by Joachim Jean
When Kitty got up they all went for ice cream, which was an adventure with a five year old and a toddler. Ice cream seemed to get everywhere.
“Daddy, you promised we could go to the firehouse,” Jason said.
“Wanna come?” Mac asked Danny, picking up the car keys.
“Sure. What about the ladies?”
“You haven’t seen these firemen, trust me…no ladies,” Mac said, laughing while the men took Jason down to the car.
“What are you going to do about the girls, Eliza?”
“I don’t know. Sally is fine, but Kaitlyn…I don’t know what to do. We spend most of our time at Danny’s because Kaitlyn is so difficult.”
“Mac seems to be making an effort,” Callie said, walking to the sink.
“He’ll get to know Danny,” Eliza said.
“I’m so happy you are in love,” Callie said, smiling.
“I never said Danny loves me,” Eliza said, looking sharply at Callie.
“I’ve known he loves you for a while now,” she confessed, loading dishes into the dishwasher.
“How so?”
“He’s like my brother…I just knew. This couldn’t be better for me…my best friend and my brother…together,” Callie said, giving Eliza a hug.
* * * *
The children were asleep by six thirty. Mac made frozen margaritas and the others pitched in to make dinner. Danny let Callie take him aside while they were setting the table.
“I saw the black car. Twice,” Callie said.
“Damn. You’re sure?”
Callie nodded.
Danny took a deep breath, put the last of the silverware away, then sat down to dinner with the others.
After dinner, they had coffee on the deck. Danny cleared his throat.
“I hate to ruin everything, but I have some bad news. After being in prison for the past eighteen years for armed robbery and drug dealing, my father just got out. My mother will be released soon, too. When he came to see me about a month ago, he threatened to look up Callie,” Danny said, staring at her.
“Why?” Mac asked.
“He’s a disgusting man. I threatened if he got near her I’d mess him up. But I doubt my warning will stop him. He’s got an ex-con partner too, a guy named Fred. Fred has an old model black car Callie’s seen a couple of times…on your street, Mac.”
“Damn! We have to call the police.”
“The police can’t do anything because these guys haven’t done anything. Doesn’t mean they know you live there. Pops doesn’t know your last name, Callie.”
“But Callie is a distinctive first name,” Mac said. “What should we do?”
“I’m armed,” Danny said. “I can be at your house within five minutes. I have a gun snipers use, so I can protect you from outside your house. Callie and I will work out a plan. We don’t want to be taken by surprise.”
Everyone got quiet, trying to absorb the information.
“Eliza, Pops may try to hurt you if he knows you’re with me,” he continued, taking her hand. “Don’t leave my house alone at night.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Mac said.
“Sure wish you knew how to handle a gun, Mac,” Danny said.
“I had some gun training in the National Guard. Still, I’m a scientist, not a gunman. Callie is the gun slinger in the family,” he said, smiling.
They all finished their coffee and went to bed.
* * * *
Mac and Callie snuggled together.
“Here we go again, bad people who want to hurt you, Callie.”
“Danny will handle things.”
“What do you know about him I don’t?” Mac asked.
“He killed a lot of the enemy in Iraq. Danny’s a dangerous man when he wants to be,” she said.
“I guess having our own dangerous man is a good thing. I’ll talk to Dave Williams, get a patrol car going by our house from time to time,” Mac said.
“Did you have fun at the firehouse?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Yes. Jason asked a million questions. Danny was patient with him, explaining things, answering more tolerantly than I would have. How can he be as ferocious as you say?” Mac asked.
“Danny is complex, always has been,” Callie said.
Callie let Mac pull her closer. She rested her head on his bare shoulder and put her hand on his chest. He reached over to pat her behind and stroke her back.
“Mommy, why aren’t you wearing any clothes?” he said, imitating Jason.
Callie giggled; Mac kissed her and turned out the light.
* * * *
Upstairs, Eliza and Danny were in bed, cuddling.
“Are we okay?” Danny asked.
“Of course. I don’t judge you based on your parents,” she said, snaking her arm around his middle.
“Wasn’t sure,” he said, stroking her hair.
“I don’t walk away so fast,” Eliza reassured him.
She gave him a slow, sweet kiss and turned out the light.
In the middle of the night, Danny woke up screaming. “Kyle! Kyle! Stop! Don’t…don’t…”
His screams broke the silence of the night. Eliza sat up and shook him gently, trying to wake him before he woke up the entire household. But when she heard the soft knock on the door, she realized she was too late. Callie came in. Danny sat hunched over in bed, crying softly, while Eliza held him. She moved over to make room for Callie on the bed.
“What happened, Danny?” Callie asked him gently, putting her hand on his shoulder.
“Kyle. I’ve had this dream before. Kyle is walking to the plane to take him to Iraq and after he gets on, it explodes,” Danny said quietly, wiping his eyes.
“Oh, Danny!” Callie exclaimed, her hand covering her mouth, tears forming.
“He has this one every few weeks,” Eliza said.
“Danny, you have to get help,” Callie said.
“I will, I will. Go back to bed. I’ll be fine. Sorry to disturb you,” he said, ruffling Callie’s hair.
Callie kissed his cheek and went back to bed.
Eliza pulled Danny into her arms and watched over him until she fell asleep.
Chapter Eight
The New York State Fair comes once a year, in August, for only ten days. Danny had never been to a state fair and he looked forward to going. Games of chance, rides, greasy food and live farm animals appealed to him, and being there with Eliza doubled his anticipation of a good time.
“I’ve never been to a state fair, will you go with me?”
“I haven’t been in years. We used to go when the girls were little.”
“Why don’t we take Kaitlyn and Sally with us?” he suggested.
“Think they’d go with us?”
“Ask them,” he said.
* * * *
Monday night at dinner, Eliza brought up the subject.
“The state fair is coming,” she said.
“Wow! The state fair!” Sally said.
“Come with us.”
“Get real, Mom. Why would I want to go with you and Danny?” Kaitlyn asked.
“He asked if you two would like to come.”
“That’s kinda sweet,” Sally said.
Kaitlyn scoffed. “Or kind of ridiculous!”
“Why? You want to spend more time with me, so come.”
“Did you tell Danny I said that?” Kaitlyn asked.
“Didn’t have to, this is his idea. He wants to get to know you better.”
“Well, I wouldn’t walk across the street with him.”
“I’ll go,” Sally said.
“You traitor!” Kaitlyn hissed.
“Kate, get over yourself. Why don’t you at least give him a chance?”
“Kate, you’ve got to try or, I swear, I’ll move in with him and sell this house,” Eliza said.
“Okay. Okay, you win,” Kaitlyn said.
“Good,” Eliza said, relaxing. “We’re going Friday night.”
* * *
*
They met at the fair because Eliza needed her car in case of a university emergency. It was a warm but not hot night. The sweet scent of cooking sugar from the cotton candy and the caramel apples mixed with the smells of the livestock, sweat, hamburgers grilling and corn on the cob, roasting. Tinny canned carnival music played in the background, people screamed on rides and an occasional cow mooed softly.
The midway, with all the games, came before the rides. Hay covered the ground to absorb rain and spills. The shooting gallery where the targets were cardboard terrorists popping up, was first. Drawn to this game, Danny stepped up and spoke with the carney.
“Buddy, give me the rifle that isn’t rigged, the straight shooter.”
“They all shoot straight, mister,” he said.
“Sure, sure. Baloney. You know the one, the one you give to the fair official who checks you out,” Danny said.
The carney went in the back and came out with a brand new rifle.
Danny slapped three five dollar bills on the counter. “Three times.”
Eliza and the girls came over and stood behind him while he picked up the rifle and took aim. He had to hit five targets as they popped up. Bing, bing, bing, bing, bing…five targets showing, five targets hit.
“That’s all five. A winner!” shouted the carney.
“What animal do you want, Eliza?” Danny said. She picked out the big green frog. Danny picked up the rifle again.
“Next,” he said.
Bing, bing, bing, bing, bing…five targets popping up, five shot down
“We have another winner!” the carney shouted. Now people began to wander over and watch—a small crowd formed.
“Sally, Kaitlyn, pick your animals,” he said.
“Next,” Danny said.
Bing, bing, bing, bing, bing…five targets showing, five targets hit.
“We have another winner!” shouted the carney man.
Kaitlyn picked a purple dog and Sally picked a pink hippo. People applauded.
“Hey, mister, here’s five bucks, play somewhere else,” the carney man whispered.
“Keep your money, I’m done,” he said, returning the five.
“Where did you learn to shoot like that?” Sally asked, hugging her hippo.
“In the Army,” he said.
As Eliza took his hand, he could see his gun prowess had impressed her. He pulled her close and threaded her arm through his. His stomach picked that time to growl as the tantalizing odors of the sweet, tangy and greasy foods worked on his taste buds. Definitely time to eat. The girls found a table as he loaded up a tray with hamburgers, curly fries, fried mozzarella sticks, Coke and beer. While they picked at their food, he enjoyed chowing down.
“Curly fries…it’s been a long time. I like curly fries almost as much as I like—”
Eliza gave him a warning look and he stopped in mid-sentence.
“As I like the State Fair,” he said, smiling.
While they were eating, Mavis and Harry Lawson came by with their sons, Tanner and Chase. Tanner was twenty-four years old and Chase twenty-two. They were in WillowFalls for the summer break from graduate school. Both young men volunteered with Danny at Kiwanis. Mavis and Harry knew Danny and Eliza, too, from some of the Kiwanis barbecues and cocktail parties.
The Lawsons finished eating, so when Danny, Eliza and the girls were done, they all moseyed down the midway together.
“Twins,” Tanner asked, “how do you tell them apart?”
“Sally wears pink and Kaitlyn wears purple,” Eliza said.
They came to the rides. First was the Ferris wheel. When Danny looked at her, she shook her head.
“He’ll never get her to go on,” Kaitlyn whispered to Sally.
“The view from the top is great. We can look for the big dipper,” Danny coaxed.
“Not me. Can’t do the Ferris wheel. I’m afraid of heights,” Eliza said.
“Come on. It’s just a ride and I’ll be with you.”
The young men and the girls had paired off, Tanner with Sally and Chase with Kaitlyn.
“I’ll bet you a buck he can’t get her to go on,” Kaitlyn said.
“Don’t take her money, Chase,” Tanner said. “Danny can get anybody to do anything.”
“My mom wouldn’t even go on with my dad,” Sally whispered.
“I’ve been this way for a long time, Danny,” Eliza protested, putting her hand up.
“Test your fear. I promise I will keep you safe. Trust me,” he said, extending his hand to her.
Eliza looked in his eyes and took his hand. They got in the car and closed the safety bar across their laps. The girls were speechless.
“Let’s go,” Tanner said.
One or two cars passed before each girl and boy got in. Eliza had his hand in a death grip as the wheel turned slowly and stopped to let new people on. Danny put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close to him. He saw the girls watch their mother from time to time while they chatted with the boys. As the car stopped at the top, he leaned over and kissed Eliza, blotting out the scary view. He kept his lips on hers until the car came down again.
Eliza put her hand on his chest and buried her face in his shoulder as the car started to rise again. When the car got to the top going at a good rate of speed, he watched her open her eyes.
“Look and see how far you can see, Sweetpea. Look up, not down. See the stars?
The night sky is beautiful. ‘…the points of the Dipper hung like icicles and Orion flashed his cold fires’…That’s from Ethan Frome,” Danny said.
Eliza relaxed a little, loosening her grip on his hand and watched as the scene flashed by, but she kept her hand on his chest and her head on his shoulder. The wheel stopped with them at the top to let people out, so Danny kissed her again until they started moving. When they started to come down, he whispered in her ear, “You’re doing fine. Hang in there.”
Reaching the bottom, Eliza smiled and laughed at her success in overcoming her fear. Danny cheered with Sally and the boys as she stepped out of the car, blushing.
“I can’t believe you guys were making out on the Ferris wheel,” Kaitlyn said, her voice dripping with disapproval.
“How did you think I was going to keep her diverted during the scary parts?” Danny asked, laughing.
“See. I told you Danny could do anything,” Tanner said. “Not a bad method, either.”
They all moved on to the next few rides. Tanner and Sally and Chase and Kaitlyn went on all the rides, while the older adults watched. At one point Eliza turned to Danny.
“What a coincidence the Lawsons should show up with their boys tonight, at the food stands just when we were there,” she said, staring directly at Danny.
“Wasn’t that amazing?” Danny said, avoiding her stare.
“Let me see your phone. You got a call before they showed up. Was that Mavis?” Eliza said, reaching for his phone.
Danny held his phone out of her reach. “You’re so suspicious! What’s the harm?”
She surprised him, stopping her struggle to kiss him. “You’re the best.”
At ten o’clock, the Lawsons had to leave because the boys had an early softball game. Eliza’s phone rang. There was a health emergency at school. Mac, detained on another urgent school matter, wasn’t available. Eliza had to go to the hospital, contact the parents and take care of the situation.
“Go ahead, Sweetpea. I’ll stay with the girls and take them home,” Danny said.
“What did you call her?” Kaitlyn asked.
Danny blushed.
“Kaitlyn, shut up,” Sally whispered, pulling her sister away.
“Girls, Danny will take you home. Thanks for a great time and a fantastic Ferris wheel ride,” Eliza said, kissed him and left.
“Animals, next?” Danny suggested, walking toward the barns.
The people tending the animals were gone. There were cows, goats, sheep and pigs sleeping in the big barn. The girls got ahead of Danny as th
ey snaked around the stalls and were surprised by a group of drunken men. Danny approached quietly, watching to see whether the men were malevolent or merely harmless.
“Hey little ladies. How y’all doin’ tonight,” one skinny man said.
“Looking for escorts…mighty pretty,” the fat one said, leering at Kaitlyn.
“We’ll show you a good time,” a tall, powerful man said, looking the girls up and down.
“You all alone?” the skinny man asked with a lascivious grin.
“They’re with me,” Danny said, hearing all he needed to know and then coming up behind the frightened girls.
“Lucky dog, bangin’ two young’uns at once,” the fat one said.
“Don’t be disgusting and watch your language, fat boy. Run along home to your wives and sober up,” Danny said, with menace in his voice.
“Make us, tough guy,” the big man said, taunting Danny.
Just then a security man showed up and pulled the drunken men away. The girls were a little shaken up.
“Let’s get a funnel cake before we go home,” he suggested.
Both girls were fans of funnel cakes and with Danny they devoured three by eleven o’clock, then it was time to go home. Danny and the girls strolled to the parking lot while a fresh breeze cooled down the warm day. The empty lot seemed spooky as shadows played games, changing shapes in the moonlight and the summer air. Danny’s car was parked in a dim corner. As the girls approached, a dark shadow turned into the big man from the animal barn. Kaitlyn screamed when he grabbed her by the wrist.
“What are you doing, man?” Danny said.
“Taking what I want.” The big man laughed.
“Let her go,” Danny demanded.
“What are you going to do about it, punk?”
Kaitlyn struggled in his grip as Danny approached. The big man pulled out a knife and let Kaitlyn go. She ran to Sally and they huddled together, hiding behind the car.
