“It’s a nice day. How about we walk?”
“Fine with me.” Amy hopped out of the vehicle and gave her friend a hug. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you.”
“Yeah, it was much easier when we worked at the Novelty Shoppe together and you lived right down the street.”
Amy sighed. “That seems so long ago now. How things have changed, but today is a new day and I thoroughly intend to enjoy every minute of it.” She looped her arm through Fran’s. “Let’s go shop until our feet hurt. For once I have a little money to spend.”
Landauer’s had a number of great buys on clearance which was a good thing as neither Fran nor herself could afford the full price. She bought a Claire McCardell style, gray, cotton V-neck dress with brown and red stripes and a silver-toned bracelet on sale. Fran purchased a green pullover, black wool skirt, and gold-toned earrings. After they finished at Landauer’s, they stopped at the Endicott Shoe Store and purchased the genuine black and leather sling pumps that were advertised on sale for three dollars and ninety-five cents before finishing up at Newberry’s Five and Dime where they bought nail polish and makeup before returning to Caroline Street.
Amy dabbed on her favorite perfume, Evening in Paris and kissed her son good-night. Then she left her mom’s house at eight-thirty to pick up Fran before driving to The White Elephant. Tonight, she planned to kick up her heels and have fun. After perusing the place, they settled on a table near the front of the dance floor next to the bar.
“You certainly seem chipper tonight. What’s going on?” Fran asked.
“I’m thrilled to be here with you again. It seems forever since we’ve been dancing.”
Fran glanced at her puzzled. “You’ve turned me down the last five times I suggested we go out. What makes tonight special?”
“Nothing. It must be spring. I’m feeling more like my old self, pre-Rob era. So, what do you say we order our drinks and see what mischief we can get into?”
Fran rolled her eyes at her. “I sure am happy to have my old friend back. The down in the mouth Amy wasn’t much fun, although by the sparkle in your eye, I’m afraid you’re about to lead me down the merry ole path into all kinds of trouble.”
“You just wait and see. Besides it’s not as though you’ve been a ball of excitement these last couple of years. We were a matching set—doom and gloom, but no more. You better hang on to the seat of your pants because I intend to make up for lost time, and I’m taking my best friend with me even if she screams and hollers the whole way.”
“Here’s to a new beginning.” Fran picked up the rum and Coke the waitress brought and touched it to Amy’s raised glass.
“And to wherever that may lead us,” Amy replied. After a hefty swallow she and Fran made their way to the dance floor where they jitterbugged until the band slowed it down. “Whew. I’m hot. I think maybe wearing wool tonight was a mistake.” She flopped down in her chair.
“Take a drink. We can always step outside to cool off if we need to.” Fran brushed her bangs from her forehead.
Amy had just set her glass on the table when the waitress brought another round of drinks.
“Compliments of the gentleman at the bar.”
Heart in her throat, Amy whipped around to see who had bought their drinks only to be disappointed to find Travis sitting at the end of the bar, alone.
“Should I invite him over?” Fran asked.
“You would think by now he wouldn’t need an invitation. What’s up with the guy? Has he ever asked you out or anything?”
“Nope.”
“Do you want him to?”
“Not really, we’re only friends.”
“By whose choice?”
“I’d say it’s mutual. I think he’s nursing an old flame. He acts all jovial and lighthearted when we’re all together, but now and then I catch a glimpse of sadness in his eyes when he notices a particular blond.”
“Hmm, reminds me of another friend of mine.”
Fran took a sip of her drink, ignoring Amy’s last comment. “Maybe he’s heard from Will. I can’t imagine as close as they are that they haven’t kept in touch.”
Amy shot out of her seat before Fran finished her remark. She tapped Travis on the shoulder. “You queer or something?”
Fran skidded to a halt beside her, a choked expression on her face. “Amy,” she cried with exasperation.
Travis turned and said with aplomb, “And if I am?”
Dumbfounded, Amy found herself speechless for once. What could she say to that? Then she caught the humor lurking in his hazel eyes and punched him in the arm. “Someday, buster, you’re really going to put your foot in your mouth, and I hope I’m there to see it.”
Travis shot them a crooked grin then drawled, “How can I help you two delightful ladies?”
“We came to invite you to sit with us, but if you are going to be a jerk about it.” Amy wrinkled her nose at him.
“Ames,” Fran warned.
“He started it.” She made a face at Fran.
Travis guffawed at Amy then picked up his beer and stood. “Lead the way, ladies. How can I refuse such a pretty invitation?”
“So . . . What have you two been up to? It’s been a while.” He flashed a warm gaze toward Fran then Amy. “You seem well.”
Not known for her patience, Amy responded in kind then dove right into what she really wanted to ask. “Have you heard from Will? Is he still in Ohio? Is he likely to come back for a visit?”
“Whoa.” Travis held up a hand, his lips twitching as if struggling to keep back a grin. “I haven’t spoken with him recently. He’s not much for writing. Last I heard he was considering buying a small farm near his parents’ place. He seemed good. Better than I can remember since the war. I think he’s finally getting his feet firmly planted again, or should I say foot.”
Amy reached over and slapped Travis on the arm. “That’s not nice.”
Trav smirked and turned to Fran. “She has no sense of humor, although Will would have appreciated her staunch defense. He would likely as not have socked me as well or at least given me one of those Will Henderson’s, ‘I can’t believe you actually said that’ stare.”
Amy giggled. It was both pleasant and painful to see Travis again. His wry humor was always uplifting, but he also reminded her of Will. “I was on the receiving end of those glares on more than one occasion, and it wasn’t pretty. Thomas and I both miss him, but I’m glad he’s doing better. The next time you talk with him, please tell him we said hello.” And with that being said, she slapped her palms on the table and pushed herself up. “Come on.” She grabbed Travis’s arm. “That’s my favorite song, and I want to dance.”
Travis shook his head as he rose to his feet. “Will was right. You really are a bossy handful.”
“And don’t you forget it.” Amy poked him in the chest.
Chapter 41
With the sun shining brightly and the wind calm, Amy decided to put on a jacket and sit outside at the table on the porch with a cup of coffee while she wrote a letter to her aunt. Molly lay on her side where the sun’s rays warmed her. It had been good to see Travis last night and to hear that Will was getting better. He deserved to be happy. He was such a decent man.
He’d been right when he’d said they were both broken. She hadn’t realized how much until last night when she and Fran hung out again like old times. She’d been bitter about so many things—the loss of her brother, her husband’s treatment of her, and her struggle to make ends meet. Now, as a new spring rolled in, she realized that thanks to Will, her faith in mankind had been restored. She’d come through the long winter unscathed and was now able to stand on her own two feet. She’d become an independent woman and as amazing as it seemed, she was proud of herself. She never thought she had it in her to be anything b
ut a wife and mother, now it felt good to be able to say she could support herself and her son. Nor had she expected she’d be anything but bitter about her marriage, but in retrospect she realized she’d come out of it a much stronger person. She’d grown from a girl into a woman. One she realized she’d come to like quite well.
Suddenly Molly sprung to attention, bringing Amy’s mind back to the present, and before she could grab her collar, the dog took off down the long driveway toward the road, barking loudly. Amy shielded her eyes in an attempt to see what Mols had set off after, but the sun’s glow blinded her so she returned to the letter at hand—probably nothing but a hungry squirrel. She ignored Mols barking until she realized there was a man slowly making his way up the long-rutted lane. Maybe I should get the shotgun. Even if it’s not loaded it would give someone pause to think.
When a resounding bark returned Molly’s howl, Amy’s heart began to hammer in her chest as two dogs came dashing up the driveway ahead of the now familiar lope of the tall male following in their dust. Shep bounded onto the porch and nuzzled her hand. She rubbed his muzzle, then stood and moved to the edge of the porch, her hand trembling as she gripped the white post and watched Will’s slow progression. Finally, she could stand it no more and ran toward him.
He stopped, dropped his duffle bag, and spread his legs as if to brace himself.
When he opened his arms, she flew into them, neither saying a word until the honking of the geese overhead called to them. They both spoke at once.
“What are you doing here?” Amy blurted, not meaning to be rude. “I thought you were staying in Ohio?”
Will stepped back and tilted his cap as if to study her expression better, his eyes dark and serious. “I was, but I heard there might be a job opening here come spring, so I thought it best I mosey on back this way before another fella got the position.”
Hope swelled in her chest, filling her with love. “Well now, let me think.” She bit back a smile. “Do you have any references?”
Will’s eyes crinkled. “Let me see. I worked a small farm last year for a pretty little lady who might give me a good reference.”
“Just might? That doesn’t sound promising. What did you do, leave her in the lurch?”
“No. I completed the job. However, I’m not entirely sure it was too her satisfaction.”
She struggled to keep her face expressionless. Oh yeah, it was definitely to her satisfaction. “Oh, really, why would you think that?”
“I left without saying good-bye.”
“How inconsiderate of you.”
“The thing is—I thought I was being considerate at the time. I believed in my mind she needed a better man than me.”
“And now?”
“Now, I admit I was a damn fool for leaving. So what do you think? Do you think she’ll understand and forgive me?”
“I think,” she said, echoing his words, “she’d be a damn fool not to.”
Will scooped her back into his arms and hugged her tightly to him. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear.
Love bubbled up inside her, and she whispered back, “You’re hired. Now kiss me.”
And he did just that.
Chapter 42
March 2013
Callie was worried about both Will and Amy and tried to reach Michael, but to no avail. He was still out of the country and wherever he was his cell phone obviously didn’t work. Any calls she made went straight to voicemail. She called his answering service and was told her message would be given to Michael as soon as he checked in. They offered to refer her to the physician filling in for him, but she declined the offer.
Now that Amy and Will had finished sharing their love story, both seemed rather subdued. She thought perhaps Will’s age was beginning to take its toll on him, and that his body was beginning to fail. She suspected Amy realized this and was staying glued to Will’s side lest he slip away without her.
Callie encouraged him to eat, but he preferred to sleep instead. Finally, Callie contacted his doctor and scheduled an appointment for Friday.
She tried to talk to Amy about Will but Amy seemed unwilling to discuss him. She remained at his side dozing more often than was usual for her. Callie, unused to elderly patients, found herself feeling helpless as a quiet descended on the house. She called the family doctor and added an appointment for Amy as well.
Thursday night came, and Callie was surprised to find both Amy and Will alert when she brought them their dinner. They both smiled at her as they sat holding each other’s hand. There was almost an ethereal glow about them. Will chuckled at something Amy said to him and Callie felt as though she’d interrupted a private moment.
She turned to Amy. “I’ve made an appointment for you to see the doctor along with Will tomorrow. I’m worried about you both.”
Amy glanced over at Will and smiled slightly then turned back to Callie. “There’s no need to. We’re fine.” She smiled at Callie. “We heard the geese flying north this morning, ushering in spring with its new life, so don’t you worry about us, everything will be fine now. You go onto bed and get a good night’s sleep. Will and I will be doing the same. Won’t we, dear?” She glanced back at her husband, her eyes beaming a deep abiding love.
Will slipped his arm around his wife’s shoulder and held her close. “We will be doing just that.”
Callie cleaned up the dinner dishes and helped get Will and Amy ready for bed then retired with an uneasy feeling. She would feel better tomorrow after she spoke with the family doctor.
After a restless night, the first rays of dawn woke her as the downstairs clock chimed six A.M. The silence of the morning was deafening. Usually, she could hear Amy and Will’s television muffled below as they watched the early morning news show. Perhaps they’d slept in late.
Quietly, she descended the stairs and knocked lightly on Will and Amy’s room lest she wake them. When no reply came, she cracked the door open to peek in and frowned at the empty bed. Usually Will needed assistance in the morning, so it was definitely odd for him to be out of bed.
She checked their bathroom but it was empty. Worried now, she ran through the living room to the kitchen where she noticed the inside door to the back porch was left ajar. Glancing out the door’s window, Callie could see the faint marks that Will’s wheelchair had left in the damp grass on the way to the barn.
What on earth? She slipped on the old rubber boots she kept in the breezeway and dashed across the yard to the open door of the barn. She rushed into its dark interior lit only by the early morning light, and she spotted Will’s now-empty chair in the doorway of the old tack room.
“Will, Amy,” she called as she rushed toward the room then froze, a hitch in her breath. “Oh, God, no.” She raised a hand to her chest as she silently crossed to the old metal frame bed and took in the scene before her.
Amy lay turned into Will whose arm was wrapped around her. Her head lay against his heart. They were covered with an old down comforter and appeared as though they’d simply fallen asleep, their expressions peaceful.
Callie knew without checking that both had passed away, but she reached to check their pulses anyway. None were found.
Tears streamed down Callie’s cheeks as she retraced her steps to the house, an early flock of geese honking overhead. Once inside, she plopped down in the nearest chair, her knees given way beneath her. Finally, she grabbed the receiver to the phone and dialed 911.
Chapter 43
August 2013
The grueling eighteen-hour flight to Madagascar from New York City gave Callie plenty of time to ruminate. Four months had passed since Will and Amy’s funeral. Callie had lingered around the farm aimlessly for the first couple of weeks but as she thought about Will’s life story, she joined a veteran’s support group and began seeing a therapist for PTSD. The elderly c
ouple had left her the use of the farm for one year along with a small sum of money that gave her time to search for a new position, but before she did, she decided to spend several weeks as a volunteer nurse for Operation Smile. She’d seen their commercial on television and knew right away she wanted to become involved. She was on her way to join a surgical team for two weeks.
The long flight and transportation to the medical unit left Callie both exhausted and longing for a bed to lie down in. Unfortunately, she’d no sooner reached her location and stowed her baggage in the bunking quarters when her host invited her to tour the facilities. With a quick tug of a brush through her hair and a splash of water on her face she followed the young woman through the surgical wing noting the young patients.
They’d almost finished their rounds, when they entered the last post-op wing where a young doctor in scrubs was squatting next to a little girl whose face was heavily bandaged. He was holding the child’s hand and talking soothingly to her. My kind of doctor was her first thought followed by, He looks familiar. As they came closer, the doctor patted the young girl’s arm then stood and stretched, placing a hand to his back before he turned to them. Callie’s heart leapt into her throat leaving her speechless.
“Dr. Henderson, this is Nurse Callie Bennett who’s come to join our operation for the next two weeks. Ms. Bennett, this is not only our favorite surgeon, but the children’s as well.”
Michael’s sparkling blue eyes met hers, and he stuck out his hand. “Nice to have you aboard, Nurse Bennett. We’ve been short-handed, and you will be a welcome addition to our staff.”
Callie stuck out her hand and hoped her flinch wasn’t obvious. “Thank you,” she muttered, barely coherent. What the hell was he doing here?
When The Geese Fly North Page 18