late.
“Sweetheart.”
“Mike.”
“I got your note. Is Landon there?”
“No, but he's not at boot camp either. He has a contract to play piano until he goes off to Julliard.”
“What happened?”
“He was chosen to play with a group of other young promising musicians for a tour of philharmonic orchestras. Suddenly he discovered his love of music again.”
“What about Laura?”
“She has a job teaching cadets for the summer.”
“That leaves you all alone.”
“I'm spending my time sewing quilts I always promised myself I would make and working at the library.”
“Sounds lonely.”
Janice pauses. “I'm an army brat, remember, and an only child. I am used to it.”
“It's time I came home.”
“My fault for getting you mixed up in the military.” Janice blinks back tears. “Sorry for alarming you over Landon.”
“It's not you who should be apologizing. I haven't been a very attentive father.”
“He will be fine. His music grounds him.”
“His mother's good sense grounds him.”
“I'm not sure that's it. Laura still takes all her moods out on me. There's no grounding there.”
“Laura is a brat and always has been.” Mike answers. “Don't take anything she has to say to heart. Anything else happening?”
“Nothing for you to worry about.” Janice answers. “Just look after yourself.”
“Now I am worried.”
Janice tries to laugh but it comes out broken. “I'm not very popular at the moment. Landon got a little loud about my not signing his enlistment papers and some of the wives thought I was wrong not to sign them.”
“Damn busybodies.”
“It doesn't matter. It gives me more time to sew.”
“Janice, you need a support group.”
“There's no support there. I still have work to keep me busy. Don't worry, I will be here when you get back.”
“I can phone Hardy and get you a move.”
“But then I would have no place for Landon's piano. I promised him I would keep it as long as possible. Laura is close enough to come home if she needs me. Some place new is not always better. I moved enough to know that.”
“What happened with Jack Fraser?”
“I sent him away. Told him to stay away from Landon.” Janice answers.
“Jack has some powerful friends.”
“I will deal with it. You have enough to think about without Jack. I want you back alive and that means no distractions.” Janice tells him.
“Janice, you are out of the line of command.”
“Which means I do not have to obey orders. I do not have to submit to their nonsense and I can find creative solutions.”
“Damn, I have to go. Please, find a friend. Someone you can talk to.” The line cuts out.
The library is quiet the next afternoon when Cheryl's mom enters. “Mrs. Keller, I found a piano teacher. He gives lessons off base, but he says he will come two days a week if I can get access to a piano.”
“What's his name?”
“Eric Miner.”
“I have seen him at student recitals. Tell him that you have access to the piano from after school to five o'clock. I will have to find you a house key.”
“I know you are getting tired of hearing it, but thank you. It's just she's such a daddy's little girl and he's been gone for weeks. Learning music seems to be the only thing that interests her.”
“Then I am glad I can provide the piano.” Janice tells her. “Come by one night after five and I will find you a key.”
Janice's supervisor looks over and frowns.
“I will go so you don't get in trouble.” Cheryl's mother says.
Janice moves her quilting into the dining room so the living room is free. She finds a key and leaves it where she can get it easily. She checks in the fridge for leftovers before deciding that she really should make supper. She eats two of the chocolate chip cookies she had bought for Landon instead and then just feels sick.
The doorbell rings. Janice goes to answer it. It is Cheryl and her mother. Janice opens the door. “Come in.”
“I don't want to be a bother.” Cheryl's mother looks upset.
“Come in. I could use the company. I'm not used to living alone.” Janice tells her. “What's wrong?”
“The people upstairs are fighting again.” Cheryl tells her. “Then Mom's tummy starts to hurt and it's not good for the baby.”
“Hush, Cheryl.”
Janice points Cheryl towards the living room and then takes her mother by the arm to follow. “Come in and rest.”
“Can I play the piano again?”
“Yes, you may.” Once Cheryl's mother is sitting on the couch, Janice comes over to open the lid over the keys and help Cheryl onto the stool. The girl starts plinking and Janice goes back to sit beside her guest.
“You're pregnant?”
“About three and a half months.”
“You are living in the apartments?”
“You have to understand, Derek just barely finished boot camp before he took this mission. I got so sick before Cheryl was born. He said we needed the money from his deployment, just in case.”
“The people upstairs?”
“A single mom and her teenaged sons, who fight about everything when they are not throwing parties. I can't afford anything better. We lost everything when Derek lost his job last year. Derek is doing his best.”
“How were you going to pay for music lessons?”
“I will find work. I used to run a daycare in our house until the bank took it back. Someone must need a babysitter.”
“The base has its own daycare.” Janice shakes her head. “What other skills do you have?”
“Before I got married. I worked in a call centre answering telephones.”
Janice frowns. “Is it morning sickness or something worse?”
“Right now, it's like morning sickness, only it's morning, noon and night. It's worse than it was with Cheryl. I had to quit work with her.”
“Do you know of anything that would settle your stomach?”
“No, I feel like such a wimp.”
“Have you made supper for Cheryl?”
“I couldn't. The smell of cooking food makes me sick. I am a horrible mother. And she will only eat two bites anyway.”
“I haven't really eaten yet. I will make something simple and you can join me.” Janice answers. She goes into the kitchen and makes vegetable soup which she serves to her guests with crackers.
Cheryl eats her soup quickly, then asks if she can play the piano again. Janice smiles and gives the child permission. Cheryl’s mother pushes her uneaten soup away.
“Nibble on a cracker. That’s reputed to help with morning sickness.” Janice tells the young woman. “First, my name is Janice. And yours is?”
“Sharma Burnett.” The young woman answers.
“Sharma, have you gone to the doctor?” Janice asks.
Sharma nods. “Derek insisted on it when the home pregnancy test came out positive. He said that we couldn’t take any chances after I was so sick with Cheryl.”
“Have you gone back to all the checkups?”
“Derek phones and asks about what the doctor said so I can’t not go.” Sharma admits. “He’s a great dad, even if we hadn’t planned on me getting pregnant right now.”
Janice nods. “And what does the doctor say about this sickness?”
“He says it's stress and I need to find new living conditions, but the money only stretches so far with rent and groceries and now Cheryl wanting piano lessons.” Sharma answers.
“Perhaps we can do each other a huge favour.” Janice answers. “My husband is deployed overseas, my daughter is off teaching cadets for the summer, and my son has a multicity tour with philharmonic orchestras. The piano belongs to my son and if I have to
move I can’t keep it, but I may have to move if I am here alone. So if you and Cheryl want to use my son and daughter’s bedrooms then I can honestly say that I am not here alone. That way I can keep the piano and get you away from the stress and we can negotiate the rent to something where you can still afford music lessons without requiring you to get a job that your doctor would advise against.”
Sharma frowns. “I don’t want charity. Derek would get upset. He’s a proud man.”
“It’s not charity. Do you know what a baby grand piano is worth? I spent years working to pay that piano off and storage for it would be more than rent on your apartment. Landon begged me to hang onto his piano before he left. I can only do that if I have someone else living here.” Janice answers. “You think about the offer and talk to Derek and your doctor about it. For now Cheryl needs an audience. We will go listen to her play.”
They listen for an hour to Cheryl before Sharma insists that the little girl needs to get home to bed. Janice gives Sharma a key to the house and then spends the rest of her evening quilting before going to bed after her company leaves.
It is the next afternoon when someone from the base office comes to the library to find Janice.
“Mrs. Kellar, we understand you offered to rent Sharma and Cheryl Burnett empty bedrooms in your house.” The uniformed man starts.
“Yes, for now my family is away and I am not used to living alone.” Janice pauses. “Is there some trouble in doing so?”
“No, no trouble. Dr. Reid just wanted to make certain that the offer was real. Mrs. Burnett’s medical condition is serious and if this is a legitimate offer then he wants her to take it. He is worried that she might lose the child if she continues to live in the conditions she is now.”
“Yes, the offer is legitimate.” Janice answers. “She can move in today unless it takes longer to move her belongings.”
“What time will you get home so she can get in?”
“I gave Sharma a key so her daughter could play the piano when she wanted. I just have to clear the bedrooms of my children’s belongings. I get off at five.” Janice answers.
“We will arrange to have Mrs. Burnett’s things moved to the house at five.” He says and leaves.
Janice goes home after work to find three soldiers unloading household goods into her house. Cheryl comes running the moment she sees her. “Are we really going to live at your house?”
“Yes, you are. Do you want to see your new bedroom?” Janice asks.
The child nods. Janice takes her to Landon’s room. One of the soldiers follows her. There is a wall that displays Landon’s medals and trophies.
“What are those?” The little girl asks.
“Those are the awards my son won in piano competitions.” Janice says.
“Can they stay there? I promise not to touch them.” Cheryl asks.
The fact that the prized possessions are behind glass makes this promise far more likely to be kept.
“If you don’t mind them there then it is easier to leave them there.” Janice answers. “The bed and dresser can go downstairs.” Janice tells the man. She takes him and the girl out to show him the door to the basement.
“We should go talk to your mother.” Janice tells the child.
“She’s lying down on the couch. The doctor insists she get lots of rest.” Cheryl answers and skips toward the living room.
Janice follows her to find Sharma sitting not laying on the couch. “Once I mentioned your offer to the doctor, he wouldn’t let me say no.”
“Did you talk to Derek?” Janice asks.
“I didn’t get a chance.” Sharma sighs. “What if he says no?”
“How long is he to be gone?” Janice asks.
“Six months, but he only left two weeks ago.” Sharma answers.
“Then you have five months to rest and two weeks to find another apartment if he wants one when he arrives back.” Janice answers. “I have to go see what my daughter left in the bedroom.”
Once A Thief
by A. A. Cheshire
Wind Valley, July-10
Of the four seated around the table in the large, elegantly decorated dining room, only the three men are actually eating. The woman is sipping her rapidly cooling tea without touching the contents of her plate. The only sounds are of cutlery on dishes. Or at least until one of the men speaks.
“Did she take anything?”
A second man glances up at the speaker, “Her blade.”
“She'll be okay then.” The first man nods to himself.
“You really think so?” The woman frowns, clearly concerned.
“She needs some time and space...” The second man takes a deep breath, “Honestly, so do I.”
“Meaning?” The woman continues to frown.
“Will and I leave for Belstrand tomorrow. We'll be back when we're ready.”
“You'll look for her then?” The first man guesses.
“Long as I'm still able to track her down.”
“And if you can't for some reason?” The woman demands.
The first man shakes his head, “She won't be hard to find when she's needed.”