All for One

by Melody Carlson

  “Quit acting like a child!”

  “Hey, guys, guys.” Janie formed her forefingers into a T shape. “Time-out. Really, this isn’t worth fighting over.”

  Abby balled her hands into fists. “Well, at least you can see what I have to deal with, Janie—why I get so frustrated. It’s like he doesn’t even care, like he wants to just die or something.”

  “Oh, Abby, don’t be such a drama queen.” Paul stood and looked at her, softening his tone a bit as he continued. “I just want to watch this game, honey. If you leave me alone, I promise I’ll get some exercise as soon as it ends. Just lay off me for now. Okay?”

  Abby rolled her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, that’s what you always say. It’s always ‘later,’ but later hardly ever comes. You need some exercise, Paul. We both do.”

  “Hey, you guys should join the fitness club,” Janie said. “They’ve got some great new classes starting up. And with winter coming, it would be a good way to get a workout regardless of the weather.”

  Abby grimaced. The idea of joining the fitness club was not the least bit appealing to her. She’d rather go beat her head against a brick wall. Oh, she’d gone in there once to check out the facility during one of its open houses, but she’d taken one look at all those young, thin, fit, scantily clad bodies and practically had a tizzy fit. No way was she going to strut her out-of-shape, fifty-something, flabby old self around that body shop.

  “You know, I’ve been thinking about joining the club,” Paul said. “In fact one of my golf buddies gave me a free pass to try it out for a week.”

  “You should use it,” Janie encouraged him. “Even if you just did the treadmill for thirty minutes a day, it would be better than sitting in front of the TV. Besides, they have TVs there, so you can catch up on CNN if you like. Plus, if you join the club, they’ll give you a free consultation with a personal trainer who can set up an appropriate program for you. They coordinate with physical therapists and doctors. Really, Paul, it would be good for you.” She turned to Abby. “And you, too.”

  Abby firmly shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll get my exercise on the beach.”

  “What about when the weather’s bad?”

  Abby shrugged. “I don’t mind walking in the rain.”

  Paul laughed like this was hilarious. “Yeah, right. That’ll happen.”

  “I do walk in the rain sometimes,” Abby defended. “I have a waterproof parka and rubber boots and—”

  “Oh sure, Abby.” Paul’s tone was skeptical. “You’re always out there walking in the rain. A regular duck.”

  Abby scowled, repressing the urge to pick up his newspaper and smack him on the top of his balding head.

  He just grinned at her. “Come on, Absters, if I’m willing to join the fitness club, why won’t you?”

  Abby considered this. “I’ll make you a deal, Paul. You take that free pass, and if you go steady for one week, I’ll promise to look into it too. Okay?” She knew she was stepping out on a limb, but if this would get Paul to exercise, so be it. Besides, she only promised to “look into it,” not to join. She had absolutely no intention of doing that!

  “Okay, it’s a deal.” He reached out and shook her hand. “But we have a witness. You heard her, Janie.”

  Janie grinned. “I did. And I think it’s a great idea for both of you.”

  “Now if you’ll excuse us.” Abby turned away from her couch-potato husband and went for her jacket. “We will go out and take pleasure in the fresh sea air and sunshine as we walk on the beautiful beach where our lifetime membership is already paid in full.”

  “Enjoy!” he called out.

  “We will!” she shot back. “Come on, Janie.”

  Janie laughed as they went outside. “Do you guys always talk like that to each other?”

  “Actually I’d been trying very hard to be Miss Congeniality lately,” Abby admitted. “I haven’t wanted to get him ruffled up, you know, for the sake of his heart and health.”

  “How about for the sake of your marriage?”

  Abby considered this. “Well, that, too. But, really, if what everyone is saying is true—if I’ve been overdoing it and obsessing over Paul’s health too much—then I suppose I might as well start acting like my old fishwife self again.”

  Janie didn’t respond.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Abby said as she led the way down the wooden stairs to the beach.

  “Really?” Janie sounded surprised. “What am I thinking?”

  Abby continued down the stairs until she reached the sand, then turned to look at Janie. “You think I’m not taking our marriage counseling seriously enough, and that I should practice talking to Paul the way the counselor has been recommending.”

  Janie gave Abby a surprisingly blank look. “And why would I think that?”

  “Because you’re the one who told us to get counseling in the first place.” Abby started walking now.

  “I merely suggested it.”

  “Well, you were right to suggest it.”

  Janie gave Abby a knowing smile. “Is it working for you?”

  Abby felt a bit childish now. “Yes. It actually was starting to work, then the heart attack threw me off keel. When I remember to follow our counselor’s advice, though, it does seem to improve things.”

  “What’s the advice?”

  “Oh, I’m sure you know the drill. It’s okay to disagree, but keep our arguments clean. No personal attacks. No name-calling. No threats or ultimatums. Stop acting like overgrown children.”

  “That makes sense.”

  They walked for a while without talking. Abby shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and wondered why she was being so testy about Paul. She should be in good spirits after finally getting some rest. She looked out over the shimmering blue-green ocean, the curling waves capped with white foam, sun glistening on the water. She loved the comforting sounds of the rolling surf and the occasional screech of seagulls, like all was well with the world again.

  But when she glanced at Janie, she noticed that her friend’s expression was grim. Janie was being awfully quiet. Abby wondered if she’d hurt Janie’s feelings somehow. Abby was good at sticking her foot in her mouth, sometimes without even knowing it. It wasn’t as if her relationship with Janie had been terribly solid recently.

  “Did I say something?” Abby asked carefully. “I mean, did I offend you without meaning to? We all know how good I am at saying the wrong thing.”

  “No. No.” Janie shook her head in a convincing way. “Not at all, Abby.”

  “I know we’ve had some rough spots,” Abby continued. “I have a feeling I owe you an apology.”

  “For what?”

  Abby thought hard, wondering how much to say. If she and Janie were going to continue being friends and partners, she’d better just lay her cards on the table. “Well, the truth is I, uh, I think I’ve been jealous of you.” Janie pressed her lips together, almost as if she’d been aware of this too. “It’s hard seeing you working on the house, freely coming and going, doing as you please. Your life seems so carefree and fun, especially compared to mine.”

  Janie’s brows shot up. “You think my life is carefree and fun?”

  “Oh, I know you’re a hard worker, Janie, and I know you’ve been through some hard things. It’s just that, well, everything seems to come so easily to you.”

  Janie frowned. “You know what they say, Abby: Things aren’t always what they seem.”

  Again they walked for several minutes without talking, but it didn’t seem a comfortable sort of silence. Abby had probably really offended Janie this time. Really, why had she even opened her mouth? She looked at Janie as they walked. It was strange, but Abby thought she was seeing Janie more clearly than ever. She studied Janie’s fine features, high cheek
bones, straight narrow nose, the flashing copper color of hair as it blew in the sea breeze. Janie had been the ugly-duckling Linda back in high school, but she’d grown into a beautiful woman. Even that truth was slightly aggravating. Why did Janie get it all? Money, freedom, good looks … it just wasn’t fair.

  Abby felt guilty all over again. Why was she being so hard on Janie? Was it just because Abby was jealous? How mature was that? She glanced at Janie again, this time noticing that Janie’s brow was creased, as if she were deeply troubled. Probably thanks to Abby. “You’re being awfully quiet, Janie.”

  Janie made what seemed a forced smile. “Sorry.”

  “It’s because of me, isn’t it?” Abby asked. “I know I’m a lousy friend. Jealous and cranky and unappreciative.”

  “What?” Janie seemed surprised.

  “I’m sorry,” Abby said. “I don’t want us to be like this, Janie. I need your friendship. I really am thankful that you partnered with me in the house. It’s just that my life seems so derailed recently. I don’t want to be jealous of you. Please, can you forgive me?”

  Janie smiled. “Of course I forgive you, Abby. And I’m sorry I was being so quiet. The truth is I was actually thinking about something else.”

  Abby felt relieved. “Oh, so it wasn’t that I’d offended you by being jealous of your life?”

  Janie kind of laughed. “No, Abby. I think I was simply caught up in my own thoughts. I’m sorry.”

  Abby considered this as they continued to walk. It was hard to remember exactly what was going on with Janie these days. Of course, she’d been working on her new law office. But what else was going on? Why would Janie be troubled about anything? Her life seemed picture perfect, at least from Abby’s perspective. It was hard to imagine Janie with any problems.

  Suddenly Abby recalled what Paul had said last week—that bit about Victor’s ex-wife coming—and now she remembered how she had blurted it out at coffee on Tuesday. Marley had confirmed it later on. Of course that had to be what was troubling Janie. Why hadn’t Abby thought of it earlier?

  “So tell me, how are things with Victor these days?” Abby began.

  “Oh, fine.”

  “And his ex?”

  Janie sighed. “Ah yes, his ex.”

  “So is his ex still coming?”

  Janie pushed a strand of hair from her eyes. “Actually she’s probably here by now.”

  “Here?” Abby stopped walking. “Here in Clifden?”

  Janie faced Abby and nodded with no show of emotion. “Victor drove over to Eugene to pick her up yesterday. Her flight was supposed to arrive around eight last night.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  “No, I’m totally serious.” Janie shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans and started walking again.

  “Victor drove over there to pick her up?”

  “That was his plan. Apparently she wasn’t comfortable getting a rental car. I think she thought she couldn’t return it.” Janie made what sounded like a forced laugh. “As if Clifden were way out in the sticks or the ends of the earth or something.”

  “Out in the sticks? Well, that’s ridiculous. What a foolish-sounding woman. I guess that means she’ll be stuck here with no car?” Abby scowled as she bent down to pick up a whole sand dollar. She showed it to Janie.

  “Nice.” Janie nodded. “Anyway, Victor didn’t seem to mind going to get her.”

  “So Victor’s ex-wife is in Clifden now.” Abby was still trying to wrap her head around this news. “Where is she staying?”

  “The plan was for her to spend the night at Victor’s.”

  “At Victor’s?” Abby was truly shocked by this. “Just who does this hussy think she is, anyway?”

  “Victor’s ex-wife?”

  “Well, that woman is asking for trouble. I have half a mind to go over there and give it to her.” Abby shook her fist in the air.

  Janie laughed at her, and although Abby was slightly offended, she was relieved, too. At least Janie’s laughter sounded authentic. “Don’t be too hard on Victor’s ex, Abby. I have a feeling she’s going through some hard things right now.”

  “That may be so. But why does she need to stay with Victor? I mean, there are plenty of other places in town. And yet she insists on staying right there in his house with him? Way out there on the beach? And she has no car, so it’s not like she can easily get into town. Seriously, that seems a bit much, don’t you think?”

  “No, I actually think it makes some sense. Victor said Ben was going to drive down from college last night too. So they’re having a little family reunion. Only their older son, Marcus, won’t be there.”

  Abby didn’t know how to respond to this. Something about it seemed all wrong to her. Something smelled fishy, and it wasn’t the low tide.

  “Janie, how do you feel about this? I mean seriously? You seem pretty calm and cool and collected. But if it were me, I’d be feeling jealous and left out. Oh, let’s face it—if it were me, I’d be going bonkers. How can you stand it?”

  “To be honest, part of me feels a little on edge today. I just keep reminding myself that Victor and I have something very special. And I trust him, Abby. Then I have to remind myself…. You know, the old qué será será. Whatever will be, will be.”

  “Do you love Victor?” Abby put a hand on Janie’s shoulder, stopped her from walking, and looked deeply into her eyes.

  Janie’s lower lip quivered ever so slightly. “Yes, I think I do.”

  “So you’re just trying to keep a brave front for his sake? Waiting for his ex to take a hint and go home, waiting for this nonsense to blow over?”

  Janie nodded, but Abby thought her friend seemed close to tears. For some reason the display reassured Abby. Not that she wanted to see Janie break down and fall apart, but sometimes Janie appeared so controlled. She was such an expert at keeping up appearances and proper pretenses, like she thought she was still that Ms. Perfect Manhattan Attorney, like she could never reveal what lurked beneath her flawless surface. Anyway, although Abby didn’t like to see her friend hurting, it was a comfort to know that Janie had feelings.

  Suddenly Abby felt a maternal sort of love for her friend. In some ways Janie wasn’t unlike Abby’s daughters, who’d also suffered heartaches. Abby reached out and pulled Janie into a tight hug, just like she wished she could do with her strong-willed Laurie down in San Francisco.

  “It’s going to be okay,” she assured Janie. “Don’t you worry. Victor would be a complete fool not to know what he’s got with you.”

  Chapter 6

  JANIE

  Monday morning, Janie decided to use Veterans Day and the parade as a distraction to her obsession over what exactly was going on at Victor’s house. As Janie drove to town, she couldn’t help but remember Abby’s shock that Victor’s ex had insisted on being his house guest. Really, Janie did not want to think about any of that today.

  She was extremely glad she’d volunteered last week to help work on the local Veterans of Foreign Wars’ float. It had seemed a little silly at the time. Seriously, how could her involvement with the VFW or this parade possibly reconnect her to her father? Still, she had felt it was right. Today her contribution to “The Patriots” float was to help put on the final trim: perishable decorations like flowers, as well as crepe paper and balloons. As it turned out, this mundane task of arranging streamers and inflating balloons was just what she needed today.

  Unfortunately she’d been unable to coax, coerce, or even guilt any of the Lindas into joining her. Marley was playing grandma to Jack’s seven-year-old granddaughter, Hunter, so that Jack and his daughter, Jasmine, were free to man his art gallery. Veterans Day weekend was supposed to be profitable for them. Of course, Janie knew that Marley liked any excuse to spend time with Hunter. “I have to help Hunter with her parade cos
tume,” Marley had explained last night, “and then I need to get her delivered to the staging area and hooked up with the Clifden Mini-Majorettes, and then I’ll remain on hand in case she needs me.”

  Janie hadn’t meant to laugh as she wished Marley the best of luck. But the image of Marley, dressed in her usual beads and bright colors, hair sticking out as she traipsed down the street behind a bunch of hyper seven-year-olds, tying their tennis shoes or retrieving wayward batons, was rather amusing. “I’ll be watching for you in the parade,” Janie had told her.

  Caroline’s excuse was that Mitch was flying in for the day. And it turned out that Abby had her hands full with visiting relatives who were coming for their annual Veterans Day barbecue as well as to check on Paul’s recovery. So today Janie was on her own. Just one Linda.

  “So you say you lost your husband in Vietnam?” An elderly woman named Bitsy loudly asked Janie this question for the third time as they worked together on the flatbed trailer. Bitsy, it seemed, was not only hard of hearing, but a bit forgetful as well.

  “No.” Janie spoke clearly, hoping she might actually get through to her this time. “My husband died of cancer. But my father was in World War II. I wanted to help out with the float today in honor of his memory.”

  “What was his name again?”

  Janie told her again, knowing full well that Bitsy wouldn’t remember this either. Then Bitsy told Janie, for maybe the fifth time, about her son who actually did serve in Vietnam. “It was hard on him,” Bitsy said sadly. “He came home a changed man.” She slowly wound a roll of red crepe paper around the bumper. “Took him a long time to get over it.” She shook her head. “I didn’t know it at the time, but now I believe that was a war that never should’ve happened. No good came of it.”

  Janie wanted to question if good ever came out of any war, but because there were numerous veterans and survivors of veterans around, she decided it would be neither prudent nor kind. Besides, Janie knew that some wars had been waged for noble causes. “I think World War II was hard on my father,” Janie admitted to Bitsy. “I think he came home a changed man too.”