The Best Things in Life

by Kate Sweeney

  “I really shouldn’t,” Cara said.

  Morgan slowly pushed the butter plate close to her. Betty laughed, watching them.

  “You’re a bad influence on me, Morgan. And my waistline.”

  “Oh, please. There’s nothing wrong with your waistline. And I have a feeling you could use a little bad influence.”

  “You say that now,” Cara said, buttering the bottom of her coffee cake. It was heavenly. Warm and full of blueberries and cinnamon. “This is delicious.”

  “I’ll give you the recipe. It’s one of Morgan’s favorites.” She looked from Morgan to Cara.

  Cara stopped in midbite. She glanced at Morgan, who glared at her mother over her coffee cup.

  “What?” Betty asked innocently.

  “Eat your breakfast, Betts.” Chuck shook his head.

  “So, Chuck, Morgan says you’ve had this lake property in your family since the forties?”

  Chuck nodded. “Yep. My family comes from Nova Scotia. Moved here and bought this property. Morg was born in this house.”

  “I didn’t know that.” Cara looked at Morgan. “We’re going to have to talk about being more forthcoming with information.”

  “Good luck,” Chuck said, winking at Morgan, who ate her coffee cake.

  “My brother, Jerry, and I built the house Betty and I live in now. And Morg took this place.”

  “So, Gavin Tours is your business?”

  Again, Chuck nodded. “We started it, oh, I can’t remember how long ago. But Morg here took over.” He grinned. “I’m retired. Sort of.”

  “Good for you.”

  “He deserves it.” Betty rubbed Chuck’s forearm.

  “I don’t know about that.” Chuck drank his coffee.

  “I do.” Morgan reached for another slice.

  “Are the summers very busy?” Cara glanced at the coffee cake.

  “Oh, yeah. The resorts are packed. People who love to fish come from all over the country. There’s a lot of traffic on the lakes up here. There’s a lot to do. Some of the places are more remote.”

  “That’s where we come in,” Morgan said. “Like I explained.”

  “Right. And sometimes you’re called upon for help, like my friends from the Sentinel.”

  “Yes. We were glad we were in the area and able to help.”

  Just then, Cara heard a raspy voice. For the first time, she realized there was a radio and receiver on a table close to the living room. How did she miss that?

  “Morg?” a voice called out through the static. “It’s Barry.”

  Morgan ran and picked up the receiver. “Hey, Barry. What’s up?”

  “We got a problem. Two guests at the resort didn’t come back last night. We were out early this morning but couldn’t find anything. Can you and Andy fly over here? I think they might be on the other side of the island. They had a canoe, which we found.”

  “Sure. I’ll fuel up the plane and get there ASAP, then we’ll figure this out. I’ll call Andy at the office. I’ll be in touch. I should be there in about a half hour.”

  “Thanks, Morg.”

  The static stopped as Morgan put the receiver down.

  “Well, here we go again,” Morgan said.

  “You’re going out? I’ll go with you,” Chuck said.

  “Pop…”

  “No arguing. Call Andy.”

  “Oh, my God,” Betty said. “I hope they’re all right.”

  Cara said nothing, just watched Morgan.

  Morgan called into the receiver. “Andy? Andy, come in.”

  The static rang through the air. “Hey, Morg. I thought you were off today.”

  “We got a problem. Barry has a couple missing quests. Found their canoe. Make sure you’re all gassed up. Me and Pop will meet you at the hangar. Have fuel ready for my plane, as well. Then we’ll fly out to Barry’s. He thinks they might be lost on the other side of the island.”

  “Will do, Morg. I’ll be ready.”

  “All right.” She set the receiver down, turning to Cara. “I am so sorry.”

  “Please, don’t. Go and do what you have to.”

  Morgan grabbed her worn flying jacket, then kissed Betty on the forehead. “We’ll try to let you know what’s happening.”

  “Just be careful,” Betty said to Chuck. “There’s rain in the forecast.”

  “Don’t worry, sweetie.” Chuck patted her cheeks.

  “I’d feel better if you stay here, okay?” Morgan asked her. “Stay with Cara?”

  “Of course. We’ll be here. Go.”

  Morgan smiled apologetically to Cara. “Take care of her?”

  “Sure. Be careful.”

  “I will. You need your story.”

  Cara grabbed her arm. “That’s not what I meant.”

  Morgan smiled. “It’s not?”

  “Let’s go, Romeo.” Chuck pushed Morgan toward the door.

  Then she was gone. Cara followed Betty out the back door. They watched Morgan run down the path to the pier.

  “Should we help them?” Cara felt the raindrops starting.

  “No. They’ll get it done quicker by themselves. And we’d wind up in the lake.”

  In a few minutes, they heard the engine and watched as the plane taxied along the lake, then picked up speed. Then Morgan was airborne. Cara realized she was holding her breath. She let out a deep sigh of relief.

  “Does this happen often?”

  “More than we like, especially in the summer. Some folks never respect this place. Let’s get back in. Figures it would start raining now.”

  Cara looked up at the angry clouds that appeared over the lake.

  “Storms sure come fast up here,” Betty said, as if reading her mind.

  “Too fast.”

  Chapter 6

  “This is getting monotonous,” Linda said.

  Cara knew she was trying to be funny, but she heard the concern in her voice. “I know. And now there’s a storm brewing, and she’s in a plane,” she whispered, trying not to have Betty hear her.

  “Oh, boy. Well, just sit tight. What else can you do?”

  “Nothing. And it’s infuriating. It’s been two hours, and she hasn’t called. Betty is reading by the fire, but I can tell she’s not concentrating. Well, you wanted a story. I think you may have one.”

  “Okay. I’ll call the mayor’s office.”

  “I don’t give a shit about the mayor’s office.”

  “Whoa,” Linda said. “Take it easy, Cara.”

  “I’m sorry. I suppose I’m just worried.”

  “I understand, kiddo. I’ll call Kim.”

  “No.”

  “Yes. I’ll call her and let her know to leave you alone.”

  “Thanks,” Cara said. “Please tell her I’ll call her later.”

  “I will. Just take care of that pilot and her mother.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Cara sighed, looking at her phone.

  “Everything all right?” Betty asked.

  Cara sat on the couch. “Yes. I just wanted to check in with Linda and let her know what’s happening for the story. Betty…”

  Betty looked over her reading glasses. “Yes?” She closed her book.

  “I need some background information. You know.”

  “Of course! What do you want to know?”

  “Well…What was Morgan’s life like? I mean, did she always want to fly?”

  “Yes. And she almost gave it up.”

  Cara heard her hesitant tone. “If you don’t think she’d want me to know, that’s all right. Whatever it is, I know it’s none of my business.”

  Betty smiled. “I like you, Cara. I think I’m a good judge of character, but I must ask you what you would do with anything I tell you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re a reporter,” Betty said quietly.

  “I understand. If I were ever to use anything, I would ask permission first. And while I’m here for a story about Morgan, I’d never repeat anything. It�
�s just not my way.” She laughed. “Despite what the present White House administration thinks of the media, I’m here just to learn about Morgan, write a good story, and take her to Chicago. If that ever happens.”

  Betty smiled but said nothing, giving Cara the cue to continue.

  Cara leaned forward. “I’m not trying to pry into her life. Maybe just a little insight. So, if you don’t want to tell me anything, that’s fine.”

  Betty nodded; she took off her reading glasses. “Morgan never wanted to leave this lake. She loved it. Loved working and loved flying. Even as a young girl, she was always the one who took charge, always the one her friends and cousins came to for help. It was in her DNA.”

  “Do you mind if I take notes while we talk? Maybe record some of this?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Great.”

  She sounded so gleeful, Cara had to laugh. “I’ll be right back.”

  After retrieving what she needed from her computer case, she returned to see Betty adjusting her sweater, then her white hair. She was adorable.

  “All set,” Betty said happily.

  Cara put her notebook and phone on the table.

  Betty watched her curiously. “Where’s your recorder?”

  Cara held up the recorder.

  “It’s so small.”

  “But it does the job. Sometimes I use my phone, as well.”

  “You can record on a cellphone?”

  Cara tried not to laugh. “Yep. Amazing, huh?”

  “What a wonderful time to be alive. Do you know Chuck did not want to get a cellphone? Morgan only got one because of the business. Chuck still has the rotary dial phone in the bedroom. It doesn’t work, but you can’t tell him.” Betty shook her head.

  “I can see both of them doing that.”

  Betty laughed. “Morgan is more like her father. Though I think she got my sassiness.”

  “That I will agree with. Okay, ready?”

  “Oh, yes.” Betty got all situated and straightened the collar of her sweater.

  Cara didn’t have the heart to remind her it was just audio, not video. She put her glasses on.

  “Oh, you wear glasses. You look very distinguished. I like the black frames.”

  “Thank you,” Cara said, grinning. She turned on the recorder. “This is an interview with Betty Gavin, Morgan’s mother.” She gave the date and time. “Okay, Betty.” She looked at Betty, who seemed enthralled. “Right now, Morgan and her father are out helping Barry find a couple of guests who are missing.”

  “Yes,” Betty said loudly while leaning forward. “That is correct.”

  Cara absently scratched her nose.

  “What? Should I sit closer or talk louder?”

  “No, you’re fine. Just talk like you normally do. The recorder will pick up everything.”

  “Oh, all right. Let’s try again. This is fun!”

  “Yes, it is. So we were talking about this morning.”

  “Yes. We were. And?”

  Cara adjusted her glasses. “And what do you think Morgan and Chuck will do?”

  “Try and find them.”

  “Yes, but…”

  “Can I make a suggestion?” Betty asked.

  Cara blinked several times. “Certainly.”

  “Perhaps ask me a leading question to get me to open up.”

  “I didn’t think I had to do that with you.”

  Betty looked confused for a moment, then she laughed. “Touché. Let’s try again. You’re going to edit out my mistakes, right?”

  “Don’t worry, you’ll sound just fine, I promise. So, what does Morgan normally do when something like this happens? I mean, what procedures does she follow?”

  Betty smiled and made the “okay” gesture with her fingers.

  This will take forever, Cara thought.

  “Well, she and Andy will fly out to Barry’s.”

  “And who exactly is Barry?”

  “Barry Jensen. He owns Jensen’s Resort at the other side of the lake. Been in his family since the forties. Barry is a great guy. He and Morgan went to high school together. I remember once, they both got caught drinking behind the bleachers with the other kids. Was Chuck mad at her, my goodness. Wouldn’t let her fly for a month. That was before we knew…you know.”

  Cara looked over the rim of her glasses. “What?”

  Betty smiled and wiggled her eyebrows, looking as though Cara should know exactly what she was talking about. Cara was lost—so lost. Then it dawned on her.

  “Before you knew she was gay?”

  “Yes! We had no idea. Well, that’s not true. I had an inkling when she was a teenager. Especially when she didn’t go to prom or any of the dances. She never, ever wore a dress, and she loved to wear Chuck’s old flannel shirts. I just thought she had no idea about fashion and was a tomboy. Chuck never thought of anything.” Betty sighed. “I love that man, but he can be dense.” She stopped. “Don’t record that.”

  Cara laughed; she deleted the section. “There, all gone. Like it never happened.”

  “Technology.” Betty sighed. “Now where were we?”

  “Morgan drank behind the bleachers and never wore a dress.”

  Betty frowned. “When you put it like that, she sounds like a—”

  “Anyway,” Cara said quickly. “Did Morgan always love flying?”

  “Oh, yes. She’d always be at the airfield with Chuck and Jerry. They’d take her up, and by the time she was fourteen, she was flying. Not alone, but you know. I wanted her to go off to college after high school, but she didn’t. She took some courses mostly for her flying and for business but only for a couple years.”

  “It’s in her blood?”

  “Yes.” Betty smiled then. “She’s happiest when she’s in the sky.”

  Cara saw her hesitate and looked at the recorder. Cara shut it off. “Is there something else?”

  Betty looked at Cara, almost searching her face.

  “If you don’t think she’d want me to know, that’s all right. Whatever it is, it’s none of my business.”

  Betty nodded; she took off her reading glasses. “You haven’t asked anything about her personal life.”

  Cara sat back. “Well, we just started. If there is something Morgan wants to talk about, that’s fine, but I’m not here to pry.”

  “She was in love once. Oh, she dated like a rabbit when she was younger.”

  Cara laughed out loud, then stopped. “Sorry. Do rabbits date?”

  Now Betty laughed. “You know what I mean.”

  “I do. Morgan was a serial dater.”

  Betty laughed again, putting her hand to her mouth. “Oh, if she knew how we were talking. That recorder is off, right?”

  “Yes.” Cara put the small recorder in her breast pocket. “There. All gone.”

  “Oh, I brought apples!”

  “What?”

  “Apples, from Halley and Don. They have a few trees. Let’s make a pie.”

  Cara sat there stunned as Betty walked into the kitchen with a purposeful gait. She sighed and gathered her material and obediently followed.

  “Can you bake?” Betty pulled out everything she needed from the cabinets.

  “No, not really.”

  “Good time to learn. Can you peel an apple?” She handed Cara a paring knife.

  “Can’t I use a carrot peeler?”

  Betty cocked her head. “It’s called a carrot peeler for a reason. Leave some apple on the core.”

  She sat next to Cara, and they got to work. For every mangled apple Cara peeled, Betty had three done. She felt like a fool. It was time to get back to what she knew.

  “So where were we?”

  Betty thought for a moment. “Ah, Morgan’s women. She used to bring home the strangest women. Some were fine, and I even liked a few. Chuck was completely out of his element. He didn’t know if he should shake their hand or stand. It was painful to watch.”

  They both laughed while continuing with the a
pples.

  “Was your father like that?”

  Cara stopped laughing; Betty turned serious when she asked that question. Cara supposed it wasn’t such an odd question, just the way she blurted it out.

  “No, my father and I were very close. He knew before I did, I think. My mother had the problem. You know, the oldest girl. No marriage, no kids. My sister, thank God, picked up the mantel and had four. My brother is married, so I guess she was okay. Dad was more sympathetic, I think that’s the right word. He was always there to talk about it.”

  “I’m sure you miss him very much.”

  Cara tilted her head. “I do. I miss my mother, as well.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Has she passed, as well?”

  “How did you know my father passed away?”

  Betty blinked several times. “I suppose the way you talked about him, in the past tense.”

  “Oh, okay.” Cara laughed. “Sorry, I don’t mean to sound so suspicious.”

  Betty laughed quietly, wiping her hands on a towel. “The nature of your business.”

  “And my mother is still alive.”

  “Oh, good. Now I’ll show you how to make the crust. Does your mother live in Chicago?”

  “No. She lives with my brother in San Diego. Couldn’t stand the Chicago winters. And she needs to be needed and loves to be taken care of. So, my brother is perfect for that. He dotes on her.” Cara munched on an apple peel while watching Betty make the crust. “I will never remember this.”

  Betty laughed. “You don’t have to. I have it written down somewhere. Besides, Morgan uses the store-bought kind. She has no patience for recipes.”

  “That’s surprising. She doesn’t own a microwave or a coffeemaker.”

  “I told you she was like her father,” Betty reminded her.

  “That’s one professional-looking pie.”

  “Thank you.” Betty examined her work before putting the pie in the oven, then dusted off her hands. “We’ll have pie in one hour.”

  “I’ll clean up.”

  “And I will watch.” Betty let out a groan when she sat at the table. “So what else would you like to know?”

  “Anything. What about relatives? Cousins, friends...”

  “Oh, cousins. Now that’s a story.”

  “Do they live on the lake?”

  “Heavens, no. They wanted out. Had enough of the boundary waters. Not enough going on. They’re scattered all over. Chuck and I owned most of the property. Jerry and Therese lived on about fifteen acres. There was a huge argument.”