“It all worked out okay, huh?”
“Yes, it was amazing. I’m so proud of Ben for doing this. I’m so proud of everyone.” She paused. “So how did it go with interviewing the vet?”
“Good, good. We just had lunch at the track kitchen. I’m heading out on farm calls now. I’m not sure if he’s going along or not. I’ve been working him to death.”
“I’m in,” Mark said.
“Okay,” Randy said. “Where’s dinner tonight?”
“At your mom and dad’s. Oh and I have to tell you, when Miguel was introduced to your dad he called him Señor and now everyone is calling him Señor, even Liz. He loves it.”
Randy laughed. “I’ll see you at dinner. I’ll try and be on time.”
“Wait! One more thing. The man from Family Services showed up again today. He didn’t see anything, but Linda noticed something odd on the court order and called me and then I called Uncle Matt.”
“What is it?”
“Are you ready for this?”
“Yesss….” he said, playing along.
“RJR Enterprises.”
Randy sat back. “Why does that sound so familiar?”
“Uncle Matt says it’s the money behind a bunch of big Las Vegas casinos.”
“Oh shit.”
Dawn sighed. Her sentiments exactly.
~ * ~
Linda stood at the exit of the Secretary’s office and took one last look around. It would be so tempting to stay. After all, Nottingham Downs had been her life for so many years. But then again, she thought, those years weren’t always so great. She recalled a time when she had walked into this same office so high she didn’t even know her own name let alone why she’d come over here.
What was it? How did it begin? Partying all night? It was the thing to do back then. Being so tired and hung over in the morning she welcomed “pep” in the form of a pill. How many horses did I gallop this morning? Twelve? Seriously? And ponied seven too?
“You’re pregnant,” the doctor at the Free Clinic said.
“How?”
“How…?” The doctor turned his back on her.
“I mean, I don’t even eat right. How’s a baby supposed to…?”
“Well, I suggest you start eating right. You’re about four months. Didn’t you realize you weren’t having periods anymore?”
“No.” Days, weeks, months, meant nothing to her. She pressed her hand to her stomach. “If it hadn’t been for feeling like there was something moving around inside of me all of a sudden.”
The doctor looked at her. “Well, hopefully that’s an indication of a healthy baby. Unless there is cause for suspecting otherwise, you are not eligible for an ultrasound unless you can pay for it yourself.”
Linda closed the Secretary’s office door and secured the lock. Joe had disappeared hours ago. She was the last one to leave, the last one left in the entire grandstand. She glanced up at the third floor windows. Dark. She smiled, thinking about her encounter with the Social Services guy. “Well, at least I accomplished something today.”
She looked out at the racetrack, raked and pristine with perfectly furrowed rows. She breathed in the scent of earth, grass, Forget Me Nots.
“Some day I’ll feel worthy of coming back. Don’t leave me,” she said to the pale moon in the distance as she walked on. “I need to be able to find my way home.”
When her cellphone rang, she glanced at the number and smiled. “Hello.”
“Mommy?”
“Yes.”
“Señor says to tell we are wading for you to eat. He said to tell you even Wandy is here.”
Linda chuckled at the fact that Randy was home - for one. And two, the way Maria said Señor. How natural it sounded rolling off her little tongue. Her father was Mexican. A man Linda could hardly remember anymore but for his coal black hair and intense eyes. He’d said he loved her. Or did she imagine that?
“I’ll be home in a few minutes.”
“She be home in a few minutes!” Maria shouted.
Linda laughed.
“Bye, Mommy!”
“Bye.” Linda hung up the phone and walked down through the parking lot. It was practically empty, a long walk. The sight of her car sitting there all by itself near the stable gate brought tears to her eyes. “God, I am so lonely. How did this happen to me?”
It wasn’t like her to feel sorry for herself. She didn’t have a bad-ass reputation for nothing. She’d developed a hard crust early on and maintained it, except for when she was at Ben’s farm where she could be herself. “What would I do without that old man?”she said, wiping her eyes. “Without all of them?”
The stable guard stepped outside his guard shack. “You okay, Linda?”
“Yeah,” she said, wiping her eyes again. “I’m fine. If you ever tell anyone you saw me crying, I’ll beat you to a pulp. You hear me?”
The guard smiled. “I didn’t see anything.”
~ * ~
The children had talked Ben into wearing D.R’s pirate patch over his bandaged eye and he looked rather imposing sitting at the head of the table. Even so, Mark Simmons, the newcomer, found himself thoroughly delighted with this homey scene.
“You eat like this every night?” he asked. “All together?”
“Well, we switch houses, but basically, yes. Sometimes we eat alone, but not often.” Everyone was present, even Gordon, who decided not to return to the frat house tonight and leave early in the morning instead. Linda planned to leave in the morning too, but a little later.
Mark glanced around at everyone. “So right here, sitting at this table, is basically Nottingham Downs. Right?”
“Yep!” Tom said.
“So, what do you all do? I mean uh…what do you do?”
Everyone laughed. “We wondered the same thing back when we were thinking about getting into this,” Dawn said.
“And even after that,” Ben added. “I have no idea what I do. I go over and I sit at the desk a couple times a day. I look at Wendy. She looks at me. I wave and leave.”
Everyone laughed again. “That’s pretty much the way it is,” Wendy said. “And I wave back.”
Mark smiled. “Who runs what?”
Tom nodded in Wendy’s direction. “Wendy is the Assistant General Manager. She and Richard run the office.”
“Richard’s been on medical leave,” Wendy said. “He’s due back any time now. He does most of the PR and marketing. I do a little of the marketing, and actually have had to do a lot more lately, but basically I oversee the daily operation of the racetrack.”
Mark looked at Tom. “And you…?”
“I pony horses. That’s all I do.”
Everyone chuckled. “Tom has his hand in everything,” Randy said. “Don’t let him fool you.”
“And, Dusty, you’re liaison. You do…?”
“I actually do do everything,” Dusty said, and they all laughed again. Everyone was in a good mood, a celebratory mood. The old-timers were home. They’d dodged the bullet with Family Services. Ben’s surgery had gone well.
Mark looked at George.
“Me and Glenda run the farm,” George said.
Glenda nodded. “I let him think he’s boss.”
Mark looked at Carol.
“I am the nanny to these little ones. Children,” she said, “Show Mr. Simmons your happy face.”
All three children tilted their heads to the side and cupped their hands to their chins.
More laughter!
Liz looked at Mark. “I’m Randy’s mother and official doting Grandma.”
Senior smiled. “I am Señor Iredell. I do whatever I can.”
All eyes fell on Linda. “I am, let’s see. I am Maria’s mother. She has given me purpose, as has everyone else here at the table.” She hesitated, not more tears, she thought. No. Tough it up. “I’m a clocker up at Erie, which is why Maria and I are going back there tomorrow. And….” Here came the tears. She waved her hand in front of her face. “And, I�
��m thinking next year that we’d like to come home for good.”
Everyone clapped, the children included, and Linda wiped her eyes. “Move on,” she said. “Gordon, you’re next.”
“All right,” Gordon said, “But don’t expect any tears and touching speeches from me. Holy crap!”
Linda smacked him and they all laughed again.
“I’m Gordon. I’m Wendy’s youngest son. I’m studying marketing. This is my brother, Matthew. Tom’s my dad. Ben’s my Gramps.”
Tom and Ben both sat back, everyone silent for a moment.
“Oh, Jesus,” Gordon said. “Mom, now why are you crying?”
“No reason.” She dabbed at her eyes with her napkin.
“Matthew,” Ben said. “I believe it’s your turn.”
Matthew put his fork down. “Well, I’m Matthew, Wendy’s oldest. I’m studying economics and computer science. I almost died last week and I’m still a little blind at the moment, just like Ben. And um, this is my home. This is my family. We’re all family.”
More tears. Even Mark got a little teary-eyed.
“What the hell?” Tom said, sniffling. “Somebody pass me the rolls. Enough of this already!” Everyone laughed.
“What can I say,” Ben said, looking at the newcomer. “It’s been quite a week.”
“I see that,” Mark said.
There was a knock on the door, and Junior entered. They all looked at him.
“Would you care to join us?” Liz asked.
“No. Thank you. I’m just wanting to thank you all for taking care of Lucy.”
“Did you get a room?” Tom asked.
“No. Brickman didn’t pay me. He says he’ll pay me tomorrow.”
“He’s always stiffing somebody,” Linda said.
“So where are you going to stay?” Wendy asked.
The boy waved and started out the door.
Tom threw his napkin down on the table and followed Junior out onto the porch, about to lit into him, but there was something about the defeated look in the boy’s eyes that caused him to pause. “You need to grow up.”
“I’m trying, Tom.”
Wendy got up to intervene. Linda touched her arm. “I think I need to handle this. I can relate.” She walked out onto the porch and closed the door behind her. “Tom, what the fuck is wrong with you? He is trying! Can’t you see that?”
Tom stood looking at her.
“Vicky says Lucy can stay over there tonight,” Junior said. “I’m going to sleep in the truck. If it’s all right with you, I’ll park over there by the main barn.”
Tom shifted his weight and sighed.
Junior looked at Linda. “I hear you’re leaving tomorrow. Have a good trip.”
“Thank you.”
Junior walked down the steps.
“Did you eat?” Tom asked him.
“Yeah, yeah I ate.” Junior waved over his shoulder and then stopped and looked back. “Don’t take this out on Lucy, Tom. Okay? None of this is her fault.”
Tom stood looking at the young man.
“What am I supposed to do?” Junior said, hands out to his sides. “I’m nothing. I’ve got nothing. I’ve got this fucking truck,” he said, kicking the bumper. “What the hell is wrong with me?”
Tom swallowed hard.
“You’ve said it yourself, Tom, how many times. I’m a loser. I’m a piece of shit. What kind of father is that little baby going to have? I have five dollars in my pocket. Five fucking dollars.”
“And whose fault’s that?” Tom said.
“Mine!” Junior said. “You think I don’t know that?”
“Tom,” Linda said. “Do you know why I’m leaving tomorrow?”
He looked at her.
“Because there are people who won’t let me forget who I used to be.” She shook her head. “Don’t do this to Junior. He’s just a kid.”
Junior climbed into his truck, slammed the door shut and pulled over to the barn and turned off his lights.
“Leave him alone,” Linda said. “Just leave him alone.” When she went back inside, Tom hesitated and followed. He walked to the kitchen sink and stared out into the night. T-Bone’s Place was all lit up. He reached in the cupboard for a plate and in the drawer for some silverware.
“He’s lying” he said. “He didn’t eat. I know that boy.” He walked to the table, started putting food on the plate, and passed it around. Everyone added something, even Mark. Liz got up to get a can of soda for the boy. Wendy grabbed a pillow and a blanket.
“Here.” She tucked the pillow under his arm, blanket over his shoulder, and soda in his shirt pocket. “He won’t want to come in, not tonight.”
Tom nodded. “He’s such a pain in the ass.”
Wendy smiled. “Yes, I know.”
Ben looked down the table at Mark Simmons, who sat taking this all in. “Welcome to the family,” Ben said. “There’s never a dull moment.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Tom arrived at the track first, as usual, checked the horses’ feed tubs, fed them their morning oats, made coffee, and sat down to look at the Overnight. Dawn arrived a few minutes later, poured a cup of coffee for both of them and handed him his.
“How was Ben this morning?”
“Cranky. He said the bandage on his eye bothered him all night. He can’t wait to get it off.”
“He’s going to have to sleep with one on at night for at least a month I believe.”
“Seriously?” Tom looked at her. “Does he know that?”
“I don’t think so. I didn’t get that far in the pamphlet yesterday before they took him back.”
“Well, that’ll make his day. What time’s his appointment?”
“Eleven?”
“You taking him?”
“Yes.”
“Well, then you’d better get your ass in gear.”
Dawn laughed.
Tom finished reading the Overnight and looked at her. “It seems odd without the old man here. He’d better never die on us.”
Dawn nodded and sipped her coffee. “So what do you think about this RJR Enterprises thing?”
“I don’t know. That’s some scary shit.”
“It sure would explain a lot of things.”
“That’s for sure.”
Dusty came in and poured himself a cup of coffee.
“What if the new vet is a spy?” Tom asked.
“How can that be? We called him,” Dawn said.
“Oh yeah, that’s right. I actually kinda like the guy, so that’s a good thing.”
“Well, someone’s leaking information. I’d like to know how Family Services got involved in the first place. None of the old-timers had family that objected, not initially, no estates. That was the point of getting involved. They had nowhere else to go? Who would raise these questions?”
Tom and Dusty nodded.
“Not only that, how did Family Services find out about Mim? She hadn’t been upstairs but for about a week and half now. “
Junior came walking down the shedrow.
“Shhh…” Tom said.
Dawn shook her head. “Yeah, right. Like it’s Junior. I wish you’d get off his case.”
“I have. I am. Watch me.”
“Good morning, Junior,” Tom said.
The boy looked at him. “What now?”
“Nothing. I’m just saying good morning. Help yourself to some coffee.”
Junior turned around and walked out. Dawn chased after him and coaxed him back. “We only have one to track. Do you want to tack up now?”
“Well, look at you,” Tom said to Dawn. “The old man ain’t here one day and you’re running things.”
Dawn laughed. “Weren’t you the one just telling me to get my butt in gear?”
“Oh? So now you’re listening?”
Dusty laughed, took his coffee, and left. He only had three horses in the ReHome barn but he liked getting them out early. Randy was meeting him there at seven to look at one of the horse�
�s knees.
~ * ~
Lucy walked down the stairs and when Vicky turned from cooking something on the stove, she smiled. “Can I help?”
Vicky had looked in on the girl earlier, sound asleep on the makeshift bed of piled-up pillows and blankets. “I don’t know. How are you feeling?”
“Pretty good so far,” Lucy said.
“All right. You finish the bacon and I’ll start the eggs.”
Mim was making the toast. “Morning,” she said.
“Good morning.”
The rest of the old-timers were all sitting in the living room, reading the paper, watching the news, reading the racing form. “Can you believe?” Miguel said. “They deliver right to front door, five o’clock. That Wendy, she think everything.”
T-Bone’s place had a huge dining room. The new table sat twelve. Lucy pushed Jeannie’s wheelchair up to the table on the one end and met Clint on his way in and pushed him around to the other side. It’s where they both ate dinner last night and seemed most comfortable. The others were still trying to decide where they would like to sit. She and Vicky brought the food in from the kitchen. By then they were all seated. Steven said grace.
“Thank you for our home. Thank you for this food. Amen.”
Mim scowled. “You’re certainly not Pastor Mitchell, but you’ll do.”
Everyone chuckled.
Lucy ate two pieces of toast and an egg and drank some ginger ale. The rest were all good eaters. Vicky was happy to notice that when she first signed on. She hadn’t been looking forward to coaxing finicky appetites. She glanced around the table. For the most part, they were all healthy for their ages. Mim was the one she worried about most.
“This Sunday starts the football pre-season games,” Steven said. “Would we be allowed a beer? I haven’t had a beer in years.”
Vicky smiled. “I’ll check for contraindications with your medicine.”
“Check mine too,” Jeannie said. “I could go for an ice-cold Bud Light.”
They all laughed. “Oh, I can see I’m going to have my hands full,” Vicky said. “Lucy, you might have to stick around and help me keep them all in line.”
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