Past Due (3 page)

At 4:00 A.M., she went to bed and then woke by 7:00 A.M. She rubbed her grainy eyes and stumbled to the bathroom for a cool shower she hoped would revive her senses. She dressed in khaki carpenter shorts, white shirt, and sandals. She combed her hair, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. She added a touch of mascara to her lashes and sunscreen to her face. This was the extent of her regular beauty ritual. The wind would tangle any curls to her hair and the humidity would melt any make-up she applied, so there really was no point in doing more.

Unless...

No. She wouldn’t consider the absurd. And she certainly wouldn’t concern herself with how she looked in the off chance she might run into him again. Jenna Austin, mature woman, was no longer the silly girl who was so easily swayed and manipulated.

She leaned closer to the bloodshot eyes in the mirror. Jenna grabbed a bottle of Visine from the cabinet and squirted a couple of drops in each eye. If she looked worn out, it would certainly worry Maureen. Better, she thought as she checked her eyes again, but she still looked a little sleep weary. She dabbed a bit of foundation around her dark circles and put some eye shadow and eye liner in the corners of her eyes to make them look perkier.

Now she looked more awake. No crime in that.

On to Tanner. She stood in his doorway and flipped on the light. “Wake up, sleepy head. It’s a beautiful morning.”

Stepping into his room, she pulled the covers to the foot of his bed. He groaned and curled into a ball. Poking him with her toe as she pulled up the window blinds, she doused the room in light. He tried to pull the pillow over his head, but she stole it and said, “Rise and shine prince charming.”

Tanner complained, his voice still rusty from sleep, but his feet moved grudgingly to the floor. He stretched and yawned. Satisfied he was up, Jenna closed his door behind her. She stepped out on her back deck to see what kind of weather the day had in store for her. She took a deep breath of the warm, salty air. She relished the feel of heat against her skin. It stirred a longing for just one day of peace, void of all her usual worries. A day spent on the beach with her body stretched out, the feel of the sand in her toes, and the sun’s rays tingling her skin. How many times had she and Tres just laid on the beach and…

Stop it.

Jenna stepped inside as Tanner emerged in surf shorts, a fashionably faded tee, and leather flip-flops. He opened the cupboards and pulled out a box of cereal and a bowl.

Jenna gasped as she eyed the bowl he picked. “Tanner, that’s a serving bowl, for crying out loud.”

“I’m hungry,” he defended as the rising milk caused the cereal to spill over the sides and slosh on the counter.

“I’m going to go broke trying to feed you.”

“I’m a growing boy. Besides, you like taking care of me, remember?”

“Smart aleck. Thought you were worried about the bills and all?”

“I need food. Got to nourish my fine looking body.”

“Oh, heavens. You’re so humble.”

Tanner shrugged. “What do I have to be humble about?”

Jenna hit him over the head with a dish towel. He grinned and resumed his steady shoveling of food. Leaning against the counter, arms crossed over her chest, she informed him, “You’ll probably have to ride the bus today since I don’t have the Lizzie.”

“I just figured I’d call Jimmy. He drives to school every day.” Tanner kept his eyes on his cereal. A hint of nerves betrayed his casual tone, “I could probably ride with him from now on. Then you wouldn’t have to bother, you know. And it would save you on gas money.”

“Funny how conserving you are at times,” Jenna teased. She turned to the sink, wetting a wash cloth and wringing it out slowly as she tried to think of any reason to say no to his request but thought of none. She bit her lip and said, “I suppose. If you...”

Tanner interrupted with a “yahoo!” He leaped from his seat and crossed the dining room in two steps and was in the adjoining living room. From the kitchen, she could see him from the open bar that separated the three rooms. He hurtled the couch and grabbed the phone on the coffee table. He dialed his friend and spoke but a few words to cinch the riding arrangements. Jenna frowned and busied herself clearing and cleaning his bowl and spoon.

He returned to the kitchen with renewed energy as he loaded his back pack.

“You’ll wear a seat belt, right?” she asked pouring herself a cup of yesterday’s coffee and putting it in the microwave.

“Yep.”

The beeping of the microwave distracted her for a moment as she got her coffee. She took a sip and grimaced. Her coffee tasted bad fresh, but qualified as intolerable stale. Dumping the black liquid down the drain, she almost jumped when the horn blew outside.

Tanner threw his backpack over a shoulder, kissed her cheek and yelled as he left, “See you after practice. And don’t worry; I’ll get a ride home.”

“I suppose you will,” Jenna said to the closing door. In an instant
, the house fell eerily quiet.

Refusing to succumb to melancholy, she picked up the cordless phone from the bar where Tanner left it and dialed the garage. Milo answered and Jenna listened, absentmindedly doodling on a piece of paper as he explained to her she had a blown transmission. But, he assured, he could get it fixed with a refurbished one and keep the cost at about $200 including labor, tow, and a rental car.

“What?” Jenna dropped her pen, and her hand automatically found its perch on her hip. “All right Milo, what did Maureen say to you when she called?”

“Maureen said she never called.”

“Did she now? All right, Milo, how much will it be?”

Milo sighed. He admitted the cost was considerably higher, however, he suggested they barter the deal at $1500. That would buy a refurbished transmission and pay for the rental, and he’d swap his labor for Jenna’s agreement to paint a nursery. His wife, Connie, was expecting a baby girl and he wished to surprise her when she returned from a weekend visit with her family in Elizabeth City. Jenna agreed and was about to hang up when Milo added hastily, “Can I still get the rhubarb pie Maureen promised me?”

Jenna hung up the phone and grabbed her checkbook from her purse. She only had $100 in checking and $328 in savings. A sad net worth. School clothes, cleats and gear had drained her checking account. She invested her savings on digital camera equipment. She booked several weddings, but none in the next week. She supposed she’d start with the sand dollars for Lois. Then maybe run down to the real estate office and see about cleaning some vacation homes. It was the off season, but still…she could check. She’d manage this one step at a time.

With a stiff upper lip, she assured herself aloud, “It’ll work out.” Her words of self-encouragement left her as buoyed as a sinking ship kept afloat by a bucket brigade. So what if she was up to her knees in water? She’d keep dipping and rowing; eventually she’d reach shore.

***

She went directly to Maureen’s house. From the porch, she could hear the laughter wafting out the kitchen window along with the smell of cinnamon. Jenna paused a moment until she identified the voice. Lois’s visit continued. Jenna smiled and joined the ladies. They sat at the table drinking coffee.

“Good morning, Lois. I was headed your way. I have the sand dollars done a little earlier than I’d planned.” Jenna placed the box on the table.

Lois put her glasses on and looked in the box, “Perfect as usual. How much do I owe you? $15 each?”

“The usual—$8,” Jenna answered as she took a seat. Maureen placed a plate of cinnamon rolls and a cup of coffee in front of her. She smiled at Maureen, “Mmm, thanks.” She took a napkin from a basket in the center of the table and laid it in her lap. “Oh, and by the way, Maureen, Milo still wants his rhubarb pie, but you don’t have to pay for the car repairs.”

Maureen stammered as she took her seat at the table, “Well, I... you know I...”

Jenna patted her hand, “We worked it out. He needs a nursery painted. I need my car repaired. Viola,” she spread her hands like a magician. “Problem solved.”

“That’s good.” Maureen rubbed her meaty chest. “I don’t mean to interfere. I just know how hard you work.”

“No worry,” answered Jenna around bites of roll and sips of coffee. “So, was Tanner in on the concoction of the plan?”

“Why, uh, he...no. No, it was my idea.”

“He was awfully perky this morning.”

“I guess maybe he heard me talking on the phone with Milo.”

“You promised him you’d take care of me.” Jenna’s words were gentle.

“I...well, I...” Maureen reddened.

***

Jenna turned her attention to Lois, “And as for you, Lois, don’t think I can’t see right through you too. The cost of the art stays the same even when cars break down.”

“Your car broke down?”

“You saw it being towed last night,” Jenna reminded.

“Oh, that’s right. You know, Jenna, they say the memory is the first thing to go.” Lois grinned at Jenna. She snapped her fingers and said, “Speaking of memory lapses…I almost forgot to ask you, I want to write a book on the lighthouse…a picture history of the move and what not. And I wondered if you would take some pictures for me?”

“Certainly can. When?”

“Soon as possible. The realtors tell me we’re going to have a little spike in the tourist traffic with the millennium celebration. I guess if the world ends at 2000, may as well spend your last days in paradise.”

“I suppose,” Jenna mumbled. “ I’ll get the pictures today.”

“Oh, and while you’re there,” Lois looked at Maureen and a look of smug pleasure passed between them, “Esther asked if you would take some pictures for a guy from the governor’s office. I guess he wants to put them on the state website. Esther said he seemed like a real nice fellow.”

“How does Esther know I take photos? I just bought the equipment.”

“Oh, I volunteered you.”

“You said Esther asked for me.”

“Well, she asked about photographers, I mentioned you, and then she requested you. Why so suspicious, darling?”

“Because I know you two. Add Esther to the mix and I know I’m being set up.”

“Yeah. Set up for a job. Hardly a conspiracy to ruin your life,” Lois said.

“Why didn’t Esther call the photographer in Salvo?” Jenna asked.

“She has a horse face,” Lois blurted.

“How does that matter?” Jenna’s question was answered by silence. She prodded further, “What have you and Esther cooked up?”

Lois looked shocked, “Cooked up?”

“Esther is the biggest meddler...,” Jenna said.

“Esther’s just a romantic. I don’t know that I’d call her a meddler,” Maureen offered.

***

“Get over it, Jenna,” Lois answered. “You need the money.” She didn’t apologize or squirm like Maureen. She grinned at Jenna and continued, “And if this happens to have certain, um, benefits to the proposal, then it’s just a serendipitous coincidence. We didn’t exactly plan it.”

“Plan what?”

“The man. We didn’t lure him in or anything. And it’s not our fault that he’s…hmmm did Esther say he was handsome, or did she say he was hot?” Lois thought a minute then went on with a shrug of her shoulders, “Well, regardless of whether or not he’s hot or just handsome, you will have to come face to face with him. We’ll admit we have the hope of the stars striking you over the head, and you have the reality of getting paid $300 for taking a couple of pictures. Everybody wins. If you ask me.”

“Lois. How could you? You know how much I hate...”

“Now Jenna,” Lois mocked with a glint in her eye, “I won’t listen to your foolishness. You need the money. And you could use a man too. Life’s short dear. I know when a gal’s young she thinks she has nothing but time, but life has a way of marching on to its own beat and one day, whammy you’re old. You deserve to find your soul mate. Be happy; make love on the beach under the moonlight.”

“Lois!” Jenna blurted her cheeks glowing red. “You know I hate fix ups!”

“And I’m not fixing you up. I got you work.” Lois took a gulp of coffee. “Esther’s the one trying to fix you up.”

“Oh, great.” Jenna slumped in her chair. “Why does everyone think I need a man? It’s a little pathetic. No one tries to fix up Maureen and she’s widowed.”

“I’m old and fat, Jen. You’re still a knock out.” Maureen laughed. “But I suppose to make things fair; you could try to fix me up too.”

“Quid pro quo, right Maureen?” Lois laughed. Maureen chuckled and hooted.

“Well, I’m glad you two are enjoying this ... because I’m not. The last twenty four hours have been miserable. My car blew up, that damned...” Jenna stopped herself. She turned crimson, how did she explain running into Tres when no one even knew about him? “That fool at the gas station carded me, though he knows who the hell I am and that I’m old enough to buy wine.” She covered her face with her hands and gave out a frustrated groan. Then a thought crossed her mind. It was absurd, but she just had a feeling. “What’s Mr. Hotty’s name?”

Lois thought a moment. “Esther told me ... I can’t remember for certain, but it was something like Chip or Chuck or Chaz. Something with a ‘Ch.’”

“You know I will get even with you two. You’re taking advantage of me because you know I need the money.”