CHAPTER TWO
“Oh, would you look at our handsome
grandson, Sam? He looks just like Sandy with Lily’s wavy black
hair. Maybe a little bit of Montgomery Clift without the angst. Or
maybe Johnny Depp, Sam? Mmm…some young filly is going to want to
make him the co-star of her film.” Jeanne, Colt’s grandmother, was
a cookies-and-milk kind of grandmother, although a real movie
addict. She tended to sum up situations in movie-ese.
Sam laughed. “I thought you said Sandy
looked like Robert Redford.”
“Well, he does, but with black hair, that
changes things.”
“Okay, if you say so…” He tried not to
laugh, but it slipped out anyway.
Colt smiled. He knew his grandmother had
said something funny, probably about movies.
“Colt! Great to see you, son. How was your
drive?”
Colt walked up to give them both hugs.
“Good. No problems. I stopped in Old Town
Sac for lunch.” Colt studied them for a moment. They didn’t seem to
change—all concern for him and the family. Jeanne still had a trim
figure and Sam looked a bit like the fictional Marlboro Man, a
rugged individual. Their obvious affection for him flowed over him
like a warm river. He felt wanted. Loved. Nice feelings…
“Well, come on in and tell us what’s going
on with the family,” said Sam as they walked into the house. “Want
some iced tea?” He didn’t wait for an answer, got out a glass and
started pouring.
“Now Sam, you just spoke to Lily
yesterday.”
“Sure, but now I want Colt’s point of view.
Sometimes, just sometimes, it’s not the same as his parents’.” Sam
laughed.
Sam and Jeanne’s ranch just outside of
Sonoma was not only a working ranch, where Sam trained horses, but
was also a small winery. Sam Cable produced a nice Chardonnay and a
few barrels that he sold to local restaurants. He was always
experimenting with his wines. It was well known in the
Cable-Johnson family that Sam was a perfectionist. Walking inside
their spacious home, Colt experienced many pleasant memories
swirling around his head like butterflies. They were so numerous,
that he couldn’t flick them away if he wanted to.
The kitchen had some good aromas emanating
from the oven. “That smells wonderful, Grandma. Is it banana
bread?” The rich scent of banana filled his nostrils.
“You bet. Sit, sit, sit, and tell us
everything,” Jeanne laughed. She took the bread out of the oven to
cool. Colt’s senses were flooded. They all sat down at the kitchen
table, where, naturally, all good discussions take place…
“Okay, where to start? Well, we just
celebrated Dad and Mom’s 24th wedding anniversary, but
you know that. Remember you were down for the event.”
“Yes, sweetie,” said Jeanne, “We are not so
riddled with dementia that we forgot the drive down and the whole
celebration. My God, I think the entire town turned out for
it!”
Colt took a sip of his iced tea. “You
probably know more about sister Meg than I do. She landed that
assistant chef job at a chic restaurant in San Francisco. She wrote
Mother that she loved the job and the City. And you know how Mom
feels about San Francisco.”
”Indeed. It’s her favorite city and has been
for a long time. Meggie will do well. But no boyfriend yet?” She
sighed. “How about Jesse? He and Audrey haven’t set a date?”
“No, and Mother’s getting impatient with
him. They like Audrey very much—jeez, she and Jesse grew up
together, but he’s taking his sweet time.” Colt smiled at the
thought of his older brother with children. That – would be
interesting…
Sam chuckled. “How about the boys? What kind
of trouble have they been up to?”
Trouble seemed to follow Colt’s younger
brothers, but he always assumed they brought most of it on
themselves. “Miles is at home right now and has a new book out. Mom
is pleased to see him, of course, but you know Dad is always wary.
After Miles spooked his best horse when he was goofing around last
time, Dad watches him out of the corner of his eye.” Jeanne and Sam
nodded and laughed.
“I hope one of his books gets made into a
movie. That would be so exciting, wouldn’t it, Sam? We could go to
a premiere in Hollywood or New York.” Sam gave her a sour look and
turned his attention back to Colt.
“Sure. But what about Joey and Janie? Janie
especially seems to get forgotten about with all the excitement
that the twins cause.”
“Very true,” said Colt. “Joey’s home too,
painting in Nevada for a while. He had a small exhibition in New
Mexico a few months back. Can’t believe Mom didn’t tell you about
that. He’s a gifted artist.”
“And Janie…”
“Yes,” he admitted, “My youngest sibling,
but certainly not least. You know she attended the University of
Nevada, Reno for a year in the teacher education program, but then
she bailed on it.”
“I know your mother was upset she didn’t
continue. Since Lily had been a teacher, she was hoping one of her
children would be one as well,” said Jeanne.
“She just didn’t like it that much. Now
she’s following Sheriff Bud Moody around town in some kind of job
shadow program. I guess she wants to be a deputy sheriff. That will
mean a college law enforcement program.”
“Wow, and to think she was named
after Jane Austen, your mother’s favorite author. That’s the least
likely profession we ever would have picked for her.” Sam looked at
Jeanne quizzically.
“Bud’s retiring soon and laughed when Dad
called him about it. He recounted some story about Mother fainting
in his office, when she and Dad were a new couple. When she was new
in Naples? Ever hear that one? It’s a great story.”
“Yes, dear, we’ve heard that one. Evidently,
Lily thought she was being stalked by someone in town and went in
to the Sheriff’s office to talk to Bud about it. Bud apparently
pooh-poohed the whole idea, so she jumped up, hit her head on a
low-hanging shelf and knocked herself out cold. Thank God she
wasn’t hurt, but your mother has a thing for physical comedy which
Sandy dearly loves.”
“Let the boy eat, Jeanne dear. We don’t get
him up here nearly enough and I have grapes and horses to show him.
Pack it in, son, and let’s do a tour.”