Clean Slate

by Isla Olsen

  I furrow my brow in confusion. “Why is Drake sleeping with an enemy agent? What happened to Agent Scott?”

  Lawson waves a dismissive hand. “They’re on the outs because Scott won’t leave his wife even though he’s clearly in love with Drake—which makes it all the more interesting when Drake calls him for help.”

  I have to admit I’m impressed with how quickly Lawson pulled that together. It obviously needs a lot of work, but I have no doubt it’ll be best-seller material by the time he’s done with it.

  I flash him a bright smile. “I think you might be onto another winner here.”

  Lawson returns my smile before slumping back down on the couch. We sit in a comfortable silence for a few moments before he reaches out to rub a gentle hand over my knee. “You know, when you think about it, it’s actually kind of sweet.”

  “What is?”

  “The way Ted died—making love with his wife. That seems like pretty much the perfect way to leave this world, if you ask me…in the arms of the love of your life.”

  I’m quiet for a moment as I mull over his words. As much as I’d prefer not to think about Ted and Nora doing it, I can’t deny Lawson makes a pretty good point.

  I toss my head back against the sofa, glancing up at my best friend. “I think you might be right—it’s exactly how Ted would have wanted to go. Well, either having sex or watching the Giants win the World Series…one of those.”

  “So,” Lawson says after a long moment of silence, “you’re going back?”

  “Yeah—I have to say goodbye to him.”

  “When?”

  I shrug one shoulder. “The funeral’s on Friday, apparently, so I guess I’ll fly out Thursday.”

  “I think you should go tomorrow.”

  “What? No.” I spring up and fix him with an incredulous look. “I’m not spending any more time there than I have to.”

  Lawson sighs. “Z, don’t you think you owe him more than just a flying visit? You should take a few days at least, spend some time with Nora—this can’t be an easy time for her. I think that’s what Ted would want.”

  I narrow my eyes. “You’ve never even met Ted. Or Nora.”

  “True,” he says with a soft quirk of his lips, “but you talk about them so much I feel like I have.” He fixes me with a stern look. “You know I’m right.”

  Throwing my head back against the couch, I let out a loud groan. Because he is.

  4

  From the private Facebook group ‘Finchley Locals Community Hangout’

  * * *

  Post by Charlotte Rowe: Due to recent events, the Knitting and Book Club will be taking a break from our usual content. We’ll be delving into a selection of British and American classics instead. Suggestions are welcome!

  George Goode reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: WHAT? No!

  Beth Bowry reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: But I’ve already finished that Sylvia Day book. I was looking forward to chatting about it *sad emoji*

  George Goode reply to Beth Bowry’s comment: Come into the bar anytime Mrs. B, we can chat about Gia and Jax *flame emoji* *flame emoji*

  Alice Ackerman reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: Do many British or American classics have naughty bits in them? I like the books with naughty bits in them

  Eloise Goode reply to Alice Ackerman’s comment: I’ll start googling and see what I can find

  Beth Bowry reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: What about Bridgerton? Those books are set in England and there’s sex in them!

  Eloise Good reply to Beth Bowry’s comment: Ooh yes! Let’s read Bridgerton!

  Charlotte Rowe reply to Beth Bowry’s comment: Well the point was to take a break from the sexy stuff after what happened to Ted…

  Gloria Cartwright reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: What about Outlander? That’s a classic!

  Charlotte Rowe reply to Gloria Cartwright’s comment: Again, kind of missing the point of the post. I was thinking more along the lines of Oliver Twist.

  George Goode reply to Charlotte Rowe’s comment: BORING!

  Missy Clarke reply to Charlotte Rowe’s post: I don’t understand, what did Ted’s death have to do with book club?

  Harriett Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: I think the cat might be out of the bag…

  Missy Clarke reply to Harriett Goode’s comment: What cat? What am I missing?

  Tansie Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: Well…it turns out Granddad’s heart attack happened while he and Nanna were being intimate.

  Tansie Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: There was prostate stimulation involved.

  Tansie Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: Please don’t make me go into more detail!

  George Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: They were using a strap-on

  Harriett Goode reply to George Goode’s comment: George! Nanna didn’t want everyone knowing about that!

  George Goode reply to Harriett Goode’s comment: It’s Finchley. They’ll all find out anyway *shrug emoji*

  Charlotte Rowe reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: We can only assume Nora got the idea from some of the recent books we’ve been reading. I can’t tell you how guilty I’ve been feeling since I found out *tear drop emoji*

  Missy Clarke reply to Tansie Goode’s comment: *shocked emoji* Oh my goodness! I never realized the prostate was such a dangerous part of the body! What about Gunner? Should I be worried? I want to encourage him to be himself but not if it’s going to kill him!

  George Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: Relax, Mrs. C. It was a freak accident. Prostate stimulation isn’t dangerous, I promise.

  George Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: Besides, you don’t have to worry about Gunner anyway. I have it on good authority he’s a top.

  Missy Clarke reply to George Goode’s comment: A top? What does that mean?

  George Goode reply to Missy Clarke’s comment: You know, I don’t think he’d want me explaining it to you.

  Tansie Goode reply to George Goode’s comment: How do you even know? Have you slept with him?

  George Goode reply to Tansie Goode’s comment: Of course not. Things just come out on guys trips

  Tansie Goode reply to George Goode’s comment: How come I’m never invited to these guys trips?

  George Goode reply to Tansie Goode: I thought the answer to that would be pretty obvious, dear cousin

  George Goode reply to Charlotte Rowe’s comment: Don’t feel bad, Char. Granddad’s heart gave out. If it wasn’t this that caused it it would have been something else. At least this way he got to go out with a bang!

  Harriett Goode reply to George Goode’s comment: GEORGE! Seriously! *Face palm emoji*

  George Goode reply to Harriet Goode’s comment: *shrug emoji* Just telling it like it is, sis

  * * *

  Slater

  * * *

  Something that I perhaps should have already mentioned about my family is that it’s huge. And with a couple of exceptions, the lot of us have been living in Finchley and it’s surrounds ever since my great-grandmother, who’d been widowed during the second world war, met a nice barber named Jack at a county fair in 1949 and decided to move here with her nine-year-old son—my grandfather, Ted—so she and Jack could be married. Then, in the early sixties, my granddad met and married the love of his life: my grandmother, Nora, who happens to be pretty much my favorite person on the planet.

  When Nanna’s not freaking out and lighting the backyard on fire in her mission to be rid of unwanted sex toys—which is, fortunately, most of the time—she’s pretty chill, and has a progressive view on life that’s definitely rubbed off on all of us. Unlike my mom’s asshole parents, Nanna didn’t turn her back when my uncle Carson—George’s dad—came home one day at the age of sixteen to tell her he’d gotten his girlfriend pregnant; she and Granddad just welcomed my aunt Lorelai into the family and doted on my cousin Candace when she was born. Of course, I wasn’t actually there for all this, but I’ve heard the
stories.

  Apparently, the unexpected pregnancy did spur Nanna into sitting all four of her sons down—including my uncle Rock, who was only eight at the time—and giving them a lecture about responsible sex. Although it couldn’t have worked all that well considering it was only a few years later that my dad brought my mom home, four months pregnant with my brother. But just like with Lorelai, Nanna and Granddad welcomed Mom with open arms.

  Now it’s over three decades later, and between my dad, Uncle Carson, and Uncle Bennett there are thirteen of us grandkids. And thanks to Candace and my sister Everley there are now a few midgets running around as well. Like I said—we’re a big family.

  And right now, we’re all gathered at my parents’ place to discuss details for Granddad’s funeral on Friday.

  “Did you guys really need to tell the whole town how Granddad died?” my cousin Delia asks in an exasperated tone, directing her question at George and my sister Tansie. Those two are around the same age and have been pretty much thick as thieves for as long as I remember—in other words, they’re pretty much as bad as each other when it comes to getting into mischief.

  “They all already knew anyway,” George says with a shrug.

  “And Charlotte wanted to cancel book club!” Tansie cries.

  “Well, technically she just wanted to make book club boring, but that would have been the death knell,” George clarifies.

  “I have to agree,” Mom says. “No one wanted to read Oliver Twist.”

  I roll my eyes. “Can we please get back to the plans for Friday?”

  “Okay, who wants burgers?” my dad calls, coming in from outside carrying a tray of freshly-grilled burgers that smell absolutely delicious. “Pop, I’ve got some vegie ones here for you,” he says with a nod to my cousin Poppy—the youngest of George’s five older sisters.

  “They don’t have any dairy or other animal products in them, do they?” Poppy asks.

  Dad pauses in his tracks for a moment. “No…?” Everyone in the room, including Poppy, can tell he has absolutely no idea whether the burgers are vegan or not.

  Before Delia can make a fuss, I step in. “They’re fine. We got them from Joey’s.”

  Poppy lets out a little sigh, seeming placated. Joey is our local butcher and, like my dad, he doesn’t seem to get the difference between veganism and vegetarianism. To be on the safe side, he just makes all his meatless ‘meat’ without any animal products whatsoever.

  My dad sets the burgers down on the counter next to where Mom’s set up a bunch of salad and buns and condiments and we all dive on the food as though we haven’t eaten for days.

  “Why don’t we just do this?” My cousin Livia—yet another of George’s many sisters—suggests as we’re all scarfing down our burgers.

  I glance up from helping Ethan clean up the coleslaw that’s fallen out of the bottom of his bun. “Do what?”

  “For Friday. Why don’t we just do a grill—after the church service, obviously. We could just have it here. Burgers, ribs, that sort of thing,” Livia clarifies.

  We’re all quiet for a moment as we glance around at each other, taking in the suggestion. Eventually, it’s Nanna who has the final word. “That sounds perfect.”

  5

  From the private Facebook group ‘Finchley Locals Community Hangout’

  * * *

  Post by George Goode: Since Charlotte’s gone and made the Knitting and Book Club boring, I’m starting a new Drinking and Book Club. Anyone who still wants to read dirty books can come by the saloon at 8pm Tuesdays and we’ll drink and talk books

  Alice Ackerman reply to George Goode’s post: Will the drinks be free?

  George Goode reply to Alice Ackerman’s comment: I’m running a business here Mrs. A.

  Alice Ackerman reply to George Goode’s comment: Charlotte always gives us free drinks.

  George Goode reply to Alice Ackerman’s comment: *eye roll emoji* Water and instant coffee I can do. I’ll even throw in free soda. But alcohol’s at bar prices

  Tansie Goode reply to George Goode’s comment: Even for me?

  George Goode reply to Tansie Goode’s comment: When was the last time you paid for a drink at the saloon, freeloader?

  Alice Ackerman reply to George Goode’s post: Can we still knit?

  Beth Bowry reply to Alice Ackerman’s comment: What are you knitting in July??

  Alice Ackerman reply to Beth Bowry’s comment: Fifi gets cold sitting under the A/C

  George Goode reply to Alice Ackerman’s comment: Yes Mrs. A, you can still knit *wink emoji*

  Beth Bowry reply to Alice Ackerman’s comment: Or you could just shut the A/C off and help save the planet *shrug emoji*

  * * *

  Zack

  * * *

  “Oh my god, I can’t do this,” I say into the rental car’s Bluetooth system as I cross the American River, the landmark that tells me I’m only about fifteen miles out from Finchley.

  “Yes, you can, Zack,” Lawson’s disembodied voice says in a stern tone.

  “You don’t know what it’s like in small towns like these, Law. What am I supposed to tell everyone when they ask me about my job?”

  “That’s easy. Tell them you’re the social media manager for a best-selling author. It’s the truth.”

  “As of yesterday.”

  “They don’t need to know that part.”

  “And what about when they ask me about my love life?”

  “There’s nothing wrong with being single, Z.”

  “I know that,” I say with a soft groan. “It’s just, if I’m single and he’s single the whole town is going to be expecting us to get back together. I’m not sure I can deal with that pressure right now.”

  “I see…and what if he’s not single.”

  Oh my god. I hadn’t even thought of that! “Oh my god. I hadn’t even thought of that!” I repeat out loud. “Lawson, there’s no way I can show up there alone if he’s in a committed fucking relationship! I can’t be the loser in this break up!” Sure, it was twelve years ago, but for some reason every time I return to Finchley I feel like it was yesterday.

  “Hell no! No way are you the loser in this break up. You got me didn’t you?”

  I let out a wry chuckle. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

  “Well, there’s your victory right there.” There’s a beat of comfortable silence before Lawson says, “Z? I think this is something you need to deal with this time. Don’t avoid him like you did last time you were there. Or the time before that. Or the time before that…”

  “I get it, Law,” I say irritably, wishing for once he didn’t remember every freakin’ detail. Authors.

  “Just…talk to him,” he suggests, his tone a little gentler. “Hash it out. Then you can move on.”

  “I’ve moved on.” My tone is full of indignation.

  “No,” he says firmly, “you’ve run away. That’s not the same thing.”

  Urgh. I hate when he’s right.

  * * *

  When I arrive at my mom’s place, I’m not entirely surprised to find she’s not home. Despite no longer needing to support Jesse and me, she still works the same long hours at the county hospital that she used to.

  I’m just walking up the drive, tugging my suitcase along behind me when I hear a friendly voice calling out. “Oh my god. That can’t be Zack Cartwright?”

  I spin around, finding myself facing one of the many members of the Goode family; I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised considering they make up a decent chunk of the town’s population. And the fact that their grandmother lives next door to my mom definitely increases the odds.

  I smile politely at the woman rushing over to me from Nora’s front yard. At first I think it’s Slater’s aunt Lorelai, but then I remember she must be in her fifties by now, and this woman is early thirties at most. It must be one of Lorelai’s daughters.

  I do a quick inventory of what I remember about the five girls as I try to figure out who this is; I feel terr
ible that she’s recognized me instantly but I’m having such a hard time with her. I rule out Candace straight away—she was always tiny and this woman is at least five eight or nine, almost as tall as I am. I remember the two younger ones—Delia and Poppy—always looked a lot more like their dad than their mom…so this must be one of the twins. Great.

  Growing up, there was only one way I could ever tell the difference between Livia and Harriet, and as she approaches I’m just praying that hasn’t changed. Fortunately, as she gets closer I can see the crooked right incisor clear as day as she smiles at me.

  I let out a small breath of relief. “Hey, Livia, how’s it going?”

  “Not bad. It’s been a tough week but we’re getting through it.”

  I nod sadly. “I’m so sorry about Ted.”

  “Thanks. You know, I’ve got to say, I’m a little surprised to see you here.”

  My brows shoot up. “You didn’t think I’d come back for this?”

  “No, no, that’s not what I meant,” she says with a wave of her hand. “I just figured you’d come for the funeral. That’s what your brother’s doing, right? I wasn’t expecting to see you this early.”

  “I had some time off work,” I hedge, offering a small shrug. “I thought it’d be good to come back a bit early, spend some time with Nora…”

  Livia smiles. “That’s really sweet of you. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.”

  We chat for a little longer and she updates me with a few tidbits about the family and details for the funeral and wake on Friday. She also mentions she’s now running a little boutique and invites me to come check it out.