Best Friends

by Curry, Edna

“Those are at the other end of the store. What else? We’re in the canned goods section, here.”

  “Tuna and crushed pineapple. Sara’s baby formula and cream of mushroom and tomato soup.”

  Together they soon had things bought and loaded into his pickup. Aunt Cora had sent a couple of large metal coolers with them, and they bought a block of ice for each cooler. Now they packed the jugs of milk, butter and other refrigerated items into the coolers.

  Cal was glad he’d put the topper on his pickup because it looked like rain again. The topper was one of the few things in his shed he’d salvaged from the tornado.

  “You fixed the tailgate, too, I see,” Tami said. “I don’t know how you get it all done. Helping in town and all when so much needs doing at your own place, I mean.”

  He put the last bag inside and closed the topper. “I only helped a couple of days. It’s been too wet to do much at my place. As soon as the muddy fields dry off a bit, I can help my renter start cleaning up the trash. Until then, I’ll be cleaning up the yard.”

  “That’s not too muddy?”

  “No. I’ve kept it well graveled.”

  “Isn’t that expensive?”

  With another lift of the shoulder, he said, “It’s one of the expenses you have with black loam like we have here. We have to either pay for gravel or put up with getting stuck in endless mud whenever it rains, which is usually quite often. I don’t think fighting mud is worth the hassle. Want some coffee before we go back? There’s an all night restaurant near here.”

  “Sure.”

  Over coffee and pie, she said quietly, “I never told you, but I’m really sorry about MaryAnn.”

  “Thanks,” he said, surprised she brought up the subject of his late wife. “The flowers you sent were lovely.”

  Looking down at her plate, she asked, “You loved her a lot, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.” He sighed. “The night of her car accident two years ago seems like yesterday. If I close my eyes, I can still see the cop who drove into my farmyard to deliver the news. She went off shopping and never returned.”

  He saw her eyes fill with tears. In sympathy for his pain? He felt guilty. He had no right to share his pain with her. He seldom talked about it to anyone, but it was so easy to fall back into old habits. Sitting here talking with her late at night was like old times.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “So you had to learn to cope without her, to cook and feed a little boy.”

  “Yes.” He shifted in his chair. “I learned you can do whatever you have to do.”

  “Your mother wasn’t able to help? Or your sister, Jean?”

  “Mom came home to help me out for a while, but she’d already moved to Arizona by then and was still grieving for Dad. Jean’s living in California, and has her own family to care for. Bobby misses his mother, even though he was only three when she died. So do I. MaryAnn was a good wife and mother.”

  “And she liked the country.” Tami sighed. “My big weakness. I loved the idea of moving to the big city.”

  “Was life in the city as wonderful as you expected?” He pushed away the unhappy thoughts. Scooping up a forkful of apple pie and ice cream, he savored it.

  She shrugged. “I suppose. It has its good and bad points.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You found some bad points there, too? It wasn’t all sweetness and light?”

  Her lips twisted. “Hardly. Any big city has problems, and not all areas are safe. I live in a good neighborhood though, and have a nice apartment. I love my work, especially the freelance stuff, where I have more freedom to choose if I want to do a story or not.”

  “So, you did choose to come back to Conley?”

  Raising her eyes, she met his gaze. “In a way. I could have refused, I suppose, but I might have been fired for doing so. You never can tell what Mr. Edwards will do. And I would have been throwing away my best chance at getting our newspaper’s annual award for best articles this year. It’s always given for a series of something sensational, eye catching.”

  He frowned. “You mean a disaster. Like this tornado.”

  “Yes. Her chin lifted and her lips tightened. “Like this tornado. Or a flood. Something important enough to make the national newswires. To bring notice to our paper from others.”

  “Well, good luck,” he said, not even trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice. People were hurting out here. He couldn’t understand seeking them out to write about their pain. She hadn’t changed a bit. What had possessed him to open up and talk about his wife to her? He never talked about the accident to anyone, even his mother.

  “We’d better get back if we don’t want to meet ourselves getting up in the morning.”

  “Okay,” Tami said with a little laugh. “Honestly, I haven’t heard that silly saying for years.”

  “That’s what you always liked about me, isn’t it?” he asked wryly. “I’m just full of hick country jokes and sayings.”

  They walked out to his truck. The clouds had moved in and the air had cooled off to the forties. Tami shivered and he reached behind the seat and pulled out a denim jacket. “Here, put this on. It’s not fancy, but it’ll keep you warm until the heater kicks on.” He handed her the jacket, hoping it was half-way clean and almost expecting her to refuse it. He was relieved when she said, “Thanks,” and slipped into it without a word of objection.

  They talked little on the hour’s drive back to Cora’s house. It had been a long day and they were both tired. Tami leaned back on the seat and fell asleep.

  Had he been too hard on her? She hadn’t even defended herself against his sarcasm. She looked so cute, with her hair tied back the way she used to wear it. Like the teenager she’d been back then. She looked more like the old Tami wearing only lipstick for make-up, too, he noticed. Had she skipped the eye stuff to please him? Or because he’d yelled at her to hurry up?

  At Cora’s he woke her gently, with a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes opened slowly.

  “We’re here?”

  “Yes.” He couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her lips. They were every bit as soft and sweet as he’d remembered. He deepened the kiss and her arms crept up to hold him close. Feeling himself harden, he slipped his tongue between her lips and tasted her. She opened in response as she always had.

  He traced her lips with his tongue and she touched his tongue with her own. Kisses led to more. He slipped his hands inside her jacket and under her blouse. Cupping her full breast, he teased the nipple with his thumb.

  She groaned in pleasure and he dipped his head to take the hardened nubbin in his mouth. He’d gone hard as a rock and wanted desperately to make love to her.

  But she sighed, dropped her arms, pulled away and sat up, effectively ending it.

  He straightened up too. Damn, he shouldn’t have done that. He had to remember he had a son to think of now. Bobby was the important thing in his life, not satisfying his carnal urges. Nothing was going to come of getting involved with her again. What had gotten into him tonight, anyway?

  Wide awake now, she looked at the dark house. “No power yet, huh?”

  “No,” he said, thankfully latching onto the safe change of subject. ”I saw several electric company crews out working on the way home. It shouldn’t be too much longer before we get power back.”

  She nodded and helped him carry everything into the quiet house. “Don’t wake anybody,” she whispered quietly closing the door behind them. “Aunt Cora was beat. She’s not used to keeping up with little ones.”

  “Sure.” Setting the cooler down in the kitchen, he lit the Coleman lantern for light, then started helping her put things away.

  She pushed him aside. “Go on to bed. I’ll put things away.”

  “Okay. Leave the refrigerated items in the coolers. They’ll keep better there with the blocks of ice than in the refrigerator until the power comes back on.”

  “All right,” she said, and began putting the canned goods in the cupboard.

&nbs
p; “Thanks.” He climbed the stairs to the guest room.

  She watched him go, wishing she dared go after him and resume the lovemaking she knew he wanted as much as she. But that was impossible here. Bobby would be asleep in his bed, and Aunt Cora was next door. Should she have settled for the front seat of a pickup for their first time together? No way.

  She sighed and went back to putting groceries away into the cupboards.

  ~*~

  At six the next morning, as usual, Cal awoke and slipped out of bed.

  He pulled on his jeans quietly, then went downstairs, glancing at the blanket-covered form on the sofa. Tami looked so peaceful and pretty, even in her sleep. How could someone so beautiful cause so much pain? It was because of her he’d forgotten his own son last night. She drove him to distraction. Being upset with the price-gouging mobile home salesman hadn’t helped, either.

  He started the coffee, then went back upstairs to shave and finish dressing. Tucking the blanket around his sleepy son, he kissed him goodbye.

  Bobby stirred and sat up, rubbing his eyes. “You leaving, Daddy?”

  “I have to go milk Sam’s cows. You have a good time today, playing here at Cora’s house with the other kids, okay? I’ll be back tonight.”

  “Will you find my teddy bear today?”

  “I’ll look for him, son. But, I’m afraid the bad tornado took him too far away. If I don’t find him, I’ll buy you a new one, okay?” Why the hell hadn’t he remembered to buy one when he was in town last night?

  “Okay.”

  Cal smoothed back Bobby’s curly brown hair and planted a kiss on his forehead. “Go back to sleep. It’s way too early for little boys to get up.”

  As he stepped out into the hallway, he saw the bathroom door close and wondered if Cora was up already. He shrugged and went on downstairs.

  Tami leaned against the bathroom door and closed her eyes against the pain she’d heard in Bobby’s voice. Tears stung behind her eyes. Will you find my teddy bear today?

  Such a little request for the comfort of his bedtime toy. And that request was probably impossible for Cal to grant. How could he find one toy in the strewn mess of belongings of many people, spread over miles of fields?

  It was things like this that got to her. The smashed trees and buildings she could handle. But the emotions of the people always tore at her heart.

  Maybe Mr. Edwards was right. She should stick to doing feature articles and leave the disasters to the men. But were they any tougher, really? Cal’s voice had held as much pain as Bobby’s. And last night he’d turned off the radio to stop the news of the devastation, hadn’t he? What had he said? “I’ve had all the talk of destruction and loss I can handle for one night.”

  She carefully poured water from the jug of bottled water into a glass and brushed her teeth, then used a washcloth and as little water as possible to bathe herself in the sink. What she wouldn’t give right now for a luxurious hot shower in her apartment. Sighing, she brushed her hair, tied it back with an elastic tie and went downstairs. Maybe the power would be restored today. Or she could drive up to her mother’s and shower there this afternoon after she found an internet connection and sent the day’s story and pictures to her paper.

  In the meantime, there was work to be done and she should hurry up. She was not letting Cal go off without her, whether he liked it or not. Now she only had to convince him.

  Chapter 9

  Cal went downstairs and poured himself some coffee, then scrambled some eggs. Cora had left a pan of cinnamon rolls sitting on the kitchen table, so he helped himself to one.

  Sunlight streamed in the kitchen windows, giving him hope for a dry work day as well as plenty of light to see by.

  He picked up the phone to check on the condition of his injured friend. It was ironic he still had his phone card, though he no longer had a phone. The phone company accepted it as usual, and he sighed as he listened to the news that Sam was “doing as well as could be expected.”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “He’s still critical, and will need more surgery.”

  “Is he going to make it?”

  “Only God knows that, sir. We’re doing our best.”

  “Thanks.” He hung up with a bad feeling about his friend’s prospects and sent up a prayer for Sam and Sally.

  Knowing the news of the tornado would have reached Arizona, because he’d heard it was being covered on CNN, he dialed his mother, hoping her new husband wouldn’t be the one to answer. He wasn’t used to the idea of a stepfather yet.

  His mother answered and he assured her he and Bobby were doing fine and staying at Cora’s house. "I tried to reach you before, but there was no answer. You should get an answering machine."

  “I hate those. We’ve decided to come up there to help,” his mother said. “We’re leaving Arizona this morning.”

  “But, Ma, don’t you understand? Your old house and everything in it’s gone. I don’t have any place for you to stay.”

  “No problem, son. I talked to Mary in Sparville last night. She said we’re welcome to stay with her. They didn’t even lose their power. We can help with the clean up and take care of Bobby. We haven’t seen him since Christmas.”

  Cal let out his breath in defeat. “Okay, Ma.” There was no arguing with her when she made up her mind. She and Joe would be a big help, he knew. The clean-up alone seemed overwhelming. And Ma was right. Aunt Mary wouldn’t mind a bit. She’d enjoy returning the visit by spending January in Arizona next winter.

  “See you in a couple of days, then.”

  Cal hung up and turned to find Tami behind him, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “Good morning.”

  She’d put on a pair of fresh blue jeans and an oversized red sweatshirt. She looked tousled, dewy eyed and absolutely desirable. The way she had on that senior high picnic when they’d first gone way beyond kissing and almost made love.

  Remembering, he felt himself harden. He pushed the memories away angrily. It was too long since he’d been around an available woman, that’s all. He wasn’t still attracted to her. He’d gotten over her when they’d split up and she’d left town. He was a responsible father, now, not a sex-crazy teenager.

  He lifted his cup as she offered the coffee pot.

  “Your mother’s coming up?” She poured his coffee and returned it to the gas stove, then sat across from him at the kitchen table. Taking a cinnamon roll, she buttered it.

  “Yeah,” he said, swallowing as he watched her bite into the roll. She had the most perfect white teeth he’d ever seen. And the softest full lips. “And her new husband. You heard she remarried?”

  “Yes. Aunt Cora mentioned it.”

  So, she had kept track of him over the years. So what? That didn’t prove anything, did it? He didn’t still care about her. Well, except for wanting sex, of course. But that was just him being a normal man, wasn’t it?

  “I couldn’t talk Mom out of it. She’s determined they can help. You know how stubborn parents can be.”

  She regarded him over the rim of her cup. “There’s no shame in accepting help.”

  He felt himself flush. “I never said there was.”

  Her full lips twisted in a wry smile. “I know you, Cal. You think you can do everything alone, better than anyone else. Well, maybe you can. But remember, people want to help, want to feel needed and useful. They might even enjoy doing it.”

  “Who made you my counselor?” He asked angrily. “Just leave me alone. Write your stories about other people’s pain but leave me out of it. I have to go. I’ve got cows to milk.”

  “Can I come with you?”

  He stared at her. “Come with me? You? In a cow barn? Aren’t you afraid you’ll step in some manure?”

  She lifted her chin. “I’ll stay out of your way. I want some pictures of the damage in the rural areas, too.”

  “There’s nothing left to take a picture of. Only foundations and debris.”

  “Exactly,” s
he said softly. “That’s what I need to show people.”

  He sighed. “Why not? If I don’t let you, you’ll go bug one of my neighbors. You might as well get it out of your system.”

  “So I’ll go away and leave you alone?” she asked, a little too sweetly.

  Damn. He knew that tone. He bit his lip. Now he’d made her mad. “Yes,” he said, knowing full well it would make her even madder. “Hurry up. Sam’s cows are waiting. They’re used to being milked on a regular schedule. Their bags will be painfully full.” He picked up their dishes and carried them to the sink. “Take your jacket; it’s chilly this morning.”

  Biting her lip to keep from commenting, she hurriedly grabbed her bag and jacket and followed him outside. Bossy damn man! But at least he’d allowed her to accompany him.

  “Wouldn’t you rather be covering the busloads of volunteers who’re coming to help in Conley today? That’d make more interesting pictures than litter on farm fields.”

  “Oh, I’ll get those pictures too, later this afternoon. They won’t arrive for hours, yet.”

  “You’re right about that.”

  He stopped at the end of the sidewalk and glanced at her. “I’m going to be working at home all day. You’d better take your own car. That way I won’t have to stop work to drive you back.”

  “All right. I’ll follow you.”

  When they arrived at the farm, Scamp ran out to welcome them. Cal drove through the yard toward the barn and Tami carefully followed in her car. Debris lay everywhere, and she couldn’t avoid some boards. A sudden loud snap told her she’d run over one.

  With a sinking feeling, she stopped and got out of her car to look at the damage.

  Cal parked, got out and rubbed the dog’s ears. “How are you doing, Pal?” he asked. “Hungry? I’ll get you some food in a minute.”

  “You left your dog here alone?” Tami asked, knitting her brows in a frown.

  “Sure, why not? She always came out here with Bobby when Sally baby-sat him. Scamp stays in the yard and she protects the place. She likes the farm so she can run and doesn’t have to be confined as she is in town.”