Vegas Sunrise (22 page)

“Yeah. Yeah, I did, Harry. The nicest thing was feeling young again. I don't ever want to forget what that was like. I don't want to cry over it anymore either. When something wonderful like this happens it makes it all bearable. I'm not going to say anything to Birch, though. He has to do the driving. If he decides we should go, we'll go. Is that okay with you, Harry?”

“Sunny, anything's okay with me, you know that.”

Birch didn't mean to eavesdrop, but when he heard his name mentioned, he stepped behind a thick rubber plant, his eyes on the snow advisory, his ears on Sunny's conversation. He backed up until he was in the corridor, then advanced, calling out to Sunny. “Hey, did you guys see the snow advisory? How do you feel about staying to ride it through? I'm up for a good storm.”

“Do you mean it, Birch?” Sunny cried excitedly.

“Hell, yes. We haven't made snow angels yet. Libby and I haven't tried out the snowmobiles either. I'll give Uncle Daniel a call and tell him we're staying on for the storm. How about you, Harry, can you handle a few more days?”

“Damn straight he can. Right, Harry?”

“Oh yeah. What's a snow angel?”

“You lie down in the snow and wave your arms. Then you get up without disturbing the snow and it looks like an angel left her mark. We can do it, Harry. I know we can. The trick is fresh powdery snow.”

“It's settled then. I have to make some calls. I want to check on Marcus's condition, too,” Birch said.

“Are you going to call Ruby?”

“I can. Do you want me to tell her something?”

“No, I want you to ask her if the new plane arrived. She ordered a special plane from Coleman Aviation, one of those special jobs spiffed out like Air Force One. Ruby goes first-class. She said she doesn't have anything else to spend her money on. Thad Kingsley was supposed to fly it into her this weekend.

“Who's going to fly it?” Birch asked, a stunned look on his face.

“You and Sage. She bought it for you guys. Sometimes, Birch, you're so dumb. Did you think Ruby was going to take lessons?”

“She bought a jet for us! That's mind-boggling.”

“She's going to call it the love machine.”

Birch choked on a mouthful of cigarette smoke. “I know that's a joke.”

Sunny giggled. “You're right. It was a joke. She's calling it PAT. The P stands for Philip, her father and our grandfather. The A stands for Ash, her brother and our father. The T stands for all of us Thorntons. She told Jake he can learn to fly when he's seventeen. I just love her. Iris is crazy about her. Mom adores her. She's a Thornton through and through. At the end, Dad fell in love with her and said how sorry he was that they never got to be brother and sister. Hey, look, it's starting to snow.”

“Order me a beer while I make my calls. We can all sit at that special table by the windows and watch the snow when I get back. Where's Libby?”

“Upstairs filling out our reports. She should be down any minute.”

Birch's first call was to Celia. He wasn't surprised when the answering machine came on. He left a brief message. His second call was to Ruby, who picked up on the second ring. He explained the situation. “So, can you track Celia down and tell her we're going to be here a few more days in case she wants to get in touch with me. By the way, Sunny wanted me to ask you if Thad delivered your new plane.”

“Saturday morning bright and early. It's a beauty if you're into airplanes. The Colemans gave me a real break on the price. It sure beats that plane we used to have, the one your dad said was put together with spit and glue. I'm keeping it for sentimental reasons, though. I bought the new one for you and Sage. I know how you two love to fly. Thad said it's state-of-the-art. Sunny and Harry will be comfortable when you take them on trips. I know what a hassle it is with the chairs and the dogs and all. I can't believe you didn't take the dogs with you to Vermont.”

“Vacation time. Checkup time. They treat those dogs like humans. Libby and I are with them most of the time. They both carry beepers, and the people here are really good about it. We're the only guests. We think a storm is brewing, and we want to be on hand to see it. At least Sunny and Harry do. Ruby, I don't know what to say.”

“Thanks works.”

“How's Celia doing?”

“She's into it. She's incredibly photogenic. The commercials are going to be terrific. She's on the go from six in the morning until after ten. She's enjoying it all.”

“Any news on Marcus?”

“He's the same. Your mother doesn't stay at the hospital sixteen hours a day anymore. She was worn to a frazzle. She does go, though, for three hours at a time. I think, and this is just my opinion, she's resigned to its going either way. She's been knitting these past few days, making Bernie and Blossom dolls with the help of Billie Kingsley and Bess. Are you all having a good time?”

“We really are. Just seeing Harry's face was worth the trip.”

“Libby?”

“Libby?”

“Libby. You know, Sunny and Harry's therapist. Is she enjoying the trip?”

“Very much. She's fun to ski with. She took a couple of spills, but then so did I. We're all having a wonderful time.”

“I'll give Celia your message. Give me the phone number in case she wants to call later this evening.” Birch rattled it off and hung up. His third call was to Sage.

“I just wanted you to know we're staying on a few more days. Write down this number just in case. Sage, did you hear about the plane Ruby bought?”

“Yeah, this weekend. I went to see it. That's some bird. Dad would have loved it. When you get back, we'll take it up. It intimidated the hell out of me. It's like a palace inside. I knew the Colemans made super-duper planes, but this one is something else. Ruby christened it yesterday with a bottle of champagne. She waited for the paint to dry on the name. I thought that was kind of nice. Dad would have approved and so would Grandpa. When Ruby said she bought it for us I almost passed out.”

“Yeah, me too. How's Billie? Did you . . . ?”

“We can do that when we take that bird up. Or, I'll find a better way.”

“Is Iris there?” Birch asked, assuming the double talk was for her benefit.

“Yes.”

“Is she okay? Billie I mean.”

“No, but we're working on it. So much is involved. You know, money, that kind of thing.”

“She tapped the trust fund and gambled with the money?”

“In addition to other monies that shouldn't have been used. It's under control for the moment.”

“Whip her ass into shape, Sage. I mean it. Find a way to freeze that trust account. I know it can be done.”

“I'm working on it. Speaking of freezing, how's the weather up there? I can't believe the weather reports I've been seeing of heavy snow and more on the way. The paper said some kind of freak cold front with a tremendous storm is headed for the New England states. Be careful, Birch. Iris is standing right here. She wants to say hello.”

“I'm watching it. I'd rather stay here and ride it out than be on the road. The van isn't a good snow vehicle.” Birch did his best to work cheerfulness into his voice when Iris came on the line. When he hung up, the collar of his shirt was wet with sweat. The only thing that made him feel better was knowing level-headed Sage was in control of the situation. Loyal, dependable, best-brother-in-the-world Sage.

Birch returned to the main room of the lodge just as the receptionist posted the new snow advisory to read; HEAVY SNOW WARNING. Underneath, in smaller letters, the bulletin read,
BY NOON TOMORROW
.

Harry held out a bottle of beer. “Let's drink to the white stuff.”

His eye on the snow advisory, his heart tripping in his chest, Birch held up his beer. “To the white stuff.”

When the third advisory was posted an hour later, the desk clerk, who lived on the premises, spoke softly to Birch. “I sense the advisories are bothering you, Mr. Thornton. We're prepared. We have emergency generators, candles, firewood, heaters, and enough food to feed an army. We use CBs, and the rangers know we're here. The worst possible scenario is you all might put on a few pounds and get a heat rash from the fireplace. Most of our people have families down below and naturally they want to be with them when a storm comes. There is every chance this storm will blow over or pass us by. It happens all the time. Just this morning UPS brought us the latest videos and six new best-sellers.”

Birch walked back to the fireplace. His heart was still tripping in his chest. From past experience he'd found when people were as cheerful as the desk clerk, there was room for concern. He likened it to an airline hostess assuring passengers things were fine when the pilot was approaching wind-shear problems. Maybe he'd made a mistake by staying on for Harry's sake.

“What's wrong, Birch?” Libby asked coming up behind him. Birch pointed to the snow advisory.

“Do you think it's a mistake to stay?”

“Not from Sunny and Harry's perspective. Look at them. They're loving this. They actually hope we get snowed in.

“I wouldn't worry. This is a popular resort. There are rangers and ski teams all over the mountain. Places like this have all the latest hi-tech equipment, and they're geared for emergencies.”

“What if . . .”

“I don't play that game, Birch. Nine times out of ten the ‘what ifs' don't come to pass. We learn to deal with problems when and if they arise. If you spend your life anticipating a disaster, you become one miserable human being. Sunny and Harry are not dumb. They know what could happen. They also know what to do if something does happen. We call it living life. Don't let them see your doubt. Right now you're our leader, and we expect you to lead us; to the dining room, to our rooms, to the game room, or just to the front door to watch the snow.”

“How'd you get so smart? I'm not concerned for myself. I have to worry about Sunny because of Jake, and Harry because he's confined to a wheelchair. See, I stopped worrying.”

“Dumb luck. Do you feel less anxious now?”

Birch shrugged. “Do you know what
really
makes me feel better?”

“I don't have a clue. I hoped it was my logic.”

“That too. Sage is watching the weather forecasts. You have to do that when you live on a mountain. He's got something hooked up to his dish that gives him the weather conditions in every part of the country. Just knowing he's keeping his eye on things makes me feel better. From the time we were little kids we were able to home in on each other. I always know when he's in trouble and vice versa. Right now I know he's under some severe stress. The trick is knowing when you can help and when you can't. Whatever his problem is right now, only he can deal with it. If it were otherwise, I'd know. It's that simple.”

“Perfectly understandable.” Libby's voice was wistful when she said, “I'd give anything to have a sister or a brother. Sunny is the closest thing to a sister that I've ever had. Harry is the brother. I've had other patients, but those two touched something in my heart. I wish the dogs were here.”

“That's funny. I was just thinking the same thing. I believe, if we keep this up, we're going to spook ourselves. I think you're two beers down. You have to catch up.”

“I thought you'd never mention it.”

Birch signaled the waiter, his gaze sweeping over the man's head to stare out at the falling snow.

“Here he comes, our fearless leader,” Sunny chortled. “There's no one I'd rather be stuck in a snowstorm with than you three. We're going to make another toast to the white stuff.”

As one they chorused, “To the white stuff!”

 

Sunrise was a beehive of activity as Chue's kids gathered up their coats, books, and playthings to carry home. Iris shooed her brood upstairs for their nighttime ritual as Sage shrugged into his jacket to walk the children home. Munching on a crunchy apple, he turned to his wife. “We're going to talk when I get back. Don't go to bed, Iris. If you do, I'll wake you. This silence between us has gone on long enough. Please don't change the weather channel. I'll bring up the finished dolls from Chue's and seal the cartons. I don't want you doing any lifting or bending. Do you hear me, Iris?”

“Of course I hear you. Chue can probably hear you. Don't tell me what to do, Sage.”

“Okay. I'm asking you not to do any bending or lifting. Is that better?”

“It will do. Go. The kids are bundled up. We don't need any more colds. Kids perspire when they're bundled up and then go out in the cold. Their pores are open.”

“Thanks for sharing that, Iris. You make me sound like an idiot. I knew that.”

“Go already and don't slam the door,” Iris snapped.

Sage clenched his teeth as he ushered Chue's giggling grandchildren through the door. A devil perched on his shoulder. He slammed the door so hard the kids roared with laughter.

Before leaving Chue's house, Sage loaded up the back of Chue's pickup truck with cartons of dolls. “This is, how do you say, a spit in the bucket,” Chue said. “My family works continuously, but I fear we won't meet Miss Ruby's quota. My cousin and his family have closed their laundry. Their dolls will be ready to be shipped in the morning. Many other relatives will bring the cartons to your offices every few hours. Jake showed us how to work assembly-line style. It goes much faster. He is a very smart young man. What he does, Sage, is this. He looks at a problem, then asks himself how his grandfather would solve it. For some reason it always works for him. I do not understand that. Your father was not the problem solver of the world.”

Sage smiled sadly. “The ideas are Jake's own. He just doesn't realize it yet. It's his way of keeping Dad alive in his thoughts. Sometimes I think Dad is an obsession with him. I appreciate all you and your family are doing. We'll make it up to you, Chue.”