The River to Glory Land

by Janie DeVos

  “Why’d you wait until now to bring him down?” I asked.

  “Because the games he’d always played were just petty and stupid. But when he hurt my family…Well, well, looky there,” he said, giving a nod to indicate what he was looking at. Moving closer to the window, I saw Chick being helped into the backseat of a police car with a jacket draped over his outstretched hands, obviously concealing the handcuffs beneath it.

  Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. “Enter,” Granddaddy called, and Lenora walked in carrying an enormous vase with at least two dozen yellow roses in it.

  “For you, Mr. Harjo,” she said, her load leaning precariously.

  “Who’re they from?” Granddaddy asked, quickly taking them from her.

  “Oh, wait, sir, there’s more,” she said in a sing-song voice. Lenora walked back out and returned with a large box of Cohibas—Cuba’s finest cigars—plus a fifty-year-old bottle of cognac.

  “There’s a card, Max,” Grandma said as she plucked it from between the roses. Opening the envelope, she pulled out a check, and then read the note. “Thanks for the great hooch, but an even better tit for tat. Regards, B.D.’”

  Granddaddy threw back his head and laughed as Grandma brought her nose down to inhale the scent of the roses.

  “Great hooch?” I asked, confused.

  “I sold Buddy the liquor you and Scott brought in. He must have had his guys pick it up out at the lighthouse and the Seminole village already. Scott got a hell of a deal on the booze, but I just gave Buddy the same deal he’d have gotten in the islands. Buyin’ Scott’s liquor saved his guys from havin’ to make the trip, so he was happy. I made enough to repay Scott, plus give him a little extra for his trouble, as well as cover Judith’s two grand.”

  “That’s good, Granddaddy. That’s real good!” I felt fifty pounds lighter with that burden instantly removed. I’d been staring up at the ceiling every night since this ordeal had begun, trying to figure out how to pay Scott. To say I was relieved was an enormous understatement.

  “Gee, Buddy must have gotten the word pretty quickly,” I said, referring to the timely arrival of his gifts.

  “Burl Ambrose told me what was comin’, and I gave Buddy a head’s up early this morning. Didn’t you notice that he was taking a lot longer than usual with his lunch? He wanted a bird’s eye view,” Granddaddy laughed as he sat down on the corner of his desk and picked up the bottle of cognac to inspect the label.

  I turned back to the window to take one last look before heading back to the Hibiscus Room, and just then, the police car carrying Chick started to pull out of the porte cochere. Chick looked up in my direction, as though he felt he was being watched, and when he did, I lifted my hand in farewell. Immediately, he turned his face away, but not before our eyes met.

  Chapter 43

  The End to a Beginning

  Scott called me five days later from Havana, during an extremely busy lunch shift. Since the Belvedere had been shut down, our two restaurants stayed full. When his call came in, I was right in the middle of trying to seat a party, as well as locate one of our busboys to clean up an overturned plate of fish sticks and coleslaw that was the result of a five-year-old’s tantrum. While the mother tried to quiet the screaming child with the promise of an ice cream sundae, I silently promised to tan the child’s hide if he pulled that act in my restaurant again.

  “Take this, Jimmy,” I said, handing the remains of the broken plate to the busboy. “And get that mess mopped up before someone slips in it and sues the life out of us.”

  “You gonna take this call, Lily?” Peter asked impatiently, holding the phone out to me.

  “Who is it?” I said as I grabbed three menus from the podium.

  Peter spoke into the phone, then holding his hand over the mouthpiece, said, “The switchboard operator says it’s a call from Havana, Cuba, from a Scott somebody.”

  I felt a rush of adrenaline course through me, and suddenly the fact that it was the busiest time of day didn’t matter in the least. “Have Olga put the call through to the payphone out in the hall, Peter. I’ll be able to hear better out there.” I started to walk away with menus in hand, leaving the party I needed to seat just standing there. “Would you mind?” I said, thrusting the menus into Peter’s one free hand as he told the operator to forward the call.

  I hurried into the phone booth, closed the glass-paned door behind me and then sat down on the little seat and waited for the phone to ring. It didn’t take long. Lifting the earpiece from its cradle, I spoke into the mouthpiece attached to the box on the wall.

  “Hello?” I said, trying to sound less frazzled than I felt.

  “Lily? Can you hear me?” Scott sounded like he was talking through a tin can.

  “Barely,” I said loudly.

  “Okay. I’ll talk as loudly as I can. Is this any better?”

  “Barely.” I smiled. “But it’s okay. I can hear you well enough. How are you?” It was so good hearing his voice.

  “I’m okay,” he shouted. “So, what’s the news, kid? Am I missing anything around there?”

  “Only Chick gettin’ busted by the FBI last week,” I said smugly.

  “No kiddin’!” Even as difficult as it was to hear him, I could still hear the surprise and delight in his voice. “I’ll want to hear all about how that went down! Listen, Lily, I’m sorry to have to cut this short, but I’m flying out in about fifteen minutes.”

  “Where’re you off to this time?” I tried to sound light, but my heart felt heavy.

  “Home, actually. But I have to drop a couple of people off on Andros Island, in the Bahamas. I should be home around six, though. Is there any way I can see you?”

  “Uh, yeah…Yes. Where do you want to meet?”

  A couple walked by the phone booth, and even though the door was closed, they could hear me shouting and gave me a disapproving look. When I lifted my hand in greeting, they didn’t return it but hurried on instead.

  “I’m making a scene,” I laughed.

  “What?” Scott asked.

  “Never mind.” I smiled.

  “Can you come by my apartment around seven? I’d say I’d pick you up and take you out for a nice dinner somewhere, but I’m only here for one night. I’ll be heading out in the morning and I’ve got some things to do at the apartment before I leave.”

  My heart had lifted at the news he was coming home, but it fell like a rock to hear he was leaving again, and so soon.

  “Yes, okay,” I agreed. “I’ll come by. I’ve got to get back to work.”

  “I need to go, too. I’ll see you later.”

  “All right.” I started to move the earpiece away, but heard Scott say something.

  “What? Did you say something?” I shouted. “I nearly hung up on you.”

  “I said I’ll be glad to see you, Lily.”

  “I’ll be glad to see you, too, Scott. Okay, I’m gonna hang up now.” I hung the earpiece back in its cradle and pushed the door open. The coolness of the breeze moving through the hallway felt good. As I walked back to the dining room, I could hear the noise emanating from it, letting me know we were still busy. I was glad. It would make the afternoon go by more quickly.

  And it did. After showering in our family’s hotel room, I put on a pair of black silk pants and a matching black blouse that buttoned at the neck in back; then I threw a long strand of cream-colored pearls over my head and tied them into a knot about midway down. Checking my watch, I saw that it was nearly seven. After taking a final look in the mirror to check the evenness of my smoky-colored eye shadow and the lines of my wine-colored lipstick, I grabbed my small gray clutch purse and twenty-five minutes later, I knocked on Scott’s front door.

  “Hey,” he said softly but smiling broadly as he held the door open for me. “Thanks for coming over.” He closed the door and followed me into the
living room. “Can I get you something to drink?”

  “What are you drinking?” I saw a tumbler half-full sitting on the kitchen pass through.

  “Bourbon and soda,” he replied, going into the kitchen.

  “That’ll be fine. How was Havana?” I sat down on one of the stools on the living room side of the pass through.

  “Busy as hell,” Scott said as he dropped some ice into a tumbler and then poured a shot of scotch followed by the soda. He handed me the fizzing drink, then picked up his own. “Let’s go out to the balcony. It’ll be cooler out there.”

  We stood at the balcony’s railing, looking out as the lights of downtown Miami blinked on while the twilight gave way to early evening darkness. We stood there without saying anything for a moment, just taking in the view. A soft breeze blew, making the palm trees lining the street sway in sleepy rhythm. Taking a sip of my drink, I closed my eyes and let the wind wash over me, calming me and cooling me as it chased the last of the day’s heat away.

  “You look beautiful, Lily.”

  His voice was low, sensual, and the compliment caught me off guard. Opening my eyes, I thanked him softly as a warm blush spread across my cheeks.

  “So, tell me about the dethroning of Chick,” Scott said, smiling at seeing the unexpected touch of shyness in me.

  “Ah, it was a beautiful thing to see.” I told him how everything had gone down, and as I did, I remembered the check I had for him from Granddaddy. Hurrying over to my purse on the couch, I returned with it and handed it to him. “This is for the liquor, and a little something extra for your trouble.”

  “Are you sure, Lily? Honestly, there’s no rush to pay me.”

  “Buddy bought the liquor from us. Granddaddy figured you’d be fine with that,” I replied.

  “Oh, really? Well, that worked out nicely, didn’t it?” Scott glanced down at the check. “This is too much.”

  “No, it’s not,” I countered. “You deserve every bit of that. Probably more. Listen, you jeopardized a lot for us, Scott. You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I wanted to,” he said softly. “But, thanks for this,” he said, holding up the check before slipping it into the back pocket of his tan cargo pants. He turned to look out over the city again, taking a sip of his drink as he did, as though he was thinking through the next thing he wanted to say. Then, as though he had found the right words, he faced me. “Lily, I’m heading back to Cuba in the morning. I’ll be gone for a while.”

  My throat constricted. I took a sip of my drink. “How long will you be gone?”

  “Probably six months or so,” he said, watching me closely, gauging my reaction. “Business has been really good, but a lot of it is coming from down there. It’s a long haul flying all over the Caribbean, and I need another base to cover the trips more efficiently and effectively. I’m setting one up in the southern part of Cuba—down in Santiago de Cuba. I’ll be able to service the Turks and Caicos, and the British Virgin Islands from there. I’ve got one guy with a plane already, and another guy with plenty of money to buy one, and even more enthusiasm about wanting to learn to fly it. So all I have to do is train him.”

  “Well…that’s wonderful,” I said, trying to sound genuinely enthusiastic, but my voice just sounded strained. Clearing it, I asked, “What about your business here?”

  “A fella by the name of Jackie Wilson was a test pilot with me in Michigan, at Stinson Aircrafts. He’s agreed to come down and take over for me here while I’m gone. He’ll probably stay on permanently if he likes it. He’s a good man.”

  “Well…it’s all just coming together, isn’t it?” I forced a smile. “I’m happy for you.” And I was…at least I was trying to be.

  Scott stepped up to me and took the drink from my hand, setting it down on the table. “Lily,” he said, straightening up to look at me. “You could come with me, you know.” The intensity in his eyes was startling. In the dim light, his green eyes almost seemed to glow.

  Stunned, I said nothing for a moment as a thousand thoughts went through my head while I weighed the reasons why I should go verses why I shouldn’t. I finally spoke up when I realized that the reasons why I shouldn’t far outnumbered the rest.

  “Scott, I can’t do that. I work. I have a life here, and my family. Besides, what would I do all day long? Sit on the beach reading the Ladies Home Journal, and eating papaya?”

  “Among other things, I could teach you how to fly,” he said in a husky voice, closing the distance between us and wrapping his arms around my waist before bringing his lips down on mine.

  Our mouths quickly remembered how they moved together before, perfectly matched, in another time in another place as tears from a witch helped to fuel the moment. Only this time, there were no Witch’s Tears, only raw, honest emotions fueled by intense feelings that had come on strong and fast, as if they’d always been there, only lying dormant.

  But I denied them. “I can’t,” I said, pulling away from him. I stepped back, looking at him as he closely watched me. Turning, I gripped the railing, hard. “This is my home,” I said, shaking my head as I looked out at the illuminated skyline. “I couldn’t leave it. I just…No.”

  “It wouldn’t be forever, maybe half a year.” He walked up beside me. “Lily, look at me,” he said, firmly taking my hand and turning me to face him. “You know there’s something special going on here. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever felt before and I don’t want to just let it go.”

  “Then don’t leave.”

  “I have to,” he countered. “I want a future, Lily. One that’s solid. And by doing what I’m about to do, I’m giving that future a real good start. But I want you with me. I don’t want to leave you behind.”

  “What about what I want, Scott? You haven’t asked me that!”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry,” he said, taking a step back, giving me room. “What is it you want? I’ll do it if there’s any way I possibly can.”

  “I want you to stay; to work on building your business here.”

  “I’m doing that by hiring Jackie. But I have to expand the business elsewhere to be really competitive. Unfortunately, that’s the way it has to be,” he said flatly.

  “Well, then, that’s that,” I said, moving away from him.

  I snatched my drink off the table and then walked back into the living room. Scott followed, watching me closely through his heavy-lidded eyes. After picking my purse up off the couch, I set my glass on the counter of the pass through. “Let me know when you’re back,” I said as I walked into the hallway. “And thanks for the drink,” I added over my shoulder. Not another word was said as I walked out, firmly closing the door behind me.

  Chapter 44

  Homeward Bound

  Scott had been gone for over two weeks, and though he’d called twice, I had Peter tell him I was unavailable for one of the calls, and my mother tell him the same thing for the other. From my quiet, sullen mood, my family knew that something was going on. As I joined Mama out on the porch overlooking the river one evening after supper at her request for a discussion (which I was sure was intended to get to the bottom of my moodiness), we saw Granddaddy and Grandma pull up in the driveway around back. We walked down the steps to meet them on the orange and pink hibiscus-lined path that ran along the house connecting the back driveway to the front porch.

  “Evenin’, ladies,” Grandma greeted us, walking with her arm through Granddaddy’s.

  “What brings y’all out here?” Mama asked as she went from kissing her father’s cheek to her mother’s.

  “Well,” Grandma said, holding out a bag. “We come bearing gifts…and news.”

  “What in the world?” Mama exclaimed, taking the bag from Grandma, and peering inside. “Why is there a pineapple in there?”

  “It’s a housewarming gift,” Grandma laughed.

  “What in the Sam Hill ar
e you talkin’ about, ol’ woman?” Mama narrowed her eyes, smiling.

  “C’mon,” Grandma said, placing her hand in the small of Mama’s back to move her on. “Let’s go in. Your papa has a sweet tooth, and I need to use the powder room.”

  I got out cake plates and forks while Mama put coffee on. Daddy and Olivia had come into the kitchen when they’d heard Grandma’s and Granddaddy’s voices.

  “Max,” Daddy said warmly as he shook his father-in-law’s hand. “What brings y’all out? I know Eliza makes a darn good lemon cake but…”

  “Who do you think taught her how?” Grandma laughed as she walked back into the kitchen.

  “They brought us a pineapple, Striker,” Mama said, rolling her eyes as if her parents had finally lost every bit of sense.

  “Now, now. Before you have us committed, you might want to hear us out,” Grandma said as she sat down at the table and accepted the cake I handed to her. “Where’s that bag with the pineapple in it, Eliza? We don’t want to lose it.”

  “Heavens, no. That’d be a crime,” she said, giving my father another look before retrieving the bag she’d set over by the toaster.

  “Miss Smarty-Britches,” my grandfather chimed in. “Why don’t you take out all of the bag’s contents and quit your yappin’.”

  “Lord,” Mama said under her breath as she pulled out the pineapple and an envelope. “Oh…I didn’t see that in there before,” she said rather humbly.

  “Well, if you’d used those eyes of yours to take a better look instead of rollin’ them around like you were doin’.” Granddaddy grinned, pleased with his one-upmanship.

  “You’re right, you’re right,” Mama laughed. “I’ll mind my manners. So, what’s goin’ on?” She looked from one of her parents to another as she held the envelope.