Nathan's Clan of Deadheads Read online

  Nathan held a crooked arm out to Shelly, and they followed Dean to the entrance where they waited for him to retrieve the limousine. A shiver ran through Shelly. “The car will be warm by the time he pulls around.” Nathan would’ve given her his jacket, had he worn one. Instead he wrapped a cooler than normal arm around her shoulders in hopes it would help some.

  Once Dean had them settled in, he headed out toward the west side suburbs. Nathan raised the privacy panel between the compartments. “I surely have enjoyed the evening.”

  Shelly smiled. “Me, too. I bet my dad’s frantic right now, though.”

  “Oh?” Something Nathan hadn’t considered.

  “Don’t get me wrong. He doesn’t hover. But, I haven’t been out this late since right after I finished graduate school in June.”

  “Are you working already?”

  A shake of her head. “No. Not that I haven’t been applying for positions with every major college.”

  “What is it you want to teach?” Nathan’s interest in her shot up another notch.

  “Education.”

  And another. He shook his head to rid the fantasy beginning to build. “That’s a right nice goal.” As soon as the words exited his mouth, he mentally slapped himself. What kind of impression did that make? Then again, maybe it was better. A might silly of him to think about such things, anyway.

  The intercom beeped. “We’re here, ma’am.” Dean jumped from the car to hold the door open.

  Shelly laid a hand on his forearm. “I really have had a very nice time. Thank you, Nathan.”

  Nathan leaned in and planted a soft kiss on her mouth. “I’m pleased. Maybe we could go out to dinner sometime?”

  Shelly cocked her head the slightest bit. “I’d like that. Good night, Nathan.” With Dean’s help, she exited the car.

  His mama’s voice rang in his head. “Nathaniel Ray, where are your manners?” he mumbled, scooted across the seat, and escorted her to the door. “Lights are on inside. I hope I haven’t caused you too much trouble.”

  Shelly uttered a quiet laugh. “He’ll get over it.” She stood on her toes, gave him a peck on the lips. “Good night, Nathan.” Then inside before the door closed behind her, “Morning, Dad!”

  Halfway back to the hotel, Nathan again lowered the privacy window. “Dean, do you think you could find the house again?”

  In the rearview mirror, a smile appeared across the man’s lips. “Yes, sir. I’m sure I could.”

  “Is tomorrow too soon, do you think?”

  Dean laughed. “Mr. Crockett, it’s not what I think that matters.”

  “Would late afternoon be all right?”

  “You want my honest response?”

  “I do.”

  “I think sleep is going to be highly overrated for that young lady.”

  With thought and emotion warring, Nathan nodded and watched the scenery go by.

  Chapter 34

  Even with drawing the draperies closed as much as possible to avoid the sun creeping around the edges, sleep evaded Nathan. He tossed, rearranged the massive pile of pillows, and tossed some more. He pulled the covers over his head, and moments later threw them to the bottom of the bed. He yawned, he stretched, he nuzzled into the mattress.

  Hours later he issued a loud exhausted moan which echoed through the room. “It’s not like she’s going anywhere. You’ve got more than two months before you head back. And that’s all you can do. You know that. Now, stop this nonsense. If you think you can pull a fast one over on her, let alone escape the goblins and gremlins, and Lord knows what else might be determined to stop this life…” Despite the attempt at levity, the first thought of Jason in weeks caused a violent shiver to snake through him. Regardless of the lecture, spending time with Shelly continued to haunt his mental images. But, real time. He wanted to be with her Spring and on into Summer. And Fall. Come Winter they’d head off to any destination she pleased, and do whatever she wanted, any time she wanted.

  At noon, he rose, opened the curtains, stared out over the landscape and found nothing to distract him. Nothing moved out on the water, no cars had ventured to take to the roads—not within his view, anyway. He grabbed the phone from the nightstand, ordered milk and toast to neutralize the sourness churning in his stomach. In the bathroom, he wished the steam that billowed from the shower would fill his head with “a might bit of common sense.”

  After he finished dressing, and while he consumed the meager breakfast, the phone was in his hand before he could stop.

  Mirth colored the response on the other end. “It sure took you long enough, Mr. Crockett.”

  “Well, now, I wanted to give you recuperation time. How long will it take you to be out front?”

  Dean let out a small laugh. “Would now be fast enough?”

  As he stepped from the elevator, Nathan greeted Dean. “I sure do appreciate ya’ll doing this.”

  “Any time, Mr. Crockett.”

  On the drive, Nathan mused, “Where the heck is everyone today?”

  “Watching football, of course.”

  Nathan snorted. “Never could wrap my brain around that one. I didn’t take you away from anything, did I?”

  “There’s been a big party raging in my living room for the past three hours already. All the wives and girlfriends got together and made this huge spread for breakfast, we’ve got kegs of beer…”

  Stealing a glance, Nathan saw the smirk. “You know what, Dean? I think I like you.”

  “That’s good to know, Mr. Crockett. That’s good to know.” The car slowed and pulled to the curb in front of a modest Victorian that hadn’t been fully visible in the early morning. “Here we are.”

  Nathan opened his own door before Dean even unlatched his seatbelt. “Thank you.”

  “You want me to wait?”

  “That’d be right nice, if you wouldn’t mind. Just long enough that I can determine the lay of the land, as it were.”

  Nathan walked up the steps to a porch that spanned the entire front of the house and pushed the button of the doorbell. Muffled Westminster chimes rang out in perfect tones. The door opened a moment later to a rather burly, tousle-haired, middle-aged man in sweatpants and t-shirt. He appeared to assess Nathan, as well as the car at the curb, for a moment. Then he turned away. “Shell!”

  Her bellowed response echoed through the oak entry. “Yeah?”

  “Visitor!” The man swiveled to Nathan. “Well, don’t just stand there. I’m not paying to heat the outdoors.”

  “Yes, sir. I sure do apologize.” Nathan crossed the threshold and closed the door with a tiny click. The hand he extended in greeting found a retreating backside.

  The man’s bare feet padded without sound. “Game’s on.”

  Shelly’s face popped around the corner, then a generous smile spread. Shaking her head, she walked toward Nathan dressed in gray sweatpants and a dingy-white cable-knit sweater that hung to her knees, and her feet as naked as her father’s. “I am surprised.”

  “I do apologize. I should’ve called first, but I plumb forgot to get your number. If it’s inconvenient―”

  The bridge of her nose scrunched, and she pursed her lips in response. “Come on in.”

  “Are you sure? He’s watching his football, I shouldn’t disturb him.”

  The laugh fell out as easily and as brightly as Nathan remembered from the night before. “He’s already disturbed,” she said, and drew a mocking circle around her temple with a forefinger. She led him to the living room where her father sat on the couch, his feet up on a coffee table. “Dad, I’d like you to meet Nathan. Nathan, this is my father, Phillip.”

  Nathan extended a hand in greeting. “Pleased to—”

  Phillip jumped out of his seat, a fist pumping the air. “Go! Run, you stupid fuck! Go, go go!”

  Startled, Nathan pulled back, and turned his attention to the television. The camera followed a player as he ran down the field barely ahead of a pack from the opposing team. The roar o
f the stadium crowd blared from speakers placed in all four corners of the room and grew louder as the man crossed the goal line.

  “Now, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!” Phillip put a hand out. “Nathan.” After a one-pump handshake, he nodded at a chair and his attention returned to the television. “Have a seat. You like football?”

  “Well, sir, I’m more a basketball kind of guy.”

  “Shell, get your guy a drink. How about a beer? Plenty of beer.”

  Shelly shook her head, but a wide grin remained on her face. “Don’t mind him, Nathan. His brain will engage again once the game is over. Would you like something to drink?”

  “I thought we might go to dinner somewhere. Unless, of course, you’d like to stay and watch the game. I could tell Dean to come back later.” Nathan gestured toward the front of the house.

  “Don’t you drive?”

  Phillip’s question struck Nathan as odd, coming out of nowhere as it did. “Yes, sir. I just find it easier to hire a car in unfamiliar surroundings. Gets me places faster that way.”

  “There’s this thing called GPS. You might want to think about getting one. Oh, what the—get your head out of your ass so somebody can shove that flag up it!”

  Nathan laughed. Despite manners he ordinarily found rude, he liked this man. There was something straight-forward, honest in his behavior. “I’ll take it under advisement.”

  “Dad, we’re gonna go get something to eat,” Shelly said, and got a quick wave of her father’s hand in response. “Let me go get changed.”

  “Oh, there’s really no need. We don’t have to go anyplace fancy.”

  “Are you sure? It would only take a minute.”

  Nathan took her in from the feet up and settled on her eyes. “Positive. You’re stunning just the way you are.”

  A giggle escaped her. “Pardon my language, but that’s bullshit. It’s nice bullshit, but it’s still bullshit.”

  “Seriously: Put on a pair of shoes and you’re ready.”

  “Let’s go then. They’re in the rack next to the door. Later, Dad.”

  She moved up again in Nathan’s estimation. Imagine, a female these days willing to head out in sweat pants, baggy sweater, and no make-up. “It was a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

  Phillip’s gaze never faltered from the game. “You can stop with the ‘sir’ crap, Nathan. Have a nice time.”

  They sat across from one another at a pizzeria. Amid lively conversation about her college days, wherein Nathan managed to fend off questions about himself with, “Now, that there’s a pretty dull story. There’s a trust fund that lets me do pretty much whatever I fancy,” he watched her consume half of the large meat-laden pie. How she managed to stay so rail thin if she ate as heartily all the time only served to engage him that much more.

  Shelly leaned back in her booth, and let out a gush of air as she groaned. “Oh, my God, I’m full.”

  “I’d say you’ve got a right nice appetite. It’s a pleasure to see someone eat like they enjoy it. Food should be savored.”

  “Well, I’d say I savored more than I should have,” Shelly said with a laugh. “I think I need to move a bit, if I can get up from this bench.”

  Nathan slid money under the check the waiter had left at the edge of the table, then held out a hand and helped her to stand. He paused for a moment at Dean’s side on the way to the door. “We’re going to go for a bit of a walk.”

  Dean put his fork down and wiped his mouth. “You want me to follow with the car?”

  “No, no. Relax; finish your dinner. We’ll be back.”

  Thirty minutes later, as Dean thanked him a second time for the meal and closed the door of the limo, he asked, “To the lady’s house?”

  Nathan gave a questioning look to Shelly, who snuggled in close and looped an arm through his. “Wherever you’d like to go.”

  “To my hotel?”

  Shelly nodded. “I’d like that.”

  There was minimal conversation during the twenty-minute ride. Up in his suite, without a word about the accommodations, she tossed her coat onto the back of one of the dining chairs. Of course, what with the limousine and the private booth at the nightclub, it was possible she expected it. But the woman was highly educated, with a bright personality, as comfortable in luxury as eating pizza in a hole-in-the-wall dive, and his estimation of her rose another notch. She turned to Nathan, wrapped her arms around him, lifted onto her toes, and kissed him.

  He embraced her and returned the kiss.

  “I’m not fragile, Nathan. I won’t break.”

  Her response made him smile. The deftness of undressing him as she pushed him toward the bedroom brought his body temperature up—almost to a living person’s normal. The time Stacey had done the same drifted against his brain for only an instant. Then he lost himself in a part of life he longed for, a part that made him anticipate each winter.

  As she lay sleeping in the early evening, Nathan’s brain strayed into the fantasy of spending life, a real life, with her. Walking together through the wildflowers of the glen at the compound, wandering through the woods as she gazed in wonder at the colors of fall—while he gazed at the wonder of her. Sharing everything, dreaming together. But would she understand if she ever learned the truth? Or would she run?

  She stirred, and an arm snaked its way across his chest. “You’re cold.” She pulled the blanket up, snuggled under it, and her hand moved to fondle him.

  “Well, that’s sure to raise my temperature.” He placed a hand over hers to still it. “Tell, me something, where is your favorite place? If you could be anywhere in the world, where would it be? Mountains, beach…”

  Shelly laughed. “I love the mountains. There’s nothing more beautiful to me than standing in a mountain glen of wildflowers. But, the sound of waves can lull me to sleep and make me feel…I don’t know…safe. Isn’t that weird?”

  “No, darlin’, not at all. I’d love to show you my mountains someday. But the accommodations are what ya’ll might call rustic.”

  “Rustic, as in?”

  “Cabins, outhouses, and no cell service at all.”

  She shrugged against his side and tried to snuggle in closer. “I’ve been camping before with nothing but a tent and a sleeping bag. Having a cabin, and some privacy, could be fun.” Her hand moved underneath his.

  An hour later they showered together, and dressed. Nathan was surprised to have Dean again answer when he pushed the button marked Limousine Service on the hotel phone and chuckled. “Do you even have a home to go to?”

  “I do. But, I also knew you’d need me again today. Are you ready?”

  “We are.”

  “I’ll be waiting at the curb,” Dean said, and hung up.

  At the Platt house, Nathan walked Shelly to the door despite her protestations that he should stay in the car and keep warm. “Blame it on my Southern upbringing. If I didn’t walk you up my mama would never let me hear the end of it. ‘Nathaniel Ray,’ she’d say ‘I surely taught you better manners than that. Now, you get off your backside and do what’s right.’ ”

  Shelly let out a laugh and shook her head. “Well, we wouldn’t want your mother chastising you for the next month. She sounds like my kind of person. I’d love to meet her some day.”

  “Well, I wish that could happen, but it could be a might tough. Both of my folks are dead. I just meant I’d hear her voice ringing in my brain.”

  The expression of delight on her face faded into dismay. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

  “It was a long time ago already, but thank you,” Nathan said, though he kept the exact number of years to himself. “Can I see you again? Would tomorrow night be too soon?”

  “I’d like that. And maybe the games tomorrow won’t interest my dad to the point he’ll have his face buried in the television.”

  The kiss lingered longer than Nathan expected. He stood mesmerized for several minutes after she went in, called out, “Dad, I’m home,” and the door closed
behind her. He shook his brain back to life and walked to the car. A block down the street, he sat up ramrod straight. “Nathan, you are a pinhead if there ever was one.” He lowered the privacy panel. “Dean, go back. I forgot to get her phone number, again.”

  Dean made a u-turn at the next intersection.

  Nathan jumped from the car before it came to a complete stop, ran to the door, and rang the bell.

  Phillip opened the door, said “Hey, Nathan,” turned into the house and walked toward the living room. “Shell! Visitor!”

  Remembering the earlier admonishment, Nathan stepped into the foyer and closed the door. As Shelly came into view on the staircase from the upper floor, he grinned. “I’m as dumb as pack mule. I plumb forgot to get your phone number.”

  She let loose with the same sparkling laugh he’d heard on New Year’s Eve. “216-555-SHELL.”

  Nathan plugged it into his cell phone. “Got it. Thank you, ma’am.” He gave her a tip of his non-existent hat, and turned to open the door.

  She grabbed the back of his jacket, spun him around, stood on tiptoes and kissed him. “Goodnight, Nathan.”

  “Goodnight. I’ll call.” Nathan walked back to the car, where a smiling Dean held the door, and crawled in without a word. He maintained his silence for the trip back to the hotel, despite noticing a smirking Dean checking him through the rearview mirror.

  Dean walked with Nathan to the hotel and held the door for him. “Will you be needing me tomorrow, Mr. Crockett?”

  “It’s possible. But, you really should take a day off. You’ve been running me around for almost forty-eight hours; ya’ll have got to be plum tuckered out.”

  “It’s been my pleasure, sir.” Dean pulled a card from his inside jacket pocket and handed it to Nathan. “If you need a ride, you call me.”

  “Thank you, I will. Now, you go get yourself some sleep.”

  In his room, Nathan shed his clothes and dropped onto the bed. The smell of her still clung to the pillow, and he put it to his nose and inhaled: clean with a tiny trace of perfume. An unbidden smile came to his lips as he rolled and wrapped himself around the pillow. Thoughts of how sweet she was, how good it would be to share the days and nights, the weeks, months and the years into old age, permeated his brain as he drifted off.