Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13
“Hey Dad,” Lizzie says, taking her coat off as she walks, the sleeve getting caught on the things in her hand. One thing at a time, one thing at a time... she reminds herself, putting her bag and notebook down on the desk, and throwing her coat over the back of her chair. “So I had a great time with Ben and Sean Knowles, I can write that up really fast, Ben said he’d send photos.” She boots up Stan’s ancient computer and makes a mental note to travel with her laptop.
“Already got ‘em,” he says. “They’re beautiful. So glad it went well.”
He seems oddly quiet, like there’s something he wants to say but isn’t.
“What’s up Dad?”
Peter clears his throat, “Well, after you went upstairs to write last night I got talking to Jack before he took off.”
Lizzie’s worried about where this is going. What was her Dad up to?
“And he was saying how he’d like to figure out some housing and job solutions.”
“Wouldn’t we all,” she says, nodding her head and opening her notebook to her quotes from Ben.
“No, he’s actually been working on some ideas, and I’d love for you to see what he has in mind, pick his brain a little, and see if any of it is viable. And maybe also write something about skating on Thacher’s cranberry bog? Today?”
Lizzie laughs. “What? I’m starting to think that Stan threw himself off the ladder to get away from working for you! Jeez, Dad, you want me to make a pie and solve global warming today too?” she teases. “I just got here and now you want me to go skating, and interview Jack about some idea that isn’t even a thing, and write it up?”
“I know, it sounds like a lot, but I just want to see if he’s planning to do anything, and I figured if he’d talk to anyone it would be you.” There’s a pause. “Would that be uncomfortable for you?
She sighs. “Fine. I'll see what I can find out.”
“You sure you don’t mind? Your mother would probably kick me for asking you to do this, but I think it’s important.”
“Oh now you’re all,’only if you want to,’” she laughs. “No, it’s fine. Except as far as me writing the skating story goes I have no skates and I don’t know if Jack is free to talk to me today. He had stopped by Ben and Sean’s and was there when I left. But besides that I can do the Marshview story and the skating.”
“He’s going to pick you up here at 1, and there are skates in my car for you both, all ready to go.”
“What? Now I’m interviewing him and going skating with him? Dad…”
“Oops, my cell is vibrating, I have to take this, it’s Town Hall,” he says, getting up from his desk.
“Likely story, Peter Martin. Likely story.” She shakes her head, and can’t believe once again she’s being thrown in with Jack.
Her phone dings, alerting her to a text. It’s from Jack
So your father has been busy this morning...apparently we’re going skating and discussing the future of Cranberry Harbor? You okay with that?
Honestly, she doesn’t know how she feels.
I am so sorry he twisted your arm into doing this. We don’t have to. He was just...excited.
She hits send. The gray bubble and dots appear, then disappear.
No! I want to go. Just don’t make fun of me okay?
Lizzie laughs out loud, and then catches herself, looking to see if her dad is watching her, but he’s not there. No, Jack is not charming her, not this time.
I am not exactly Olympic material myself so no worries.
More dots…
Deal. See you at 1.
Lizzie did not get dressed that morning to go skating, so she quickly texts Jack back.
I need to go home and change. Could you meet me there instead?
Yup.
Peter comes in the door from outside. “Dad, I’m going home, I did not dress for ice skating. I can’t believe what you’re getting me to do.”
He shrugs and smiles. “I put the skates next to your car, it was locked.”
“You will pay, sir, that’s for sure,” she says, heading to her car and home to change.
As she rummages through her suitcase- she had never bothered to actually unpack - she has a weird feeling of deja-vu. Getting ready for a date with Jack. There is something very early-aughts about this situation. Finally she settles on some fleece-lined leggings, a long-sleeved T-shirt, a flannel shirt and an old sweater of Matt’s she’d confiscated long ago and left in her closet. And two pairs of socks. She lays them all on her bed, like she’s dressing a very chilly scarecrow to see if it all works. It does.
She knew there was an assortment of hats, scarves and gloves in the downstairs closet, and she’d find something suitable in that department on her way out.
After she changes she goes into the bathroom and fusses a bit with her makeup, something certainly not required for an outside skating expedition, she puts down her brow brush and picks up her phone to text Sarah.
Okay, so Jack and I are going skating. And I ran into him AGAIN while interviewing a guy we went to school with.
She goes back to trying to create the perfect brow, her phone dings. Sarah is on it.
Aw, what an old fashioned DATE!
Lizzie sighs.
Not.A.Date. It’s actually for another story for my dad.
She waits for a reply.
Are you putting on makeup? Did you spend more than ten minutes figuring out what to wear? If so, that’s a date.
Did she have Lizzie on surveillance somehow?
Only a little makeup, and I don’t want to freeze, so the outfit took some time. And I have to say that I kind of hate it that you know me so well.
She pictures Sarah laughing in her cubicle.
I do know you and I want you to stop overthinking this and go have fun. And don’t break an ankle or anything.
She shakes her head and smiles.
Thanks, I’ll try not to. Hope all is well there.
Sarah doesn’t text right back. She’s probably on deadline. As she starts layering up she hears her phone.
Yeah, it’s okay. Looking forward to a few days away from here. It’s been more stressful than usual. Love you, have fun!
Lizzie was always wondering when and who the next person to be laid off would be. It was a lot of stress, but she just sends a heart and hugs emojis and finishes getting ready.
Jack arrives promptly at 12:59, and Lizzie is ready to go. She has retrieved both pairs of skates from her car and is as ready as she will ever be to spend time alone with the man who broke her heart. What was she even doing? Why did she let her dad orchestrate this? She takes a deep breath. She’s doing this for him, and is going to make the best of it. Being pleasant for a couple of hours won’t be the end of the world.
“Hey, you’re being a very good sport to let my dad plan your afternoon,” Lizzie says, trying to appear cool in control and breezy while wrapping a scarf around her neck. She pulls on a knit cap with flower appliques and glances in the hall mirror. She turns to Jack. “This kind of looks like something Mom bought at a rummage sale that had been living in someone’s closet since the ‘70s.”
He laughs, “No, I like it. It’s original, very...you.”
She squints at her reflection. “I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, but it feels warm, so no matter how silly I look I’m wearing it. Should we stop and get some cocoa on the way to make sure we don’t freeze?” she asks as she zips her coat.
“Actually, Sea Coast has a little food truck down there selling hot drinks and snacks–it was Leah’s idea, and Hope ok’d it for the next couple of weeks.”
“Of course it was. Boy, that girl thinks of everything, she’s incredible” She picks up the skates, and her bag. “Well I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, should we go?”
Jack takes the skates from her and opens the door. “So we’re in agreement on the no laughing thing, right?” he says, leading the way to his car.
“I make no promises sir,” she looks over the car roof at him. “Of course. You think I’ve been on skates, in the last decade and a half? This could get really ugly, really fast.”
They both fasten their seatbelts. “We could always just go down there, and say we went skating and not…” he floats this idea like it’s the most genius thing ever. This coming from a guy who never, ever cheated on a test or skipped school is the equivalent of selling state secrets.
“I am shocked that you would suggest lying to my father, Jack.”
“No, of course that would be wrong, and I don’t want to betray him, or your journalistic integrity–”
“Actually, the same thought went through my head. I don’t have to write this in first person, we could say we did and not. How about we feel it out when we get there? If it’s a bunch of hot shots doing triple salchows and spins or whatever, we just watch, I can get some quotes, and we drink some cocoa. Sound good?
“Sounds good.”
But the thing was, when they got there there was only a couple with their two little kids on the ice, none of them Olympic champion material, and it actually looked...fun.
“What do you think?” Jack looks a little excited to try it.
It was a picture perfect day, the sky was that rich, deep blue it turned on the Cape in the cooler months. It wasn’t even as cold as Lizzie had worried it would be, so she agrees. She can do this. She can get up on skates and she can spend time with Jack and be civil.
“Okay, you jump I jump, Jack,” she pauses, “that little ‘Titanic’ quote works particularly well when you’re actually with someone named Jack,” she says, still not completely sold on the skating or being with him.
“Yeah, not the first time I’ve heard it,” he says as they head to the bench on the edge of the bog to put on their skates.
“Sorry. Must get old.” As she laces up her skates she suddenly starts to feel very nervous. Not only does she not want to look like an idiot, she also doesn’t want to get hurt. The last thing she wants is to need Jack in any way, but she’d rather wound her pride than break her ankle, so she decides to be honest. “Uh, I’m a little nervous. You okay if I kind of hold on to you for a little bit? ‘Til I get my bearings?” She stands and wobbles in the snow on the two thin blades. Before getting on the ice she pulls her phone out of her pocket and grabs a few photos for her story.
“I was just going to ask you the same thing, I think I need to hold on to you too. I am suddenly feeling a lot older than the last time I did this,” Jack says, looking a little panicked.
“That’s because we are,” Lizzie says, haltingly working her way to the flooded bog. And just when they set foot on the ice a school bus pulls up and at least thirty middle-schoolers pour out and head to the ice all at once. Kids go whizzing by as Lizzie and Jack cling to each other for dear life.
“Once around and then we’re good?” Lizzie pleads.
“Oh yeah, that sounds good to me.”
They’re quiet as they inch their way along, and Lizzie feels uncomfortable about that.
“So, it was really nice seeing Ben and meeting Sean this morning, they seem like they’ve really made it work here,” she says, still keeping a tight grip on Jack’s arm.
“Yeah, I’ve gotten together with them a few times since I’ve been back, I really enjoy their company.” They are still moving at a snail’s pace. “It’s really great when you grow up and find you still really like people you hung out with. It doesn’t always happen.” They quickly exchange a knowing glance about a few classmates they did not feel similarly about.
Apparently Lizzie’s father was unaware that the middle school had been bringing groups there daily for gym class as a way to let the kids get outside and have some fun so the ice is now teeming with tweens.
“Were we ever that fearless?” Lizzie asks as she and Jack slowly begin to make their way around the edge of the bog. “Because I don’t remember going that fast or hurling myself down on the ice so I could glide through someone’s legs.”
“It’s hard to remember,” Jack says, not looking at her, only his feet which are inching along at a slow crawl. “I don’t remember feeling scared, but I probably was?”
“I was more scared of looking stupid than getting hurt. I’m sure even now, if I were to fall, the embarrassment of falling would be far worse than the pain of it. I need look no further than the other day outside Bradford’s for verification of that theory.”
Despite themselves after ten minutes or so they start to loosen up a little and gain some confidence. They’re still not ready to let go of each other, but they’ve picked up some speed.
“Do I dare say this is feeling a little fun?” Jack says.
“I was just thinking the same thing. The bit of joy I’m feeling is distracting nicely from the dull, constant ache in my ankles, but this is feeling kind of okay.” They’re both still only looking down at their feet. “Want to try letting go and fly solo for a minute?”
“I don’t know, you think we’re okay?” Jack looks concerned.
“Yeah, I think we’re good. On three, okay?” She braces herself. “One, two, two and a half, and three!” And with that she pushes off and glides forward, with Jack following closely behind. They are both so buoyed by their amazing skills, they fail to notice a kid hurtling toward them in hot pursuit of a ball, and they all collide, sending Lizzie and Jack into each other, and taking them down like two dominos.
“Oh, sorry, lady, sorry mister,” the kid says, retrieving his ball and skating off.
There’s an awkward moment of being so close, and they quickly sit up. Lizzie feels very strange being in such proximity to him.
“I don’t know which is worse, falling or being called, ‘lady,’ my Mom is a ‘lady.’” Lizzie says, shaking off the self-consciousness of being closer to him than she’s been in three years.
Jack laughs, “I’m not crazy about ‘mister’ either. All kidding aside, are you okay?” He gets up on his knees and manages to stand up. “Here, let me help you, lady.”
“Ha, thank you. I don’t know about you, but I could kind of use a break, Want to get some cocoa?” Lizzie says.
“You read my mind.” They slowly make their way back to the bench. “Well that will teach me to not get too confident while on skates. I think any later-in-life plans I may have had to become a hockey player have been thoroughly dashed now,” Jack says, sitting down.
“Really? You’re going to give up that easily?” Lizzie teases as she unlaces her skates. “I was so looking forward to finally going to a Bruins game and cheering for you, the oldest player on the team.” Humor has always been her deflection method of choice.
“You know, I could easily leave you here to find your way back to town,” he jokes as he slips his feet into his now freezing boots. “Oh wow, that’s cold!” he exclaims. “You know, other than those nice couple of minutes I am failing to see what is so great about this. Don’t quote me, I’m sure your dad wants this to sound like super fun for the whole family.”
“No worries, that was completely off the record. “I’m going to throw this stuff in your car and meet you at the coffee truck?” she says.
When Lizzie heads back to the coffee truck she sees Jack happily chatting with whoever is inside.
“Here she is!” he says to the person in the food truck, “Lizzie, look who’s here!”
“Oh my god! Alexis?!” she yells.
“Lizzie!”
Alexis comes running out from the truck and they embrace.
“I saw your grandfather at the thrift shop and he said you were back but I had no idea - ”
Alexis laughs, “Yeah, this is just something I’m doing for now while I’m on break from school.”
“Teaching or studying?” Jack asks.
“I’m finishing my Master’s in community planning, so I’m off for a while. Working on my thesis.”
“The last I knew you were teaching in Spain,” says Lizzie.
“Oh you’re way behind,” Alexis says, laughing. “That was five years ago. I was there for two years, came back for a bit, and then got hired to teach in South Korea, and stayed there for a year and a half.”
“I feel so boring!” Lizzie says.
“Stop! I heard you're a writer in Boston, that’s hardly boring.”
Kids are starting to line up and want some cocoa. Alexis gives Lizzie her phone and gets back in the truck. “Put in your number and we’ll make a plan while you’re here, okay? My grandpa gave me your note, but I haven’t had a chance to put your number in yet ”
“I’d love that, it is so good to see you,” she hands Alexis back her phone after texting herself so she has her number as well.
“So you two want some cocoa or something else?” she asks.
“Cocoa,” they both say.
“Yeah, this is definitely a cocoa day,” Alexis says, handing them two cups of cocoa and a bag.
There’s a long line behind them, so they say their goodbyes to Alexis, and head to the car with their cocoas and the two cookies that Alexis threw in as a treat.
“Wow, I forget that about living here,” Lizzie says.
“You mean her giving us some cookies and not charging us, which was totally not necessary but very much appreciated?” Jack says, smiling.
She shakes her head, “No, how just how out of the blue you can run into someone you haven’t seen in the longest time, and it’s perfectly, almost expected.”
“It’s a small community, that’s for sure,” says Jack.
“It’s more than that, it’s the connection we all have that’s so special. It’s like a special badge we all have having grown up here. Lots of people summer here, but a whole lot less are born and grow up here.”
“The bond of locals,” he jokes.
“Yeah, it sort of is.” She is quiet for a moment, “Do you have a dog? I heard you have a dog.” In her head she yells at herself for going there. Even if he had a pack of dogs he is not ever, ever going to be the guy for her. We are never, ever getting back together. Thank you very much Taylor Swift for giving me an anthem to cling to.
He laughs. “Wow, that’s random. Uh, no, my life feels too transient right now, but someday I’d like one, maybe two so they’d have a buddy, Why do you ask?”
“No reason, I thought I’d heard something from somewhere. Good to know. You know, that you like them. Dogs.”
“Okay, glad to be of assistance,” he looks at her quizzically.
Lizzie sits back and looks out at the bog. It starts to flurry a bit and she watches the kids having their cocoa and skating, and doesn’t think she’s seen anything quite that wonderful in a very long time.