Family Bonds

Chapter 5, Episode 2

Three weeks later, Chet stopped at the drugstore on his lunch break and waited until the owner was in the storeroom before approaching Jane. She looked sidelong at him.

"I can't talk to you here, Chet."

"Will you meet me at the Bean Blossom when you get off? This is the first day in almost a month I haven't been putting in overtime at the post office or my other job."

She nodded.

When she pulled into the parking lot, he opened the door of her car and slid into the passenger seat. "Let's go to the park."

She looked at him. "Are you all moved?"

"Yep." He grinned. "I got accepted at City College, too and it's—"

She beamed at him. "That's terrific! When do you start?"

His heart thrilled that she seemed pleased. "Second summer session."

"Lucky you. You're on your way, Chet. I'm happy for you."

He stroked her hand. "Why don't you apply at City? I'm sure you could get in. The only reason you're not there now is because of the money, and you're still living at home. No dorm expenses."

"Maybe I could take a night class, as long as it isn't when I have to work at Alice's." Hope wrapped each word when she looked at him, her emerald eyes shining.

They exited the car and began walking under the trees.

"I'll bring you a course catalog. If you're not working Sunday night, maybe you could come over and we could look at it together."

"At your apartment?" Wariness hooded her eyes and she stepped away from him. "I'm not sure Bert would let me. How about if we meet at the Bean Blossom?"

"Okay. I'm done at the law office by six on Sunday." He took her hand.

They walked the trail to the edge of the cliff overlooking the valley below, found a log, and sat down. The sounds of the birds in the nearby trees complemented the scent of the firs surrounding them.

"I like it here," she said. "Don't you?"

He nodded. "And you're just the right company." He laughed and gave her a quick hug. When he looked into her eyes, he thought he saw willingness to see him again, and maybe the beginnings of trust, too.

~ ~ ~

The next day, Jane swept the kitchen floor as she spoke, sweeping faster, harder as her anxiety rose. "Bert, Chet's not like you said."

"Did you see him... after I said that wasn't a good idea?"

Her cheeks flushed. "He came by the drugstore to tell me he got into City College. If he was such a bad guy, why would he try to go back to college? He wants to finish his degree."

"What else did he tell you?"

"He isn't drinking anymore, or racing, or anything." She swept faster, going over the floor she had just swept.

Bert took the broom from her. "You've already got that floor clean. More sweeping like that and you're going to make grooves in the wood. Have a seat."

She sat, her hands in her lap.

"I guess you like him. Otherwise, you wouldn't care what I've heard about him." His pale eyes seemed to bore into her face.

"He said he'd explain about his temper, if that's what you mean."

Bert shook his head. "And they're a dime a dozen. Don't mean a thing. It's his actions I care about. Don't want you riding around with someone who speeds and drives reckless. One of my buddies, told me about his tickets. Says you could paper a room with them. He's paid them off and all. More likely his old man did. But that kid's got a lead foot. He got kicked out of high school for drinking. I hear that had something to do with why he's not at Whitman. A good school, and he left—or was told not to come back."