by Beth Wiseman
Esther huffed. “Lizzie, that’s probably from peeling the tape off that box.”
Her sister held up her other hand. “Nee, I used a knife. And I haven’t cut myself in years either. Look!”
Esther pulled Lizzie’s hand closer to inspect the cut on her thumb. “It’s not even a bad cut, and those two things certainly don’t mean you’re cursed, just careless.”
Lizzie rolled onto her side, faced away from Esther, and lowered the flame of her lantern. “Nee. I’m cursed. I always knew Gus would kill me somehow. Now, he’s inadvertently done so.”
Esther extinguished the flame on her lantern, then lay down. “You are not cursed, and Gus would never kill you. The man is a lot of things, but he’s not a murderer. And just looking at an urn filled with ashes is harmless. Your only regret should be opening a box meant for someone else.” Esther wasn’t so glad now that they knew what it was. “I wonder who it is.”
“I’ll never know. I’ll probably be dead by morning, cursed by the ashes of someone related or attached to Gus somehow.”
“You will feel differently in the morning when you wake up.” Esther finally got settled into bed, but she was wide awake. For over ten years, there had been a box with someone’s ashes in the small house their mother had lived in for a while. Why? Who?
* * *
Jayce had a bounce in his step as he passed the motor homes and limos. Jayce had loaded the equipment, but no one had emerged from the house. Gus was in his truck already, so Jayce got in.
“Kid, I ain’t in a good mood, so don’t give me any lip on the way to the caverns.” Gus had his hands gripped firmly around the steering wheel as he glared at Jayce.
“Wow. What’s up with you so early in the morning?” Jayce wasn’t thrilled to be getting back on the boat today, but at least he knew he could do it. It wouldn’t be the same without Evelyn by his side, but Veronica would be there, and other members of the crew. And his father would see that he’d pushed through this fear. He still wasn’t sure about elevators, but he figured taking baby steps was best. His stomach churned just the same, but he’d suffer through it.
Gus grumbled. He was looking a little scraggly this morning, more so than normal. He hadn’t shaved, his red-checkered shirt wasn’t tucked in, and he had dark circles under his eyes, almost as if he’d been crying, which seemed unlikely. How many red-checkered shirts did the man own, or did he just wear the same one over and over again?
“That cat of mine is a floozy.” His face turned red.
Jayce grinned. “That black cat I’ve seen coming and going out of your place?”
“It’s supposed to be Naomi’s cat, but the critter took up residence at my place.” He looked at Jayce, his face glowing an even darker shade of red. “And now she’s gone and gotten herself knocked up. What am I going to do with a litter of kittens?”
Jayce looked out the window when everyone started to come out of the inn and the motor homes. Then he turned his attention back to Gus. “Just give them away.”
“And rip a mother’s children away from her? That’s a bit coldhearted, wouldn’t you say?”
It would have been the last thing Jayce expected Gus to say. “Then keep them. Cats only have like four or five kittens, don’t they?”
“How would I know? And that’s four or five too many.”
Jayce pulled his phone from his pocket and Googled it. “The average is four, but they can have as many as twelve.”
“Wonderful.” Gus lifted his hands from the steering wheel, returning them with a thud. “I’m sure that cat will reward me with a dozen.” Amusement flickered in his eyes. “If there’s a silver lining, I could take a few of ’em and throw them in Lizzie’s bedroom. She’s terrified of cats.” He belly laughed, and his jowls got to bouncing.
Jayce decided to change the subject. “I’m planning to go in the boat with everyone today.” He pushed his black sunglasses up on his head and glanced at Gus.
“That’s great. You’ll freak out, probably fall in the water, and I’ll feel compelled to jump in and save yet another person.” He shook his head. “Let me just tell you, that water is freezing.”
“I’m not going to fall in the water.” At least I hope not.
Gus started the old truck, then managed to shift into first gear to follow the cars, which were packed to capacity, as always. “Clearly, you’re doing this to prove something to your father.”
“And to myself,” Jayce was quick to say. “But yeah . . . I’m anxious to see the look on his face when I say I’m going.”
Gus didn’t say anything, and the rest of the trip was quiet until they pulled into the parking lot at Bluespring.
“That phone of yours, can it look up just about anything?” Gus’s face was drawn and serious.
“Pretty much. Google is pretty smart. What do you need to know?”
“Where is Jug Rock?”
Jayce typed Jug Rock into his phone. “Here’s what Wikipedia says about it.” He read from his phone screen.
Jug Rock is a natural geological formation located outside of Shoals, Indiana, in the valley of the East Fork of the White River. It is composed of sandstone and is the largest freestanding table rock formation in the United States east of the Mississippi River.
“Then it lists an address in Shoals, Indiana,” Jayce said. “It’s about twenty miles from Montgomery.”
Gus glared at him. “You can get all that information from a phone?”
“Yep.” Jayce stepped out of the truck and took a deep breath, eyeing the entrance to the cave. After everyone poured out of the limos, Jayce pulled out the first load of equipment. He was happy to see that Veronica wasn’t in a wetsuit. She’d be filming out of the water today. He started walking toward the entrance, his heart like a bass drum in his chest. Veronica came up beside him.
“How’s it going with the Amish girl?” She nudged him.
Jayce smiled as thoughts of the day before soothed his pulse. “I like her. A lot.”
“Think you’ll stay friends after we go home?”
He repositioned a box under his arm. “Maybe I won’t go home.”
Veronica stopped walking. “You’re kidding, right?”
Jayce shrugged. “I like it here.”
She tucked her blonde hair behind her ears. “If you’re saying this because of that girl, I’d be careful about overhauling your life to live the way they do.” She shifted her stance and put a hand on her hip. “Listen, Jayce. I know you don’t get along with your father, but you’ve got a good life in LA. And you said after this project, you’ll have enough money to get your own place and get out from under your dad’s thumb.”
“Have you taken the time to really look around? It’s peaceful here. The people are nice.” He nodded at Gus after he walked by them. “Well, most of them.”
Veronica grinned as she poked him on the shoulder with her finger. “Hey, no making fun of my hero.”
Jayce laughed as his father walked by glaring at him. “We don’t have all day, so hurry up!”
“I don’t know how I ever dated him.” Veronica shook her head.
“Neither does anyone else.” Jayce started walking again, then made the usual number of trips back to haul the rest of the equipment. Finally, it was time for everyone to get in the boats.
“I’m going with you today, Dad.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets since they were shaking.
His father snickered. “Um, really?”
“Yeah. I’ll be going on the boat to help out.”
His father stared at him, tipping his head to one side. “We don’t need you to go today.”
“Well, I’m going.” Jayce felt good about proving to himself that he could do something he feared, but he needed to show his father too.
“No, you’re not. We aren’t going to be more than a couple hours anyway.” His father walked to the far end of the dock and stepped into one of the boats. Jayce followed him, knowing he should just stay behind and let it go, but years
of bullying pushed him forward.
“Why are you doing this? I finally tell you I’m ready to go, and now you’re saying I’m not going.” Jayce clenched his hands at his sides.
“Because we don’t need you in the boat today. You’d only be in the way.”
Jayce had never wanted to hit anyone so much in his entire life. As his hands balled into fists, he felt the fire in his chest, the pounding of his temples, and the urge to lash out at a man he loved but didn’t respect. But then who would he be? What kind of person? Worse than his father? What would Evelyn think? More importantly . . . what would God think?
He relaxed his hands even though he was trembling. Surely his father would love for him to lose his cool in front of everyone. But the man’s expression wasn’t the usual mocking glare. There was something sad in his eyes, a look Jayce remembered seeing when his mother left. Jayce felt sick. About everything.
Gus cleared his throat. “I can stay back so the boy can go.”
His father held the expression for a few long moments before he turned to answer. “Appreciate the offer, Gus, but you’ve kinda become our lifeguard.” He smiled at Gus, then stepped into the boat. And just like that, his father was back to the man Jayce knew. Maybe he couldn’t change. But Jayce could.
Jayce glanced at Gus, who opened his mouth possibly to argue, but he didn’t say anything.
He glanced at Veronica, and she had the same sympathetic look he’d seen plenty of times. He avoided looking at anyone else as he turned and walked away. And he didn’t stop walking when he got to the parking lot. Nor did he tour the property as he’d done in the past.
He walked to the road and just kept going.
* * *
Evelyn and her mother were hanging clothes on the line Monday afternoon when they both looked up as the sky became cloudy.
“It’s not supposed to rain,” her mother said while clipping a towel to the line.
“Hopefully those clouds will just pass over.” Nothing was going to dim the sunshine in Evelyn’s heart. She was too caught up in reliving her kisses with Jayce.
Her mother reached into her pocket for another clip. “I’ve noticed that dreamy look in your eyes all morning. And your daed is starting to ask more questions about the time you’re spending with that boy.”
“Mamm, can you please call him Jayce?” Evelyn didn’t want her mother to darken her spirits, especially when the sun broke through overhead and cleared the clouds, returning the atmosphere to mirroring her heart.
Her mother shook her head as she pinned up another towel.
“I’m a grown woman. Don’t worry, Mamm.”
“Ya, you are. You are nineteen, and in most parts of the world, that’s considered a grown woman. But I’ve lived longer, seen plenty, and I feel like you are going to get hurt. I’m merely imparting some of my wisdom to mei dochder, whom I lieb very much.”
“And I appreciate that.” Evelyn picked up the last towel in the basket and hooked it to the clothesline, irritated that her mother had dampened her mood. “I’ve got to get to work. I’m filling in for Katie this afternoon.” As she started toward the house, she glanced over her shoulder. “And I’ll be going out tonight.”
Her mother didn’t say anything.
* * *
About two and a half hours after Jayce had started walking, Gus pulled up next to him.
“Get in, Jayce.”
It was the first time he could remember the man calling him by his name. He wanted to keep walking off his anger at his father, but he was dripping in sweat and his calves ached from all the uphill roads.
“I don’t want to talk about what happened.” Jayce got in and slammed the truck door.
“Good. Neither do I. I have my own problems, and you’re going to need to help me.”
Jayce grunted. “Do you see how you phrased that? I think what you meant to say was ‘I need you to help me.’ Because I don’t think I’m ‘going to need to help’ you.”
Gus looked at him and frowned. “Quit talking in riddles. Your father said they are going to have a short screening of the movie Friday night down at the little community center. It ain’t gonna be long, just the scenes filmed in the cavern, and two outside bigwigs are flying in for the viewing—investors, I think. Then you’re all probably packing up and leaving earlier than expected.”
Jayce’s stomach dropped. He wasn’t ready to go. He’d get more information from Veronica or one of the others. “What does that have to do with you needing my help?”
“I need nice clothes to wear, and I haven’t bought clothes in decades.”
This day just kept getting worse. “Are you asking me to help you pick out clothes?”
“And not kid clothes like you wear. Something classy.”
Jayce looked down at his jeans and blue T-shirt before he turned to Gus. “Uh, I don’t think a brief viewing in a small-town community center requires a tux or anything. Sure, people will probably spruce up a little, but—”
“It’s not about that.” Gus kept his eyes forward as he ground from second gear to third. Jayce had started hearing the sound in his sleep at night. “My daughter will be there.”
“The one who hates you?”
Gus rattled off a few curse words, expletives that sounded weird coming from a guy his age.
Jayce shrugged. “What are you yelling at me for? You’re the one that told me she hates you.”
“After all these rides I’ve given you, are you going to help me or not? I’d ask Esther, but the chances of her knowing what’s fashionable are fairly low.”
“Yeah, I’ll help you clean up your look.” Jayce rubbed his chin. “Did my dad tell you for sure that you’ll be in the background in this movie?” Gus wasn’t the most likeable person, but he’d grown on Jayce, and Jayce didn’t want to see him get hurt. It sounded like he was going to a lot of effort to be unknowingly humiliated.
“He assured me I will be in the movie.”
Jayce slouched into the seat, still heated about the exchange with his father. “In case you haven’t noticed, my father’s a jerk. And he doesn’t always tell the truth.”
“Maybe you could have a little respect for the man.” Gus glowered at him. “At least you didn’t hit him today. I saw your hands fisted at your sides. He’s provided you with a lifestyle most people will never have, and probably loads of money. Have a little gratitude.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” With his head leaning against the seat, he turned to the older man. “As cliché as it sounds, money doesn’t buy happiness. And I’d give it all up to live here.”
Gus laughed. “You’d never make it, kid. You’d miss your fancy ways in Los Angeles. How many cars you got?”
“Two.” Jayce thought about his Jaguar and his more practical Land Rover. He sat taller and stared out at the open fields. “But I wouldn’t mind the occasional buggy ride.”
“Kid, you’ve got messed-up thoughts. The Amish folks don’t take ‘the occasional buggy ride.’ It’s their only mode of transportation unless they need to hire a driver to go farther than the horses can go. And if you’re thinking about trying to convert to their godly lifestyle because of that girl, you’re crazy.”
Veronica had said almost the same thing. But another thought sailed into his mind, as if put there intentionally. “Do you believe in God?”
Gus visibly bristled, then softened a little. “There was a time I did.” The regret in his voice was quickly followed up with, “Why are you asking me that? It ain’t none of your business.”
“When did you stop believing?” Jayce wasn’t worried about making Gus mad. The guy was terminal when it came to grumpiness.
“The day something happened to make me stop believing.” He glared at Jayce. “Which isn’t any of your business.”
“Yeah, you said that. So what happened?” Jayce kept his eyes on Gus, but the old man stayed focused on the road in front of him.
“Fine. You don’t have to tell me. But
I believe.”
“Good for you.” Gus sighed, opened his mouth to say something, but then snapped it closed again.
“I guess I had the opposite experience. Something happened to me one day, and I started to believe.” He recalled the first time he went to church with Susan and the relationship with God that evolved thereafter. It became a sort of friendship that saw him through his roughest times when Jayce didn’t think anyone understood him, only this Fatherly figure who seemed to stay close to him, then and now. God was the Father he’d never had.
“Good for you,” Gus repeated. “Now, where do we need to go to get me some clothes?”
It was confusing why Gus’s daughter, who hated him, was coming to the movie preview. Maybe she thought her father was coming into some money, and she wanted to worm her way into his life to snatch some of it. If the woman only knew . . . It was highly unlikely Gus would have even the tiniest cameo in the movie, and Brandon Clarkson wasn’t about to pay him for it.
“How much do you want to spend on clothes?” Jayce glanced at him.
Gus gave him the usual look—an expression that made him look meaner than he really was. “I don’t know. How much is a shirt and slacks?”
Jayce leaned his head to the left. “You might think about replacing those worn-out running shoes too.”
“Whatever. How much?”
Jayce rubbed his chin. “Hmm . . . for a decent shirt, some pants, and shoes, maybe three hundred bucks.”
Gus downshifted so abruptly, Jayce had to grab the dashboard.
“Are you out of your ever-loving, God-fearing mind? I’m not spending three hundred dollars on clothes and shoes.”
Jayce shrugged as he eyed his jeans. “I paid almost two hundred dollars for these jeans.”
“Then you’re an idiot. They have holes in them!” Gus shook his head after the outburst.
“That’s the style.” Jayce paused. “But maybe just go to Walmart. We can probably find you something decent there.”
“And you think you could live here and wear Amish clothes? You’re messed up in the mind.”
