“You better not. Just so we’re clear. I’ve already invested a lot of my own money in you. What little you’ve made is in safekeeping. You’ll have a nice nest egg someday.”
“I wouldn’t mind enjoying a little deviled egg right now.”
He smiled slightly. “And what would you spend it on? Shoes?”
“Driving lessons!”
He laughed like she was joking. “I’ve got a few more calls to make.” He headed for his office. “Read the script! Who knows? You might find you love tap-dancing.”
It sounded like he’d already closed the deal. She felt the weight of heavy chains. She couldn’t throw the script away even if she wanted to. She’d signed her life away. Franklin owned her.
At least he loved her. Or she thought he did. At least he didn’t leave her on her own and go off with other women the way Dylan had. He wasn’t out to break her heart and ruin her life. Quite the contrary. Frustrated, she told herself to stop whining and complaining. She raked her fingers through her hair, pulling it all up and making a ponytail. She got up and rummaged through a kitchen drawer for one of the rubber bands from the morning newspaper. She sat cross-legged on the couch and opened the script.
Franklin came back into the room. “What the . . . ?” He crossed the room and reached for her. Frightened, she drew back. He hooked a finger in the rubber band and yanked it off, taking a dozen strands of hair with it. She gasped in pain as her hair tumbled around her shoulders. “What are you playing at?” He glared down at her.
She stared at him, shocked by the intensity of his anger. “I wasn’t playing at anything.” It was the first time in a long time she’d been just plain Abra.
Students from the Thomas Jefferson High School class of 1950 packed the Haven Hotel. Seventy-eight had made it for the reunion, organized by Brady and Sally Studebaker, Henry and Bee Bee Grimm, and Joshua, all of whom had spent weeks playing detective, tracking down fellow classmates. It had only been seven years since graduation, but they thought it time to get friends together. Sally and Bee Bee wanted a formal dinner dance. Brady, Henry, and Joshua wanted a casual picnic at Riverfront Park. They compromised on a buffet and dance at the hotel, with a local DJ keeping the music rolling.
Most out-of-towners had arrived a few days ahead, some staying at the hotel, others with parents who still lived in Haven. Janet Fulsom and her husband, Dean, drove up from the Central Valley. Steve Mitchell brought his family down from Seattle. He and his wife said they hadn’t had a night out since they had the twins, and were thankful Steve’s parents had the little ones corralled for the evening. Lacey Glover had married a real estate agent from Santa Rosa and was seven months pregnant.
Joshua saw Dave Upton arrive with his wife. He hadn’t sent an RSVP, and the party was in full swing when they came through the door. Dave looked every inch the successful businessman in his dark suit, white shirt, and tie. All he lacked was a black leather briefcase. He had his arm around his wife, a slender blonde in a simple black dress. Dave looked around, as if searching for someone. When their eyes met, Joshua smiled and raised his hand in greeting. Dave leaned down to speak to his wife and guided her in the opposite direction.
Old grudges died hard, Joshua guessed. He hoped they’d have an opportunity to talk. Joshua talked with Lacey and her husband while Sally and Brady bebopped like a couple of teenagers.
Sally’s laughter made Joshua smile. Sally had gotten along better with her mother since she and Brady got together. Brady and Sally brought Laverne to church and then went back to her house for Sunday dinner. Sally said she was beginning to see how two people could fight and still love each other. Mitzi had invited Laverne to a ladies’ luncheon where Laverne found herself drafted into the quilting club. She had plenty to keep her busy, which made Sally’s life less complicated.
Joshua had taken a seat at a vacant table when he heard a deep voice close by. “I heard you and Sally were an item for a while.” Joshua glanced up and saw Dave standing with his wife. Joshua stood out of respect. Dave raised the beer in his hand. “Sorry things didn’t work out for you.” He sounded anything but sorry. His wife looked at him in surprise and then at Joshua to judge his reaction.
“Actually, I’d say things worked out very well.” Joshua nodded toward Sally and Brady, now embracing for a waltz and looking blissful. Joshua pulled a second chair back. “Would you like to join me?” He smiled at Dave’s wife. “I’m Joshua Freeman, by the way.”
“Kathy.” The willowy blonde introduced herself and held out her hand. Her smile reached her blue eyes. “David seems to have forgotten his manners.” She had a firm handshake.
Joshua liked her already. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kathy.”
“David’s talked a lot about you over the years.” Dave gave her a look, but she didn’t notice. When he put his hand to her elbow, Joshua knew he wanted to be anywhere but here. Kathy tugged free and sat in the chair Joshua had offered.
Dave didn’t hide his anger. “I thought you wanted to dance.”
She looked up at him. “You said you’d rather not.”
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“Then go. You have lots of friends here. Dance with one of them. I want to get to know Joshua.” She faced Joshua again. “David said you were in Boy Scouts together.”
Livid, Dave gave a short, cold laugh, scraped a chair back, and sat. “Joshua was a fanatic about it. He had to earn every badge. Didn’t you? He made it to Eagle Scout before he graduated from high school. Built a ramp for the library so crippled veterans could check out books.” His eyes narrowed. “You didn’t go to college, did you?”
“Couldn’t afford it.”
“Too bad. You can’t go far without a degree these days.” Dave paid no attention to Kathy’s obvious embarrassment. She stared at him, but Dave kept on. “You’ve never even been out of Haven, have you?”
“I spent three years in the Army.”
“Oh, I forgot. You joined up, didn’t you?”
“I was drafted.”
“I thought maybe you’d join up to make up for your father.”
Joshua felt the heat rise, but pushed it down.
“David!” Kathy put her hand on his knee. “What’s wrong with you?”
Dave clamped his hand over hers, but glared at Joshua. “A carpenter. Isn’t that what you are?”
“Yes. I am.”
Dave gave a derisive laugh. “Joshua was voted most likely to succeed. And now he builds those ticky-tacky bungalows that are spreading like blight everywhere. Do you still live with your father? I’ll bet you can’t even afford to buy a place of your own.”
Kathy pulled her hand from beneath his and stared at him as though she didn’t know him, let alone like him. A fleeting apology crossed Dave’s face. “Come on.” He put his empty beer glass on the table and grabbed Kathy’s hand. “Let’s dance.”
She yanked free. “I’d rather talk to Joshua.”
“Suit yourself.” He got up and walked off.
Kathy watched him go. “I don’t know what’s bothering him.” She faced Joshua again. “I’m sorry David was so rude. He’s not usually like that.”
“No need for you to apologize.” Joshua noticed Dave had joined a couple of football buddies at the bar. He hoped things wouldn’t go from bad to worse.
Kathy noticed, too. “We’ve only come up to Haven a couple of times to visit his parents.” She smiled at Joshua. “I’ve met Paul Davenport and Henry Grimm. They talk about you. Paul said the four of you were best friends when you were in grade school. He said there was a fight, but he wouldn’t tell me what it was all about. Will you?”
“Better if you ask Dave.”
“I did. He says he doesn’t remember.” She frowned. “Obviously, he does. What did he mean about making up for your father?”
“My father spoke out against putting Japanese Americans into internment camps. Dave’s uncle was on the USS Arizona.” Joshua could see Kathy jumping to conclusions.
Kathy still seemed troubled, but she didn’t press. She asked questions about Haven, instead, and Riverfront Park. She wanted to hear about bike-riding escapades. It was half an hour before Dave joined them. Kathy smiled and took his hand. Dave sat beside her. He looked a little mellower. “Joshua was just telling me about the good old days when you and he and Paul and Henry used to ride up in the hills together. He said you had a bull after you one time.”
Dave looked like he wanted to say something. Kathy gave him openings, but he stayed silent.
Joshua tried to make it easy for him. “Your father gave Dad your address. That’s how I knew where to send the invitation.”
“They know each other?”
“They’re friends, have been for some time. They both like to fish.”
Dad had come across Dave’s father on the banks of the Russian River shortly after Dave left for college. Michael Upton knew about Dave beating up Joshua. It hadn’t been his idea. He talked about his brother who’d died on the USS Arizona. Dad told him about the hardworking Nishimura and Tanaka families and how Bin Tanaka had served honorably in Europe. While they were in an internment camp, their property had been repossessed and sold off to Cole Thurman. The two men ended up talking a long time that day, and then got together to fish a few weeks later. Dad and Michael Upton had become good friends.
Joshua gave Dave a few seconds to absorb that before adding his own feelings. “I hoped you’d come tonight, Dave. It’s been a long time, buddy.” When Dave said nothing to that, Joshua stood. “It was good to see you.” He gave Kathy a nod. “It’s been a pleasure, Kathy.”
CHAPTER 12
Why should I not, had I the heart to do it,
Like to the Egyptian thief at point of death,
Kill what I love? a savage jealousy
That sometimes savours nobly.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
JOSHUA FELL ASLEEP as soon as his head touched the pillow. He awakened in darkness. The telephone was ringing, but that wasn’t unusual. Midnight calls were part of Dad’s job as a pastor. Rolling over, Joshua put a pillow over his head. He had just fallen back to sleep when Dad put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s for you, Son.”
“Who is it?”
“He didn’t say.”
Groggy, Joshua sat up and rubbed his face. He pulled on a T-shirt and went into the living room. “Hello?”
“It’s me.”
Dave. “Are you okay?”
“I’m drunk, but I wanna talk to you.” His tone wasn’t belligerent.
Joshua had tried to talk to him over the years. Dave had never been willing. Now he wanted to talk, drunk and in the middle of the night? “Where are you?”
“In a phone booth down by the railway station. How about tomorrow?” He said a four-letter word. “It’s already tomorrow, isn’t it? How about today? Kathy and I are leaving this morning. I have to be back in LA Monday morning.” He slurred. “What time is it, anyway? I can’t see my watch.” Joshua told him. He spit out another foul word. “Any place open this early?”
“Bessie’s café.” She would have the coffee on. “Does Kathy know where you are?”
“Yep. Told me she doesn’t want to talk to me until I talk to you.”
Great. Joshua would have liked it better if this chat had been Dave’s idea. “I’ll meet you at Bessie’s in half an hour.” That would give Dave time enough to walk from the station. The cool night air might clear his head.
The bell jangled when Joshua walked into the café. He spotted Dave sitting in a booth, shoulders hunched, hands wrapped around a mug of steaming coffee as if it held the elixir of life. He was still in his Brooks Brothers suit, but his Italian tie was missing and his top two shirt buttons were undone. Joshua slid into the booth. Susan set a mug on the table and filled it with steaming, fresh hot coffee. She refilled Dave’s without asking. Dave muttered a bleak thank-you but didn’t raise his head until Susan was behind the counter, not close enough to hear. “What happened to us, Josh?”
“You tell me, Dave.”
Dave shook his head, eyes red and bleary. “You were my best friend in the world.”
“I’m still your friend.”
“No, you’re not.” He didn’t look happy about it.
“What makes you think that?” He watched Dave’s eyes fix on the scar he’d put on his left cheekbone. It had faded with the years.
“I called your father a traitor. I beat you up. In front of everybody. You wouldn’t fight. I wanted to grind you into the dust, but after the first couple blows, you just ducked and parried. I called you a coward. You wouldn’t hit back. Why?”
Dave looked angry and frustrated, but Joshua knew it was shame that bothered him most. It hadn’t been a fair fight. Everyone watching had known it, and he’d paid a price. “I knew Dad wasn’t a traitor. And I didn’t want to fight my best friend, especially when I knew you were still dealing with your uncle’s death.”
Dave didn’t like that answer. “You were always faster than me. You could’ve ended the whole thing with one well-timed punch.”
“Would a punch have changed your mind?”
Dave rubbed the back of his neck. “No. Maybe.” He swore under his breath. “I don’t know.” He looked away.
“It was a long time ago.”
Dave shoved his fingers through his hair. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You know.” Joshua sipped his coffee. “You just don’t have the guts to say it.” When Dave’s head came up, Joshua grinned. “Just spit it out and get it over with.” Pride had always gotten in Dave’s way. “It won’t kill you.”
Dave called him a name, but it lacked sting. “Okay. I’m sorry.” He looked and sounded sincere.
“Apology accepted.” Joshua set his mug aside, put his elbow on the table, hand up and open. They’d arm-wrestled as boys. “You used to win. Remember? I think I can take you now.”
“You think so?” Dave took the challenge.
The match ended quickly and Dave laughed. “I guess carpentry builds muscle.”
“You’ve been sitting at a desk, getting soft.”
They reminisced, laughing about good-natured pranks they’d pulled on one another, the places they’d ridden with Paul and Henry. They drank coffee until Dave was sober and hungry, then ordered the lumberjack breakfast.
Dave worked on his steak. “You ever think of leaving Haven, Joshua?”
“A time or two.” In the months after Abra ran off with Dylan. He wanted to go hunting.
Dave cut off a chunk of meat. “My father-in-law is in the movie business. Bigwig. Knows everybody. The studios hire carpenters to build sets. If you’re ever interested in living in Hollywood, just let me know.” He dipped the piece of steak in A.1. sauce. “I could get you a job.”
Joshua felt something shift inside him. Was God opening a door? “I’ll think about it.”
“Sorry about what I said about those bungalows you build. Anything you ever built was first-rate. Even that ramp.” He dipped another piece of meat. “I can’t drive a nail in straight. Just ask Kathy.”
“You knew how to throw a football.” It had earned Dave a full scholarship.
He frowned slightly. “You could’ve gone to college after serving in Korea. Why didn’t you?”
“I guess this is where God wants me.”
“Are you sure about that? I mean, you’re not exactly making a fortune.”
Joshua laughed. “I’m richer than Midas, Dave.” He could see his friend didn’t understand.
That evening, Joshua told Dad about the morning spent with Dave before he went home to collect his family. Kathy would be driving most of the way until Dave slept enough to take over.
Dad took off his reading glasses. “Did you two work things out?”
“Took long enough.”
“Something else on your mind?”
Joshua didn’t tell Dad about Dave’s offer to find him a job in Hollywood. He needed to pray about it. It might not be a good idea
to start looking for Abra. Then again, would he ever have any peace if he didn’t?
Abra had dreaded the love scene all week, well aware Alec Hunting, the leading man, had a crush on her.
Franklin made jokes about it, but she could tell he didn’t like it. The script called for Alec to be in love with Helena, the lead, while Abra played the friend who was secretly in love with him. The kiss was supposed to be purely platonic and was intended to bring the women in future audiences to tears. Franklin had told her a hundred times this one scene could make her career soar. If she could pull it off. Franklin had rehearsed with her for hours before he was satisfied with her performance.
The moment had come. She had spoken all her lines. Only the kiss remained, and the long, soulful look while Alec walked away. She gasped the instant Alec took her in his arms, knowing there would be trouble. The director shouted, “Cut!” but Alec didn’t stop kissing her.
“Cut!”
The laughter was bad enough, but then Abra heard Franklin cursing. Something crashed. Voices rose in surprise. She almost fell when Alec was yanked away. She stumbled back, gasping. The director was shouting again. Two men grabbed hold of Franklin before he could hit Alec. Alec cursed now, too. Men held their arms, pulling them away from each other.
Exasperated, the director yelled, “Get him out of here!” The two men hauled Franklin to the exit while he shouted that he’d knock Hunting’s teeth down his throat if he touched Lena again.
Alec shrugged off restraining hands and laughed. “That guy is crazy!”
“You shouldn’t have kissed me like that!”
“He thinks he owns you. You should dump him and find someone with a cooler head.” A makeup artist dabbed the perspiration from his face. “Good thing he didn’t hit me, or I’d be suing him.”
The director took his seat and shouted for them to get back on their marks for another take. “Keep it sweet and chaste this time, Hunting, or I’ll be punching you myself for wasting film!”
This time Abra botched the scene. Alec clearly thought it was his kiss that had shaken her. He flashed the famous smile that had women swooning and writing him love letters by the thousands. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep it friendly.” She was too distracted to offer a rebuke, worried about Franklin outside, pacing, fuming. It took five takes to get the scene right. When Alec came back, she brushed past him. He caught her wrist. She jerked free. The director called Alec over and they had words. Alec stormed off the set.