by Lyn Cote
“Sometimes,” Miguel piped up, “we drive to Des Moines on Saturday to see a movie or go to the mall.”
“Sí, but there isn’t much of a social life here,” Maria finished.
Lucie nodded. Pleasant Prairie’s social life centered around family and church. If a person didn’t have a large family or belong to a church, one didn’t have much opportunity to socialize. Tanner and I need to talk about this. “Well, we hope you’ll come and see Miguel play ball two nights from now.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Maria put her arm around Miguel’s shoulder and gave him an affectionate squeeze.
Overhead, the first skyrocket burst into streaks of magenta and gold. Oooooh’s and Aaaaah’s began as everyone looked skyward.
“Wow!” Miguel breathed. “I’d like to shoot off one of those.”
“Me, too!” Danny agreed in an awestruck voice.
“Me, too!” Mikey agreed.
The explosions of bright colors—crimson, gleaming white, royal blue and the all the shades of the rainbow—kept the crowd enthralled for nearly a half hour. Then the grand finale swooped above them, deafening, dazzling and very welcome. It was time to go home and get the boys to bed. Lucie was beat. She took the boys by the hand and scanned the crowd for Tanner’s face. Maybe he’d taken her at her word and had decided not to come back.
Sudden shouts. Many voices. “Catch him!” “He’s got my purse!” “Don’t let him get away!”
A scream.
Lucie pulled the boys close to her sides and tried to get out of the way. Juan was running straight at her.
Maria shouted, “Juan, stop!”
Someone put out a foot. The teen went down. The crowd surged around him.
Then Tanner was there, pushing people back, helping Juan to his feet. “Step back,” Tanner shouted. “Everyone stay calm.”
Tanner helped Juan to his feet.
Lucie’s heart pounded. Thank heavens, Tanner came!
“Where’s the purse?” someone demanded, and others echoed him.
“What purse?” Juan protested. “I don’t have anyone’s lousy purse.” To show proof of this, the youth held his arms wide and rotated with a cocky stance.
A deputy pushed his way through the crowd. “Sheriff’s department! Let me through!”
People fell back. Lucie didn’t. She stayed close to Tanner and motioned Maria and Miguel to come near her. She didn’t say anything, though. From Tanner’s expression, Lucie was certain he would defend Juan.
A woman, whom Lucie didn’t know, wearing a red-white-and-blue shirt and jeans, followed the deputy. They both reached Juan. Tanner drew closer to the teen.
Lucie was so proud of Tanner. He stood there, ready to make sure Juan wouldn’t be railroaded.
“Is this the young man who snatched your purse?” the deputy asked.
The woman in red-white-and-blue stared into Juan’s face.
Lucie held her breath and put a hand on Maria’s shoulder.
“No, no, I don’t think so,” the woman replied.
“But he was running!” people around chorused. “He must have ditched it!”
“Why were you running, son?” the deputy asked.
“I went to the john, man,” Juan said, pointing back in the direction from where he came. “And when I came out, that Riel kid was waiting for me and he wasn’t alone. I wasn’t going to let him and his friends beat me up, so I started running, to get to my friends. He must have been watching me….” Juan flushed under the garish carnival lights. “I don’t have nobody’s purse!”
“I found a purse!” A young man came forward and offered it. “Is this yours? I found it on the ground back there.”
The woman took the denim purse and opened it. “It’s mine, but my wallet’s gone.” She grimaced. “Lucky for me, I didn’t carry any credit cards today. And I only had a few dollars left, but now I’ve got to get a new driver’s license. Darn.”
“So this teenager didn’t snatch it?” the deputy asked, motioning toward Juan.
Lucie waited for her answer. Was this over or not?
She shook her head. “No. I thought he did because he was running. I came out of the ladies’ room and I skirted around this group of young guys. I was jostled from behind and felt my purse yanked off my shoulder. Then I saw this boy running. So I thought it must have been him who grabbed my purse.”
The deputy let out a sound that was a cross between a sigh and a huff. “Okay, then. Everyone break it up. Go on home. The excitement’s over.”
Lucie felt relief for Maria and her sons flowing inside her.
But Maria took a few steps forward and confronted the woman. “You shouldn’t have accused my son! You just did it because we’re Mexican-American! That Riel Wilkins is worse than any of our kids and he’s right from here!”
Strained, embarrassed silence greeted this. Even a newcomer like Lucie couldn’t argue with the truth of Maria’s accusation.
Standing on the pitcher’s mound, Lucie took a deep breath. Thursday night had arrived two evenings after the Fourth of July carnival and all the excitement over the purse snatching. She and Tanner had discussed what, if any, effect that incident might have on the game tonight. Lucie couldn’t know, of course, if it had any effect or not.
But the city square was as crowded tonight as it was on Sunday mornings when both churches filled up with worshipers, or Friday nights when everyone came out to shop and eat at the café. Tonight, she certainly hadn’t expected to see the stands packed with parents from Pleasant Prairie and from Shangri-La. They were filled—yet separated into two groups. Was the turnout a show of support for the kids or an act of defiance?
Along with the rest of the kids, Mikey and Danny stood proudly with their teams. The boys had ridden over with her, but Nate and Sophie had promised to follow soon.
Ignacio waved to her and then so did Tanner.
With a prayer for God’s blessing on tonight’s experiment, she wound up and released the first ball. The young players started the game with marked enthusiasm, which progressed to excitement. The first inning ended and the second started. Parents on one side or the other clapped as their kids made it onto base. When Miguel made it to home plate, the one half of the stands erupted into an impromptu wave.
Lucie kept an eye out for Nate’s truck. Where was Sophie?
Chapter Nine
Lucie kept tabs on the two factions in the stands—the homegrown Pleasant Prairie families and the Shangri-La parents. Under the violet-tinged sky, she tried to gauge what were their attitudes to each other and their collective purposes for coming. Had this been a good idea or would the evening turn ugly?
Lucie’s confidence that the evening games would be a good idea had been shaken by the unpleasant exchange after Juan had been accused of purse snatching. Would Tanner’s concern be proven true?
Oh, Lord, don’t let it happen! Let harmony begin tonight. Let each of the people here from the youngest to the eldest begin to feel and behave like the neighbors they are—like the good neighbors You want them to be!
She looked over and found Tanner’s eyes upon her. His attention made her blush. She merely nodded, reeling in the urge to walk over to him. He’s only concerned about the situation, just like me! He waved.
She waved and saw that Sam Torres was in the stands. Last night, he’d come to talk to Nate about working on the farm for the rest of the season. Nate had taken him on trial and the man was to come on Saturday and tend the fields and do some light maintenance on the farm equipment. Lucie hoped this would work out. Maybe Sam Torres just didn’t like working in the packing plant. She didn’t blame him. Would doing work he liked help? She still had hopes that Fella and little Sammie would be reunited, though the little dog was welcome to stay.
Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw Nate’s minivan pulling up into the handicapped parking spot nearest the field. She motioned toward the vehicle and Tanner caught her message. He immediately jogged over to it and got the wheelchair out of the
rear. Lucie was so busy trying to pitch and trying to watch Nate get into his chair that she was taken by surprise by a familiar voice hailing her. “Lucie! Lucie!”
It was her mother.
Lucie dropped the ball and ran to hug her. “Mom!” Recognizing her mother’s familiar perfume and feeling her soft cheek against her own touched Lucie. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Lucie, dear,” Mom said, squeezing Lucie closer.
“You got here early!” Lucie exclaimed, joy plus relief overflowing into tears. Now she could rest easy about Zoë. Mom would know what to do.
“Our mechanic got back early from vacation and was able to get the car checked out for me this morning.” Dorothy gave her another squeeze. “So here I am. We left Sophie and the baby at home to enjoy some peace and quiet. We even unplugged the phone and told her to rest.”
Lucie blinked back the tears, hoping they’d go unnoticed.
Miguel appeared at Lucie’s elbow. “Hey! Who’s that? And what about the game?”
Wiping away her tears with her fingers, Lucie looked down and smiled. “Sorry. This is my mother, Miguel. She’s come for a visit. I had to greet her!”
Miguel tilted his head a little to one side and studied Dorothy. “You don’t look like Lucie’s madre.”
Dorothy laughed. “That’s because I think she looks like her padre.”
“Oh,” Miguel said. “Can we get the game going again, Señorita Lucie?”
“Sure.” Lucie walked backward a few steps, then turned and jogged to the pitcher’s mound.
“I’ll go sit and watch.” Dorothy began to walk toward the stands. “Hit a home run for me, Miguel!”
Back on the pitcher’s mound, Lucie checked to see that Tanner had retaken his place near the bench also. Nate sat in his chair in front of the stands.
Then another surprise—Lucie noticed that her mother had crossed the invisible line and had taken a seat at the edge of the Shangri-La section. Had Nate said something to Mom on their way? Or had her mother merely sized up the situation herself? Would this ease the situation or not?
As Lucie pitched one ball after the other, she kept track of her mother’s progress. One by one, Dorothy greeted the Mexican-Americans around her. Lucie noted how their initial reluctance gave way under her mother’s gentle conversation. And then Dorothy turned and greeted the Pleasant Prairie folks on her other side.
By the time Lucie pitched the first ball in the seventh inning, her mother was busy introducing the people on either side of her. Across the invisible line, hands were being shaken. Hesitant, but friendly nods were being exchanged. Lucie’s heart sang. Thanks, Mom! Thank you, Lord! A grin Lucie couldn’t squelch lifted her face for the rest of the game.
When the final out was called, the parents streamed down from the bleachers. But instead of gathering up their children and leaving, they milled around the field. Most came up and greeted Lucie as well as Ignacio and Tanner, thanking them for volunteering for their children this summer. Though the two groups didn’t mix, the uneasiness that had permeated the crowd at the beginning of the game had softened.
Finally, Lucie had a chance to introduce Ignacio and Tanner to Dorothy. Lucie tried to be as nonchalant as possible so her mother would have absolutely no reason to assume that Tanner was more than a friend.
Dorothy offered Tanner her hand. “I’m so glad you were able to help Nate and Sophie out.” Dorothy rested her hand on Nate’s shoulder. “He’s like a son-in-law to us.”
“No problem.” Tanner looked embarrassed.
“Tonight is my night with you, mi amigo.” Ignacio clapped Nate’s other shoulder.
“Glad to have you,” Nate replied. “But as tired as I am, I doubt you’ll hear a peep from me until morning.”
“You’ll get your strength back before you know it,” the older man said. “In the hospital, they don’t let you sleep, but they also don’t let you do much. Lying around with no real shut-eye can weaken a man. But you’re joven, young. You’ll bounce back.”
Lucie prayed Ignacio’s word would prove true.
Nate only gave a half smile in reply. But already he looked stronger than the day he’d first come home.
“We’d better get home then,” Dorothy said. “I drove all the way from Wisconsin today and I’ll admit it, I’m tired, too.”
“I’ll follow you,” Ignacio said, and proceeded to wheel Nate away.
Dorothy turned to Lucie. “Are you coming right home?”
“I have to go pick up Zoë from her job at DQ and then I’ll head home,” Lucie said, her uneasiness over Zoë returning, a twisting in her stomach. Lord, please give Mom the words to help Zoë.
“Tell Zoë I’m looking forward to seeing her.” Dorothy touched Lucie’s arm and then departed.
The hot wind that had blown all day had finally given way to an evening breeze. Just the two of them remained—just she and Tanner. His tanned neck glowed with health against the white of his clerical collar. As she watched, he tugged the stiff collar free. The casual gesture sent warm currents flowing through her. Get a grip, Lucie!
“Can you give me a lift to DQ?” he asked. “I didn’t have time for supper. I’ll grab a burger there and then you can drop me at the parsonage on your way back through town.”
Lucie hesitated. “Sure.” Lucie motioned toward the Bomb, parked under the towering maples. “Climb in.”
Lucie backed out of her parking spot and drove to the edge of the now-nearly empty town. She hoped he hadn’t noticed her reluctance to be alone with him. It’s just because we’re together all the time.
“I really like your mother,” Tanner said.
Of course, you do. She’s just your kind of woman—the perfect pastor’s wife. Lucie scolded herself for her sour grapes reaction. So Tanner liked her mother on sight and Lucie wasn’t like her mother. That didn’t mean anything. Because she wasn’t going to live the life her mother had. And that was why Tanner Bond, pastor, was totally off-limits to her. “I like her, too,” Lucie finally responded.
“That took you a while to spit out. I watched your mother tonight. It’s obvious that’s she’s a caring and sensitive person. What could you possibly have against her?”
“I don’t have anything against my mother,” Lucie snapped, miffed with herself and irritated with him that he’d noticed her mixed feelings. “I just don’t want to be my mother.”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.” Lucie regretted letting these words slip through her lips. She hadn’t wanted to reveal so much, especially to Tanner. Sorry, Lord. I’m too old to resurrect these old irritations. I know You love me just the way I am, and so does my mom. And You know I love her, too.
Tanner looked at her as though measuring her.
She ignored it and clicked on the radio. A weather report predicting rain later filled the silence that yawned between them. Pastor, I’m getting you home ASAP!
Lucie parked next to the DQ and got out with Tanner, relieved that they wouldn’t be alone in the car on the way home. Even Zoë’s company would be welcome. At the window, she let him give his order while she looked through the glass panes trying to locate Zoë.
Finally she asked the red-haired girl at the window, “Will you tell Zoë for me that I’m here to take her home?”
“Zoë left work early,” the redhead said, eyeing Lucie warily.
“Left early?” Lucie didn’t get it. “How did she get home? Did she call Sophie?”
“I don’t know nothing about it,” the same girl said in an unconvincing voice.
Lucie stared in at the collection of teens taking orders and swirling cones. In spite of their duties, every one of them was watching her as though waiting for something. “Won’t anyone tell me what’s going on? Did she go off with…someone?” Lucie ended lamely. Please, Lord, don’t tell me she’s run off with Riel Wilkins!
“You mean Riel?” another girl with a long dark ponytail said. Then with a sly taunt in her tone, she added, “I d
on’t think so.”
“Don’t be catty,” the redhead said. “You don’t know what happened.”
“Whatever.” With a lift of her shoulders, the second teen, swishing her ponytail, walked into the back of the DQ.
Nonplussed, Lucie turned to Tanner, not caring about the many eyes and ears trained on her. Go ahead and gossip about Zoë. I have to find her!
Tanner was paying for his hamburger and fries. He must have read the concern on her face.
“Why don’t you ask to talk to the manager?” he suggested.
“Good idea.” Lucie leaned in the order window. “Is the manager here?”
The teen who’d waited on Tanner said, “The assistant manager. Go around back and I’ll tell him you’re at the employees’ entrance.”
With a sinking sensation, Lucie, with Tanner beside her, followed these instructions. Dear Lord, what’s she done now? Had her mother arrived too late to help with Zoë?
The assistant manager, a young man, met them at the back door. “You asked about Zoë?”
“Yes.” Lucie squared her shoulders.
“Well, she was supposed to work till closing tonight. But on her break, she made a phone call. When she hung up, she was real upset. Then that Riel Wilkins stopped by. I was in the back so I didn’t hear what was said, but they had a big fight right at the window. I came out and told him that this was a place of business, to get lost. He yelled that leaving was exactly what he was doing….” The young man lifted a shoulder. “And he left.”
Lucie tried to read the young manager’s face while searching his words for a hidden meaning. “How did Zoë take this?”
His shoulder went up again. “Zoë walked out. I called after her I could fire her for leaving like that. But she was too upset to listen to me.” The shoulder rose again. “That’s all I know.”
His words struck Lucie as ominous. Her shoulders slumped. “Thanks.”
The young man nodded with seeming sympathy and went back inside, shutting the door behind him.
“You’re worried,” Tanner said.
“That’s an understatement.” Lucie tried to think. Images from her encounter with Riel on that awful night went through her mind. Riel’s manhandling of Zoë still made her angry. What had happened now? A lover’s quarrel? “I have to find Zoë and bring her home. Sophie doesn’t need this kid acting up now. She’s had enough to contend with. And I’m worried about Zoë.”