by T. K. Chapin
“It was my pleasure to help you out.”
Levi pulled out a folded check from his coat pocket and handed it to me. “That’s from all of us, for your time and our thankfulness.”
“I can’t take that,” I said, slipping the folded check back into his pocket. “Just to see everyone happy is enough.” I turned and began going back inside.
“You’re a good man, Dylan,” Levi said.
“I am but a man,” I replied. “God’s grace and love is what I want you to see when you look at me.”
Levi nodded. “Well, you’re doing a great job at that. Keep it up.”
Coming back inside off the porch, the ham was being served on the new table waiting for memories to be made. That Christmas Eve, I sat with the Nortaggen’s family and shared an evening of love, laughter and thankfulness that I’ll never forget.
CHAPTER 4
December 31, 2010
Another record day of snowfall loomed over the big New Years Eve bash out at Roy’s farm. Everyone was going. I even convinced my dad to join us for the celebration. He said he couldn’t promise to stay until midnight, but he’d try his best to stay as long as he could.
Chris was buzzed before we even got out to the farm. His love for drinking was getting the best of him more every day. Just a few days ago I caught him downing vodka behind the Feed Store on his lunch break, putting his career at risk. When I confronted him about it, he shrugged it off and said it helps the slow times at work be a little less mundane. I didn’t buy the story, but I wasn’t sure exactly what I could do about it, either.
We arrived a little after six, just an hour before the party, to see if there was anything we could do to help. Approaching Levi out in the lower lofting shed that was attached to Roy’s barn, I found him chopping wood, and I asked, “Need a hand with that?”
Levi looked confused at me as he checked his watch. “You’re an hour early.”
Nodding, I replied, “I wanted to help.”
He smiled and nodded, “I’ll take the offer. Grab that wheelbarrow and push it up to the front of the house. Just stack the wood out on the patio near the back door.”
“Alright,” I replied. Stopping before I grabbed the wheelbarrow, I asked, “Random question here, but what’s up with Allison? She married?”
“She was…” Levi replied.
“Okay…”
“She’s a nice gal and all, but she’s going through a tough spot right now. I don’t know if she really wants to be with anyone.”
“I wasn’t thinking that, just curious,” I replied. Grabbing onto each handle, I lifted up the wheelbarrow handles and wheeled it up to the back patio in front of the farmhouse. As I stacked the wood along the side of the house, I could see through the curtains and into the living room. Allison was removing pictures from the wall behind the television. Those pictures had been there ever since I met Roy and I was startled to see her pulling them off the wall.
Coming in through the patio door quickly, I asked, “What are you doing?”
“Don’t worry,” Roy said, coming in from the dining room. “She’s doing a little redecorating.”
“Oh…” I replied, relaxing my composure. “I didn’t realize that.”
“Ally was an interior designer back in Atlanta and I asked what she could do with a few rooms in the house.”
Jess came in from the kitchen. “Those pictures,” she paused for a moment as she finished her strawberry. “And this entire house hasn’t changed since I was just a little kid.”
Roy smiled over at Jess and said, “And we just want a little change and freshness here for the babies when they arrive. She’s already almost finished with the nursery.”
“Nursery?” I asked.
“Want to see it?” Jess asked hopefully, clearly wanting to show off her new babies’ room.
Glancing back out the windows to the patio, I said, “Sure. I’ll take a look really quick.”
Following Jess, I went upstairs and into the room across from her and Levi’s. Opening the door, I saw half the room was in light gray and a soft pink while the other side was in a baby blue and a light gray. A few furniture boxes sat against the wall. “Wow, that’s a really cool design on the walls.”
“I know, I love it,” Jess replied. “The cribs and dresser are all solid white. It’ll look perfect. It worked out pretty nicely that Henry just left for college right before the pregnancy happened.”
“How is Henry anyway? I’m surprised he wasn’t here for Christmas.”
“He’s good. He was with his girlfriend. He’s super involved with her and decided to visit her family instead of coming here for the holidays.”
“I see,” I replied. “So… Allison… She was married?” I asked.
“Yeah, she was married, but the guy was a jerk and it didn’t work out. She needed to get away from the city life; that’s why she came here. Why? Are you interested in her Dylan?” She was smiling.
“No, well… she’s cute. I don’t really know her though. She seems nice,” I replied.
“Yeah, she’s really awesome; so talented. She is not even charging us half what she did in Atlanta for her clients too.” Jess informed me as she twirled around the nursery ecstatically.
She’s charging? For family? Seriously? I have no room to judge her. She is a professional and owns her own business after all, but wow, don’t know what to think about that one. But it wasn’t any of my business to bring up my concern with Jess. “Well, that’s nice of her,” I replied as we exited to go back downstairs. “When’s she going back to Atlanta?”
“She probably isn’t,” Jess replied as we continued down the stairs.
“Is she staying with you guys long term?”
“No, she and the kids will probably be out in the spring, around the same time the twins come. I don’t know for sure, though.”
“I see,” I replied.
Coming back into the living room, I said, “That nursery looks awesome, Allison.”
“Thanks,” Allison said as she finished taking the last picture down behind the television. “The nursery was inspired by one of the women’s Bible Study leaders at my church in Atlanta. When I saw her baby’s nursery, I took pictures for a future project. It turned out to be this one!”
I smiled. “That’s neat you can be inspired by other sources of work. Well, I better get back outside. I’m helping Levi with the wood and he’s probably wondering where I’m at.”
Going back outside, I found Sammy sitting inside my wheelbarrow. “Did you need a ride, sir?” I asked grinning.
He said nothing and just nodded his head a little bit.
“Please keep all hands, feet and other body parts inside the wheelbarrow at all times. Be sure to securely hold onto each side of the wheelbarrow during the duration of your travel. And oh, thank you for choosing Holden Airways.”
Zooming through the front yard through the snow, I pushed as we crossed the deep snow. Growing weary before making it to the sidewalk, I said, “Please be understanding of the slight delay, for we have hit some severe weather and will be traveling a bit slower for a moment.”
Sammy laughed as he jumped a little in his seat. “C’mon, C’mon,” he shouted from the wheelbarrow. I made it to the sidewalk where it was clear and continued a quicker pace out to the lower lofting shed.
As I slowed down to the wood pile where Levi was standing with Chris, I said, “Thank you again for traveling with Holden Airways, please have a wonderful night and a happy new year.”
Sammy climbed out of the wheelbarrow and ran off to meet up with his sister Olivia, who looked to be jealously standing nearby at the loft’s entrance. Chris and Levi watched as they ran off behind me. Taking off my jacket, I wiped my forehead of sweat as I took a deep breath.
“You’re sure good with kids,” Levi said.
Nodding, I replied, “Kids are a lot more fun than adults.”
Chris laughed, “I’m having fun, Bro!”
“You’re just drun
k…” I said, not amused.
Chris came up to me. “I’m having fun.” His tone was sharp. If it wasn’t for the fact my father was soon arriving, I would have pushed him back right then, but I didn’t want a fight to break out and cause a scene as my dad showed up.
“Get out of my face,” I laughed.
“Chris… you start fighting, you’re gone,” Levi interjected. “Jess told me if you even show up buzzing too strongly, she wants me to make you leave. So just cool it.”
“I’m good,” Chris said, backing away. He left the shed.
“I saw the way you looked at Ally the other day on Christmas Eve, and now you’re asking about her more… I want to warn you, she’s not someone you want to be with, probably,” Levi said, loading another block up on the chopping block.
Glancing towards the farmhouse, I said, “How come you say that?”
“She talks an awful lot about the kids’ Dad, Adam. I don’t know if that whole thing is over between them.”
“You said they got a divorce.”
“That doesn’t mean he died. Their dad will forever be in the picture, forever. They were a family for years, that doesn’t just disappear when some papers are signed. That’s something you got to realize. Just try to be careful buddy. I care about you and just don’t want you to get hurt. That’s all I want to say about it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I replied as I began picking up more blocks of firewood. “I take it we’re doing a bonfire in the yard?”
“You know it,” Levi grinned. “Jess picked up s’mores supplies today in town also, so that should be fun.”
“I love those things…”
“I know, right?” Levi replied. “I can’t wait until my kids are here and then I get to teach them to roast marshmallows.”
Nodding, I said, “It’ll be a bit before they are old enough to get it… But that’ll be pretty cool.”
“Did you know Ally’s never had a s’more?” Levi asked.
“What? I don’t believe it.”
“Yep, she’s never even heard of them before.”
“Bizarre. Maybe she isn’t right for me,” I replied laughing.
Levi laughed.
Later that evening, I sat down next to my father at the bonfire. “Dad,” I said with a nod as I loaded my marshmallow up on the end of my poker.
“Son,” he replied. Turning to me, he continued, “I spoke a little with Levi earlier inside after dinner. He said Floyd and all the family was quite impressed with the table. He passed a message along from Floyd saying thank you for raising such a wonderful young man.”
I nodded.
“I want you to know son, even if I don’t talk about how great you are or pat you on the back when you do something, that doesn’t mean it goes unnoticed.”
“Thanks Dad,” I replied. He was trying, and I appreciated the effort he was attempting to show towards me. Maybe being on the brink of death was making him relax a little more in life. I didn’t want to think about him dying. Even if he was a jerk for all these years, I didn’t want my dad to be gone. I needed to prove to him I was capable and deserving of his love and approval. I wanted to run the inn and show him I could do it and make him proud.
Pushing my poker into the fire, just above the flames, I slowly turned it as the marshmallow browned.
Olivia’s marshmallow caught fire and she pulled it out quickly. “Dang it, again!” She said with a sigh.
My father looked at her and I saw him do something he didn’t do very often; he put someone else before himself. “Let me help you get the perfect marshmallow. Can I do that?”
She agreed with a nod and handed him the poker. Loading a fresh marshmallow up on the end, he held it above the flame as he explained the reason and how to roast a proper marshmallow. “Slowly cooking it takes more time, but it melts the insides just right and results in the perfect s’more.”
Grinning as she took the poker, she said, “Like this?”
He lifted part of the poker closest to her up. “Just a smidge higher above the flames; you get too close and it’ll ignite again.”
“What’s ignite?” she asked.
“I meant catch on fire,” He replied with a warm smile. This man that I called my father was acting like an entirely different person and I loved every moment of it. I said a quick prayer thanking God for the change.
Sitting back, he watched as Olivia cooked the marshmallow over the open flame and I saw something happen again in my father I wasn’t used to seeing, he smiled genuinely.
His smile drew out my concern I had for his life. I knew it was fragile and delicate; I needed to know more than the simple fact he wasn’t going to be around much longer, so I tried asking. “How’s everything going for you? With your health and all?”
“It’s okay son,” he replied, patting my leg. “Starting here in a week or so, Lenny will be taking over the inn. I spoke with him about having you help with the renovations; he agreed quickly. He said he will give you a buzz when he needs you. I’ll still be living at the inn and helping with what I can.”
“Great,” I replied, a little dismayed. He answered my question like a politician does, sidestepping and saying words without actually answering the question. I wanted to know everything I could possibly.
“I see your brother isn’t improving much,” Frank said as he fixed his eyes on Chris over at the tree in the front yard. He was leaning over and vomiting.
“He’s fighting less… so that’s some progress,” I replied.
“I suppose. And you haven’t been joining him?”
“No, Sir,” I replied confidently. “I won’t be sucked into that garbage again.”
“Atta boy,” Frank said. “Well, it’s just about nine and I’m feeling rather tired. I’ll see you around.” He began to stand up and I helped him.
“Could I come by the inn and see you sometime?” I asked.
“Sure,” He replied smiling.
“We missed you on Christmas… We even tried calling you,” I said.
“Yeah, I had a bad day on that particular day… Sometimes I’m just too weak to even get up in the morning,” He replied, appearing to be a little shocked at himself for the over share of information.
“Do you need me to come stay with you?” I asked.
“No son, I can handle myself,” he replied. He was stubborn and unrelenting in his insatiable need to be independent.
Walking with him out to his truck, I thought about how there wouldn’t be too many more goodbyes until the big one. As he backed out, I waved at him and smiled. Another wave of sadness came over me and my eyes began to water a little.
Interrupting my thoughts, Allison startled me from behind. “Dylan.”
Jumping, I turned and snapped, “What?” Wiping my eyes quickly as I bent over, I said, “It’s kind of dusty out here.”
“Really?” Ally said, glancing back towards the bonfire in the yard for a moment. “You don’t have to lie to kick it. The ground is covered in snow. Anyways, I was just going to see if you wanted another s’more.”
I went red in embarrassment. “I’m alright. Thanks Allison.”
“No worries. You can call me Ally though. Only people I don’t like call me Allison.”
I laughed. “That’s a strange quirk.”
Shrugging, she replied, “It’s my way of reminding myself who I don’t like.”
“I’m glad I made the good list,” I replied. “You enjoying it out at Roy’s?”
Turning as we walked back to the bonfire, she nodded. “It’s really nice to be back in a Christian environment.”
“What do you mean?”
Stopping, she looked at me. “The city is oversaturated with liberal-minded people; it’s a different culture all together versus a place like Chattaroy. I love being out here with people who share my own beliefs.” She looked over at Jess who was motioning her over. “I’ll see you around; I’m being beckoned.” She smiled and headed over to Jess.
“Du
uuuuuuudeeeeee………” Chris said, swinging his arm around my shoulder. “Tap that.”
“Don’t act like a teenager,” I replied, pushing his arm off.
“Stop being a prude!” He replied.
Ignoring his comment, I asked, “Where’s Elly? Shouldn’t she be here by now?”
“Roy said she called from work and left a message on the answering machine inside. She said she got stuck and had to stay late. She wasn’t going to make it.”
“Dang,” I replied. “Sorry to hear about it.”
“Whatever; just means she won’t be nagging me to slow down on the drinking.”
Shaking my head, I replied, “I will still be here.”
His drinking was getting worse and I suspected that might have been a reason for Elly’s lack of involvement in tonight’s festivities. It was beginning to become more problematic for him with every passing day and I worried about my brother’s future.
CHAPTER 5
January 14, 2011
As I was shutting off the lathe in the shop, the phone began ringing above my workbench. Glancing over at the clock I saw it was only seven o’clock in the morning. Who could be calling this early? I wondered as I dusted off my shirt of the sawdust to go answer the phone.
“Hey Dylan, it’s your uncle Lenny,” a voice on the other end of the phone said.
“Oh, hey Lenny. What’s up?”
“Can you come down to the inn? I want to sit down and discuss your involvement moving forward with the renovations.”
“Sure, when?” I asked.
“What’s a good time for you? I’ll be here all day.”
Glancing at the clock, I knew I needed to drop off the table I already made down at the feed store before they opened at nine. “I need to run an errand, but I can be there later in the morning, probably somewhere around eleven or so.”
“Sounds good,” He replied as he paused for a moment. “Your Dad wanted me to see if he could get you to bring an old photo album of his...”
“Which one? He has a few boxes of stuff over here,” I replied, glancing over to the corner of the shop where they were.
“The one with pictures of your Mother.”