Riddle (31 page)

Chapter 56

            Grace smiled as Tony entered the diner. “Hey, stranger. Where have you been hiding?”

                            He returned the smile. “Working and taking care of my mother. She’s started going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.”

              “              Oh Tony, that’s wonderful! How about you? Are you alright?”

                            He nodded. “I’m looking at going to college if things keep going this way.” Leaning closer to her he spoke in a low voice. “Thank you for listening to me. You made a difference.”

                            Grace blushed. “I didn’t do anything really. I just listened.”

                            “That’s what I needed. I’m just sorry I couldn’t have saved you from Norma and all that happened.”

                            “You did more than you think. I know you searched for me all night. I also know you found Norma and that had to be terrible.”

                            Tony straightened his back and his eyes hooded over. “She was dead.”

                            “I know. But it still had to be horrible. I can never thank you enough.” Embarrassed she looked away for a moment before turning back to Tony and saying softly. “In some ways you saved my life. I should have called you or gone to see you when I got home. But to be honest I wanted to forget everything. It was like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.” Grace shivered as the memory of Norma’s angry hate filled eyes filled her mind.

                            “It’s in the past Grace. Try to forget about it. Norma is dead and she can’t hurt anyone else. I’m glad she’s dead. She was the closest thing to evil I’ve ever known. She almost destroyed a lot of people.”

              She was stunned by the intensity of Tony’s words. He wasn’t just angry. His eyes had glazed over, his jaw was set tightly, and his voice was rough and throaty. For a moment Grace was frightened. When he had given her the letter and told her about Desiree’s affair with his father he had been upset. Now he was ice cold. It was as though he was a stranger.

              “Tony you have to let it go too. Your mother is going to be alright thanks to you. You’ve been there for her. The worst part is over. Now we can all heal and put this behind us.” She smiled encouragingly, “You’ll go to college. Your mom will get better. Someday you might be the owner your own inn.”

              He laughed but his laughter had a false ring to it. “I don’t know if I’ll own an inn but at least I will do something with my life. Thank you again. Thank you for being my friend.”

              “Thank you.” Picking up a menu she asked, “Do you want to sit at the counter or do you want a table? We’re not busy right now.”

              “Oh no. I didn’t come in to eat. I just wanted to see how you are doing. I’m going to work now.”

              “Do you want a muffin for later?” she smiled.

              “No. No thank you. I really have to go. I don’t want to be late.” He backed toward the door. “I’ll see you around. Take care.”

              “You too Tony. Take care of yourself. And congratulations on school and your mother.” Grace watched as Tony dashed through the parking lot and across the road to the inn. Ashlee had come up beside her.

              “He’s so strange,” she said softly.

              Grace nodded. “A little. But he has a big heart. And he wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

              “I guess,” Ashlee headed to pick up an order for her table glancing uneasily back over her shoulder. Grace may think he was harmless but her mother had always told her to watch out for the quiet ones.

Chapter 57

              One evening they accepted Agnes’s invitation to dinner. After the meal Agnes brought out a home baked pie. As they sat with dessert and coffee Kort cleared his throat.

              “Mother, I have something to tell you.”

              Agnes looked up expectantly. She secretly hoped Kort was going to announce his engagement to Grace. She didn’t expect what he did say.

              “I read the letters from my mother. I’ve given it a lot of thought and I’m going to try to find her.”

              Agnes knocked over her cup and coffee spread across the cream colored tablecloth. Grace jumped up and using her napkin tried to soak up some of the liquid. Her eyes darted from Kort to Agnes. There was a tense silence in the room.

              He reached across the table and took his mother’s hand. “Please try to understand. I have so much to resolve. I appreciate you are trying to make things all right. Things will never be all right if I don’t do this.”

              Agnes was trembling, her eyes filling with tears. She bit her lip trying to hold them back. Her voice shaking she said, “You don’t even know if she is alive. You don’t know where to look.”

              “I may not know if she is alive but I have to find out. I have a pretty good idea where to look. The last letter in that envelope is ten years old. She may have moved but I don’t think she did.” He hesitated. “Were there any more letters?”

              Agnes shook her head as she twisted her napkin nervously. “No. I waited to see if any more would come. They never did. I-I guessed she must have given up or died. I closed the post office box about five years ago. There didn’t seem to be any reason to keep it. You were…away.”

              Kort nodded and glanced at Grace before looking back at Agnes. “I’m not going to lie to you. I’m very angry that you kept the letters from me. You had no right. Father had no right. What you did,” he shook his head, “You took me from my family. And you lied to her and to me. I want to be able to forgive you. Right now, well, I can’t. Maybe if I can find her, maybe if I can find some closure I will be able to put it behind me. I just don’t know.”

              Tears were slowly streaming down Agnes’s face and she suddenly tossed her napkin on the table and went into the kitchen. Kort watched her go. Grace had not spoken but she moved around behind his chair and leaning forward she put her arms around his neck. He squeezed her hands and taking a deep breath he stood up. “Give me a minute, okay?” He went into the kitchen closing the door behind him.

              Grace began to stack the dishes preparing to clear the table but finally just sank into a chair listening to the low murmur of voices in the other room. The ticking clock in the living room got louder by the minute. It seemed an eternity until Kort came back into the dining room. Grace only had to look at his face to see his distress.

              “Let’s go.” Taking her hand he pulled her from the chair and began to lead her to the front door.

              “Shouldn’t we help her clean up?” Grace protested.

              His answer was short. “No. Let’s go.”

              His tone told her this was not a time to argue. Whatever had been said in the kitchen had sent him over the edge. As she followed him to the driveway she glanced back over her shoulder. There was no movement from the house. Getting into the passenger seat of the truck she watched his hand shake as he shoved the key into the ignition. The engine roared to life and he sped out of the driveway the tires squealing as he turned onto the road. Grace clutched the dashboard her eyes never leaving his face. His jaw was set tensely and a vein throbbed in his forehead. Grace searched her mind for something to say but she didn’t even know what had happened between him and his mother in the other room. Driving in an edgy silence she watched the headlights of passing cars as they sped past. It was only when Kort turned onto the road that led to her apartment that he slowed the truck. Reaching the Timbers he parked the vehicle crookedly. Not looking at Grace he told her, “Go on upstairs Grace. I’m going for a drive.”

              She stared at him. She did not move. Her silence caused him to turn and look at her. It was then that she spoke. “There is no way you are going to be alone right now. If you need to take a drive and you need quiet I’ll be quiet. But I’ll be going with you.”

              Kort continued to look at her. The silence hung thickly like a dark curtain surrounding the truck. Finally he nodded, turned off the engine, and got out of the truck. Still not speaking he followed Grace up the stairs to the apartment and inside. They stood just inside the door staring at one another. Suddenly Kort pulled her into his arms and buried his face in her shoulder. She held him tightly feeling his body tremble. After a few moments he moved slightly away and taking her hand led her to the bedroom. Grace watched as he stripped down to his underwear and got into bed. Wordlessly she undressed and slipped between the sheets moving close to him. He drew her near and with the other hand switched off the light.

              In the darkness he began to speak. “She doesn’t accept what they did was wrong. How can she think it was acceptable to kidnap a baby from a mother who loved and wanted him? How can she think it was alright for her husband to disparage and beat me because I didn’t fit the image he wanted to portray to this town? She doesn’t understand why I need to find out who I am and where I come from. I can’t forgive her for what happened. Maybe someday I can look at things with less anger. But right now I want to find my mother and any other family I may have out there.” His arms had been getting tighter around Grace’s body and she could barely breathe. Pressing his lips against the top of her head he asked softly, “Am I wrong?”

              Grace whispered, “I don’t think you’re wrong. I think she’s afraid. She’s gotten the idea that things are okay. No, she doesn’t understand. When she thinks about it she may come around.” Hesitating a moment before she continued she managed to bend her head to look up at him. “It’s hard to admit when you have done something wrong, something terrible. But try to give her a chance Kort. Don’t leave it this way. Talk to her before we go.”

              It was then that his voice broke. “She told me if I am going to do this she doesn’t want to know anything about it. She told me if I’m dead set on ruining both our lives I should just leave and not look back. It’s as though she is asking me to choose between her and my mother.”

              Grace didn’t know what to say. She was shocked and her feelings were written on her face. Kort nodded. “Whatever happens, I have to do this. I have to go. If she never speaks to me again and I never find my real mother, I have to do this.”

              “And I will go with you. Whatever happens I’ll be here for you.” Grace touched his face softly.

              He kissed her and murmured, “I love you.”

              Kissing him back she looked into his eyes and said huskily, “I love you.”

Chapter 58

              It was a warm fall day when they loaded the truck to head north. Indian summer was taking a final deep breath before the temperatures would drop and creep steadily toward winter’s chill. Chad had offered to store the few belongings Grace had acquired. Neither Kort nor Grace were certain if they would ever return to Riddle. In spite of the findings exonerating Kort there were still the occasional suspicious glances cast his way. With winter coming and the construction at the Timbers almost completed there would be little work.

              Jack tried to talk them into staying in Riddle at least until spring when the trip north would be less dangerous. Neither of them was willing to put it off. Kort had written to the return address on the envelope. It had been almost three weeks and there had been no response. They had both tried to find a telephone number or some information but it was as though the woman who had written the pain filled letters year after year had fallen from the face of the earth. Both of them had considered the possibility she had passed away but neither was prepared to let it go without knowing for certain. Grace used the insurance money from the loss of her car to buy a trailer for the motorcycle.

              The sun had just risen and they stopped at the diner for breakfast and to say good bye before they got on the road. Jack joined them as they sat at a booth drinking coffee and eating. He grinned at Grace’s plate of bacon and eggs and another of pancakes. “Now that’s a first.”

              Grace wrinkled her nose at him. “I don’t know when I’ll get food as good as yours again.”

              Kort smiled at her and winked.

              “Flattery will get you everywhere. Breakfast is on me. And get a couple of sandwiches and coffees to go.”

              Kort opened his mouth to protest but Jack pointed at him. “Not a word. You’re taking the best hostess I’ve ever had. At least let me make sure she’s fed so when you get back she’ll be able to work again.”

              Kort didn’t say anything but he and Grace exchanged looks. Jack caught it and said softly, “You’re not coming back are you?”

              Grace laid her hand on his arm. “Right now we don’t know what we’re going to do. But if I was going to work for anyone in this town it would be you.”

              “You’ll be missed. Both of you will be missed. Don’t let the assholes in this town run you off.” With that he got up and went back to the front of the diner.

              Grace looked around the diner watching the regular breakfast crowd enter and sit at the same tables they chose every day. As much as she hated to believe it she knew Riddle would never change. Kort would always be the Indian kid who’d killed his girlfriend and she would always be the outsider who took up with him. Kort reached across the table and took her hand. It seemed so small and pale when enveloped by his. The bruises had faded completely and her broken nails had grown back.

              “I had the luckiest day of my life in this diner.” Bringing her hand to his lips he kissed it. “The moment you sat down beside me everything changed.”

              Her eyes held his, lost in the deep darkness. “It changed everything for me too. You once made fun of me for what you called wandering. Now you’re going to wander too.”

              “Not exactly. We have a destination. For now it’s Carcross. If that doesn’t work out we’ll have a new destination. As long as I’m traveling with you I’m home.”
              Grace felt a lump form in her throat. She nodded, then wiped the corners of her mouth. “I’m ready to go if you are.”

              They stopped at the counter to say good bye to Jack. He slid an envelope across to her. She looked from it to his face questioningly.

              “Severance pay.”

              Grace knew there was no point in arguing. “Thank you, Jack.” Impulsively she stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.

              His face colored and he shoved a bag across to Kort. “Sandwiches, some cookies, a couple of muffins and,” he grinned at Kort, “half of an apple crumb pie.” He set two large containers of steaming hot coffee next to the bag. “Drive safely. And keep in touch.”

              Kort shook his hand and thanked him. Then they turned and left the diner. Neither spoke as they got into the truck. Grace set the coffees in the cup holders and set the bag on the floor behind Kort’s seat. Looking at one another they smiled and Kort pulled the truck out onto the road heading north.