CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER FIVE
This place is a mess…
Her entire house was in dire need of
straightening and cleaning. Lily had rented a small cottage a few
blocks from the school so she could walk to work. She loved passing
by her neighbors’ homes and greeting anyone around as she walked.
Her neighbors were friendly and she felt like she was settling in,
beginning to belong.
That night after the poetry gathering, Lily
had paced back and forth in her living room, then kitchen and
lastly, her bedroom. She needed to talk to someone, but no one in
Naples. Not so close. So Lily called her dad up in Sonoma. Sam
Cable was an astute man who looked a bit like Sam Elliot, the
actor. A little graying, very rugged... A life in the outdoors had
seen to that. He seemed surprised yet pleased to hear from her.
“What’s up, Dylan?”
She grinned because he’d called her that
since her middle school days when she had started writing poetry,
playing the guitar badly and listening constantly to Bob Dylan.
He’d kidded her no end, of course.
“Dad, how are you?” She nervously began with
small talk. “How’s that new horse working out? And the vines. Think
you’ll get a good harvest this year?”
Lily danced all around the subject until she
ran out of breath. Her dad, she knew, would have the good grace to
wait her out.
When there was a long pause in conversation,
he asked her, “How are you really, sweetie?” Lily didn’t know
whether to laugh or cry. A few sounds bubbled out.
“Take your time, I’m not busy doing anything
right now.”
What a great dad. She was so lucky to have a
caring father. Lily took a deep breath, “Dad, I met someone.” Her
eyes darted nervously around the bedroom expecting someone to leap
out to contradict her.
“Oh? Butcher, baker, candlestick maker?”
“I think he might be all of those things,
Dad. He’s…special.”
“… I’ll bite,” he chuckled. “Does he have a
name or should I start guessing? I’ll start with A is for Albert.
Is he Albert someone?” Her dad always was able to make her laugh.
She blew out a breath, started to relax.
“You know how skittish I am after Ron. I
vowed not to look at another guy until I was old and gray. Maybe
not even after that.”
“The guy was a bum, Lily. I told you when you
married him that he wasn’t the man for you. You insisted,
remember?”
“Yeah, thanks for reminding me.” Gee, did she
need a reminder?
“Who is he, Lily? Tell me.”
“… A local rancher named Sandy Johnson. He
has a young son named Jesse in my class and he’s just wonderful,
Dad. I’ve never met anyone like him. And he looks a bit like a
young Robert Redford.” She wanted to continue, but there was a fat
lump in her throat to contend with.
“In which movie, sweetie? Butch Cassidy
and Sundance Kid maybe?”
What a tease. “That would be the one.”
Sam cleared his throat. “That’s such
wonderful news, honey. Do I get to meet him anytime soon?”
“Not for a while. It’s all too new, but I
just had to tell someone and I don’t want to tell anyone here. Too
small a town, as you know.”
“Wait a minute. Did you say Johnson? His name
is Johnson?”
“Yes, why?”
“I went to grade school with a Somebody
Johnson when we lived there. I think his name was Merle or…Miles.
That’s it! Miles Johnson. Any relation to your Sandy?”
“Gee, Dad, he’s not my Sandy and I have no
idea about a Miles Johnson. However,” she began teasingly.
“Continue,” said her dad with a short
laugh.
“He and his son have invited me to their
ranch tomorrow and I’ve decided to go. What do you think?”
“Honey, I can’t tell you what to do.
However…I can tell you I am pleased that you have put yourself back
out there. They aren’t all Rons, you know.”
“I think I’m figuring that out. Thanks, Dad,
for listening.”
“I want to hear the gruesome details after
the weekend, all right?” he teased.
“You’re not one of my girlfriends.”
“… Do you have a girlfriend
there?”
“Okay, so I don’t, but it makes me feel a
little better that you know the family.”
* * *
On another side of town…
Sandy was pacing back and forth in his living
room in front of the immense stone hearth. Jesse was playing games
on his computer and Sandy was deep in thought. Roaming the room, he
decided to make a call.
“Hi, Mom. Busy?”
“Sandy, you know I’m always doing something.
My book club is meeting here pretty soon.”
“Okay, then. If you’re busy…want me to hang
up?”
“Hold it, mister. You’re calling for a
reason. What is it? I usually have to call you. Out with it.”
Now Jeanne Johnson was used to getting her
way. She was the head of the big Johnson clan and had been since
her husband Miles had died. But Sandy knew she was also sad that
he’d been alone and lonely since his wife died four years ago. That
had been a devastating experience and he was beginning to realize
that he did want some happiness again in this life. For himself as
well as Jesse.
His mother was terrific: caring and
compassionate and believe it or not, didn’t interfere with his life
– too much.
“Is Jesse all right? How did the poetry
gathering go tonight? I wanted to be there, but my foot still
hurts.” She had tripped over a rug a few days ago and almost
sprained her ankle. The doctor had said to stay off it for as long
as she could. Since Jeanne was always moving, Sandy doubted it
would be long enough.
“Jesse’s fine and the gathering was great.
The audience was so responsive and appreciative. All the cowboy
poets were super, especially Dave. You know how good he is. Tonight
he was even better.” Sandy was proud of all his cowboy poet
friends. They deserved the praise they got.
“Okay, then what?” She seemed a little cranky
this morning, but that was about to change.
“Mom, I’ve…met someone.”
There was stunned silence on the line and
then she exploded.
“Saints be praised! Who is it? What’s her
name? What does she do? It isn’t that awful Amy, is it?”
“…Ah, no to Amy, definitely. Her name is Lily
Cable and she’s Jesse’s new teacher this year at school. Have you
heard anything about her yet?” Jeanne had a nose for news and Sandy
was anxious to hear what his very sociable mother had picked
up.
“Sweetie, of course, I’ve heard of her. I
hear that she’s beautiful – looks a bit like the actress Audrey
Hepburn. You know – from Breakfast at Tiffany’s?”
“I’m drawing a blank here, Mom.”
“…Also, the kids love her at school, she
makes great fudge that she sells at my friend Millie’s candy store
and Amy Breen hates her.”
Sandy smiled. No one could put anything over
his mother. She knew everything going on in town.
“Wait a minute,” she began. “Did you say Lily
Cable? Cable? Where do I know that name from?” Jeanne was so
quiet he could hear her breathing.
“Got it! I knew Sam Cable who went to school
with your dad way back when. I think Sam’s dad was named Joe… Yes!
That’s right. I remember my mother saying he took a lot of teasing
with the name Joe Cable.” She finally paused. “Lt. Joe Cable --
ring any bells? Younger Than Springtime Are you,” she
sang.
“What are you talking about?” Sandy blinked
with confusion, but then his mother did that to him from time to
time with her incessant movie talk.
“Well, you’re apparently too young to
remember, but that song is from the grand old movie South
Pacific and sung by a handsome young Lt. Joe Cable. My mother
would kid my father occasionally about leaving him for Joe Cable,
if he wasn’t nice to her. Dad was always confused if she meant Joe
in the movie or Joe in the town. It was pretty funny.” Sandy rolled
his eyes, but still hung on her every word.
“You’re saying that Lily’s parents and
grandparents lived here?” His voice squeaked up a notch.
“What?”
“Yes, I know, honey, this is probably
confusing for you, so let me explain it again.”
“No, thanks. I think I’ve got it. Sam Cable
was a friend of Dad’s in grade school and Joe Cable and Grandpa
were friends.”
“Well, Joe and Grandpa Johnson weren’t good
friends, but they knew each other and their wives were social. It’s
a small town.” Jeanne took a breath. “How about that? The Cables
are back in town after all this time.”
“Why did they leave in the first place? Lily
mentioned her dad had a small winery up in northern California
somewhere.”
“That’s exactly what happened, as I recall.
Joe inherited a small ranch up in the Napa-Sonoma area, I think,
picked up his family and left. Shocked the heck out of my folks and
everybody else in town. They never thought the Cables would leave
since they seemed so rooted to Naples. I think they had a small
spread around here somewhere.” Her tone changed. “And why… is Joe
Cable’s granddaughter here now?”
As usual, his mother could get to the heart
of things a whole lot quicker than he could. Wondering about that
himself, Sandy wondered if he could get that answer from Lily,
without seeming as nosy as his mother. He was anxious to find out
though. She had mentioned having baggage. Was she running away from
something or someone?
After they ended the call, Jeanne Johnson
placed her phone carefully on the counter. She wrapped her arms
around herself and let out a whoop! Her handsome son was finally
interested in a woman again. He could definitely benefit from the
feminine touch and his sweet son needed a mother. Saints be
praised. But Sam Cable? The Sam Cable? An old Naples family
returning home. Jeanne wanted to keep her mouth shut about this,
but she also was curious about Lily. Maybe a trip to Millie’s candy
store was in order.
* * *
CHAPTER SIX
Lily drove her little Chevy up Sandy and
Jesse’s driveway trying not to gawk at sight before her. It was a
beautiful autumn Saturday morning with leafy trees lining the
winding road up to the ranch. The large ranch house was made of
some kind of white wood that Lily didn’t recognize. There were two
stories with large windows reflecting sunlight. Spacious and open,
it looked to be welcoming her.
Lily left her car on one side of the long