The Urn Carrier (10 page)

Billy’s letter. She dreaded this one. But better to rip the
band-aid off now. She isn’t very careful opening this envelope. As suspected,
he blames everything on Dina and writes he has been played. He admits visiting
her mom! Oh, for fucks sake. Really? Her mom never mentioned that. Wait till
the next Mommy Call. He ends the letter with, once Dina doesn’t need Tessa, he
may or may not be around. As if.

Her mom’s letter fills her in on all the neighborhood news, which
they’ve already shared on the iPad in the once a week sessions. The best newest
news is Holly called, asking about her and will be home for a visit in the
fall, so they can catch up then.

Mr. Forsythe’s letter packet is full. It has some extra gas cards,
written info on official contacts along the way, should any more trouble arise,
some interesting facts about the places she is going next and the procedure for
a smooth customs crossing at the border.

There. All her box is done, except for the gift.

The small box is heavy for its size and ornate, a grey box with
darker designer grey lines in overlay, tied with a gold bow.

Tessa carefully unties the bow.

Inside, wrapped in heavy paper and cotton swathing is a smaller
box. Inside that box, a gold ring with a small, secondary crescent band arching
upward on a slight angle, encircling a beautiful, small diamond.

The inscription reads, “With love, Dina.”

Tessa realizes she isn’t breathing. Her heart burns and happy
tears fill her eyes.

She’s bursting to share this enormous news with someone. Unable to
tell her mom, who doesn’t approve; she certainly can’t run next door and show
the neighbors. Eli would understand. She sighs and holds the moment to herself.

Their tummies full, Tessa’s heart glowing, the incessant rain
lulls her to sleep.

TESSA STORES HER letters under the sofa seat with the travel books
and DVDs and old photo albums. She thumbs through the old albums, trying to
take her mind off the fact she would like to run next door and show off her
ring, but then she’d have to explain everything. She can’t call Dina, because
she won’t be out of work till midnight. Additionally, part of her is nervous
that Uncle Chuck is lurking somewhere nearby, ready to pounce again. Perusing
the photo albums settles her jumbling, tumbling mind.

Murphy lies patiently at her feet, his dry warmth snuggled against
her, during the second monsoon. She chooses the photo album filled with
black-and-white pictures, figuring they are the earliest. Aunt Sadie and Uncle
Percy on their wedding day, best man and maid of honor beside each of them. The
maid of honor is as tall as Percy.

Relatives and little kids she doesn’t know.

Then there are old pictures of The Grand Canyon. Tessa recognizes
the fabled dimpled series of mountains. She’s always wanted to try painting an
image of these same mountains with purple hues of watercolor. Mule deer. Much
smaller than Northern Michigan ones.

She pages through and realizes some of these pictures are the
route she is covering. Every now and then different couples join them, as if
they’d just met up at a campground, or on the road.

Sadie and Percy were sure hearty travelers. First in a
wood-paneled station wagon. Sadie smiling, with the rear tailgate door open, on
her tummy, face in her hands, a nice fit for her, but what about Percy? The
back didn’t look long enough for him. Maybe they put a board out for him.

Oh, there’s the barn on North Manitou. Wow, there were more
buildings, and roads, and houses. An old shipwreck still visible.

Traverse City had just a paved two-lane along the water, and
motels. Everything seems familiar but looks different.

She finds a color album starting in the sixties. The tall lady and
shorter man couple. He has glasses. Tessa opens up the black-and-white album.
The tall lady with a different man. No. It’s the same man. He has no glasses
and a lot more hair. The young twenty-something version.

Percy with dark hair in the black and white and this fellow.
Washboard tummies, just like Cousin Joe. All men must have them, Tessa sighs.

Tessa looks from the color photo to the black and white. Then she
pages back to the wedding photo. It’s the same couple, just not married yet.

Tessa has breezed through another set of wedding pictures because
it isn’t anyone she knows, except Sadie and Percy. Then she sees Sadie and
Percy are at their wedding, their best friends.

Wow, they sure hung with that couple a lot. Those people even came
out to visit them, in some desert place. A motel with a couch outside in front
of it. Deserty-looking mountains behind. The motel looks flat and new and kind
of kitschy her mom would say. Men with cowboy hats and boots, one foot up on a
half barrel, another foot up on a water trough.

Tessa returns to the color album. There’s a loud knocking at her
door.

She hasn’t noticed but the rain has let up and now she’s suddenly
frightened.

Uncle Chuck? The pounding continues.

“Tessa! It’s Cindy.” Tessa opens the door. “Want some dinner?”

“Is it that late?” Tessa realizes it’s getting dark. “I guess I
got lost in the photo albums.”

“Is that what your box held?”

“No.” Tessa smiles. “Letters, but I burned through all them and
then I received these.” She holds up one of the bags of chocolate chip cookies.

“Dessert!” Cindy squeals and her eyebrows pop up over the rim of
her glasses. “It’s finally quit raining, for a moment there, we thought we
might all have to move to higher ground. Flooding.”

“Wow, the high water being an issue never even occurred to me.”

“In the National Parks they try to keep an eye out for folks, but
in some of these smaller places, you’re left on your own. The San Marcos is
behaving for us.”

“Have you ever heard of this?” Tessa shows Cindy the NAWAC patch.
Cindy doesn’t notice the new ring on her finger, and that’s okay.

“I can’t say that I have, but bring it over, Chris will be
interested in seeing it.”

Chapter 13

DINA FACETIMES HER while she’s on the road.

“I can’t FaceTime, I’m driving.”

“God, you’re beautiful, the way the sunlight is hitting you as you
drive. Can’t you just prop it up somewhere?”

Murphy is sitting in the passenger seat and looks at her with an
“I ain’t budging” look.

“Mmm, lemme try this.” She pops Dina into the old-fashioned ashtray.
“If I hit a bump, this isn’t real stable, just call back.”

“I’ve got news for you and I wanted to see your face when I told
you.”

“K, hit me!”

“I dropped Xander.”

Tessa is speechless.

Dina claps her hands and laughs. “You should so see your face.
Baby. You can pick up your lower jaw, don’t let it hit the steering wheel.”

“I just can’t believe you’re not sleeping
with him anymore.”

“You’re way more loyal than he’s ever going to be. Besides. You’re
a hard worker.”

“That’s why you’re dating me? Because I’m a hard worker?”

“No. I’m dating you because you’re so damn fine in bed.”

“Dina!”

“I’m dropping Xander and focusing on you because you’re a hard
worker.”

Tessa smiles.

“Besides, who else would take a crazy ass trip by themselves
across the country? You’ve got guts. I love that about you.”

“Thanks, it’s fun really, except for Chicken-butt Chuck. Dina, all
the people on the road are really cool. Who knew? It’s way easier than I
thought. The only bad thing is I’d like to be sharing all these sights with you.”

“Well, we’re just going to have to take our own camping trip next
year.”

“Really? You promise? What about school?”

“By then I’ll know if I’m accepted here for my Masters, then I
have a little time.”

“Awesome. Baby? I really have to concentrate on traffic, I’m
driving around San Antonio, but can we talk tonight?”

“Count on it. I love you, Tessa Marie!”

“I love you, Dina Kay!”

“Bye . . . Kisses!”

Tessa makes a kissy face at the phone before it goes dark.

And sighs a deep happy sigh.

“How ’bout that Murph? I got a sweet, sexy woman!”

Murphy yawns and looks out the window.

WHEN TESSA FOLLOWS the GPS directions of her next ash drop, she
rechecks her co-ordinates and itinerary. The hot tub spa place in Truth or
Consequences looks like a decrepit old motel. There’s some driftwood out front
of a dirt circular drive and a couch, dragged from somewhere. It looks vaguely
familiar, but not.

The building has seen better days. The peeling turquoise-and-pink
paint, and cigarette butts around the edges of the site.

She walks into the small office and a girl with purple streaks in
her blonde hair and double rings in her nose looks up. She’s been toying with
her hair, she doesn’t stop as she asks, “Hot Springs? Half hour or an hour?”

Tessa must look lost so the girl points to a chalkboard over her
head.

“Welcome to T or C hot springs. Soothing natural hot springs. ½
hour private room soak $4, 1 hr. /$8.” All the letters are in different chalk
colors and the one slash two in half hour are blue, orange, and red.

“Uhm, half.”

“Four dollars. Gotta towel? Cause that’s more.”

“I have a towel.”

The girl looks out and see’s Tessa’s rig. Murphy is poking his
head out the window.

“No dogs, k? There’s shade out back, I think you can park your
whole thing there. Make sure he has water, k? I don’t like folks who abuse
animals.”

Tessa nods.

The girl gives her an old-fashioned motel key, reading, ”Coynes
Resort” on a leather tag, with a ring hole for the key, Room 4.

“It’s down and to the left.” The girl points to her right.

Tessa is a little creeped out but she does find a shady spot for
the rig and Murphy. She leaves the windows open and a nice breeze blowing
through.

Murphy doesn’t whine and it’s only going to be a half hour.

She opens the door to the room and it’s surprisingly clean and
efficient with a newer wicker chair, a shower, and new bamboo mats with Asian
accents. Drinking water with ice just placed there and a lemon slice floating
on top. She brought her bathing suit, but once she opens the door to the hot
springs she realizes it’s unneeded. A huge rope with a knot hangs from the
ceiling to an easy reach just above the water. She walks down the two large
cement steps into the pool and hangs onto the rope. It’s deep enough to
submerge her whole body, but if she gets too hot she can pull herself up by the
thick rope and sit on one of the cement steps. The rope reminds her of
something off a pirate’s ship.

The thermal bath is nothing short of delicious. Whatever natural
minerals are in the water soothe every road weary ache in her body. Who knew
this was waiting behind the façade outside?

Tessa is jolted from her total relaxation by a knock on the door.

“Five minutes, k?” the girl says.

Tessa hasn’t done the ashes. She reaches up to the top step and
brings them down. She’s gotten lost in the thermals, even the traffic outside
on the front road, and children playing far off somewhere, the in and out of
the hot springs mesmerizes her and she gently releases the ashes to the out
portal and watches them drift into the sunlight outside.

Sighing, grateful for the relaxing waters, she climbs out and
wraps the towel around her.

This is getting a five star in her memory book.

SHE LETS MURPHY out to run around and sees she has a call from
Forsythe.

“Chuck reappear?” he says without a hello.

“No.”

“Good. I think he’s a man of reason.”

Tessa is doubtful. “He kind of threatened my whole family and
Murphy.”

“I believe his . . . excitement . . . is toned down.”

“I don’t know how you do it, Mr. Forsythe, from Michigan. I do
appreciate everything. Thank you.”

“You’re more than welcome, Tessa. From here on out I really
believe you should have no more trouble, but if you do, do not hesitate to
call. Even though it might seem like I’m not responding, rest assured I am. You
are performing a vital service. Never doubt that. Did you read any of the
additional info on the trailer under the cargo seat?”

Tessa’s heart races as she instantly remembers Great Aunt Sadie’s
journal entry. “Yes.”

“Good. You received all the information you need for your Canadian
crossing?”

“Yes, everything. All of Murphy’s vaccines. And I have a copy of
everything, like my passport.”

“Excellent. Will anyone be joining you?”

“Maybe. I thought my college friend, Dina. Just for a little
while.”

“I understand the Canadian Rockies are visually stunning. It will
be nice to share those with someone.”

Tessa smiles. “Thanks, Mr. Forsythe. Thanks for not being angry
about that.”

“Angry? This is a long trip. You should have someone join you.
Take care, Tessa. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I will.”

“Just one more thing. Does anyone else, besides your mother, know
your travel plans?”

Dina.

“Not really, Mr. Forsythe, I just keep ’em guessing.”

“Excellent. Keep up the good work.”

Wow. He was surprising her more and more each time she spoke with
him.

AFTER THE HOT springs, Tessa really just wants to relax. The girl
with the purple hair tells her about Elephant Butte. Although the water in the
reservoir is way down because of the drought, kayaking with Murphy is wonderful
and easy.

It’s Mommy Call night.

Her mom doesn’t answer. Not even on the second and third try.
That’s unusual.

Tessa’s reservoir kayaking ran a little late, but her mom usually
stays awake till eleven Michigan time.

Tessa frowns. She messages,
Are you at
the movies tonight?

Nothing.

Tessa begins dinner and checks the phone every so often.

Tonight she’s grilling veggies and a small piece of pork loin
she’s marinated.

“Smells good,” a woman calls out from the fifth wheel a few sites
over.

Her fifth wheel is even bigger than Chris and Cindy’s. And she
must have a washing machine because her clothes are hanging on a self-made
clothesline. All the clothes look theatrical. No truck is on site, just the
fifth wheel. The woman strolls over.

She has on cut-off shorts, beautiful sandals, a light sweatshirt
that’s been strategically ripped at the arms and neck and hanging loosely on
her. She has pretty blonde hair and beautiful brown eyes.

She sticks her hand out. “Cheryl.”

Murphy comes right up to her, wagging his tail.

“Tessa and Murphy.”

“What a beautiful name, Tessa.” Cheryl smiles up at her. She bends
down and pets Murphy. “And what a cutie patootie you are, you handsome boy.”

Murphy runs and finds his cloth rabbit. He flips it up in the air
and catches it and looks expectantly at her.

She laughs and claps. “Show off.”

Murphy wags his tail.

She turns to Tessa. “Wanna come over later for a campfire? My
boyfriend should be back in an hour or so.”

“Sure.” Tessa notices Cheryl has a tongue ring. Dolly would be
having a fit. Cheryl also wears a gold ring on her thumb and a gold bracelet.
She has a beautiful diamond on an ankle bracelet. It twinkles colors in the
sun.

“You must have a washer in your rig?”

“A washer and a dryer. I’m a featured performer on tour so it’s
imperative my stuff is cleaned every night.”

“Wow. Is that a good living?”

“Oh, yeah, pay cash for everything and I plan to retire by the
time I’m forty.” She leans over and whispers, “Which is in five years, but don’t
tell anyone.”

Tessa grins.

“Is it just you and your dog?”

“Yes, but I have a friend joining me in a couple of weeks.”

“It must get lonely.”

“Not too much.” Tessa thinks of Mark and Dolly and wonders if Mark
will fly out to see her. He said he might.

“Well, I admire you. Good for you. See you in about an hour. When
the red truck pulls in, give us a few minutes to get the campfire going.”

BEFORE GOING OVER to Cheryl’s, Tessa tries her mom one more time,
even though it’s after midnight, Michigan time. Tessa begins wondering who she
can call to check on her mom.

She realizes she’s feeling concern and protective, all the things
she huffs and becomes impatient with when her mom expresses those same things
for her or Eli. These sensations don’t sit very well, and she begins to
understand some of her mom’s reactions. Reluctantly, she pockets the phone and
heads over to the little fire she sees between the rig and the big red
four-door Ford.

Dean, the boyfriend, is about twenty-five years old. He has that
puppy energy that all young guys have when they’re in love. He waits on both of
them, refusing to let either of them get out of their chairs for a drink or a
snack. He hangs on every word Cheryl says, and has a difficult time looking
anywhere but in her direction.

When he fetches more wood and is out of hearing distance, Cheryl
sighs. “He’s a sweet boy and all, but it’s not long term. He’s already proposed
three times. I’m not the marrying kind. At least not yet and not with him.
Although he’s fun. And obedient. Love that. Have him trained right out of the
gate.”

“I think he adores you.”

“Mmm and I think he’s precious.”

Dean reappears only to hear that last part and his grin widens. He
sits at Cheryl’s feet and she rubs his head affectionately.

“I’m your number one man,” he murmurs, his eyes closed, as she
massages his head.

“So tell us about Tessa.” Cheryl looks at her.

“Oh, there’s not much to tell, just a girl and her dog traveling
around the US and Canada, spreading Great Aunt Sadie’s ashes.”

“No shit?”

“No shit. Nobody else in the family wanted to do it, and the
inheritance doesn’t get divided until all the appointed stops are
accomplished.”

“Holy crap. How long is that going to take?”

“Actually I’m two thirds of the way through, this part. I still
have to go east when I return to Michigan.”
Thanks a lot, Uncle Chuck.

“Where do you go from here?”

“Some place called Gila Cliff Dwellings, the Gila river.”

“Oh yes. That’s by Silver City.”

“She knows her geology,” Dean says, his eyes still closed. Cheryl
smiles.