by Heather Gray
Avery, who thought Mrs. Sterling looked strong enough to step into the ring with the heavyweight champ of the world, couldn’t help but wonder about what the woman had been through recently. She was trying to think of a polite way to dig into the story when the woman in question came marching into the room.
“Is anybody comin’ to help me fold laundry? It’s not perfect, but the smell’s a lot more tolerable now.” Looking at Avery, she added, “I’ll send you home with the recipe so you can wash the clothes in it some more if you think you need to. After they’re packed up tight in suitcases for a while, they might need another soakin’.”
Smiling her gratitude, Avery said, “I’d love to help fold. I’ve been sitting in an ugly cramped car for way too many hours these past few days.”
“I need to stay up here where I can keep an eye on the entrance, but you two go on ahead,” Norma Sue said. “I’ll send the boys down when they get back.”
Avery followed Laura Jean, noticing for the first time since arriving, that there were a couple other officers in the building. “Where’d they come from?”
Joe’s mother gave an exaggerated shake of her head, causing her wig to skitter a bit, and said, “I’m sure when the word skunk came over the radio, this place cleared out in a hurry. Now that y’all are getting cleaned up, it’s safe for them to come back.”
Chapter Nineteen
Lawton, OK
December 25, 6:05 a.m.
The clock crawled its way past six in the morning, the sky starting to lighten with the barest hint of pink and gold at the horizon. Weary, the three travelers sat at the table in the interrogation room. Their laundry was all clean, but Norma Sue still hadn’t been able to find a place willing to take them in. Mrs. Sterling had given Avery a list of everything she’d need to buy back in Albuquerque to make more of her special de-skunker if they ever needed it. Then she went on home to feed the chickens and get ready for Christmas Day.
Officer Sterling was due off-shift at six, but he was sticking around in case Norma Sue found a place for them and they needed a ride. “I might as well see things through and get y’all to where you need to be before I go home and wake my wife.”
Avery, always the curious one, asked, “So what’s the deal with your wife and mom. They don’t seem to get along too well.”
Crimson stained the officer’s neck and cheeks faster than wildfire spreads in a high wind. “It ain’t as bad as all that. Lauren’s a city girl is all. Never lived on a farm or out in the country. Mama didn’t have an indoor latrine till about a decade ago. The two don’t quite speak the same language.” Then, lifting his eyebrows, he said, “I don’t know where she got the idea, but Lauren thinks Mama’s intimidatin’. Says if it came down to a brawl between Mama and Paul Bunyan, she’d put her money on Mama.”
Avery couldn’t help the snort that escaped.
Gavin, who’d looked as if he was dozing, said, “If they both love you, they’ll find a way around their differences.”
Norma Sue came running into the room. “Joe, you got t’ load their things now! Herm’s waiting over at the airfield. He’s gonna fly ‘em back home.”
Eyes widening, Gavin sat up and asked, “You found us a flight?”
Norma Sue nodded, hair bobbing vigorously. “Herm’s an old friend. Went to school with me and Laura Jean. His son lives in Tucson. He flies out there for Christmas, but because of the weather, he’s been grounded. Got the all-clear a few minutes ago. I caught him as he was heading out the door to the airport.”
“Let us change out of the prison suits, and we’ll be ready to go.”
“There’s no time!” Norma Sue said urgently. “He’s on his way to the airport now. I promised I’d rush y’all straight out the door.”
Joe, who’d jumped up as soon as he’d heard the news, was already out the front door of the precinct, hauling most of their belongings with him.
“Can we get through airport security in these jumpsuits?” Eli asked.
“It won’t matter none if you don’t get to the airport in time, now will it? I’m sure Herm’s got a place you can change.” Norma Sue shooed them with her hands. “Now get out of here and go home!”
Caught up in the smaller woman’s enthusiasm, they all rushed out the front door, hauling the camera cases Officer Sterling had left behind.
Avery made it halfway to the squad car when she wheeled around and ran back. She grabbed Norma Sue up in a tight hug and told her, “Thank you for being such a kind person, for welcoming us, taking care of us, and finding us a way home. Have a blessed Christmas.”
Norma Sue’s face grew almost as red as her hair. Maybe I hugged her a little too tight. The older woman reached up and wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye and said, “Ah, sweetie, it ain’t nothin’. It does my heart good to be able to do for others. You have a blessed day, too.”
****
Officer Sterling flipped his siren on in the quiet of Christmas morning. They didn’t pass another vehicle all the way to the small regional airport, but the siren continued to sing out its discordant tune while the squad car lights lit up the still-heavy sky. Norma Sue called ahead to the airport and let them know Joe was coming with important passengers for Herm so airport security wouldn’t panic when he came blazing through.
Panic, as it happened, was the last thing on anyone’s mind. A good two dozen people stood around Herm’s airplane as Officer Sterling pulled his car into the hangar. The curiosity on people’s faces moved from mild to rabid in a hurry when they noticed three people in prison jumpsuits getting out the back of the squad car.
A grizzled old man moved away from the plane and inspected them closely in all their bright orange, prison-jumper glory. Turning to Officer Sterling, he said, “Norma Sue didn’t say anything about them bein’ prisoners. Do I have to worry about them slittin’ my throat while I’m in the air?”
Avery thought a funny comeback appropriate. Officer Sterling, however, was going to have none of that. He was as solemn as could be when he said, “No, sir. No need to worry about that. I don’t think none of them can fly, so they’ll need to keep you alive while you’re in the air.”
Before she knew what was happening, Avery was belted into a seat next to Herm in the cockpit, while Eli and Gavin were in the two seats behind them. The luggage was stored, and they were taxying for takeoff.
As soon as they were in the sky and Herm’s attention wasn’t required to talk to the sleepy folks at the tower, Avery told him, “We’re actually nice people. There was a bit of a mishap with a skunk, and that’s why we’re dressed in these jumpsuits. I wanted to change before we left the police station, but Norma Sue said we had to hurry.”
Herm chortled and said, “Norma Sue told me all about it. I can’t help but give young Joe a hard time. He’s such a serious fella. Been that way his whole life.”
After a couple minutes, Herm asked, “So how is Norma Sue doin’, anyway? I haven’t seen her in a while.”
Avery answered, “She’s a spitfire and nice as can be. Christmas is hard for her, I think. I hope she has friends to spend the day with.”
Keeping his gaze focused on the instruments in front of him, Herm asked, “You know if she’s seein’ anyone?”
She couldn’t have stopped the grin that stretched her mouth wide if she’d wanted to. “We talked a little bit, and it sounds as if there’s no one special in her life at the moment. Why? Are you interested?”
Herm shrugged, still avidly staring at his controls. “I’ve been thinkin’ about it. Norma Sue and I go way back. Known her forever, it seems. She’s a good one, through and through. Not a mean bone in her body. She was a vixen in her younger years, but she’s aged well. Like a fine wine, I suppose. More mellow than she used to be, but still full-bodied and full of zest. You can tell by her hair, you know. But underneath all that, not a truer friend could be found.”
Avery leaned back in her seat and asked, “You’re going to see your son, right?”
&n
bsp; Herm nodded.
“What about your wife?”
A gruff laugh escaped him before Herm said, “You’re not a subtle one, are you?”
“I wouldn’t know subtle if it jumped up and bit me on the backside.”
His shoulders still shaking with laughter, Herm said, “My wife passed away some ten years ago now. Loved her like crazy. Took me a long time to get over it. I’ve been thinkin’ lately is all. It don’t seem right for a person to have to spend every day alone, and, I don’t know – Norma Sue kind of came to mind.” Herm tossed a quick glance her way before adding, “You probably think it’s crazy, a guy as old as me thinking about courtin’ someone.”
Reaching her hand out to rest on his forearm, Avery said, “Having a chance at some God-given happiness and turning your nose up at it – that’s crazy. Thinking Norma Sue is special enough to spend some time with – that’s common sense.”
****
The remainder of the flight passed quickly. It was coming up on ten in the morning when Herm taxied his airplane up near the terminal at the Albuquerque Airport. He pulled the plane to a stop and twisted around to face his passengers. “There’s no lavatory in here for you to change, but those jumpsuits aren’t going to work at this airport. They don’t know me here, and I’d rather not get bogged down with security, if you don’t mind. I got a son and grandkids to go spend Christmas with. Dig through your luggage and find some baggy clothes you can pull on over those suits, and then we’ll get you out of here.”
Everyone did as they were instructed, and before long, Herm was opening the hatch of the airplane and allowing everyone to climb out. “You got anyone to pick you up?” he asked.
Gavin shook his head and said, “Nah. We were thinking we’d rent a car.”
Eli, who had slept through most of the flight, must have thought that was the funniest thing ever. He laughed so hard he started coughing. Avery pounded him on the back. “Tell you what, Eli. If they have a Zeon this time, we’ll find a way to make it work!”
Herm waved as he climbed back into his airplane and started taxying back toward the runway. Gavin, Avery, and Eli stood there on the tarmac with their collection of luggage and camera cases around them.
“Well,” Avery said, “I’d like to be able to say it’s good to be home, so let’s get to it.”
They picked everything up and started moving toward the terminal.
All of a sudden, they heard sirens blaring. They quickly scanned their surroundings until they spotted a police vehicle approaching from their left. Instinctively, they all froze. The big black sports utility skidded to a stop not too far from them, and the passenger door flew open.
“Thank the good Lord! How dare you send me all those dire texts and then never follow up to say everything’s okay! You could have been coyote chow out there somewhere!” Mitchell grabbed Avery in a hug, then pulled Eli in for a smothering embrace. When he got to Gavin he said, “I ought to deck you for not taking better care of my favorite journalist.” Then he hugged the photographer as well.
“How did you know we were going to be here?” Gavin asked.
“Some woman named Norma Sue tracked me down. Said she had connections, that’s how she got my home number. She told me you were flying in. I didn’t even know you’d been found, let alone alive. I was up all night so worried I couldn’t even review the upcoming editorials. Didn’t it occur to you to call me when you’d made it to safety? No. Of course not. Let’s all take care of ourselves and not worry one bit about poor old Mitchell back in Albuquerque, frantic with worry.”
Avery put her arm around Mitchell’s shoulders and said, “Sleeplessness seems to work for you. You’re in fine form there, Mitchell.” With a big sigh, she said, “It’s good to see you.”
Mitchell winked at her and said, “Load up, everyone. I pulled in a favor to get a ride to the airport so I’d have a vehicle big enough to haul all of you back home. My car can’t hold much more than an empty backpack by the time you stick four people in it, and I didn’t figure Gavin would want to put his cameras in airport storage.”
After everyone belted in, Avery asked, “Are you going to tell us why we ended up on a trip to a town that barely exists?”
Mitchell snorted. “Some nitwit at Corporate made a list of places for you two to feature. He apparently picked them because the names had good media appeal and would play well in the paper.”
“Nobody researched the towns?” Gavin’s voice was incredulous.
Mitchell grumbled for a minute before answering. “They’ve now got some intern in charge of making sure the rest of your assignments are going to be worth the trouble.”
Eli asked, “What happened to the guy who sent us to Nowhere?”
“Demoted to the mailroom would be my guess,” Mitchell answered with a shake of the head.
“When do we get to see the rest of the list?” Avery asked.
“I expect it in my inbox by Monday. I’ll let you both review it then, and if you have any problems with it, I’ll kick it back to Corporate. One thing is for certain,” Mitchell said with finality. “There won’t be any more wasted trips if I have anything to say about it.”
“I wouldn’t claim it was entirely wasted,” Gavin said.
Avery felt the warmth of Gavin’s gaze on her as he spoke. There wasn’t anything she could do to stop the giddy schoolgirl grin fighting its way to the surface. For the first time in more years than she could count, she was completely okay with that.
****
Eli and Avery stepped over the threshold into their home. She closed the door behind them and leaned against it.
“That was the weirdest trip we’ve ever taken,” her son said.
“Yep.”
“And it’s Christmas. It doesn’t seem as though everything that went wrong could have happened in such a short time.”
“Yep.”
“You’re not listening to anything I say, are you?”
“Yep.”
Eli shook his head and started down the hallway. “I’m gonna take another shower and then crash in my room. You know where to find me whenever you want to open presents or get a bite to eat or something.”
“Yep.”
“But I might not wait for you. For food, anyway. I won’t open gifts without you.”
“Yep.”
He’d already grabbed a fresh towel and was heading into the bathroom by the time he looked up to see his mom still leaning against the front door. Eli set his things in the bathroom and walked over to her. In an uncharacteristic show of affection that wasn’t at all colored by the light-hearted humor they normally shared, he put his arms around her and said, “Merry Christmas, Mom.”
As he pivoted back toward the bathroom, Avery swiped at a couple tears. She couldn’t imagine how Norma Sue had survived the loss of two children, even if they had been babies and she’d gotten to know and hold them only a short time. Maybe that makes it even harder.
“Hey, Eli,” she said. “I was thinking about maybe volunteering at the homeless shelter over by the rental lot sometime.”
His eyes brightened. “That sounds cool. Could I come, too, or do you have to be eighteen?”
“I’m sure it’d be fine for you to come. I’ll check, though, and let you know.”
Eli bobbed his head in acknowledgment, a smile on his face, before ducking into the bathroom and closing the door.
Before she could change her mind, she sat down and booted up her laptop. A few clicks later, she found herself typing an email to the shelter’s volunteer coordinator.
I am writing to inquire about volunteer opportunities at the shelter. My son and I are interested in finding a way to contribute and help those whose situation or circumstances have put them in a place of need. Please let me know what opportunities would be available and suitable for a woman and her teenage son.
After she clicked send, Avery surfed through some gift sites. She settled on a lavish gift basket of meats, cheeses, and sweet treats –
all with a skunk theme – to send to Norma Sue and Laura Jean in care of the Lawton branch of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Skunk-themed gifts. Who would have ever thought?
Then, before she could change her mind, she ordered a massive bouquet of winter flowers to be delivered to the station for Norma Sue. Avery read over what she’d written on the gift card five times before she clicked the submit button.
You outshine all the stars in the sky and are more beautiful than any flower.
Regards,
Herm
Between the two of them, Norma Sue and Herm would figure out she’d been the one to send the flowers. If the bouquet put a pitter-patter in the older woman’s heart, though, then maybe it would help her agree to a date when Herm did come calling.
Once that was done, Avery plugged her phone in to charge and sent a quick text to Gavin.
It was an adventure to remember. Next time Mitchell sends us on location, I say we demand hazard pay. Merry Christmas.
A few minutes later her phone buzzed with a reply.
Hazard pay, a luxury hotel with a hot tub, and a town that’s actually there… that’s all I’m asking for. Merry Christmas to you and Eli, too. Hope you have a great day and some good sleep, in any order you prefer.
Chapter Twenty
Albuquerque, NM
December 31, 8:00 p.m.
