The Star of All Valleys

  Chapter 16

  After the shopping and the grilling and the eating was over, Willy and Aggie gathered up the leftovers and put them away. They had eaten at the picnic table outside and while they cleaned up, Max had started the kids on a game of hide and tickle. The object was, of course, to be found and tickled mercilessly by the one who was It. Willy was not going to get caught up in a game like that. Max's touch on her flesh was too conducive to feelings she couldn't afford.

  She and Aggie finished and then sat outside. The game had ended amid much boisterous giggling and Max, Allison and Jeffy had thrown themselves on the grass to cool off. "I need a walk," Max decided. "Do you want to join me for a walk up Main Street and down the other side? And then I'd better get going so you can get some rest."

  They were all willing to accompany him for this in-town hike.  Max held a hand of each child and Willy and Aggie followed behind. They looked over the farm equipment at the John Deere dealership. They peered in the windows of the stores which closed early keeping with small town tradition. They read the posters on display outside the movie theater.

  Jeffy pressed his nose against the window of the motorcycle store and wished he could ride one. His attention was diverted by a display of western wear in another shop. Some real cowboy duds were arrayed on a mannequin just about his size. The outfit was complete down to the boots and matching belt. He just stood there, a big sigh escaping his little chest.

  Willy felt a twinge of regret that she couldn't afford such expensive and impractical clothing for him, but only a twinge. She knew the fickle tastes of children and realized that his attention would quickly be turned to other interests.

  Just as she had expected, Jeffy spied the ice cream store next with its bright lights and welcoming interior. "I'm hungry!" he announced. "I need a milk shake!"

  "We just ate," Willy protested.

  "Now, Mother," Max chided. "It's been over an hour since he ate. He's a growing boy and needs his strength. What flavor do you want, Jeff?"

  "Mama, you have to call me Jeff, now," the little boy said, his eyes big and serious. "I'm too big for baby names." Then he shifted gears and yelled in his normal three-year-old voice that could be heard the length of the street, "Strawberry!"

  The menu of flavors was repeated to them by the waitress at the counter while she and another girl waited on a line of customers. This was a popular place on a warm August night. There were no seats available in the small cafe so they decided to sit outside on the curb and watch the traffic go by. Willy had stepped off preparing to sit down and Allison was beside her holding a cup carefully. They heard the thud of a dropped cup and, as Willy turned, she heard the gooey plop of spilled ice cream.

  Resigning herself to the regular occurrence of cleaning up after inexpert little boys, Willy looked at Jeffy to see where the mess was. He stood there, holding a half-full cup, but there was no puddle at his feet. At the same time, she heard a gasp from a man nearby, also enjoying his ice cream outdoors. Her eyes turned in his direction and she was aghast to see what lay at the top of his balding head, beginning to drip down his face.

  Spellbound for a second with utter amazement, she soon recovered and ran to offer napkins and words of apology. Max saw the misfortune as soon as she and helped to mop up the sticky-headed gentleman. Willy was horrified at such a bizarre accident. The man was stunned with surprise himself but took it all in good part. He submitted to their ministrations with good humor and laughed off their mortification.

  "I have grandchildren," he told them, a lopsided smile on his face. "They do cause some rather interesting events on occasion. Never mind. I'll just go into the restroom and clean up and everything will be fine. Think nothing of it." He walked back into the store and Willy turned to go, her face bright red with embarrassment.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she said.

  As they turned and resumed their walk, there was silence. Jeffy knew he was in trouble and was keeping a low profile. He didn’t even complain that half of his shake was missing. Allison was relieved that it hadn't been her problem. Aggie was fighting down the impulse to giggle. She looked at Max and then lost control. His lips were contorted and twitching as he tried to master his funny bone. As Aggie broke down in a peal of laughter, his mirth conquered him as he also saw the humor of the situation. Willy was too embarrassed to see anything funny about it at first, but as they laughed until they cried tears, she relaxed and realized that no harm had been done.

  Between intervals of hysterical glee they discussed the mysterious forces of physics that had to have been at work to accomplish just the perfect trajectory to propel the perfect mass to the correct height to splat right on target. Allison and Jeffy laughed along with the others but didn't really understand the cause of such excessive merriment. Jeffy was just glad that he wasn't going to get in trouble.

  By the time they had finished their walk and were nearing the camper, Max grew quieter. "I guess I'd better say good-bye to all of you," he said sadly. He looked at Willy, pleading in his eyes. "Are you sure you won't consider staying just a couple more days? I got a canoe ready for a trip down Salt River. There is a fish hatchery in Auburn the kids would love to see. I have so much I want to do with you."

  "We've been all through this before, Mister Bell," Willy said. She was alarmed that he would wave such tempting activities in front of the kids, knowing that she usually gave in to their desires.

  "Willy," Aggie said, her hand on her sister's arm. "There would be no harm in staying a little longer. Even until Sunday. I really would like to see my new friends at that church one more time. Kelly told me how much fun it is to go canoeing. Why can't we just stay two extra days and do just those two things? Think of all the pictures you could get and how much better your article would be if you included a canoe trip in it?  Please, Willy, please, please, please?"

  "I'll take tomorrow off work and pick you up," Max offered, hope in his voice.

  "No! Don't take time off work," said Willy. She took a big breath. She knew that the major reason she wanted to get away quickly was to avoid the constant battering of her resolve by Max. He wanted to love her so badly and she was afraid she would weaken if she didn't get away. "Just let me think about it for a minute," she finally said. “I’ll be right back.”

  She left the others at the camper and walked a short way up a tree-lined street. The moon was up and the breeze was cooling away the heat of the day. She loved it here. It would be nice to stay longer. Her article would be more complete if she had more experiences to tell about. The only drawback was Max and his continual infatuation. Willy at length came to a decision. They would stay and she would even allow Max to escort them on a river trip, but she would make him agree to keep his distance and leave her alone.

  Her mind made up, she returned to the rest and announced her plans. "We will stay until Monday morning," she told them, assembled at the picnic table. A chorus of joy and applause greeted her and she raised her hands. "I've got several things I would like to interview some residents about so I will do that tomorrow and the next day, then Saturday when Max is off work, we can take the canoe trip. Sunday, Aggie can see her new friends and say good-bye to Kelly and we can get all packed up and ready to go. Then we'll leave bright and early Monday morning."

  The inordinate amount of delight exhibited at this announcement made her realize just how fond her sister and her children had become of this beautiful valley and its residents. She, too, was filled with happiness, but, intent on clearing up any false notions Max may be harboring, she asked Aggie to take the kids into the camper and get them ready for bed.

  Max said his farewells and prepared to depart, but Willy followed him to his truck. "Can I have a word with you?" she asked.

  "As many words as you want," he declared, opening his arms wide. "I'm all yours!"

  "You're not all mine, and you're not going to be all mine," she told him, her voice firm. "There are some conditions to all this. My decis
ion to stay was not to make you happy but to make my children and sister happy. I want you to know right now that I won't tolerate any more declarations of 'love at first sight' or anything else. If you are doing this in the hopes that you will get anything more from me, you can think again. If that is your only reason for your offer to take us on a canoe trip, then please back out now."

  He listened to her carefully, but the smile never left his face. "I just want to be near you," he said, quietly. "I promise I won't touch you unless you're drowning on the canoe trip. I won't say anything to upset you. I'll just admire you from a distance and listen to your voice and fill my eyes with the sight of you."

  "You're starting again!" she protested. "Now stop that!"

  "Okay, okay. I can't help myself. You are so beautiful in the moonlight."

  "Well, just get on your way then," she said, trying to put disgust into her tone of voice. This wasn't going to be easy, she realized.

  "Does your no-touch policy start now or on Saturday?" Max asked, his lips close to her hair. "I wouldn’t turn down payment for the services I've rendered today."

  Willy punched his shoulder with her balled up fist. "You never give up, do you?"

  "Never! And now you do owe me," he said seizing her in his arms. "You've broken your own rule and instigated body contact. Now you face the penalty!" He didn't kiss her, but he brought her to his chest and wrapped her in an enthusiastic bear hug. It was more brotherly than otherwise and Willy endured it. She didn't feel threatened or angry by his exuberance. He was acting like Jeffy did when he was given a great favor and wanted to show his appreciation. "Don't men ever grow up?" she asked out loud.

  "My mother is constantly asking the same question," Max told her, still holding her in his clutches. He released her and held her at arms length. "She is quite taken with you--and the kids, of course. She's been trying to get me married off for years. Here I am, creeping up on thirty years old, and she has almost despaired of having any grandchildren from her second son. She thinks you may be the making of me."

  "Max!" gasped Willy. "You can't get off that subject, can you? Listen to me one more time." She reached for his ears with her two hands and, holding his face inches from her own, she repeated her admonition. "You will refrain from touching me, talking about your feelings for me, and developing any deeper feelings. I am off limits. Why don't you just think of me as a sister and soon we will be gone and out of your hair?"

  His sloppy grin at feeling her soft hands on his cheeks brought another flush of color to her cheeks. “I love your hands in my hair,” he whispered.

  He took her unawares and snatched a quick kiss before she jerked away from him. She turned on her heel and stalked off, and he called after her, "I love you when you're angry." She turned back to hiss a reprimand at him, but he was already climbing behind the steering wheel. "I'll stop by after work tomorrow so we can make our plans," he called as the truck roared to life.

  Willy stood there watching him as he turned onto the highway and drove away. She knew she would spend a good part of the night punching and pummeling her emotions and her wayward heart back into her control.