“It’s OK, sweetie, you’re not going to get in trouble for ratting out your brother or anything. I just want to know where he is.”
She clutched her doll tighter. “You really like that new doll, don’t you?” Dawson smiled and sat down on the step, motioning Veronica to do the same. She sat and cuddled next to him. Dawson smiled as he put his arm around her. He could remember sitting on the steps with her mom and having talks with Chase when he was about Veronica’s age. It seemed to be a bit of a family tradition. Always stopping to talk on the stairs. It seemed to happen mostly when trouble was brewing. The stairs were neutral territory, and seemed to help the kids say what was on their mind. In their rooms, they’d just hide under their sheets, and in Mom and Dad’s room they’d barely set foot in, then bolt the second they were given permission. The stairs were just comfortable for everyone.
“What did he do now?” Veronica asked.
“Well, he didn’t actually do anything. It’s what he didn’t do. There were a few chores he missed, and he did say he wanted to do some fishing at the river, but I don’t think he’s even looked for his fishing rod.”
“Oh. Hmmm.”
“That’s not really much of an answer, pumpkin. Do you know where he is?”
“Yeah, but you’re going to be mad.”
“I promise I won’t be mad,” Dawson replied, but apparently not convincingly enough based on the silence.
“Can I bribe you?” Dawson tried again.
Veronica looked at her doll for a second, then nodded her head slightly.
“Hmmm now.” Dawson paused briefly, rubbing his chin in mock wonder. “I wonder what a little girl with a brand new doll would like more than anything in the world.”
Veronica’s seriousness started to crack just a glimmer.
“I bet that a little girl with a new doll would love nothing better than to wash up the dinner dishes together.”
The glimmer of a smile quickly disappeared from her face.
“Oh, OK. Bad guess, Dad. There must be something she’d like to do. I know.” Dawson raised his hand, pointing his index finger. “I bet that she’d simply love to scrub the toilets with the help of her new little friend.”
“Ahhh c'mon, Dad, that’s really gross. Do you have any idea how disgusting Chase is in there?”
“Oh wow, is that right? I am such a terrible guesser. I’m gonna have to let you give it a shot. Maybe the perfect little girl sitting next to me might have a better idea. I remember someone telling me that girls are way smarter than boys, so maybe you could help me out here.”
The glimmer of a smile broke into outright giggles. She pulled the doll from its hiding place against her chest, and propped her up facing her Dad. “As a matter of fact, I do have the perfect idea. Miss Charlie …”
“Oh, so you’ve given her a name now I see.” Dawson nodded approvingly.
“Dad, don’t interrupt. It’s rude,” she answered with as stern a face as possible, still unable to restrain the giggles.
“It’s a very nice name,” Dawson continued, nodding even more earnestly.
“You’re still interrupting, Dad.”
“Sorry, sorry … no more,” Dawson added contritely as he mimed a zipper closing across his lips.
“Miss Charlie and I would love to have your company at our next tea party.”
“That sounds perfect. I’d love to come,” he replied instantly, rubbing his hands in anticipation. “When is it?”
“Right as soon as we head up the stairs to my room of course.” Veronica mustered her cutest ‘pleassssse-daddy’ smile ever.
“Fine, fine,” Dawson agreed reluctantly. “But don’t forget your part of the bargain.”
“He’s in his room.”
“I called up already, he didn’t answer. Are you sure?”
“He’s got headphones on.”
“Headphones? Why? Wait. He’s not playing that damn game again, is he?” Dawson started up the stairs two at a time.
“Dad, wait. What about our tea party?” Veronica’s bottom lip drooped ever so slightly.
“Just give me a few minutes. Right after I talk with your brother about the video game rules around here again.” Dawson turned back up the stairs.
Before he could reach the top step though: “Dad, you promised me. Me and Miss Charlie. It’s the first promise you ever made her. You can’t break the first promise you make someone. They’ll never trust you again.”
Dawson’s hand rested on the topmost stair post and he looked skyward, rolling eyes which Veronica couldn’t see. “You’re right, of course,” he answered, turning around. “You’re absolutely right. I couldn’t do that.”
Veronica smiled as she took her dad’s hand at the top of the stairs and directed him towards her room.
Dawson couldn’t help but think just how clever kids could be. Especially this one. It’s like she knew a fifteen-minute tea party would take all the fight out of him, and probably save a major clash with his son.
“You’re quite the little peacemaker aren’t you, kiddo?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Dad. I’m no peacemaker. Whatever that is. I’m just a little girl who loves having tea parties with her dad … and Miss Charlie.”
Chapter 15 ~ Fixing Things
“Well, so much for that alternator,” said Dawson. “The bolts holes don’t line up.”
Jake adjusted the flashlight, and tried to wiggle the alternator to the right to line things up. “Yep, you’re right there, buddy. That’s not even close. I knew that one was from a different year truck than yours, but figured it would be worth a try. Give me a second, and I’ll see if I’ve got another out back in the shed.”
“Exactly how many alternators do you have just lying around?”
“Who knows? I’m a bit of a pack rat, just ask Maggie. I’m forever catching her trying to throw out half my stuff.”
“I’ll go have a look. You just sit there and enjoy your beer. It is my truck, you shouldn’t have to do all the work.”
“No, no. It’s OK. You’ll never find anything in that shed. I have my own cryptic organization system back there. I’ll go find one, then you can do all the heavy lifting and I’ll supervise with a beer.”
Dawson gave a slightly disappointed shake of his head and smiled.
“What?” said Jake.
“You know what,” Dawson replied. “One of these days, you’re going to have to let me into that secret shed of yours. It’s not healthy, you know. We’ve been good neighbors for what, a year now? And that shed is a serious-looking man cave. I can’t believe you haven’t invited me in yet.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m sure you were in there a few times already.” Jake mustered the best perplexed look he could. “Just a few weeks ago, weren’t you?”
“No, no I wasn’t,” Dawson countered, as Jake headed into his backyard, closing the gate behind him. “I trust you with my kids, and you don’t even allow me into your man cave. That’s not very neighborly, you know.”
Jake didn’t answer. Dawson smiled as he took a swig of his beer.
“You boys aren’t fighting again now, are you?” Maggie kidded as she walked up to the driveway.
“Ah, you know how boys can be.” Dawson smiled, leaning his backside onto the car. “Just a little friendly ribbing. Thanks for keeping the kids occupied while I try to get this old thing to work.”
“Think nothing of it. You know I’ll take any excuse to spend time with those two. They’re adorable. Makes this old girl feel young again spending time with them.”
“C’mon, Maggie. You look hardly a day over 29.”
“Shh. I wish, and even if I did, I certainly don’t feel anywhere close to that.”
Truth be told, Maggie was a very young-looking forty-something. Which side of forty, Dawson had no idea, and certainly wouldn’t dare ask. Jake had just turned fifty last month, and was always going on about being married to the prettiest girl in town. Dawso
n never argued. She apparently had been prom queen and the Cotton Harvest Queen in her senior high school year. The only girl to hold both titles in the history of Big Springs, Texas.
“Where did Jake get to?” Maggie asked.
“He went looking for another alternator in the shed.”
“You let him head off to the shed? You’ll never get this fixed. We won’t see him for hours.”
Maggie took the flashlight from Dawson and standing next to him, she leaned over the engine to have a look at their handiwork.
“I could have told you that one wouldn’t fit. They totally redesigned this truck for this model year. You’ll need an alternator from this model year or newer to fit in here. That old pack rat was likely trying to pawn off some of his old stock on you.”
Dawson looked surprised. “How did you know that?”
“Hey, don’t seem so surprised.” Maggie playfully hip checked him. “I’m not just another pretty face, you know.” She took his beer from him and had a sip before handing it back.
“Sorry, won’t happen again.” Dawson smiled back. “Apparently there’s quite a bit I don’t know about you.”
“What is it you don’t know?” Jake announced as he made his way back to the truck with a newer alternator in hand.
“Well,” Dawson answered, “I didn’t know that I should have had your wife helping me out here, and you taking care of the kids.”
“Is that right now?” Jake said, giving a sly look to Maggie. “It is true that I did teach her just about everything I know about trucks.”
“Not quite everything I’d say. She seems to have surpassed the master in some areas,” Dawson said.
Maggie squeezed Dawson’s arm, while she leaned in and kissed Jake on the cheek. “I should go back inside and check on the kids. Just wanted to make sure the big kids out here were playing nice.”
“No need to worry about us, dear. We’ve got things under control,” Jake said.
“I’m sure you do, hon.”
Jake leaned into the engine, and checked the bolt holes on the new alternator as Dawson watched Maggie walk back down the driveway.
“Hey, stop watching my wife’s ass and hold that flashlight straight, will you.”
“Prom queen, huh?”
“Yes, and Cotton Harvest Queen. The only girl …”
“Yeah, I know, you told me.” Dawson adjusted the flashlight as Jake tightened the alternator bolts. “You never did tell me what she saw in you though.”
“Well, it’s obvious, isn’t it? Charm, striking good looks, and a bitchin’ ride.”
“That’s it? She went for you just ’cause you had a nice car?”
“Not a car. A truck. Sweetest pickup in town.”
“Did she have to fix it for you when you pretended to run out of gas on your first date?”
“Actually, I’m pretty sure she siphoned off the gas tank just enough to make sure we did run out of gas that night.” Jake chuckled to himself as he reconnected the battery.
“Gotta like a girl that knows what she wants, even if it was an ugly old bugger like you.”
Jake straightened up and gave Dawson a friendly push towards the truck door. “Shut up, and see if this piece of junk starts now.”
Dawson jumped in and turned the key, starting the truck on the first try. Jake patted him on the shoulder through the open door. “Good job, amigo. Now go kiss your kids goodnight and send my prom queen back home. She owes me a kiss goodnight as well.”
* * *
As Jake walked into the house, his cell phone vibrated with a text message. Looking down, it said ‘New Number’ followed by a second text message with a phone number. Jake quickly memorized the number, deleted both messages then dialed the number.
A familiar voice spoke. “Has he been acting any differently the last few days?”
“No,” Jake answered. “His truck had problems, so I gave him a ride …”
“You don’t need to explain. We know what you did. Just answer the questions asked. What about the kids? Have they said anything that would suggest he’s planning on moving again?”
“No. Nothing unusual. No talk of moving.”
“Fine. Keep up the usual routine. We’ll contact you again when …”
“How much longer do I have to keep doing this?” Jake asked impatiently.
“Until we tell you it’s over. We’ll contact you again as required.”
The call went dead. Jake tossed the phone onto the counter. It slid and landed on the floor, where he left it. He paced back and forth for a few minutes, till he heard the screen door opening. As Maggie came in the hallway, Jake walked around the counter and picked up his phone.
“You alright, hon?” Maggie asked.
“Good thanks.”
“You look a little upset. There a problem?”
“No, just dropped my phone.”
“Good thing you got that protector for it. I told you those things weren’t just a waste of money.”
“Yep. You are right once again.” He smiled.
“I’m going to bed. You coming?”
“Yeah, sure thing,” he said as he deleted the log of his last call. “Just as soon as I wash up and get this dirt off my hands.”
Chapter 16 ~ Spy Boy
Dawson decided that tonight would be a good night to do a little exploring around Jake’s property. Maggie and Dawson had a conversation earlier, that made Dawson wonder about Jake.
She told Dawson that Jake had a strong sense of family, but sometimes she thought it was too strong. Dawson thought that was a strange thing for Maggie to say. She was pretty family-minded, nd should have considered it a good thing if her husband had a strong sense of family. Most of the time he’d heard women complain about the opposite. They wished that the men in their lives spent more time at home, and less at the damn rodeo. Rodeo wives (or rodeo widows as the joke used to go), were usually more jealous of horses than other women. Guys on the circuit joked that you’d get in more trouble if your wife caught you flipping through the pages of Equestrian Weekly than a Playboy magazine.
Maggie said that what Jake needed was a stronger sense of community. She mentioned it when she was reminiscing about her own kids when they were young, while Veronica and Chase were playing. Dawson could see in her eyes how much his kids meant to her. He often thought she cared more for them than he did. Being a parent took a lot of effort for Dawson, he wasn’t a natural at it like Maggie and Jake seemed to be.
You couldn’t just force this kind of stuff, he thought. Kids weren’t so different from horses. You have to be patient, and just give them time to come to you. They need to sort it out in their own heads, and make up their minds about you. No matter how bad you want it, or how important it may seem at the time, you can’t just make it happen when you want it to. They have to want it as well. He smiled when he thought about the talk he'd had with Chase over the video game. That had gone well for a change.
Dawson had seen Jake bringing boxes into the shed plenty of times, and found it hard to believe he had room in the shed for all of it. Jake would say that he had a lot of projects on the go, as well as plans for future projects. He liked to stock up and be prepared for when he’d get the time to work on them. Sometimes the inspiration just came to him and he wanted to be ready to jump right in. It was all about the preparation, he said.
Dawson always thought that it was odd there were so few windows for such a big building. There were only two small windows in the front of the cabin.
Dawson’s thoughts drifted back to Maggie’s comments momentarily. Was she thinking that the kids weren’t part of Jake’s community? She certainly acted like they were part of her extended family.
Jake had been working on the roof of the house earlier, and the ladder was still out. Dawson moved it to the side of the cabin. He could see the profile of skylights running along the shed roof, and figured they'd give him a peek into those back rooms. Nothing wrong with that he, thought. Jake was so secretive abo
ut his cabin. He’d always promised to give Dawson a tour one of these days, but they never seemed to get around to it.
Dawson climbed onto the roof of the shed. I get that a guy needs his space, he thought, but after all this time you’d think I would have been invited inside. Maybe Dawson hadn’t made it totally into Jake’s inner circle yet. Did Jake have an inner circle? He was certainly a friendly guy, but he didn’t have any really close friends. Maybe that’s what Maggie was talking about. Jake was pretty family-centric. He needed more buddies. I could use more buddies myself lately, thought Dawson. We should hang out more together. I could certainly do better by him. We didn’t exactly get off on the right foot.
Dawson was on the roof now, and looking into the first window. This room looked like the storeroom of a restaurant or grocery store. There were several rows of shelves against the wall, loaded down with boxes, bottles and cans. He squinted to read the labels, but they all seemed to be staple foodstuffs. Beans, cereals, canned meats, and rice. There were others labeled, but he couldn't quite make out the writing.
Chapter 17 ~ Familiar Haunts
Dawson never gave up hope, that there was still a chance. He called it faith. His mother called it blind stupidity. She blamed it on too many tumbles off horses. Either way, Dawson knew it was real. He and Lisa were childhood friends before they were childhood sweethearts. No matter how bad things got between them, he always believed they would work it out. They had that solid base of friendship that would always keep them close. Marriage was forever … right? Right!
The crumpled hand written letter in Dawson's trash said otherwise. He didn't even open the bigger manila legal sized envelope. It had some lawyers New York address stamped in the upper left corner. What the hell was she doing in New York? She's not a New York girl. Apparently, Lisa had found the other love of her life. She was moving on. She asked him to do the same. Asking and receiving are two very different things, he thought.
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