Charmed Life

by Druga, Jacqueline

  Grace nodded. “I’ll do that. Thanks.”

  “I’ll leave you to get settled.” George picked up his tool box and opened the door.

  “George,” Grace called out. “Do you know where we’ll be working?”

  George shook his head. “They didn’t tell me. But I’m sure the jobs are good. Have a good one. I’ll be nearby.” He walked out.

  Grace sighed. “He seems like a nice man.”

  “Yes, he did.” Freddy said. “Well, how about that Starbucks?”

  “Sounds like plan. What do you suppose he meant by a ‘woman my age’?”

  “Who knows, I wouldn’t worry about it, Princess.”

  “Freddy, you seem so down. Let’s try, OK? To make the best of it. The trailer isn’t bad. We have our lives. Let’s try, OK?”

  Sadly, Freddy nodded. “You’re right. The shock will wear off. And I firmly believe they have delivered all the bad to our new life. It’s onward to brighter things. You and I always make the best of every situation.”

  “And we have fun.”

  “The Brad Pitt party?”

  “Boring,” Grace said.

  “We made everyone laugh.”

  “You out sang Brad at Karaoke.”

  “And I didn’t need the words.” Freddy sighed. “We are always the life of the party. We’ll be the life of … what is the name if this town?”

  “Lodi.”

  “Yes, Lodi. We’ll be the life of Lodi. You and I.” He opened the door for Grace. “The worst is over. It’s on to better things.”

  +++

  “What are you doing?” Lou Carlotta asked his son with a hint of annoyance, maybe even concern.

  Al had left work and never returned after his visit with Gregory Benson.

  Alfonzo sat behind the computer in the office, overlooking the pool area.

  “Al?”

  “Not giving up.”

  Lou exhaled. “You just hired two private investigators to find her.”

  “I can’t lose her.”

  “She just left. Give her a day or two to contact you.”

  Al shook his head.

  “Did it cross your mind, at all, that maybe she doesn’t want to contact you?’

  Al looked offended. “She loves me.”

  “She also witnessed you popping someone,” Lou said. “That may be a hamper on your relationship.”

  “Right now, yeah …”

  “Right now, yeah.” Lou shook his head. “You may also have to face the fact that we might have to get rid of her. Fuck, I put the order out right away.”

  Al shot a fast look to his father.

  “Hold on.” Lou held up his hand. “I rescinded. Temporary hold, until we see what she’s going to do.”

  “She’s thinking,” Al said.

  “How do you know?”

  “I spoke to her father. He’s worried about where she is. Wants to know as bad as I do. He said she needed to clear her mind, find herself, something like that. Took money from the bank and ran. And she spoke to him after she took the money. Didn’t mention me at all. She tells her father everything.”

  “What if Benson knows. What if she told him and he’s just not telling you.”

  Al laughed.

  “What? What’s so funny?”

  “Gregory Benson is a red neck in a three piece suit. Hell, if he knew I killed someone in front of his daughter, and she was in danger, he would have opened the door and blasted a hole in my chest with that Remington 870 Marine Magnum shotgun he carries around for the hell of it. And he’d do it before I said a word. Trespassing. I can see it.”

  “Crazy coot. You’re right. He doesn’t give a shit.”

  Al nodded.

  “Ok, so you have two investigators on finding her. Why don’t you do this? Why don’t you hold off on them for a few days? Maybe Benson will hear from her and let you know. Wherever she is, she’s staying. And we both know Grace. Follow Starbucks and resorts, and there she is.”

  Al facially agreed.

  Lou continued, “Because Grace is spoiled. I don’t care how scared she is, how much she needs to find herself, she’s going where the going is good. The best food, best accommodations. No way, no how, even on the run, she’ll give up her charmed life.”

  ++++

  The thin paper napkin shredded in his hands from the grease, but Freddy didn’t care. He just tossed it aside and grabbed another one. “Do you suppose.” He leaned into the dining table toward Grace. He swallowed, sipped his Starbucks and lifted his fork. “Do you suppose it’s the absorption of Lodi and the trailer that is making Popeye’s chicken taste so good? Or is it the fact that we’re both starving. Because this just tastes delicious.”

  “It does, doesn’t it,” Grace said. “I think it’s because it is so good. I can not believe I have never had Popeye’s chicken.”

  “You’ve never had fast food. If you did, it was served to you on a normal plate.”

  “True.”

  “Ever have McDonald’s?”

  “Once. I think. I’ve never been in one.”

  “Oh, then we have to go to one. New experience. Pass me the slaw.”

  Grace moved the container Freddy’s way. “You know the more I look at this place, the more I like it. It’s actually really nice.”

  “I misjudged,” Freddy said. “It’s like a cabin in the woods. I think trailer, I think paneling.”

  Both of them cringed.

  “There’s no paneling in here,” Freddy said. “Is this chicken just this juicy or is it grease?’

  “Both.”

  Freddy shrugged then chuckled.

  “What?”

  “You know six months ago if someone would have told me I’d be wearing Levis, living in a trailer in Ohio and eating Popeye’s chicken, with my hands mind you, I would have laughed.” He reached for another piece of chicken. “I see my cholesterol raising now.”

  “It’s kind of refreshing, don’t you think?” Grace asked.

  “What? High cholesterol.”

  “No. No.” She shook her head. “Freddy all of my life I have lived in a world where I had to be perfect. Eat the right foods. Act the right way. Be beautiful and thin all the time. Dress properly.”

  “But you like being all those things.”

  “I think anyone would. But it’s a lot of pressure. Right now, in our lives, we have a chance to live without the perfection pressure. We’ve never lived normal, Freddy. At least I haven’t. I’ve never done laundry, did dishes, cooked …”

  “It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be.”

  “But I want to know that it isn’t. I want to eat foods because it looks and tastes good, not because some chef from San Francisco flew in to make it. And …. Don’t be shocked.”

  “Go on.”

  Grace breathed in deeply. “If you and I gain a few pounds, who cares as long as we’re enjoying life.”

  Freddy gasped. “I’ll never fit my butt into those jeans.”

  Grace snickered. “Freddy, eighty percent of the people in Hollywood drink, do drugs, or in therapy. And they’re miserable. I bet not even ten percent of these people are in therapy or running to rehab. And they’re happy!” she tossed out her hands. “They’re happy.”

  “They do seem to be.”

  “Yes, they do. I mean, we haven’t met them yet. But we’ve seen them. You and I never made it in Hollywood, maybe, Freddy because what we have to give isn’t what Hollywood needed. Maybe the gifts we have, maybe we are meant to share them where they are appreciated.”

  “In Lodi?”

  “Maybe.”

  Freddy tapped his finger on the table. “This is quite the attitude change. It’s like you were struck with lightening.”

  “It was the Popeye’s chicken girl.” Grace said matter of fact and put her napkin down.

  “The one that took our orders, the large woman.”

  “Yep. Her. Greasy uniform, her one front tooth was missing and she smiled.”

  �
�I saw that.”

  “She smiled, Freddy. She smiled and then she joked around with the manager while fixing our order. Maybe she doesn’t have the best job in the world. But... she was wearing a wedding ring. She has love, someone to share her life with and she’s happy with who she is. If she wasn’t she wouldn’t have smiled with a missing tooth.”

  “That is a point well taken.”

  “I think we should make a pact.”

  “Oh, I’m always up for that.” Freddy rubbed his hands together.

  “I think, no matter what, we’re here. Not many people get the chance to live in someone else’s shoes. We should find positives in everything. We should make the best of it and give the best of ourselves in everything we do.”

  “Even if our jobs are at Popeye’s Chicken?”

  Grace paused. “Even then. Hey … we’d get free food.”

  “Re designs the uniform.”

  “Make someone’s day.”

  “It’s sounds so Doris Day and Martha Stewart.”

  Grace raised her eyebrows. We can learn so much.”

  “I’m in the pact.” Freddy held out his hand. Just as they connected in an agreement shake, the doorbell rang.

  “You think that’s George.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I’ll get it.”

  “No, I got it.” Freddy stood and handed Grace a napkin. ‘You have a little jam on your chin. Don’t want to open the door like that.”

  Grace took the napkin, “I have jam on my chin? For how long.”

  Freddy snickered and walked to the front door, not far from the table.

  When he opened the door, there stood the most petite woman he had ever seen. Her hair was shoulder length and blond, like Grace’s. She flashed a wide smile; she spoke her greeting in a high toned voice. She drew out her one word, from up to down, with a thick southern accent, seemingly too thick for the area.

  “Hi,” she said. “Would you be Fredrick Lincoln?” She lifted a federal express overnight package. On top of it was a plate with plastic wrap over it.

  “Oh my God,” Freddy placed his hand on his chest. “How Reese Witherspoon.”

  She giggled. “People say that all the time.” She tilted her head with the smile. “Frederick?”

  “Freddy.”

  She handed him the package, speaking quick. “That plates for you all. Little welcome to the neighborhood from me. Marybeth.” She extended her hand.

  “Pleasure. Would you like to come in?”

  “Oh, I don’t want to be a bother. I know you’re just getting settled and all.”

  “No bother. Come in.” Freddy opened the door wider.

  “Thank you.”

  “Grace,” Freddy called out. “We have company.”

  When Grace appeared, Marybeth greeted her with an extended hand. “Hi. Marybeth. Welcome to the neighborhood.”

  “You are so Reese Witherspoon.”

  Marybeth waved out her hand with a smile. “I made you some brownies. I hope you all like brownies.”

  Grace looked at the plate. “I never had them.”

  “You never had brownies?” Marybeth asked. “Ever.”

  Freddy replied. “Her mother was neurotic about her weight.”

  “Gosh, you’re so thin. I don’t see why.” Marybeth said. “That package was delivered to me this morning because you all hadn’t arrived yet. It’s from the phone company. It think it’s phones.”

  “Thank you,” Freddy set down the box. “Can I get you anything?”

  “No. Nah, I’m fine.” Marybeth placed her hands in her back pockets and looked around. “Sure did nice with this place. I didn’t even know it had been rented. They cleaned up in here real nice. Shame what happened. Oh, they got new carpet, for ya. Am I bothering you?”

  Freddy shook his head. “No, we’re glad to meet you. We were hoping to meet a few people in town.”

  “No one really knows you were moving in. There were no moving trucks. Only reason I knew is because I saw, George down the street. He’s so nice. He’s the phone guy. He told me new people were moving in today. I said, how you like that.”

  “There were no trucks because … we um, were looking for something furnished,” Grace replied.

  “Really?” Marybeth asked. “Did something happen to your own or are you two like those traveling nurses that go from town to town. Sorry. That’s none of my business.”

  Freddy replied. “No, we’re not nurses. Actually ….” He sighed. “Grace here just went through a nasty divorce. She needed to get away. My grandmother had lived in Walworth…”

  “Wadsworth,” Grace corrected.

  “Yes,” Freddy said. “And we focused on this charming little town. And since she lost the house in the divorce, we traveled out here and settled.”

  “Wow, how ironic.” Marybeth said. “Sound like my story. I just went through a nasty divorce myself. I’m from Texas. I needed to get away too, only I just threw a dart at a map.” She snickered. “Sounds silly, I know. I looked where it landed, found the nearest small town, said, yep that’s where I want to raise my kids. Called an area nursing home, told them bout my experience, they said, come on up.” She smiled. “Here I am.”

  Grace asked. “You have children.”

  “Two.” Marybeth held up two fingers. “Boys. Twelve and fifteen. Handful. But good boys. I been here about eight months. I love it.”

  Freddy said, “That’s very brave of you raising the children alone.”

  “You do what you gotta do, right?” she smiled. “I’m happy.”

  Grace nudged Freddy. “See what I mean.”

  “Well,” Marybeth clapped her hands together. “I’ll let you all be. I know you just got here and you have to get settled and all. If you need anything, I’m right across the street, two houses down.” She opened the door. “604. Just come a knockin, if I can’t help ya, one of my boys will.”

  Grace smiled. “That is really nice of you.”

  “Oh, Grace maybe you and I can go get a cup of coffee or something. The café down the street is real nice.” She lowered her voice, as if telling a secret. “The man there can be a bit scary, but he’s harmless and nice. Nice couple.” She paused. “Oh, Fred, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to exclude you. You all come too.”

  Freddy chuckled. “I think Grace needs some girl time. She never had a chance to make any female friends.”

  Marybeth crinkled her nose. “Oh, I had one of those husbands too. Men can be so …Shoot. Sorry. I can just ramble and sometimes I don’t realize. Didn’t mean to start an insult on you Fred. I don’t even know ya yet.”

  “No problem,” Freddy snickered. “You’re divine.”

  “Are you are just so sweet.” She did her grin. “You all make a nice couple.”

  Freddy waved out his hand in a nonchalant manner. “We’re not a couple. We’re friends.”

  “Really?” Marybeth tilted her head in the doorway.

  “Yes, I’m gay.”

  “Gay as in happy or gay as in you like men?”

  “Gay as in ‘I like men’, yes.”

  “Oh.” Marybeth stayed happy and upbeat. “Well, that’s different.” She sighed out. “I’ll let you all be. Remember …” She stepped down the stairs. “Stop by if you need anything, and even if you don’t.”

  After watching her leave, Freddy closed the door. “She was very nice. I like her.”

  “Me, too. And she made us brownies.”

  “The whole neighborhood is Donna Reed like.”

  “She said ‘different’,” Grace commented.

  “Excuse me?”

  “She called you being gay ‘different’.”

  “Hmm, perhaps she doesn’t comprehend gay.” Freddy’s eyes widened. “Oh. I just had a thought. What if she’s a hit man in a Reese Witherspoon disguise?”

  “I didn’t think of that.”

  “And we just let her right in,” Freddy said. “We better call George.” He walked across the room to the black p
hone. “Make sure, then we can be friends with her. I hope she’s not a hit man. I really like her.”

  “Me, too. What do you suppose she meant when she said it was a shame what happened here?”

  Freddy shrugged. “It’s Lodi, Ohio. It’s probably a shame when someone moves out.”

  “True. Call George, I want to eat those brownies.”

  “Then eat one.”

  “They may be poison if she’s a hit man.”

  Freddy gasped. “You’re right. You are so quick on your thinking today.” He picked up the phone. Immediately it rang to the other line. “Oh, look, princess, it’s like the bat phone. Hello George. No, no, no. I wasn’t calling you princess.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  It was a bit of a drive, so it as a good thing Grace and Freddy left a little early for their first day at work.

  “It’ll take you about fifteen minutes to get there,” George told them after looking at the address. “Allow yourself enough time. Rush hour traffic, you know.”

  Grace had experience rush hour traffic once. She vowed to never experience it again.

  What to wear was also a problem. They didn’t know where they were working, and reasonable deduction told them they didn’t have to dress up for their jobs.

  Out of the clothes provided, there were no dressy outfits and with their location they didn’t see any major business corporations. Plus, neither of them had the office skills.

  Part of the witness protection program was for them to give up all connections to their life. When the program was designed, it was designed before the age of digital technology.

  Before they left the hotel room, before her father left as well, they ran something by Agent Adams.

  A fake email, fake name for both her and her father. Could they conceivably correspond like that?

  It was something never brought up to him before and he checked.

  Although considered safe, Adams encouraged them not to do so. If they did, Grace was never to give hint of who she was or location.

  He wasn’t comfortable with it.

  Gregory Benson was.

  He set up an email with his father’s first name and Grace’s mother’s maiden name.