by DK Herman
He was good at his job but didn't talk much to anyone, except Gram. Preferring his solitude, he lived in a cottage near the eastern hedgerow. This was the first time, I'd seen him all day. I waved, and he returned my greeting with a curt nod. His gaze refocused on the horse shoe game. It was then, I noticed the rifle he carried in one hand. There must be a groundhog getting into the garden. It was creepy the way he stared at George, an angry look on his face when George slid an arm around Gram’s waist.
"Hello...Hallie." Gabi snapped her fingers in front of my face. "I said, we'll go for lunch after I'm done with you tomorrow. You can show off, your new do!"
"OK. I think Doc has office hours all day, but we can ask her anyhow,” I said.
Doc came up behind us. “Aunt Jeannie took my place. I’m tired of getting an ass whooping, but Troy’s going to give it another try.” She kicked off her sandals and sat next to us on the pools edge. “Ask Doc what?”
"Wanna go out to lunch with us tomorrow?" Gabi and I asked in unison.
"Can't. I have heavy appointments all morning. I eat lunch on the run, Thursdays. I won't get away until about two o’clock." Doc took a long drink from a bottle of water. "How about a little shopping at two-thirty and maybe a Mocha after that."
"Yes, please," Gabi said.
"Sure,” I agreed. A Mocha always sounded like a good idea. I splashed a stink bug off my leg. "I have to be back for supper though. Aunt Jeannie decided to leave for Florida on Friday morning."
"The big cruise!" Gabi enthused, both arms raised over her head. "Ooh! Wish I was going. I love the water."
"OK," Doc said, and she pushed her into the pool.
My mouth dropped open and Gabi surfaced, sputtering, "Damn it, Doc. I could have hit my head and drowned."
"Not a chance," Doc said sweetly. "Hallie would have saved you."
"I don't have my suit on,” I said, standing up quickly. I saw the twinkle in Doc's eyes but wasn't fast enough.
She grabbed my arm and swung me towards the water. I grabbed the belt of her shorts with my other hand. The two of us made a huge splash. A great deal of giggling and splashing later, the three of us sloshed back to the patio.
The sun was way down on the horizon, and everyone helped clean up before leaving. I wanted to spend time with Gram and Aunt Jeannie, but all I could think about was getting upstairs. The humongous tub in my new bathroom called my name. My dilemma was solved when they both pleaded exhaustion after the long day outside.
I kissed them both good night and went straight to my new domain. I couldn't help but dance around the bathroom as the water ran. I wanted it good and full. I only had a tiny shower in Chitty, all these months. This was going to feel wonderful! Finally, the tub was full enough. I turned off the water and stripped.
Standing in the tub, I lowered myself slowly into the hot water. Moans erupted from my throat as I sunk lower in the tub. Stretching out my legs, I put my head back and sighed with pleasure. My eyes closed on their own, and my arms floated; I couldn’t remember when I was so completely relaxed. And yippee, I could do this every day! I had to put bubble bath on my shopping list for tomorrow. Something that smelled good, maybe I could find bubble bath that smelled like lilacs. They’re my favorite flower and scent.
The water was growing cooler, and I was almost asleep when the door crashed open. My eyes flew open and Princess and Buddy rushed into the room. Buddy went straight to the toilet for a drink while Princess came to the bathtub and put a paw into my bathwater. She began splashing merrily.
"What the hell!" I yelled but was ignored by both dogs. "Sure, come on in," I said sarcastically.
I was stunned when Princess blinked at me and seemed to nod before climbing into the tub. Buddy was ready to follow.
"No, damn it, I didn't mean it!” I pointed at the door. "Out!" The dogs looked at me, tilting their heads. "I'm not used to company in the bathroom," I said softening. They were kind of cute, but I was never around dogs very much. Pap was allergic and these were the first pets Gram ever had in the house. And I never had time for a pet with an active career.
I stood up and grabbed a towel. "The water was getting cold anyhow,” I told the dogs. Princess jumped out of the tub and shook herself dry. I didn't think dogs knew what people said, but these two seemed like they understood every word.
After my bath, I dressed in summer pajamas. The dogs watched me putter around, deciding where I wanted to put my things. I’d gotten used to living in Chitty, so it was strange to have so much space. Three RVs of Chitty’s size, would fit into my new bedroom.
I hadn't been in this suite since I was eight years old. After my parents died, it was kept locked. I was too young then to really grasp the idea that my Mom and Dad were gone forever. I looked at the framed portrait of my parents that lay on the dresser, and I felt such a strong longing for them, tears came to my eyes. I went out on the balcony and sat on one of the lounge chairs. I couldn't stop thinking about my parents. It was funny how grief could sneak up on you, even years later. I hadn't cried over their loss since my wedding day.
I cried silently, a hand over my eyes for a few minutes, then I felt a nudge on my arm. I tried to ignore it but it persisted. Then I heard a whimper.
"I don't feel like petting you, right now," I said, but I looked down.
The pit-bull sat patiently her tail wagging, and in her mouth, was a can of beer.
"Where did you get this?" Amazed, I took the can and wiped it on my pajama top before popping it open. "Very good girl, Princess.” I petted her smooth ears for a few minutes while I drank the beer. We were both happy. Buddy came over for his turn and I obliged while the other dog lay down at my feet.
"You did nothing to earn this petting,” I told Buddy and finished my beer.
Buddy sighed and turning around, he went back into the house.
"I didn’t mean to insult him,” I said to Princess. "Is he always so touchy?"
I sat in the warm night air, looking out at the yard. A soft glow from the security lights made every shape visible. The swimming pool glowed with its own lights, underneath the water. Farther on, the woods were dark as pitch, except for the occasional lighting bug. But something else caught my eye. I could have sworn, I saw a larger dot of light moving horizontally, deep in the trees. It was our land, well-marked private property. The woods were the biggest part of our thirty-nine acres. I didn't know if anyone had permission to be out there. I would ask Aunt Jeannie tomorrow. I watched the light, steadily moving through the trees, towards the nearly dry creek. It had to be a flashlight or lantern.
I jumped when something cold and wet touched my arm. It was Buddy this time. He had a cold beer in his mouth.
I giggled as I took it from him. "OK. I’ve decided that I like you guys, but I’m not sharing my bathtub." I put the beer down and petted them both. When I opened the second can of beer, both dogs lay down by my feet. I was so very lucky. No more giving myself pity parties. My life wasn’t perfect, but I had things too good to complain.
I’d almost finished my second beer before I remembered the light in the woods, but it was gone. I yawned, feeling relaxed and very sleepy. I put the can down on a small table, got up, and went to bed.
THREE
The next morning, sunlight filling the room woke me. I’d slept like I hadn't in years. I stretched, wiggling my toes and sat up looking around. My new furry friends, who had been sleeping on the floor next to the bed, were gone. I chuckled, remembering their bartending skills. “I wonder who taught them that trick?” I got out of bed and padded to the patio doors. It was going to be another beautiful day. I grinned, thinking of the plans I had with my friends and danced my way across the room to my bathroom.
After a shower, I perused the clothes that I’d gotten unpacked last night and hung in the closet. I wanted something nice, yet comfortable enough for sitting in a beauty salon chair for a few hours. The cobalt blue sun dress would do nicely. It had tiny, bronze lace edging and would show off my tan and sh
oulders. The latter looked great, from the months of carrying heavy trays while I was waitressing.
I half-assed drying my hair and scooped it into the high pony tail I wouldn't have to wear after today. A little mascara and powder was all I was doing with makeup until after Gabi worked her magic. I put bronze, kitten heel sandals with an ankle strap on my feet, grimacing at my toe nails. "Don't forget the mani-pedi before lunch,” I grumbled. One last check on my reflection in the floor length mirror, and I left my rooms.
I could smell Liv's waffles and bacon before I made it to the kitchen. I gave her a peck on the cheek and grabbed a coffee. Hazelnut creamer was on the counter, so I gave it a try. Not a Mocha, but tasty. “Gram up yet?"
"In the sunroom," Liv said, handing me a full plate.
I took my breakfast to the sunroom to eat with my grandmother. It was a glass enclosed porch near the kitchen, with white trim and sunflowers accenting the only solid wall. Gram sat at the large, oblong table, sipping a coffee and reading the local paper.
"Good morning." I greeted Gram with a kiss and looked around, afraid of losing a toe. "Where's Rupert?"
Gram chuckled. "His trainer picked him up. He'll be back this afternoon." She was examining my outfit and smiled approvingly. “You look lovely, Hallie.”
“Thanks Gram.” I thought so, too. This dress always made me feel pretty. The hemline was swirly and my preferred length, three inches above my knee. But it fit looser than it did when I bought it a last summer. At that thought, I happily dove into my waffles. I was shoving bacon into my mouth with my fingers when Aunt Jeannie and George walked into the room. They both had steaming coffee cups and George held a plate heaped with waffles and bacon. I scooted over, so he could sit by Gram.
"Good morning, Susie,” he said with a wink. "And Hallie. What a pretty dress."
"Thanks,” I said. "You’re an early bird."
"The company and the food are better here than at my house." He smiled at Gram then shifted back to me. "Where you headed off to, dressed so nice?"
"Gabi's salon to get my hair and nails done, then lunch, and a trip to the mall." I saw Buddy and Princess in the yard. "Who taught those two, bartending skills?" I asked Gram while pointing outside.
"Why? Were you upset last night?" Aunt Jeannie asked, concerned "I assume Karen or her boyfriend taught them to fetch alcohol if you're upset or ask them to." She looked me over for signs I had been crying. "Mom, maybe we shouldn't have left her alone in the other wing?"
"No, really. I was just feeling a little nostalgic at first. Don’t worry.” I smiled reassuringly. I didn't want them to think that I didn't like my rooms. "I love the suite. I slept great and everything's perfect." I sipped my coffee.
"Are you sure?" Gram asked.
"Positive,” I insisted. "I was just curious about the dogs. That’s a neat trick. I swear they understand everything I say to them."
“I think they do understand us,” Gram said.
"Are they being a nuisance?" Aunt Jeannie sipped her coffee. She never ate before noon.
"No." I thought about them getting in the bathtub with me, but I didn't want to squeal on my new pals. "They're growing on me." I smiled.
"Good." Gram put down her fork and daintily wiped her mouth. "I give them any spare bacon and scraps, left on plates or in the kitchen. You can do it, if you like."
"Sure,” I said. I didn't leave them a tip last night.
I drove Chitty to Gabi's Salon. I parked in the municipal lot and walked up the street. The sign in the window said, closed, but her car was parked out front. The door was open, so I went in.
There was a bulletin board by the front door, next to the reception desk. The office door was closed, and I could hear Gabi talking to a man but couldn’t make out what was bring said. I looked around for something to read while I waited. There was a stack of flyers, with a young girl on the front. Her smiling face looked vaguely familiar. Missing, was written in bold letters, across the top. I picked one up, instinctively reading the rest for more information. Her name was Cara Gordon, she would turn sixteen next month. She was from a little town in Ohio, and had gone missing six months ago.
I heard the office door open. I wasn't done reading, so I folded the flyer and stashed it in my purse.
I heard footsteps and looked up to see a police officer walking toward me. I was concerned until I realized it was Gabi's cousin, Andy Ross.
I quickly and as casually as possible, took my hair out of the pony tail. I shook out it out a little, getting a smile ready. I didn't want him mentioning to his brother that he saw me looking like hell.
"Hey, Hallie." He looked me over.
Damn, I knew it. Why couldn't I have run into him when I was leaving the salon?
"How's it going, Andy?" I asked, thinking he looked good. A year younger than Hank, he was just as tall but looked nothing like him. Andy had the same blonde good looks as Gabi but in a masculine form.
"It's going,” he replied.
"I heard about your promotion. Congratulations!"
"Thanks. I heard about you and your husband. He must be a real asshole."
"He is,” I said. Damn it, how much had Gabi told him.
"Well, gotta go." Andy glanced at his phone. "See ya."
I watched him walk out the door and headed back to the salon office to find my friend.
I couldn’t wait for Gabi to wield her scissors. She had never given me a bad cut even when we were kids. She was as eager as I was to get started, so we would have plenty of time for lunch.
"It scared me when I saw a cop walking out of your office first thing in the morning. I thought you’d been robbed or something." I told Gabi.
"He thought there was something wrong, too,” Gabi said, carefully sectioning my hair. "I'm never here this early." She picked up the scissors again. "He's a little on edge since they identified the body from the river."
I drew a blank at first. "Oh, yeah. Is it Dr. Robinson?"
"Yep, it’s him. They got a number off his pace maker to identify him." She stopped cutting and shivered. "He had dentures, but they must have floated away." Her receptionist walked in, so she gave her a finger wave and lowered her voice. "Andy said that somebody shot him in the back of the head."
"Does he have any idea who did it?" I asked. I was stunned. Dr. Edward Robinson had been a pediatrician in Herville since before I was born. He retired five years ago, after his wife died. Living less than a mile out of town, it was common to see him on one of his daily walks. Everyone knew and respected him. His son, also a physician, had dated Aunt Jeannie, and they were still friends. "Who would want to hurt that nice, harmless old man?" I wondered out loud.
"Andy has no idea,” Gabi said. “He told me, the cops think a stranger found him out walking alone and tried to rob him." Gabi was snipping away. Cutting hair and gossiping, she was in her element.
"By the way." I changed the subject. "What did you tell Andy, about me?"
"Not much. Just that you and your husband divorced. And you were moving back home." She shrugged uneasily.
"Anything else?” I crossed my fingers, hoping that she hadn't let slip how Max had made off with everything. It's one thing to be a naïve dumbass, another for everyone in town to know it.
"I said that it was his fault." She sighed. "And I might have mentioned, he took a lot from you."
"Damn it, Gabi!” I scolded. "Don't tell people. What if he tells Hank the next time he talks to him?" I put my hands over my face. "I'm so glad Hank moved away."
"Yeah, about Hank,” Gabi said.
"What? Did you or Andy tell him already?" I asked, gripping the arms of the chair.
"I don't think so. Hold still and listen, will ya." Gabi tapped me on the head with her comb. "I know you never want to hear anything about Hank but..."
"La, la, la, la, la!” I put my fingers in my ears. "I told you a long time ago. Unless he died, I don't want to know."
"Fine!" She tapped me harder this time. "Put your hands dow
n, crazy woman, and hold still. I'm going to need a damn drink with dinner."
By one that afternoon, my hair was a gorgeous honey blonde with chunky golden highlights. Gabi had cut it into long layers, the front and sides perfectly framed my face. The back, just skimmed my shoulders. Also, my hand and toe nails were perfectly groomed and painted an iridescent white. While the foils were in, Gabi even freshened my eyebrows.
I applied loose powder and added lipstick while Gabi got herself ready.
"I look good, Gabi. Thank you,” I told her in the mirror.
“No, you look fantastic,” she assured me.
"Ready?" I asked, looking at Gabi's outfit. She wore black capris with a ruffled, red blouse that showed more cleavage than I possessed. Not that I was flat chested. But Gabi’s D cups, put my B’s to shame. I repositioned the twins and took comfort in my terrific looking hair.
"I’m ready,” Gabi answered after blotting her lipstick.
Situated on the Susquehanna, Rivers Edge was the most popular restaurant in town. The quiet, candlelit atmosphere was relaxing with an excellent view of the river. The food was good and the bartenders knew all the latest drinks. The clientele ran more to singles and couples, rather than families.
Even though we had reservations, we had to wait at the hostess station for a few minutes. I was hungry, so I was looking over a menu that I’d picked up from a stack.
"You really need to let me tell you about Hank," Gabi whispered suddenly.
"I don't care if Hank flew to the damned moon!" I snapped, my face still in the menu.
"That would be fun,” A familiar voice said.
Uh, oh. Please, don’t be him! My heart pounded, heat pouring from my face. I'd stay behind this menu and walk out. No biggie. I could say, they didn't have anything that looked good, or I suddenly came down with the flu. Instead, I stood there blushing. I buried my face deeper in the menu. Please, let that voice have been my imagination! I couldn't move a muscle.