Page 55 of Grounded
“Well,” she said, breaking the spell, “I have something for you.” She reached into her purse and pulled out the framed picture.
He looked at her with raised eyebrows then tore the tissue off.
“What is this …?” His words trailed off and he smiled at the picture. “This is great. I’ll put this in my office.”
Annie watched his face as he looked at the photo. “Look at you in your overalls,” he said.
“And you in those highwater pants,” she said, and they both laughed.
“Thanks!” He moved slightly in his seat, as if he was going to hug her, but instead he grasped her hand tightly. “I really like it.”
“I better go get Lindy, or we’ll be late,” she said, sliding out of the car.
Rutherford was by no means a large town, but it was four times the size of Somerville’s population of four thousand and boasted a stadium-seating movie theater, more stores and a coffee shop. It was a college town, and with that came the advantages of a bookstore, an arts league and theater. Only twenty minutes on a nice, new four-lane road, the drive was easy, and for rural Somervillians, it saved a long trip to Lexington.
After the movie, Annie checked her cell phone to make sure Beulah had not called. No one wanted the night to end, so they finished out the evening in a bustling coffee house near the college that boasted of fair trade practices and homemade desserts. Their discussion of the movie about the struggles of a single parent continued over the coffee.
“Do you realize all three of us only have one parent? Wouldn’t you say most people still have both parents by the time they hit the early thirties?” Lindy asked.
“Probably,” Jake said, “but I try to remind myself I had a great dad for as long as I had him. He had me doing chores from the time I was three. He taught me to drive a tractor when I was eight, how to fix machinery, how to build, how to handle cows. It’s almost like he knew our time wouldn’t last forever so he got everything in early.”
“What about your dad, Annie? Do you see him?” Lindy asked.
“My dad left when I was a baby. He called occasionally and sent birthday cards with a little money, but I didn’t know him until after I moved to New York.”
“Why then?” Lindy said.
“My father is a wanderer. He has lived the world over, ironically living the life my mother would have loved to have had with him. When I could finally travel to see him, he was happy to have me come. He is the kind of man who is proud to be a father, but never wanted to raise children.”
Annie stirred her coffee before taking a drink. “When I finally understood that, I expected so much less of him and our relationship improved dramatically. We get along fine today, although we don’t see each other very often. When we do, it’s good.”
“Was it difficult for you to relate to men, not having a father around?”
“Lindy, you really do need to get a counseling degree. I think you have a knack for it!” Annie smiled at her.
“I know!” Lindy threw her head down on the table in mock discouragement. “I can’t help myself. I love to know how people think.”
“Was it? Difficult to relate to men?” It was Jake this time, serious and waiting for her answer.
“You too?” Annie punched his arm. “I don’t know. I’ve made my share of relationship mistakes. Hopefully, I’ll get it right if there is a next time.”
“With Woody?” Lindy asked, her eyes dancing with mischief.
“Woody who?” Jake asked.
“Maybe. He might be the one,” Annie said, teasing back.
“Woody Patterson?” Jake said.
Annie shrugged her shoulders and raised her eyebrows, enjoying the look of alarm plastered all over Jake’s face.
Annie hit the snooze button twice before finally throwing the blankets off. Stretching, she felt her sore muscles again. Maybe it was the fall off the front porch that did it this time, but it seemed every day a new set of muscles complained wildly that life had changed for her.
She was pouring her first cup of coffee when the phone rang. Betty Gibson started talking as soon as Annie answered.
“Missy’s high school graduation was yesterday. Can you believe she’ll be the first Gibson to go to college this fall? Anyway, up we went to Lexington for the ceremony, and it seemed like every high school in the city was having ceremonies. You couldn’t stir ‘em with a stick. After the pomp and circumstance, we said we’d take her to eat wherever she wanted to go. Law-zee! That was a mistake. Where do you think she took us?”
“I have no idea,” Annie said, knowing Betty didn’t really want a guess.
