This made her perk up dramatically. “Oh, how exciting.”
“I didn’t ever talk to Chance about schooling. Did he go to college?”
Her face darkened a little and she wandered the room, straightening figures that were already perfectly aligned. “Chance decided to learn a trade,” she said. “He worked in home building up until he left town.”
I wondered what his job actually entailed. I imagined him using those talented hands for hard labor. Maybe that had made them strong as much as the guitar playing.
I knew what Mrs. McKenzie wanted to hear. “Well, he’s a lovely boy. Very well raised.”
This brought her back around to me. “Let’s make some tea while we wait for Redmond,” she said. “You promise me you’ll come back tonight?”
I hesitated. “I’m not sure what he needs me for, but I’ll do what I can to get back here.”
This placated her and we headed back through the house. I let out a long-held breath. Compared to facing a potentially irate Chance, this might be the easiest part of my trip.
Chapter 41: Chance
Redmond was gone to fetch Jenny by the time I got out of the shower. I toweled my hair off and thought about that one night we’d been together. Just remembering her made me ache with need of her. I wasn’t totally sure why she’d come, but I’d listen before making any judgments.
We were meeting at the hotel. I didn’t want her here with all the guys around, and I certainly wasn’t going to face my mother. I assumed Jenny would know better than to tell my mother about my return, but I could deal with that later if the cat was out of the bag.
Charlie had taken off in a huff after dropping me off. I was grateful for her help in all this. If she hadn’t clued me in, I wouldn’t have even known Jenny was here. When the dust settled, I’d make it up to her.
I pulled on my jeans and a shirt and walked out in the hall. Ace was sitting on the sofa, drinking a beer. “I jumped your truck,” he said. “Battery was deader than a doornail. It’s still running out there. Pete is watching it.”
“Thanks,” I said, and sat down to pull on a pair of shoes I hadn’t seen for half a year. It felt good to wear something other than the same boots day in and day out. Maybe I’d throw them out. I was definitely sick of them.
“You sure about this girl?” Ace asked. “Kinda crazy, coming all this way to find you.”
“I’m curious to hear why,” I said.
“I’m not gonna lie,” Ace said. “I’m getting some weird vibes.”
I stiffened but played it cool. Ace had never really been a friend of mine. “She’s different. Grew up in Cali. Girls are different there.”
He stared at his beer. “I reckon you know what you’re doing.”
I’d had enough of this conversation. “Thanks for the jump, man,” I said. “Catch you later.”
“Later,” he said, still looking at his bottle.
I went outside. Pete sat on the bumper of my truck, a cherry red Dodge I’d bought after the accident, not wanting to ever drive the old one again.
“Damn fine truck,” Pete said. “I shoulda stole it while I had the chance.”
“If I’d known I was leaving, I never would have bought it,” I said. “Just sat here gathering dust.”
“’S’all right,” Pete said. “Made this rathole look classy.”
Money I could have given my mother, I thought. I had a lot of beef with her, but I didn’t want to see her destitute.
The engine rumbled clean and easy. I opened the door and climbed in. “Wish me luck,” I said.
“With a girl that hot, you’ll need it,” Pete said with a laugh. “You don’t deserve her.”
“Probably not,” I said.
He waved and turned for the porch.
I dropped the gearshift into reverse and headed out of my own driveway for the first time since last fall. Because the weather in November and March was so similar, it felt the same, like I’d never left.
Except now there was Jenny.
I didn’t really have to drive over to the Fairfield. It was an easy walk. Redmond said Jenny had come on foot, so I’m guessing that’s why she chose it.
But I wanted to have a way to get around town, just in case.
When I got there, I parked out front. I hadn’t heard from anybody in a half hour. I wondered if they were stuck drinking tea with my mother, and had to grin at the thought of shit-kicking Redmond drinking from a rose-painted cup.
I sat up when I saw Redmond’s truck pull in front of the entrance. The light popped on inside the cabin, but from my position, I could only see him. I guessed Jenny had opened the passenger door.
He asked her something, then nodded. Then I saw a girl in a hat appear on the other side and go in. She wore a long flowy dress that reached her ankles. Her hair was tucked up in the hat.
Was that Jenny?
Redmond didn’t take off for a moment, and I wondered what was going on. The girl went inside the hotel.
Then my phone buzzed. It was Redmond, saying Jenny would meet me in the lobby when I was ready.