by DK Herman
A masculine finger pulled the menu down and away from my face.
I looked up, and there he was.
"Hope I made it back to Earth." Hank teased with a big smile.
That smile that I could never resist. Well, the smile and the rest of him. It was so unfair for a man to have no bad features. I didn't know if he had ten kids, but he wasn’t fat or bald. The boy was gone and left in his place, was this glorious specimen of a man. I felt my mouth drop open a little while I tried to discreetly look him over.
His hair, just beginning to gray at the temples, was cut shorter than it used to be. But it was still on the longish side and thick and full. His sapphire blue eyes glowed as warmly as his smile. Those gorgeous eyes looked at me appreciatively, from a now ruggedly handsome face.
I couldn't help letting my gaze roam downward. His body had gotten thicker with muscle, but he wasn’t at all fat. His shoulders and chest were broader than ever, his stomach flat, his hips still lean. In brown jeans and tan dress shirt, he was a pleasure to behold. I closed my mouth, and checked my chin for drool.
"What are you doing here." Without any help from my brain, words came out of my mouth. I concentrated on his eyes again. Those eyes that his gave away his mood. Right now, they were playful.
"Lunch,” He replied, his eyes still on my face.
"No, I mean in town." I couldn't stop staring at him. I couldn’t even blink.
"I live here." He saw the puzzled look on my face. "I moved back five years ago, after my divorce." He raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you haven't heard." His eyes moved to Gabi, who had moved a few feet away, pretending to check her phone.
I was about to blurt out merrily, I was divorced, too. But I stopped short when someone else sidled up and stood next to Hank, taking his arm. Someone else, who wore an extremely short, red dress like a second skin. She was my height in her black, four inch, spike heels. Her long hair was blonde with a thick black layer underneath. The face had more makeup on than I was comfortable wearing. And I knew that face, even with the obvious plastic surgery that had been done on it. It was Brittany Morgan.
"Hank, I thought you left. You said, you were in a hurry." Brittany took a hard pull from a huge electronic cigarette. With that hair, she looked like she should be out stealing puppies.
"I ran into an old friend. You remember, Hallie?"
Brittany gave me a weak smile. "How could I forget, “Brittany drawled nastily. “I heard you were moving back to the old James homestead with your grandma. Your hubby grabbed everything that you had and took off." The smile went from weak to smug.
I felt like crying, and my palm itched to slap her. She was such a freaking nightmare. She had chased after Hank the entire time we dated, going to great lengths to break us up. Our senior year, Doc caught her throwing a pair of lacey, black panties into Hanks car, through an open window. She even told Hank, I was cheating on him with his brother.
He swore he'd never touch her. He told me the football team called her the practice dummy because she had let so many of them use her, and she was an airhead. I guess time does change everything. It looked like she finally got what she wanted.
The hostess arrived to seat us, in time to save me from further humiliation.
"See you around, Hal,” he said.
I gave a little wave, but I couldn't answer through the lump in my throat. My eyes were misty while I followed Gabi's back through the maze of tables.
I sat quietly across from Gabi and ordered an iced tea. I didn’t want to talk about it until I got a better grip on my emotions. I ordered the same as Gabi without thinking about it. When the food came, I recovered enough to eat a plate of delicious chicken pot pie, a house salad with ranch dressing and chunk of banana split cake. I'm one of those people who eat everything in sight when they're depressed. Thank God for a fast metabolism.
Gabi looked humble and was unusually quiet throughout the meal. It was obvious she felt guilty. I knew where Brittany had gotten her information. Gabi had told me that morning, about coloring Brittany's hair those colors. Gabi even had ice tea with me instead of the dirty martini that she really wanted. I let her off the hook while I was eating my cake.
"The whole town was bound to find out anyhow," I said. I licked whipped cream off my fork. "I've been thinking just now, maybe everyone knowing the truth is better than going around lying to people or avoiding the subject forever."
Gabi let out a deep breath. "I'm still sorry, Hal. My mouth just goes sometimes, and I was so damned happy to have you coming home. I forgot that slut was in the chair when I told my mom about you coming home."
"Forget it." I waved my hand. "I'm happy too, I'm back."
"Next time she comes in for a color, I can accidentally, leave it on too long and burn off half of her hair." Gabi's steady gaze was serious.
"You're so sweet!" I was holding in a laugh. "But, that's OK."
We both giggled. But I was sure, she was serious. Gabi lived up to her name, but she was a fierce friend.
"It burns my butt, Hanks dating her,” I admitted.
"He's not dating that harpy!" She rolled her eyes. "Didn't you see the briefcase in her hand?"
I shook my head. "No, my eyes were stuck on her bad nose job." I knew I was being catty. Truthful, but catty.
"She's his real estate agent," Gabi said. "Hank's buying land, next to his bar."
"What bar?"
"He bought Harry Showers' bar,” she explained.
"That dilapidated, old place, up the highway from my house?" I asked in disbelief. "The place has been a mess for years." I used to sneak in Showers’ bar with my friends before I was out of high school. A greedy man who never turned down a nickel, old man Showers never checked ID’s. Eventually, it was the end of his business.
"Hank fixed it up. It’s a nice place now. Troy and I go there for a burger and beer all the time." She finished her tea. We should go there sometime. He even has karaoke and DJ nights."
"Maybe." I had to get a grip on seeing him again before I saw him again. "Where does he live?"
"He built a house, right behind the bar," she said. "It's small. Two bedrooms, but it’s cute."
"Just two bedrooms? Does he have any kids?" Over the years, whenever I did let myself think about him, I always envisioned him as a dad.
"A ten-year-old girl, Heather,” Gabi replied.
"He named her after his sister,” I said. I'd forgotten about Hank and Andy's little sister who disappeared in 1997, when she was sixteen. The whole family had been frantic, and they searched for years. "Nothing was ever.... I mean, she wasn't found, right?"
"Not a trace." She shook her head sadly. "She was walking home from school, and she just vanished.
" Was she fighting with her parents or being bullied at school?"
"The cops asked the same things, back then." Gabi waved at someone behind me. "Everybody loved her. You know how close the whole Ross family is."
I nodded.
"There is no way, she would've have run away like that." Gabi continued. "She never would have wanted to be away from us, or cause so much worry." She tried to flag down a waitress. "Doc’s here. Ready to shop?"
Doc drove us to the mall in her blue, extended cab pickup. I spent over a hundred bucks of the grand, I’d managed to save over the summer. Gabi only charged me for the cost of the supplies that she used on me. But, I did need makeup and toiletries and I fell for a pair of open back sneakers. And I remembered the bubble bath and got some dog treats for my new friends.
Next, we stopped at Brew’s, the town coffee shop, for Mocha Lattés after the mall.
"Why did you guys look so sad when I walked into Rivers Edge?" Doc asked. "The last time I saw faces like that, was at a funeral."
Gabi and I looked at each other.
"Heather Ross,” I said.
"Oh, I’m sorry, Gabs. I didn't mean it." Doc rubbed Gabi's forearm. "Did they find her or something?"
"It's ok, Doc, and no. I doubt after nineteen yea
rs that they ever will." Gabi answered sadly.
"I helped search for her." Doc's face looked hard, like a mask as she remembered. "I was home from college because my mother died a few days before."
I decided to lighten the mood. "The subject came up when we were talking about Hank."
"What!" Doc choked on her coffee. She recovered and smiled at me. "You, were talking about Hank! I assume, you found out about his divorce and that he moved back."
"You assume, correctly," Gabi said. "We ran into him at Rivers Edge."
“And he wasn't alone,” I added. "Brittany Morgan and her new nose were with him."
"That sleazy cow!" Doc's eyes widened. "Is he seeing her? What happened? Tell me everything!"
Gladly, Gabi filled her in.
Doc dropped us at our vehicles. She had a gift for Aunt Jeannie and wanted her to have before she left tomorrow. I told her to bring it by later, and I agreed to go to Hank's bar with her and Gabi, Saturday night.
Happily, I pulled in our driveway. A night with my family sounded great. I grabbed the shopping bags and my sandals from the passenger seat, having taken them off before driving home. I almost skipped up the walk toward the porch. I was on the steps when I saw slight movement out of the corner of my eye.
Yikes! Gram and George were passionately, making out on the porch swing. Not sure what to do, I crept to the door. I didn’t want to embarrass them, or me. I pushed the right side of the double doors open as quietly as possible and stepped inside. I was closing the door just as stealthily when something grabbed my left big toe and shook it madly. Shit, Rupert’s home!
Motivated by pain, I yelled, "Damn it, let go you mutt!” The little beast had scared the crap out me. He was like a baby crocodile, roaming the house. "I just got a pedicure today, you little ass!" Not to mention, it hurt like hell. I looked around frantically for a magazine or something to smack the little, tooth filled, fur ball. I didn’t see anything, so I swung my shopping bag at him. The little turd bit down harder. “Ouch, help!”
I heard feet running towards me, inside the house. "Hallie! I'm coming, honey. What's the matter?" Aunt Jeannie ran into the room, sliding on a throw rug. "Mother! Where are you?" She tried to pick up Rupert, but he growled and shook my foot furiously. "This damned animal is attacking Hallie again,” she yelled.
"No need to yell, dear. I'm right here." Gram scooped Rupert up into her arms.
Aunt Jeannie and I both stared at her and George. Gram’s hair was mussed and her bright red lipstick was almost gone. The top three buttons were undone on her blouse, exposing her breasts, half covered by her bra. George looked rumpled, too. With a ring of red around his mouth, he looked like a kid that had been eating a cherry popsicle.
"Thanks,” I mumbled and climbed the stairs before I had a giggling fit.
"Mother, really,” I heard Aunt Jeannie scold.
"Go pack your suitcases, dear. It's none of your business." Gram's tone was pleasant as usual, but firm.
I got to my bedroom and put away my new purchases. I changed into jeans and a jade green top. Brushing my hair, I admired my great new cut and color. Nothing like a new do to raise a girl’s spirits.
Just then, my sitting room door crashed open, and eight feet padded into my bedroom. After being greeted warmly by Princess and Buddy, I took the bag of treats off my dresser. Leaving the patio door open, I went outside to sit with my pals.
They heartily approved of my choice of treats, eating half the bag. I petted them while telling them about my day. They seemed to pay close attention until I heard my cell ring. I ran back inside to answer it.
It was Gram. Supper was ready. "Better than someone walking all the way up here." I told the dogs. They were still on the balcony, watching birds and squirrels in the backyard. "I'll see you guys later." I left the patio door open for them. Then remembering that Rupert could be lurking anywhere, I stopped to put on my new pair of open back sneakers. I enjoyed having ten toes.
We had supper on the patio, so Peter would eat with us. He would only eat in the dining room on Thanksgiving and Christmas. He was his usual terse self, the few words he spoke were to Gram. He stared with obvious loathing at George, throughout most of the meal. I wondered if anyone else had noticed. If George did, he was too polite to acknowledge it.
Liv's potato and egg rivvel soup with homemade bread was a treat. Because of the other large meals, I’d devoured that day, I split an apple dumpling with Aunt Jeannie. She was very excited about leaving on her cruise in the morning. She was planning on enjoying Florida for a few days before she had to board the ship. I knew she was worried something would happen again, so she couldn’t go. But Gram and I were determined that nothing would ruin it for her.
After Peter went back to his cottage, and the rest of us into the living room, the doorbell chimed.
"I'll get it." It was probably Doc. It was and she had a big box with a bow in her arms.
Everyone greeted her, and she sat at the only open seat on the couch, next to George. With a grin, Doc handed the box to Aunt Jeannie.
"For me, Doc? How sweet!" Aunt Jeannie opened the box and laughed. Her face was glowing when she pulled a huge yellow sunhat; the brim at least three feet across, out of the box. "I love it."
"It’s also a floatation device." Doc grinned as everyone laughed.
"Doc, it’s perfect. I sunburn easily and can't swim very well!" Aunt Jeannie declared, trying the hat on her head. "It’s just what I needed, I promise to wear it every day."
"Have a great time,” Doc said, a pleased look on her face. She shifted in her seat, and her cell phone fell out of her pocket, landing next to George.
He picked it up, looking at the screen. "Careful, I hear these gadgets break easy," He said, studying it another moment before handing the phone back to Doc.
"Thanks.” She stuffed the phone back into her pocket.
"Would you like an apple dumpling, Doc? Liv made them this afternoon, and they are delicious,” Gram offered.
"No thanks, Mrs. James. I'm on call tonight and have to be going." Doc stood up. "I just wanted to get the hat to Aunt Jeannie before she left on her cruise."
I walked her to the door, but she didn't linger. All the leaves were turned over, as the wind whipped the trees. The twilight sky looked like it was going to storm like hell any minute.
"Be careful!" I yelled into the wind.
Doc climbed into her truck and drove away, her eyes straight ahead.
I helped my aunt and Liv close windows, in preparation for the storm. We made it back to the living room while Gram and George were discussing how he was going to get home. They seemed upset.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
"He doesn't see the road well at night, especially when it's wet." Gram explained.
"He can stay here, can't he? There's lots of room," I said.
"It's not proper for him to sleep in the same house with me while we’re dating." Gram wrung her hands. "People might talk."
Behind them, I saw Aunt Jeannie shake her head. I knew she was thinking about what they were doing on the porch, in broad daylight, that afternoon.
"We'll wait for the storm to quit. Then maybe, Hallie will take him home," Gram said, her eyes pleading with me.
"It's not far, Hallie. I'm on Cross Valley Road." George's eyes were still on Gram while they held hands.
I could tell he was humoring Gram. I didn't think they had to worry about her reputation, but it was sweet that he cared about her feelings.
"Sure,” I said. "Whenever you're ready, let me know."
Liv poured us iced tea, and for the next half-hour, the storm raged outside. It was a doozy with lots of wind, thunder, and lightning. The rain was so heavy, I couldn't see the garage from a window in the dining room. I curled up in a chair next to the picture window, curtains wide open, watching the show.
Storms always made me think of my father, David James. He told me when I was seven years old that storms were something I couldn't control.
So, it was a waste of time being afraid if them. He said, “Enjoy the storms because they have a wild beauty that’s wonderful to watch. Besides, you can’t spend your life worrying and being afraid, baby. Sooner or later, bad things happen to everyone. You'll miss out on all the good things in life if you sit around being afraid."
He and my mother, Jennifer, died in a plane crash less than a year later. They’d flown through a nasty storm on the way to Hawaii, but it was mechanical failure on their return flight, that made their plane crash.
Finally, the wind died down and the rain slowed to a drizzle. I heard George calling to me over the thunder still rumbling in the distance.
"Hallie, I think it’s safe now."
"Let me grab my keys." I started for a staircase.
"Take my SUV, Hallie. It's in front of the garage." Aunt Jeannie handed me her keys.
"OK," I said. "Let me grab a few things."
George was buckled into the passenger seat, waiting on me. I had my purse and carried a light jacket over my arm. There were suitcases in the cargo space and a garment bag was stretched across the back seat. It looked like Aunt Jeannie was all set to leave in the morning. I started the car, making my way carefully up the driveway to our lane. I avoided the few downed branches that had been scattered by the wind. Crossing the small wooden bridge, I could see the creek was now swollen, overflowing its banks and rushing downstream.
I was at the stop sign, waiting for cars to pass, so I could pull onto route 11. Cross Valley Road was up the highway, about two miles on the left. I would have to pass Hank's bar and house. A little snooping sounded good, and in my Aunt's car I wouldn't be recognized. I pulled onto the highway and kept my speed under fifty-five. It was less than a mile on the right.
I could see the pool of light from parking lot lights ahead. Fifty feet more and I slowed down. The lot was full. Two couples came out of white double doors on the side of the building. That must be the main entrance. The bar looked very different from the last time I’d seen it. It didn’t look like the same building. I couldn't see much of the house in the back, just a dark shape near the woods.