Fuzzy Logic

by Susan C. Daffron

  Michael got out and looked around. Jan’s car was the only one in the lot. “Where is everybody?” The only sound was the twittering of birds in the trees.

  “I usually don’t see many other people when I go hiking. It’s very peaceful and this is a lovely trail.”

  They started up the path, their feet shuffling through the sun-dappled leaves that had fallen to the forest floor. The soft breeze whispered through the pines overhead and occasionally a squirrel chattered, scolding them for disturbing his winter preparation projects. Jan bent down and unhooked Rosa from her leash, so she could wander and savor the earthy scents of the trail.

  Michael looked down at Rosa as they strolled along. “I’m impressed you can just let her off the leash like that. Swoosie would be in the next county by now.” He paused to take a picture of Rosa examining a large bracken fern.

  “Rosa doesn’t want to leave. She knows I’m her meal ticket. She doesn’t chase deer or other wildlife and we’re the only ones here. She’s never left my side or done anything bad before. Plus, she’s pretty slow. You’re a runner, so you could probably catch her.”

  Michael laughed. “And I’ve had lots of practice chasing after wayward canines.”

  “Yes, there’s that, too.”

  They reached the overlook for the falls and stood by the railing, gazing down into the stone canyon. Water cascaded over the cliff into a pool below. The air was rich and humid, the mist clinging to their skin. The sound of the rushing water echoed off the jagged granite boulders and a shimmering rainbow bridged the expanse between the trees on either side of the pool.

  Michael put his arm around Jan’s shoulders. “You were right. This is a great spot. Thanks for bringing me here.”

  Jan turned to face him. “The Alpine Grove sights aren’t as well-known as places like the Hotel del Coronado, but there are fewer people.”

  “I think you mean no people.”

  Jan waved toward the canyon. “These falls are named Lilly Falls after a woman named Lilly Miller, who was one of the early settlers here. This area where the canyon is located was homesteaded in the late 1870s by a man named Christopher Miller. Lilly was his wife. In the 1920s, Jim Green and his wife Helen Green purchased the Miller ranch and built a house near where the parking lot is now. In 1961 Helen Green donated the entire 4,800-acre property to the state for a park, stipulating that the waterfall be named for Lilly Miller, one of the first Alpine Grove pioneer women.”

  “You certainly know your local history.”

  “I do a lot of genealogy research for people at the library. It’s really interesting. This was not an easy place to live in the late 1800s, particularly in winter.”

  Michael nodded and took her hand. “But it is beautiful.” They stood in silence for a few moments, taking in the sound of the waterfall, the singing of the birds, and the wind through the trees. Finally, Michael turned and tugged Jan after him, “Let’s go over here.”

  They walked away from the overlook to a clearing that was covered with a carpet of moss and surrounded by trees. Michael said, “I had one of those John Muir quote books. He said to climb mountains and also to lie down among the pines.” He crouched down on the ground, dragging Jan down with him.

  “That’s from one of the compilations of his letters.”

  Michael got down, sprawled out on his back, and stared up at the trees above. “I’ve climbed a few mountains, but I haven’t done the lie-down-among-the-pine-trees thing. It’s one of those life experiences I haven’t had. Here’s my chance.”

  “Okay.” Jan smiled and settled in on her back next to him. Rosa came over, sniffed her shoe, and curled up in a ball next to her feet, apparently figuring it was as good a spot as any for a nap. “Muir said that if you climb mountains ‘nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.’”

  Michael closed his eyes, sighed, and clasped her hand. “I think I see what he meant.”

  Chapter 9

  Meetings

  The next day, Michael left Alpine Grove to head back to San Diego. As the roller skate puttered away down the street, Jan scritched Rosa’s ears. “It’s just us again, girl.” As usual, Michael hadn’t said anything about ever seeing her again. After his obvious annoyance about any type of relationship conversation, she certainly wasn’t going to bring it up. It was stupid to be falling for a guy who not only lived far away, but who also probably had a whole slew of spandex-clad women lining up to sleep with him.

  Disgusted with her train of thought, Jan turned away from the doorway. “Come on, Rosa. It looks like it’s going to rain. I think curling up on the sofa and watching a nice light, fluffy movie might be a good way to spend the rest of our Sunday. I’ll even make popcorn. What do you think?” Rosa wagged and turned back to the house.

  The next day, Jan and Rosa went to the library. Jill had returned to work after her days off, and that afternoon she was busily getting ready for story time. Small children and their parents started filing into the library. Jan stood behind the counter and watched as they all gathered around, settling in on pillows and the tiny chairs that were set in a circle in front of Jill’s adult-size chair.

  Jan waved at Cindy Ross, who bent over her son as she helped him find a chair. She gave him some instructions and then turned to walk over to the counter. Jan was struck by how much the tall woman looked like her brother Joel. In addition to her height, Cindy had the same sandy-colored dark blonde hair. “Hi Jan,” she said in a stage whisper. “So I want to know about the hunky guy you’ve been seen with lately. That guy is definitely not Steve. What gives? I thought you were engaged.”

  It was easy to see how Cindy found out everything happening in Alpine Grove. She simply took the direct approach and asked. Jan couldn’t think of a way to politely tell her to mind her own business. Oh well. She crossed her arms in front of her chest and said primly. “As I understand it, you already know about the fight. I broke up with Steve.”

  Cindy leaned over the counter. “Yeah, I figured. But who is the hottie? I saw him come by the library again the other day when you were closing. He’s just as gorgeous as everybody said.”

  Jill sighed. “He’s my step-brother.”

  “What? Eww. That’s gross.” Cindy said a bit too loudly.

  “Shhh. Please keep your voice down. And no. Not eww.” Jan said, putting her elbows on the counter and leaning forward so she could whisper more quietly. “I said, step-brother. His father married my mother.”

  Cindy laughed and practically shouted. “Oh my God, it’s like the Partridge Family!” All the little kids turned and looked at her.

  Jan bent her head down and leaned her forehead on the cool counter. She heard Jill say “Shh” and could envision her glaring at Cindy. Jan raised her head and mumbled, “I think you mean the Brady Bunch.”

  “And your name is Jan!” Cindy clapped Jan on the upper arm and whispered. “This is so awesome. It’s about time you dumped that guy Steve. Everyone knew he was cheating on you. So is the hunky guy good in the sack? Or just nice to look at?”

  Jan stood up. Obviously, being polite wasn’t going to work. “I’m not telling you that.”

  Cindy leaned back from the counter and gave her a knowing look. “Ha. That means he is good. I knew it. If you weren’t sleeping with him or he was awful in bed, you’d deny everything.” She looked over at the circle of children. “Oops, my kid is making a break for it. Gotta go!”

  Jan watched as Cindy collected her son and planted him back in his seat. It was best not to dwell on how Cindy was going to interpret and share the new intel she had just received. The Alpine Grove gossip grapevine was going to be buzzing tonight.

  Later that week, Jan was finishing washing her dinner dishes when the phone rang. A jolt of excitement went through her when she recognized Michael’s voice at the other end of the line.

  “How’s my favorite step-sister?”

  Jan smiled at his amused tone of voice. “As far as I know, I’m your only step-siste
r, but I’m fine, thanks. Just kind of tired from work.”

  “I got my film developed. I didn’t know you took that picture of me lying under the pines.”

  Jan smiled. It was inevitable that he’d discover she’d taken the picture. “I’m quite stealthy. It seemed like you should have a record of your new life experience, so I grabbed the camera.”

  “It doesn’t look like me.”

  “Of course, it looks like you. I was there. And it’s a photograph. Who else would it look like?”

  He sighed. “I look in the mirror and I look at that photo and it’s like it’s a different person.”

  Jan shook her head. What the heck was he talking about? “You seem the same to me. Or you sound the same, anyway. Did something happen?”

  “I feel old.”

  “The last time I saw you, you seemed, well, rather healthy. All of you seemed to be functioning quite well from my perspective.”

  Michael laughed. “Well, I’m glad to hear that. It was a relaxing weekend. I miss feeling that way. It has been an awful week at work and lying under the pines listening to the wind and the waterfall seems like a lifetime ago. I guess I just wanted to say hello and say that I miss you.”

  Jan’s jaw dropped. That was a surprise. Maybe they did have a relationship, after all. Or at least maybe the beginnings of one, anyway. “I miss you too.” A whole lot. More than she wanted to admit. And certainly more than she was going to tell him. “You are welcome to return any time. People have come to Alpine Grove for recreation, vacation retreats, or rest cures for more than 100 years.”

  “Rest cures?”

  “There was a tuberculosis sanatorium here in the 30s. The fresh air was supposed to be good for patients battling the white plague.”

  “Your mind amazes me. How do you remember these things?”

  “I remember certain types of things, like stories and facts. It helps that I see a lot of Alpine Grove history books repeatedly. So I’m exposed to the information more than once.”

  “So you’re a brain trapped in the body of a game show hostess.”

  Jan laughed. “Okay, now you’re quoting Say Anything, which is too easy, because I just watched it the other night. John Cusack makes me swoon and I’d had a bad day.”

  “What happened?”

  “It wasn’t a big deal. It’s just that when you live in a small town, everyone knows your business. And the ladies of Alpine Grove have noticed your presence here.”

  “Oh really?”

  “Yes. You were referred to as a hottie, I believe. You may feel old, but apparently you’re still looking pretty good.”

  “That’s reassuring I guess, assuming you feel the same way.”

  Jan twisted the phone cord around her finger. “Yes. I do.” Particularly when he was naked.

  “So do you have plans this weekend?”

  “Not really. Do you want to come up and stay here again?”

  “Yes. I would like to get away from here. But there is a little problem. Doggie boot camp doesn’t have any space for Swoosie this weekend. Would it be okay if I bring her with me? It’s kind of a long drive, but I need to clear my head. I’ll bring her crate, too.”

  Jan had a bad feeling about Swoosie’s participation in the road trip, but there was no way she was giving up a chance to see him again. “I guess that would be okay. Rosa has always been fine with other dogs. She got along with all Kat’s dogs when she stayed there. It should work out, assuming Swoosie plays nice.” Maybe. She needed to seriously Swoosie-proof her house.

  “I’ll see you late Friday night, then. I’ll bring the photographs, too. There’s one I want you to see.”

  Jan hung up the phone and spun around in a circle. “Woo-hoo!” Rosa stood up and wagged. Jan danced around Rosa and the dog hopped up and down a few times in a show of solidarity about whatever was making Jan so happy.

  Friday night, Jan was reading a novel and just dozing off when she was startled back to consciousness by a knock at the door. She found Michael standing on her doorstep looking unshaven and somewhat bedraggled. He grabbed her around the waist, pulled her to him, and kissed her. Jan’s body melded to his and she returned the kiss with passionate enthusiasm.

  At length, Michael released her. Jan stood up straighter and asked breathlessly, “Where is Swoosie?”

  “In the car. I was thinking it might be best if she met Rosa out back. But I wanted to say hello to you first.”

  Jan ran her fingers through the hair behind his ear. “I like the way you say hello. Let me get Rosa. You can go through that gate over there. I’ll meet you around back.”

  Jan opened the back door and Rosa toddled down the steps to the backyard. She slowly wandered toward some shrubs near the back fence, poking her way around her favorite spots in the yard.

  Michael opened the gate with Swoosie on a leash. The dog looked around, spotted Rosa, and yipped happily. Michael closed the gate and bent down to remove the leash. “Be good, Swoosie.”

  The fluffy white dog ran over to say hello to Rosa, who looked a bit concerned about the furry interloper running around in her yard. The pair sniffed and circled. Swoosie bowed and wagged her curly tail, trying to invite Rosa to a game of tag around the yard. Rosa looked up at Jan. “It’s okay Rosa, you can play if you want to.”

  Rosa walked over toward Jan and sat down next to her. Jan stroked the dog’s head and turned to Michael. “I know you must be tired, but I think Swoosie isn’t. Do you want to take them for a little walk?”

  “Okay. That’s probably a good idea. It was a long drive and Swoosie is squirrelly.”

  “In my experience, that’s generally not a good thing.”

  A corner of Michael’s lips turned up in an exhausted half smile. “You’re right about that.”

  They leashed up their respective dogs and went out the gate to the street. The dogs seemed content to walk next to each other and sniff the neighborhood as the humans strolled along behind them.

  “I tried to dog-proof my house, but you might want to look around. I think Swoosie may have a better imagination than I do as far as committing acts of canine badness.”

  “You took everything off the counters, right? No apples or stirring things?”

  “That was the first thing I did. It’s all stored away. As long as she can’t open the refrigerator, we’re fine.”

  Michael shook his head. “Don’t give her any ideas. That’s the last thing I need.”

  Jan glanced over at his face. He did look terrible, which for him was saying something. No wonder he said he felt old. Today, he definitely looked older than he had last weekend. “What happened at work? You look kind of, ah, tired, I guess.”

  “Yeah, I know. I look like crap. I feel like crap. I didn’t sleep much this week. Insomnia is an evil thing.”

  Jan stopped, reached out to grab his arm, and turned to him. “You should have told me that. Driving when you’re sleepy is extremely dangerous.”

  “I know. I drank about 700 cups of coffee on the way here. I think I know every all-night truck stop between here and San Diego.”

  Rosa sat down next to Jan and looked up at her with a worried expression. “It’s okay Rosa; we’re just having a conversation.”

  Meanwhile, Swoosie had wrapped her leash around Michael, effectively trapping him in place. He bent down to try to disentangle himself from the dog. “I’ve been working late and then when I do get home, I can’t sleep. The deadlines just keep coming. I think the clients are figuring out that something is really wrong. My boss Derek is totally out of commission. I’m not sure what he’s doing. Not working, that’s for sure. I thought he was a friend, but now part of me is worried I’ve been working for a crook all this time. It’s a mess. I shouldn’t even be here. There’s so much work to do.”

  Jan reached over to touch his face. “I’m sorry, but I’m glad you came.”

  “Me too. I think I’ll feel better in the morning.” He looked around the dark street that was bathed in moonlight. �
��At least it’s quiet here. No phones ringing or people yelling.”

  “Quiet is one thing Alpine Grove has going for it. As far as I can tell, no one here loves the night life.”

  “And no one has got to boogie?”

  Jan smiled. “It’s good to see you’re still alive in there somewhere.”

  Michael gripped Swoosie’s leash more tightly and wrapped Jan in a hug. “I’m feeling better all the time.”

  That night, after Michael had stashed Swoosie in her crate and they’d finally gone to bed, he’d curled up next to her with his head on her chest. Considering he had to be exhausted, Michael was still extremely tense. Jan could feel his taut muscles and sense his anxiety and restlessness as he feigned sleep. She lightly stroked his back with her fingertips until he finally did fall asleep. Lying in the dark bedroom listening to his peaceful, rhythmic breathing, she no longer could avoid the obvious. It wasn’t just lust or a fling anymore. She was falling in love with him. And that was a huge mistake.

  The next morning, Jan was in the kitchen making breakfast when Michael and Swoosie returned from their run. The door opened and Swoosie ran into the house and leaped up on the couch with her leash trailing across the floor behind her. Jan was relieved to see that Michael looked more like himself again. She turned from the stove. “Did you have a good run?”

  Michael crossed the room to Jan, cupped her chin in his hands, and kissed her enthusiastically. “The best. There was no one else out there. Just me, Swoosie, and a lot of trees showing off their fall colors.”

  “Swoosie looks happy, too.” Jan turned and looked more closely at Swoosie and Rosa, who were concentrating on sniffing something on the couch. “What are you guys doing?”

  Swoosie and Rosa looked up guiltily at Jan. Swoosie jumped off the couch and stood beside Michael. He looked down at her. “You’re going to behave yourself, right?” Swoosie wagged.

  Later, after Jan and Michael had breakfast, Jan put food in the dog bowls and put them on the floor “Okay, time for you guys to have breakfast, too.”