Celebrations With Jake and Joe

by Roger W Buenger

  The picnic lunch that Jake had prepared especially early that morning as a favor to Henry was exquisite. Time flew by as they laughed and shared the meal along with lighthearted conversation about topics ranging from Joe’s impending motherhood to events in and around Lewis. Millie and Henry delighted in each other’s company in a way they had never before in the quarter century they had known each other. Soon, the food and drink had been consumed, and the sun was moving lazily across the mid-afternoon sky as they returned the dishes and containers to the basket.

  “You’re sure you don’t want pie?” Henry asked.

  “No thanks, not right now. I’ll take a rain check. I’m stuffed.”

  “Ok, me too, so we’ll save it for another time,” he agreed as he placed the cloth back across the top of the basket and moved it aside. Millie was sitting a couple of feet away but now with nothing between them, took advantage of the chance and scooted to be near him. Likewise, Henry adjusted his positioning and settled into a spot next to her so that they were seated side by side and facing the creek. Suddenly, they both started to feel slightly strange. It was a bit awkward for them to now act in ways that for so long were completely foreign to their relationship. Millie giggled nervously.

  “This is kinda weird, right?” Henry asked, fully cognizant of what she was experiencing because he was feeling the same way.

  “Uh-huh,” she confirmed. “Just a little. So, it’s not just me?”

  “No, of course not, it’s hard to know how to act after all these years of being something else,” he said reassuringly. The words hung in the cool spring air as the sound of trickling water and birds singing in the trees above echoed around them.

  They sat and pondered their next moves for a bit before Millie broke the silence between them. “Maybe we just need to follow our hearts and just let things happen naturally as they come. You know, don’t think it over too much. It’s kinda like cooking. Sometimes it might get a little messy but in the end it usually all works out.”

  Henry smiled at her wisdom. He knew that what she said made a lot of sense. It didn’t matter if things were clumsy at times; they would just have to figure it out. What mattered most was that, in the end, they had each other. He reached with his right hand and took Millie’s left into a soft embrace. His touch was gentle and warm, and she smiled as she leaned her head over onto his shoulder. It reminded him of how he once felt about another woman.

  “This is a very special place,” he thought aloud.

  “It sure is,” Millie agreed softly.

  “In my whole life, I’ve only ever brought one other girl here before today.”

  Millie knew that he could only be referring to Mary, and she was both surprised and touched.

  “Is that true? Just Mary?” she asked as she lifted her head and looked at him.

  “Yep, just her. A long time ago, this was kind of one of our places to go.”

  Millie sat up and looked at him more directly. “Oh Henry, I’m so sorry. You shouldn’t have brought me here then,” she said without a hint of jealousy. “This place and its memories are for you two, not us. You could have taken me any old place, and I’d be happy.”

  Henry grinned. Millie’s selflessness and sincerity were two of the qualities he cherished most. It was for precisely that reason that he wanted to share his life, and this place, with her.

  “You don’t understand,” he said as he moved his hand to her cheek. “I was lucky enough to find two women in one lifetime that I wanted to share this with.”

  Millie gazed upward into his eyes as he lowered his lips to hers. Their first kiss was slow, passionate, and magical, leaving her lightheaded and giddy. She felt as if she couldn’t catch her breath, but she dared not pull away from him. She had waited far too long, and the reality was far more sensational than any imagination of the moment could have been. Henry moved to take her into his arms, and they slowly fell backward onto the blanket. With each ensuing kiss, they drifted further from their minds and deeper into their hearts. Henry’s much deliberated and highly anticipated first kiss of Millie was anything but awkward. Instead, it was a classic Hollywood moment that would have made Cary Grant proud.

  Chapter 13

  Carefully Chosen Words

  The afternoon had been unlike any other Millie and Henry had ever spent together. They were exuberant as they drove back to Oak Forest and agreed to call a meeting with Jake and Joe to celebrate the new status of their relationship. Millie gazed out the window of the truck while Henry guided the Ford home.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever had a nicer day,” Millie purred as she looked through the glass at the scenery flowing by.

  “Me either,” Henry agreed as he reached with his right hand and patted her leg softly. Millie moved her hand atop his, and he rested it there, enjoying her touch.

  “If I had known you could kiss like that, I would have taken you for a picnic years ago!” he teased, punctuated by a little squeeze of her thigh.

  “Oh now, you stop that,” she shot back, slightly embarrassed. In truth, she wasn’t actually offended but merely portraying a perceived role that she was supposed to be “hard to get.” If I’d have known you could kiss like that, I’d have gone with you years ago too! she thought with a sly smile remembering their passionate interlude at the spring.

  “I’m just kidding with you,” Henry said as he attempted to soften his statement. “I just want you to know how much I liked kissing you. I liked it… a lot.”

  Millie looked away so that Henry couldn’t see how those words made her smile, but she squeezed his hand in subtle confirmation that she felt the same way. It may have been a long time coming, but it had been well worth the wait.

  Once they had returned to Oak Forest, Henry dropped Millie and the picnic supplies off at the house before taking the truck back to the garage. After he had wiped it down completely, he pulled it into its usual spot inside the building and slid a custom-made cover over it. He took a slow walk around the perimeter of the Ford and upon deciding that he was satisfied that everything met his expectations, he slid the garage door closed. The antique vehicle was much more than just a prized possession. It was a connection to his family and his past, and he cherished it. Yet again, it had played a key role in one of the most important days in his life. Now outside, he looked at his watch and realized that time had gotten away from him. Henry eagerly headed for the house with the gait of a man half his age. It was nearly thirty minutes past his traditional meeting time, and he hoped that Millie and Joe were not upset by his tardiness.

  Henry’s concern, however, was all for naught. He found the girls patiently waiting for him in the family room. Millie was seated on the couch with her shoes off, and Joe was lounging peacefully on top of her. She was engrossed in administering an intense massage session for the little cat, and Joe was enthralled by the lavish attention. Neither of them had any inkling what time it was or any care about it.

  “Hey, I’m sorry I got lost out there,” Henry apologized as he entered the room.

  “It’s no problem; we girls understand about you men and your trucks,” she said with not even the slightest note of agitation. Joe certainly didn’t seem fazed either as she never lifted her head from Millie’s lap to acknowledge his entry. Henry liked that Millie was so accepting and understanding of his ways, and he stepped over to her. While reaching down to give Joe a few light scratches on her neck, he also leaned and gave Millie a peck on the lips. The romantic move surprised her, but also made her smile.

  “Mmmm, I could get used to that,” she said flirtatiously.

  “I hope you do,” he replied as he moved in and gave her a second light follow-up kiss. “Do you still have time for a talk with Jake?”

  “You kidding? I’m all yours, Mr. Engel.”

  Henry winked at her as he pulled away and headed to fetch Jake for their meeting. In short order, he returned with two expertly crafted cocktails and after delivering one of the glasses to Millie, settled into his fa
vorite chair.

  “What a day!” he proclaimed and took a sip from his glass.

  “You can say that again,” Millie chimed in.

  Henry leaned his head back against the recliner and let his mind wander to the afternoon at the spring. It had all gone by too quickly, but now he had another chance to relive the events of the date, and he was enjoying the experience. That was, until things took an unexpected turn.

  “I’ve been thinking, Henry. Do you remember the night we had dinner?”

  “Of course I remember,” Henry answered without knowing where this was leading.

  “Well, that night you offered to help me look for my son. I told you that I needed time to think about it, and I have. I want to find him. Is that offer still good?”

  Henry’s heart nearly stopped. His mind had been a million miles away, and he was completely caught off guard by Millie’s request. As she was speaking, he was in the process of taking a swallow and somewhere between the glass and his stomach things took a wrong turn. Suddenly he lurched forward and began to gag and cough as his reflexes attempted to clear his airway.

  “Oh my goodness, Henry! Are you all right?” Millie asked excitedly as she sat up and put her glass down on the coffee table in front of her. In her excitement, she inadvertently knocked Joe to the floor. Before she could stand and come over to him, Henry motioned with his hand that he was going to be all right and that she should stay where she was. In seconds, he was up and out of his chair.

  “Damn, I swallowed wrong,” he gasped as he headed to the kitchen. “I’m just going to grab a towel, be right back.”

  “You sure you’re ok? I can do that,” she called.

  “Nah, I got it,” he replied. In truth, he needed a chance to collect himself and figure out how to handle things.

  “You had me worried there for a second; I didn’t know what was happening,” she said with concern.

  “I’m fine. It just went down the wrong pipe,” he explained as he knelt and wiped up the small amount of liquid that had spattered across the floor by the chair. Satisfied that Henry would survive the incident, Millie picked up her glass and leaned back on the couch. Joe decided that she had seen enough and retreated to the cool and quiet of the office for an early evening nap.

  “Sorry about that. You were saying?” Henry asked after dropping the towel next to his chair and returning to his seat. He knew perfectly well what Millie had said, but he was buying time as his mind raced to find an appropriate response. Having just learned that morning of the unfortunate circumstances of her son’s life and his untimely demise, he already knew that a search for Millie’s son would result in heartbreak.

  “I was saying that if you were still willing to help me, I would like to find my son. I don’t want your money; I’ve got plenty of that. I just need help in figuring out how to go about it. I don’t even know where to start.”

  Henry listened intently. He was deathly opposed to lies and valued honesty above nearly all else. The last thing he wanted to do was to start their new life together off with untruths and secrets. He knew how dangerous and costly dishonesty could be. It was a painful lesson learned from his relationship with Mary and one he had never forgotten. However, he knew how terribly devastated Millie would be by the truth, and he wanted to spare her that pain at all costs. One thing that Henry had become an expert at during his years in business was the art of deflection and diversion. It was a way to not say something you would later regret without having to lie. He could make a statement that another would believe implied something when, in fact, he did not actually commit to it. In a world of deals, contracts, and legalities this skill had often been invaluable to him. Now, in order to buy time and protect Millie’s feelings, he employed the tactic masterfully.

  “Millie, I’d do most anything for you. Of course, I am always ready to help you any way I can,” he answered sincerely, carefully choosing each of his words. Her face glowed as he spoke. “But what’s this about you don’t need my money?” He was pivoting the conversation away from the hot topic to be sure, but also was curious about her choice of words. Millie laughed.

  “Well, it’s not like I’m some pauper. You know you’ve paid me very well for lots of years, Henry. I don’t spend too much; you never know when a rainy day might come along. So, the bank is pretty near getting full up with my money,” she declared proudly.

  Henry was impressed by her confidence and common sense. He was anything but a moneygrubbing miser and lived quite well, to be sure. Be that as it may, he also did not throw money around and believed strongly in accumulating wealth. He was pleased to discover that Millie shared in this belief.

  “Well, since we are dating now maybe I could pay you a little less then,” he teased mischievously.

  “That’s not gonna happen,” she zipped back. “If anything, now that I’m seeing the boss, I’m in line for a raise. That’s what those women on TV do!” she joked. Her jabs were flirtatious, and they made Henry chuckle.

  “I guess we’ll have to see how good you are and then decide about the money.”

  “I was pretty darned good today!” she fired again without missing a beat.

  Henry nearly spit his drink as he had earlier but this time it wasn’t from choking. He was completely enthralled by Millie’s sassy side and felt like a young man again when he was with her.

  “I certainly can’t argue with that!” he agreed.

  Their meeting continued for another hour as they shared a second round of drinks, and the conversation turned to less scintillating topics. Finally, at last, Millie left after a long and exhilarating day and headed for home with the taste of Henry’s good night kiss still fresh on her lips. Henry watched as she pulled out of the driveway and reflected on the fact that both of them would now be alone until she returned the next morning. We’ll have to do something about that, he thought.

  *

  The following morning, Henry was already seated at his favorite table at The Eager Beaver when the town mayor walked in just before 11:30 a.m. Both men were notorious for their punctuality, and Richard Ross was disappointed that Henry had bested him.

  “I was hoping to beat you here,” the mayor said in jest.

  “Come on now, Dick, you know better than that,” Henry joked as he rose to shake hands with him.

  “You’re right, I do,” Richard happily conceded as the men sat down.

  “How’ve you been, Henry?” he asked.

  “I’m great! How’s life as the most powerful man in Lewis?” Henry inquired.

  “I wouldn’t know. Suppose you tell me,” Richard stated with obvious deference to the elder man’s status within the community. Henry smiled. Richard was a clever man and a savvy politician. He fully understood that Henry Engel had been the anonymous driving force behind the majority of the town’s most important projects over the years. It was the very reason that he had dropped everything and agreed to meet with Henry on this day.

  “Hi, Mr. Engel! Hey, Mayor!” greeted Jenny with enthusiasm as she approached and placed two menus on the table. “This is a nice surprise seeing both of you. Can I get you fellas something to drink?”

  “Good morning Jenny, I’ll take a glass of iced tea,” Henry replied.

  “Make that two please,” Richard added.

  “All righty then, I’ll be right back to get your order,” she said sweetly as she spun and headed off to retrieve their drinks.

  “So, Henry, what concerns you about the proposed cell phone tower?” the mayor asked cutting to the heart of the matter.

  “Well, I’ll tell you, Dick, I’m certainly in favor of bringing cell service to Lewis. It makes all the sense in the world as far as I’m concerned.” Richard nodded as Henry continued. “The questions I have are more related to why here and why this outfit?” Henry was referring to the proposal to erect the large tower on a lot situated just behind the Landmark Center where the diner was located.

  “Honestly, Henry, it’s the first and only proposal that
’s ever come into my office. It’s really no more complicated than that.”

  “How did it come about?”

  “John Everett brought it to me. He said the phone company approached him, and he stands to make a good payday if he leases them the land. He’s got the whole deal already in place, just needs approval to go ahead. The town gets cell phone service out of the bargain, so it seemed like a reasonable win-win to me. That is, anyway, until word got out, and folks started squawking about eyesores and blight on the town’s skyline. I’ve even heard they want to hold a rally out front against it.”

  Henry nodded his head, understanding the uproar that had been generated. The Eager Beaver was one of the most recognizable landmarks around Lewis, and it was revered by many. It was a place that both in appearance and attitude oozed small-town charm. In many ways, it was also an iconic symbol of the old-fashioned family values typical of rural Middle America, and many residents would resist any attempt by the modern world to spoil that.

  “Yeah, I guess folks get cranky when progress rears its ugly head,” Henry commented.

  “Hell, Henry, we’ve got a giant sign out front with a grinning beaver on it. Just as many folks call me every year screaming that we need to get it down and get something more modern around here.”

  Henry laughed, and Richard broke into a mild smile at the irony. Such are the dilemmas of a small-town mayor caught between the future and the past.

  Jenny returned and placed two tall glasses of freshly brewed iced tea complete with lemon wedges in front of them.

  “Are you gentlemen ready?” she asked.

  “We’re going to be back in just a few minutes; can you come back in a bit?” Henry asked her.

  “Of course, no problem. I’ll watch for you.”

  “Thanks, Jenny. Dick, you feel like stretching your legs?” Henry asked.