It looks like Jonahs having fun, he said.
Kim took a step toward the window. Hes been excited about coming for weeks. She hesitated. Hes missed you.
Ive missed him.
I know, she said. She took a drink of her tea before glancing around the kitchen. So this is the place, huh? Its got character.
By character, I assume youve noticed the leaky roof and lack of air-conditioning.
Kim flashed a brief smile, caught.
I know its not much. But its quiet and I can watch the sun come up.
And the church is letting you stay here for free?
Steve nodded. It belonged to Carson Johnson. He was a local artist, and when he passed away, he left the house to the church. Pastor Harris is letting me stay until theyre ready to sell.
So whats it like living back home? I mean, your parents used to live, what? Three blocks from here?
Seven, actually. Close. Its all right. He shrugged.
Its so crowded now. The place has really changed since the last time I was here.
Everything changes, he said. He leaned against the counter, crossing one leg over the other. So whens the big day? he asked, changing the subject. For you and Brian?
Steve about that.
Its okay, he said, raising a hand. Im glad you found someone.
Kim stared at him, clearly wondering whether to accept his words at face value or plunge into sensitive territory.
In January, she finally said. And I want you to know that with the kids Brian doesnt pretend to be someone he isnt. Youd like him.
Im sure I would, he said, taking a sip of his tea. He set the glass back down. How do the kids feel about him?
Jonah seems to like him, but Jonah likes everyone.
And Ronnie?
She gets along with him about as well as she gets along with you.
He laughed before noting her worried expression. Hows she really doing?
I dont know. She sighed. And I dont think she does, either. Shes in this dark, moody phase. She ignores her curfew, and half the time I cant get more than a Whatever when I try to talk to her. I try to write it off as typical teenage stuff, because I remember what it was like
but She shook her head. You saw the way she was dressed, right? And her hair and that god-awful mascara?
Mmm.
And?
It could be worse.
Kim opened her mouth to say something, but when nothing came out, Steve knew he was right. Whatever stage she was going through, whatever Kims fears, Ronnie was still Ronnie.
I guess, she conceded, before shaking her head. No, I know youre right. Its just been so difficult with her lately. There are times shes still as sweet as ever. Like with Jonah. Even though they fight like cats and dogs, she still brings him to the park every weekend. And when he was having trouble in math, she tutored him every night. Which is strange, because shes barely passing any of her classes. And I havent told you this, but I made her take the SATs in February. She missed every single question. Do you know how smart you have to be to miss every single question?
When Steve laughed, Kim frowned. Its not funny.
Its kind of funny.
You havent had to deal with her these last three years.
He paused, chastened. Youre right. Im sorry. He reached for his glass again. What did the judge say about her shoplifting?
Just what I told you on the phone, she said with a resigned expression. If she doesnt get into any more trouble, itll be expunged from her record. If she does it again, though She trailed off.
Youre worried about this, he started.
Kim turned away. Its not the first time, which is the problem, she confessed. She admitted to stealing the bracelet last year, but this time, she said she was buying a bunch of stuff at the drugstore and couldnt hold it all, so she tucked the lipstick in her pocket. She paid for everything else, and when you see the video, it seems to be an honest mistake, but
But youre not sure.
When Kim didnt answer, Steve shook his head. Shes not on her way to being profiled on Americas Most Wanted. She made a mistake. And shes always had a good heart.
That doesnt mean shes telling the truth now.
And it doesnt mean she lied, either.
So you believe her? Her expression was a mixture of hope and skepticism.
He sifted through his feelings about the incident, as he had a dozen times since Kim had first told him. Yeah, he said. I believe her.
Why?
Because shes a good kid.
How do you know? she demanded. For the first time, she sounded angry. The last time you spent any time with her, she was finishing middle school. She turned away from him then, crossing her arms as she gazed out the window. Her voice was bitter when she went on. You could have come back, you know. You could have taught in New York again. You didnt have to travel around the country, you didnt have to move here you could have stayed part of their lives.
Her words stung him, and he knew she was right. But it hadnt been that simple, for reasons they both understood, though neither would acknowledge them.
The charged silence passed when Steve eventually cleared his throat. I was just trying to say that Ronnie knows right from wrong. As much as she asserts her independence, I still believe shes the same person she always was. In the ways that really matter, she hasnt changed.
Before Kim could figure out how or if she should respond to his comment, Jonah burst through the front door, his cheeks flushed.
Dad! I found a really cool workshop! Cmon! I want to show you!
Kim raised an eyebrow.
Its out back, Steve said. Do you want to see it?
Its awesome, Mom!
Kim turned from Steve to Jonah and back again. No, thats okay, she said. That sounds like more of a father and son thing. And besides, I should really be going.
Already? Jonah asked.
Steve knew how hard this was going to be for Kim, and he answered for her. Your mom has a long drive back. And besides, I wanted to take you to the carnival tonight. Could we do that instead?
Steve watched Jonahs shoulders sink a fraction.
I guess thats okay, he said.
After Jonah said good-bye to his momwith Ronnie still nowhere in sight and, according to Kim, unlikely to return soonSteve and Jonah strolled over to the workshop, a leaning, tin-roofed outbuilding that had come with the property.
For the last three months, Steve had spent most afternoons here, surrounded by assorted junk and small sheets of stained glass that Jonah was now exploring. In the center of the workshop was a large worktable with the beginnings of a stained-glass window, but Jonah seemed far more interested in the weird taxidermy pieces perched on the shelves, the previous owners specialty. It was hard not to be mesmerized by the half-squirrel/half-bass creature or the opossums head grafted onto the body of a chicken.
What is this stuff? Jonah asked.
Its supposed to be art.
I thought art was like paintings and stuff.
It is. But sometimes art is other things, too.
Jonah wrinkled his nose, staring at the half-rabbit/half-snake. It doesnt look like art.
When Steve smiled, Jonah motioned to the stained-glass window on the worktable. Was this his, too? he asked.
Actually, thats mine. Im making it for the church down the street. It burned last year, and the original window was destroyed in the fire.
I didnt know you could make windows.
Believe it or not, the artist who used to live here taught me how.
The guy who did the animals?
The same one.
And you knew him?
Steve joined his son at the table. When I was a kid, Id sneak over here when I was supposed to be in Bible study. He made the stained-glass windows for most of the churches around here. See the picture on the wall? Steve pointed to a small photograph of the Risen Christ tacked to one of the shelves, easy to miss in the chaos. Hopefully, itll look just like that when its finished.
Awesome, Jonah said, and Steve smiled. It was obviously Jonahs new favorite word, and he wondered how many times hed hear it this summer.
Do you want to help?
Can I?
I was counting on it. Steve gave him a gentle nudge. I need a good assistant.
Is it hard?
I was your age when I started, so Im sure youll be able to handle it.
Jonah gingerly picked up a piece of the glass and examined it, holding it up to the light, his expression serious. Im pretty sure I can handle it, too.
Steve smiled. Are you still going to church? he asked.
Yeah. But its not the same one we went to. Its the one where Brian likes to go. And Ronnie doesnt always come with us. She locks herself in her room and refuses to come out, but as soon as we leave, she goes over to Starbucks to hang out with her friends. It makes Mom furious.
That happens when kids become teenagers. They test their parents.
Jonah put the glass back on the table. I wont, he said. Im always going to be good. But I dont like the new church very much. Its boring. So I might not go to that one.
Fair enough. He paused. I hear youre not playing soccer this fall.
Im not very good at it.
So what? Its fun, right?
Not when other kids make fun of you.
They make fun of you?
Its okay. It doesnt bother me.
Ah, Steve said.
Jonah shuffled his feet, something obviously on his mind. Ronnie didnt read any of the letters you sent her, Dad. And she wont play the piano anymore, either.
I know, Steve answered.
Mom says its because she has PMS.
Steve almost choked but composed himself quickly. Do you even know what that means?
Jonah pushed his glasses up. Im not a little kid anymore. It means pissed-at-men syndrome.
Steve laughed, ruffling Jonahs hair. How about we go find your sister? I think I saw her heading toward the festival.
Can we ride the Ferris wheel?
Whatever you want.
Awesome.
3Ronnie
The fair was crowded. Or rather, Ronnie corrected herself, the Wrightsville Beach Seafood Festival was crowded. As she paid for a soda from one of the concession stands, she could see cars parked bumper to bumper along both roads leading to the pier and even noted a few enterprising teenagers renting out their driveways near the action.
So far, though, the action was boring. She supposed shed been hoping that the Ferris wheel was a permanent fixture and that the pier offered shops and stores like the boardwalk in Atlantic City. In other words, she hoped it would be the kind of place she could see herself hanging out in the summer. No such luck. The festival was temporarily located in the parking lot at the head of the pier, and it mostly resembled a small county fair. The rickety rides were part of a traveling carnival, and the parking lot was lined with overpriced game booths and greasy food concessions. The whole place was kind of gross.
Not that anyone else seemed to share her opinion. The place was packed. Old and young, families, groups of middle-schoolers ogling one another. No matter which way she went, she always seemed to be fighting against the tide of bodies. Sweaty bodies. Big, sweaty bodies, two of whom were squashing her between them as the crowd came to an inexplicable stop. No doubt theyd had both the fried hot dog and fried Snickers bar shed seen at the concession stand. She wrinkled her nose. So gross.
Spying an opening, she slipped away from the rides and carnival game booths and headed toward the pier. Fortunately, the crowd continued to thin as she moved down the pier, past booths offering homemade crafts for sale. Nothing she could ever imagine herself buyingwho on earth would want a gnome constructed entirely from seashells? But obviously someone was buying the stuff or the booths wouldnt exist.
Distracted, she bumped into a table manned by an elderly woman seated on a folding chair.
Wearing a shirt emblazoned with the logo SPCA, she had white hair and an open, cheerful facethe type of grandmother who probably spent all day baking cookies before Christmas Eve, Ronnie guessed. On the table in front of her were pamphlets and a donation jar, along with a large cardboard box. Inside the box were four gray puppies, one of which hopped up on its hind legs to peer over the side at her.
Hi, little guy, she said.
The elderly woman smiled. Do you want to hold him? Hes the fun one. I call him Seinfeld.
The puppy gave a high-pitched whine.
No, thats okay. He was cute, though. Really cute, even if she didnt think the name suited him. And she did sort of want to hold him, but she knew she wouldnt want to put him down if she did. She was a sucker for animals in general, especially abandoned ones. Like these little guys. Theyre going to be okay, right? Youre not going to have them put to sleep, are you?
Theyll be fine, the woman answered. Thats why we set up the table. So people would adopt them. Last year, we found homes for over thirty animals, and these four have already been claimed. Im just waiting for the new owners to pick them up on their way out. But there are more at the shelter if youre interested.
Im only visiting, Ronnie answered, just as a roar erupted from the beach. She craned her neck, trying to see. Whats going on? A concert?
The woman shook her head. Beach volleyball. Theyve been playing for hourssome kind of tournament. You should go watch. Ive heard the cheering all day, so the games must be pretty exciting.