Chapter Thirteen
Fallon was relieved when Nora woke cheerful and chatty from her nap.
“Where are we going?” Nora asked for the third time.
“I’m still not telling,” she answered, reaching for Nora’s hand. “But if you don’t like it, we can go right back to your parents’ house.” At Nora’s groan, she offered, “Or show up early back at Firecamp.”
“This is supposed to be a break, if you’ll recall,” Nora said pointedly, but she was smiling as she pulled Fallon’s hand onto her thigh. “It’s pretty here. But you’re kinda far away from everything.”
“I know. I really lucked into this deal.”
“How long have you had this…cabin?” Nora’s obvious fishing expedition made Fallon smile.
“We’re almost there.” She squeezed Nora’s fingers before letting go. The road was getting rougher, and mist spotted the windshield. She needed to concentrate on steering around the potholes and washboards. “Then I’ll tell you everything.”
The drizzle had become a light rain when she turned at the sign for Arrowhead State Recreation Area. “Oh, you’re by a park?” Nora said. “That’s cool.”
A few miles later, Fallon pulled up to the barred entrance. Putting on the brake, she grabbed a jacket. “Slide over and drive through after I unlock the gate.” Opening her door, she stepped out into the rain.
Nora glanced at the Closed sign. “Is this legal?” she asked, giving Fallon the side eye as she moved behind the wheel.
“As far as I know, yes.”
“You’re hedging.”
Fallon grinned, and after securing the entrance, she settled into the passenger’s seat. Pointing down the narrow road to where her trailer was parked in the space marked Campground Host, she said, “We’re here.”
“Wait, you live in a state park?”
“Not exactly. The campground is closed for repairs, but Ranger Reva helped me get permission to set up here while I’m at Firecamp. That trailer is my home. I call her Silver Bird.”
Nora blinked. “Wow. I didn’t see this coming.”
“Let’s go inside, and I’ll give you the tour. Then you can bring in the groceries and your bag, and I’ll put stuff away.” Before Nora could protest, Fallon added. “And I’ll loan you my raincoat so you don’t melt. If stuff isn’t organized, a trailer can get junky real fast.”
“A place for everything and everything in its place?” Nora asked, clearly amused.
“You’ll see.” Fallon opened the door, relieved the tiny opening she’d left in the roof vent had kept the inside air fresh.
As she narrated, she tried to see her home through Nora’s eyes.
The coolness of the classic silver airplane-style interior was offset by a warm wood floor and royal blue pillows on the light gray, L-shaped couch at the entrance.
“There’s storage under the sofa. That’s where I usually keep my winter things. ”
The patchwork of rugs was a close match to the quilt on her bed.
Nora looked as Fallon pointed at the dinette.
“Perfect for two. I’m glad we didn’t invite anyone else.”
Nora had already stepped toward the kitchen, obviously intrigued, so Fallon pointed out the various appliances, along with the bathroom sink and separate toilet and shower room. “Airstream trailers have a good reputation, don’t they?” Nora asked, turning to face her.
Fallon nodded, the nervousness she’d felt about bringing Nora to her home falling away at her approval. “They’re made to hold up. Could you tell this one is seven years old?”
“I can tell you’ve taken care of it.” She pointed at the bathroom. “May I test out your facilities?”
“Uh, yeah, if you can wait just a sec. I have to turn the water on outside.”
“Can I go too?” Nora asked. “I’d like to see your setup.”
Fallon knew she was grinning like an idiot, but she couldn’t help it. “Sure.”
Nora stopped her at the door. Stepping into Fallon’s body, she put her arms around her neck. “Your home is wonderful. I’m very glad you brought me here.”
Fallon hugged her close because she didn’t want Nora to see her fighting back happy tears.
They finished the leftovers that Nora’s mother had insisted they take as the rain continued to fall, making the trailer feel extra cozy. Wiping her mouth, Nora said, “All right. Now tell me how this came to be your home.”
Fallon went cold. She’d never told anyone the story.
But something made her want to share whatever Nora wanted to know.
She cleared her throat. “Well, I told you how Mom and I were always traveling, looking for evidence in my dad’s death.
And you know how my mom died.” Nora nodded.
“We’d been staying in a very sketchy motel, and as soon as the owner heard she was gone, he offered me a free week if I’d have sex with him. ”
Nora’s eyes widened. “What a scumbag. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
The sympathy in Nora’s tone heartened her.
“I was really hurting and sad, and then I got scared, knowing I couldn’t stay there but not sure of anyplace else I could afford.
I thought about taking off, but where could I go with no options and less than a hundred dollars?
Plus, why would I leave the only people I had left in the world? ”
Nora stood, holding out her hand. “I want to be closer while you tell me the rest of this. Could we go sit on the couch?”
Nora sat with her back against the short side cushion, pulling Fallon against her. Fallon sighed and rested her head on Nora’s chest, stretching out her legs.
After a minute, she began again. “The person I was closest to was the cook at the diner, Mr. Jamar. He’d cried at my mom’s funeral and told me to let him know if I needed anything.
So I came in to work early after I got that ‘offer’ and asked if he knew of a place I could rent.
He put up the ‘Back in 30 Minutes’ sign and took me over to the trailer park where he stayed.
He knew the manager, and before those minutes were up, we’d negotiated a rate I could afford for a trailer, smaller than this one, in exchange for me taking care of the grounds three days a week.
” She took a shaky breath, anxious at the memory.
“Then Mr. Jamar followed me to the motel and stood in the doorway while I packed. He said the owner walked past once or twice, but that bastard never said another word to me.”
Nora’s arms tightened around her. “Is Mr. Jamar the one who had a stroke?”
Fallon craned her neck to look up at her. “You remember that?”
Nora ran her fingers through Fallon’s hair. “I think I remember everything you’ve ever said to me.”
Fallon sat up, twisting until they were face-to-face, and cupped Nora’s cheek, kissing her gently. “I want to tell you the rest, but it’s really hard. I think I’m done for tonight. Could I show you the bedroom instead?”
* * *
Fallon stretched, her arm hitting empty space where Nora had been.
Smiling, she knew she’d never forget the image of Nora under her, arching and coming as she dug her nails into Fallon’s back.
Or maybe it would be the way Nora touched her so tenderly, stroking until Fallon thought she would come undone.
They’d slept for a time until she’d awakened to Nora murmuring “You’re so beautiful” as she’d kissed her way down Fallon’s body. Tears had threatened again until Nora’s lips had reached her clit, and then she was transported.
Once she’d recovered, she’d flipped Nora onto her back and told her, “I know who’s beautiful here, and it’s you. In fact, you are exquisite.” Running her tongue along the inside of Nora’s muscled thigh, she’d added, “And delicious.”
Afterward, lying with Nora sleeping in her arms, Fallon accepted that what was between them, said and unsaid, was the most meaningful experience she’d ever had.
When the smell of bacon began to permeate the trailer, Fallon jumped up, calling, “You have to turn on the hood vent or—”
A piercing whistle sounded, and Fallon rushed past Nora to the stovetop. “This,” she said, flipping the switch before grabbing a towel and fanning the smoke detector until the sound stopped.
“Sorry,” Nora said, looking down. “I wanted to bring you breakfast in bed.”
Fallon didn’t think about the fact that she was nude. What she noticed was Nora wearing a T-shirt and nothing else. “You know what I’d really like in bed? You.”
Two hours later, after turning the vent fan off, Fallon put the burned, greasy bacon in the trash and made coffee. She added cream to Nora’s and carried it into the bedroom. Nora stirred in the tangled sheets, and when she looked up and smiled, Fallon thought her heart would burst.
“Hi,” she managed to croak as she held out the coffee mug.
“Hi yourself, Falcon.”
They didn’t leave the trailer until almost two, having finally eaten and showered.
The air, washed by the rain, was breathtakingly brisk, accompanied by the familiar smell of pine and wet duff.
As they walked hand in hand around the deserted park, Nora pointed out a few late summer flowers: asters, sedum, and phlox.
Fallon led them off the road onto a small trail that wound into the forest. “I sure am happy we don’t have to cut any of these trees,” she said.
“I know, but this forest could use some fire mitigation, don’t you think?”
Fallon nodded somewhat reluctantly. “I suppose we’ll never stop looking at woodland that way.” She paused before adding, “Or I won’t. Maybe in Arizona, you—”
Nora stopped her with a finger on her lips. “Not now, okay? Later, we can talk about that. Let’s keep this time for us, here, now.”
Fallon kissed Nora’s fingers, then her hand, and stole little bites along her arm, making her squirm. “Anything you say, Rah-Rah.”
Nora’s eyes narrowed. “What did you call me?”
Fallon laughed, taking a step back. “I didn’t make it up. Delores did. Once you started taking photos and joining in with the rest of the crew, they called you Rah-Rah.”
“Not to my face,” Nora protested.
“No, because you’re kinda scary sometimes. Especially when you’re wielding a chainsaw.”
The sun was nearly down when they made their way to the campground loop, coming upon three deer grazing along the roadside. “I think that one’s pregnant,” Nora whispered, pointing at a doe.