A Summer in Sonoma

  “We rolled over your mortgage, second and equity line of credit into a refinance at a fixed rate, no qualifying necessary, thank God. A first and second at eighty percent and fifteen percent, which gives you ninety-five percent debt to equity coverage but eliminates PMI—rates are still good. The bank dropped the loan initiation fee and will split closing costs—you save a total of eight hundred a month. They’re sniveling like crazy,” he laughed. “They made out like bandits on this deal. There’s no default, no repo, they’re getting their money at a fair market value and they should be kissing my feet.

  “I can’t do anything about utilities or insurance, but we have three credit-card companies in the game here. They each reduced their principal, gave us a zero interest rate for six months and a fixed twelve percent after that. Still too high, but we’re gonna make that go away. How about you let me see those cards right now, if you don’t mind?”

  Julie and Billy were just staring wide-eyed at the new payment schedule and only when they heard John say, “Please,” did they dig their credit cards out of wallets and hand them over.

  “We really have to carve these up,” he said, holding six cards from three companies. “You can’t do this anymore. It feels like help—it’s not help. They’ll kill you with the fees, rates, late payment charges. Really, they have to be laid to rest. You stick to your budget, you’ll never miss them. I promise.”

  Julie nodded eagerly and Billy just stared dumbly, still in a trance.

  “Good,” he said, putting them aside for the moment. “Okay, your expenses were on the low side, and with your income you should be able to run the heater in winter and fix a turkey dinner for the family at Thanksgiving. I increased your budget for household items, from groceries to clothing to miscellaneous expenses. It’s a personal thing with me, but I think if you can find a way to take the kids out once in a while, it’s good for your frame of mind. Not Disneyland, but how about a kids’ pizza joint, or one of those afternoon movies you leave with gum in your hair, or a picnic at the lake? And a husband and wife should have an evening out alone sometimes, and I’m not talking about a family or friends’ get-together where there are lots of other people around. Just you two. Dinner. Maybe a movie. Maybe a walk in the park. You don’t have to give up the nest egg, but go see a five-o’clock cheap movie and have dinner at the Olive Garden or something. Get alone. Talk. Put your arms around each other. Thirty bucks toward your relationship and perspective can help things more than you realize. Make time for your marriage. You’ll never regret it.

  “I know I’ve said this before,” he went on, “but your marriage and family is your greatest asset. That isn’t just a pie-in-the-sky, goody-two-shoes Mormon thing I’m passing on. Ever think what would happen to these bills and expenses if you split up? The expenses would double and the bills would be divided between you, leaving each of you with debts you could never pay and expenses even more out of your reach. It’s not just a spiritual thing, though my commitment and faith are rolled together into one big package. It’s practical, fiduciary. No law protects your home from divorce. That’s not to mention what happens to the kids. I won’t even get into what happens to your spirit when something like money rips you apart. Money’s nothing but a tool. So take care of each other—that’s my advice.

  “Now—”

  “Wait!” Julie said, holding the piece of paper. “John, wait a minute! You screwed up here somewhere. This can’t be right.”

  “What?” he said, leaning toward her. He backed right up and picked up his copy of the new payment schedule. “Oh,” he laughed. “Sorry.” He fished some more papers out of the file and passed them each one more. “Here are your new balances. The mortgage total is about six thousand higher than it was, incorporating closing costs and the equity line, but the payment is lower and the credit cards and student-loan balance reduction is far more than six thousand lower, plus the student loans are on hold for the time being. You’ll have to go to the title office to sign papers for the refinance, by the way, but no money is due. Go ahead, look everything over. Take your time. Want my calculator?”

  Julie was in shock for a long moment, scanning over one sheet, then another, her mouth hanging open. When she finally looked up, she said, “Maybe I better borrow the calculator. I’ve never had this much money left over after bills….”

  “Julie,” John said with a smile. “As far as I could tell, you never had any money left over. I don’t know how you did it.”

  “John, how did you do this?”

  “I took a look at what you needed and divided what was left between the bills. That’s the trick, when you put the family first. You pay the family first. Then I called each one of the creditors and explained exactly what you could afford to pay them. Now, if you think you can make this work, I have some serious advice.”

  “What?” she asked, riveted.

  “Put twenty percent of that expense money away, at least, because you still have a couple of problems. You have two old cars and I don’t think a car payment is going to fit in here too well. Your mortgage won’t go up, but your taxes will. And if you pay your bills online, which is free through your bank, you’ll save probably fifty bucks a year—a couple of those pizza dates with the kids. If you can manage to stop paying late fees or annual credit-card charges, according to your past twelve months of debt management…” He fished around on his desk for a moment until he located a paper. “Nine hundred and thirty-eight dollars last year alone. That’s an extra grand right there.”

  “Holy shit,” she said. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to swear.”

  He smiled. “This budget has the advantage of some better rates, reasonable debt consolidation, a couple of suspensions… You have a fighting chance.”

  “I tried to do this, you know,” Billy said. “I called the credit cards…I went to the bank…”

  “I’ve spent ten years developing a relationship with some of these creditors. Sometimes we have to suggest to our clients they file for bankruptcy, then no one gets paid. If we can’t get a level playing field, that’s what we do. The client is the important factor. So by now they know that when I call I’m not bluffing.”

  “But these reduced rates…I feel like I’m cheating them or something.”

  “They’ve gotten their money out of you tenfold. You’re their favorite debtor. High interest, late fees, escalating balance. Please, don’t waste any guilt here. I’m a real stickler for ethics—no one got screwed. Well,” he said, “you did. Sort of. I mean, you bought into the programs, but that was because you hadn’t studied and practiced this aspect of management. I’ve been doing this for years. That’s why I’m here.”

  Billy was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “I think we owe you a lot of money.”

  “It’s all on there,” he said, pointing with his pen. “I don’t hand out services for free, but it’s my goal that you think it’s the best money you ever spent. And that the product is worth it.”

  “Oh, God,” Jules said, getting a little teary. “Oh, yes!”

  “If it works out, maybe you’ll recommend me,” John said.

  Billy connected eyes first with John, then he put an arm around Julie’s shoulders, pulling her close. “You happy with this?” he asked in a whisper.

  “Oh, yes,” she whispered back.

  Billy looked back at John. “How long before we’re out of the mess?”

  John shuffled papers again. “If you can keep those cars running, in four years you should have only ordinary expenses plus a mortgage and hopefully a savings account. I don’t know where your salary will be by then, but county employees get pretty good pay as they get seniority. Starting out takes commitment, but—”

  “Four years is good.”

  “Um, Bill, I based this budget on you working your part-time job two days a week as opposed to almost four. You gotta check in with the family, man. It’s the most important thing you’ll ever do.”

  Billy stared. He held his lips tight, but his eyes
watered. Julie was less controlled. She almost collapsed against him, openly crying. She hadn’t seen this light at the end of the tunnel in at least eight years. Billy turned away from John and held her to console her, but he couldn’t stop at least one tear from running down his cheek as he did so. It took a few moments for them to compose themselves and finally Billy looked up and wiped at his nose. “I’m, ah, sorry, John. We’ve been fighting this monster for such a long time—”

  “Hey, think nothing of it,” John said. “Happens all the time. I appreciate the relief—I felt exactly the same way when I found a potential solution. You realize it’s up to you now. You go out and get another loan, another credit card, this whole program falls in the tank. You understand that, right?”

  “Sure, absolutely,” he said. “You have no idea what kind of gift you gave us, here. This is so incredible.”

  “Sure I do,” he said. “Why do you think I do this? You think it’s making me rich? It’s making me happy.” He grinned very largely. “You just don’t know how well I sleep at night—that’s what’s incredible. Now, what do you say—can we cut up this plastic? Because it’s not doing you any good at all.”

  “Go for it,” Billy said.

  If riding along the beach in summer was refreshing, riding into the mountains in the fall was miraculous. It was Cassie’s favorite time of year to start with, and it seemed the leaves were more stunning this year than ever before. Maybe it was being on the back of a bike rather than in a car that made all the difference. They took a ride every week—on a weekend if she was off, and if she only had a weekday, Walt took that day away from the shop to be with her. The last two weeks in September had given way to October and the hillsides had become stunning, on fire with color.

  They drove a little farther north before getting in the hills; most of the color was in the foothills, thankfully. As the elevation increased and temperature lowered, pine, fir and ponderosa took over, which maintained their rich, dark green.

  Walt had memorized hundreds of trails over the years and he always had a stopping place in mind that was comfortable, scenic and private. Plus, he had favorite restaurants everywhere. After a couple of hours of enjoying the crisp fall air, he pulled off to a grassy place.

  “We’re stopping?” she asked, pulling off her helmet.

  “Isn’t your butt asleep by now? It usually is.”

  “Since I met you, my butt has gotten even better padded,” she told him, dismounting. “This is gorgeous.”

  “I thought you’d like it. Coffee?”

  “Great. Blanket?” she asked.

  “Coming up.” He first spread the blanket on the cushiony ground, then produced the thermos and cups. He poured for them and said, “By the way, I think your butt’s looking real good.”

  “You’re not supposed to be looking at my butt.”

  “I’m not?” he asked. “Gee, Cassie, you should’ve told me. I’ve been looking at your butt for about four months. I’m not sure I can just stop now.”

  She laughed at him and took her coffee. “We’ve been riding almost that long, and you come up with someplace new every time. You amaze me.”

  “I told you. There’s lots to see around this world. We’ll never run out.”

  “I guess we’ll have to stop pretty soon,” she said, leaning back and bracing on her elbows.

  “Why?”

  “Cold. Rain. You know me—I’m not into roughing it.”

  “There will be plenty of sunny days, and we’ll pick a softer climate. You should be an expert on Sonoma by now—we’ll go south when it gets cold. I never stop. I take days off, but never stop.”

  “You must have ridden through some pretty incredible weather during your eighteen months on the road.”

  “Oh, yeah. I came real close to a hurricane once, in Louisiana. I got out of there fast. I didn’t think I’d ever get dry.”

  “See,” she said, turning toward him, “I don’t want to ever do that. Ever.”

  He laughed at her. “Cassie, by now you should know I’d take much better care of you than that. Here,” he said, taking the coffee out of her hands and setting it with his on a flat rock beside the blanket. Then he said, “Come here,” and his arms went around her waist. He flipped her deftly onto her back and covered her lips. Her arms immediately went around him and held him, moving under his mouth.

  When he kissed her like this, she was lost. His kiss was always careful, tender, but there was power in there she was not only curious about but extremely tempted by. What does it mean, she wondered, when you have a person in your life you can’t imagine ever being without, and yet he doesn’t fit into your life at all? This was supposed to be something interesting to pass the time—a nice person to enjoy, but not get too involved with.

  He lifted his head and looked into her eyes. “You worrying about Beth or something?” he asked.

  “No. She’s doing very well. I was just wondering…maybe it’s not a good idea for us to do all this kissing.”

  “I thought it was a great idea.”

  “It might be taking us in a direction I’m just not ready to go. Maybe we should put a halt on the making out.”

  “I thought you liked it.”

  “I might be liking it too much,” she said.

  He laughed at her. “I don’t think that’s possible. Tell you what—we can stop after today, how’s that? I’d hate to waste this perfect spot.” He lowered his lips again and she put a hand on his chest. “What’s the matter, Cassie?”

  “I told myself I wasn’t getting serious about anyone again. For a long while…”

  “You feeling serious?” he asked, lifting one brow.

  “I don’t want to be serious.”

  “Okay. Take your time.” And he lowered his lips again, but the hand pushed back at him and he stopped. She did take note of the fact that it took very little to keep him under control. Men she’d dated who were much smaller, much less muscular and strong, took a lot more convincing. “What’s really bothering you? Want to tell me? You know you can tell me anything you want.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. Mixed feelings, I guess.”

  “Mixed feelings about…?”

  “I’m spending a lot of time with you, a lot of time talking to you. You’ve been wonderful to me. We’re getting closer. But…”

  “But?”

  “When I stopped by your store to thank you, to have coffee, I didn’t see this coming. It wasn’t something I planned on. In fact, I planned against something like this. I’m feeling a little bit, I don’t know, in over my head.”

  “No, you’re not,” he said. “You can put the brakes on this anytime and you won’t get any trouble from me. You know that. I’d hate it, but I wouldn’t give you a hard time. And even while you keep pushing this just-friends idea, you know how much I like you. I think you like me that much, too.”

  “Well…”

  “I’m not moving too fast for you, Cass. We both know that. What are you really worried about? Huh?”

  “Well, for one thing, I’m worried about you giving me a seven-hundred-dollar leather jacket on your salary….”

  He lifted his eyebrows in mock surprise. “You saw my pay stub?”

  She gave him a whack in the arm. “And bringing hundred-dollar bottles of wine to my house when I make do on Two Buck Chuck….”

  “Cassie, I’ve told you before, I haven’t had anyone to spend my money on for a long time. Well, Mom and Dad, but that’s a little different. I’m not hurting for money. I’m not running up debt to give you one or two nice things—a bottle of good wine, some flowers. I like doing it. You should just say thank-you.”

  “Thank you, but it worries me…”

  “Worries you because you’re trying to take care of my finances for me, or worries you because you’re afraid it makes you committed to something?”

  She pushed him away and sat up; maybe it was time to confront it. “Both,” she said.

  “Well, rest easy—I can afford it o
r I wouldn’t spend it, and it doesn’t lock you into anything.”

  “It’s one thing for you to say that and another thing for me to believe it. I think if I said we should stop getting together so much, you’d be unhappy.”

  “You’re damn right about that—I’d hate it. And it wouldn’t make sense because we have a good time together. Listen, you worried that when your friends get a look at me, they’re going to say you’re out of your mind?”

  Her chin dropped and he laughed. She lifted her eyes to his and said, “I don’t think that’s at all funny.”

  “You know what—you’re a worrier. You’re afraid when your friends see me pull up on some big hog with a ponytail and naked-lady tattoo, they’re going to have you committed. Cassie, take it easy. I look a little like an outcast, but I’m a nice guy, I don’t dribble on my shirt much and people usually take to me after a while. Really.”

  “I don’t think you’re funny.”

  “Yes, you do,” he said, grabbing her around the waist and wrestling her to the ground, making her giggle in spite of herself. “You think I’m hilarious. And you hate how much you like me—that’s very cool.” He gave her a kiss. “I have an idea. I’m taking my folks to dinner tomorrow night, to my mom’s favorite restaurant. It’s pretty nice—you’ll like it. Come with us. I’ll pick you up. When you see I have a perfectly normal family, it’ll give you a little peace of mind.”

  “Perfectly normal, huh?”

  “Well, I think they’re normal. It’s normal for a sixty-year-old couple to pull up on a big Harley wearing leather pants, long hair, lots of piercings on their faces and ears with tattoo sleeves to the wrists, right?”