Catherine's Cross (13 page)

When they finished dinner, Rory said, “I know there are only a couple of hours of daylight left, but why don't we go to Hunting Island? I haven't been there in a while.”

“Let's go,” Seth smiled.

They drove to a location in the park where the Hunting Island Lighthouse towered above the ocean. “I love it here,” Rory said. “I still miss the Pacific. The water's not as cold as the northern California surf, but it's still beautiful.”

“I don't know—the water is pretty cold. It's just May you know.” Seth pushed Rory's wheelchair down the concrete walk that led to the beach front.

“Let's go in!” Rory exclaimed.

Jenks brought the towels from the van, and the group looked up and down the beach. On the northeast side of the lighthouse, the beach was littered with scores of dead trees. Their skeletons were a deep shade of gray, in contrast with the golden sands and the ocean's color of green. About a hundred feet away was a group of young men playing volleyball. Jenks observed that they were in excellent physical shape, and a Marine Corps flag was planted in the sand near their volleyball net. The men were there with their families and friends and Seth walked up the shore to talk with them. One young man dropped the ball to the beach, and all at once the group of men came jogging in Rory's direction.

“Sir, we understand that you'd like to take a swim,” the spokesman for the group said to Rory.

“I'd love to,” he responded.

Several of the volleyball players lifted Rory up to their shoulders, and they ran together into the surf. Several Marines held Rory on their shoulders as the waves crashed around them. The thunderstorm that had recently drenched the area was now several miles out to sea, and occasionally a jagged bolt of lightning would strike the ocean.

Rory laughed as they headed into the surf, and Jenks heard him say, “Quick, get me my surfboard!”

She grabbed Seth by the hand and said, “I know we're in shorts, but let's join them!”

“Watch the waves; there could be dangerous currents because of the storm out to sea.”

“I'll count on you to save me,” she said as she pulled Seth out into the water.

The swimming group grew larger as the family members of the Marines began to join in on the fun. Jenks wasn't sure how long they were in the water, but every time she looked at Rory, he was smiling brilliantly. He looked so happy.

Jenks put her arms around Seth and floated up to his height kissing him on the cheek. Just as she released her embrace a powerful wave knocked her underneath the water, and she began to feel a strong pull out to sea. She wasn't sure how much time passed while she was caught in the undertow. Lifting her head above water, she cried out to Seth for help. He moved quickly and gathered her tightly in his arms, carrying her to shore.

“Honey, are you all right?”

She was breathing so deeply that she could not respond immediately. After a few minutes, she caught her breath and said, “Yes, thank you for saving me.”

He smiled. “You're welcome.”

The currents were not affecting the group of Marines in the water with Rory, and Jenks and Seth continued to watch them from the beach.

Several young women who were grilling called to their companions that dinner was ready. They brought Rory back to shore on their shoulders and returned him to his wheelchair. Seth had placed one of the towels in the seat.

“Guys, thank you for the swim. I enjoyed it,” Rory said.

Each young man shook Rory's hand.

They all washed off in the fresh water shower near the waterfront and then dried off.

“I don't want a rusty wheelchair.”

“I'll dry it off for you,” Seth said.

Rory took Jenks by the hand. “I noticed you got out of the water fairly quickly. Too cold for you?”

“No, I got knocked down by a strong wave, and I thought I was being pulled out to sea.”

“Seth was there for you.” He paused for a moment as through in reflective thought. “He's always been at my side when I needed help too.”

She shuddered as she thought of Miss Meta Jane's warning to her when she finished with the journals. “Be careful around water,” she had cautioned.

Jenks wrapped herself in the towel, and Seth's arm went around her.

On the way to Rory's home, Rory asked Seth to pull over to the side of Land's End Road near a large oak tree. It was almost dark, and the sounds of the night, crickets, and tree frogs were intense after the engine was shut down. On either side of the road were acres of tomato plants, and Rory lowered himself to ground level on his lift.

“Jenks—I want to tell you a story,” Rory said.

He maneuvered his wheelchair under the oak tree. “Come here, Jenks.”

She walked close to him.

“Do you remember the ruins of Fort Fremont that are at Land's End?”

“Yes, the fort scares me.”

“Why?”

“It looks spooky, even in the daytime.”

“Well, speaking of ghosts . . . While the fort was in operation, a fight broke out one night between some of the soldiers and local black residents over illegal liquor. The fight resulted in the death of one soldier named Frank Quigley. He was well known in the Beaufort area because of his involvement with a local baseball team. After he died, a mysterious light began to appear on this stretch of Land's End Road. The locals dubbed it the Land's End Light. I've personally never seen it, but I know several people who have. I'm told that if you stand near this oak tree that the light sometimes appears—kind of floating along the road. See how long the straightaway is here?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Why don't we wait a little while and see if we see anything?” Rory said.

Jenks flinched when the call of an owl sounded in a nearby stand of trees. She walked slightly ahead of the two men and Rory called out, “There it is!”

“Where?” Jenks rose on her toes to look down the lane.

Rory quietly rolled his wheelchair behind her and grabbed her hand. She jumped straight up in the air.

“What a terrible trick to play on me!”

“Oh come on, Jenks, it's just for fun,” Rory said.

“Yes, at my expense—you two!”

Seth put his arm around her and said, “Calm down now. He did this to me about a year ago. I didn't think it would scare you to death.”

“I'm sorry. I think I'm just nervous.”

Rory grabbed her hand and said, “Don't be mad at me or Seth. I've had the best time this evening.”

When he said this, she smiled, letting go of her anxiety. “I've had a great time myself.”

As Seth opened the car door for her, he said, “Do I detect a bit of a bad temper in you?”

“Only when I'm provoked.”

When they reached Rory's house, Seth helped him inside and asked, “Is there anything I can get you, buddy?”

“A Budweiser. They're on the door of the refrigerator.”

Seth handed him the beer and said, “Now, go light on these.”

“Yes, sir. Thanks again.”

They said good night to Rory and went outside. Seth opened the door on his truck for Jenks, and he smiled at her. “You know, you scared me tonight.”

“What do you think about me? I get into an undertow, and then you two try and frighten me to death.”

“Come on, Jenks—he was just teasing you.” Seth grabbed her hand and squeezed it. That familiar energy passed between them, and Jenks took a deep breath before she said, “I have the strangest thing to tell you. The last day that I was at Meta Jane's home, she told me to be real careful, especially around water.”

“There may be something to her psychic abilities after all.”

When they reached her home, Seth walked her to the door. “I'm going to head on home now. I want to get out of these wet clothes.”

“I have an appointment tomorrow with another real estate agent to look at the house. After that I'm free. When will I see you again?”

“How about tomorrow evening?”

“I'd like to make you dinner,” Jenks offered.

“I can't come until around eight. Is that okay?”

“Yes.” She put her arms around him and stood on her tiptoes to try to kiss him. He bent over and kissed her on the mouth, their arms tight around one another. She felt like she might melt.

“I'd better go now,” he said. “See you tomorrow night.”

The appointment with the third real estate agent, Sally Wilkins, was scheduled for ten a.m. Jenks polished furniture while she waited for her. Ten o'clock came and went. She called the agent's real estate office and the secretary said that she would phone the agent's cell phone and have her get in touch with Jenks. About twenty minutes later, the phone rang and it was Sally Wilkins. She explained that a problem had come up at home, and she apologized for not being able to come.

Jenks allowed her to reschedule for one in the afternoon. However, at one o'clock the same thing happened, only this time Jenks did not hear from her. At one-thirty, Jenks phoned her office and left her a voice message that their appointment would not be rescheduled.

When she hung up the phone, she looked up Agnes Manning's phone number and called her about listing the home. Agnes told her that she looked forward to working with her, and they planned to meet at ten the next morning.

Agnes's suggestion to put out pine straw around the shrubbery came to her mind. Jenks put a tarp down in the back of her Jeep and went to Hancock's Hardware. A young man, who blushed crimson while he talked to her, helped load eight bales of straw into the rear of her vehicle.

She drove back home and began to unload the pine straw. Oddly, she began to feel as if someone were watching her. Jenks glanced up and Caleb Grayson was standing not two feet away.

“I'd like to help you with that,” he said with a garbled voice, but his face showed a handsome smile.

“Caleb, you startled me.”

“I'm sorry, Miss Jenkins.”

“Thank you, yes, that would be very helpful.”

He unloaded the bales, and then asked her where she'd like the pine straw set out.

“Caleb, I'll do that later.”

“Oh, no, I've got the time, and I'm happy to help.”

“Well—let's start over here,” Jenks said and pointed to an area of azalea bushes. Caleb untied a bale and reached into his back pocket, removing a pair of leather gloves.

“I keep these with me,” he smiled.

As he began to put out the pine straw, Jenks studied his features. He was really an attractive man and his smile revealed perfect, white teeth.

“Where do you live in Port Royal?”

“On Colleton Avenue.”

“Have you lived there long?”

“For ten years.” He paused for a moment as a frown crossed his brow. “I used to live in The Points with my parents, but I decided I was ready for a place of my own.”

Jenks accompanied Caleb around the yard as he carefully placed the pine straw around the bushes. “You're doing a great job,” Jenks said.

He smiled again. “Twenty-five years ago, I would not have thought I'd be doing this kind of work, but life throws you some curves.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was almost finished with my doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering Practice at MIT when I was in an accident.”

Jenks recalled Seth telling her about Caleb having been seriously injured in an automobile wreck. “I'm so sorry, Caleb.”

A look of sadness crossed his face. “A delivery truck had a front-tire blowout and my car was hit head on.”

“Oh, my God.”

“I was paralyzed for almost a year, but my parents never gave up hope. I was fortunate that they were in a position to get me the kind of medical attention I needed.” He dispersed the remaining straw around the perimeter of the house. “I wasn't able to complete my studies. After the accident, I couldn't concentrate.”

Jenks shook her head. “I am really sorry.”

“I'm sorry too, but you just have to do the best you can.” He smiled once more. “I think that's got it.”

“Can I pay you for your help?”

“Oh, no, Miss Jenkins, I was glad to help you.”

She thanked him again and then said good-bye. As she entered the house, she couldn't help but think how uncanny it was that Caleb had a way of appearing when physical labor was needed.

Afternoon sunlight was streaming onto the bookshelves in the living room. Jenks stood and reflected on what Caleb had shared with her and she shook her head over his plight.
The whole world is ahead of you and then with one crippling blow it's in ashes at your feet.
She thought of Gigi. Walking to the bookshelves, she took a photo album from its place. Opening the album, she looked through pages filled with pictures of her, Gigi, and their friends.

Although Gigi and Jenks were identical twins, there were differences between the two. Jenks had always thought that Gigi was more beautiful than she was. At times, she had envied Gigi's charisma, the attention that she received from boys, and her exceptional success in all her endeavors. Most of all, she envied her fearless independence.