Chapter 76
Troy and Carl loaded up their Corvette and drove off. “I really like them,” Jennalee told Harley.
“Me, too.”
Garth and his father now had tools and bits of motorcycle spread on the ground, drawing frowns from departing Sutherlands. Lizann had deserted them to move among the throngs, saying goodbye, offering hugs. “Your mom is like the go-between, isn’t she?” Jennalee said to Harley.
“I think of her as the ambassador to reality. She can schmooze when she wants to, tell them to kiss off if they annoy her too much.”
Jennalee thought on this as they watched Kyle Sutherland talk to Lizann. Harley was the same way, able to cross lines if he chose, retreat if he preferred. He was an ambassador, too, she decided. Was that what he’d brought her? Reality?
It was a slow exodus since there were so many Sutherlands, so many Jennalee hadn’t gotten to know, didn’t even have names for. There went an old lady whose hair was colored a shocking yellow. She wore a navy pantsuit and white nurse’s shoes while the man with her, equally old, bald, withered, but nevertheless smiling, guided her along as she too said her goodbyes. There was so much milling around and Jennalee found herself wishing she had a big family, that her parents hadn’t cheated her out of it by being only children. It occurred to her then that she would, as an only child, perpetuate this injustice on any children she might have. No cousins, no aunts and uncles. Just Gram and Gramps. She had those back in San Francisco, well, at least a Gramps. Gram, Dad’s mother, had died years earlier and Gramps was now in a retirement village in Novato, playing golf.
“I remember them,” Jennalee said when Everett and Aldora Sutherland emerged from the inn. Gerald was between them, chattering to Everett, who seemed enthralled. Jennalee had never seen anyone enthralled with her father. Aldora, who wore her age with grace, walked proudly, even as her body stooped slightly.
Jane finally came out, bringing up the rear, it seemed, because there were no more Sutherlands after her. She also milled about, offering good wishes. Jennalee heard her say repeatedly, “See you next year.” It has to be better next year, Jennalee thought. They couldn’t burn down a building twice in a row. But what else would they do?
Wesley helped with luggage, especially for those who seemed to have brought their entire wardrobes. One nameless woman’s giant wheeled suitcase got away from her and toppled over and Wesley jumped to her aid. Jennalee thought back to the Mozart Rondo. She’d have to talk to him more, maybe play something for him now and then.
From nowhere it hit her that the weekend was ending. Never mind knowing it would all along, it had been some distant fact that now became reality. Soon the place would be just her and her folks. She couldn’t imagine that anymore. It would be returning to exile in the sticks, except she’d now lost even more. “I don’t want you to leave,” she said, taking Harley’s arm.
“Me, either,” he replied. “It’s been a blast, but life calls.”
“Maybe you could come up for a visit,” she said. “Catch a plane? It’s not a long flight from Southern California, maybe an hour.”
“And fly into where? You’re not in San Francisco anymore. I doubt there’s an airport around here and besides, I can’t afford it.”
“Okay, take the train.”
“Didn’t see any train station in Malvern.”
“Bus?”
“Same deal.”
He was making fun of her and this was serious. “I’m going to cry,” she said, on the verge.
“No, you’re not. Get a grip, girl. You knew it was just four days when I got here.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t know you then. It’s not just four days. It’s, I don’t know, it’s…it’s…life-changing, and I know that doesn’t make sense, but that’s what it is. You changed my life, you made me see. I did get a grip, only now it feels like I’m slipping.”
“You’re not, Lee.” He took her chin, turned her to him, and smiled. “You’ve added to my life, too, you know. This has been an amazing experience and I wouldn’t trade meeting you for anything. We’re good friends now, forever friends. That’s what counts. It doesn’t matter the weekend is ending. Look at all we’ve got ahead. And I’ll be back next year.”
“That’s so far away. A whole year.”
He said nothing more, just kissed her cheek and turned to view the thinning crowd. Jennalee was clinging in his words when a motorcycle not only started up, it began to roar. She looked over to see Garth twisting the throttle as his father squatted beside the bike, still tinkering. Only one thing I won’t miss, she thought. Harley took her hand at that moment, as if he could read her thoughts, and she wanted to cry all over again.