I heard the clumping of boots across the screen porch, then the outside fridge closing, tall neck being uncorked. Rusty, my title examiner came in with a beer and some reports.
He tipped his beer, "Want one? I get them for free around here."
I shook my head, pointing at my tumbler. "What've you got for me?"
"Well Mattie sent over some okra from the garden. She's working tonight but wanted you to have those and some maters fresh from the vine. Now, on these two you ordered last week. On Smythe's, I had to set up coupla small things. Other one we got the legal description at odds with the survey."
I sighed. I really wanted an easy skate on these but Rusty's good. He'll never be a risk to my E&O insurance. When I left the corporate world in Atlanta and hung my shingle out here in the wilds, I met Rusty. We've been good friends for a long time. He drove me to Karla's funeral and he's come and gotten me when I've been overserved. He's that kind of friend.
We dispensed with business and were talking flyfishing. He was tilted back in the client chair, me rocked back in mine about the time Gwendolyn went by in the hall, humming, with a broom and dustpan. She must have been sweeping upstairs. Her flaming red hair was tied back with a piece of fabric. Rusty's chair thudded back down.
"Who's the kid? You doing adoptions now?" Old boy was just totally transfixed.
"Nah, she pays me to let her come in and clean the house. She likes it here so much." I hid my grin behind my tumbler, acting serious. "You want to meet her?"
"Well, uh, YEAH, I mean this is news. I mean y'all aren't, um well, uh.." Frozen in his own question I got up and espied the nymphet in the kitchen with her earbuds screwed in. I touched her arm and she unplugged, a questioning smile dawning.
"Gwen, can you come in the office and meet one of my associates? He'll seem confused at first but he really is fairly nice."
She rinsed her hands at the sink and trailed in behind me. "Gwen, actually her name is Gwendolyn, please meet my old buddy Rusty. He works with me and has been my friend for a very long time." Gwen smiled, her green eyes appraising my friend as she offered her hand.
Softly, "Hi Rusty."
I nudged him, "Say something, I think she's talking to you."
"Um, Gwendolyn. A pleasure." Taking her hand gently. Poor Rusty. Utterly transfixed. I could have landed an airplane on his head. Beyond the momentary humor, I saw his reaction was little different from mine only weeks before upon meeting this lovely waif.
I asked her if she'd like to visit. Rusty looked very much like a puppy dog awaiting a treat.
Gwen pursed her lips. "I could, but I was going to get some steaks out for tonight. Will Rusty be staying?"
"Oh, rest assured, darling. I'm here!"
Gwen and I shared an amused look. Rusty's usually pretty self assured. His total social loss was going to haunt him, I'd make sure of it.
After she had withdrawn to the kitchen, I more fully explained the circumstances of the appearance of this lovely apparition in my home. He needed another beer pretty bad and went in search for a replacement. I finished the will I was working on, save for notary and witness, printed same and stood. It sounded like the two of them were getting acquainted, Rusty regaling her with tales of white water rafting and improbable stories of elusive fish. She would giggle, occasionally chiming in her laughter with his. I smiled, turning off the desk light, quitting the room.
I seem to remember getting Gwen some clothes after her rough landing in my domain recently. But she'd dug something out of the back of my closet, an old western shirt with the sleeves rolled up and knotted at the waist over some capris. That and her hair tied back, a little sweat on her brow as she hovered over the gas range proved irresistible. I gave her a one arm hug as she melted into me. I took the steaks out of the marinade. Rusty had gone to his truck for something.
"He seems like a nice man. Are all of your friends like him?" She pulled down a skillet.
"Nope. Most folks I know are a little smoother around the edges, but not half as fun." I set the steaks out on a platter. "Mattie's a card too. That's his wife. They grew up together, got married. She's an RN at the hospital two nights a week, does a lot of gardening and they both love to fish. Their cabin is right on the river. It's kind of a Jack Sprat thing about them."
Gwen nodded, "Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his wife could eat no lean?"
"That's the one. He has to stay inside on windy days. You can feed him, just doesn't do any good. Mattie makes up for it."
I left her chopping up tomatoes as Rusty and I met up at the grill. "Had to get my hat. Durn rabbits are backing up." He took a pull from his beer. "You know, I've got a receding hairline."
I tried not cracking a smile. He was white around the eyes, then sunburned in the face and forehead from hip wading the river.
As usual we sparred on the best grilling techniques and how you could push your thumb in the meat, then to your hand to know when it's done. We propped our legs on the wall and he got serious, I could tell it was coming.
"I know you miss her. Hell, we all do. But Ted, this one's even younger than Karla, and son, if your cock crows like mine, you're 'bout give out. Don't do yerself in. Think things through." He pointed at the grill. "Flip the one on the left. It's got my name on it."
I chuckled, thinking about my cock crowing. Gwendolyn would be completely amazed. "Naw, I hear you, thank you. This one's a little bird pushed out of the nest, literally. In time she'll fly. She'll need someone her own age. I just want her to have a level playing field when it happens. In the meantime," I shrugged,"That's up to her and her alone. But Rusty, I DO like having her around. It helps."
He nodded, "Flip the other two afore they catch fire please." Then poking me in the ribs, " Like I said, though, man, keep your mind."
We ate out at the picnic table. Gwen had broiled the okra and added the fresh tomatoes. We ate every bit of it with Rusty cracking jokes between bites. We learned that Gwen learned to cook because her mother worked second shift for years at the carpet mill.
The crickets were chirping as Rusty's tail lights faded down the drive past the cedars. Gwen took my hand as we watched the departure. "I can't remember the last time I've had fun like that. It's, I don't know, almost like a family get together."
I squeezed her hand. "We care for each other up here. Everyone is family."
"After dishes get done do you want to take a shower with me? I'll wash your back if you'll wash mine." Her eyes were beaming, a secret smile holding back her laughter.
"Lemme think about it... OK, yes, lets," I chuckled, " You get started while I wipe down the grill real quick."
The owl had just started hooting as I entered the house. The nightlight in the kitchen was on and as I came down the hall, I could hear the shower running. My clothes joined hers by the bed. Gwen had gotten some tapers from the dining room table and these now flickered on the sink, casting shadows on the walls and the back of Gwen's gown as she figured out how to make the front and rear shower heads work in tandem. Upon success, she turned, seeing me at the door admiring her.
"You sir, have on less than me." She stepped to the sink and tied her hair up in a bun.
