Convictions: Kelly and Stephen (7 page)

Kelly woke up alone.  She threw on her flannels loungewear, a necessity in Alaska no matter what season, and headed to the kitchen.  The coffee was already made and a short note was strategically placed on the counter propped up against a clean coffee cup.

“Good morning.  Had to get an earlier start today.

 

Hope you slept well.  Going to the Olsen’s. 

Be back for lunch.”

Slightly disappointed in not being able to see Stephen before he left, Kelly busied herself with things to do like feeding Max, letting him out, showering, dressing, and making something to eat.  Done with her morning tasks, she stood in the living room and surveyed her boxes, neatly piled against the back wall. 

What she really needed to do was work on her book, but with those boxes staring at her how would she possibly concentrate?  She might as well get settled in first and there was no time like the present to get started as she had several hours of alone time.

With a fresh cup of coffee poured she found a spot on the floor to begin unpacking.  Before she could open the first box though, there was a knock on the door.  She stopped, unsure of what to do.  This was Stephen’s house, not hers, and he wasn’t there.

She went to the door and peaked out.  A pleasant looking older man’s face peaked back at her.  Where was Max when she needed him!  Tentatively, Kelly opened the door.  “Hello?”

“Hello, you must be Kelly.  I’m Marv.”  At the blank look on Kelly’s face the man elaborated.  “Uncle Marv.”

“Oh, I’m sorry” Kelly asked, “Stephen’s ‘Uncle Marv’?”

“Yes, yes, of course, ‘Stephen’s Uncle Marv’”

Kelly opened the door further.  “I’m sorry, Stephen didn’t tell me that you would be stopping by.  He’s not here right now.”

“That’s fine dear” said Uncle Marv letting himself in, “to be honest if Stephen had been here I wouldn’t have stopped.  He and I have had our disagreements over the years.  No, I came to see you my dear, to introduce myself.”

Kelly felt as sheepish as she looked.  Obviously Uncle Marv knew about Kelly but Kelly didn’t know about Uncle Marv.  Stephen was a man of few words but this was embarrassing. There were some things that he needed to share with her, especially when it came to family and such, so she wouldn’t look so foolish in front of them.

“Just because Stephen and I don’t get along, well that doesn’t mean you and I can’t be friends, now does it?”

“No, I suppose not.”  Her sense of curiosity got the better of her as she asked “Please, come in, would you like some coffee?” 

“That would be wonderful my dear.” 

Before she could close the door Max came bounding in.  He took one sniff of Uncle Marv and gave him his complete seal of approval.  Uncle Marv followed Kelly to the kitchen with Max at his heels, tail wagging.

A little more at ease, Kelly poured a cup of coffee “how do you take it?”

“Black is fine, no fuss for me.”  Looking around the kitchen Marv noted “Stephen has gotten quite a bit done with this place now hasn’t he?”

They both took a seat at the counter.  Kelly wasn’t sure of what to say or what to talk about but she needn’t have worried because Uncle Marv had no problem starting or keeping up a conversation.

“So, you and my nephew have hit it off?  That’s great, really great.  I wasn’t sure if he would ever again find a nice young woman for himself, after what happened with Amanda and all, such a tragedy that was and both of them being so young. ”

Kelly didn’t realize right away that she had been holding her breath.  This nice gray-haired gentleman was telling her things about her new lover that he had yet to tell her himself.  As a novelist, her job was not just to create stories and fictional characters, but to delve into the psyche of others, for clues as to what makes people tick and how they would react in certain situations.  Her inquisitive nature, the researcher in her, wanted to probe “Uncle Marv” for any other clues he could provide to her about Stephen’s past.  However, she was also a woman falling in love and in her heart she felt as if she would be betraying a trust with Stephen were she to use this nice old man for the information that to be gained.  It was a dilemma.  She had no chance to debate it further though as Uncle Marv continued right on talking changing the subject away from Stephen’s past loves to their move to Alaska.  She continued to listen intently, having no choice as he gave her no opportunity to join in to the conversation.

“Did you know we are neighbors?  I live just about five miles up the road.  My land runs parallel with Stephen’s land.  He bought the track below mine when it became available.  He moved here because of me you know?  Well, he didn’t actually move here because of me but I was his motivation for travelling up here and once he saw the place he was hooked, just like the rest of us you know.

“After he got here he just couldn’t help but fall in love with the place.  And having nothing to go back for he stayed.”  His fragmented thoughts continued “I moved here first.  We are originally from Springfield, Oregon, but I’m sure you know that much already.”  She didn’t until now but wouldn’t admit it to Marv. 

He continued “yep, moved up here for the peace about sixteen years ago.  Not really a people person anymore.  I use to be, use to be a really mover and shaker but then, well things happened, and I decided I’d be better off as a loner.  Tragedy in your life will do that to you.  Alaska is the perfect place to be a loner.”

Of course Kelly knew that too, that’s what brought her here five years ago. 

“Marv, would you like some more coffee?”

“That’s Uncle Marv to you young lady.  We’re practically family and yes, another cup would be wonderful.  I know it’s starting to warm up out there but the Alaskan cold takes a toll on this old body.” 

Kelly refilled his cup as he launched into more details on his life in Alaska.  Where he had lived before Hanlon, how he came upon his land for sale, and what he’s done to improve it.  Kelly lost track of time or how long he had been talking until she heard the front door open and slam shut with a great deal more force than she had ever heard it closed before.

“Is that Stephen home already? Oh dear, I’ve lost track of time” Marv asked with a rising voice.  “I’d better skedaddle.  He won’t like finding me here.  Nice meeting you, we’ll talk again sometime.  Take care of yourself; I sure wouldn’t want anything bad happening because of me.”  He got up to take his leave but before he could get to the back door Stephen entered the kitchen.

“What the hell are you doing here?”  Stephen’s voice was low and menacing, his eyes black as coal.  His glance to Kelly and then back to Marv told her that if she had not been in the room he might not have been so restrained.  “I told you never to step foot in my house again and I meant it.” 

Stephen’s stride was purposeful as he crossed the kitchen.  Max began to growl as Stephen closed in on them.  When he reached the back door and swung it open, both Uncle Marv and Max scooted out.  Max headed to the woods, Uncle Marv to his car. 

As Marv was climbing into the driver’s seat Stephen voice bellowed “stay away from here and stay away from her.  This is your first and last warning.”  Stephen stood in the driveway watching as Uncle Marv’s tail lights disappeared down the road. 

When his car was out of sight, Stephen turned, apprehensive, and slowly strode back into the house trying to regain his composure.  He entered the kitchen, his eyes searching out Kelly, with a look of deep concern on his face and his hands were trembling slightly.

Kelly remained standing in the kitchen, unsure of what had just happened.  Marv had seemed like such a nice old man, harmless as a fly, and lonely.  She had let him ramble on for what seemed like hours because he didn’t appear to have anyone else to talk to.  She thought she was doing something good.  But the look on Stephen’s face when he had walked into the kitchen to find Marv here had indicated otherwise.

“I’m sorry you had to witness that but on this point I need to be clear.  In the future that man is not to step a foot in this house or on my property again.  Do you understand?”

Kelly slowly nodded.

When Stephen turned to head back down the hall, still visibly shaken, Kelly quietly asked “Stephen, what did he do?”

Stephen was turned away from her and his voice was low but was pretty sure his reply was “He killed my father.”

Stephen’s mood improved greatly after lunch.  As Kelly was doing the dishes he came up behind her, slid his arms around her, and kissed the top of her head.  She turned in his arms meeting his gaze with eyes full of unanswered questions, but she would not subject him to her inquisition. 

The incident with Uncle Marv had apparently taken a great toll on Stephen.  Whatever the circumstances were behind his father’s death, and whatever part Uncle Marv had played, it was plain to see that any contact with his uncle would cause Stephen a tremendous amount of pain.  Kelly never wanted to see that look on his face again so she decided to leave it alone.  She would give him the time he needed to fill her in, on his own terms.  In the meantime, she would be here for him whenever and however he needed her.

He smiled, kissed her lips, and met her gaze squarely.  “Please forgive me if I was too harsh earlier.  I didn’t mean to scare you.”  It was barely a whisper.  The he took both of her hands in his and said “Kelly, I’m falling deeply in love with you.  If anything ever were to happen to you I would never forgive myself.”  He kissed her again and wrapped her in his arms as tightly.

Kelly was stunned for a moment.  This was the first time that either of them had used those three words. 

“I have to go back to the Olsen’s” he whispered a few moments later.  “Just came home to get something I forgot, and because I wanted to see you.” 

“OK.  I have plenty to keep me busy.  I had started some unpacking.”

“Good” he smiled warmly down at her.  “I’ll be back in time for dinner.”

She heard his truck start up and pull out as she was taking a seat on the floor near her still packed boxes.  She hadn’t gotten very far when Marv showed up so she was determined to make some progress now.  However, before she could start again on the first box Max began barking outside the front door.

Kelly opened the door to call Max inside.  She gave him a snack and water and reprimanded him “you’ve got to try harder to get along with Stephen.  No more growling at him.”  She gave him a new rawhide chew toy, patted the floor next to her for him to lie down, and got back to work.

The first thing she did was to unpack all of her books and make a pile.  Stephen’s desk was flanked by a set of tall, narrow, book cases, both fairly full.  However with a little reorganization she thought she could fit her stuff in and he had told her to do whatever she needed to do to make room. 

Each book case had six shelves, but the books that lined the shelves were in no particular order.  It appeared as if most of them had stayed where they landed after he was done with them.  Kelly decided to first remove his books, organize all of their books by size, and then fit them back into the twelve shelves neatly.  As she began pulling his books out of the case she became fascinated with the titles.

While she had to admit that she still didn’t know Stephen all that well, she was pleasantly surprised with his taste in books.  Obviously, he liked the classics because they were well represented.  Titles like “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “The Great Gatsby” were stacked haphazardly on top of “Atlas Shrugged”, “Moby Dick”, and “Gulliver’s Travels”.  These were definitely not the books that Kelly had expected to find in the cabin of an Alaskan frontiersman and welder.

Stephen is an outdoors man, and a craftsman.  He works with his hands and he loves nature.  She had expected books about hunting, fishing, or native wildlife.  What she found instead were books about faraway places and tormented characters, books that one could lose themselves in with characters that could take over your psyche.  She closed her eyes for a moment to picture him sitting in front of a massive fire on a cold Alaskan night reading a classic.

As she started on the second bookcase she found that the top shelve contained a row of paperbacks, concealing a second row of paperbacks behind them.  She pulled off the first row and was somewhat surprised to find not one, but four of her own novels stacked behind.  Knowing what Kelly now knew about Stephen’s taste in books, contemporary romances didn’t seem to fit his style. 

She took out one of her novels and turned it over, there on the back was a full colored picture of her with Max.  Since she highly doubted Stephen would purchase one of her novels for pleasure reading there was only one explanation that made sense.  He had purchased, or borrowed them intentionally, which meant that he had known all along who she was and what her career was.

It was an unsettling feeling followed by more questions.  When had he obtained these books; before her first night here, or after, when she was with Charlie for those two weeks?  Why had he stored them behind the others as if he didn’t want her to find them?  Then why had he told her to do whatever she needed with his books, he would have to know that she would find them?  And, why did he pretend not to know about Max? 

The warmth that had been created with his declaration of love just an hour ago was now overshadowed by a growing sense of uneasiness.  Too many puzzling questions with not enough answers; her mind was working overtime on possible theories.  Whatever the answers were they would have to wait until his return. 

When she was done all of the books, his and hers, neatly lined the bookcase shelves.  Her novels, the ones she has written, had a special place in front, where Stephen would undoubtedly see that they had been discovered.

Kelly’s next task was to make room in his large roll top desk for her writing supplies.  It was kind of silly that she had so many pens, pencils, erasers, and bottles of white-out in this day and age of computers.  The truth was that every word she wrote was done so on her laptop.  But you never knew in Alaska when the electricity would go out due to a storm.  If she couldn’t charge her laptop Kelly didn’t want to take a chance of being unprepared should inspiration strike.

While making room in his desk she couldn’t help but notice its contents.  Normal things that a business owner would have, a pad of empty invoice sheets, book of customer’s names, addresses, and numbers, and envelopes containing receipts of his purchases.  While these items didn’t seem organized in any particular fashion she was sure that Stephen knew where everything he needed was so she tried extra hard to disturb his things as little as necessary.

She shuffled his papers in to neat piles in the top drawer to make room for her writing instruments and came across a large manila envelope “Stephen’s Important Documents” scribbled across the front.  Cautiously she pulled back the flap and looked inside.  It appeared to be some sort of certificate.  She slid it out just a bit and was stunned to find it was from Stanford University, conferring the degree of Bachelors of Science in Engineering Technology upon one Stephen Long, Jr.  It was dated 1996.  She quickly slid it back in its envelope and placed the envelope back in the drawer exactly how she had found it.

Another mystery; how does a young man with such an obviously bright future, a B.S.E.T. from Stanford, wind up in Alaska working as a welder?  What had he run away from?  There had to be many opportunities in Alaska for a degreed engineer; why welding?  Maybe the loss of his father destroyed him? Or was it something to do with the Amanda tragedy that Marv had mentioned.  Each day with him brought more questions than answers. 

She was trying hard not to be nosey but some things just couldn’t be helped.  There were some basic things about him she needed to know if they were to have a future together.   She picked up his contacts book and flipped through the pages noticing that most everyone in town was, or had been at one time, a customer of Stephen’s. 

Given this list of names she guessed that it wasn’t too odd that he had her novels.  Phyllis, the Spirit Air co-owner was in the list.  Over the last five years she had given Phyllis copies of every book she had written. 

And Judd Hadley, the owner of the general store, had an entry.  When she had first moved into her Hanlon home she shopped at his store for the basics.  She noticed he kept a shelf near the front with books, for sale, or to borrow and return.  When Judd found out that Kelly was a published author, and a successful one at that, he ordered several copies of her books to be sent up from the lower forty-eight and then took it upon himself to fill everyone in town in on their new local celebrity. 

Between Judd and Phyllis, undoubtedly one of them had supplied Stephen with copies of her books.  But the question of why he had acquired them in the first place and felt the need to hide them, still remained.  That question, and the degree from Stanford would keep her inquisitive brain busy.

Kelly was in the kitchen starting dinner when he returned.  As was his normal routine at the end of the work day he showered and changed into fresh clothes.  He then found her in the kitchen and demanded his kiss, which usually led to two or three more.  Sometimes he left her wondering how it was that they ever got a meal made.

With dinner cooking Kelly twisted the tops off of two bottles of beer, handed one to Stephen and suggested they go sit in the living room until dinner was ready.  Stephen readily agreed and followed her down the hall.  They both chose chairs offering a mountain view.  Stephen noticed that the boxes previously in the corner near his desk were gone and made mention of it to Kelly.

“Yes, I got a lot done this afternoon” she nodded to his book cases.  He glanced in their direction but didn’t seem to notice any difference. 

His eyes turned back to the mountain-view and he replied “I’m glad you found space for your things.”

They didn’t’ speak for a long while, enjoying the scene of distant mountains awash in sun light.  This time of year with the extra hours of daylight watching a sunset was rare.

Kelly wasn’t sure what thoughts were so deeply occupying Stephen’s mind, but he seemed to be reading hers when a few minutes later he turned to the book cases again.  After scanning the shelves he turned to meet her gaze, his steely eyes a little wider than normal. 

Was it Kelly’s imagination or was their just a little twinge of guilt behind those incredible gray eyes?  “You have very unusual taste in reading material” she stated with a smug smile. 

Guessing her intention he replied casually “that I do.”

Her books; he had neglected to tell her that he had read some of her books over the two weeks that she spent with Charlie.  He was anxious to see what kind of writer she was, what made her tick.  But somewhere between late afternoon and late night he had found himself lost in her stories.  After the night they had shared he knew well the degree of passion she was capable of, but he had been unprepared for the sensual style and depth of her writing.  Still waters do indeed run deep.  There were parts of each book that had even him blushing, and wanting her madly.

She must have found them stashed behind the others and wondered why he would hide them from her.  It was not that he was intentionally trying to keep them from her, or prevent her from knowing that he had read them, even though they were obviously not written for or marketed to men.  But reading her books, combined with what he already knew about her sexually, somehow conveyed a level of intimacy that he wasn’t sure she would yet be comfortable sharing with him.  At least that was what he had been thinking at the time.  Since then the intimacy in their relationship has progressed significantly and he relished the idea of it continuing to do so.

“When did you pick up an interest in contemporary romance?” she pressed.

He grinned sheepishly “about three weeks ago.”

“Why” she asked.

“What better way to learn more about you?”

“And what did you learn?”

“I learned that despite your previously chosen life of solitude, your passion and desires run deep.  They’re all laid out right there in black and white.”  He was teasing her. 

Kelly blushed and felt the stirrings of those desires.  She rose without saying a word and went to the kitchen to turn off the stove.  She returned to his side, took his hand and pulled him to his feet.  Leading him into the bedroom she said “I still have plenty of questions about your motives but for right now I want to more thoroughly explore the depth of my desires.”  He went willingly and grinning like a fool the entire way down the hall.

They ate dinner that night at nine o’clock.