Once Upon a Summer

by Brooke Moss

  ***

  Wednesday morning, we dressed for the beach. It was another picture perfect day. I was beginning to think clouds were not allowed in South Haven during the summer. Maybe the Chamber of Commerce controlled the weather. As we walked along, I stopped in front of the house with the blue trim. Linda reluctantly followed as I went up the driveway.

  “Jamie, what are we doing?”

  “I’m curious. That’s two nights in a row where we’ve seen someone running in the dark. Maybe there is something going on.”

  “Why are you looking for trouble? We’re on vacation. Is this a way of diverting my attention from your misbehavior?” A wicked grin flashed across her face.

  Ignoring her, I stood at the back of the house. The footprints were still visible in the yard. Randy had been right. There were no signs of activity near the building. But if they were running away from here, where did they come from? I turned around and faced the street, following the diagonal path. I could imagine someone racing between the two houses on the opposite side of the road. Curiosity got the better of me. We walked in that direction. Both houses were dark with no signs of life. I went between them to the backyards.

  “Jamie, let’s go. The beach is waiting. Sun, sand, muscular lifeguards with tiny swimsuits could be looking for us even as we’re standing here.”

  “There are no lifeguards on our part of the beach.”

  “Maybe they’re on vacation, too.”

  I was about to give up when something caught my eye. The back door to the house on the left, a quaint little cottage, was pried open. There were several gouges in the wood. Peeking through the window, I could see into the kitchen. The cupboard doors were ajar. Linda stood silently beside me for a moment. Then she moved around the corner. She returned, shaking her head in dismay.

  “There’s a gap in the curtains on the side window. The place looks ransacked.” From her straw bag, she dug out her cell phone and a small piece of paper. I realized it was Randy’s business card from the other day. We walked down the driveway so we could find an address number. The look she gave me was less than friendly. “Only you, Jamie. Only you.”

  Five minutes later, a police car pulled up in front. The uniformed officer had just begun taking down our information when another vehicle parked behind him. Jared stepped out of the car, drumming his fingers on the roof. But there were traces of a grin on his face.

  “We gotta stop meeting like this. My wife is gonna get suspicious.”

  “It’s not me,” Linda said innocently. “It’s her.”

  He walked up the driveway. “Let’s hear how you two just happened to stumble onto this. Because it seems like the last thing you’d be doing on a vacation.”

  Linda hesitated. “You’d better tell it from last night, Jamie. But maybe leave out all the hot and sweaty parts.”

  “I’ll only give you the details that are pertinent.”

  Jared was chuckling. “Yeah, I bumped into Randy this morning. I think he’ll be worthless most of the day. Did he search you?”

  “I refuse to answer on the grounds that it’s none of your business. Do you want to hear about finding this house or not?”

  “Yes, let’s have it.”

  So I spelled it out for him. Together, we walked across to the house with the blue trim. Jared checked the backyard, where the footprints were mostly gone. We went back across the street. The other cop was waiting by the patrol car.

  “Dispatch ran the address. The owners live in Jackson. They try to come out every other weekend. County Sherriff is sending their forensic people, but it will be awhile before they get here. How do you want to handle it?”

  Jared considered it for a moment. An idea jumped to the front of my brain and I blurted it without thinking.

  “If you have video on your phone, you could go inside and film how the house looks. Then send it to the owners and see if they can identify anything missing.”

  “That’s a good idea. We’ll wait for forensic to do their thing,” Jared said. He glanced at Linda. “No need for you two to stick around. Go enjoy the beach.”

  “We’ll leave it to you.” She grabbed my arm and steered me away. “This is turning out to be a strange vacation.”

  “Are you kidding? It’s gotta be the best vacation ever!”

  “You really do need to get laid more often.”

  ***

  It was after one. We’d been swimming and tanning for a while and were lounging on the towels talking about little things, when the phone in Linda’s bag chimed. She dug it out and responded with a series of one-word answers. Then she broke the connection, stowed the phone and rolled to her knees.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Free lunch with a handsome man.” Linda dug her shorts out and wiggled them on. Then she gathered up the rest of her belongings and jammed them into the bag. “What are you waiting for?”

  “A little more information would be nice.”

  “We can talk on the way. Move your ass, Jamie. We might even get a glass of wine.”

  I sensed she wouldn’t tell me more until we were in motion. Quickly, I grabbed my gear and followed her across the sand. All I got was more one-word answers until we were into the town. Linda stopped at a corner and brushed sand from her arms and legs. She turned around and I cleared her back and bottom. Smiling sweetly, she faced me and returned the favor. Done with the sand, she slapped my butt.

  “We’re going to Clementine’s.”

  “I thought you said it was expensive.”

  “It is but it’s a great place when someone else is buying.”

  The restaurant was on the opposite corner. Even well past lunchtime, there were people lined up on the sidewalk, waiting for a table. Linda smiled and sashayed through the crowd. I followed, more curious than ever. She whispered something to the hostess and was immediately led into the dining room. What was going on?

  Sitting at a large round table with his back to the wall was Jared. A petite dark haired woman was at his side. She looked us up and down before facing him. “Yes, I can see what you mean. Poor Randy never had a chance.”

  “This is my wife, Sara.”

  “The nurse,” Linda said.

  She beamed a smile. “That’s right. Jared was just telling me about your morning discovery. Kind of unusual for South Haven.”

  “Did you learn what was missing?” I asked.

  His eyes flicked to Sara. “Reporter.”

  “Investigative reporter,” I corrected with a grin. “So, whatcha find out?”

  “The list consisted of--two computers, a video game console, about a dozen game cartridges, over three hundred bucks in cash and a few bottles of booze.”

  I took a moment to consider the information while Sara encouraged us to sit down. “So you’re looking for at least two people. Probably a van or an SUV. Something that wouldn’t raise any suspicions in the neighborhood at night.”

  “How did you make that jump?” Jared asked.

  “Easy. The kid we saw was running. There’s no way he could carry all the stuff.”

  Sara watched our exchange like a tennis match. “Is she right?”

  “Probably. One of the neighbors had a sprinkler system going last night. We found a lot of footprints running in the opposite direction. Diagonal. So we’re thinking it’s a couple of kids who break in, do a grab and go, loading their haul into some type of car and taking off.”

  “The loot sounds like something kids would go after. Video games and liquor. Was there anything else of value?” Linda asked.

  Jared’s eyes traced back and forth between us. I noticed he was slowly tapping a finger on the table, as if deciding what to do. Sara reached over and placed a hand over his. “Tell them. What can it hurt?”

  He glanced at his wife then curled his hand around hers. “You’re right. There were also some paintings stolen. The owner says they were worth a lot, maybe a couple of grand. Not the usual beach stuff, but from a gallery in Saugatuck. That’s an
artist community. There was also a small sculpture missing.”

  “Kids aren’t going to bother with art. There’s someone behind this who knows valuables. Somebody working with the kids,” I said.

  “Yeah, it looks like South Haven has its very own Fagan,” Sara said.

  The waitress appeared. We ordered quickly. I noticed Linda opted for iced tea instead of wine. I did the same. Sara shifted the conversation away from crime, asking about our plans and how long we’d be in the area.

  “You’ve got to come to the park for the concert tonight. Music begins right at 7:00. You’ll like the band. They play a lot of classic rock covers. Good variety.”

  “Do they draw a big crowd?” Linda asked.

  Sara grinned. “Absolutely. A lot of people will bring camp chairs or blankets. There are a couple of food trucks there, too. It’s a lot of fun.”

  “We’ll check it out.”

  Sara proved to be a masterful hostess. She kept the conversation flowing and steered us away from any discussion of the robbery. It may have been my imagination, but I thought she wiggled her chair a bit closer to Jared. Linda attempted twice to pay for our meals, but Jared waved it away.

  “Come to the park tonight. You will definitely enjoy it,” he said.

  “We’ll be there,” I said.

  Outside we watched the happy couple walk away. Linda twirled her straw bag, spinning the handles one way, then the other. I could tell there was something on her mind. After all these years, I knew she’d talk when she was ready.

  “Back to the beach, or should we prowl through some of these lovely stores?”

  “Shopping sounds like a nice diversion.”

  ***

  That evening the four of us walked to the park for the concert. Linda had called Jake earlier and told him not to cook. Logan led the way. As we got close, Linda winked at me and hooked her arm through Jake’s right arm. I copied her move on the other side. The old guy stopped walking. He looked me up and down, then did the same with Linda. Nodding his assent, we continued into the park. Jake acknowledged a few neighbors and friends as we passed, acting as if being accompanied by a pair young women was an everyday occurrence.

  “You’re a lecherous old man,” Linda teased.

  “You started it. Now I’ll be eating free meals for a month from all the widows who want to take your place. They must believe the old saying.”

  “What old saying?” I asked.

  He gave me a comical grin. “Once you go gray, you won’t ever stray!”

  We located a good spot on the grass to the left of the bandstand. Each of us carried a camp chair that was easy to set up. Logan curled up in the grass at Linda’s feet. Jake and I went to scope out the food trucks. There was a barbecue truck called Bomba’s, with pulled pork sandwiches and half slabs of ribs, a taco truck, another with ice cream and fresh lemonade and one serving fried chicken and potatoes. It was a good thing we’d had salads for lunch. I texted Linda the options. We both went for pulled pork. Jake couldn’t make up his mind, so he got both ribs and chicken. Together, we carried all the food back to our spot.

  Shortly after we finished eating, the band warmed up. People milled around, enjoying the beautiful summer evening. There was a good breeze coming in from the lake which kept the bugs away. Jake strolled over to chat with some old fishing buddies. I scanned the crowd. Subconsciously, I must have been searching for Randy. Why hadn’t he called me? He didn’t strike me as the one-night stand kind of guy. But what did I know? My track record when it came to dating wasn’t something that would make headlines.

  “Jamie, are you listening to me?”

  “Sorry, my mind was drifting.”

  “I said you should check out the band.”

  On the bandstand were three guys and a woman. I stared in disbelief. The woman was Sara. She stepped behind the microphone and adjusted the strap for an acoustic guitar. There was a younger kid behind the drums, maybe no more than sixteen. An older guy with long silver hair pulled into a ponytail limbered up on the saxophone. The last guy was running through the scales on an electronic keyboard. His blond hair drew me in. He looked up and our eyes met. A crooked smile crossed his face. He raised his shoulders in a bashful shrug.

  “What the hell. Did you know about this?”

  Linda smiled sweetly. “Of course. I’m a teacher. I know everything.”

  Once they started playing, I was mesmerized. For the next hour the band went through a variety of songs, from big band tunes of the 40’s to some current hits. Sara played well and had an excellent voice. Randy and the drummer pitched in with background vocals. While he was mainly focused on the songs, swaying back and forth behind the keyboard, he snuck glances at me as much as possible.

  I was on my feet like many others, moving to the music. Jared appeared beside me with two plastic cups of lemonade. He winked as he handed one over.

  “How do you like them?”

  “They’re amazing. Why didn’t you tell me who was in the band?”

  “And spoil the surprise? Not a chance.”

  I grinned and curled my fingers at him, urging him to dance with me. Jared took our drinks and set them beneath my chair. In a very fluid move, he caught my hand and spun me around. For a stocky guy, he was very light on his feet. We danced together for a couple of numbers. Linda and Jake had been slow dancing as well. As the song ended, Sara announced they were going to take a quick break.

  “How long have they been performing together?”

  Jared considered it. “Randy started here in February. One of the bars had an open mic night on Saturdays. He heard Sara sing. There was an old piano in the corner. He started to accompany her. One thing led to another.”

  Sara appeared beside him. She swiped his lemonade and chugged it. “Having fun?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Randy stood sheepishly behind her. “Hi, Jamie. Want to get something to drink?”

  I pushed my cup at Linda. “Sure.”

  There was polite laughter behind us, but I didn’t care. He took my hand as we walked toward the trucks. I was tempted to pull him behind a tree and have my way with him, but there were too many people around. Even some children. Still it was tempting.

  “You play well. Nice job on the vocals, too.”

  His crooked smile went up a little. “Thanks. Gotta stay within my range. I’m okay with background stuff, but that’s about it.”

  “Do you have any other hidden talents you’re keeping secret?”

  Randy leaned in for a kiss. “Time will tell.”

  ***

  It was late when the concert ended. Linda, Jake and Logan headed home. Jared and I helped Sara and the others pack their gear up. Randy eyes were full of questions as we loaded the keyboard and stand in the back of the SUV.

  “Wanna walk me home?”

  “Sure.”

  He took my camp chair and slung the strap over his shoulder. We waved good-bye to the others. It was surprising how quickly the area around the park had grown quiet. Only a handful of people were still on the streets, strolling along. Above us, the stars had started to come out. Neither one of us spoke, but the silence was comfortable. At one corner, Randy stopped walking and pulled me closer. He kissed me. My heart raced. He had one hand on my ass, the other cupping the back of my head. My arms were around his neck.

  Gasping with desire, I broke the kiss. Pushing him away, I turned around to get my bearings. Randy’s hands were on my waist, keeping me steady.

  “It’s late,” I whispered to the darkness.

  “Not that late.”

  “They’ll be waiting for me.”

  I let him draw me close again, feeling his chest against my back. My eyes searched the darkness. Then I saw it. With an effort, I took a step away.

  “We have to hurry.”

  “What’s the rush?” his voice was raspy. From too much singing or too much arousal, I couldn’t say for sure. It didn’t matter.

  Grabbing his arm, I led him acro
ss the road. There was an old barn at the back of the lot. Large trees provided a barrier behind it. We were hidden from any prying eyes. I stopped in the shadows and faced him.

  “Set up the chair.”

  Randy didn’t understand. He reached for me and I pushed his hand away.

  “Set up the chair. Take off your pants and sit down.”

  “Are you serious?”

  I was already undoing my shorts. “It’s a quickie or nothing.”

  “I’ll take the quickie.”

  “Then set up the damn chair. I am not rolling around in the grass.”

  It’s amazing what you can accomplish with the proper motivation.

  ***

  Linda sat up in bed reading. Logan lay curled in the corner. He raised his head briefly as I entered the room, then relaxed. She was having a difficult time keeping a straight face. I recalled seeing her dance with a number of men during the concert. That same expression appeared on more than one occasion when a guy would get a little too friendly. It bordered on innocence. She gave up and beamed a smile at me.

  “Did you take the long way home?”

  I flopped on the bed beside her. “Shut up.”

  “You’re very flushed.”

  “It’s a warm night.”

  “Not that warm. Actually there’s a lovely cool breeze coming off the lake. And speaking of coming…”

  “Shut up,” I said playfully. She closed her book and slid down alongside me.

  ‘I’m happy for you. Randy is a really nice guy. The way he lights up around you is special.”

  “He is pretty cool.” I dragged a finger down her bronzed arm. It was still difficult to believe what had happened these last few nights. At some point, I expected to awaken and discover it was all a lovely dream.

  “We’re only here for a few more days. Or do you think this could lead to something else? It’s a four-hour drive from home.”

  I gave my head a slow shake. “Don’t think I could handle a long distance relationship. We’re just having fun.”

  “A lot of fun.”

  “Yeah.”

  She couldn’t stop smiling at me. “A lot of earth shattering, hot and steamy, passionate fun. At least, there aren’t any grass stains on your shorts.”