairs. “How are you?” She kissed her sister’s cheek.
“Fine. Everyone at home is well. Mother and Father too. I decided on a whim I wanted to see you before the weather turns, so here I am.”
“I was thinking on the way home that it could snow soon.” Emma kissed the top of Harry’s head, his hair still little more than peach fuzz. “Where’s Mark Thomas?”
“With his grandmother for the day.”
“Oh. I’m sorry not to see him too. Come on inside.”
“Are those kittens I hear in that box?”
Emma nodded as she opened the door.
“I hope they won’t carry on like that for long.”
“They won’t. They’re just scared. First time away from their mother.”
Emma and Liza sat on chairs in the front parlor, and Emma put the hatbox on the floor, removing the lid as she straightened.
“Come on out, you two.” She tipped the box slightly to make their escape easier. “Aren’t they precious?” She ran her index finger over Jeremiah’s back as his front paws touched the floor.
“Adorable. Are you going to put them in the shed with your horse and cow?”
“Heavens no! They’ll stay in the house with me.” Emma held out her arms toward her sister. “Now, let me hold this chubby angel.”
Liza passed the baby to her. “I brought you something. It’s still in the car. I’ll be right back.” She rose and went out the front door.
While she waited for her sister’s return, Emma kissed and nuzzled the baby in her arms until he giggled. Harry smelled good and his skin was soft. She ignored the small ache in her heart, that reminder of the babies she would never have, the memory of the one she’d lost. God had blessed her in many ways. What right did she have to complain about the things she didn’t have?
The door opened, admitting Liza a second time. “I could have kept this for a Christmas present, but I didn’t want to wait.” She sat on the chair again, took Harry from his aunt, then passed a wrapped box to Emma. “Go on. Open it.”
“Liza, you shouldn’t have. You’ve done too much for me already.”
“Hush. You don’t even know what it is yet. You might not like it.”
Emma removed the wrapping paper and opened the box. Inside was a camera.
“It’s a Leica. Made in Germany. I was told it is the very latest thing.”
“But, Liza, why—”
“You have never been particularly talented with a paintbrush, you don’t enjoy knitting or crochet or needlepoint, and although you love to scribble your thoughts in those diaries you keep, I don’t believe you have any desire to become a professional writer. But I know how much you love living in these mountains. Each time I see you I think how much you belong here.”
Emma smiled at her sister, loving that she understood her so well. “I do belong here.”
“Anyway, I thought you would enjoy taking photographs of the things and places you love.”
“I don’t know anything about photography.”
“Of course not. But you’ll have all winter to learn. And maybe, if you get good enough, you could sell your photographs.”
“Sell them?” She looked at the camera in her hand, wondering how hard it might be to master. More difficult than learning to drive? “Do you really think so?”
“Em, you were always trying new things when we were girls. You were eager to learn. You were courageous and adventurous.”
“I was, wasn’t I.”
“Yes, you were. Of course you’ve been a bit unsure of yourself in recent years, but I know the real you is still there, hiding underneath. You are the sort of woman who could make a name for herself in a man’s world. Just see if you aren’t.”
Allison
They ate and slept. They went fishing. They rode bikes and took long hikes. They ate and slept and ate some more. And then it was Saturday and time to return to Kings Meadow. Anticipating her daughter’s departure that same day made Allison sad. Two weeks had flown by, as she’d known they would.
Everyone in the SUV must have felt the same thing, for the two-hour drive home was much quieter than their drive to the Stanley Basin had been four days earlier. Even Gizmo rarely raised his head to look out the window. Once they arrived at the house, they removed the bikes from the carrier on the back of the Subaru. Tony’s bike went back in his truck bed, along with the tents, his sleeping bag, and the rest of the camping gear. Meredith decided to leave her bike in Allison’s garage, to be ready for the next time she visited.
Far too quickly, everything that was going down to Boise was loaded into Tony’s truck, and there was nothing left to do but say good-bye.
“I love you, Mom.” Tears strained Meredith’s voice as she hugged Allison.
Don’t cry, Meredith. If you cry, I don’t stand a chance of holding it together.
“Make plans to come down to Texas for a visit this winter,” her daughter added when the embrace ended.
“I will. For sure. Could you stand to have me for a week or so over Christmas?”
“You know I could. I could stand you anytime and for as long as you want to stay.”
“Maybe I could meet Rod when I come.”
Meredith shrugged. “Maybe.” Then she smiled. “I hope so, anyway.”
Allison swallowed the lump in her throat and turned toward Tony. “It was good seeing you.”
“You too, Allie. Went by too fast.”
“Yes, it did.”
He walked up close and gave her a light hug. A tentative one, as if he was uncertain she would welcome it. “I like Chet Leonard, by the way. Seems like a good guy.” He took a step back.
“Chet? What do you m—” Except she knew what Tony meant.
“If it wasn’t for Chet, I wouldn’t have that cool trophy to show all my friends when I get home.” He winked before returning to the driver’s side of the cab.
Allison watched as the two of them got into Tony’s pickup. She waved as the truck headed down the driveway, not stopping until it disappeared from view. With her houseguests gone, the silence of the forest seemed absolute, and she couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. Gizmo seemed to understand his mistress’s distress. He pawed her leg and whimpered. She picked him up, burying her face in his coat.
“I hate the end of vacation.”
Gizmo twisted around and licked her temple.
She smiled sadly as she set him on the ground. “We’d better get started on the laundry.”
The dog ran ahead of her, up
the steps to the deck, then looked back as he waited by the front door.
Stepping through the doorway, Allison stopped, letting her gaze travel around the living room and up the stairs. The silence had followed her inside. She crossed to her stereo system and turned on her iPod. She selected a playlist of favorite movie soundtracks and turned the volume up higher than normal, hoping to sing the blues away.
In the bedroom, serenaded by Carly Simon, Allison unloaded her suitcase, piling dirty clothes on the floor at the foot of the bed. Then she carried a load’s worth to the laundry room and shoved the clothes into the front-loading washer. She filled the dispenser with soap, punched a few buttons, and turned a knob, each one beeping at her.
With the washer started, she walked into the kitchen—Ella Fitzgerald sang to her now—and began unloading the cooler Tony had left on the floor next to the refrigerator. Ketchup. Mustard. Miracle Whip. Two hotdogs left in a plastic baggie. Half an onion. One can of Diet Coke. Two mini-bottles of Diet Dr. Pepper, one of them half-empty. Some leftover baked beans.
Despite those items, the refrigerator remained in a depleted state. Amazing how much food three people could go through in two weeks’ time. She would need to go into Kings Meadow to do some grocery shopping if she wanted anything decent to eat in the days to come. But not today. After church tomorrow would be soon enough.
“She’s Like the Wind” came on the player, a song that pulled her back to the eighties. To memories of college and Tony. To the golden future that had stretched before them when they married. If Tony hadn’t—
She cut off the thought. It was understandable Meredith’s departure had left her sad and a bit lonely, but she didn’t want to fall back into wishing for what might have been. It wasn’t helpful or healthy.
“I need to take a shower.” She glanced down at her faithful companion. “And you, sir, need a bath too.”
The telephone rang, and Allison’s eyes went to the clock on the kitchen wall. Much too soon for Meredith to be calling from the airport. Her flight didn’t leave Boise until five thirty. She and her dad would stop to eat before he dropped her at the airport.
A Promise Kept Page 20