Joint Venture

by Tey Holden

  “Oh my God! Come here, baby.” Addy wrapped her in a towel and was leading her to the bathroom in their bedroom. You need a hot shower.”

  “No, not here. Let’s go to the bathroom downstairs.” Addy gave her a quizzical look but seeing that Karen was trembling, agreed to go downstairs. “Okay, let’s go then.”

  In the bathroom, Addy helped her out of her clothes, while Alex waited in the hallway. Addy had already started the hot water running in the shower and the small bathroom was already warm. Karen got in under the warm water, and immediately felt better. “Do you think you are going to need help in there?” Addy asked

  “No, I’m fine. I’m already recovering blood flow.” She stuck out her head. “Addy, I don’t want to scare Alex, but I think we have termites in the attic and the wood up there is rotten. I patched it up and sealed the seams, but the water continues to seep in because the wood is so bad. We are moving camp to the basement and when she falls asleep, we are moving all the stuff from her room to ours. Our side of the house seems to be in better shape. When all this is over, the cottage is going to go through a major overhaul for sure.”

  “Okay. But are we in danger now?”

  “Hopefully not. Besides, as things are, what can we do? We need to stay put, dry and warm. In the basement we will be two floors down. And we will be farther away from any sounds should anything happen up there.”

  “Ker, you are frightening me.” They were talking while Karen showered, dried herself and dressed again.

  “Don’t be. We’ll be fine. And put a good face on for the little one.”

  “Yes, sure.”

  “Come on. Let’s go out.”

  “Are you warm now, Mommy?”

  “Yes, very. That was a nice warm shower. Hey, Alex, I thought we’d try something different tonight,” Karen spoke as she toweled dried her hair.

  “What?” Alex immediately perked up. Just like Addy would whenever there was a new project or something coming up.

  Karen smiled. “I thought we could try moving our camp to the basement tonight.”

  “Why, Mommy? I like it in front of the rec room, it’s cozy, and the sofa is comfy and the fireplace is romantic. M’Addy said so.” Karen looked at Addy, who evaded her look.

  “Well, let’s just try it tonight and see how it works out.”

  “But why?” Not liking the idea, Alex insisted.

  “Alex, Mommy Karen agreed to camp here when you wanted to, so if she wants us to move the camp to the basement, I think we need to reciprocate. Come on, help me get the stuff downstairs.”

  Reluctantly, Alex acquiesced. The basement was not very big and the ceiling was low. They had the old couch from the living room, where they had made love many times, in the basement. There was also the love seat they used to have in their bedroom. This one was going to be Alex’s bed for tonight.

  ***

  In the morning when she awoke, Karen did a quick recon of the upstairs. She came back down. “Stay here for a little while, it’s freezing in the kitchen. The power is off. I just turned the emergency heaters on, they are working on the generator. The house looks like it’s holding up well, let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

  “I’m going to go up and make coffee. Wait here.” Karen turned and went back upstairs to the kitchen.

  Alex woke up. “M’Addy, I’m cold!”

  “Let me get you a blanket baby, we have to wait for the heater to warm up the house again. We had a power outage.”

  “Is the storm over yet?”

  “I don’t know, sweetie. We need to check.”

  “How long is the storm supposed to last, M’Addy? It’s been going on for days. I’m tired of being locked up in here!”

  “Let’s check the radio for some news.” They turned on the emergency radio. The forecasters continued to call for rain, and then they warned about the flooding from the melt down of the snow and ice.

  “Good grief! I don’t remember any storm this long around here ever. Do we have enough food to survive for a few more days?” Karen grumbled as she came back downstairs.

  “Ker, I have enough food in this house to survive a couple of months. Even Noah’s flood!”

  “Good. I don’t think we are going to be able to get out for a while.”

  “Oh no! Peanut Crunchy has to pee. I’m going to my room to get his leash.”

  “Wait!” Karen got in front of her and stopped her.

  “Mommy! Peanut Crunchy has to go or else he’ll pee inside, and M’Addy will send him to Siberia!”

  “What is this Siberia thing?” Addy asked.

  “Nothing, it’s just an expression.” Karen looked at Addy and then at Alex. “Alex, don’t worry. I’ll take him out.” Karen reassured her, but she still stood blocking the stairs to prevent Alex from going up.

  “But I still need to go upstairs to change.”

  “You can’t go upstairs. Your clothes are down here.” Karen again interjected

  Alex looked to Addy as if looking for an explanation, but directed her question to Karen as well. “Why?”

  Karen looked towards Addy. “Addy?”

  “Alex, look at me.” Alex turned as requested. “We have a bit of a problem upstairs.”

  Alex listened attentively. “Yesterday, when Mommy Karen fixed the attic, she realized that the wood up there is a little old and that it’s in bad shape because it’s wet from the rain. So, we need to stay on the ground floor and sleep in the basement to be safe.”

  “Is the roof going to fall down?” Alex asked with eyes wide open.

  Addy looked to Karen and replied. “We don’t think so, but just to be safe, last night after you fell asleep, we moved things around a bit and we brought our clothes down so that we wouldn’t have to go up.”

  “Okay. So, my clothes are in the rec room?” Alex asked in a very calm tone.

  “Yes, let me show you. Come on. Let’s go.” As they walked up, Alex came up with a bright suggestion. “Why we don’t move to the Manor house after the storm passes. I think the cottage is too old, and if the wood is wet it will break and maybe the roof might fall down after all. I don’t know why we have to live in this tiny, little house when we have a huge empty one just down the drive! It would be so much better for everyone if we lived there. It would also be much easier for Mommy Karen to go to work. We can make a door into Mom’s offices, and she could just walk right in and out every day into the house. And when Laurie comes, we can all stay together in the same place. I could also have a bigger room and because there are so many rooms, I could even have a room for all my sport stuff and another room for school stuff. In the summer I could go out to the pool, and Peanut Crunchy would have a larger fenced yard to be out when it’s nice.”

  The women looked at each other. “We’ll have to think about it.” Addy replied, and then remained silent. Alex looked to Karen for her response, but Karen just shrugged her shoulders not knowing why Addy had not been more enthusiastic with Alex’s proposal.

  Nothing else was said, until later that night when the women had their customary chat after Alex went to sleep. “You were quiet on the idea of moving to the Manor house. Why?”

  Addy was thoughtful in her reply. “The idea makes sense. Alex is growing up, she has a lot of stuff and we are pretty crammed here. Also, it would be so much more convenient for you. Do you want to do it?”

  “I wouldn’t mind, except for the fact that you seem to have some reservations. I can tell. What’s bothering you? Why don’t you like the idea?” Karen took her hand and kissed it.

  “It’s just that the cottage has been our home for so long, and we have been so happy here. I feel like the cottage is part of us.” Addy closed her eyes and snuggled to her.

  “It’s been our home, and no one can ever change that, but Addy, the cottage as romantic as it is, is just a place. We made it different because we made it our home. We can do the same thing with the Manor house. Maybe that is our destiny. Look, it took Alex to bring it up, maybe this
is the next step we must take. The cottage will always be here. We will maintain everything as always, and we can have our little escapades here to remember our beginnings. I think it will be romantic. I think we can make the Manor house our home, just as we did with the cottage.”

  “I guess you are right. Alex deserves to take full advantage of what we have. Her room here is tiny. She barely fits in there with all of her stuff and as she grows she will need more space. Yes. I think we should do it. I’ll call Sandy. We’ll redo some of the rooms to our liking, and have big rooms for us, and Alex. Yeah, it will be nice.”

  Karen smiled. “I love it when you get all enthusiastic about a project.” Karen kissed her on her head.

  “Good night, baby.”

  The next morning, they told Alex the news. “Alex, Mommy Karen and I talked last night, and we think that moving to the Manor house is a good idea. The big house has a lot more room, and Mommy Karen would be closer to her office, and—.”

  “Wow! I’m going to have a huge room and Peanut Crunchy will get to pee on the grass by the huge patio, and in the summer, I can go in the pool!” Alex was overjoyed jumping all over the room. Karen stood on the threshold, with her cup of coffee in hand, smiling.

  ***

  Although Alex complained about the storm, she was happy because school had been cancelled indefinitely and also because it prompted the move to the manor house.

  Even though some water had seeped down the wall, the wood planks that Karen nailed up contained most of it, and apparently it had held in place. Fears were alleviated when the previous evening the rain stopped, and then the following day the sun finally made its appearance. With the rising temperatures the snow and ice began to melt fast. The television began to report major damages, not just from the storm but also from the flooding due to the rising water levels in the rivers and lochs.

  When the phone rang, Addy picked up the call. It was Marshall. “Are you guys okay there?”

  “Yes, we are. How is everything in sunny—?”

  Marshall interrupted, sounding concerned. “We are fine, just worried about what we’ve heard from there. Apparently a lot of places in Altee are underwater.”

  “What? Oh my God! We haven’t talked to anyone, we have just seen the little that is on the television and we’ve just stayed put.” Addy explained. Karen immediately began to pay attention to the conversation, more so when Addy called her over so that she could hear Marshall talk. Alex was playing with her computer and was not aware of the conversation.

  “Carol just got a call from Cynthia Sutton, the pharmacist, and she said that they and other people on her street are moving things up to the second floor because the streets look like rivers. She said that cars, trashcans, and everything that was not tied down has washed away, and that there is damage everywhere. People had to flee from their homes near the river and some of the farm animals have drowned. It’s a mess, Addy. I think Altee has suffered a lot of damage with this storm.”

  “I wonder if there’s anything we can do to help.”

  Karen looked at her in surprise. Addy was always trying to help people, but Karen was really wondering how she thought she could possibly help anyone. Did she really think she could do anything for anyone, given the circumstances?

  Marshall continued to talk. “Not sure, Addy. The roads are impassible. The best thing everyone can do is to stay put and try to stay warm until the rain stops and the waters recede.” Karen was glad to hear that, at least, Marshall was giving sensible advice.

  “But I feel so helpless!”

  Karen had enough. “Can I have the phone, please?” Addy handed it over, rolling her eyes. She knew too well about Karen’s interventions. “Marshall, don’t worry about us. We are fine. We will check on your place as soon as we can. I went by before the storm and made sure everything was closed up. We’ll be fine here, even if I have to tie some people down. She looked at Addy as she spoke those last words. Addy could hear Marshall laughing on the other end of the phone. They said good-bye and Karen spoke again.

  “Don’t get any bright ideas, Adriana. I listen to you, you listen to me.”

  “Mommy, can’t we get in the little pool and warm up in the hot water?”

  “That, Alexandra, is an excellent idea. Go put on your swimming suit.” Karen spoke looking at Addy. “Want to join us?” She asked Addy.

  “How could you possibly think of going in the hot tub when half the world is drowning out there?”

  “Watch me!”

  “I’m going to call JP and James to make sure they are okay.”

  “Don’t get any bright ideas. We are not going anywhere! We have problems of our own, in case you have forgotten. Alex and I will be in the little pool soaking. If the whole world is drowning out there, we are going to have a hot warm start.” Alex laughed and skipped around excited with the idea of getting in the hot tub.

  “I’m calling Mel and Vic to see how they are doing also.”

  Part 10

  The McGill estate was not affected by the flooding that followed the storm because the estate sat on the area’s highest grounds. The town of Altee, however, was in a low-lying area and surrounded by two rivers and a couple of lochs. The rivers swelled well over their banks, flooding the valley, and the same thing happened with the lochs and the dam near Altee. The dam was not sufficiently high, and the water found its way around it. The whole area became a disaster zone.

  In addition, there was a lot of damage to personal property. Many roofs had collapsed on older houses under the weight of the snow. Many lost their homes and had to flee to higher ground, or relative’s homes. The roads were flooded and impassible and when the waters finally subsided, the roads were damaged to such extent that travel was difficult, if not impossible in some areas.

  After the water receded, people began the cleanup effort. The task was monumental and many began to feel helpless. Shelters were improvised at the local schools and churches, and the Council Chair scheduled a town hall meeting to hear citizen’s needs and concerns.

  The entire town showed up at the meeting, including Karen, Addy and Alex. There they met JP and James. Mel and Vic did not attend because Vic was overwhelmed with all the calls she had received concerning emergency livestock situations, and Mel was helping with the phone calls while at the same time providing psychological comfort to the desperate callers.

  At the meeting, the complaints, the yelling and the animosity of the crowd were such that they were overpowering Chair Hutton who was trying very hard to listen to everyone’s situation. Consistently, the Council Chair had been held by retired men with very little to do but socialize and represent the town during various ceremonies and functions. The usual tasks of the Chair were basically to deal with the trash pickup contract, landscaping, negotiating minor neighborly disputes, and other such matters to maintain the peaceful life of the community.

  Although the area had been affected in the past by occasional flooding, there had never been a natural disaster, or an emergency situation of the magnitude that they were facing now. Needless to say, Chair Hutton, who was a retired, mild mannered, schoolteacher in his late seventies was not prepared for the avalanche of trouble that the storm threw at him.

  As things were now, even the town hall meeting turned out to be a challenge for him. The meeting had turned chaotic with everybody trying to talk at once. Everyone was yelling at each other, and at Chair Hutton and demanding action. A couple of women exchanged nasty words with each other, and a couple of men had to be separated by the constable, when they grabbed each other by the throat.

  JP, as usual, voiced his opinion. “Oh my! I think we should all leave immediately.” He paused. “It isn’t good when people begin to grab each other by the neck. I think fistfights are about to begin. I see blood being spilled! We could have a riot here any minute. Look at those women! They don’t have a friendly look.”

  Then he addressed Karen. “Karen, this is not looking like a very safe place for a child. I don�
��t think Alex should be here at all.”

  Alex looked at him furrowing her brow. She had been very excited with the turn of events. “Oh, come on Uncle JP, this is fun and very democratic. The people are just speaking up.” She grinned. Addy and Karen smiled proud of Alex’s grown-up remarks. However, JP’s comments sparked Karen’s mind, and she felt a sign of worry that Addy immediately perceived.

  “You are not going to have that democratic spirit when the fist fights begin, little girl. You’ll see democracy running out those doors, and me leading the way!” JP replied with his usual flare.

  As they laughed, Karen scanned the room for exit routes just in case they had to make a run for it. Just then things got really ugly when several men started accusing Chair Hutton of inaction and incompetence. Chair Hutton was completely out of his element and didn’t know what to say, or do.

  “I think Chair Hutton is going to lose the next election for sure,” Alex remarked

  “That’s if he can make it out of here in one piece.” This time it was James speaking.

  “I say we leave now. I already smell the testosterone in the air,” JP proclaimed.

  Karen looked at Addy for an indication of what to do. Addy looked concerned, she also looked outraged, sad and in total disbelief of what was happening before her eyes. Karen continued to look at her with worry. She had seen that look before. It was the look of volcano Addy when it was about to erupt. Karen knew that if that happened, all eyes would be on them. Oh, shit!

  As Karen feared, all of a sudden, Addy got up and yelled at everyone to shut up. Alex’s eyes became huge. She couldn’t believe what her mom had just done. She was even more surprised, when the entire room actually quieted down. Karen reached for Addy to try and calm her down, but when she saw Alex’s face of admiration for her mom, and later Addy’s fiery face, she knew that the force called Addy could not be stopped. Karen thought that Alex was about to receive one of the best civic lessons of her life. For the first time, she was going to see her sweet, home, loving mom in full-blown action.