by Sy Walker
“Wasn’t it? Is that a yes?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Not smooth enough I guess.”
“Take care of Dad’s truck and I will think about it.”
“A woman who knows how to barter, I like that.”
He turned toward Holly and signaled for her to bring them another round of drinks. She smiled broadly at Angelina as she did so. There was no doubt that Anson was probably quite the catch in this little Podunk town where he was the most exciting man around, but he was hardly her type. Still, she couldn’t deny that she found him attractive. She’d do well to watch herself with him.
“I did learn a few things growing up here.”
“Ah, so you aren’t just visiting. You are a native.”
“Something like that. I’ve been gone for about seven years. I moved to New York right after high school.”
“The big apple. I’ve been there a few times. I moved here from Detroit myself. Got a bit too rough up there for my taste.”
“Detroit huh? Can’t really say I’ve ever been there.”
“Trust me. You didn’t miss much, at least not in the hood I grew up in.”
“Based on what I see on the news about Detroit here lately, I think I’ll pass on visiting.”
“Good call.”
They were interrupted by Holly, who was getting ready to go. She looked from one of them to the other with a raised eyebrow.
“You still need a ride home?”
“Yes, please. I appreciate it so much.”
“Okay, I’ll be ready in about five minutes. Just let me cash out.”
“Okay. I’ll be right here.”
Angelina turned back toward Anson and sighed heavily. It had already been such a long day with the flight in, dealing with things at her Dad’s house and the truck breaking down. She couldn’t wait to get back to a warm bed and get some sleep.
“Well, Anson. I guess I’m getting out of here.”
“Looks that way. I could take you home if you’d like to stay longer.”
“Thanks, but I’m pretty exhausted. I best be getting back.”
“Good enough. If you want to just give me the truck key and your number, I will call you after I’ve gotten it towed in and have some news for you.”
“Sounds good. I appreciate it.”
She fished around in her purse for a pen and wrote her number on a dry drink coaster that sat nearby, handing it to him along with the truck keys.
“I’ll call you tomorrow then.”
“Talk to you then. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Angelina.”
She noted how he said her name and the way he locked eyes with her as he did. There was no doubt that she needed to get far away from him and stay that way. He was exactly what she did not need in her life.
“Ready to go?’ Holly asked as she rounded the end of the bar.
“Yes ma’am.”
Though Holly pressed her for details about her conversation with Anson, she blew it off as nothing, not wanting to start town gossip already. There was nothing to tell anyway. He was just helping her with her Dad’s truck. She was grateful when Holly dropped her off at her father’s so she had no more questions to answer.
“Where have you been? I was beginning to get worried!”
Angelina jumped, startled by Stephanie, her father’s caretaker’s voice in the darkness of the living room. She had not expected her to still be up with it being so late.
“Dad’s truck broke down and I had to wait at some biker dive for a girl that lives nearby to bring me back. I never even made it to the store and couldn’t call anyone. All my numbers were in my phone, which I left here.”
“Yes, I know. I tried to call you when you didn’t come back after a while and heard it ringing in the dining room.”
“Is Dad okay?”
Stephanie walked to the dining room as she spoke and retrieved her phone. There were no missed calls other than Stephanie’s. At least there was no bad news coming from anywhere else. That was always good.
“Yes, he’s fine. He went to bed hours ago.”
“Good. I really hate that you are leaving, Stephanie. Are you sure you don’t want to stay on?”
“Yes, I’m sure. It’s been nice enough here taking care of your father, but I really want to get back to the city. This place is just a bit too remote for me. It was a nice break from the busy streets, but now I miss being able to just duck out and do what I want to at any hour.”
“I know what you mean. It’s going to be quite an adjustment for me, as well.”
“I’d imagine so. Do you need help with your father’s truck tomorrow? Did you have it towed somewhere?”
“It is getting towed in the morning. I met a guy at the bar named Anson Hawthorne and he is going to look at it at his garage for me.”
“Anson Hawthorne? As in the leader of the local MC? You best watch yourself with him, Angelina. He is bad news. He’s got a long list of felonies under his belt.”
“Felonies? Like what?”
“From what I hear, everything from gun dealing to grand theft auto. That’s why he came here from wherever it was he left. He couldn’t make a move without being watched by the authorities. Claims he came here to get himself right and run a legit business, but I seriously doubt he’s cleaned up his act at all. If you ask me, he moved to the perfect place to carry on as usual. No one out here watching him except old Pete down at station and you know how useless he is.”
“Pete is still here? My God, he must be ninety by now!”
“Gotta be. Still the only cop in town.”
“Wow. Well, thanks for the heads up. I’m going to head to bed now and I’ll see you in the morning before you leave.”
“I think I’ll turn in too. I just wanted to make sure you were okay before I did.”
“Thank you, Stephanie. Goodnight.”
Stephanie said goodnight and made her way upstairs to the guest room across the hall from where Angelina’s father slept. He had moved up there after her mother died, into Angelina’s old room. He said it was less painful to sleep there than the bedroom he had shared with her mother for forty years. Angelina had moved into the master bedroom on her visits, finding a strange comfort that her father could not in being surrounded by her mother’s old things.
The following morning, she climbed out of bed and showered before making her way to the kitchen to start breakfast. There wasn’t a lot to make it with. Groceries were very low. Hopefully, the truck wouldn’t be out of commission very long or she would have to get one of her cousins to take her into the nearest town to rent a car to get around in. It was tempting to do so anyway, but much more of an expense than she could afford with having given up her job to come take care of her father. His Alzheimer’s had gotten consistently worse and she felt it was time to be with him rather than leaving him to the care of strangers.
She put on a fresh pot of coffee prior to scrambling the last of the eggs and country ham in the refrigerator. Popping some bread in to toast, she heard the sound so footsteps on the stairs and turned to see her father standing there in his pajamas still.
“Rose! You look beautiful!”
“No, Dad. It’s me, Stephanie.”
“Stephanie? No, Stephanie left. She’s not here.”
“Yes, Dad. Look at me. I’m Stephanie.”
Her Dad puzzled at her face for a bit, shaking his head. There was no sign of recognition in his eyes as he looked at her solemnly before speaking again.
“Stephanie left us. She didn’t like it here.”
“Dad, that’s not true . . .,” she began to say, but he interrupted her with a wave of his hand.
“Now, Rose. Don’t get upset. It happens with these kids. You know? They get sassy and think they need to get out and see someplace bigger, better. She’ll come home when she gets tired of the big city. Don’t you worry.”
Angelina sighed and pulled the toast up, replacing it with two more pieces while she prepared him a plate
and poured him some coffee. Sitting it in front of the chair he had always sat in, she watched as he quietly sat down to eat without another word. He looked so much older and more frail than the man he had once been. It was heartbreaking to see him like this and she had to hold back tears as she turned to fix a plate for Stephanie, who was coming down the stairs.
“Oh, thank you. I’m sorry there aren’t more groceries in the house. I didn’t have a chance to go myself before you came. Do you want me to take you to get some things before I go since you didn’t make it last night?”
“No. I’ll be fine. My Aunt Kay is coming later this morning to visit and said she would pick up some things for me and take me back into town if I needed more.”
“Okay then.”
Stephanie sat down at the table to eat and Angelina joined her once the last pieces of toast popped up. By the time they were finished, it was time for Stephanie to go. They said their goodbyes and Angelina watched her go, her father standing beside her as the woman pulled away from the driveway.
“I’m going to miss her.”
“Yeah? You liked Stephanie?”
“Who? I’m talking about my daughter, Angelina. She’s leaving for New York to go to school.”
“I see. I’m sure she will do well.”
“Yes. She is quite a girl.”
Angelina smiled at him softly and began clearing away the dishes into the dishwasher. The sound of her phone ringing stopped her.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Angelina? This is Anson Hawthorne.”
“Hey, there. Did you get the truck towed?”
“Yes. Already had it up on the rack and looked it over. You’ll be happy enough to know it was nothing major. Looks like there was some trash in the tank that got gummed up in the carburetor. I got it all cleaned up and it’s back to purring like a kitten. Truck has been well maintained other than that.”
“That is good news. When can I pick it up?”
“It’s ready now.”
“Already? That was fast. How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing if you are still signed on for that dinner date.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. My Aunt will be here in an hour to stay with Dad for a while so that I can try making it to the grocery store again, but I won’t have anyone to stay with him later.”
“I tell you what. I’ll come pick you up on my bike and take you to lunch instead of dinner. You can pick up the truck afterward and stop by the grocery store before you go back.”
“I don’t know about being on the back of a bike.”
“Come on. Where is your sense of adventure? Besides, I’m an excellent driver . . . excellent driver.”
“I hope your driving is better than your Rain Man impression.”
“I thought my impression was pretty good.”
“Keep your day job.”
“Fair enough. So, pick you up in about an hour then?”
“Sure. I appreciate your help.”
“No problem at all.”
Hanging up the phone, Angelina found that she felt more excited about the prospect of his picking her up for lunch than she should. The idea of being wrapped around him on the back of a bike seemed pretty enticing. She knew she should heed the warnings about him, but her mind just kept drifting into thoughts about what it might be like to kiss him. Shaking it off, she finished up the dishes and got ready for her lunch date. By the time she was done, someone was knocking on the front door.
“I’ll get it, Rose.”
Angelina watched as her father rose, still in his pajamas and head toward the front door. She addressed him as her mother would have.
“Carl, you are still in your pajamas. You can’t answer the door like that. Go get changed and I’ll get it.”
He stopped and looked at her, then down at himself. He laughed a little and Angelina felt a smile spread across her face as the sound. She hadn’t heard her father’s laugh for quite a while.
“So, I am. Okay, Rose.”
He headed to the master bedroom to change. Angelina had noted that while he would not sleep in there, he had left his clothes in the closet. Walking to the door, she opened it to find her Aunt Kay standing outside.
“Angelina! It’s so good to see you!”
“Good to see you too, Aunt Kay.”
“How is my big brother doing today?”
“You know. He is about the same. He thinks I am Mom and that Stephanie was me leaving for New York when she departed this morning.”
“Bless his heart.”
Pulling Angelina into a hug, she held onto her as if it might be their last. After a moment, she let go, addressing Carl as he reappeared from the bedroom. He was dressed in his best suit. It was only Tuesday. Obviously, he thought it was time for church.
“Well, don’t you look dapper today, Carl.”
“Of course I do. I’m a very handsome man, Kay.”
Angelina looked at him strangely. He recognized his sister. She wondered if it was just a fluke or a moment of clarity. Taking a chance, she spoke to him.
“The suit is very nice, but wouldn’t you be more comfortable in your jeans?”
“Jeans? I can’t wear jeans to church, Rose!”
Angelina sighed. She had hoped his recognition of Kay meant he might recognize her too, but that obviously wasn’t the case.
“For heaven’s sake, Carl. It’s only Tuesday. You’ve gotten your days mixed up.”
“Tuesday? Really? But Angelina left this morning and I had thought she told me she was leaving Sunday morning.”
“A misunderstanding, perhaps. Now, why don’t you go change again?”
“I guess I will. Seem to be losing track of my days. How odd.”
The two women watched him solemnly as he made his way back to the bedroom to change. It was a dreadful disease to have, but just as awful for those who lost their loved one to the void that seemed to suck them in and hold them hostage. They were still watching him when there was another knock at the door.
“Oh, Aunt Kay. Dad’s truck broke down on the way to the grocery store right now and the guy that fixed it is going to give me a lift into town to pick it up, so I won’t need your car. I’ll just get it and then get my shopping done. Do you mind if I stop for lunch while I’m out?”
“No, not at all, hon. I’m in no hurry. Besides, it’s a beautiful day and your father seems to know who I am today. Since I will have the car, I may get him out for a breath of fresh air.”
“Are you sure? You know how he gets in unfamiliar surroundings sometimes.”
“Absolutely. I’ll stop by and pick up your cousin Reggie on the way in case there are any problems. Don’t you fret about it. Just take your time and do what you need to do.”
There was another knock at the door and Angelina realized that she had completely forgotten it. Walking over, she pulled it open to find Anson standing there in a pair of jeans that fit in all the right places and a t-shirt covered with the same leather MC vest as last night. He looked even more gorgeous in the daylight.
“Well, hello there. I thought you were going to leave me standing out on the porch.”
“Sorry about that. My aunt just got there too and was trying to explain to her what I need to do.”
“Ah, got it. You ready to go?”
“Yes. Let me grab my jacket. I’m not as used to the wind blowing on me as you are, I’m sure.”
“Probably a good idea then. It can sting a bit at times.”
She followed him to the bike and climbed on the back behind him once he was situated. She put her hands on her legs, not really knowing what to do with them. He reached behind him and pulled them around his waist instead.
“Hold on tight. I can’t have you falling off the back.”
Seconds later, they were roaring down the highway toward town. It was both frightening and exhilarating. Angelina felt a surge of electricity at how tightly her body was pressed to his. The last thing she needed was to get involved with someone lik
e him. Not only was he not her type at all, but he was a criminal to boot! Why did he have to be so damned attractive though?
The bike roared to a stop outside a garage that was nowhere near town as she had expected. It was a large metal outbuilding next to what looked like an old hunting lodge. She had a vague recollection of it having been just that years ago. It seemed like her father used to come out here with his buddies during hunting season.
“Is this the old hunting lodge?”
“Yeah, I bought it from the old guy that ran it when I came here and built the garage to work on bikes and sometimes, cars and trucks.”
“But the lodge is huge. You live in it alone?”
“I live in a portion of it alone. There are additional rooms that some of the guys in the MC stay in, but they are separated from the main quarters where I live. It’s like my half of the lodge, a large common area where we have club gatherings and then rooms on the other end. Some of the guys live here and some just stay from time to time, usually if they are too drunk to make it home. Hell, come on and I’ll show you.”
“That’s okay. I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”
“Maybe I want you to take up my time. I did ask you to have lunch with me. I tell you what. Since we are here to get the truck anyway, I’ll just make you some lunch. I’m a pretty mean cook.”
“I don’t know . . ..”
“Come on, Angelina. I don’t bite. Well, not unless invited.”
“You aren’t making a strong case for me to stay here for lunch with comments like that.”
“I promise that I will be a perfect gentleman. Come on. Let me make you some lunch.”
“Okay. Why not?”
“That’s better! Let’s go inside. I’ll show you around the place first.”
Angelina followed him to the lodge. She felt incredibly nervous about being alone with him, but she had come this far, so she might as well. To her surprise, he walked right in the front door without a key.
“You don’t lock your door?”
“No. The rooms lock individually if someone chooses to, but people come and go here constantly. No point in locking the door. It’s always occupied by enough people that most intruders wouldn’t want to tangle with.”
“I see.”
