Flatlander

Flatlander

happyhugo

Romance

13,909 Words

Copyright (c) 05/26/09

A Brattleboro, Vt. Tale 

Readers score  7.36

Widowed Vermont writer
goes out into a snow storm.
He finds victims. Will this
act bring him happiness?

Flatlander: Derogatory term for Connecticut or
New York City people with pockets full of money
who come up to Vermont and start changing the
very things they were looking for in the first place.
         

I could hear the vehicle go by the house about eleven p.m. when I was watching the news. It was late and I knew it was going to snow before morning. What in Christ’s name were they thinking of? The cabin someone was heading for wasn’t insulated or winterized. Dumb-ass Flatlander. Well he wouldn’t stay long. I never liked the owner anyway ... the rich, unsociable bastard with way too much money. Maybe it was some kids that were out four-wheeling, although the vehicle sounded like a small car. Time would tell. I forgot all about what I had heard and crawled into my lonely bed and went to sleep.

Morning found eight inches of heavy wet snow on the ground, and it was still coming down with no sign of stopping. The forecast predicted a major storm of twenty inches before it was to end later tonight. I went to work. This only meant going into my office in the back part of the house. I was a writer and I was beginning to have my efforts pay off. This was going to be my third novel. The first one I wrote was a big success ... the second one not so much, just barely adequate. My publisher had come up with a decent advance and some advice when I showed him the plot outline for a new book.

I had been working on this last book under a cloud of sadness and loneliness. He advised me to take a little more time on this manuscript and add more detailed descriptions. If I did this, it would shorten the rework when he saw it for the first read of each segment. He was excited about the plot outline and said the first five chapters he had seen so far were fair, but I could do better.

I looked out at noon as I was waiting for my lunch to heat. Snow was still coming down. I snapped the radio on and the weatherman said this would be clearing out sooner than expected. There would be twenty to thirty mile an hour winds afterwards though, with the temperature dropping to near zero by tomorrow morning. No weather one wanted to be out in, that was for sure.

I finished my lunch and was heading back to my computer when I remembered the vehicle last night. Shit, it was about a mile to the camp, maybe I should go check it out. I sat down to write, but the thought wouldn’t leave me. Hell, I needed some air anyway.

I put on my winter parka, strapped on snowshoes and headed up the hill. It was tough going through what I estimated to be fifteen inches of snow. When I reached the top, the wind was picking up already. I looked down into the bowl where the cabin was located, but couldn’t see anything. Not surprising the way the snow was coming down and with it blowing so hard. I headed down.

I could see the outline of the building, but not before I was within a hundred yards of it. The car was just a lump of white except for one fender where the wind had blown the snow away. I stepped up on the little deck and peered through the windows. It was dark inside. I could tell that there had been no heat, for the windows weren’t frosted and they would have been if there was a fire inside.

I shucked my snowshoes and tried the front door, finding it locked. I pounded on it until it finally was opened. The face of the young person standing there had a look of fright. I knew when she spoke it was a female. She stood there in winter clothes with a blanket wrapped around her.

“Where’s your dad?”

“He is not here, I have never been here before so I don’t even know where I am. My stepmother is the only one with me and she is terribly sick. We are so cold and there is no heat.”

I stepped in and closed the door. I had never been in here before although the cabin had been built seven years earlier. I could see that a person could not survive for any length of time here in the weather we were expecting. There would be no power for the lines to the cabin had been down for a long while.

I walked over to look at the woman on the couch. I will say the girl had done the best she could to keep the person lying there warm. She was buried in blankets. I pushed my hand down through the blankets and felt a feverish face. She was very sick. “Are the keys in the car?”

“Yes.”

I took a broom out and swept off the sides of the car. It was a small BMW and looked new. I got inside and started it. The gas gauge read empty, just coming off the peg a little. The engine might have an hour of running time left. I started it and let it run. Going back in I asked, “What is your name?”

“Ginger Hapgood. Camille is on the couch.”

“Okay then Ginger. We are going to get the car warm and put Camille in it. When she gets as warm as she can, I’ll have figured out how to get you two out of here and back to civilization. I may have to carry her. How big is she?”

“Not very big. She is a size five.”

“Humm, well that doesn’t tell me much. Okay, in about ten minutes I’ll carry her out to the car and you get in and get warm too. We have a long way to go, half of it uphill as you know. I may have to carry her if I can’t find something to pull her on. I don’t think I’ll find a sled. A toboggan would be perfect and is what I really need.”

I installed the two women in the fast warming vehicle and started to look around. I passed by a kayak before I realized I might be able to use it. I studied it for a few minutes. With some help from Ginger I thought we could get Camille to safety if she wasn’t too far gone already. I poked around and found a length of clothesline. Taking a hammer, I busted a hole in the front of the kayak big enough to take the line. I doubled it for strength and dragged the whole thing out to the car.

I knocked on the car window and when Ginger rolled it down I said, “If you are willing to help keep this thing upright and maybe push a little, we can get your mother to where she can be safe.”

“She isn’t my mother.”

This pissed me off. “You know if I hadn’t come along, you maybe would die too. Do you want her to die then?”

“No, I guess not. You show me what to do.”

There wasn’t much room in the kayak, but I wrapped as many blankets as would fit around the patient and made sure she was as nearly upright as possible. I directed Ginger to make sure the little boat didn’t tip over. She had a difficult job walking behind, for she sank in even through the snowshoe tracks. She was pushing though, I could tell for when she stopped or fell, I had a tough time tugging on the rope and making forward progress.

God, what a relief when we reached the top of the hill and could start down to my house. It was quicker going downhill. It was late afternoon and was fast coming onto dark. I opened the door and transported Camille into the house which was nice and warm. Ginger was too tired to take off her coat and sat slumped in a recliner. I unwrapped Camille and found the fever had gone up a notch. Calling 911, they said they would be there within a half hour.

“What’s going to happen to her?”

“Rescue will take her to the hospital and make her well I hope. You know what you did in helping get her here just might be what is going to save her life.”

“Whatever. What about me? Where can I go?”

“You could stay right here.”

“I don’t know you.”

“I don’t know you either. That makes us even, doesn’t it?” There was no answer from this girl with an attitude.

It was actually two hours before Rescue arrived, for the town had to send in a plow to clear the snow. The squad members determined that Camille had pneumonia. I couldn’t tell them much about the lady, just her name. Ginger wasn’t very forthcoming except to tell them Camille’s name and to say that where I found them was their home address. She would be starting school here after the first of the year and that had been arranged the day she and Camille arrived. Lot of mystery here I thought.

I started to ask, but before I got the question out, Ginger said, “Camille was my father’s second wife. My mother is dead and my father is marrying another bimbo, so I’m stuck with this one. Now she has gone and got sick. Where does that leave me?”

“I said you could stay here. Take my offer. You can sort out your personal problems later. You’re warm and I’ll feed you. Why don’t you get out of your wet things? You must be uncomfortable. I’ll show you to my daughter’s room. There are clothes in the closet that should fit you.” I took her upstairs, pointing out a bath down the hall. I opened the bedroom door and let Ginger pass by me.

She looked around and started taking off her sweater. Under this she had on a pair of designer jeans and a nice looking top. I would guess this girl was about fifteen. She had dirty blonde hair cut short. Her complexion was clear and what she was wearing accented her developing figure. I thought she would reach her full height soon or she would be exceptionally tall, for she stood at five-seven now.

Ginger immediately went over to the closet and peeled back the folding doors. She stood staring at the dresses and outfits hanging there. Pulling them off the rod, she held them up to her. Flicking a glance at me she asked, “Won’t your daughter mind someone else wearing these?”

“No.” I turned and went down the hall and down the stairs. I set about preparing supper. I usually had cold cereal for my evening meal, but I figured the girl upstairs needed more. I put a hamburger on the frying pan, doctoring it just a little to add flavor. I had chips and the remains of an apple pie to share with her for dessert. When I turned to place the food on the table, Ginger stood in the doorway watching me. I went to the refrigerator and poured a glass of milk.

“I don’t know your name or what you do.”

My name is Ray Riddle and I’m an author. I work in an office here at home.”

“Where are your wife and daughter? I peeked in another room and saw women’s clothes. It doesn’t look as if she is with you.”

“They aren’t. Both are dead. They died in an accident when I was away a year ago. Does your burger taste okay?”

“Yes, it is delicious. Best I have ever had. Thank you.”

I put the dishes in the washer and showed Ginger the controls on the TV. “I’m going to work until about eight-thirty and then I’ll call and see how Camille is.”

“The hospital won’t tell you. They never tell anyone anything.”

“We’ll see.” I worked the two hours and came out of my office. I glanced up the stairs and for a minute I thought the person coming down was my daughter, Mindy. The vision coming down the stairs was wearing a dress that I had picked out for a present last Christmas before I knew that Mindy would never see it. I hesitated until Ginger was down within two steps of the bottom and then I couldn’t look anymore. I hurried on past her, afraid I would break up.

I went to the telephone and called the second floor nurses station at the hospital. “Hi Cindy, this is Ray Riddle. Would you tell me the condition of the new patient that arrived there this afternoon? Her name is Camille Hapgood. Her daughter is here with me and she is devastated about how sick her mother is. I know you can’t tell me directly, so I’ll ask a question and you can say yes or no. Is Camille resting comfortably?---Is she still feverish?---Her condition is very serious?---Critical?---Tomorrow will tell the story?---Can her daughter see her tomorrow? Thanks Cindy, you’re a peach. Night.”

I turned to Ginger. “Camille is very sick as you know. Her condition is serious, but not critical. I gather that she will survive and we will know how soon she will get well when you see her tomorrow.”

“You told the nurse I was devastated. I’m not.”

“Maybe not. I would be if I was you. The way I read your situation is this. You are up here in the wilderness because your father doesn’t want you with him. He has passed you on to the only person that would look after you. Like her or not, I suspect she feels responsible. Now as far as the present is concerned, whether you realize it or not, saving a person’s life carries some responsibilities. You surely helped me save Camille’s life. I saved your stepmother’s and I honestly feel I saved yours.

“When you see Camille tomorrow, you are going to have to look at her and say to yourself---I helped save her life. Then you will have to decide whether to go on making her life miserable as you have been or change your attitude toward her.

“Me, well I don’t know either one of you. She may be the worst stepmother there ever was. I doubt it though or your father wouldn’t have put her in charge of you. Personally I think Camille is trapped into a situation where her husband didn’t want her anymore and panned you off onto her. Instead of hating what your father has done to you and being mad at him, you are taking it out on her. She has nearly died from trying to give you a home which could have become a deathtrap for both of you. All of this is something to think about.”

“I hate you for thinking my Daddy did that to me. He loves me!”

“If I’m wrong, I’m sorry. You know him and I don’t. Look we have had a bad day, let’s retire for the night. I’ll see you in the morning. Goodnight.”

I lay awake several hours wondering what I had let myself in for. I had met Hapgood a few times. He came off as an arrogant son-of-a-bitch. If he was so bad then why did I decide to check out his cabin? I suppose I would have saved him if I found him instead of his ex-wife, but I might have hesitated a bit. My thoughts turned to Ginger. God, she would be a sweet person if she would just change her attitude. And what was I going to find when I got to know Camille? Was she the bimbo that Ginger had labeled her? Time would tell. I turned over and slept.

I must have been tired for I slept later than usual for me. It was nearly seven-thirty when I went to shower. While the coffee was perking, I heard Ginger come down the stairs. I was mixing pancakes. I turned. “Good morning Ginger, would you watch the bacon please? There are plates in the cupboard over there. The silverware is in the top drawer. Get yourself a glass and pour yourself some juice. I don’t have any fruit. That little brown jug has maple syrup in it. You won’t want pancakes too often for they seem to produce zits and you have such a beautiful complexion, it would be a shame to have some eruptions. Did you sleep well?”

“Very well, thank you. What should I call you? Would Ray be okay? Mr. Riddle makes you sound so old.”

“Ray is fine. Now while we eat, let’s discuss your situation. You can’t live in the cabin, we know that. In three weeks you will be starting school. You say you are already signed up. If it doesn’t bother you, I’ll ask your stepmother to stay here until she is strong enough to find a more suitable place to live. My wife and daughter died shortly after Thanksgiving a year ago. Maybe you can help me get through this Christmas without as much pain as I had last year.

“I have to work this morning before I take you into town. There are books around the house and of course there is the television. Maybe you want to call your father and tell him what has transpired. He may come and get you. That’s up to you and him. I suspect he won’t want Camille from what you have said. I’ll ask her to stay anyway. I’d very much like to have you stay too.” A thought erupted out loud. “I miss my daughter so much.” I had to turn away, for suddenly there were tears in my eyes.

I went into my office, worked for an hour and came out for a refill of coffee. Ginger had run the dishwasher and had wiped off the counters. She was sitting in the living room. “Do you have a vacuum cleaner? I could do that.” I pulled the bag and put in a new one. I watched her use it for a minute. I don’t think she had ever used one before, but she was trying. When I returned to my office, the words flowed right from brain through my fingers and onto the screen much better than they had for months.

                           ***************

As we were going into the hospital I said to Ginger, “I hope Camille is awake. I’m curious to find out what her first words were when she woke up. She must have been shocked to find herself in a hospital bed.” Ginger didn’t comment. “My wife worked as a nurse here, so there are a lot of nurses and doctors that know me.”

When we stepped off the elevator I stopped at the nurses station. “Mary, who has charge of Camille Hapgood?”

“Ashley is her nurse and she is a patient of Doctor Burns.”

“Good, couldn’t be better. How is she?”

“Her fever is down some. She is still very sick. She is worried about her daughter. Is this Ginger?”

“Yes.”

“All we could tell her was that she had been brought in by Rescue last night. You go right into room 211. If she is sleeping, it won’t be for long because she is uneasy and is very concerned about Ginger.”

We had to traverse down the hall. Just before she entered the room, Ginger looked at me. “You knew she was going to ask about me, didn’t you?”

“I hoped. She has mothered you for awhile. If she felt anything for you, that would be the normal thing for her to be worried about. You go ahead in and I’ll come in shortly.”

I didn’t hear anything for nearly five minutes and then I heard a feeble, glad cry, “Ginger, you’re safe.” I waited five more minutes before easing into the room.

Camille lay on the bed with her eyes shut. Ginger sat in a chair that was pulled close and held the stepmother’s hand in hers. Anyone could tell this was a very sick woman. Ginger whispered that she was sleeping. Camille slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. “Ginger said you saved my life. Would you look after her until I get better?”

“Of course I will. My name is Ray Riddle.” I didn’t think she heard me for her eyes closed again.

Ashley came in and gave me a hug. “Good to see you again, Ray. You have been visiting long enough and will have to leave. You can come back tomorrow.”

I motioned for Ginger to come with me. “Camille is so sick. She stared right at me for a long time before she recognized me. Then she smiled and said I was safe. Before this I wasn’t aware she cared, but I think she does.” Going down in the elevator she said, “You got a hug from the nurse. Is she a special friend?”

“Not really. She was my wife’s friend more than mine. I guess she kind of feels sorry for me, that’s all. Maybe we should go shopping at Walmart*. Do you need anything?”

“Yes, some underwear. I’ll pay you back when I get some things from the cabin.”

“Good. I’m going to buy another pair of snowshoes, so we can get some of Camille’s things at the same time. Just what we can easily carry.”

“She didn’t bring much. She was going to buy new things when we went shopping today. She said she was shedding my father and was leaving most everything behind. She didn’t leave the money that was agreed to in the prenup I’ll bet.”

“That’s something I don’t need to know about. Where do you stand with your father?”

Ginger was silent until we reached the store. As we were getting out of the car she said, “That is something you don’t need to know about either.”

I told Ginger to get what she needed and to pick up whatever she thought Camille would need until she was able to shop for herself. I went down to the outdoor sporting section and got the snowshoes that would fit Ginger. When I returned she had a shopping cart piled high with clothes. “Ginger, you will have to put most of those back on the racks. I don’t have much money and I know I won’t have enough to pay for all of that.”

“You mean you are poor?”

“Not poor really, I just don’t have many disposable funds at the present except for the necessities. If you have money, I’ll bring you here anytime.”

“I have never shopped at Walmart*, but I saw some interesting items and they are really cheap so I loaded the cart. I probably wouldn’t wear half these things anyway.” Ginger was nice about my request and complied. When it came to what Camille needed---robe, nightgown and pajamas, she held them up and I made the selections. I rounded out our purchases with a pair of slippers for her stepmom. I was sure she wouldn’t need these things before tomorrow so we took everything home with us.

It was kind of nice having someone in the house with me again. My wife and daughter had been killed a year and two weeks ago. I put together a small meal and promised that I would do better after going to the grocery store. “I’m going to be working for awhile. Not too late, for I need to sleep if we are trekking up to the cabin tomorrow morning. I suggest that you do the same.”

I could see that Ginger wanted to object, but when she looked at me and saw that I was serious she looked away. Then she started to giggle.

“What’s funny?”

“I was just thinking that no one has told me what time to go to bed for more years than I can remember. They wouldn’t dare. What is wrong with me? I know you are right and I will follow your suggestion without arguing. Don’t you work too late yourself. You are doing something all the time. Writing or taking care of someone. I never knew anyone like you before.” Smiling, I said my goodnight.

It was bacon and eggs in the morning. I had a backpack to wear and a cloth satchel to carry for the trip to the cabin. Most of what we would be bringing back would be a few clothes for Camille, necessary personal papers and whatever else we could carry. Ginger said she would be satisfied to wear my daughter’s clothes and leave what few of her own for another time. I said that if we had a January thaw we might be able to retrieve Camille’s car at that time.

The cabin was a depressing place to view. We could see the snow covered car as we topped the hill. On the way in Ginger noticed that the electric wires were just hanging from the poles. She hurried up beside me. “Did my father know the wires were down?” I debated answering. They had been down for almost two years. “You might as well tell me how long they have been out of service. I can call the company you know.”

“I don’t know, but the wires went down in a wind storm two years ago come March. Whether he knew or not, I couldn’t say.”

“His bill would reflect it wouldn’t it?”

“Not if he had the service terminated. He may have done that.”

“I’m pissed. He told Camille we would be comfortable and the cabin was ready to move into.”

“Maybe he expected her to see about service before you moved here. You should give him the benefit of the doubt. What arrangement did she have to live here?”

“He gave her the place in return for taking care of me until I went to college.”

“I’m sure he didn’t think there was any danger to you.” Nothing more was said on the subject, but I could see she was giving the matter a lot of thought. I directed Ginger to pick up the personal effects belonging to Camille and stow them in the back pack. She found a box of account books, check book, and a small box that held jewelry. Both had cell phones and we picked them up. “Why didn’t you call someone when you saw there was no heat here?”

“Both are dead. They were useless. What should I pack for clothes?”

“Underwear, I would think. If there is a lounging set or sweatsuit, pack that. I can come back if she needs more right away after she gets home.”

“Home?”

“Yes home. My home. You will be there until after Christmas and maybe longer. You might as well consider it your home as well until Camille is much better and can take over from me.”

“I’d like that.”

I was able to get two hours of writing in before lunch. At one o’clock we went to visit Camille. We were allowed to see her for five minutes. I left Ginger and talked a minute with Ashley out of her hearing. “How is your patient?”

“We don’t know yet. The doctor doubled her medications this morning. Could you leave the girl here so if she rouses up she will see her in the room? She mumbles the name Ginger when she gets uneasy. If Ginger is in the room, Camille might fight just a little harder to get well.”

“I’m sure she will. I’ll talk to her.”

Ginger came out at the end of her five minutes. “Your mother is in a real critical stage at the moment. Would you stay here in her room so she can see you if she wakes at all? It might swing the balance of her living or dying.”

Tears came to Ginger’s eyes. “You mean she might die?”

“It could happen, but have faith. Everyone here is doing all they can. You being here can only help that much more.”

“Yes, of course I’ll stay. I’m scared. Nothing like this has ever happened before. My mother took a long time to die, and I was almost glad when she did, for she was in such pain. This is so sudden, I don’t think I can face it if she does die.”

“We’ll just pray she doesn’t then.”

“Ray, if something happens, will you help me with this? I don’t think I can depend on my father.”

“Nothing is going to happen. I’ll come in this evening for a few minutes. Trust Ashley. A nurse named Cindy will be in for the evening shift. She is my friend too.”

“I have to believe you about Camille. When I’m with you, I feel things are going to be fine.”

I honestly hoped so. If Camille did die, Ginger would hold it against her father for the rest of her life. I left Ginger sitting in the corner watching her stepmother intently. I stopped at the grocery for some items and tried to work on my manuscript, but couldn’t hold my thoughts together long enough to put them on the screen.

I wandered out into the living room. Suddenly one of the cells that was charging buzzed. I answered it. “Hello.”

There was silence. Then, “Who is this?”

“Riddle.”

“What are you doing with Ginger’s phone? Put her on.”

“Can’t.”

“Why not?”

“She’s at the hospital.”

There was a long pause. “Is she sick? Is she all right? What’s the matter with her?”

“Nothing now.”

“Well, why the fuck is she there then? Goddamn it, give me some information.”

“Who is this?”

“This is her father, Harold Hapgood. Now tell me what’s going on.”

“Well, Ginger’s stepmother brought her to a cabin that had no heat or electricity. The night they got here there was a twenty-inch snowfall. The temperature dropped to near zero. Camille developed pneumonia and was feverish and comatose. Ginger didn’t know where she was and was scared and very cold. Neither would have survived another night.

“Luckily I heard their vehicle go by and recalled it the next day. I investigated. With your daughter’s help we managed to get Camille to a hospital. Ginger is with her now waiting to see if she lives or dies.”

“Jesus Christ man, is it that serious?”

“Definitely. I was speaking to the nurse less than two hours ago and she said it was a toss up. Where are you?”

“Hawaii. I’m getting married next month.”

“That’s nice. Ginger told me you dumped one bimbo for another. I hope you are enjoying yourself. I will tell Ginger you called. I’ll be speaking to her this evening.” Harold was still talking when I punched end. The phone immediately buzzed again. I didn’t bother answering. Let the bastard stew.

I did have an early supper and headed to the hospital sooner than I had planned. The phone had buzzed several times. Cindy was Camille’s nurse on duty when I got there. I not only received a hug, but collected a kiss as well. Ginger had just stepped out of the room and observed this. Cindy and Ginger told me that Camille had opened her eyes once and recognized Ginger. They were much encouraged by this. Cindy had to leave for another patient.

“Ginger, your dad called. I have your phone and he will be calling you in a few minutes. He is not happy with me as I hung up on him and wouldn’t answer the phone when he called back. He will be screaming about it.”

“Good. I’ll scream right back at him. My mother died a little over five years ago. Since then I’m nothing. All he knows is how to write me a check if he thinks I’m unhappy. Where is he anyway?”

“Hawaii. I gather he is on a pre-honeymoon.”

“Great. I hope he stays there. You have been more of a father to me in the last two days than he has in the last year.”

“He did sound concerned about you.” I started to say more when the phone I was holding in my hand buzzed. I handed it over and she went across the aisle to a waiting room to talk to her father. I could see her through the doorway and Ginger and her father were having an animated conversation. When she got loud, she closed the door. I still could see her through the window. Things calmed down and then I could see Ginger nodding her head in agreement. Five minutes later she folded the phone and came out.

“I told you he would write a check. Here is the situation. He will send you fifteen hundred dollars a month if you will let me stay with you for the balance of the school year. He will give you one thousand if you will take care of Camille at the same time.” Ginger started to say more, but tears came into her eyes. Finally, “He said he would pray that Camille got better. Sometimes I hate my father and then he says something like that and I just love him to pieces.”

“I do think he loves you. About the money. You know I planned on you staying and not having to pay anything?”

“I suspected that, but Dad offered so take it. Camille will say the same. He has plenty. I’m going back to Camille’s room. I don’t think you can come in, even if all the nurses love you.” A little smile appeared as she turned away. I went home and back to my manuscript. The words were flowing again.

Ten-thirty my phone rang. “Ray, Camille is going to live. Her fever broke. I’m going to speak to her one more time and then I’d like to come home.”

                           ***************

A call to the hospital in the morning found Camille awake and on the road to recovery. I stopped in a card shop and bought a little snow globe with an elf displayed for Ginger to give to her. We went in to visit at eleven. Tears came to Camille’s eyes when she saw Ginger and looked so pleased with the present. Ginger introduced me, saying I was their savior.

“I would have had a really tough time if Ginger hadn’t pitched in and held you upright for the mile it took to get you home where we could call Rescue. Otherwise you would have been head down in the snow. After a bit I ceased to worry about you and could concentrate on getting on as fast as I could. She also pushed from behind and made my job less difficult.”

I took a piece of paper out of my pocket. “This explains how we got you to safety.”

                     Found you in a cabin so dark and cold
                     Snow coming down, wind blowing too
                     Why you were there I was never told
                     No toboggan or sled so kayak will do
                     Ginger, Camille, ladies young and old
                     Riddle skied to come and rescue you

How Ginger laughed and then went about explaining fully. I couldn’t tell much about the person lying weakly in bed ... just that she had a cute, smiling face. “Ginger wants to stay with you for awhile. I’ll be back late this afternoon. She will explain what has happened since you went by my place the night of the snow storm. Bye, now.”

I heard Ginger explaining as I left that I was writing a book and worked at it all the time. I laughed to myself, for with what was going on I had only been able to devote half my usual time to it.

When I returned, I was asked next time I came to bring copies of the two books I had written. Two days later I was informed that Camille could come home next week the day before Christmas. Ginger was spending all of her time in the hospital and had made friends of all the nurses.

Camille had progressed to the point where she addressed me as Ray. “Ray, what has happened to Ginger? I so despaired of ever having her treat me other than a wicked stepmother. I blame Harold for a lot of it, but the girl had an attitude from the first time I was introduced to her.”

I smiled. “I told her that she helped save you and she could either treat you nice or wish she hadn’t bothered. She has decided to be nice. She really is a sweet person.” A memory of my daughter flashed through my mind and Camille read it in my face.

“Ginger told me you lost your daughter and wife. My heart goes out to you.”

“Thank you. You know you and Ginger are going to be with me this Christmas. Three weeks ago I was dreading it so. Oh, I’m not missing my family any less, it is just that my house is a home again. Ginger has made it such and I’m sure it will get better with you in it.”

“You are about the sweetest person I have ever known. I’m looking forward to living with you. Ginger was saying yesterday that this is the first time since her mother died she didn’t feel alone. She then came and kissed me. I couldn’t help it, I cried because it made me so happy.”

Camille Hapgood ... five-foot-two and beautiful. The first time I saw her dressed in something other than a robe and sweats was when she slowly made her way into my home. She and Ashley became friends during her hospital stay. Ashley was the one who brought her home. When I walked Ashley to her car as she was leaving she whispered, “You could do worse, Ray. No I will rephrase that, you could do no better.” I just smiled.

Ginger had become quite the homemaker. The attitude she had come here with ten days ago had disappeared. Now she treated her stepmother with respect, something that always had been lacking. On Christmas eve we sat companionably before the fireplace that I had opened up for the occasion. Ginger made popcorn and we had cider. We listened to carols on the radio. Camille, still an invalid, dozed off and slowly leaned against me. I put my arm around her for support and dozed some myself. When we roused up, the fire was almost out and it was Christmas day.

It was natural that when Camille opened her eyes, I leaned to her and kissed her softly on the lips. It was returned with a little smile and then she drew away from me. It was a moment shared.

“Come, I’ll show you where you are sleeping. My wife and I used this room for years, but I’m sleeping in the room down the hall. Ginger sleeps in the room next to you and there is a bathroom across from both.” I left her at the bedroom door.

This wasn’t going to be the best Christmas I had ever had, but it was certainly better than the last lonely one. I had breakfast ready to serve when Ginger and Camille came down. Both were in their robes. Ginger had asked for pancakes and sausage. I contented myself with just toast and coffee. Camille said that was all that she wanted, but when I placed the pancakes on the table she decided for them.

Dinner we had ordered from the Chelsea Royal Diner and had to be picked up by eleven o’clock. I had planned dinner for one p.m. Christmas was a cold and blustery day much like the one that I had gone after Ginger and Camille. Camille opened the outside door and peered out. “What possessed you to go out on a day such as this to come looking for us?”

“I have no idea. I’m glad I did. Neither one of you would be here if I hadn’t.” Ginger went with me to the diner to help pick up and manage the prepared meal. Camille had set the table by the time we returned. “Eggnog before or after dinner?”

“After, I think. It has to be straight eggnog for me because I’m still on medication. Ginger might have a little something in hers this one time.” The dinner was better than I had anticipated. Not home cooked, but the chef had done a very credible job ... and there weren’t that many dishes to do afterward.

Again I built a fire in the fireplace. Camille and I settled into the same positions as we had last night on the couch. Ginger was tending the fire and was snuggled down in front of it, lying on some cushions covered by a blanket. There was a puff of smoke that came out into the room from the fireplace. “Someone has come in. That only happens when the front door opens,” I whispered to Camille. “Don’t move, it is most likely a neighbor and they will find us.”

I looked toward the door. A man stood there taking off his outer coat. “Cozy. Hello Ginger, Camille. You must be Riddle.” There was disapproval in his voice.

“Right. You must be Harold Hapgood.” Sitting close as I was to Camille, I felt her tense up and then pull away putting space between us.

Ginger didn’t get up, just rolled over and looked up at her father. “Hi, Dad. I didn’t expect to see you this winter. Is your latest bimbo with you?” Hapgood stood looking at his daughter. I could tell he was very hurt. It came to me that he really did love his daughter but didn’t know how to approach her.

Before he could answer I walked across to where he was standing with my hand out. He automatically stuck his out and we shook. “Cold out there isn’t it? Come stand by the fire. Would you like a drink? There is enough eggnog for one more glass. Ginger and I are having a little brandy in ours. Camille has passed on that for she is still on medication.”

“Ginger is not old enough for liquor.”

“I know, but it is Christmas. Ginger, would you fix your father’s drink like you fixed mine?”

“Sure Ray, I guess I can. Mother, do you need anything?” Ginger flushed as she spoke to Camille.

As far as I knew, Ginger had never referred to Camille as mother. Ginger’s attitude was back and totally directed at her father. I followed her out into the kitchen. I stood beside her as with shaking hand she poured the eggnog. “Ginger, how do you feel about what you have said to your father since he arrived?”

“But Camille, and maybe me, almost died. He should pay.”

“But you didn’t die. I think he is here to say he is sorry. Sometimes people make mistakes and don’t know it. He wouldn’t have intentionally wanted anything to happen to either of you. I had words with him the first time we talked. It doesn’t matter to me, but he is your father and he loves you. I can see it in his face. Also remember what day it is.”

“How do I fix this? I always say mean things and then I don’t know what to say to make it right.”

“Take the glass in, set it on the coffee table and just walk up to him and ask for a hug and say you missed him. You have, haven’t you?” Ginger nodded. When we went back in, Harold and Camille were holding hands and she was accepting his apology.

Son-of-a-bitch, she stilled loved him. It was plain to me. I studied him. He had affection for her as well. Sadness washed over me. There goes my ready-made family to replace the one I lost a year ago. Harold got his hug and a kiss on the cheek. Ginger sat on the couch close to Camille with my new guest facing them while they told him more about the ordeal they had gone through. I was the outsider in my own home. I walked unnoticed through the room and into my office. No words put up on the screen today, just a few tears dripping down my face.

Harold stayed four nights and left very early Monday morning. Camille was sleeping in with Ginger and Harold slept in the room his ex-wife vacated. The three of them were getting closer all the time. Ginger was showing more respect to her father than she had since her own mother died. The feelings for her stepmother had changed during their ordeal and they continued to grow closer.

Harold decided that he still had feelings for Camille. I will say she didn’t fall into his arms, but I could see that it was inevitable they would get together at some time in the future. When Harold was leaving, I shook his hand, saying I was glad to meet him and he thanked me profusely for saving Camille and Ginger. If I needed anything, anytime, just ask. Great! I didn’t watch Ginger and Camille say good-bye for they both had their arms around him as they were going out the door.

I was sitting at my desk two hours later staring at my blank computer screen. “Ray.” I jumped. Camille had entered quietly. “Ray, may I talk to you?”

“Sure. I was just sitting here waiting for the words to come.”

“Not many words have come for you lately, have they? Do you ever wish you hadn’t saved my life? Ginger and I being here has turned your life upside down, hasn’t it?”

“Some. Not your fault though. Don’t ever think that I regret finding you.”

“You seem so sad. You didn’t seem that way in the hospital when I first started getting well. Share with me what is wrong.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes you can. I need to know. Talking it out will help.”

“Maybe it would be best if you told me where you are in your life right now. I know you are divorced from Harold. I also can see you still love him. I also think he loves you. I suspect that Ginger and her attitude caused you two to split. That seems to be resolved. Tell me, if she treated you and her father before your divorce as she is doing right now, you two would still be together wouldn’t you?”

“Yes. You are right and Harold and I have you to thank for that. What did you do or say to her to change her so?”

“I had a daughter the same age as she is right now. She often had an attitude the same as Ginger had. It took awhile to get through to Mindy sometimes. I just asked Ginger when she referred to you as her father’s bimbo if she was glad she saved you from dying or was she sorry for you being found. She didn’t dislike you as much as she thought she did. Some of her attitude was habit that fed on itself and then she didn’t know how to stop it. I said something similar to her when she said mean things to her father. That straightened out just by reminding her of it. I just was speaking from experience I had with my own daughter, that’s all.”

“You still haven’t told me why you are so sad.”

I turned and faced Camille, where I had just been glancing at her while speaking. “For a little while, I had a dream. I thought God had taken my wife and child and then had given me someone to fill my empty heart. I can see now that it isn’t to be. Not for one minute do I regret finding you and Ginger as I did. I’m pretty proud of doing that. I thought I was going to be rewarded by God for doing a good deed. My mistake, so it really doesn’t have anything to do with you, but is between me and God.”

“You fell in love with me. Is that what you are saying?”

“Not just you, but with Ginger too. I wanted the whole package. I’ll get over this because it was just a dream. To make things right, you all three will just have to be a happy family. That is something you haven’t had yet. That makes what I did the reward I was looking for.”

Camille was quiet for a long time, just looking at the floor, digesting what I said. “Do you want us to move out? I was going to stay until Ginger gets out of school in June. I suppose we could find someplace to move to. You know Harold caused me a lot of hurt by immediately looking for someone else when we weren’t getting along.

“He has promised to just date me for that period of time. I do love him. I have since I first met him and I still do, but he has to show me he loves me too. We both are going to work very hard to not let Ginger come between us even if she develops an attitude again. She has matured ever since she has known you so I don’t think we will have any trouble.”

“No, I don’t want you to move, if you have plans to stay for awhile. I’ll just love both of you as friends.”

“Ray, I’ll never have a better or nicer friend than you. May I kiss you as a friend?” She came over and I pushed my chair away from the desk and stood up so we could hug. As we clinched, Ginger opened the door.

Staring at us with a sorrowful look on her face, “Camille, I’m disappointed. Dad has been gone only two hours and you are in here making out with Ray. I was thinking Dad, you and I were going to be a family, but if that is the way you are going to be, oh ....” Ginger burst into tears and flew out of the room and we could hear her pounding up the stairs.

“I’ll talk to her. Can I tell her everything we said to each other?”

“Of course, Camille.”

Before lunch, there was a soft knock on my door. “Ray, I came to apologize. I should have known you wouldn’t do anything that wasn’t right. You are just too good. Forgive me?”

“Of course, I do.” After lunch the words started coming to me again and when I looked up hours later, I had several pages to save to my manuscript.

Harold was back for New Years Eve, the one night only. It was him cuddled on the couch with Camille and not me. Ginger and I were the ones on the floor. At least this way I could watch the fire and not have to see the two people behind me. We all kissed when the new year came in and I went upstairs with Ginger, leaving Harold and Camille on the couch. Was I lonely? Yes and very jealous too.

I lay in bed reading through some of my manuscript that I had printed out. Harold knocked on my door about an hour after I came up. “Hi Ray, how is the book coming?”

“Okay, I guess. I thought it was going to be great, but I don’t know. Something isn’t right with it.”

“Have Camille look at it. I met her at a literary club where she was giving a lecture. She may have some ideas. Can I say a few things? She told me how you felt about her ... and Ginger, too. You must hate me because I came back into her life.”

“No I don’t. In fact, I’m happy for you. I haven’t known Camille that long and had a little dream about her, mostly because Ginger is so much like my daughter. She is something to treasure. I’ll be awful disappointed if you do something to make her unhappy.”

“Camille and I are going slow this time. When I met and married her, I knew she was for me. It was too soon after Ginger’s mother died and I didn’t stop to think a ten-year-old wouldn’t feel the same way as I did. Over time I just was more and more frustrated and Camille and I started to fight.

“I thought Ginger would be happy when we divorced, but she never came back to me. Then I was without both Camille and Ginger to love. I felt more abandoned and started looking for love somewhere else. That made Ginger draw further away from me. That is when I sent them both up here. To tell the truth, I was surprised that Ginger agreed to come up here with her. Ray, if I can do anything for you, just name it. Somehow things are coming together for me and I’m giving you credit. Remember, anything.”

Monday Ginger started school. She had missed some school, but she was smart and the courses in this school system were behind what she had taken in the previous one so she wasn’t behind at all. There was a place on the basketball squad for her and she was competitive and fit right in. It took only two games before she was on first string and a starter. I worked everyday on my book.

“Camille, Harold said you might be able to help me with my manuscript. If I don’t figure out something, this book will be worse than the last one. My readers will give up on me. I need to figure it out soon. You have read my first two books. Give me an honest critique of my work.”

“Okay, give me what you have written so far. I have an inkling, but I want to see where this one is going.” I passed it to her and went out and filled my coffee cup and sat down. I knew she could read what I had written in a couple of hours. I watched the clock. It was lunch time so I prepared something for the two of us. As I was placing it on the table, Camille came out and sat down. She had a smile on her face, actually it was more of a smirk.

“Tell me Ray. Is your main character gay? He is quite the crime fighter. This is the same character you had in your first and second books, so this is a series. You developed a love interest and it was believable. I mean here is this guy out there keeping the bad guys and terrorist from trashing our country and destroying the world.

“He fell in love and made love to her four times. In the next book he was still with her, but he never made love once through the timeline of six months the story encompasses. In this book he has just mentioned her once. You have a woman terrorist that is trying to seduce him. Are they going to go to bed? I bet you haven’t planned on it.

“You don’t have to write any pornographic sexy scenes, just that he makes love once in awhile. He is just not believable. Your plot line is great, I’ll give you that, but you have to make your guy human too. Nobody goes without sex for that long especially a big virile character like him.”

I didn’t say anything. “I’m sorry, Ray, that was unthinking of me. I meant if a partner was available. That brings up the question. What about you? How long are you going to be celibate? Don’t you know a woman that would give you at least a one night stand?”

“I don’t. It’s not important anyway. Don’t trouble yourself. I will take your advice to heart and see what I can do about my story. It makes sense. I guess if I was out fighting crime and was in danger all the time, I would take time to get laid once in awhile. Thank you.” Camille shook her head knowing somehow that she had hurt me again. The thing of it was I didn’t so much lust after Camille, I just wanted someone to love.

On the eighth of January, there was some heavy road equipment that traveled through the yard and started plowing the trail to the cabin. “Ray, would you ride in on one of the plows and drive my car out? Harold has arranged to open the road, temporarily. One of the plows is supposed to have a can of gas.”

Such a lot had transpired in the month since the night I heard the little car go up the hill from my place. In a way I didn’t feel as if I owned my own home anymore.

That weekend Camille just stated she was going to the city to meet Harold and would be back sometime next week. Ginger stayed with me as she had school. When Camille came back she had a friend, Ann, with her that would be staying for a few days. I could see right through her. She had found a willing friend that wouldn’t be adverse to slipping into my bed. Ann did slip into my bed and I used what was set before me. I explained to this woman how long it had been since I had a female companion. “We’ll work it out. Camille half suspects you are gay. Even if you are we don’t have to tell her.”

Even Ginger was aware what her stepmother was up to. She had her eye on me and inspected me closely when we sat down for breakfast. I acted as normal as I could, but there was no doubt that I was more lighthearted this morning. Ginger was off to school and I went into my office to work. I could hear Ann and Camille in the living room talking and laughing.

Camille brought me in a cup of coffee. I spoke. “Camille, you have presented me with a problem. I like Ann, but I don’t know how to treat her. What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to insult her.”

“You don’t have to do anything. Treat her as a friend and lover you used to know that has reconnected with you for old times sake. For God’s sake don’t offer her anything. Just be yourself. That is all you need to do.”

Three days later when Camille took Ann back to the city, I had gained another friend for life and she had too. Camille was often in my office helping with my manuscript. I talked to my publisher and said I was revising the chapters I had already sent him. I asked which copy he preferred. He called back after a week more excited about my work than he had ever been previously.

There was another thing I was beginning to be uncomfortable with. I received another check from Harold, supposedly for board and room for Camille and Ginger. This was the agreed on amount that Ginger had chiseled out of her father before we all became friends. I took it up with Ginger. “I want to send this money back. You are using your allowance for all of your needs. Camille is using her money for food and many of the things around the house. She refuses to let me pay her back. I haven’t used half the money he sent me last month.”

“Ray, my Dad is very well-to-do. He wanted to increase this month’s amount and I said no for I knew you would object. Take it and be happy. He feels it is for value received. Don’t rock the boat. I’m happier than I have been for years. Camille is getting her life back the way she hoped for. I think she and Dad will be remarried in the spring. I know she is awful young to be my mother which is what I resented so much about her before. Now I’m just glad to have her with me and she is just like an older sister.

“Another thing, you said you were going to be out signing books during the school vacation in February. Would it be okay if my Aunt Rita and her two kids spent the time here? She is divorced. She can use Camille’s bed and the kids can sleep on the couch.”

“Sure, no problem. I’ll be gone all week.” Aunt Rita wasn’t mentioned again. Ginger loved this school and was happier here than at the one she attended before. I liked to think that could be attributed to the happier home life she was in now. Harold came and spent the last weekend of January with us. It was so obvious that he and Camille were in love. Ginger beamed when she saw them together. I suppose I was glad for them too, but it just drove home the fact that I still didn’t have a loved one.

I was booked into three cities for the signing of my second book the third week of February. I made the first two dates okay, but the third city was St. Paul and the city was shut down because of a winter storm. My book had been heavily promoted, so overall it had been a successful tour for me. I returned home on Thursday morning at one a.m. I had driven several hours and was very tired. I glanced in the living room before going upstairs and saw a small child sleeping on the couch.

I made my way upstairs after using the downstairs bathroom. When I turned on my light there was a woman in my bed. She was way over on the far side. I pulled out my pajamas, turned out the light, undressed, put them on and slid into bed making sure we didn’t touch. I roused up once in the night when I felt an arm go over me and someone spoon against me. That was nice and I went back to sleep.

It was nearly nine when I awoke. I got up, showered, shaved and went down to breakfast. Everyone was in the kitchen and when I appeared they all looked at me to see how I was reacting to the situation. I winked at Ginger, smiled at Camille and said to the woman standing near the stove, “You must be Rita. May I have a cup of coffee?” Rita was a plain woman and appeared to be a little younger than I was. There seemed to be worry lines in her face.

Ginger started to apologize. I waved her off. I waited for the coffee to be set before me. She returned to where she had been standing. This gave me a chance to appraise the woman. I could tell that Rita and Ginger were related for aunt and niece were framed much the same. Ginger was much prettier although the older woman was pleasant looking enough. “I slept very well last night, did you?”

Her face flamed red. “Yes I did. It was shocking though to wake and find myself cuddled up to a man I had never met. This has to be one for the books.” We all laughed. I was introduced to Katie, nine, and Conway, seven. They were very shy around me but loosened up when they saw how familiar their cousin Ginger was with me. She took them outside sliding on the hill back of the house.

Camille went into the other room to telephone Harold about what had happened. I said, “So tell me about yourself.”

“Not much to tell. I’m Harold’s sister. I married a loser against the advice of both my parents and my brother. My parents are both dead now. My ex-husband was waiting around for them to die, for he knew they would settle money on me. He didn’t get it. I had put it in Harold’s hands to manage.

“Shortly after that he turned abusive and I divorced him last year. He would go into towering rages at times. When he hit me it was all over. I don’t even know where he is now and I hope I never see him again. He has made threats. He does have visitation rights to the children, but they have to be supervised.”

“May I ask how old you are?”

“Let’s say I’m a few years younger than your thirty-six. I know that much about you and other things, all of it good I think. Case in point, last night you slid into bed with me and went right to sleep. What other normal man would do that?”

I laughed out loud. “You could stop to consider that I might be so tired I just needed a place to lay my weary head. Of course if I had known you were so lovely looking, I might have done a little exploring.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment even if it tells me one more thing about you.”

“What would that be?”

“That would be you have poor eyesight.”

We were laughing when Ginger came through the door. “Ray do you like my Aunt Rita? You know if I had gone to live with her last year as I wished, you and I would never have met. She was having troubles so Dad wouldn’t let me go live with her and made me stay with Camille. Strange isn’t it? Now you have met me and you have met my favorite aunt.”

“How many aunts do you have?”

“Just Aunt Rita. Are you two going to sleep in the same bed tonight?”

“No. Last night was pleasant, but we will make other arrangements tonight.”

“Oh darn, you’re no fun.” She went away giggling.

I turned and looked at Rita. “We’ve slept together but I think I need to know more about you before we do that again. I will extend an invitation, as you are welcome to stay here anytime.”

“Thank you. Camille and Ginger have told me much about you in the last few days. I confess that I’ve wanted to meet you. Maybe before I leave on Sunday we will become friends.” And that is what happened.

                            *******************

I will say one thing about Harold, when he got an idea in his head he followed through. New poles for electricity and wires were installed from my place to the cabin. Hang the cost ... do it now and he would pay. He had a 250 gallon propane tank transported in and filled. He ordered a gas cook stove and fireplace heater. He hoped to have everything ready so he and Camille could spend the spring vacation there. He was putting on a courting blitz and Camille had promised she would wed him once again on Memorial Day.

Rita and her two children were going to come and stay at the house with me and Ginger. The only hitch was that the stoves for the cabin came the week before, but there was no one to make the final connections. There was a service man to do that chore on Monday of vacation week. Harold had to be satisfied with that. The house was really crowded with everyone here for the weekend.

Harold took us all out to a restaurant for dinner Saturday and we went to the movies after that. It was almost ten when we came home. The two small children were sleepy and we put them down. I was sleeping on the couch in the living room and we had made little Conway a bed in the recliner. Rita and her daughter had my bed. Harold and Camille were in her bed and Ginger had her own room. There were a few passing jokes made about me crawling in with Rita as had happened during the winter vacation, but it was light-hearted bantering.

I guess it was only a few minutes after everyone was in bed that we heard a distant boom. This happened before any of us were asleep except for the kids. I shouted up the stairs to Harold, “Did you hear that? It sounded as if it came from the cabin.”

He came down in his dressing robe. “Yes. I think we should get dressed and go see what it was. Why don’t you report it to the fire station? I don’t see what could have gone wrong. There were shutoffs on the piping to the stoves and it was turned off at the gas tank as well. The stoves weren’t connected yet.”

Before we were dressed there was a police car in the yard. They asked questions and we stated that as far as we knew the cabin was empty. We told them about the situation with the propane and stoves. The police car went ahead with a fire truck following. Harold and I went behind them in my vehicle. When we reached the top of the hill and could look down into the valley, we could see a few flickering flames in the distance.

Before we got to the cabin, we came to a car parked within a few yards of it. Harold said, “Shit, that’s Ray Couture’s car. He is Rita’s ex-husband. What in hell is he doing here?” There was debris spread all around and we could see that the windshield was caved in. The fire truck started playing spotlights around. They zeroed in on a heap about thirty feet from where the front door originally was. You couldn’t tell it was a body, but you knew. The cabin itself was totally destroyed.

A fireman took a flashlight and went toward the big propane tank. It had been knocked off its foundation and had rolled away from where it had been placed. He cautiously turned the valve and closed it. Coming back he said, “The pipe was crimped when it rolled over and over effectively shutting it off. The valve was open though.”

The policeman, whom I knew, came and talked to us. Harold told what he knew about his former brother-in-law. Furiously taking notes, he paused and called for a coroner. Soon there were several more vehicles coming down into the valley, blocking ours in, for the ground was soft except on the road.

The cop said to me that it looked like my car would be here for awhile. He informed us the fire marshal’s office had been called and he didn’t want the scene disturbed, so we could remain in the car or walk the mile back home. I left my keys with the police and gathering my flashlight, Harold and I started the walk back.

When we reached the top of the hill he paused for breath. “Christ man, I can understand how much effort it took getting Camille and Ginger to safety last winter. You say there was heavy snow and cold near zero. How in God’s name did you do it?”

“I had Ginger to help. I don’t know if I could have done it without her.”

“Well I appreciate both of your efforts more now than I did at the time.”

It was almost six in the morning before a policeman drove my car into the yard. He came to the door telling us that the body had identifying papers on him, saying it was Ray Couture. The ambulance went by while he was talking.

There would be an autopsy and the next of kin had to be notified. Harold said that the closest kin Couture had were the two children here in the house at present. His ex-wife was here with them. The police asked for any tattoos or other marks to make the identity more positive. Rita gave them what she could and said she thought there were some moles on his back that she could be positive about.

I watched her. I could see she was sad her ex was dead, maybe not so much for herself, but for her children. I went to her. “Rita, who will make the funeral arrangements and does he have other family members?”

“No, he had no family. It will be up to me to see to a funeral just for the children’s sake. There isn’t much of an estate although he did have some life insurance. The expenses will have to come from that. I don’t know where he will be buried. I never thought that far ahead and I’m sure he didn’t.”

“You don’t have to decide that now. You can either have him cremated or placed in a vault until you find a place to lay him. I’m sure Harold will advise you. The remains won’t be released for a few days. You won’t have to make any snap decisions.”

“That’s a relief. I suppose it will be easier on Katie and Conway to have a closed casket. I’ll just gloss over most of the details so it won’t traumatize them too much. Ray, I hate to ask you, but would you stay by my side as I get through this?”

“You would be having the funeral here?”

“Most likely. Camille and Ginger are here. Harold is spending his free time here to be with Camille. He is considering buying a small house in town. You have been more than generous inviting us all into your home. I would imagine you would like to have your life back.”

“Think what you want. Camille and Ginger being here has helped me get over the death of my family. I’m sorry they will be leaving at the end of the school year.”

“Don’t bet on them leaving. Camille owns the property where the cabin is. Oops ... was. I’m not going to say more.”

“If Harold buys a house here in town, will you be visiting him?”

“I’m sure I will be. Camille has been telling me about this town. She says you know everyone and they all know you. She also says she is running into the same people she has met time and time again. She has made friends with one woman named Ashley who was her nurse. That is something I can’t get my mind around. I own a condo and don’t even know my neighbors. The only time we talk at all is when we have our yearly meeting. The kids know more people there than I do.”

“I think this is called a sense of community. You meet people and make them your friends and there will be others you can’t stand. The thing is, you get to know them. Sometimes they may do something for you or feel you have to step up and do something for them. Look how I felt about your brother before last winter. I thought he was a rich, arrogant bastard. I wouldn’t say we were bosom buddies, but we at least respect each other and I very much welcome him into my circle of people I know.”

“You know me. Where am I in the circle of people you know?”

“I don’t know you well enough yet. I hope you don’t leave before I get to know you better I know that. Rita, I am really glad you are here and if I can be of any help to you with what you are facing with the children’s father please let me.” I paused not knowing how to continue. “I have to work a little and I will see you later for lunch.”

I didn’t get much writing completed. I sat in my office thinking. Sometimes I felt I was cracking up. Was I too desperate to find someone to replace my wife? First I wanted Camille and she went back to Harold. Now I had this woman with two children staying here who was vulnerable to some extent. I determined in my mind to withdraw within myself. I almost made a fool of myself with Camille. I didn’t want to make another mistake like that.

                           ***************

In the following week, the fire marshal determined that Couture had arrived at the cabin looking for his ex-wife. Not finding her he broke in and tried to light the stoves. He had found that the valves to both the heater and the cook stove were turned off. He had turned them on, not realizing that they were not connected. When he found that neither stove would ignite he went out and opened the valve at the gas tank. From the cigarette butts around the vehicle, he apparently stayed in the car smoking and drinking. There was still the remains of a bottle of vodka on the seat.

Apparently he went inside with a lighted cigarette where raw propane had been filling the cabin from the unconnected gas pipes. The resulting explosion was heard by us and several other people. The death was ruled an accident with contributing factors.

Couture’s remains did not return until Monday of the following week. School was back in session. Rita and the children went home, but returned for the funeral scheduled for Saturday. Harold and I had discussed what to do to make the kids remember their father in the best light.

Harold had filled the funeral parlor with flowers. Ginger volunteered to speak about her uncle. Some of her classmates were present. The newspaper had stated that Couture’s ex-wife and children were staying with Ray Riddle. Many of my friends were present and some of the friends that Camille had made came as well. The funeral parlor was nearly full. Something the kids would remember and hopefully would do something to dispel the memory of how he died.

The children, aware as kids will be, distrusted their Uncle Harold for they had been privy to the tension between him and their father. They could tell that their cousin, Ginger, trusted me implicitly. They looked to me to provide some adult caring and for the day I took the place of the one that was lying in the coffin. I was glad to do this when Rita explained how they felt.

I made it through the service without breaking down. When I got home I had to retire to my office. This funeral was almost as bad for me as the one I went to a short year and half ago.

Why? I really didn’t know these people. Half the time I didn’t even have a bed to sleep in right here in my own house. I guess I slept with my head on the desk. When I awoke, it was dark. I switched the lights on. Five minutes later there was a soft knock on the door. Ginger came in bearing a sandwich. “Ray, I’m here to apologize for the whole family. We didn’t realize what we are putting you through. Can you ever forgive us? We can’t lose you as a friend. We need you much more than you need us. Tell me how we can make it up to you?”

“I’m fine. It was a little upsetting for me today, but I’m beyond that now. I’ll go out with you. I’d like some coffee to go with the sandwich.”

Ginger stared at me. “That’s it? A cup of coffee? You need more than that.”

She came around the desk pulling me to my feet. Her arms went around me and I received the warmest hug. “You make it easy for people to love you. Know that I will always love you. Come, I’ll make your coffee.” Katie and Conway were just outside of the door and they took my hand as I followed Ginger to the kitchen.

                            ***************

I always had the handy excuse that I had to go somewhere to promote my books. I became a frequent visitor at Rita’s home when I was in the city. Did I sleep with her? Not right away, although I could have.

Memorial Day was celebrated on a Monday. Rita and her children were here for the holiday. The Friday before, Ginger and I stood as witnesses in my home before a Justice of the Peace while Camille and Harold were rejoined in matrimony. A very small reception followed. Harold then took his bride on a honeymoon. Camille would not be returning to this house as Harold had purchased property in town. Ginger opted to stay with me for the time being.

The sleeping accommodations still left Conway on the couch in the living room. Rita had the bedroom that formally had been the master bedroom when I was married. Ginger and Katie shared the one where my daughter had slept and I slept in the room I had occupied since Ginger and Camille had moved in. That was the original arrangement.

The kids were so familiar with me by this time they wanted to sit on either side of me at the table during meal time. In the living room they cuddled one on each side of me as we watched television. When it was bedtime, they came for a kiss on the cheek.

“Conway, you are going to be sleeping in Ray’s bed tonight.”

“Where is he going to be sleeping?”

“You remember last winter he slept in the same bed with me and everyone joked about it. I think that is going to happen again. Do you mind?” He shook his head no. “Katie?” She thought it was okay. “Ginger?”

“Aunt Rita, I think you are the luckiest person alive. I envy you.” Ginger soon gathered the two kids and they all went upstairs together.

Epilogue

Rita and I were married just before school started in the fall. Ginger stays with us, her favorite aunt and uncle. Camille and Harold live in the city but are most often here in town every chance they can be. The day Rita and I were married, Camille informed us that Ginger was going to have a brother or sister. Rita, not to be outdone, announced that she was pregnant at the Thanksgiving Day gathering.

Camille and Harold never rebuilt the cabin. They said the property was jinxed. The place had tried hard enough to kill two unwary people and had succeeded with the third. They were not going to give it a chance to find out if it was looking for more victims.

Two years since I had lost my wife and daughter. Do I still miss them? Of course I do. Am I lonely? Only at those minutes when I pause and look back. I have little reason to look back now as time goes by. My life is full now and I’m happy.

Most of the readers of my novels want a little romance in my characters’ lives. The main character in my novel succumbed to a woman by the middle of the book I was writing when my life was turned upside down. He was married in the next to last chapter. The advance reviews indicate this book will make the charts. The new direction opens up several more new plot lines.

Flatlanders? I guess they are about the same as the rest of us. Some are good and some are bad. Am I glad I put on a parka and went out into the cold, blustery day last December? Yes I am.

The End