Hey did you hear Rodney and Leslie broke up? She actually left town!" "Wow! What did he do?
"It's actually not that bad," Rodney said as he and Fabian inspected the truck attached to the back of a wrecker. The truck had a smashed headlight and fender damage on the passenger side, but looked fine otherwise. "I can fix it for you," Rodney continued. "You need an estimate for your insurance company -- let me call around and I'll get that taken care of for you."
"Off the top of your head, what do you think?" Fabian asked. Rodney shrugged.
"Depends on where I can get the parts," he said. "I might be able to replace the whole fender -- I'll need to get in touch with some of my buddies in salvage. It's a pretty popular make and model truck, so it shouldn't be too hard to find you something. Headlights aren't really that expensive. You'll need some touch-up paint and the interior cleaned out."
"What's wrong with the interior?"
Rodney grimaced.
"Whoever took your truck was ... sick. Not like mentally, but "Oh, gross" sick. Don't worry -- I'll get it cleaned out and detail the whole thing for you."
"Thank you. Hey -- I am really sorry about you and Leslie."
"Why? There's nothing to be sorry for," Rodney assured him. "We've talked it out and we're good now. She left early to start police training because we need police badly. Not because she was leaving me. She was never really upset with me in the first place -- she was upset with Marlene. Apparently it was a crime for Marlene to ... seduce me."
Fabian nodded.
"It is," he said. "I was sixteen and learned years later. I never really understood what she was after, either. I know it's more of a control thing with her -- I really don't think she's able to be happy with anything after she has it. I thought it was me until I was older and had more experience."
Rodney frowned.
"I don't like remembering it or thinking about it, but you have a point. Once she had me where she wanted me, she seemed bored. I really don't think it was me. Is her husband really cruel to her?"
"Oh -- she told you those stories, too. No. Dante Carrillo is probably the nicest guy you'd ever want to meet. Her idea of cruelty usually is being stopped from doing anything she wants to do. Think about how Dante reacted to Jill."
"Very good point," Rodney nodded. "From the way she talked, I expected him to go ballistic. Instead, he was very calm and level-headed and sincerely cared about Jill and her future."
"He does care," Fabian told him. "From time to time, if you hear anything about how she's doing, you might want to stop by the carnival and update him."
"Really?"
"Really. When he told me about it, his exact words were "She's a beautiful little girl who deserves a much better mother than she got, so I made sure she got one"."
"That he did." Rodney nodded again. "Oh -- I know you heard them ribbing me at the party about being the Mennonite kid. I'm really not. My parents are, and some of my brothers and sisters. I never joined the church and probably won't at this point -- I doubt they'd have me. I'm not offended by it -- I know it's kidding around, but I wanted to set the record straight. Another thing. I was over at Leslie's the night you were practicing with them. Wow. You are incredible!"
Fabian laughed.
"You heard that, huh?"
"That's not my usual taste in music, but it sounded fantastic. Lisa, Keith and Annie have always been very good, but you brought them to another level. You are amazing."
"Thanks," Fabian said. "I hear the same things about your mechanical ability."
"I don't know about that, but you'll get your truck back. As good as new, or nearly."
The store is actually at the center of the building on the upper floors at Kendall's. The offices are all along the outside. Just endless corridors. I don't know how anyone finds their way around!
"Mr. Kendall? A Mr. DiSanti is here to see you." Greg's face lit up.
"Send him in!" He stood and was moving around his desk when Fabian came into his office. He extended a hand and Fabian approached to shake it.
"Nice office," Fabian grinned, looking around. Greg's office was on the third floor. It was a tidy office with a bank of large windows. He had a view of the lake, and Fabian was somewhat annoyed that he could see the gazebo. Would that thing haunt him everywhere he went? What did it mean, anyway?"
"I like it," Greg replied. "How did you find me?"
"Annie and Keith gave some pretty good directions. Two things. First, are you available for lunch?"
Greg checked his watch and then the calendar on his desk.
"As a matter of fact, I am. Second?
"There is a favor from you that I need to stay very, very quiet, if that's possible in town."
"If you want to discuss it over lunch, the Tavern would be the better bet."
"That's where I'd planned. Lisa's on lunch, and I'd rather she didn't hear about this until I'm ready for her to hear it. Do you want to invite your wife along?"
"I would, but she's on a buying trip today. I was originally going to have a sandwich in my office. Thanks for surprising me with a better offer! So you want me to help keep a secret from Lisa?"
"I wouldn't put it that way," Fabian protested. "I want to surprise her, and I understand that such a thing is highly difficult in this town. I like a good challenge." He grinned devilishly and Greg laughed.
"I'm in," he said. "Let's go to lunch -- I can't wait for the details."
Funny thing about that pier by the east mill -- after trout season no one seems to use it much or even remember it's there. Too many other ways to be close to the lake. But first day of trout season just try to get a place on it!
They took Bruiser for a walk on the pier on a hot evening in August. There weren't as many fireflies and the tree frogs had gone, but the woods was alive with the sound of crickets and katydids. They sat on the pier and this time both had kicked off their shoes and put their feet into the cool water.
"Fab," Lisa said, "I'm thinking about making an appointment with Dr. Wong."
"Why?" Fabian was alarmed. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, but I want to be prepared in case ... you know." She blushed.