Clover (4 page)

Sarah Knowlton had just unpacked her things when the dorm room swung open and a pretty young woman loaded down with tote bags and a huge suitcase on wheels breezed in.

“Hi, are you my roommate?”

“I am if you got room 603,” Sarah responded.

The other girl dropped all the bags at once and extended a hand.

“Judy Hicks.”

“Sarah Knowlton.”

They liked each other instantly.

“Are your parents doctors, Sarah?”

“Mom and Dad were killed in the World Trade Center attack when I was just a baby. But Grandma Sandy’s an MD. She and Grandpa Josh raised me. They were missionaries. I grew up in Kenya. What about you?”

“Mom was a school teacher and Dad sold life insurance in Canton, Ohio, where I’m from.”

Sarah caught the past tense in the response.

“What happened?”

Judy hesitated.

“They ... they were all killed; Mom, Dad, my little brother Dave and my sister Cathy. A drunk driver ... the day after I got my med-school acceptance letter.”

“Oh Judy, that’s horrible. So you’re...?”

“I’m the only one left now.”

She said it quietly, almost matter-of-factly.

She’s got a lot going on beneath the surface
.

“I hope you don’t mind, I went ahead and picked my bunk and dresser.”

“Of course not,” Judy said.

She started unpacking, silently for a few moments, until Sarah started talking about her experiences in Kenya.

“You know how arguments were settled? The guys would carry this club with a ball-like swelling on the end. If they didn’t like someone they’d bash their brains in. It’s called
rungee
.”

“I could’ve used something like that with a few of the guys I’ve dated.”

“I didn’t need a club. I had a pet cheetah. It almost took the you-know-whats off this one guy when it thought he was getting fresh. I swear his voice sounded an octave higher for weeks.”

That did it. Soon the new roomies were engaged in the typical, non-stop gab fest that only females can sustain.

“Let’s get out of here. We’ll be spending enough time cooped up once school starts.”

They changed into shorts and tops, two young lionesses ready to prowl the savanna that was the dorm complex. With those eyes, faces and forms they had no trouble stopping traffic, so to speak, and both were accustomed to it.

They ended up in the central lounge. That’s where she spotted him again, standing by the entrance with another newcomer.

Let me guess—his roommate?

Both young men wore light khakis and torso-conforming tee shirts. Both were good looking but one stood out.

What was his name? Antonio Hidalgo!

Sarah noticed Judy looking at the other one and nudged her.

“Why do you suppose they’re holding up the door post?”

They both giggled as they moved in for the kill, smiling broadly.

“Yo, spaghetti-sauce boy. You eaten yet?”

Tonio batted his eyelids in his own practiced move.

“Sarah, hey, I’ve been trying to call you. We’re all going out to dinner with my folks and your grandma.”

She slowly patted the pockets in her top and shorts. Tonio’s eyes reflexively widened.

“Tsk, I must have left the phone in my room. Mind if I use yours?”

Before he could answer she snatched his out of his pants pocket, smiling as she keyed in the number.

“Hi, Grandma. We’re all here. Where we going?”

She licked her lips and gazed directly into Tonio’s eyes.

Meanwhile, JP was being mesmerized by Judy Hicks’s long auburn hair and hazel eyes.

What’s that on her top, a tennis emblem?
Yowzah!

JP nudged Tonio.

“Oh ... uh ... yeah, this is my roommate, Julius Petrie. Call him JP.”

Sarah shook his hand and pushed Judy forward.

“This is my roommate, Judy Hicks.”

The RV named Wilma pulled up to the dorm entrance, and Edison spotted the four young people laughing and talking a mile a minute. He turned around to Galen and Sandy.

“I would say Tonio and Sarah have adapted rather well.”

They all stared wistfully at the scene of youthful exuberance; each of them sighed.Four young adults crowded into the back of Edison’s RV and Tonio began a rapid-fire introduction. And by the time they had finished the first course at the little restaurant that bragged about its pancake menu, everyone knew everyone else’s name. The four oldsters had learned that Judy Hicks was from Ohio and interested in rehabilitation medicine. They found out that Sarah expressed an interest in cardiology, and JP would be pursuing forensics.

Galen had listened quietly but intently when Sarah asked Tonio what specialty he wanted.

“I want to be like Tio Galen.”

The old man’s heart skipped a beat.

“Tonio, I thought you wanted to…”

“Yes, Tio, that too—aerospace medicine.”

Galen turned toward JP and Judy.

“Are your folks here? Think they’d want to join us for breakfast?”

The awkward silence tipped him off.

“I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?”

“Uh ... no, Dr. Galen. It’s just…”

Tonio jumped in.

“Tio let me show you the dessert case. I think I saw one of your favorites over there, banana cream pie.”

“He’ll kill for banana cream, kid,” Edison interjected.

Galen understood.

“Sure, show me, Tonio. Excuse us a minute.”

He got up slowly and turned in the direction Tonio had pointed. Tonio stood up and followed him.

“Spill it, Tonio.”

“Tio,” he whispered, “I just needed to tell you about JP and Judy.”

He did, and Galen’s face darkened. He left Tonio and headed for the men’s room. By then Edison was approaching.

“Well, how’s the pie look?”

Edison saw Tonio’s expression and kept on to follow his friend. When he walked into the restroom he saw Galen, fists clenched, staring into the mirror above the sink.

“What’s the matter, big brother?”

“That girl’s whole family died just before she was to start school here. The boy’s father disowned him. Why, Edison, why?”

“I don’t know.”

Galen pounded his fist on the sink.

“That poor girl has no one now.”

His voice dropped to a whisper.

“Just like Leni and Cathy and all the others.”

He turned to Edison and looked more deeply into his eyes than he had ever done before.

“Don’t you die on me, Edison! Don’t you and Nancy die on me! Let me go first.”

Edison looked back at him for a moment. Then he put his arm on Galen’s shoulder.

“Come on, big guy, we’ll blame this on your prostate. We geezers have that privilege now.”

“Thanks, old friend.”

“Who ya callin’ old, Methuselah? You’re older than I am.”

They walked out together.

Back at the table the mood soon lightened again.

“Do you know how long it’s been since this geezer here graduated...”

He caught himself.

“Uh ... Sarah … you realize your grandmother was only a child when she graduated?”

“Nice try, Edison,” Sandy quipped as Galen patted her hand.

“Doogie Howser’s kid sister, this one.”

The four youngsters stared in ignorance.

“It was a TV program from the 1980,” Sandy explained. “Sarah, don’t you remember the programs we used to get by satellite when we worked at Tenwick Hospital? We had just left Nairobi.”

“No, Grandma, don’t you remember? My pet cheetah ate the unit.”

“The cheetah must have been a critic,” Edison quipped.

“That’s cheating, Edison.”

The dinner consumed, the check paid by Galen, and the initial connections made, everyone headed outside toward Wilma. JP whispered to Tonio.

“Are they always like this?”

Tonio nodded.

“Sooner or later Tia Nancy has to make them behave, but it’s all in fun. One would die to save the other. In fact they almost did just that a few weeks ago. Both would lay down their lives for Tia Nancy. And despite Tio Eddie’s goofy looks, he’s really a world-class electronics expert. But Tia Nancy is the real brains. Time and again we’ve seen her rescuing them from social gaffes.”

Edison drove the lot of them back to the dorm. After the hugs and goodbyes and nice-meeting-yous, Galen took JP and Judy by their arms and pulled them aside. He spoke in an unusually gentle manner.

“I want you both to know that Edison, Nancy, Sandy and I would be happy to help you in any way we can. If you ever need anything, even if it’s just an ear to listen, call us, okay?”

Then he turned to Sarah.

“If Tonio misbehaves I want you to call me, understand?”

“But I
want
Tony to misbehave.”

With that, he knew. She was a keeper. He also saw the bonding between JP and Judy. As he walked to Sandy’s side, Sarah looked knowingly at him and her grandmother.

“
You
two behave yourselves now.”

The two octogenarians blushed. Nancy and Edison snickered.

As he headed to the door, Tonio called back.

“Oh, Tio Galen, I’m in 213 Bear Hall!”

“I guess the cub doesn’t stray too far, does he?” Edison said. “Wonder what Baloo would say?”

“Who’s Baloo?” Sandy asked.

“Come with us back to Safehaven and I’ll tell you,” Galen answered. “Better yet, I’ll introduce you to him.”

“I see. And I suppose you’ll want to show me your etchings, too?”

The three left Richmond for Pennsylvania early the next morning. Sandy would have to take care of some business but promised to meet them at Safehaven in a few days.

“Hell, I’ve got nothing better to do,” she told Galen. “Sounds like fun.”

With that she reached up, pulled Galen’s head down, and kissed him on the cheek.

“It’s beautiful, Bear.”

“Come on, Sandy. Let me show you the rest of our mountain.”

“Sure you’re up to it, old man?”

“Uh ... Sandy, if I recall correctly, I’m only a year…”

“A gentleman does not mention a lady’s age, you big oaf.”

“Nancy, get an eyeful. Those two quacks are acting like teenagers.”

“Good! It wouldn’t hurt you to try it some time, Bob Edison.”

“What did I do?”

“It’s what you don’t do!”

The phone call had come in earlier that day.

“Hello, Bob. I’m at the Wilkes-Barre airport. Interested in picking up a lady for the night?”

“Sandy, if we were 60 years younger...”

“Well…?”

“I’ll be right over.”

He barely avoided two speeding tickets and four red-light violations. He prayed that his old red Jeep would make it there and back.

She was barely taller than the stack of luggage by her side. She wore just the right outfit: rubber-soled brown loafers, tan pantsuit and light green jacket. A mint ice cream cone topped by whipped cream hair.

“Hey, lady, lookin’ for a good time?”

“Sure, big boy. What’s your price?”

“More than you got, half-pint.”

“Half-pint? No one’s called me that since Josh…”

“Get in. I’ll get your luggage.”

“Galen, let the skycap load it. I don’t think you should…?”

She saw him wince as he tried to swing her bags into the trunk.

“I warned you, kiddo.”

“Oh, sh...!”

He gritted his teeth with every bump in the road.

“This reminds me so much of Lexington, Virginia. Josh and I would drive down to visit VMI, his old alma mater, and camp out on Bluff Mountain. I think we scared the animals with our antics.”

She stared out the passenger window.

“I miss him so much, Galen.”

He slowed down. They were approaching the turnoff.

“They’re here! Come on, Bob.”

The weather-beaten vehicle crunched to a stop in front of the old oak sign, its nine large letters glistening in the midday sun.

“Sandy, welcome to Safehaven.”

“Can I get you anything else?”

“Those butterscotch cookies are irresistible, Nancy, but any more and I’ll look like Galen.”

“Smart move, girl,” Edison said, crunching through a mouthful of his favorite cookies.

“What Edison means is that if you take less he’ll have more,” Galen retorted.

“Bob, let’s get our guest settled down in her room.”

“I ... uh ... thought I’d camp out with the Bear, guys.”

They both stared at Galen.

“Don’t look at me, it wasn’t my idea.”

Edison cleared his throat.

“House rules, everyone but the hosts has his or her own room.”

Nancy shot him a wifely look and he beat a quick husbandly retreat.

“Uh ... of course that’s generally for the younger set.”

“Sandy,” she said, “why don’t you and I stretch our legs after you unpack? There’s a lot to see up here and I’d like to introduce you to some of our neighbors. Better change into your walking shoes.”

They both stood up and Sandy followed Nancy down the hall, letting out a “harrumph” as she passed Edison.

He flinched but said nothing until the women were out of earshot.

“Was she like that in school?”

Galen smiled.

“More so. Sixty years hasn’t mellowed her.”

“My God, I wonder if Sarah will be like her.”

“I suspect she’ll be a contender.”

“Poor Tonio!”

“I think you mean, ‘Lucky bastard!’”

They both chuckled.

“Come on, pot belly, let’s go walk off some of that excess avoirdupois you’re carrying around.”

She stood in the entryway to the living room, the light from the picture window illuminating the gnome-sized, proverbial little old lady, now literally in tennis shoes.

“Galen,” Edison whispered, “I suggest you bring along your walking stick.”

“Why?”

“Self-protection.”

He nodded.

“I thought you and Nancy were going for a walk.”

“Later, handsome. Right now it’s you and I.”

They stood outside on the graveled turn-around. A warm, late-summer breeze tousled their wispy, gray-haired heads.

“There’s so much to show you, Sandy. I thought maybe we’d see our migratory bird pond then cut over to visit our neighbors.

“Lead on, old friend.”

They headed into the woods.

“Just be forewarned, McDevitt. Everyone here is a character.”

“You can say that again. What’s with Edison? Separate bedrooms? Where did that come from?”

“From our days back at
Concepción
High School. He’s never gotten over that.”

“Hah! I went to a parochial school, too. The nuns raised calluses on their knees praying for my immortal soul. Didn’t do a bit of good.

“And another thing, how in hell did he manage to snare Nancy? He doesn’t act like he’d know how to get to first base.”

“It’s a long story.”

“So, tell me all about...”

They had reached a clearing with a pond and the sheer sight of it startled her.

“This is beautiful!”

“Come over here, Sandy. We can sit on one of the larger rocks and watch the birds.”

“Galen, that big rock just moved!”

A large black bear stood up and stretched the kinks out of his back before sitting back on his haunches and staring at them.

“That’s a …”

“That’s Baloo. Baloo old friend, meet Sandy.”

The beast yawned, shook its head, and let out a low “bawruff.”

“Nancy says he’s my totem, my spirit brother.”

“I see the resemblance. Is he ... tame?”

“Don’t worry, he won’t hurt you. He’s just sunning himself. Besides, I think he’s already eaten.”

As if on cue, the bear lay on his back and wiggled into a comfortable position on the ground, looking once more like a fur-covered rock.

“No question, Galen, he’s your twin.”

Next the padding of multiple feet through the forest floor turned her head.

“Holy sh..! Those are…”

“Wolves.”

She reflexively backed into him for protection. Galen found his arms encircling her. He kissed the back of her neck and heard himself whispering, “Easy, old girl.”

The alpha male stood at the head of a phalanx of seven. It moved forward slowly.

“Hold out your hand, Sandy.”

The lupine nasal alars flared and snuffled the trembling outstretched hand. Then, almost in unison, all seven canines sat. From behind the pack an elderly, brown-furred female came forward and licked Galen’s outstretched hand.

“This is Athena, their matriarch.”

The spectacle was becoming too much for her.

“I need to sit down.”

Galen led her to a nearby glacier-strewn rock.

She relaxed a little and leaned against his arm.

“You truly are the Bear.”

She stared at him. “I haven’t felt this way since Josh…”

Galen knew that look, and for a moment he allowed himself a long-repressed thought.

All she needs are lavender eyes
.

“What the hell’s going on, Galen? I’ve lived on the African savanna surrounded by wild animals, but I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s not natural.”

“This is Safehaven, Sandy. What lives here came here seeking refuge.”

“Like you?”

He closed his eyes and nodded then slowly rose and moved toward the edge of the pond. He gazed at its still surface. She followed and stood at his side.

“I know, Galen. I know about it all.”

“I lost them, Sandy. Leni and Cathy and June. I loved them and lost them. I’m not sure what would have happened if Nancy and Edison hadn’t taken me in, if we hadn’t adopted the children.”

She clasped his hands. The gentle mountain breeze arose again and stirred their memories.

“Ben, this is Nancy Edison. You’re probably going to have visitors shortly. Galen has a guest, an old classmate from medical school. I just wanted to tell you.”

“Thanks, Mrs. Edison. What’s his name?”

“Sandy McDevitt.”

“Doc’s got a girlfriend? Good for him!”

“I wouldn’t say that in front of him. You know how he is.”

“Understood. I’ll let Lem know.”

Ben Castle hung up and grinned.

“Ol’ Doc’s got himself a ladyfriend. What a kicker! Now, if only Lem…”

“Who was that, Ben?”

“Mrs. Edison. Doc Galen’s got a guest, a lady doctor. They’re walkin’ through the woods and’ll probably be stopping by shortly. We ought to straighten up a bit.”

Lem Caddler nodded.

“’Bout time. I’ll take care of the cleanin’. You been lookin’ kinda peaked the past few days.”

“Thanks, Lem. It’s not the best time of year for me.”

Ben sat in his recliner. For the thousandth time he recalled how as a rookie Pennsylvania state trooper he had married Irene Strzewski, how beautiful she had looked at the wedding, how she had felt in his arms when they danced the Pani Mloda, and he remembered the scent of the mock orange blossoms in her tiara.

Only a year later, he had witnessed her fiery death in an auto crash while he chased a fleeing bank robber.

Now he lived on the mountain with his friend, Lem, and his autistic daughter, Miriam.

His blue Polish eyes stared at the wall.

“Watch your step, Sandy. It’s a little tricky on this path. We had a tornado come through a while back and some of the debris is still scattered around the trail.”

“Where are we headed now?

“There’s a caretaker’s cottage on the side of the mountain. Some nice folks live there. I’d like you to meet them.”

“More refugees?”

“Yes.”

The debris from the tornado-destroyed cottage lay piled away from the rebuilt home. A stone hand of glacial boulders protected it on three sides.

“What an amazing place!”

“I wish we had thought of this the first time.”

They were still 20 feet away from the front door when it opened and a tall, beanpole-thin man stepped out to greet them.

“Galen, is this the Addams Family house? That guy is the spitting image of Lurch.”

“He’s Lem Caddler, a former farmer and Vietnam War hero.”

“Why is he here?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Come on in, folks. Missus Edison said you’d be droppin’ by.”

“Thanks, Lem. This young lady is Sandy McDevitt. She’s a quack like me.”

“Don’t let him fool you, Dr. Sandy. He’s not a bad sawbones.”

Ben was now standing behind Lem.

“Come on in, Doc, Missus McDevitt. There’s no witch in our gingerbread house.”

Sandy took the measure of both men and smiled.

“Please, sit down. Can we get you anything?”

“No thanks, Ben. Nancy will be having dinner ready by the time we get back.”

“How’s yer boy doin’, Doc?”

“Tonio’s at medical school now. That’s where Sandy and I ran into each other.”

“Yeah, this big galoot was a year ahead of me in school. Now my granddaughter and his boy are classmates … and maybe more.”

Grunting noises erupted from the back room.

“Lemme check on Miri,” Lem said, leaving the room.

“Doc McDevitt,” Ben said quietly, “my Miriam ... Miri ... my daughter, she’s…”

“Autistic, Ben?”

“Yes.”

“But she’s also an artistic savant,” Galen chimed in.

A broad smile creased the ex-trooper’s round face.

“See those little clay figures?” he said, pointing at the mantelpiece, “and those charcoal drawings? Miri did those.”

“May I see her?”

He nodded.

“I think Lem has things under control. Sometimes when she can’t find paper or clay, she gets … uh … upset.”

They headed toward Miri’s room, where Lem was picking up drawings strewn about the floor.

“She done run outta paper, Ben. I gave her more.”

Sandy watched, fascinated, as the girl, now in her late 20s, sat cross-legged on a floor mat, both hands moving simultaneously like insects over two sheets. Beside her sat a tan-gray canine.

“That’s a Safehaven wolf, Sandy,” Galen said. “The pack gave it to her.”