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  “Not much, Sally. Kind of quiet last night and I’m glad, after that storm.”

  “Coffee?”

  “Please, for starters.”

  “Here y’are.” She filled his cup and headed back into the kitchen. He leaned on the counter as he held the warm mug in his hands, staring blankly at the menu board on the wall.

  Jenny awoke early, around five thirty. She turned her head and squinted at the bedside clock, stirred under her covers and frowned as her stomach made rumbles. She buried her face in the pillow and lay still, then rolled over on her back and put her hand on her belly. Swinging her legs out from under the covers, she shivered beneath her thin nightgown. She ran her hands through her hair, got up, reached for her old terry robe, and slipped into it with familiar motions.

  Quietly opening her door, she stepped across the hall to Chris’s room and looked in to see if he was awake. She crept to the side of the bed and leaned over him. “Chris?” she whispered.

  He’d already been awake for some time, his sleep ended prematurely by a headache. He rolled over and saw her standing above him, her face puffy from sleep. She smiled when she saw he was coherent. Joining his hands over his head, he stretched with a cavernous yawn. “Morning. What time is it?” He massaged his eyelids and temples.

  “It’s only about 5:30 or so. I think my stomach woke me up.” She perched on the edge of the bed. “Andy and I had a light supper last night before he left and then I fell asleep on his couch. What were you up to?”

  He looked at her. “I’m not really sure. Really can’t remember.” He yawned again.

  “Well, so much for that – but I DO know I am absolutely starving. How about breakfast up at the Village?” The floor creaked above them, light footfalls on the hardwoods.

  “Does Karin have to go in this morning?”

  Jenny paused. “I think she has to open up at six.”

  “Guess she won’t be able to come . . . will I need my wallet?”

  By the time they arrived, chairs were dotted with customers, the room abuzz with logger talk and the air scented with coffee and bacon. Jenny spied Andy at the counter, pointing Chris in the direction of a booth and then motioning for Andy to come. He trailed her to the spot Chris had found by a window.

  Sally reached for her tray and carafe and headed to their table. “Hi Jenny! How’re you?”

  “Good, Sally – how about you?”

  “Can’t complain. Who’ve you got here?” She’d served coffee and menus to all three of them without ever taking her eyes off Chris.

  Jenny grinned. “This is my brother, Chris Rawlins.” He raised his eyes and said hello, and as their eyes met, Sally’s fingers lost their grip and her order pad fell to the floor in a flurry of pages.

  “Oh!” she exclaimed. She reached for the pad and extended her hand to Chris, nearly upsetting the table in the process. “Good to meet’cha, Chris.” They shook hands, Jenny’s eyes wide as she saw Sally keep her brother’s contact a bit too long. Andy peered out the window at whatever might be lurking, a smile stealing across his face.

  Sally haltingly released Chris’s hand, smoothed her composure, and continued, “Well, what’ll y’all have?” She made rapid scribbles as they ordered house specials – eggs, bacon, hash browns, biscuits and gravy. She kept their coffee cups full, and brought revolving plates of food. Each time she returned she smiled at Chris, a sparkle in her eye, offering her most excellent waitress skills. In between appearances Jenny leaned over to whisper, “I think she likes you,” as Chris rolled his eyes.

  Sally bobbed back to the kitchen where Cook and another waitress were preparing orders. She put her hand on her hip and tossed her hair with theatrical flourish. “My lucky day, kids – Mr. Right’s here.”

  “Great,” said Cook with an oath. “Now you won’t be worth a shit the rest of the day.” He shook his head sadly.

  Tammy agreed. “Yeah, every time she says that you might as well kiss her butt goodbye.” She and Cook laughed together.

  Sally’s face remained smug as Tammy ferried a tray of food past her. “Well, this time might just be different.” She pivoted and went back to the dining room.

  They spent most of the next hour polishing off the volume of food. Sally worked her way back to their table as they were finishing. “Chris, you just visitin’?”

  Jenny intervened. “He’ll be here for a few weeks, but I’m going to try to talk him into moving back here for good.” He glared at her.

  “Cool! Hope I see you again!”

  “I’ll see to it,” promised Jenny. I do love to come down here and eat.” A faint blush tinged her brother’s cheeks.

  “Get you anything else?”

  “I think we’re all full, but I would like to have the check,” Chris said, watching as she tallied their ticket. “To me, please.”

  She wouldn’t have offered it to Andy or Jenny even if they’d asked. Without looking she ripped the paper from her pad and handed it to him, wrapping both of her hands around his. As she returned to her other customers, Jenny clutched her brother’s arm. “Looks like she’s hooked.” He rolled his eyes as they laughed.

  Sally worked the register as Chris paid the check. He handed her a fifty, and she had to count his change back three times.

  On their way out the door Jenny said, “Dinner tonight at my house at six. Don’t eat anything else the rest of the day,” with a laugh.

  Delbert James had worked most of his adult life for the Cowlitz County Public Utility District, referred to locally as the PUD. At sixty-four he was looking forward to a well-earned retirement only five months away. Each day as he made his habitual rounds of reading electric meters he fantasized about cruising in his RV, making new rounds of camping areas, seeing green trees and pretty young girls in tight shorts – or better yet, bikinis. During his tenure with the PUD he’d garnered a reputation for reliability, accounting to his friends and neighbors for their electric bills. Most were pleased with him and his accuracy was rarely questioned – even then, generally by newcomers.

  He pulled into the empty driveway of the Rawlins place around seven AM, got out of his pickup (For Official Use Only) and approached the side of the house to make his notation. Glancing indifferently at the meter, he began to punch numbers into his data reader. Then he paused – and slowly raised his eyes to look at the meter a second time.

  The digital readout was flashing and changing so rapidly that the numbers appeared disjointed. He crossed his arms over his generous belly and stared at the meter for several moments. Gradually, the jumble slowed, and finally settled to a snail’s pace, which Delbert considered NOS (Normal Operative Speed). “What the hell?” he said aloud as he punched in his reading. “She must have some old appliance in there that’s on its last legs or something.” Shaking his head, he jotted a note on a pad to catch Jenny’s electric bill when it came off and pay her a visit to find out what her problem might be. With a final glance at the meter, he turned and headed across the driveway to the meter on the side of Andy’s house, entering the data and smiling as he gently tapped on the glass housing. Andy’s meter was totally NOS.

  As Delbert got back in his truck, Jenny’s electric meter began picking up speed until it reached its former frantic pace. Inside the guest room the screen glowed with blue satisfaction and sparks danced like miniature fireworks on the keyboard.

  An indistinct white spot clouded Donna’s photograph below her waistline.

  Andy sighed and rubbed his belly as he pulled up in his drive. He frowned as he saw he’d parked beside a second patrol car. The twin belonged to his friend and fellow trooper, Dave Jefferson. “Probably helping himself to the coffee pot,” he grumbled aloud. He collected his briefcase, gun and report book and heaved himself from the seat. He stepped up onto the deck and saw through the window that Dave was indeed settled on the sofa, cup in hand, Trooper curled up beside him. As Andy slid the glass door open Dave said cheerfully, “What’s going on, Jack?” The dog bounded over to plaster h
is hand with a slobbery greeting. Andy patted Trooper and then shooed him out the door.

  ‘Jack’ had always been Dave’s pet name for Andy. Best friends for some years, the two of them had worked through the Academy together and maintained parallel careers, assigned to the same State Police post. Andy was a little quieter, less open about himself; Dave was outgoing and gregarious. They were the same age with similar tastes – and looked out for each other as second nature. Although Dave maintained an apartment in nearby Castle Rock, he frequented Andy’s place on the lake for rest and relaxation and for its desirable effect on his frequent late night dates.

  “Rough night?”

  “Nah, not as bad as the one with the storm. I’m still tired from that shift.” Andy set his things on the dining table and peered at the coffee maker. “Leave me any?”

  “Don’t you remember that time you broke me of drinking the entire pot? I even brought you a new can.” Andy’s eyes picked out an unfamiliar three-pound can, Columbian blend, on his counter. “I can’t stay long, but I was close to here and thought I’d stop by. What are you up to tonight? Gonna be home?”

  Andy smiled at his friend. “No, as a matter of fact, I just had breakfast with Jenny and her brother and they invited me for dinner.”

  “Great! Ah – since you’re not gonna be here anyway . . .”

  “I know, I know, change the sheets too, Andy. I hope it’s Kim.”

  Dave looked out over the water and grinned. “Yeah. She did mention she’d like to see some moonlight over the lake tonight. Don’t mind?”

  “Nah, I’m just over tired – supposed to go over there around six. You’re welcome to it.” He waved his hand in dismissal. “I’ll probably stay over there tonight, anyhow. Keep an eye on the dog.”

  “Sure. “ Dave glanced at his watch. “Gotta run.” He carried his cup to the kitchen, rinsed it out and set it in the sink. “You said you met Jenny’s brother – what’cha think? Bad scene, all that about his wife and the accident.”

  “Yeah.”

  Andy thumbed through the stack of mail he’d left on the table from the day before. “I think Sally fell for him this morning.”

  “Doesn’t take much to get her attention – dick required, doesn’t matter much what size or if it comes attached to a brain.” Dave shook his head. “Especially that one guy she’s been with, that biker. What the hell do women see in some guys anyhow? They must have something we don’t.” He headed out the door, but leaned back in. “Probably be here around seven or eight. See ya.”

  Andy waved him off, whistled for Trooper, and locked both locks on the glass door once the dog came in. Fifty percent of his walls were glass, all of it facing the lake. He watched the view outside for a few moments, then sighed deeply and rubbed his face. Circumventing dirty dishes, laundry and house cleaning, he went to the bathroom, stripped off, and plunged into his bed. He tried to make some sense of the disheveled covers he’d left himself. He set the alarm clock to give himself time to shower and clean up before dinner. Trooper slithered onto the bed and laid his head on Andy’s spare pillow. Andy glanced at the dog without reprimand, and Trooper sighed contentedly. Sleep quickly overcame fatigue.

  Chapter Four

  Leaving the restaurant, Jenny and Chris drove across the road to the only grocery in town, a market where locals could pick up the basics and tourists and campers could save themselves with forgotten necessities. Chris parked in front of the main door and waited while Jenny went inside. Karin worked for the owner as a bookkeeper and cashier; Chris watched through the windshield as Jenny greeted her roommate who happened to be at the front register. The ladies turned and waved to him and then disappeared behind a colorful bank of shelves.

  She came out a bit later and climbed into the passenger seat, placing a sack on the floor by her feet. “Karin said she isn’t feeling too great today – she’s got a bad headache.”

  “Really.”

  “It’s a little unusual for her. She’s the most healthy person I know.”

  “Mmmmm.”

  “Anyhow, she gets off tonight at five so she can join us for dinner too.”

  Chris watched through the plate glass windows of the store as Karin collected cash from a customer. “Cool.” He continued watching as she put several items in a plastic sack.

  Jenny rummaged through her purse and retrieved a lipstick. She flipped the visor down to see herself in its mirror. “Want to drive around a little? Get out of the house?” She pressed her lips together to blend and smooth out the rouge.

  He blinked a couple of times and then looked away from Karin and the windows. “Yeah, that’s good. I can haul you around a while.” She slapped his arm with the back of her hand as she dropped the lipstick back into her purse.

  “So where’d you wanna go?”

  He thought for a moment. “How about we go down to the mall at Longview – I’d like to pick up a few things for myself and I MIGHT spoil you a little too.” He grinned his crooked little half-smile she’s always been charmed by.

  “Oh, if you must . . . by the way, I enjoyed seeing all the attention showered upon you by Sally at breakfast.”

  He cringed. “Yeah, well.”

  “But I can enjoy spending your money even more.”

  “What else is it good for? I have a wallet full of it and the only thing it gets me at this point in my life is freedom.” He reached behind and wedged his hand into his back pocket, withdrawing his billfold. “Here, take a look. I can’t have this much money and not put it to good use.”

  She thumbed through the contents. “Brother dear, I hope you don’t walk around with this kind of cash often.”

  “More of it back at the house in my bag. I don’t always use plastic.” They reached the turnoff for the freeway and he piloted over the entrance ramp.

  “It’s not my business, but did you have insurance on Donna?”

  The change in his demeanor was subtle, and sad. “Yes. But I never thought I’d need it.”

  She put her hand on his shoulder. “Sorry.”

  “It’s okay. I just never imagined being better off financially. The insurance settlement is why I’m free of the office for now – after it happened I wasn’t much good to them anyway – couldn’t concentrate. I’d hate to think what I might have done with some of those big tax clients.”

  They spent the rest of the morning shopping. Chris bought a new sweater, jacket, and boots for himself. For Jenny he insisted on jeans, shirts, shoes, and a beautiful turquoise-colored sweater. Some amazingly long beaded earrings captured his interest; she protested their length but he insisted. “They’ll look great with both that sweater and your hair. I LIKE them.” Paying for the final purchase he remarked, “There’s one more place I want to go, but let’s take this stuff out to the car so we won’t have to drag it around.” She trailed him, her arms loaded with parcels. They stowed the goodies in the rear compartment and back seat.

  As he ushered her back into the mall she asked, “Where to now?” Her eyes darted through enticing store displays as he steered her.

  He slipped his arm around her waist and they walked in tandem. “We passed a little shop that I wanted to go back to and check out. It’s just around the corner in one of these side wings somewhere . . .” He craned his neck, waiting for his target to fall within his sights. “Oh, there it is.”

  He led her to the front of an exclusive lingerie shop. It was small and intimate, tucked away near a side mall entrance. It sold beautiful, expensive undergarments for women who wanted to feel special and sexy. Jenny took one look at the price tags of the frothy items on display in the windows and balked. “Chris, I really don’t need this kind of stuff.” She pulled away from his arm.

  He flexed his arm around her and foiled her escape. “Look, I know you haven’t had money for unnecessary things, and I learned a long time ago that this stuff is NOT a necessity. Donna loved it when I took her shopping for these pretty things. Besides, I think you might have someone in your life
now who might just appreciate it.” He tried to lead her into the shop.

  She hesitated. “I don’t know about this.”

  His voice softened as he insisted. “This is something I always bought for her. Please, Jen. It would help me to do something special for you. As a remembrance.” A hint of mist clouded his blue eyes.

  She cocked her hear and softened. “Oh, okay. It just seems strange to have you buying me frills.”