Love Evolution (16 page)

CHAPTER 17 

Friday morning arrived with fog blanketing the downtown area. Avery stepped out onto her balcony, willing the low clouds to disappear. In spite of the circumstances, she looked forward to meeting Marcus
’
parents. Fortunately, as the morning progressed, the sun began to peek out through the clouds. By the time Marcus called to let her know the car had arrived, the fog had completely burned off.

Avery flung a backpack full of clothes over her shoulder, picked up her guitar case, and headed down to the lobby. She said hello to Ray as she came around the front of car, thumping the open window on the passenger side where Marcus sat resting his elbow. Her emerald eyes were bright with excitement when she jumped in the backseat with Dwight for the short drive a couple of blocks downhill to the
Harbour
Air seaplane terminal.
“
I can
’
t believe I
’
m finally going to fly in a seaplane,
”
she exclaimed, squirming around on the seat cushion full of nervous energy. 

Marcus twisted around, glancing at Dwight and raising a dark brow.
“
Sushi, synthesizers, seaplanes.
What more is left to teach my young apprentice?
”

“
Whatever, sensei.
”
Avery rolled her eyes and reached forward, pushing his shoulder. At the dock, they stored the luggage away in the pontoons of the plane, except for their instruments which they brought aboard the cramped twelve-seat cabin. Marcus suggested that Avery take the seat at the front next to the pilot. Apprehensive at first, she quickly succumbed to the spectacular panoramic views the perch afforded.

Marcus leaned forward and shouted over the engine noise,
“
On the way back, we
’
ll get great views of Stanley Park and the Lion
’
s Gate Bridge.
”

The twenty minute flight took them over the Inside Passage between the mainland of British Columbia and Vancouver Island. On the smooth ocean surface below, they observed cargo ships, several sailboats, and the British Columbia ferry which would transport the production crew and fans for the video the following day.

“
Whoa dude,
”
Avery hollered as they bounced softly a couple of times, landing in Nanaimo Harbor. The crew unloaded and handed them their luggage out on the dock. When they exited the small terminal, they were greeted warmly by Marcus
’
parents and Lisa.

“
We brought the minivan so all of us could fit,
”
Marcus
’
dad said, embracing each of his boys.

Avery stood back, watching the family reunion and thinking how much Marcus
’
dad looked like an older, stockier version of Dwight.

Marcus
’
dad stepped back, saying,
“
And you must be Avery. I
’
ve heard a lot about you. Aren
’
t you a spiffy dresser? Boys, this one might be too cool for the old van.
”

She could definitely see where Dwight and Marcus got their sense of humor.

He chuckled and with blue eyes sparkling extended his hand.
“
I
’
m Don, nice to finally meet you.
”
When she reached out to shake his hand, Don caught her by surprise when he pulled her in for a real hug, just like he
’
d given Marcus and Dwight.

“
I
’
m willing to tone down my coolness level, so these two won
’
t feel inferior,
”
she quipped. Marcus and Dwight shoved her playfully.

Marcus
’
s mom came forward with a smile. She was a tall, stunning woman with auburn hair, who easily could pass for someone twenty years younger. Giving Avery a kiss on the cheek, she told her,
“
Welcome, Avery. I
’
m Rheta Anthony. We are so glad you could come.
”

The drive to Duncan from Nanaimo took almost an hour. The scenic coastal highway meandered along through rich rolling countryside, dotted with farms and vineyards. Avery was too busy checking out the passengers of the minivan to notice much of the scenery. Everyone talked at once, trying to catch up. Letting the happy sounds of their conversations roll over her, she noticed that Dwight
’
s wife, Lisa, didn
’
t say much. A petite beauty with shiny black hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked perfectly content holding hands with her husband the entire drive.

They left the main highway in Duncan, driving for about ten minutes down a winding narrow farm road until they came to the Anthony farm, nestled between two hills in the
Cowichan
Valley. The sign at the gate read
‘
Anthony B&B.
’
“
Where are the water buffalo?
”
Avery asked as soon as they were parked.

“
He
’
s been dying to see them, Mom,
”
Marcus told her.
“
I
’
ll take him down and bring him right back up.
”

“
Any excuse
to avoid
carrying in the luggage,
”
Dwight grumbled. Marcus threw up his hands, feigning innocence.

He and Avery headed down the dirt road that led away from the two-story New England- style farm house with its huge columned front porch. Marcus opened a gate to a series of connected pastures. Avery took off running when she heard the water buffalo bellowing in the back meadow, soon reaching the bottom pasture with Marcus right behind her.

Marcus grinned as he watched him pull up succulent pieces of grass, letting the buffalo come eat out of his hand. Smiling from ear to ear, he stroked their big soft heads. For the moment, it appeared the easygoing Avery he
’
d come to know and care for was restored. He could definitely identify. This place always had a healing effect on him. A clanging bell in the distance signaled their time in the field had come to an end.
“
Hey,
”
he told Avery,
“
we better head back up. You think Mary
’
s bossy. She
’
s got nothing on my mom. She
’
s a real stickler for being on time to meals.
”

Rheta showed Avery to her room, a cozy little nook with a full-sized bed, white and beige striped wallpaper, and antique mahogany furnishings. Before leaving to go back downstairs, Rheta hesitated in the doorway.
“
Avery, both my boys have told me a lot about you. I want you to know I am so glad you
’
re part of the group.
”
Putting her hands in the front pockets of her jeans, she continued,
“
I worried about Marcus going back to work right after he got discharged. I didn
’
t think he was ready, but now
…
well anyway,
”
she cleared her throat, voice changing to a businesslike tone,
“
the bathroom is just down the hall. I expect you downstairs as soon as you
’
re settled to help out with dinner.
”

Avery smiled as she closed the door quietly. Falling back on the quilted sleigh bed, she sighed
contentedly,
stretching out her arms and legs as if she were making a snow angel. She
’
d never been in such a warm and welcoming place.  Avery envied Marcus his childhood.

A little while later, she followed her nose down the stairs. She found everyone gathered in
the  industrially
appointed kitchen in the back of the farmhouse, evidently a new addition to the original structure with its shiny stainless-steel modern appliances and fixtures. Marcus called her over to help him peel potatoes. When she asked him to show her how, his eyes crinkled up, his dimple appeared, and he burst out laughing.
“
You are kidding me, right?
”

Avery glared and kicked him in the shin.
“
That
’
s for mocking me.
”

“
Ow
!
You turd.
”
He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her down on the bench next to him.
“
Just for that, you get to do the rest.
”

Across the room, Rheta looked pointedly at her husband.

Don acknowledged her with a nod, glad to see his youngest looking so carefree. The rehab doctors had diagnosed Marcus with depression, citing it as a contributing factor in his drug abuse. He and Rheta had both noticed a marked change in Marcus
’
outlook since Avery joined the group. But as he watched the two of them, Don was troubled by a vague sense of misgiving.

Dinner that night was a congenial affair around a large farmhouse table. Avery took full credit for the huge mound of mashed potatoes, after having peeled, boiled, seasoned and mashed them herself, with a little direction from Rheta. Also on the menu was a
caprese
salad with mozzarella from the farm, roasted chicken and Brussels sprouts. Everyone stuffed themselves, especially Don who pushed back from the table, unabashedly loosening his belt to make more room for apple pie. 

After the dishes were cleared, everyone retired to the family room for coffee and dessert. Lisa and Dwight moved into the far corner to play chess. Marcus
’
parents sat on the well-worn sofa together with Rheta
’
s bare feet up in Don
’
s lap. Avery and Marcus sat in adjacent wing back chairs on either end of the sofa talking about the video. When his parents started nodding off, Marcus said,
“
Wanna
take a walk? I feel like I need to burn off some calories.
”
 

“
Sure, I
’
m too full to go to sleep right now.
”

They walked down the lighted perimeter of the long driveway. Both were silent, enjoying the peacefulness of the nighttime country sounds. They ended up back on the front porch in the rocking chairs.  Sam, the black and white farm dog, came up and plopped down on Marcus
’
feet. Looking up at the stars, watching the barn swallows soaring and diving in the night sky, Avery sighed.
“
It
’
s beautiful out here, Marcus. It must have been a nice place to grow up.
”

“
It was nice, Ace. I miss it, you know? I feel like I can be myself out here.
”

“
How in the world did a country boy like you end up in a rock band?
”

“
Well, my mom is a retired high school band director. She insisted both of us learn how to play the piano when we were really young. But I really got turned on to music when I started playing the guitar in middle school. A couple of years later we formed the band.
”

“
Who came up with the name?
”

“
I did. It
’
s kind of dumb, really. I was reading
Julius Caesar
in English class,
‘
Et
tu
Brute?
’
Out of that, I came up with Brutal Strength.
”
He shrugged.
“
Dwight thought it was kick-ass, and JR came around, especially when Dwight pointed out that the initials were BS. Which was totally unintentional, but no one believes that.
”

“
How old were you when you got your first record deal?
”

Marcus smiled, amused by all of Avery
’
s questions. He liked it, though. This was how normal people got to know each other, instead of
googling
one another.
“
Just a little younger than you, actually.
  We had a gig playing at The University of British Columbia. One of the student
’
s
father
was a record exec at Time Warner. We got lucky, I guess.
”

Just then, Don started flicking off and on the front porch light.
“
Hey, you guys are grownup and all, but I
’
m just the messenger. Mom says it
’
s late and you should head to bed.
”
He chuckled softly.
“
Night.
”