Tuesday July 7, 1992
Nick had reworked his work schedule for Tuesday off, set his alarm for 7 AM, shut it off to give his head a minute to clear, then fell asleep till just past 8.
He calls Noreen to apologize, and she has to work to keep from laughing,
"Sweetie, you must have needed the sleep, you've been busy lately, go eat something and get here when you can."
So he does just that. She welcomes him at his car with a tight squeeze, lifts her feet and hangs on him for a couple minutes.
"Are you ready?"
"What am I ready for?"
"Come take a look."
Her space is very bright, white walls with brick around the fireplace. She has a space for everything, a music stand, an easel in the corner, a desk, ample sofa that started its life somewhere else, one of those that's probably more of a sleeper than a sitter. Older 19 inch tabletop TV with bunny ears, small kitchen and fridge. He can see into the small bedroom but she doesn't point it out, evidently the bath somewhere in there. And of course there are boxes and bags piled up in front of the fireplace.
"Is it what you pictured?"
"Well, I wasn't sure what to picture, but it's definitely you. Really cozy in here."
"Mmm it is, more so with you here."
He pulls her in for a good one, hands behind her head and lower back, it just needed to happen.
"Okay...let's get our day started...mmm..."
"What does mmm mean?"
"Stick around long enough and we might make a whole new meaning for it."
"Alright let's move some boxes!" He turns toward the door and she smacks his bum.
"Atta boy. We gotta go get the truck keys from Bart, you can get a gander of the shop while we're at it."
"Sounds mechanical."
"It is quite, and it's been a blessing all these years."
They head along well-worn path of smooth stones and a few weeds, grass looks to have been mowed last week with a large deck. The cabin has stone gardens around the front and sides, cleverly low-maintenance. This place has a great vibe.
On up ahead is the metal building with two small garage bays and a larger one with the door closed, must be for trucks, and toward the rear looks like an extension, perhaps where the fabrication part of the name happens. Bart protrudes from one of the open doors with another dude, talking, and when he looks their way there's a sudden twinge of disbelief, it's unmistakably his old buddy Tom Delano.
Nick just freezes and stares. Instinct kicks in. Without knowing it his face takes on the demeanor of deep concentration, as if solving a calculation and wanting to be sure of the next operation before writing it down.
Noreen steps out a head a bit before catching on, turns around, "Nick?"
Consciousness comes back just a bit, in a split second, does he charge in with everything he has and anticipate Delano will do the same? Or just stand here and see what happens.
Delano turns around toward the garage. Nick turns along the side of the garage and starts walking, up ahead are some trees then the brush gets higher, it's not mowed and possibly no need to, who knows, his heart starts to race and he hopes he doesn't get ill, not here, not now, this is supposed to be a nice day with Noreen. Remembering his track training he puts his hands up on his head to make breathing easier, nice easy draws, in the nose, out the mouth, 16 deep breaths a day make a better life, from grade school gym, heart still in his throat, why the hell is this all happening.
He finds a tree and wants to just pour himself onto the far side of it, but ends up with his back to it, somehow it feels like a new friend, strong and opaque. Once he can put his weight against the trunk he draws a deep breath and puts his hands down.
"Nick? Nick, what's wrong?" Noreen hadn't been far behind all along.
Words are nowhere to be seen, just gray, he swallows, steady breaths, tall flaxen grass and the smell of country summer.
"Nick? Sweetie, talk to me, did you know that guy?"
He draws another breath and makes himself look her in the eye, feeling lower than dirt, as if he'd transformed into a different species.
"Yeah."
"Did you two get into a fight or something?"
"Gimme a minute."
"Take all the time you need babe, I just hope it will help to talk it out."
He pauses a little bit and puts his hands on her shoulders, peers into her face, artfully freckled, replete with concern. Finally,
"He lived in town for, well, a cup of coffee, a few weeks, a while back."
"In high school?"
"Yeah." His breathing was returning to normal and the tunnel vision was starting to spread back out to normal parameters.
"So what happened? Or is it that simple?"
"Well, high school was fine...I mean...he moved away I guess, but then when I worked at the store he was dating some broad who worked there too, receptionist, she was a piece of work, liked to stir up trouble."
"Ewwwww one of those, I think I see where this is going."
"Yeah, and so Delano would come up to me at the store, make threats, I just tried to blow it off, such bullshit."
"It always is."
"One night after work I was just walking to my car, that fucker was out there with his cohorts, he tried to get a reaction but I had my fill and just flipped him off."
"Uh-toh."
"Yeah, so he gets in his car and putts across the lot, surprised that the thing didn't just quit, but it kept coming, I bolt to the car, the wagon, lock the doors, he jumps out, runs up and pounds on the windows."
"God, Nick, did you call the cops?"
"I drove home, called the store, they said they'd keep an eye out for him but he won't be allowed there any longer, they were already sick of him hanging out."
"Was that the end of it?"
"Well...then Mom decided she needed to find his number and talk to him."
She sighs, "Yeah that sounds about right. You know she meant well, babe."
"Yeah I know, just made it awkward. He was upset that I didn't want to talk to him."
"And what should he expect acting like a horse's ass?"
Nick just looks at her. "You're too good for me, babe."
"Wanna get out of these tick-infested weeds? I'm pretty sure he left as soon as he saw you."
"Yeah let's do that."
So they head back, slowly, arms around each other's waist. They get about 20 feet from the rear of building when Bart bursts out, carrying something.
"Hey buddy, you okay? You sure earned this, drink up."
He hands Nick a cold can of Stag, already opened. Not sure what else to do he takes a sip then has to shift hands to shake.
"Did he leave?"
"Yeah man he sure didn't wanna face you, that look you threw almost scared the shit out of me too."
"God, I don't mean to come here and drive off your customers."
Bart just laughs, "Customer? SHEEEIT, that ol' boy ain't never brought any paid work our way, he just shucks and jives, manages to do all the maintenance himself then comes here, tries to hint at stuff he could use done if I had the time, you know what I mean, as if I ever got bored enough to mess with ground effects on that pussy-ass MR2, did you hear how it runs? Anyway...so, you two got some bad history there?"
"Yeah, was just telling her...."
"Alright, shoot, yeah, I gotta get back to it, well hey, she'll do the driving, lemme get the keys - Nicko you'll have to tell me over another beer sometime, I'll buy!"
"You got it, thanks man."
Bart heads back into the garage, they keep walking around the side.
"You don't drink do you?"
"Have never tried the stuff, kind of nervous with family history."
"Understood, I'll split it with you, do you like it?"
"Yeah actually it's mellow, kinda sweet?"
"That was my first brew, story for another time. Just sip a mouthful at a time you'll be fine as long as you had breakfast."
"Had a huge breakfast, glad I didn't lose it up there, but this was just like an adrenaline thing."
"Sounds like it. Well, now that you've faced that shitbag you'll be that much stronger."
"That which doesn't kill us..."
"Although I should have a tad more respect for him, looks like he has a kid and maybe a wife, she's usually with him."
"How often does he stop by?" He takes another swig and hands it to her.
"Every few weeks maybe, but I have a feeling it'll be a while if ever."
"Yeah I could go a lifetime..."
She takes a couple gulps then he does too. "Heh, I was about due for some coffee but maybe when we get where we're going."
"Absolutely, we can get whatever in town."
"I figured, brought some foldin' money."
They get to the garage bays, there are a few guys working, most appear to be hired guns popping a lube gun, another balancing a tire. They stick to the side and he does his best to conceal the beverage, feels like he should have goggles on or something.
"Is the metal shop in back?"
"Yeah, we take in jobs here and there, stamping, cutting, some sign work here and there."
"Sounds like it kinda rounds things out."
"It really does, the two sides complement each other well."
Bart walks up with the truck keys, "You are clear for takeoff, have fun kids."
"Thank you sir," as she looks at the keys as a girl would at precious gems, or maybe the beer just makes it seem that way.
They find the truck, pull it around, load up, somehow managing between the two of them to cap off that Stag.
"Steak Taters And Gravy, " Nick says to the empty can before stashing it in the Cordoba.
Noreen giggles a little.
"What? Oh, are you thinking about...later?"
With eyes as emeralds sparkling in the sun locked onto his, she gracefully makes her way to where he stands, pauses for a second, leans in for a two-beat smooch. "Get your fine ass in that truck."