Traveling Light (37 page)

“Babe?” It sounded like he was talking to someone else.

“I’m fine.” A second lie. “Look, I’ll have to call you back.” One thing she knew about Roger was that he wouldn’t have the balls to come right out and demand to know what was different.

She ended the call, finished feeding the owl and then sat down, collapsing into Rick’s green armchair. It smelled like him. She leaned over, covering her face with her hands. The phone rang again.
Shit.
She looked at the number. It was the guesthouse.

“Hi, Mom.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t tell me ‘nothing.’ I heard it the second you answered.”

“I’ll tell you later.”

She heard Eleni sigh. “Rick’s here. I just invited him for dinner; it’s all ready. You coming home now?”

“Yeah, Ma, I’m coming home. Roger just called.”

“Well, come home,
kula mou;
everything’s ready,” Eleni’s voice softened. “Let’s eat and we can talk about it. You want Rick to come and get you?”

“No, I’ll walk.”

“Hurry or it’ll get cold.”

Eating was the last thing she wanted to do.

*   *   *

The sun was setting noticeably earlier as each day passed. She’d developed a heightened awareness of the changes that each day brought. In New York she’d never been so aware of the season’s incremental shift. Kicking through leaves along the grassy path, she hurried back to the guesthouse. All the self-talk in the world was doing nothing to calm her. Even the beauty of the moon rising over Lake Superior and its rippling reflection didn’t help to clear her mind and heart.

Rick and Eleni both looked up as soon as Paula entered. She could tell they’d been talking about her. Fotis and Loukoumi greeted her as she entered and shut the door. The guesthouse smelled like her mother’s roasted chicken, butternut squash and stuffed peppers with the wild rice Eleni had fallen in love with since discovering the abundant local harvest sold in Maggie’s store.

Paula sat down on the futon, afraid to look at her mother.

“And what did my son-in-law have to say for himself?” Eleni asked, handing Rick and then Paula a plate full of food.

“Thanks, Mom.”

“So,” Eleni said. “Tell me.”

Paula paused before talking, wishing Rick weren’t there. But as he settled across from her with a fully loaded dinner plate, there was no indication he was going anywhere.

“Roger’s back in New York.”

“Oh, so he’s back early,” Eleni said.

“He wants me there.” Paula set the plate down on the side table. Elbows on knees, she leaned over, running her fingers through her scalp. “He’s had the brownstone remodeled.”

Eleni finished serving herself and walked over next to Paula. She tapped her daughter’s shoulder and motioned to the plate. “Come on and eat; it’ll make you feel better.”

Paula lifted the plate and began moving around grains of wild rice with her fork.

“Well,” Eleni started. “You can go back to New York if you want,” she said. “But I’m not ready.”

Paula looked up at her mother, her mouth gaping open. “You’re what?”

“Just because Roger wants you back doesn’t mean I’m going,” Eleni said, and popped a forkful of squash and chicken into her mouth.

“What do you mean you’re
not ready
?”

“Well, for starters, I’ve got two lunch dates lined up for next week at Marvelline’s and—
Christos kai Panayia
—it took traveling all this way to finally find someone else who plays Canasta.”

“Mom, you can’t stay here—”

There was a scratching at the front door.

Eleni stood and stepped to open the front door for Sigmund. The bird stepped in, carefully looking around to check that things were in order.

“Also, I’ve got a couple of jobs lined up,” Eleni said. “Maggie made some calls. Her people on the reservation have fur garments for powwows and ceremonies that need repairing. They’ll pay me.”

Eleni stared at Paula. “Then on the Grand Portage Monument and Reservation,” Eleni said, “they have one of those tourist forts—a historical fur trade place.” She looked at Rick for help.

“A historical reenactment of the voyageurs that’s open for tourists,” Rick explained.

Eleni nodded. “Thank you. They play like old times in these places and Maggie said they need someone who can sew fur clothing and hats.”

“What?” Paula was stunned.

“So I’ve got work lined up there, too, Paula. Then I got a call from Canada—they heard about me from the Grand Portage place. Their place is called Old Fort William—another place for tourists—the North West Company and the Canadian Fur Trade. They do the same thing as Grand Portage. They want me up there for a few weeks to look over their stock, do repairs and make new clothing. It’s in Thunder Bay. Isn’t that where your advisor guy, Bernie, lives?”

Paula was stunned. “But how are you going to get to these places?”

“It’s only a half-hour drive, Paula. I’ll take your car.”

“But Ma, all you’ve done for years is drive a few blocks to the grocery store. Highway driving is different.”

“Marvelline’ll take me; she already promised she would. And Thunder Bay is only an hour away, Paula, closer than the Catskills, for God’s sake. She’s got in-laws up there. They said I could stay with them while I’m working.”

“Mom—”

“It’s a huge job, Paula.” Eleni slowly nodded. “The fur trade was a big deal up there. They have lots of work.”

Paula was stunned. She sat up on the futon to protest, but she didn’t have a coherent reply. “Ma, you can’t stay here.”

“I’m the mother here,” Eleni said. “You don’t tell me what to do.”

“You just can’t.”

“Of course I can—this is America.” Eleni knocked loudly on the table three times. “And a person can do whatever they want.” Her sharp eyes settled on her daughter as she chewed a piece of chicken. “You took a break; now I’m taking one.”

“Yeah, Ma, but the break is over.”

“Says who? Roger?” Eleni glared at her. “For you, maybe.”

Paula looked at the ceiling beams, slowly shaking her head; she couldn’t believe this was happening.

“But what about your apartment?”

“What about it? It’s not going anywhere.”

“All your things.”

“What things? My furniture? My rent is paid for the whole month. The only thing I want is Thanassis’ painting. And for that I can have Stavraikis take it to one of those ‘U-mail it’ places. He has a key. The rest they can chop it up for firewood for all I care. No one’s gonna steal it—and if they want the furniture,
echi o Theos,
” she said, and crossed herself. “It’s theirs.”

“But where would you stay?”

Rick was listening quietly, slowly eating.

“You know, Paula,” he interjected. “I sure could use another person here,” he said. “Your mom’s great with the husky and her pups.”

Paula shot him a look of betrayal.

“It’ll be at least another eight weeks,” he said, “maybe longer, before I can place them, so why not just let her stay? She’s been an enormous help.”

Looking at Paula, Eleni nodded in thanks, her eyes shining with
Listen to him.

“She’s great with the smaller birds; you know that,” he said. “She knows how to prepare the food for tube feedings; she’s welcome to stay on in the guesthouse.”

“But what about Fotis? My car?”

“Leave them here,” Eleni said. “We’ll take care of Fotis, plus I’ll need your car.”

“And then what, Mom?” Paula felt herself about to cry. It was embarrassing to be having such a family discussion around Rick.

Eleni shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know,” Eleni said. “Right now I’m very busy, Paula,” she said as if brushing off a co-worker. “So why don’t we just play it by ear?”

Sigmund flew up onto the back of the futon and nestled behind Eleni, looking triumphantly over at Paula.

“Fuck,” Paula whispered. “But what about winter, Mom? It’s supposed to be so harsh.”

“It’s not winter now.” Eleni glared at her. Paula could feel Rick watching her carefully.

“But you don’t have a phone or anything.”

“I’ll put her on my plan,” Rick said. “I’ll get her a phone tomorrow.”

“But what if you fall in the guesthouse or something?”

“I’ll look after her,” Rick said, and turned to Eleni. “Eleni, you’re welcome to come stay up at the house with me,” he said. “I’ve got five empty bedrooms.”

Eleni looked at Paula. No one talked for a few minutes. They could feel the agony of Paula’s confusion.

“Paula mou.” Eleni moved closer and put her arm around her daughter’s shoulders. Paula wanted to shake it off. “Go back; figure out what it is that you want.”

Paula stood and brusquely headed out the door. She didn’t want to let Rick see her cry.

She climbed into the Escape and drove to the IGA, hoping Maggie was still there. It was dinnertime and she’d often go home to fix dinner for Ephraim.

As Paula parked and walked in, Maggie was just grabbing her purse from under the register, talking to Bobby Ray.

“Hi, Paula, I was just thinking about you.” She felt Maggie read her distress immediately.

“You have some time to talk or are you heading home?”

“Ephraim’s in Duluth on orchard business and I was just gonna give Bobby Ray a ride home, so I’ve got plenty of time. You eat yet?”

“Uhh, no.”

“You want to join us, Bobby Ray?”

“N-no. I’ll wait here, finish stocking the soup aisle. I’ve got to block the cake mix boxes also.”

“Let’s go get a bite at Marvelline’s,” Maggie suggested to Paula. “Let me check in with Amber before we go.” Business slowed down after 7:00 pm, though they were open nights until 10:00. Paula waited as Maggie spoke to Amber.

“Bobby Ray, honey?” Maggie called as she walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. The tentativeness of his movements suggested he was heavily medicated. Maggie always kept a mother’s eye on him. “You gonna be okay if I go with Paula to the Oklahoma for a bite to eat?”

“Hi, Paula.” He waved.

“Hey, Bobby Ray.” She waved back. “How’s it going?” Tall, thin, mid-twenties, with short light brown hair, his belt always too high up on his hips, Bobby Ray never missed a day’s work.

“It’s goin’ good,” he said.

“Now you call me, honey, if things get busy, you promise?” Maggie asked. “You got me on speed dial; you’ve got Marvelline, too, right?”

“Yeah, I-I-ll be o-okay,” he said. “I promise.”

“You want me to bring you something?”

“I-I like their burgers and shakes.”

“Chocolate?”

“V-vanilla.”

“You got it. Be back in about an hour.” She gave Amber a look that said to call if she got overwhelmed.

*   *   *

It was a beautiful but chilly October evening as they crossed the street, walking down toward the Coast Guard station and the Oklahoma Café. The place was full of truckers this time of night and Marvelline was in her glory.

“And look who’s walking in the door,” she announced over the din of conversation. “And what brings you ladies in tonight?”

“Dinner,” Maggie said, and tapped Paula’s shoulder. “It’s on me.”

Marvelline walked over and sat down next to Paula. “Shit, I’m tired. My tootsies are killing me.”

Paula noticed Marvelline and Maggie were both wearing the same red crystal evil eye earrings.

“Damn, those earrings look better on you,” Marvelline said.

“I was just thinking the same about yours,” Maggie said. “Whatcha got for specials?” Maggie looked over the menu.

“That prime rib sandwich, which Earl over there says is killer.” She pointed toward his table as he lifted the last bite in her honor. She took the pencil out from where it had been tucked behind her ear and set it on the table along with her order book. “I hear the chili is too.”

“I’ll have the chili,” Paula said.

“Me too,” Maggie ordered. “Plus a take-out order of burger and a vanilla shake for Bobby Ray.”

“Well, bless my sweet nephew’s little heart.” Marvelline closed her eyes and smiled. “It’s as good as done. How’s that boy doing?” She leveraged her hands against the table, hoisting herself up as she yawned and shuffled back toward the kitchen to place the order.

“Bobby Ray’s always fine,” Maggie answered. “Better than the rest of us.” She then turned to Paula. “So what’s going on?”

Paula began with Roger’s phone call. Halfway through her rendition of the conversation, Marvelline appeared carrying a tray with three bowls of chili, a pile of packaged saltine crackers, a plate piled with shredded cheddar and three sets of silverware wrapped tightly in white paper napkins. It had the feel of eating dinner in someone’s kitchen.

“The burger’s cooking. Don’t let me forget his order before you leave,” Marvelline said. “Okay, so go on; I heard half of what you said, and I can probably fill in the rest myself.”

Paula began to dump the entire story about Roger, the hoarding, the brownstone, the downstairs couch. Marvelline listened politely. Midway, Paula got the sense Marvelline was pretending she’d never heard it before.

Paula stopped mid-sentence. “So you know.”

“Well, of course I know everything, darlin’; you think we don’t talk?” Marvelline said. “For starters, I agree, that man is still your husband.”

“Makes sense to me,” Maggie weighed in.

“Leave your mom,” Marvelline said, “Fotis and your car while you go back to New York, sort things out.”

Paula turned to face Maggie. “Just out of curiosity, how did my mother happen to land all this work with fur?”

“Uhhh—word spreads fast?” Maggie smiled enigmatically. “A person with those skills up here?” Maggie waved her hand. “Summer tourism’s huge up here with that French voyageur stuff.”

“Don’t you worry none about Eleni,” Marvelline said. “We’ll keep your mama busy and look after her. Okay, so we got the mama thing solved.” She looked up at Paula for confirmation. Paula nodded. “Now on to you. First off, ladies, how’s the food?”

They both waved as if too euphoric to comment.

“Here’s the thing with the husband, baby doll. When in doubt, check it out. Unless he’s beating the tar out of you (which in that case I’d say run for the hills and don’t look back), then you need to go back and play this thing out.”