Welcome to Last Chance

by Cathleen Armstrong

  On the back porch, Lainie drew deep breaths of cold piñon smoke–scented air. She could still hear the sounds of laughter and conversation behind her in the warm, brightly lit house, but it was muffled and seemed a world away. A gust of wind blew up and rattled the bare branches of the cottonwoods overhead, and Lainie shivered. Ray pulled her close and rubbed her arms.

  “Cold?”

  She nodded. “A little, maybe.”

  “I’ll run and get you a jacket. Be right back.” Ray ducked back through the kitchen door.

  When the door opened again, Lainie turned around expecting to see Ray and found herself face-to-face with Steven.

  “Hi. I thought I saw you come out here. Where’s Ray?”

  “Right here.” Ray followed him out holding a warm oversized jacket. “This might be big—I think it’s Uncle Joe Jr.’s—but it was the first one I found.” He draped it over Lainie’s shoulders and wrapped her like a cocoon, pulling her close.

  Steven grinned. “You’re going to wind up falling on your face like that.” He took the jacket and held it while Lainie slipped her arms into the long sleeves. “There. Now you can move.”

  Ray pushed a sleeve back to find Lainie’s hand and enveloped it in his own, and the three stepped off the back porch and started across the yard to the road that led to the corrals. Steven fell in on Ray’s other side.

  Steven took a deep breath. “Man, I missed the way this place smells. I didn’t even realize it till I got out of the car this afternoon—the smoke, the horses, something else I can’t even name. It’s just home.”

  Ray clapped his shoulder. “Glad you’re home, bro. And you’re here to stay this time.”

  Steven didn’t say anything.

  “So what are your plans now? You want to bunk with me? I don’t have a lot of room, but we can manage somehow.”

  “Nah, thanks anyway, bro, but I don’t want to crowd your space. Gran said I could use the daybed in her sewing room. In fact, Gran told me I was using the daybed in her sewing room. Seems someone else has the guest room.” He grinned at Lainie.

  “There’s no rush, but you know the bar’s ready when you are.”

  “Yeah, thanks for that. I know you had to put your own stuff on hold. It’ll seem weird without Dad, though. He and I always planned to run it together.”

  “Well, he wanted you to have it, anyway. I’ll bring you up to speed as soon as you’re ready. Maybe sometime in the next week or so?”

  “Yeah, sounds good. Sometime next week.”

  They walked to the end of the road before heading back to the house. Lainie turned the collar of the jacket up to block the wind. Warm lights shining from the windows of the ranch house beckoned, and she tried to move Ray and Steven on a little faster.

  The pie had been served when they stepped back into the cavernous living room. Everyone held a plate with a whipped cream–topped slice, and mugs of steaming coffee rested on every convenient surface.

  “There you are!” Nancy Jo appeared in the kitchen doorway. “Gran called Rita to tell her you were home, and she’s called back three times trying to reach you. Here’s her number.” She handed Steven the cordless phone and a slip of paper.

  Steven peered at the number and started slowly punching in numbers. “Why am I calling Rita now?”

  “Didn’t Ray tell you? She’s going to declare Steven Braden Day and give you a big parade and everything. Now, do you all want pumpkin, pecan, or mincemeat?”

  Light poured from the windows of the Dip ’n’ Dine and the smell of coffee and sausage enveloped her when Lainie got to work early the next morning. Fayette was carrying a tray laden with steaming plates across the room toward a table where four men in work boots sat cradling mugs of coffee. Lainie glanced at the clock. The diner wasn’t due to open for another twenty minutes. Fayette caught her glance.

  “I know. But they were here, I was here, and Carlos was here. I didn’t see any need to keep them sitting out in the cold when they could be inside with a cup of coffee. Now run and get your uniform on. Another truck just pulled into the parking lot.”

  It was nearly eleven before Lainie was able catch her breath. She ducked into the kitchen and found Fayette hanging up the phone.

  “I had to put in an emergency order up to San Ramon. I don’t know why I didn’t see this crowd coming. Seems everybody is taking the day off and coming in here for breakfast. How’s it looking out there?”

  Lainie craned her neck to look. “Pretty quiet. Rita’s still in her breakfast meeting with Steven, but I think he quit paying attention an hour ago.”

  She walked up to their table with the coffeepot and put the check on the table. “Need another refill?”

  “None for me. I’ve got to get going.” Steven got to his feet and held out his hand to the mayor. “Rita, it’s been a pleasure. I’ve gotta say, though, I’m blown away by all this. I sure don’t deserve it.”

  Rita jumped to her feet and reached up to give him a hug. “What do you mean, you don’t deserve it? You bet you deserve it! And you represent all the other young men and women out there fighting for us. If you don’t want this for yourself, take it for them.”

  Steven grinned at Lainie over Rita’s head. “Well, if you put it that way . . . Hey, there’s Ray. I need to see him about something.”

  Across the road Ray slammed the door of his truck and waited for Steven to catch up. Lainie could see the smile light Ray’s face. Steven was a charmer, all right. Lainie just wished he didn’t make her feel so uneasy.

  17

  At the end of the long day, Lainie stood on the sidewalk outside and rolled her shoulders to ease the ache that had settled there sometime in the middle of the afternoon. It was as dark outside as it had been when she got to work that morning, and cold gusts of wind blew dried leaves and bits of trash around her feet. Across the street, a lone truck sat in front of the High Lonesome. Lainie waited for an eighteen-wheeler to roar by, then ran across the road.

  Ray looked up when she pushed her way through the door, and his smile warmed her.

  “Hey, Lainie! Come on in. I thought you’d be on your way to Steven’s welcome home party.”

  Lainie climbed on a stool at the bar. “I just thought I’d take a break before I go. From what Elizabeth said, the whole town is going to be there, and I’ve had about all the people I can take for a while. She looked down at the cup Ray put in front of her. “What is this?”

  “Hot chocolate. Sorry, I’m out of whipped cream.”

  “Yuck. Got any coffee?”

  Ray leaned across the bar and grinned at her. “Try my cocoa. You’ll love it.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s what you said about the grape soda, and that was nasty.” She took a tentative sip and shrugged. “Not bad. Could use some whipped cream, though.”

  A gust of wind rattled the windows, and Lainie watched a tumbleweed the size of a beach ball blow across the parking lot and slam against the fence.

  She shivered. “I’d better run. It’s getting bad out there.”

  Ray came out from behind the bar. “Tell you what. I’ve seen ghost towns with more going on than this place tonight. Finish your cocoa, and I’ll just lock up and run you home. Won’t take ten minutes.”

  He reached for his hat but stopped when the song changed on the jukebox and a slow, gravelly voice began a song of regret and loss.

  “Oh, there’s my man Willie. You’ve got to dance with me before we go.” He took her hand and slipped his other hand around her waist, drawing her into the tiny space in front of the jukebox. He gently rested his cheek against her hair and led her in the first steps while Lainie closed her eyes and smiled to herself. Following had never been one of her strengths, but following Ray was easy. She was glad he was holding her close, because the longer they danced and the longer she felt his breath gentle on her face, the weaker her knees became. Finally, the last aching notes died to silence and Ray let go of her waist, twirled her once, and drew her close again. Lainie blinked, d
rew a deep breath to clear her head, and looked up at him.

  “Oh.”

  Ray just smiled and slipped his other arm around her waist. As he bent his face to hers, the crunch of gravel interrupted them and a flash of headlights slid across the bar and came to rest on the back wall.

  Ray sighed as they pulled apart. “Company. Guess I’ll have to take back my offer of a ride—unless you want to wait a while. Or I could call over to Gran’s and get Steven to come get you.”

  Lainie shook her head. “No.” She gestured at the suddenly darkened windows of the Dip ’n’ Dine. “Looks like Fayette’s about ready to go. If I hurry, I can catch a ride with her.”

  A blast of wind caught the door and tried to slam it against the wall as four men with hats jammed down around their ears and jacket collars pulled up stamped into the room.

  “I tell you what, it’s fixin’ to blow up a storm worth writing home about out there.” The first one through the door took off his jacket and hung it on the rack by the door.

  “I’ll say. There was five of us got out of the truck, but the wind just up and took Shorty. He oughta be passin’ into Mexican air space ’bout now.” He stopped when he saw Lainie. “Hey there.”

  Lainie buttoned her coat. “Hi and bye.” She paused on her way out the door. “Oh, I was going to tell you. Guess who’s got a solo at church on Sunday.”

  Ray’s face split in a grin. “You’re kidding! Good for you. What are you singing?”

  “Some of the Christmas music we’ve been working on. I’ve never sung a solo before and I’ll probably pass out in the middle of it.”

  Ray turned her coat collar up against her neck, his hands lingering on either side of her face. “You’ll do just fine. I know it.”

  “Hey, you two, shut the door, would you? It’s getting as cold in here as it is outside, and ever’ bit as windy.”

  “And Fayette’s getting in her car. I need to run.” Lainie sprinted across the parking lot, waving over her shoulder at Ray and calling out to Fayette to wait.

  Finding a spot to park Fayette’s old Dodge anywhere near Elizabeth’s house wasn’t easy. Pickups, SUVs, and just a few sedans lined both sides of the street.

  “Wow. Elizabeth wasn’t kidding when she said she was having some folks over.” Lainie took the pan of enchiladas Fayette handed her.

  “Well, these things can take on a life of their own.” Fayette started down the narrow path between the cars and the side of the road, with Lainie close behind. “Private parties are unheard of here in Last Chance. Everyone just assumes that they’re included. But they all bring food too.”

  The house was definitely standing room only. People had even spilled out onto the front porch and stood hunched into their heavy coats, but the air of celebration permeated even the cold. Inside, the chairs and sofa were occupied by older people holding overladen plates of food. Younger folks stood in small groups chatting and eating while children threaded their way through the crowd, pausing only briefly when someone caught them by the shoulder and told them to slow down. A quick glance into the kitchen told Lainie that Elizabeth had more help than she knew what to do with, so she escaped down the hall to her bedroom. The door was closed and she expected to find it empty, but two little girls stood at her dresser holding her Mickey Mouse snow globe. She managed to smile as she held her hand out for the trinket.

  “I didn’t break it.” The little girl who handed over the snow globe looked scared.

  “No, I can see that.” Lainie turned the globe over so the girls could see the shower of glitter fall around Mickey in his Sorcerer’s Apprentice wizard costume.

  “Can I try?”

  “If you’re careful.” Lainie handed the globe back to the little girl, who received it with great care and held it in both hands. “This is very special to me. My dad bought it for me at Disneyland when I was about your age.”

  “I’m seven.”

  “Well, I was eight. He took me to Disneyland for my eighth birthday. And this was my birthday present.”

  The girl gently turned the globe back and forth to start the glitter shower. “Wow. This is really old. My mom likes antiques. Can I show it to her?”

  Lainie held out her hand for the globe. “Maybe another time. Right now I’d like to change my clothes, so you girls need to go back to the others.”

  Lainie turned the lock when the girls left and leaned against the door. The sounds of the party were a muffled roar. Even after she changed clothes, she couldn’t make herself open the door and go out to join the party. She was tired, but it was more than that. She didn’t know what to make of a place where everyone was so much at home that they could invite themselves to a house and know they’d be welcomed like family, where the whole town could turn out to welcome someone home because he belonged to them.

  She picked up the snow globe again. How special she had felt that day. Her dad had made a point of taking her and only her to Disneyland. Not even her mom was invited. He had called her his princess and bought her a Cinderella dress that she wore all day. He bought the snow globe on the way out. She tossed it lightly in her hand. Maybe this was an antique. That was all so long ago. She had worn the dress so often that it was pretty much in tatters within a few months. The snow globe had become her most prized possession. Her father, though, left two days after her birthday, and she had not seen him since.

  She was lying on her bed listening to the clock radio on the nightstand when a tap on her door pulled her to her feet. She expected to see Elizabeth coming to check on her, but it was Steven who ducked in when she unlocked the door.

  “Thought I might find you back here. Hiding out?”

  “I guess I am. No one’s going to miss me, anyway.”

  Steven cocked his head to one side and smiled a slow smile. “I did. I saw you come in with Fayette, and next thing I knew you were gone. I kept waiting for you to turn up, but you never did, so I came looking for you.”

  Lainie laughed. “There are fifty people out there who came just to see you, and you noticed I wasn’t among them. Yeah, right.”

  “Seriously! I had been watching for you.” He sat cross-legged on the floor with his back against the door. “Mind if I take a seat?”

  Lainie sat on the bed and pulled her knees up under her. “Suit yourself. Isn’t your public waiting, though?”

  Steven grinned and cocked his head toward the rumble on the other side of Lainie’s bedroom door. “Good people. Right now they’re either arguing about Last Chance High’s recently concluded football season, its upcoming basketball season, or whether the state’ll go up in flames when the new governor takes office in January. I don’t think they’ll miss me.”

  He stopped talking and gazed at Lainie with a half smile long enough to make her shift uncomfortably and search for something to say. “So, are you looking forward to taking over the bar?”

  Steven’s smile slowly widened as if he knew of her discomfort and had no intention of easing it. “Yeah. I need to get over there when Ray’s not so busy and talk to him about that. He told me to take a couple weeks to decompress first, though, and I appreciate that. It is a little weird being back, even though I grew up here. And there’s that crazy parade and stuff that Rita’s been going on about. But Ray’s done his bit. Fair’s fair.”

  Lainie raised her eyebrows and shrugged. If Steven was looking for sympathy, he was looking in the wrong place. Ray had put so much of his life on hold for his brother, willingly and without complaint, but it was time he got it back.

  The door opened a crack behind Steven and stopped as it hit his back. Elizabeth’s voice wafted through the opening. “Lainie, are you all right, honey?”

  Steven got to his feet and opened the door. Elizabeth’s eyes widened at the sight of him. “Steven!” She glanced over her shoulder as she bustled into the room, closing the door behind her. “What are you doing in here?”

  “Just talking, Gran. I came back about five minutes ago to say hi.”

 
Elizabeth’s voice was barely more than a whispered hiss, and her face was pink with indignation. “I don’t believe you two! Here we have a houseful of company and you lock yourselves in the bedroom. What are people supposed to think?”

  Steven put both hands on her shoulders. “They probably didn’t even notice we were gone, and we weren’t locked in, by the way. But I’ll come on back out to the front room.”

  “Well, people are starting to leave. You need to come say good-bye.”

  Steven draped his arm around her shoulders and led her from the room.

  Lainie lay back down on her bed and stared at the ceiling. How did you know when to care about what people thought and when to dismiss it? Elizabeth obviously had it all figured out, but Lainie wasn’t sure she’d ever get it.

  The sanctuary of the Church of Last Chance was fragrant with evergreen when Lainie filed into the choir loft Sunday morning. Steven sat next to Elizabeth in her usual pew. Lainie had half expected him to try to get out of church, but there had been no question, either on his part or on Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth had just rapped loudly on the sewing room door and called that it was time for him to get up, and a half hour later he had appeared in the kitchen dressed and ready to go.

  The door of the church opened quietly during the opening prayer, and when Lainie sneaked a peek, she saw Ray slip in and take a seat on the back pew. Her eyes flew open and she nearly choked, but he just bowed his head and joined the congregation in prayer. If Lainie had had a little fluttering in her stomach at the thought of her solo before, she had a whole bird sanctuary going on now.

  The announcements and the first two hymns went by in a blur, and all too soon the ushers were standing in front of the altar holding offering plates while the pastor prayed. Lurlene faced the choir and raised them to their feet. Lainie’s heart seemed to follow Lurlene’s graceful upward gesture and lodge in her throat. Over and over throughout the last few weeks, she had stood at Elizabeth’s piano and practiced to Elizabeth’s accompaniment. So why couldn’t she remember the first word of her song?