The Winding Road Home

by Sally John

  “I know you are, honey. You’ve already told me a few times. And I’m trying to trust that you knew what you were doing. That you’re old enough to not have to tell me details. But you would, wouldn’t you, if someone might get hurt by your silence?”

  “Mom, I already told you that too. Yes, I would. Graham seems like a nice guy.”

  Adele reached out and smoothed Chelsea’s hair back. “He is a genuinely nice guy.”

  “Nicer than Will?”

  “Nice in a different way. I think he might be hanging around some. Okay with you?”

  “Sure. He’s cute too, in an older kind of way. He’s bigger and has more hair than Mr. Kingsley, but that’s all right. And he fit right in, didn’t he? I mean, it was like all of a sudden we had a man in the house, taking care of us and fixing us soup.”

  Adele didn’t respond. She had noticed. With every fiber of her being she had noticed.

  Nineteen

  “Tanner, you’re a man after my own heart.” Kate grinned down at him from a standing position on a chair in his apartment kitchen.

  “And how’s that, Miss Kilpatrick?” He stopped beside her, his arms full of books.

  “You travel light. I packed four plates, two bowls, four glasses, two mugs, one frying pan, one pot.”

  “Still seems like too much. There’s only one of me. You really don’t have to scrub that cupboard. The manager’s not going to check. Trust me, the guy’s a slob.”

  She plunged her hands in a pail of sudsy water and squeezed a sponge. “You never know. And besides, you should leave a place spick-and-span.”

  “Says who?”

  “I do. It’s just one of those things.”

  “One of what things?”

  “Those things. It’s innate.”

  He laughed and walked around the counter that divided the kitchen from the living room. “Trust me, it’s not innate. You’re a weirdo with red hair from a different planet.”

  “The planet of elves.”

  She smiled to herself as she scrubbed. Not everyone could get away with calling her that. But then, Tanner wasn’t everyone.

  It was Wednesday evening, and they had spent most of the afternoon in his modest Rockville apartment packing. She had stayed up late the night before to complete some articles. Rusty, who also had an undeniable soft spot for Tanner, told her to take all the time she needed. They both wanted to light a fire under the guy and make certain he didn’t dawdle and lose sight of his new commitment.

  He truly did travel light. The walls were bare, the furniture—nice, heavy bachelor pieces—was minimal, the closets not overly stuffed with clothes or things.

  She called out to him, “Maybe Graham Logan can help you with the big stuff on Friday. He’s been hanging around a lot. I don’t think the guy does anything except visit his friend and Adele.”

  “He’s a professor on sabbatical. What do you expect?”

  “I figured he had to do something. Supposedly he’s writing a book. But it’s nice for Adele anyway. She seems so content.” Kate jumped down from the chair and joined him.

  Sitting on the floor, Tanner taped shut a cardboard box. “Cal’s giving me a hand. I shouldn’t need any more help than his. He could probably move this couch all by himself.”

  “I’ll come do the girl stuff.”

  He laughed up at her. “I can’t believe you said that.”

  “You know what I mean. Are you about done? I’m hungry.”

  “Yep. Where do you want to go?”

  “I’ll surprise you.”

  A short while later they stood outside next to Helen.

  Tanner shook his head. “Uh-uh. No way. You drive like you talk. Fast and distracted.”

  “Chicken.”

  “I’ll drive and not for chauvinistic reasons.”

  “Then it won’t be a surprise.” She shoved him toward the passenger door. “Come on. I did all that packing for you. You owe me.”

  “I don’t owe you by putting my life in danger.” But he laughed and opened the door.

  Kate ran around to her side and climbed in. Soon they were roaring down the street. He grabbed hold of the dashboard with both hands. She pushed his knee out of the way and shifted into third.

  “You’re taking up too much space,” she said.

  “These cars are made for elves, not regular people. Why are you shifting into fourth? Kate, this is a twenty-five-milean-hour zone!”

  “No kidding? Hey, did you notice it smells like spring today? Look at all this melting snow.” The streets were wet, dark, and glassy under the streetlights. “I love springtime, don’t you? It’s probably springtime in DC. I bet the crocuses have bloomed already.”

  “How often have you been there?”

  “Four times. With my dad once when he had to go on business. I was only a kid, but that counts. I went when I was twelve for the national spelling bee. Didn’t win, by the way. Then I went with a group from high school, junior year, government class. Mr. Collins went with us. Remember him?”

  “Vaguely.”

  “Then I visited one January between college semesters. It really felt like home, Tanner. Have you ever been there?”

  “Family vacation. I was six. Don’t remember a whole lot.”

  They continued chatting, Tanner clinging through the entire 15-minute drive. She followed familiar streets through Rockville to an old neighborhood of mostly two-story middle-class houses, and screeched to a halt in front of one located in the center of the block.

  “Kate, what restaurant is this?”

  “My mom’s kitchen!”

  He shook a finger at her. “You could have warned me.”

  She grinned, reached over, and ruffled his hair. “What? Would you have combed your hair or something? No, you would have had other plans. Come on in and meet the fam. They’re expecting us.”

  There were times when Tanner questioned his attraction to Kate. He never liked carousel rides. He didn’t like the world spinning by out of focus…or slowing to a stop and forcing him to readjust his equilibrium. But that was exactly what life with Kate felt like.

  Especially after a wild ride in Helen and a surprise stop to meet her family.

  To his relief, the “fam” gathered around the dining room table appeared within the range of normal. They weren’t all redheaded elves.

  As one they stood and noisily welcomed them. Kate, whom they called Katelyn, didn’t introduce him. The four of them already knew who he was and heartily shook his hand.

  Kate’s father, Dan, was the only one whose hair and eye color resembled hers. He was shorter than Tanner, stocky, friendlier than all outdoors. His wife, Carol, had chestnut hair and dark eyes, though Kate’s button nose and wide mouth were mirrored in the woman. Danny Junior was missing, or rather, they said, away at college. Patrick, 18, and Sara, 11, looked like their mother. Kate was the shortest of everyone, shorter even than her little sister.

  They insisted that he and Katelyn sit and eat. The remains of dinner still cluttered the table, but Carol disappeared for a few minutes in the kitchen, returning with two plates piled high with steaming roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, and broccoli with cheese sauce.

  Midway through his meal, Tanner realized he should have felt strange sitting there wolfing down a plateful of the best home-cooked meal he’d eaten in years while four strangers who were not eating tried to get to know him. But he didn’t feel strange in the least.

  And that was strange. It seemed little Katelyn had a touch of magic right here under her own roof.

  About 9:30 she offered to take him home in her mother’s car. She was spending the night there rather than driving back to Valley Oaks. While she spoke with her mother in the kitchen, Dan walked him to the front door, where he shook his hand again.

  “She says you’re just friends.” The unblinking green eyes held his attention.

  “Yes, sir.” Sir? When was the last time he’d said “sir”?

  “You seem like an honorable young
man. I thought I’d ask about your intentions.” He waited, his hand still clasped around Tanner’s.

  “Uh, none. Sir. I mean, we’re friends. Rockville classmates who ended up in Valley Oaks for the time being. She’s a wonderful person. There’s nothing, uh, romantic between us, if that’s what you’re talking about. Does that answer your question? Sir?”

  “Dad!” Kate yelled, striding through the living room and laughing. She wiggled between them, breaking the hand grip, and threw her arms around her father. “Don’t ask him that stuff!”

  “Good-looking macho man like this? You better believe I’m asking him those questions!” He hugged her back.

  She planted a kiss on her dad’s cheek and turned. “Ignore him, Tanner.”

  “Protective papa bear like this? You better believe I’m not ignoring him.”

  Dan roared. “You can keep him, Katelyn, with my blessing.”

  Hunched over with his arms crossed on his knees, Graham sat in a straight-backed chair beside Rand’s bed. The window blinds were slanted, dulling the bright sunshine because it hurt Rand’s eyes. Making a conscious effort to block out the drab room, he studied the dear old man. Rand was struggling after a difficult night, his skin a gray pallor. His hair was beginning to grow back in white tufts here and there. He almost could use a shave. Still in much pain, he dozed only fitfully, his head slightly elevated. His eyes fluttered open now.

  Graham said, “Heather says the doctor is on his way.”

  Rand grunted something unintelligible.

  They had talked earlier. The pain was intensifying, the cancer doing what it did best…growing, taking over cell by cell. Gradually, his pain medication would be increased. What Graham still struggled with was why they couldn’t know it beforehand, before things were out of control again. He wrung his hands and tried to pray.

  “How about some water, Pops?”

  “Please.”

  Graham took a glass from a nearby tray and held it close enough for Rand to sip from the bent straw.

  “Tell me about the dinner.” His voice was raspier than ever.

  “Again?” Graham smiled. “She cooked tofu with vegetables in a peanut sauce. Out of this world.”

  “I’ve never had tofu.”

  “I’ll ask Adele to bring you some.”

  “It sounds nasty.”

  Graham laughed. “It isn’t, not with her gourmet cooking skills.”

  “Candlelight?”

  “Didn’t I mention that? Candles. Soft music. Just the two of us.”

  “Kiss her yet?”

  “We’re only in phase one. That’s not going to happen until phase three.”

  “I won’t be around by then.”

  “And I may not be either. Miles to go before then.”

  “Is she like Samantha?”

  An image of his wife flashed in his mind. Tall, slender, plain features, short dark hair, hazel eyes, shy except with her classroom children, not prone to chattiness. “She’s nothing at all like Sammi. Are you up for hearing more? I learned something last night that could move us into phase two.”

  Rand smiled. “Her secret dream that only money can buy.”

  “She wants to build an apartment complex in Valley Oaks exclusively for seniors. Sort of an in-between step from house to nursing home. There’s nothing like it for miles in any direction. It could draw on the rural areas. It’d be reasonably priced and have a coffee shop, drugstore, and even a movie theater. She already has the property scouted out south of town. There’s some development out in that direction, more land going on the market soon.”

  Rand’s smile widened. “Big dream!”

  “She has talked with investors, but she hasn’t found any interest. It wouldn’t exactly be a big moneymaker.”

  “But it sure would help a lot of old folks, wouldn’t it?”

  “That’s the idea.”

  “I like it. Where’d she get such an altruistic heart?”

  “My guess is Jesus.”

  There was a knock on the partially closed door and someone pushed it open. “Knock, knock.”

  “Chelsea!” Graham exclaimed and stood up. “What are you doing here?”

  “No school today. Really. Technically there is no school for anyone today. Mom’s put me to work, free of charge. Mind if I come in and meet your friend?”

  She was already in.

  He glanced at Rand. His eyes were large behind the thick glasses as he stared at the young girl. She neared the bed now. Her long curly hair was pulled back in a low ponytail. She wore a long dark green skirt and baggy purple sweater. Her smile lit up her face. The spitting image of her mother.

  “Hi, Mr. Jennings.” Like most people when talking to the elderly residents, she raised her voice.

  “Addie?” Rand’s voice was a rough whisper. Tears welled in his eyes. “Addie?”

  She lightly touched his arm. “I’m Adele’s daughter. It’s so nice to meet you. You know, Graham has been keeping company with my mother. I thought I should check out his good friend. Can’t have just anybody courting her, you know.”

  Chatty, just like her mother.

  Rand’s tears dripped from the corners of his eyes.

  Chelsea picked up the stainless steel pitcher from the tray. “I’ll get you some fresh water.”

  Graham took it from her. “I’ll do it. That’s all right.”

  The tears were flowing, puddling on his cheeks and pillow. “Graham,” he choked, flailing an arm.

  “Mr. Jennings?”

  Graham gently grasped Rand’s arm with one hand and set the water pitcher back on the tray with the other. “Rand, it’s okay. Chelsea, run along now, please. We’re having a rough day.”

  “Can I do something?”

  Rand was blubbering now, thrashing about.

  “No!” Graham called over his shoulder, louder than he intended. “We’ll be fine.”

  He thought he heard the clicking of the door shutting as he took the small man into his arms. “Shhh. It’s okay, Pops. It’s okay.”

  Chelsea burst through Adele’s open doorway. “Mom!”

  “What’s wrong?” She walked around her desk.

  Chelsea’s face was scrunched up, a sure sign she was distraught. “I just met Mr. Jennings and he started crying and he called me Addie!”

  She hugged her daughter. “He calls me Addie sometimes. Graham told him about my pottery, and for some reason he picked up on that name. He had an especially bad night.”

  “You could have warned me.”

  Adele looked up at the teenager already three inches taller. Her height was one of only two things Adele recognized as being inherited from that young man she had known 18 years ago. The other was a left ear with an upper ridge folded slightly inward.

  “Actually, honey, I thought you would help him feel better. You’re always so good with the folks.”

  “Not this guy.”

  “Well, they all respond differently to their physical pain. Some don’t want to see a young chipper face.”

  “Mom, it seemed different than that somehow. It was like the instant he saw me, he burst into tears. I mean the instant he saw me. He was crying before I said anything. I tried to ignore it and just jabbered nonsense. He got worse! Oh, Mom, I don’t know how you stand this job!”

  She hugged her daughter tightly. “Guess this was a little more penance than you bargained for today.”

  “I felt like I did something wrong.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t, Chels. Was Graham still there?”

  “Yes, thank goodness. I kept trying to be polite, and he finally just told me to go. You know what he was doing when I shut the door?”

  “Holding Mr. Jennings.”

  “How’d you know?”

  She smiled. “That’s just the kind of man he is. If he hadn’t come over the other night and hugged me when he did, you and I never would have eaten and you would have been on daily volunteer duty here until the day you graduate!”

  Ch
elsea rolled her eyes. “I owe him. Maybe I should bake him some cookies or something. Does he like cookies?”

  “Oatmeal with raisins and walnuts are his favorite.”

  “You know that already? Getting a little personal awfully quick, Mom.”

  Not as quickly as I’d like.

  Twenty

  Late Friday afternoon Kate parked Helen in the alley behind the large brick building that housed the pharmacy, video store, and florist. She carefully gathered a bouquet of helium balloons, tucked a potted deffenbachia plant under an arm and a plastic container full of cookies under the other, and got out.

  Two pickup trucks sat next to the opened back door of the pharmacy. She guessed one belonged to Cal and the other to Tanner’s brother, who wasn’t available to help but offered his truck for the occasion. She maneuvered her way around them and walked inside without ringing the bell.

  It was a back room with a desk, a kitchenette area, stacked boxes in a corner, and a closed door that probably led into the pharmacy. Voices floated down a staircase on the left. She climbed the steps.

  The door at the top led directly into a kitchen where Tanner’s table and chairs already sat. Beyond that the space accommodated a living room furnished with his couch, end table, lamp, recliner, and television. The walls appeared freshly painted, the hardwood floor polished.

  Tanner emerged from a hallway. “Kate! Hi.”

  “Hey. This is great!”

  He nodded. “I think it’ll work. What have you got there?”

  She handed him the balloons and plastic container. “Housewarming. The cookies are from my mom. I’ll put the plant right here by the window.”

  “Thanks. I can’t remember the last time I had balloons. Or homemade cookies.”

  She heard his wistful tone and wondered if he’d ever had any. “How do you know they’re homemade?”

  “I met your mom.”

  “Hi, Kate.” Cal joined them.

  “Hi, Cal. How’d the move go?”

  “Walk in the park. Tanner’s got a fourth of what Lia had crammed in here. I think we’re finished. Hey, nice piece in today’s paper on the village board meeting.”

  “Thanks.”