Best Friends

by Curry, Edna

  He couldn’t believe Tami was the same person as the sophisticated woman he’d seen the first night she returned to Conley. Now she wore sneakers, jeans, sweatshirt and work gloves. In fact he hadn’t seen her in much else since the tornado. Come to think of it, he hadn’t seen any nail polish on her nails lately either. Not that she’d had time to worry about such things. It wasn’t only the clothes that were different, though. It was her attitude. Instead of holding herself apart, she seemed truly a part of their community again.

  He watched Tami lean down and pick up a piece of twisted corrugated steel and realized it was heavy. He hurried over to help her. Together they lifted it into the tractor’s bucket. She gave him a grateful smile in thanks. He bit his lip to resist the urge to kiss her in front of all these people. Whatever was the matter with him?

  At noon, they went back into town and ate at the volunteer lunch table. Odd how easy it was becoming to depend on these wonderful people to help as they tried to bring their town back to normal.

  Tami seemed to be just chatting with people throughout the day, yet she managed to collect a lot of information without taking notes. Occasionally she got out her camera and took a lot of pictures in very little time. And she must be a fast writer, he thought, to get her articles written and sent off in the couple of hours she allotted to doing them and driving to Sparville each day.

  In the middle of the afternoon she disappeared. He knew she’d gone to write her article and drive into town to send it off, but he realized he missed seeing her working there beside him. People no longer seemed to resent her doing the articles, he noticed.

  Like him, they were realizing how much help others were willing to give and were beginning to accept that help in the neighborly spirit in which it was offered.

  When he returned to Cora’s house late that evening, he was pleased to see the electricity had been restored.

  Tami was sitting on the couch reading a story to Bobby and his teddy bear.

  She glanced up and gave him a quick smile. Her cheeks were flushed with natural color from working outdoors and her eyes sparkled. In spite of the lack of makeup, she’d never looked more lovely or desirable.

  “Power’s back on!” Bobby greeted him, tossing the bear aside and jumping up for a hug.

  “Yes, isn't that wonderful?” Cora said. “The dishwasher’s doing the dishes tonight!”

  “And there’s hot water for showers,” Tami said with a smile.

  “Sounds great!”

  “Food first,” Cora said firmly. “You look beat, Cal. We’ve eaten, but we saved you some supper. Sit down and I’ll heat it in the microwave. Thank the Lord that works again, too!”

  Tami and Cora sat with Cal and had hot tea as he ate. “Is Scamp okay?” Bobby asked. “Did you feed him?”

  “Oh, yes. I wouldn’t forget him, Bobby.”

  “I talked to Sally today,” Cora said. “Sam’s doing about the same.”

  “Thanks, Cora. I appreciate your help.”

  Tami said, “Linda called, too. She wants me to come over to check the replies to our reunion invitations against the list we did earlier. Don’t you think we should cancel the reunion, Cal?”

  He stared at her. “Cancel it? But Henry’s Place wasn’t damaged.”

  “I know, but…”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “It doesn’t seem right to be celebrating something in the middle of all this pain and destruction.”

  “On the contrary,” Cal said. “Reminding everyone there are still things to celebrate and life goes on is especially important now.”

  Tami considered for a minute. “I guess you’re right. But it won’t be the same without Sam and Sally there.”

  “True. But other things are slowly getting back to normal. Did you hear Conley’s school kids are being bused to an empty school in Sanders?”

  “Empty school?”

  “Sanders consolidated with a larger school last year. The empty building is a godsend for our kids, now.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Tami said.

  “And my trailer’s supposed to be delivered tomorrow morning,” Cal said. “I hope to have power back at my place by then.”

  “That’s good,” Cora said. “You’ll need lots of stuff, though, won’t you?”

  “I’ll worry about that later,” Cal said.

  Cora offered, “I have to go to Mankato in the morning to check on a special paint order for a rush customer. If you’ll make a list, I could pick up some stuff for you.”

  “All right. Want me to watch Bobby tomorrow then?” Cal asked.

  “Oh, but you can’t while you’re in the field,” Cora objected. “He could go with me.”

  “No, let me take him with me to Linda’s house,” Tami said. “He can play with her girls while we talk.”

  “Can I go to Linda’s, Dad?” When Cal nodded, he jumped up and down. “Yea!” Bobby gave Tami a hug. “All right!”

  Cora put in, ”Did you salvage much from your house, Cal?”

  “Some.”

  “I’ll bring Bobby with me out to your place in the afternoon and help you get it organized,” Tami offered.

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I’d like to,” she said softly. “Humor me.”

  He smiled and nodded, too tired to argue. Why not enjoy what she was willing to offer? She’d be gone soon enough.

  The thought made his stomach knot up.

  Chapter 11

  After breakfast the next morning, Tami asked Bobby, “Did you remember you’re going with me to Linda’s house this morning?”

  “Yes,” Bobby said, his face solemn. He tucked his teddy bear under one arm. “And you’re bringing me back to Daddy, later.”

  “That’s right. After we have lunch with Linda and her girls. You’ve played with them at Sally’s house, haven’t you?”

  His face lit up. He nodded and took her hand as they walked out to her car. “I like your red car. Red’s my favorite color.”

  Tami smiled as she helped him inside. “My favorite, too.”

  She got behind the wheel and started off.

  “Are you going to come see our new house?”

  “Yes. Your dad said they are delivering it this morning. It’ll take awhile for the men to get it settled.”

  “Settled?”

  “Well, they have to do stuff like hook up the water, sewer and electricity, you know. At least, we hope they have the power back on by now.”

  “Oh. How do they know how to do that?”

  “Well, they move trailer houses like that one all the time. So they had to learn how.”

  “Oh.”

  Bobby seemed to have run out of questions for the moment. They arrived at Linda’s farm and parked in the neat yard. Luckily her place had not been in the storm’s path.

  Linda greeted them enthusiastically and sent Bobby upstairs to join her girls.

  She had coffee set up on one end of her dining room table and a stack of letters on the other end. Linda filled their cups and they spent some time catching up on news as they drank their coffee.

  Then Tami set up her laptop and they tackled matching the stack of replies on the table with the names in her database.

  “We got a good percentage of acceptances,” Linda enthused. Only five out of the forty three haven’t answered.”

  “Maybe they won’t.”

  “True. Some addresses may have been wrong.”

  “Oh, I don’t think so. We did a good job of tracing them through relatives and the post office didn’t return them.”

  “Just the same, there’s always that possibility.”

  Linda’s mouth twisted. “You’re too trusting, Tami. More likely, some don’t care enough to answer, let alone come.”

  What did she mean, ‘too trusting’? Linda couldn’t possibly know about Tami’s parents’ deception, could she? No one knew. Tami flushed and her heart pounded at the possibility someone had discovered her secrets. Tami’s mothe
r had her pride, as she was fond of saying. She didn’t want people to know about their past financial problems. No matter what the cost.

  But Linda had turned her attention to her daughter, who led the troupe of three youngsters in their demand for food. “We’ll have lunch in a little while. How about an apple for now? Can you get one for each of you, Jean?”

  When she turned back to Tami, Linda seemed to have forgotten that subject, and they continued logging the replies.

  Then they sorted pictures for the bulletin board and decided on last minute changes in the menu suggested by the cook at Henry’s Place.

  “Oh, dear, it’s past noon already. Do you have an article to do for your paper today?” Linda asked.

  Tami shook her head. “Not today. Mr. Edwards has decided we’ll only do a weekly update now unless something special happens. So, I’ve taken a few days off.”

  “Good. With Sally staying in Rochester with Sam, I’m feeling a little short-handed with these preparations. Can you come back and help again tomorrow? We can do the table decorations.” Linda began setting out a casserole for lunch.

  “All right. Cal’s trailer house is being delivered this morning. I told him I’d bring Bobby over and help him get moved into it this afternoon.”

  “Great,” Linda said, smiling widely.

  “You needn’t look so pleased. It doesn’t mean anything. Cal has been a big help with my articles, feeding me information, you know, because he’s the mayor and has the inside scoop on what’s happening.”

  “Yes. Of course.” Linda nodded.

  “That’s all it is,” Tami insisted.

  “Okay. Would you help the kids wash up for lunch while I get the rest of the food on the table?”

  “Sure thing.”

  That’s the only reason I’m helping Cal, isn’t it? she wondered as she helped little hands navigate soap, water and towels. Of course it is.

  Bobby regarded her with solemn dark eyes as she helped him dry his hands. “I like you, Tami.”

  A warm feeling of tenderness for him spread through her. He was such a sweet little boy! No wonder Cal was so fiercely proud and protective of him. Smiling, she said, “I like you, too, Sweetheart. Let’s go eat.”

  Two hours later, she and Bobby drove into Cal’s yard. The trailer had indeed arrived. A large tractor which had evidently towed it there, stood near it in the yard. Several men were busily working on something under it.

  “Oh, it’s a long house,” Bobby cried, staring at the trailer. “Like a big silver box with windows.”

  “Yes.” Tami laughed. “I guess it does look like one. Let’s go see it.”

  The two men adjusting wooden blocks under the wheels looked up and grunted hello as they approached.

  “Hi, Bobby,” Cal said. “How do you like our new house? We’re almost done. We just have to finish leveling it, and then we can move in.”

  “It’s okay, I guess.”

  “Yeah, I know, pal.” Cal rubbed his knuckles into his son’s brown curls. “It’s not the same as our house, is it? But it’ll have to do for now.”

  “Mm hmm.”

  Cal looked at Tami. “We ran a line from the main pole, so we’ve got power now. Life can get back to normal. Tom and I will move the washer and dryer from the basement into the trailer.”

  “Great. Hooray for hot showers and clean laundry!”

  “That’s for sure.”

  Tami and Bobby inspected the inside of the trailer. It had two large bedrooms and a bathroom and laundry area at one end and a good sized kitchen and dining area which was open to the living area at the other end. It had beds, a table and chairs, a stuffed chair and couch, which would suffice as basic furniture. There were lots of built-in drawers and cupboards for storage space.

  “Like it?” Tami smiled at Bobby who was looking around with wide eyes.

  “Yeah,” he said, grinning at her.

  “Well, let’s go get some of your stuff from the basement then.”

  Tami pulled back the tarp covering the stairway to the basement to allow light to enter. She took Bobby’s hand to lead the way carefully down the damaged stairway.

  He grabbed a box of his toys and Tami took a laundry basket of linens. Then they went back to the trailer.

  Tami tried the lights, which worked. “Ah, power. We don’t appreciate it enough when we have it,” she said with a sigh.

  “Can I watch TV, now?”

  “Not yet. The storm smashed the television, remember? But I’m sure your dad will buy another one soon. How about playing a computer game?”

  Bobby's eyes grew wide. "Could I?"

  She smiled. "Of course. I'll get my laptop from my car." She opened up a simple maze game and showed him how to play it. He seemed to be fascinated, and settled down on the couch.

  Tami went back to the basement for some pots and pans she’d salvaged from the house. Then she heated some water on the stove and found a washcloth. She washed the dust from all the cupboards and countertops, then put away the things they’d brought and went back to the basement for more.

  Tom and Cal moved in the washer and dryer. Bobby left his game and began supervising and getting in the men's way. He wanted to watch every bolt and hose as it was connected.

  Tami watched them work as she put sheets and blankets on the beds. Cal was lying on his back, trying to reach behind the dryer in an effort to hook up the moisture exhaust pipe. She tried not to admire his long lean body stretched out in front of her and decided it was time for another walk outdoors.

  She went back to the remains of the house. Stepping carefully through the ruins, she found the clothes from the bedroom closet which they’d seen hanging there that first day after the storm. There was a very nice set of tan slacks and a brown plaid sport coat set on one hanger. Running her hands over the soft wool, she found herself wondering what special occasions Cal had bought them for and what he looked like in them. They would look great with his dark brown hair and eyes, she was sure.

  She moved all the clothes to the trailer, then found the cutlery, towels and other things from the kitchen drawers that remained.

  Bobby, trying his best to obey Cal’s order that he not get underfoot, hugged his teddy bear and watched her wash dishes. “You’re a nice lady, you know that?” he asked her suddenly.

  She grinned in pleasure. “Thanks. I like you, too.”

  “Do you have any kids?”

  She shook her head, her smile fading. “No, not yet.”

  “Why not?”

  She looked at him, quickly. She wasn’t exactly ready to explain the birds and the bees to Cal’s little boy. “Well, uh, I’m not married.”

  “Do you want some kids?”

  “Sure. I’d like a little boy like you someday.”

  He was silent for a minute and she thought she’d solved that problem. He seemed to be full of questions.

  “Well, then,” Bobby suddenly said. “I’ve got an idea.”

  Tami glanced at Cal and saw he was listening with a grin on his face. “I’ve got an idea” was Bobby’s current favorite saying.

  “Yes?”

  “Why don’t you marry Dad and I’ll be your little boy?”

  Tami gulped, staring at him in consternation. Where did that idea come from?

  Her gaze flew to Cal, who was frowning. Well, she guessed that meant he hadn’t put his son up to saying that. She could think of nothing to answer the boy.

  Then she saw Bobby’s disappointed face and said gently, “It’s not quite that simple.”

  His lip quivered. “Don’t you like me?”

  “Yes, of course I do.” Quickly, she dried her hands, stooped and gave him a hug. Over his shoulder, she noticed Cal’s tight-lipped look and released Bobby.

  She rose, saying, “Your father will explain it to you later.”

  Turning away, she went back to washing dishes and putting them away in the cupboards. Why was Cal angry? Because of what Bobby had said, or because she’d hugged his son?
Couldn’t she ever do anything right in Cal’s eyes? Why did that hurt so? She was over him, wasn’t she?

  Soon the men had finished their installation, and Tom left, saying he was going to help pick up debris at Sam’s place.

  “Can I go with you and play with Scamp?” Bobby asked eagerly.

  Tom looked at Cal, who nodded. “All right, but stay out of Tom’s way. And be careful out there. There’s still a lot of debris lying around.”

  “Thanks, Dad!”

  “I’ll drop him off later,” Tom said. “Will you be here or at Cora’s?”

  “Here,” Cal said. “We’ve imposed on Cora long enough. We can manage here now.”

  As soon as Tom and Bobby were out of earshot, Cal turned to Tami. “What was the big idea of leading my boy on like that?”

  Tami stared at him and squeaked in surprise, “Leading him on? What do you mean? I haven’t been leading him on about anything.”

  “Yes, you have. You’re giving him false hope of getting a new mother.”

  She frowned. “That was his idea. I don’t know where he got it.”

  “He got it because you’re here, helping us get settled, doing things he sees as a mother’s job. Because you gave him the teddy bear and coloring books.”

  Pain surged through her. She couldn’t believe how much his accusations hurt.

  “Cal, that’s crazy. I only wanted to comfort him a bit, to give him something to replace what he’d lost. I didn’t intend those small gifts to mean anything else.” Naturally he wanted to protect his son. But why did he think he needed to protect him from her?

  “I know you’ll leave again, but he doesn’t. I don’t mind you twisting my feelings around again, but I don’t want my son hurt.”

  Tears sprang to her eyes at his words and she turned quickly away to hide them.

  Cal spun her around and tipped up her chin. When he saw her tears, he said, “I’m sorry, Tami. But don’t you understand? Bobby means everything to me.”

  She nodded. “He’s a great little boy. I wouldn’t hurt him for anything in the world, Cal. How can you believe I would? Am I such a horrible person in your eyes?”

  He stared at her for a long moment, then crushed her to him. “No. You’re not. Just the opposite. You’ve managed to get under my skin all over again.”