 My
Bio |
Testimony |
Writing tips |
|
My
Bio |
Testimony |
Writing tips |
| Chapter 1 “Which nightgown would you prefer, sir?” The clerk held up a lacy, low-cut, ultra-sheer number in a slinky vibrant red. “One something like this, perhaps? Most women love this gown.” Hank Gordon couldn’t remember a time in his life when he’d been more embarrassed. In all the years he and Sheila were married, not one time had he ever been in the women’s lingerie section of Beck’s Department Store. “Ah—no, nothing like that. You don’t understand.” He swallowed hard; sure his face was as red as the gown. “Actually, what I wanted was the same gown I’m returning, but in a smaller size.” The shake of her head and the shrug of the woman’s narrow shoulders said it all. “I’m sorry, sir, but we sold out of that particular gown weeks ago. It was a very popular model. Are you sure your wife wouldn’t like something a little more—“ Hank’s eyes widened. “Oh, it’s not for my wife—“ The sales clerk raised a brow. “Well, then, your girl friend would probably—“ “I don’t have a girl friend,” he inserted quickly, though why he owed her an explanation was beyond him. It wasn’t exactly the kind of thing you’d discuss with a stranger. “Look, my friend asked—I—he—“ He frowned and sucked in a deep breath before continuing. This woman must think I’m a total Looney. “It’s this way. My best friend bought this gown for his wife.” He opened the bag, pulling out the lacy, shimmering night gown. He was embarrassed just touching it. “It was way too large and, since they were called out of town, he asked me to return it, and exchange it for a smaller size.” “I’d definitely take the slinky red one. Your wife will love it!” a pleasant female voice called out from behind the pair. Hank spun around, a big smile replacing the frown as he reached out his free hand. “Tink! I’d recognize that chirpy voice of yours anywhere. What are you doing back in Juneau?” Tina Taylor stood on tiptoe and kissed the big man’s crimson cheek. “Long story. If you’ve got time, after you decide which gown to buy for your wife, I’ll treat you to a cup of coffee, and we can catch up on old times. I’d heard you got married. Maybe she’d like to join us. I’d love to meet her.” The broad smile vanished as he drew his breath in sharply. “Sheila died, Tink. Nearly eight years ago.” Hank felt her fingers touch his arm, as her sorrow for him spelled out on her face. “Oh, Hank, I feel terrible. I didn’t know.” The clerk took the gown from his hand and cleared her throat noisily. “Sorry to interrupt, but I have other customers who need my attention. Have you made your decision yet?” “Ah—actually, no, I haven’t.” Hank fished around in his jacket pocket and pulled out a slip of paper. “But, I have the sales receipt. Why don’t you just credit my friend’s charge account, and he can pick out something later, after he gets back in town.“ The woman nodded, took the receipt, and headed for the checkout counter. “Well, do you have time for coffee, or is that lawyer business of yours demanding all your time.” Tina gave his arm a playful pinch. “You are still playing attorney, aren’t you?” Grateful for the change of subject, Hank nodded. The middle of the lingerie sales floor was not exactly the most conducive place to discuss the details of the death of your beloved wife. He was sure Tina sensed that, and had come to his rescue. “Yep, sure am, but by your big city standards, I’d say my routine business is pretty boring. How come you’re back in Juneau?” He held up a palm between them. “Wait. Don’t answer.” He signed the refund slip, then grabbed Tina’s arm and headed for the elevator. “Let’s get out of here. I feel like a voyeur among all these scantily-clad mannequins.” The two old friends decided on a small nearby café, walking the short distance in the cold brisk air, their arms linked. Hank smiled down at her as he gave her arm a squeeze. “Did your husband come with you?” She had gloves on, but he couldn’t remember seeing a wedding ring on her finger at the department store. Tina Taylor shivered and yanked up the zipper tab on her jacket, pulling it to the top. “Husband? Not yet.” A heavy frown momentarily creased her brow. “How about you? Have you remarried since Sheila—“ Her unfinished sentence hung heavily in the brisk Alaskan air. He smiled as visions of Glorianna, the woman he’d nearly married two years after his wife’s death, flooded his mind. “Nearly did, once. But it didn’t work out.” “Brrr, I’d forgotten how cool it can get in Juneau this time of year.” Tina shivered and pulled the collar up about her neck. Once again, Hank was sure Tina had changed the subject to spare him the misery of having to talk about something that was obviously painful to him. Her renewed smile pulled his thoughts away. The woman still seemed to have a sixth sense. Her melodious laughter brought back joyful memories long forgotten. “Do you remember when Mr. Halston gave us flashlights for Christmas? I think we were eight years old. We sat on your mom’s steps shining their beams at the passing cars?” “We sure thought we were doing something naughty, didn’t we, Tink?” He slipped his arm about her waist and ushered her through the door of the little café fronting Gastineau Bay.” We had some great times growing up.” “I always wished my mother could be like yours” “My mom loved you, Tink.” She grinned over her shoulder as they made their way to an empty table in a far corner. “You’re the only one who ever called me Tink.” With a melancholy sigh, she unzipped her jacket and pulled it from her shoulders. “I’ve missed being called by that name.” Hank took it from her and pulled out a chair, motioning her to be seated. “Well, you’ll always be my Tinker Bell.” Once she was settled, he slipped off his stylish black cashmere overcoat and placed both garments on an empty chair. “Remember how my mom would read Peter Pan to us, when we’d been good? We both loved that story.” “And, we made paper wings for me to wear, and a green paper hat and cape for you.” “And, a wand from a stick and a ping pong ball. Tinker Bell and Peter Pan. What imaginations we had back then.” Hank handed her a menu and began to peruse his own. “We made our own fun, didn’t we?” “We were quite a pair, weren’t we?” Tina asked, laughing, still holding the unopened menu. “That we were.” Hank closed his menu and leaned across the table, taking Tina’s hand in his. “Remember when we rigged that rope from the rafters in the barn and swung from it, playing like Wendy was there with us? It’s a wonder one of us didn’t break an arm.” She giggled, her free hand cupping his. “Or a leg! We were pretty daring as I recall. Especially you!” “We were more than daring. More like stupid! But what fun we had.” “Oh, Hank, you were always my very best friend. I loved those days.” “Me, too. We were really a couple of dreamers, with big plans for our futures. Nothing could stop us. We were going to have it all.” “Yes, we certainly were dreamers.” A heavy sigh emitted from deep within her chest as her smile disappeared and she gazed into his eyes. “Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve stayed in Juneau, instead of going off to make my fortune in the big city. Things were always so peaceful here. Maybe if--” Her sudden change of attitude gave Hank cause for concern. “So? Did you?” The wistful look disappeared and she gave him a blank stare. “Did I what?” “Make your fortune in the big city. Chicago? Isn’t that where you went?” “A fortune? Hardly!” She grimaced as she pulled her hands from his. “Even after all these years, all I have to show for my time and effort is a partially paid-for condo, a broken down car, and a bunch of monthly bills. Living in the big city is not cheap, and my life didn’t exactly pan out the way I’d planned. Things happen,” she snapped her fingers, “and your life changes in an instant.” The waitress brought two large coffee mugs to their table and filled them to the brim without asking, placing two packets of creamer beside Hank’s cup. “You want some creamer too?” Tina covered her cup with her palm and shook her head. “You ready to order, or you need a little more time?” With a wave of his hand toward the waitress, Hank picked up his menu again. “Give us a few more minutes.” They sat silently as the woman gave them an impatient nod and moved on. “So, what’re you doing back in town? Juneau’s a long way from Chicago. Or, anywhere,” he added, forcing a big grin, Tina’s comment still niggling at his mind. She stretched first one arm, then the other, as she settled back in her chair and folded her hands in her lap. “Tell me about it! If I sound a bit flaky it’s because my body is still on Chicago time. I may have trouble adjusting to Alaska’s long, dark winter days. It’s never dark in Chicago. Not with all the lights, and all the activity going on twenty-four-seven. And it’s never quiet. Cars, trains, planes, the El. But, you adjust. I guess I’ll adjust here too, but it may take me awhile. I’ll probably have to sleep with the lights on and a radio blaring.” She raised her brows. “But then, there’s the flip side. Those wonderful long, lazy summer days filled with sunshine!” He brightened. “You make it sound like you’ll be staying for awhile.” She picked up her cup and blew into it, eyeing him over the rim. “Looks like I’m here to stay.” “Permanently?” He stared at his old friend. Although she was smiling, he detected a note of sadness in her tone. “Umm, not exactly permanently.” “You two ready to order?” The pair had been so engrossed in their conversation, they hadn’t noticed the waitress standing beside them again, with her pad and pencil in hand. Hank nodded toward Tina. “The soup and sandwich special okay with you? It’s usually pretty good.” “Fine.” The waitress scribbled on her pad and scurried off, leaving them alone again. Hank took their menus and stuffed them into the little holder mounted on the wall, before turning his attention back to his guest. “Okay, tell me what you meant by that comment about being here permanently, for awhile. Somehow those two terms don’t jive.” A sadness covered her face as she lowered her eyes, her fingers methodically tracing the edge of the cup. “It’s my grandmother. She’s not at all well.” “Oh, no. I’m so sorry to hear that, Tink. I remember how much you loved her.” Her lips began to quiver and she blinked hard. “She’s dying, Hank.” “Harriett Taylor is dying? I don’t understand. If she’s dying and she’s in Chicago, what are you doing back here in Juneau? I’m surprised you didn’t want to stay there with her.” He watched as Tina blinked and rubbed at her eyes, as if to fight back tears. He knew first-hand how important her grandmother had always been to her. He well remembered how her mother had abandoned her less than six months after her father had committed suicide, and taken off with one of her surly boy friends who didn’t want a teenage girl tagging along. Although Hank had only been a junior in high school at the time, he’d wanted to hunt the woman down, make her come back, and face up to her responsibility. “We--we’re both moving back here. The doctor said it’s only a matter of time for Gram. After that--” she paused, “I guess I’ll be heading back to Chicago.” The pitiful look on Tina’s face made him want to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but he sat quietly and listened, offering her his handkerchief, instead. She dabbed at her eyes before going on. “She’s never complained, but I know she’s hated living at the care home. It’s depressing. I wanted to keep her with me, but with working, commuting, and being away so many hours each day, it was impossible. She’s been so good to me. I’ve felt awful about her living there, but we had no other choice.” “I’m sure she understood.” Hank’s hand again cupped hers across the table. “She knew you had obligations.” “I—I hope so. I’ve tried to spend as much time with her as I could, but I’m afraid it hasn’t been enough.” “You had your own life to live.” She lowered her gaze and dabbed with the handkerchief again. “I—I know. I’ve tried to tell myself that same thing. For the first few years, I rushed home from the office each day to be with her. But then, I guess I coaxed myself into believing I had my rights too. I—I’ve left her alone way more than I should have. Now—“ “Surely, she’s made friends at the care home.” “She has, but I know it isn’t the same as having family with you. Many of the ladies who room around her, are much worse off than she is. It’s heartbreaking. Some are like—I hate to say it—like vegetables. The lights are on, but there’s no one at home. It’s been hard on her. Unlike them, her mind is as sharp as ever. It’s her body that’s giving out.” “She’s getting old, Tink. That’s what happens. It’s inevitable. It’ll get us too, eventually.” The two sat silently sipping their coffee, watching as the waitress brought their orders. “You didn’t explain about moving back here,” Hank pressed easily once the woman had moved on. From the weary look on Tina’s face it was obvious the whole situation was stressing her out. She picked up her spoon and stirred at the steaming soup in her bowl. “I work for a huge parts company, and have, since the first year I moved to Chicago. They ship parts all over the world.” He ripped open a bag of oyster crackers and dumped them into his bowl. “Even Juneau?” A faint smile curled up the corners of her mouth. “Even Juneau. Times have changed, Hank, and unlike some companies, my company has changed with those times. We were one of the first major corporations to move our enormous catalogue onto the Web. It nearly doubled our business that first year. I was one of the ones who got the catalogue up and running. Because of it, and the whopping increase in sales, I got a nice promotion.” Hank did an exaggerated applause. “Good for you! I’m sure you deserved it.” “Not long ago, I was promoted to Senior Design Technologist and became part of the Distribution Management team. Most of my work now is done independently, using the Internet. Makes me pretty much a loner, but I like it.” “Well, belated congratulations. I hope your promotion meant more money!” She nodded and took a bite of her sandwich before going on. “It did, but it also means a bit of traveling too, when our team gets together face-to-face. I’ve only had to leave Gram maybe two or three times so far, but I’m always worried I’ll be in Dallas, or New Orleans, or some other far away place when she really needs me. Especially, now.” Hank motioned for the waitress to refill their cups, then picked up his sandwich, waving it toward her. “Tink, that still doesn’t explain why you’re back in Juneau. Now I’m really confused.” With a slight grin she held up a hand between them. “Patience, Peter Pan. I’m coming to that. When the doctor told me he didn’t think Gram would last another year, I knew I had to find some way to spend more time with her.” “That sounds like you.” “I had to get her out of that care home. All she’s talked about, since she’s taken a turn for the worse, is how much she’d like to come back home to die. Back to Juneau.” Hanks brows rose quickly. “You’re bringing her here?” “Yes, she’s already here! I called ahead and they had a vacancy in a nice facility not far from her house. I took her there as soon as we got off the plane. I’ll move her into her home as soon as I can get it ready. I knew she’d never be able to take the dust and the noise while I’m cleaning up her place and doing a bit of remodeling. Not to mention the paint fumes. Right now, her place is a pretty big mess.” “Sounds like you have your work cut out for you. I guess you’ll be looking for a job after that.” “No, I convinced my boss I can work from here. The majority of what I do is on the computer and the Internet anyway, so it won’t make any difference where I’m located..” “That’s great!” Hank frowned. “I didn’t know she still owned that old house. I figured it’d been sold years ago.” “No, she still owns it. She’s kept the taxes paid on it. I tried to talk her into renting it out, but she wouldn’t hear of it. She’s had herself convinced, from the time we left, someday, she’d come back to it.” “Now, she’s here.” Tina nodded. “Yes, she’s here.” “Thanks to you.” “It’s the least I could do for her.” Hank finished off his sandwich and took a final sip of coffee. He hated to bring it up, but the question plagued him. He’d driven by the old house several months earlier, and hoped Tina’s expectations weren’t set too high. “Ha—have you seen her house lately? It’s lookin’ kinda shabby.” “I know. After I got Gram settled, I had the taxi driver drive me past. You’re right. It is in pretty bad shape, at least the roof is, and it needs painting and a general cleanup. But, it seems structurally sound. I’m sure the inside needs remodeling from top to bottom. But, Gram thinks she has enough money to do it and she’s thrilled with the idea. You’re probably wondering why she’d want to go to all the trouble and expense of fixing up her home when she has so little time.” “It had entered my mind.” “Not only is it filled with precious memories for her, she’s never liked the idea of me living in Chicago. Particularly after she’s gone.” He watched as she blinked a few times. “She’s always said Juneau is a much better and safer place for a single woman to live. Gram is hoping, once the house is fixed up, I’ll stay on and live in it. After she—“ She paused. As if the words stuck in her throat. “I’ve taken a temporary leave to get the place ready.” Figuring it’d probably be best to not pursue that subject, seeing how much even the thought of losing her grandmother upset her, he asked, “What about your condo?” “I’ve sublet it to another Beesom employee.” “Sounds like you’ve thought of everything.” He wiped at his mouth, then placed his napkin on the table. “By the way, where are you staying until you get the house fixed up?” Her arms crossed over her chest as she stared into the half-eaten bowl of cold soup. “I stayed at a motel last night. I’d hoped I could stay at Gram’s house, but until I can get a plumbing and heating man to check out that old furnace and see if the hot water tank needs replacing, and get someone to re-roof the place, I guess I’ll still be staying at the motel.” Hank stood, offered his hand, and pulled her up beside him. “Oh, no, you won’t. You’re staying with me. I’ve got plenty of room.” She backed away and stared at him. “Stay with you? Impossible! How would it look, a reputable man like you moving a strange woman into his house?” “You’re not strange—“ Hank paused and gave her a sideways grin. “Well, not very, anyway. You’re an old friend. And besides, I have a housekeeper who lives there full-time. It’ll be perfectly proper.” He picked up her coat and held it open for her as she slipped into it with a smile that warmed his heart. “The motel is fine, Hank. Honest. I can’t ask you to go out of your way for me.” He put on his overcoat, picked up the ticket, looked it over, and left several dollar bills on the table. “Look, Tink. I’ve been rattling around in that big old house of mine for more years than I care to count. I’d welcome the company. Maybe I can even offer you a helping hand. I swing a pretty mean hammer and could sure use the exercise.” She gave him an incredulous look. “You’re serious!” “Serious as a dog with a bone. Tell me the name of your motel, give me a few more hours at the office, and I’ll pick you up and take you to my place. |
