by Mimi Barbour
Niagara helped Cindy wash and dry the delicate stemware.
“You love him,” Cindy remarked softly as they finished up their chores.
Niagara sighed happily. “Oh, yes, I sure do. You and his dad never have to worry about that.” she replied.
“Good,” the older woman said as her arm stole around Niagara’s waist. “Let’s go see what the four year olds who shave are up to.”
The women watched the guys in fond amusement. Jace and his father walked to the RV, their arms wrapped around each other’s shoulders.
Something Jay whispered his Jace’s ear caused his son to throw back his head and laugh. “Oh, hell no!” the younger man shouted. “I ain’t doing that! You looking to get me castrated?”
“Why would Jace think I’d castrate him?” Niagara asked her new friend.
“Jay was probably egging him on to bring you to a campground for nudists we found a few years back.”
Niagara giggled. “Did he really?”
Cindy smiled with a wink. “Yes, and my husband was lucky to leave there with his stones intact.”
Chapter Seven
Motorhome Mayhem
Jace opened the door to the motorhome and, swept his hand towards the interior. “After you, my lady,” he said.
Niagara climbed the four steps to find herself in a roomy home-away-from-home, smelling of new leather, vanilla-lavender candles, and the newness only a well-kept motorhome retained.
Jace had called it a hotel on wheels. “Boy, he sure wasn’t kidding,” she murmured to herself.
She spun around, taking in the cherry wood cabinetry and grey Corian counters in the kitchen, complete with miniature, stainless steel appliances. Matching grey linoleum floor ran throughout the unit and, in front of the wrap around dinette, was a huge flat screen television bigger than the one they had at house.
The comfy-looking sofa was covered in cream-colored leather, and so were the captain’s chairs in the galley, where they’d be spending their time on the road.
Jace waited on the stairs behind her, watching her take it all in. He held his breath as he waited for her acquiesces, and hoped her pleasure with her new surroundings was genuine.
“Damn, baby, this place looks like something out of a dream,” she said at last.
“So you ready to go?”
Niagara sent him a seductive smile. “Yeah. Let’s get this party started.”
***
Jace took to the open road, handling the motor coach like he was born to it.
Niagara observed his confidence and emotionally embraced it – it wasn’t every day a girl got to ride shotgun in a thirty-foot hotel on wheels.
Once they were out of New Jersey, the wide windshield offered a panoramic view of the Pocono Mountains as they traveled northwest. Niagara sighed with happiness. “I’m sorry I was skittish about this journey,” she said. “This is so fun and I can’t wait to get to the campground.”
Jace smiled as he maneuvered around a tight curve. “Hey, I wanted to ask you a question, about our future.”
Niagara’s heart pounded with joyful anticipation. “Sure, go ahead.”
“Have you given any thought about selling your parents home in the near future?”
Niagara kept her eyes straight ahead. This definitely was not what she’d hoped he’d ask, but basic honesty forced her to acknowledge no man proposes marriage while driving an enormous rig in the mountains.
“Why do you want to know?”
Jace sent her a quick smile, and then refocused on keeping the rig steady. “I wondered if you’d consider selling the house, and taking a portion of the proceeds to put down on a house of our own. I have some savings squirreled away, but if we do this together, we’ll have a sizeable down payment, and be able to purchase the home of our dreams. Maybe start a family.”
Niagara couldn’t help but crack up. “I’m definitely interested in selling the house and combining our financial efforts to purchase our dream home, as you put it.”
“Then, what’s so funny?” he asked.
“You’ve definitely missed a major step in the equation there, mister,” she quipped, casting a sidelong glance his way.
Jace had the good grace to flush, although he kept his eyes on the road. “No, the equation you’re referring to is definitely lodged in there somewhere. Don’t worry. I plan for that major step to be a surprise. Any questions?”
“No, I’ll await my surprise with the patience it deserves.”
Jace’s eyebrows rose when she mentioned patience, but wisely kept further comments behind his teeth.
“Listen, do you mind if I call Cody?” she asked, as the RV passed from Pennsylvania into New York. “I’m dying of curiosity about a dozen things my brother isn’t capable of sharing, but most of all, I need to know how old he is. His age will confirm if my father had an affair, or not.”
“Go ahead, babe. Give him a shout and put your mind at ease. From what we already know, if your mother was fine with meeting Axelrod, I doubt there was an affair involved. So, call. I’ll turn down the radio.”
Niagara hit the send button on her cell, expecting to receive a voice message. Instead, a friendly male voice answered, “Cody speaking, may I help you?”
“Hi, yes, this is Niagara Heatherton. I mean Thelma, Axelrod’s sister. Do you have a few minutes to speak with me?”
“Sure, and I’m glad you called. Axelrod told me he’d given you the house number.”
Niagara swallowed. “Okay, thanks. I’m assuming you’re my brother’s caregiver, and know most of his history?”
“Yes, that’s correct. I’ve been with Axelrod since his mother died and he was accepted into the agency I work for. Has to be about ten years now.”
“Gee, my parents have been gone for about the same time,” she told him. “Anyway, is the agency state run? I’m not well versed with this kind of agenda, but I suspect Axelrod’s on a social security disability supplement, right?”
“Yes, his disability check is sent to the agency for his rent and personal needs. The house we live in is funded through the agency with his money. I get paid a salary from the agency and they also supply me with a vehicle.”
“All right. There are some personal questions I hope you can answer, without overstepping those HIPPA laws I’ve heard about. Like, how old he is, and how he found me. Common questions I doubt would be bending any laws regarding his privacy.”
“Hey, no problem. Axelrod’s birthday is in November. This year it falls on Thanksgiving and he will be turning thirty-six years old,” replied Cody.
Tears of relief ran down her cheeks – that her brother was six years older lifted a tremendous load from her shoulders.
“Wow, how cool about his birthday. Anyway, do you go with him when he travels with the umpires during baseball season?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah. We have great times together. All the other umpires we work with have a great deal of respect for your brother. Some of them even harbor a good natured jealousy, because he’s so good and his calls are never overturned,” Cody chuckled. “Also, I’m the one who found your parental home in Allentown via Google maps, and drove him there,” he added.
“Oh. That was nice of you to go to such trouble,” she replied.
“Anyway, everything about Axelrod’s history has been documented, except him having a sister, or any other living relatives,” Cody continued. “He kept insisting he wanted to see his sister Thelma, so a few weeks ago, I decided taking the ride to Allentown and solving the mystery of Thelma would be a good thing for his emotional well-being. I hope you don’t mind that he showed up unannounced at your home.”
Niagara hesitated before she answered. “I must be honest with you, Cody, it was a shock to learn I had a half brother my parents never told me about. It made me wonder about my father’s fidelity to my mom. I’m glad you were able to clear that one up for me. Who drives him over to my house?”
“I do,” he replied.
“Then,
how come you don’t come in?”
“Axelrod objected when I offered. He wanted to achieve this venture on his own. I was proud of him for it, too.”
Again, Niagara hesitated. “He has some form of autism, maybe Asperger syndrome, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. He’s been attending special needs schools your father paid for, ever since he was little, with the permission of your mother, of course. I can’t speak for the reason your parents decided to keep his existence from you, but through the years, your dad showed him pictures of you. He didn’t have a desire to meet you until recently. Why, I don’t know. I guess something triggered in him to change his mind.”
Niagara had been wondering about the future and decided to take the plunge. “Do you think he might consent to having Thanksgiving dinner with us, Cody? We could celebrate his birthday, too. If it makes him feel more comfortable, you’re welcome to join us as well.”
“You’ll have to ask him. As you probably know, routines are extremely important to him, and he doesn’t like to deviate. That he wanted to visit you and insisted I leave him at your home was a very big deal.”
“Okay, I’ll ask him when it gets closer to the holiday. Thanks so much for talking with me about my brother. It was nice getting to know you, too. I’ll be in touch when we get back. My man and I are on a short trip, but will be back in about five days or so.”
“No problem, have a good time.”
Niagara hit the end button and looked at her watch, surprised to see how much time had passed.
“Wow, sorry I was on the phone so long, Jace. Where are we?”
“About an hour away from Cooperstown, where we’ll be spending the night,” he replied. “Was Cody able to put your mind at ease?”
She nodded, and went on to relay the information the caregiver had shared. “You don’t mind if I ask Axelrod over for Thanksgiving, do you?” she asked. “It’s also his birthday.”
“Heck, no,” he said. “I was going to bring up Thanksgiving with you anyway. I’d love to stay home and cook us a traditional feast, instead of going to my father’s place. My mother hosts my brother and sister, but they go to Dad’s on Christmas. It’s well thought out, the way the family spends the holidays. No one gets offended.”
The thought of having a home cooked meal with her love on Thanksgiving, the only feast she’d had since her parents had passed, nearly drove her to tears again.
“Sounds like some great plans ahead, Hon,” she said softly. “I can’t wait.”
***
After they checked into the campground and parked the rig, Niagara unbuckled her seat belt and stretched. “Can I go outside and take a look around?”
Jace did the same and arched his back. “Sure, just stay far away from the coach so I can put the slides out.”
“Slides?”
“Yeah. We have three. Two of the slides make the living area larger and wider, and there’s one for the bedroom, too. You’ll see. Then, I’ll lower the stabilizers to the ground, which makes the entire coach level. We also have an automatic awning, for shade. It’ll take me just five minutes, and then we’ll do the hookups.”
Jace saw the confused expression she wore, and laughed. “All you have to do is hold open the little doors where the hoses are kept, and I’ll take care of the rest. Now scoot, go stretch your legs and again, stay away from the coach.”
Niagara stepped outside and breathed in the fresh, crisp air of the Catskill Mountains. The huge pine trees surrounding their campsite rustled in the light breeze, giving off their heady, sappy-filled aroma. The site faced a lake where she imagined fish swam, and she wondered if Jace liked to fish.
She heard the hum of the slides coming forth from the body of the coach, the clunk of the four stabilizers hitting the gravel, one by one. Looking up, the awning automatically unfolded from where it had been stored during the trip.
Jace came out and beckoned to her. “Let’s hook up the water hose and the sewer line, then we can get down to the business of setting the picnic table for dinner.”
He’d been right, she thought, minutes later – all she had to do was hold open the storage doors for her man, as he took care of the hookups. Afterward, they pinned the red and white-checkered tablecloth onto the picnic table, and he set up the portable double-seat, canvas chair next to the table.
Dusk was approaching when they were through with their chores. Jace rubbed his hands together and gave her a delighted smile. “How about I light a fire in the pit after we unpack?”
She nodded and followed him up the steps.
Niagara watched Jace unpack his suitcase and put his clothes in the sweet smelling, cedar drawers, and then she did the same. When their bags were empty, he lifted up the mattress, and she saw ample storage underneath. “Wow, that’s pretty innovative,” she commented, as he tossed the bags inside.
“You should see how much storage there is under the coach,” he boasted. “We can cook on the fire pit, if the spirit moves us.”
“Oh? What do you have in mind?”
Jace sent her a wink. “I’ve taken the liberty of packing two huge rib eyes in the cooler, and fixings for a green salad. I can make potato salad, too, if you like. Plus we have all those leftovers Cindy sent with us.”
Niagara’s belly growled enthusiastically at his words, and she licked her lips. “Yum,” she purred.
“None of that now,” he replied without conviction. “We still have work to do, decide on dinner, you know.”
Niagara casually strolled over to him and walked her fingers up his torso. Once they were at his neckline, she slowly began unbuttoning his flannel shirt.
“This mountain air is very invigorating,” she advised him, as she pulled the shirt over his arms, tugging the sleeves until he was bare from the waist up. “So exhilarating that I’ve developed a huge appetite, but it isn’t steak or pepperoni bread I hunger for,” she added, massaging his wide shoulders until his knees wobbled.
She hooked a finger into his belt and pulled him towards the bedroom. “Come on, let’s take advantage of this quiet serenity. You drove almost five hours today – I’d certainly recommend a good lift to alleviate the stress of all that, if you get my drift.”
***
Birds chirping in the hills awoke Niagara earlier than usual the next morning. She lifted the shade and peered through the window. It was still dark, but dawn was brimming.
She yawned and looked at her man.
Jace continued to snore softly. She slowly crept out of bed so she wouldn’t disturb him, threw a jacket over her pajamas, and let herself outside.
She sat down on the canvas seat and watched the sun peer over the horizon. The sun’s rays brightened the sky with hues of pink and lavender, which were also mirrored on the shimmering water of the lake.
When Niagara entered the coach, Jace was in the kitchen brewing coffee, wearing boxers and a sleepy smile. “How did you sleep last night, my angel? He asked.
“Like the dead,” she replied, returning his grin. “I was stuffed to the gills from those leftovers Cindy gave us, and after all those martini’s, well…you know how amorous I get.”
His smile grew wicked. “Amorous about covers it, and I love taking advantage of your tipsy personality. But, look. The bad news is I forgot to bring the eggs and bacon, so do you mind, after we have our coffee, we pack up and get on our way? We can stop at a diner and eat later.”
“Oh, I don’t mind at all,” she replied. “How long do you figure it’ll take before we get to the falls?”
“Probably about five or six hours, depending on the waiting lines at customs. We should be able to get settled at the next campsite in Canada by early this evening.”
“I’ll drink my coffee while I get ready then. It’ll only take me about ten minutes.”
Jace handed her a mug and after picking his up, they toasted. “Here’s to a fun journey ahead,” he said. “Now scoot, I’ll start the packing up process once we’re both dressed.”
Hal
f an hour later, the hoses were disconnected, the slides returned to their original areas for travel, and the coffee maker and the mugs were stored away in a cabinet. Jace and Niagara fastened their seat belts, and he retracted the stabilizers from the ground.
Jace started the engine, put the rig into drive, and slowly began to pull out of the site. A sudden, cracking noise startled them both.
“What the hell is that?” Niagara cried.
“Must be the overhead branches scraping the roof,” he muttered, as he urged the vehicle further ahead.
Niagara looked out the passenger window just in time to see dark brown canvas flapping against the side of the RV below, and twisted metal dragging on the ground.
“Stop, oh my God, stop, Jace! It’s not the trees!”
Jace slammed on the brake, put the rig into park, and stared beyond her. “Holy shit!” he shouted. “That’s the awning! Oh, good Christ, I forgot to retract the awning!”
He turned off the ignition and unbuckled the seatbelt in seconds, and Niagara undid hers. Together they hurried to the door, but when he tried to open it, the door wouldn’t budge.
Two men across the way ran over to them, waving their arms and yelling, “Don’t try to open the door, we’ll help you.”
Jace slid the passenger’s side window open and gently pushed aside the torn canvas. “How bad is it, guys?” he asked as they approached the rig. “I don’t have a good view from here.”
One of the men folded his arms with a wry grin. “Bad enough to welcome you to the first timer’s club, I reckon.”
“The first timer’s club?” he echoed.
“Yeah. Almost every newbie camper pulls away with the awning out, a time or two. Experienced campers call them first timers. You sure did a banged up job of it, though, I must say,” he chuckled.
“Is the awning completely demolished, then?” Jace asked, wiping the sweat from his brow.
